Dragnet: The Big Rose (EP5004)

Summary

The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio)
Host: Adam Graham
Episode: Dragnet: The Big Rose (EP5004)
Date: June 25, 2026
Original Air Date of Dragnet Episode: March 27, 1952

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Great Detectives Present Dragnet features the classic radio drama "The Big Rose." Host Adam Graham revisits this dramatic Dragnet case from 1952, following the investigation into the mysterious disappearance—and later the murder—of Rose Baker, a troubled woman with four children. The story unfolds as the police methodically interrogate family, friends, and associates, unraveling a web of lies before uncovering the shocking truth.

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Key Discussion Points and Story Progression

Introduction to the Case [03:11–04:12]

• Premise:
  “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 homicide detail. A 38 year old woman disappears... There’s evidence of foul play. Your job: find her.”
  (Narrator, 03:11)

• Investigators:
  Sergeant Joe Friday narrates, joined by partner Ed Jacobs and Homicide Chief Thad Brown.

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Initial Investigation: Missing Person’s Report [04:12–08:16]

• Background on Rose Baker:

  • She has a history of unstable behavior, heavy drinking, neglecting her children after her husband's death.
  • Frequently disappears, but never for this long.

• Key Facts:

  • Disappearance reported by boyfriend Carl Shelton.
  • Last seen by her sister, Bernice Marin, after a dispute over a $400 check—proceeds from selling a family piano to pay for doctor bills.

• Conflicting Accounts:

  • Boyfriend claims Rose was planning a trip to Laguna.
  • Friends and coworkers provide inconsistent stories.
  • Sister says Rose was moving into a new apartment, not leaving town.

• Quote:
  “It’s all bollocks stuff. No two stories anywhere near alike.”
  (Brian, 07:45)

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Tracking the Suspects and Witnesses [08:16–14:42]

• Interviews:

  • Carl Shelton (Boyfriend): Denies Rose would disappear without notice; says they were on good terms.
    • “She’s a party girl. Likes a good time. You know what I mean?” (Carl Shelton, 09:57)
  • Iris Kirby (Rose’s friend): Dislikes Carl, says she didn’t know about any trip with Rose; used to date Carl before he moved on to Rose.
  • Mildred Dunn (Work friend): Repeats rumor of a trip, but says Rose liked to exaggerate.

• Lead on Fred Lyons:

  • Coworker Rose had previously dated; recently quit and disappeared from his residence the same day as Rose.

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Clues: Purse Discovered & Family Interview [14:42–19:08]

• Purse Found:

  • Rose Baker’s purse found in a vacant Hollywood lot.

• Interview with Bernice Marin (Sister):

  • Displays more concern for Rose’s children than Rose.
    • “I gave up trying to keep track of her a long time ago, Sergeant. I haven’t any idea where she’s gone. I used to worry about her. I don’t anymore.” (Bernice Marin, 15:43)
  • Confirms she split check with Rose under pressure; Rose left in her car and never returned.

• Bernice’s Care for Children:

  • “The only good thing that came out of that marriage, Sergeant. Those kids out there.”
    (Bernice Marin, 16:33)

• Bernice’s Final Comment:

  • “She’ll come back when the money’s gone.” (Bernice Marin, 19:01)

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The Murder and Breaking the Alibi [19:08–23:36]

• Discovery of the Body:

  • Rose found dead in Hollywood Hills, multiple gunshot wounds, clutching a 50-cent piece.

• Key Quote:

  • “There were two bullet holes in the left side of the skull. There was another one at the base of the throat. In her clenched right hand there was a 50-cent piece.” (Sergeant Friday, 20:03)

• Carl Shelton’s Revelation:

  • Carl states Leroy Hansen saw Bernice arguing with Rose after midnight the night she disappeared, contradicting Bernice’s story.
    • “If the sister says she wasn’t sitting in that car with Rosie outside that bar after midnight, she’s a liar.” (Carl Shelton, 22:39)
  • Two witnesses corroborate seeing Bernice and Rose together late that night.

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Confrontation and Confession [23:36–27:10]

• Police Confront Bernice:

  • She is wakened and told witnesses place her with Rose after midnight.
    • “You believe it? You believe it was me? ... You think I killed Rose? Is that it?” (Bernice Marin, 24:33)

• Bernice’s Emotional Farewell to Children:

  • She wakes her nephew:
    • “I’m gonna have to go downtown tonight. I’m leaving now. In case I’m not here when you and the kids get up, I want you to take care of everything. All right, honey?” (Bernice Marin, 25:14)

• Confession:

  • Bernice admits killing Rose in the garage after a heated argument over money.
    • “She cashed the check that night. Said she was gonna keep all the money. I couldn’t stand anymore. We argued. And I killed her.” (Bernice Marin, 26:53)
  • She agonizes over how to explain it to the children:
    • “What am I going to say? How will I explain it, ma’am, the kids. How do you tell four kids you killed their mother?” (Bernice Marin, 27:12)

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Outcome and Case Resolution [27:26–29:07]

• Trial Results:
  • Bernice indicted for murder, pleads self-defense (claims Rose attacked her with a knife).
  • Tried by a jury of 9 men and 3 women: found not guilty.

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Host’s Commentary [30:18–32:53]

• Adam Graham’s Reflections:
  • Uncertainty about real-life events—was Bernice’s self-defense claim true?
  • Suggests “the adaptation leaves it feeling like that she acted in anger.”
  • Highlights the jury’s possible sympathy for Bernice, a woman raising her sister’s neglected children:
    • “Bernice would be a very sympathetic defendant...maybe that sympathy overrode any evidence.”
  • Wonders if, given acquittal, Bernice would regain custody of the kids.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Describing Rose Baker’s troubled life:
  “She’s a party girl. Likes a good time.”
  (Carl Shelton, 09:57)

• Sister’s Resigned Attitude:
  “I gave up trying to keep track of her a long time ago, Sergeant.”
  (Bernice Marin, 15:43)

• Dramatic Confession:
  “I had her four kids to raise. It’s not easy. You know what it costs... She gave us nothing. And she tried to take everything. Tried to bleed me for my last dollar. ... I couldn’t stand anymore. We argued. And I killed her.”
  (Bernice Marin, 26:23–26:53)

• Grim Dilemma:
  “How do you tell four kids you killed their mother?”
  (Bernice Marin, 27:12)

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Important Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:11] – Essential case introduction
• [04:12–08:16] – Missing person’s report, initial investigation
• [09:19–10:17] – First major interview with Carl Shelton
• [12:52–13:55] – Interview with Mildred Dunn, learning about Fred Lyons
• [14:42–19:08] – Purse discovery, interview with Bernice Marin
• [19:37] – Discovery of Rose Baker's body
• [21:15–22:47] – Carl Shelton presents new evidence, breaking Bernice’s alibi
• [24:00–27:00] – Late night confrontation and Bernice's confession
• [27:31–29:07] – Trial outcome and legal epilogue
• [30:18–32:53] – Host Adam Graham’s post-show commentary and audience thanks

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Analysis and Tone

• Language and Tone:
  Dragnet’s signature terse, hardboiled dialogue, focusing on methodical police work and moral ambiguity.
• Emotional Impact:
  The episode’s pathos stems from Bernice’s devotion to her nieces and nephews, her bitterness at her sister’s irresponsibility, and the tragedy that drives her to murder.

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Conclusion

This episode stands out for its portrayal of despair, family duty, and the fine line between justice and mercy. Host Adam Graham’s commentary adds contemporary reflections, pondering both the facts and the emotional complexity of the real case versus the radio adaptation.

For fans or newcomers alike, this summary encapsulates the story’s puzzle, its atmosphere, and the disquieting resolution that leaves more questions than answers.

Transcript

[Bernice Marin]

Can you grab one more thing?

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[Sergeant Friday]

Really?

[Bernice Marin]

You can have another one.

[Amica Insurance Announcer]

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[Wix Harmony User]

How did you get your website to look like that? Mine's so basic. Thanks. I just used WIX Harmony. What's that? It's wix's AI website builder. You just tell it what you want and it builds you a whole site. But you can also switch back and forth between chatting with AI and editing things yourself. Ah, so you're not stuck with whatever the AI gives you. Nope. I mean, the results are pretty nice, but you can jump in and mess with whatever.

[Sergeant Friday]

Oh, that's neat.

[Wix Harmony User]

Try it for [e-mail] Harmony.

[Roy]

Foreign

[Adam Graham]

welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first, I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, P.O. box 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. Just go to patreon.greatdetives.net but now, from March 27, 1952, here is the big rose.

[Wix Harmony User]

Okay, I have a business question for you. Where did you get your domain on wix? It was really easy. Was it actually easy or are you exaggerating? No, really, it took like 90 seconds. I even built a full website. What do you mean? I just used WIX Harmony just told it what I wanted and it built a fully functional website for me in minutes. It also comes with hosting security, privacy protection, everything.

[Brian]

Oh, cool.

[Wix Harmony User]

Yeah. Check it [e-mail] Domains.

[Narrator]

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 homicide detail. A 38 year old woman disappears. She leaves her sister and her four children behind. There's evidence of foul play. Your job, find Her.

[Dragnet Announcer]

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

[Sergeant Friday]

It was Monday, June 3rd. It was overcast in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of Homicide detail. My partner's Ed Jacobs. The boss is Thad Brown, Chief of detectives. My name's Friday. I was on the way back from communications, and it was 8:15am when I got to room 42. Homicide.

[Narrator]

Joe, what's doin'?

[Sergeant Friday]

Hi, Brian. You seen Ed?

[Carl Shelton]

Went down the hall a minute. Said he'd be right by.

[Sergeant Friday]

Oh, thank you. I don't see anything in the book. Nothing new, huh?

[Carl Shelton]

Not much.

[Sergeant Friday]

Pretty slow.

[Brian]

How's your mother, Joe?

[Sergeant Friday]

Heard she wasn't feeling too well. No, she's not, as a matter of fact. Doctor says it's anemia. It's gonna take a little time to get over it, I guess. Oh, Sorry to hear it. I gotta do some checking down at the Autodesk.

[Carl Shelton]

If I get any calls, I'll have

[Sergeant Friday]

him switch it down there.

[Narrator]

Will you?

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah, I sure will, Brian.

[Carl Shelton]

Thanks.

[Sergeant Friday]

You betcha. Oh, excuse me, Ed.

[Brian]

Pardon me, Tom.

[Sergeant Friday]

Hi, Ed. What'd they give you?

[Brian]

Missing report woman. How about the mail?

[Sergeant Friday]

No, there's nothing. That the missing report there?

[Brian]

Yeah, it's all here. Some woman out on 64th Street. Name's Rose Baker. She's been gone about a week.

[Sergeant Friday]

Mm. Last seen Tuesday, May 27, 10pm who's this that made the report? Carl Shelton. Who's he?

[Brian]

He's her boyfriend. Mrs. Baker's husband died about five years ago. He's been running around quite a bit since then. Had a lot of man trouble.

[Sergeant Friday]

She disappeared before then, huh?

[Brian]

Yeah, half dozen times. Never been gone this long, though. Holmes took this report from shelton. He gathered. Ms. Baker's not too stable. She's known to drink quite a bit. Doesn't seem to care anything for her home or kids.

[Sergeant Friday]

You don't see it here. She has four children. They're living with her aunt, Mrs. Baker's sister. It's kind of a funny arrangement, isn't it?

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah.

[Brian]

Baker woman packed her bags and walked out of the house about a year ago. Her sister's been taking care of the kids ever since. Mother comes back for a visit once in a while.

[Sergeant Friday]

This address we've got on Mrs. Baker. It's the same address as her Boyfriend, Carl Shelton?

[Brian]

Yeah, that's right. They both have apartments in the same building.

[Sergeant Friday]

This a recent picture? Ms. Baker?

[Brian]

Supposed to be, yeah. Nice looking woman, huh?

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah. Sister's listed here as the last person who saw her. Well, how's that? Baker woman still wasn't living at home, was she?

[Brian]

According to the sister, Mrs. Baker came over to the house to see her the night she disappeared. Sometime around 8 o'.

[Carl Shelton]

Clock.

[Brian]

Two of them had some business to talk over. Seems the sister had a check for $400 she got from selling some furniture. Claimed the kids had been sick. She had doctor bills to pay.

[Sergeant Friday]

You mean Mrs. Baker's sister took care of things to that extent, apparently.

[Brian]

Anyway, after the sister got the check for selling the furniture, Ms. Baker wanted half the money. Sister said that's why she came to see her that night. Two of them got in the car and went out to find somebody to cash a check. You want a drink of water?

[Sergeant Friday]

No, no, thanks. Ann, where do you get a $400 check cashed at 8 o' clock at night? Would you know?

[Brian]

Sister said Mrs. Baker knew somebody could cash it for him. Turned out the person couldn't cash it. Sister stopped at a bar for a glass of beer. Mrs. Baker took the car and went to look up somebody else she thought could cash it. That was it. Mrs. Baker hadn't been seen since.

[Sergeant Friday]

Who was this somebody else?

[Brian]

No idea. Sister claimed she doesn't know. Mrs. Baker didn't tell her.

[Sergeant Friday]

Sounds like Mrs. Baker wanted the whole check.

[Brian]

Wouldn't you say that's what the sister figure. When Ms. Baker didn't come back, she finished the glass of beer, left the barn, started walking home. Two blocks from the house, she found her car parked. No sign of Ms. Baker. Car keys were in the glove compartment. So it's a sister's share of the money. $200 in cash.

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, how about the firm that issued the check? They get it back? Canceled.

[Brian]

Yeah, a couple of days ago. Ms. Baker's endorsement on the back?

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah. Sounds pretty wild, doesn't it?

[Brian]

Whole thing does. Talked to half a dozen people who saw Ms. Baker that night. And none of their stories jibed.

[Sergeant Friday]

How do you mean?

[Brian]

Her boyfriend, Carl shelton. He claims Ms. Baker told him she was going out of town for a few days with a girlfriend.

[Sergeant Friday]

They check it out?

[Brian]

Yeah. Girlfriend didn't know anything about it. Then they talked to a woman who works with Ms. Baker. She says, yeah, the Baker woman was planning a trip.

[Sergeant Friday]

Ms. Baker mention anything about it to her sister?

[Carl Shelton]

No.

[Brian]

Sister says Ms. Baker told her just the opposite. Said she was getting out of her apartment into a new place. She was gonna spend the next couple of days moving. They checked the boyfriend. Shelton said if Ms. Baker was moving, was new to him.

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, either she's a liar or one of her friends are, huh?

[Brian]

It's all bollocks stuff. No two stories anywhere near alike.

[Sergeant Friday]

What do they figure for a motive? They got a line on anybody who might have wandered out of the way.

[Brian]

Big field to pick from. She fought with Carl Shelton. She fought with his sister. Some of the people she worked with. She had three or four other men around town on the string, too. Any one of them could have wanted her out of the way.

[Sergeant Friday]

All her relatives have been checked out. And all her friends. Places she'd be most likely to go.

[Brian]

All checked. Not a trace of her.

[Carl Shelton]

Nothing.

[Sergeant Friday]

I guess we better start moving on it. A lot of ground to cover. See if we can't straighten out some of those stories.

[Brian]

One thing's sure. Somebody's lying.

[Sergeant Friday]

8:35am before we left the city hall, we checked with Sergeant Holmes and Missing Persons who'd taken the report on Rose Baker's disappearance. He had nothing to add to what was in the report and what he'd already told Ed. First on the interview list was the sister of the missing woman, Bernice Marin. She was employed as a saleswoman for a grocery supply firm. We called it the home where Ms. Marin lived with her four nieces and nephews. But there was no answer. The next door neighbor told us that Ms. Marin was working, that she usually didn't get home until 4:15 or 4:30 in the afternoon. In the meantime, we figured we might as well check the next name on the list. Mrs. Baker's boyfriend, Carl Shelton. We'd already checked him through R and I, and he had no record. We drove out to his address, a three story apartment house on 64th Street. Shelton's apartment was on the main floor rear. He answered the door in his bathrobe and slippers. He told us that he was employed at one of the local oil refineries and that this particular week he was working the graveyard shift. Eleven at night until seven in the morning. He showed us back to a small kitchen at the rear of the apartment. While we questioned him, he fixed a percolator of coffee and put it on the stove.

[Brian]

You sure about Ms. Baker's plans? Are you? She never mentioned anything to you about moving out of the apartment house here?

[Carl Shelton]

No, never. Somebody's handing you a line there. If Rosie was gonna move, she'd tell me about it. Just A minute. I gotta get that coffee. Looks about done. You fellers want some java? Got a whole pot full here.

[Sergeant Friday]

No. No, thank you. How long do you say you've known Ms. Baker?

[Carl Shelton]

About a year, year and a half. We got along pretty good. Good? Right from the start. Sure don't understand her taking off like this.

[Sergeant Friday]

Ms. Baker ever talked to you much about the family? Her sister, four children, I mean, did she see them regularly? Seemed to get along with them all right to you?

[Carl Shelton]

I don't think I'd know that. Rosie never had much to say about him. The only thing I could gather was that she just got sick of the routine. You know, keeping up a house, doing the wash, mopping, dusting, taking care of four kids. She just checked out, that's all. Let her sister Bernice, take over. If you ask me, she never should have had a family to begin with. Rosie isn't that kind. She's a party girl. Likes a good time. You know what I mean?

[Sergeant Friday]

Something I don't understand, Shelton. You said a minute ago you couldn't figure out Ms. Baker's going off like this. When you filed a missing report on her, you said she was planning a trip out of town.

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah, that's right.

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, isn't it possible she might have taken off without telling you?

[Carl Shelton]

No, I don't think so. She'd have told me. She's planning a trip, all right. But she wasn't gonna leave till the next night. Wednesday night she's gonna pick up this girlfriend of hers, Iris, and the two of them were gonna take the bus down to Laguna for a couple days.

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, it's our understanding this girlfriend, Iris, didn't know anything about the trip. Can you explain that?

[Carl Shelton]

I don't know. I guess Rosie forgot to tell her. Can't figure these women sometimes. Maybe she was gonna phone her Wednesday morning. She knew Iris could get away almost anytime.

[Brian]

You think it's possible she might have gone down to Laguna by herself?

[Carl Shelton]

No, that's not like Rosie. Besides, before I went in to report her missing, I called a couple of places down Laguna, where Rosie usually stops at. They hadn't seen her.

[Brian]

Possible she might have gone some other place?

[Carl Shelton]

No. Without telling me? No. Besides, she wouldn't go alone. I know that, sheldon.

[Sergeant Friday]

We understand Mrs. Baker was friendly with two or three other men around town. You think it's possible she might have gone someplace with one of them, Sheldon?

[Bernice Marin]

No.

[Carl Shelton]

No, I can't buy that. If it was eight months ago, I'd say maybe, but not now.

[Sergeant Friday]

Why not?

[Carl Shelton]

We had it out that's all. It was all settled. She wouldn't do anything like that again.

[Brian]

Pretty sure about that?

[Carl Shelton]

I am, yeah. Positive. I don't get it at all. She wouldn't do that to me. Taking off, just packing up and leaving. Rosie wouldn't do that to me.

[Sergeant Friday]

She's got four children.

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah, she did it to them.

[Sergeant Friday]

We questioned Carl Shelton for another half hour. But he failed to come up with anything in the way of a definite lead. 10:40am we drove to the home of the missing woman's girlfriend, an Iris Kirby. Two things she was pretty definite about. She knew nothing about an out of town trip Mrs. Baker was supposed to have planned for the two of them. And secondly, she had no use for Carl Shelton. She told us that Shelton was her ex boyfriend and that she had introduced him to Rose Baker. And that shortly after that he dropped her. A few weeks later, Shelton began to keep steady Company with Mrs. Baker. Outside of her personal grievance against Shelton, Iris Kirby had nothing to offer in the way of a lead to the whereabouts of her friend. 11:30am we got in the car and headed for the factory in the south end of town where Rose Baker was employed. We stopped off on the way for lunch, a bowl of soup and a sandwich. Ed had a cheeseburger and a piece of. Piece of. Before we left, we checked the office to see if there were any calls. Nothing. The place where Mrs. Baker worked was on Santa Fe Avenue. A one story building covering almost half a block. They manufactured men's work clothes, shirts and overalls. We checked with a personnel office. We asked if Rose Baker had any friends that she worked with. We were told that there was a Mildred Dunn who was a fairly close friend of the Baker woman. Ed and I waited in the office while they sent down to the plant for Mildred Dunn.

[Brian]

Ms. Dunn?

[Mildred Dunn]

That's right.

[Brian]

Police officers. My name's Jacobs. This is my partner, Sergeant Friday.

[Bernice Marin]

How do you do?

[Sergeant Friday]

How are you? I'd like to ask you a few questions about Rose Baker. Mrs. Dunn. I understand you're a pretty close friend of hers.

[Mildred Dunn]

Yes, that's right. I've known Rose ever since she came here. She worked on the machine next to me. She come home yet?

[Brian]

No, not yet. You remember Ms. Baker saying anything to you about taking a trip, Mrs. Dunn, I mean, just before she disappeared.

[Mildred Dunn]

Yes, she did. She'd been looking forward to it. That's probably where she is, don't you think? Off on her trip?

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, we don't know, ma'.

[Bernice Marin]

Am.

[Sergeant Friday]

Did she mention anything definite about the trip to you? Where she was going when she was leaving?

[Mildred Dunn]

Well, I think she was going to Laguna Beach. It's hard to tell. She's always kidding around. Rose is. Once she said she was going to fly to Switzerland for a vacation. Sam Ritz. She's always kidding around like that.

[Brian]

Oh, that's so.

[Mildred Dunn]

Like once when she had a date with Fred. She said she was going to the Pump Room in Chicago. You know, just being funny.

[Sergeant Friday]

I see. Who is this friend? Mrs. Dunn.

[Mildred Dunn]

Fell in the shipping department. Fred Lyons. Nice fella.

[Sergeant Friday]

He and Mrs. Baker see much of each other?

[Mildred Dunn]

They used to, yes, quite a bit. I don't know if they were serious about each other. I. I thought they were till the last month or so. Maybe they had a tip or something. Maybe Rose got tired of him.

[Bernice Marin]

I don't know.

[Brian]

But you do think the two of them were serious at one time?

[Mildred Dunn]

Oh, yes. Wasn't more than a month ago. And all of a sudden they weren't sweet on each other. Least Rose wasn't about him. She told me that.

[Sergeant Friday]

I guess we better check on him. And is this Fred Lyons working today? Do you know them?

[Mildred Dunn]

Oh, no. He quit last Tuesday.

[Sergeant Friday]

1:15pm we finished questioning Mildred Dunn and we went back to the personnel office to get Fred Lyons. Description. Last known address. We checked out the address, but Lyons had moved out the previous Tuesday and left no forwarding address. We questioned the landlady, looked over his rooms, checked through the neighborhood and talked to everybody he knew. We found nothing to indicate that Lyons had anything directly to do with Rose Baker's disappearance. But we did find out that he knew Mrs. Baker and that he thought quite a bit of her. We went back to the office, got out a broadcast and an APB on Lyons.

[Brian]

Want to check the book, Joe? See if we got any late calls here.

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah, sure.

[Brian]

I'll get it.

[Carl Shelton]

Right.

[Brian]

Homicide.

[Carl Shelton]

Jacobs.

[Brian]

That's right. Are they sure? Where was that? All right, thank you. Got something?

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah.

[Brian]

Hollywood Division. Woman's purse found in a vacant lot out there. High school kid found it. A lot of identification inside.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah.

[Brian]

Rose Baker,

[Sergeant Friday]

3:15pm the purse was brought downtown to the crime lab for detailed examination. Brian and Barrett from Homicide went out to interview the boy who found the purse and to check the neighborhood where it was discovered. Meantime, Ed and I drove out to talk to the missing woman's sister, 36 years old, Bernice Marin. She and her sister's four children lived in a five room stucco house just off Exposition Boulevard. We got there shortly after Ms. Marin returned home from her job. Her two older nephews were out in front, cutting the lawn. She showed us into a neatly kept living room where we interviewed her. She was a plain looking woman. Brown hair, gray eyes. She showed little concern about her sister's disappearance.

[Bernice Marin]

I gave up trying to keep track of her a long time ago, Sergeant. I haven't any idea where she's gone. I used to worry about her. I don't anymore.

[Brian]

How about that purse of hers who was found this afternoon? Ms. Marin. Wouldn't you say that makes her a little unusual or son?

[Bernice Marin]

I don't think so. She loses things all the time. I don't know what she does when she goes off on those things. I don't want to know. Gets drunk and does a lot of fooling around. I suppose she's lost two or three purses the same way.

[Sergeant Friday]

What about last Tuesday, the night she disappeared? You notice if she'd been drinking then?

[Bernice Marin]

Yeah. I got the idea she'd had a couple of highballs before she came over. She wasn't drunk, but she wasn't feeling any pain. I say, would you excuse me? I want to yell at the kids out there.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yes, ma'.

[Roy]

Am.

[Bernice Marin]

Frank. Frank, that's enough of that playing around out there. Let's get started pushing that lawnmower, huh?

[Carl Shelton]

Okay. Just trying out a new system.

[Bernice Marin]

Almost half done now. Better hurry it up. You still got the backyard to do, remember?

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah, okay.

[Bernice Marin]

The only good thing that came out of that married Sergeant. Those kids out there.

[Brian]

Yes, ma'.

[Carl Shelton]

Am.

[Bernice Marin]

There's two more besides Frank and Bobby. The girls? My nieces. One's nine, one's seven. Marvelous kids. Girls are just as pretty as pictures. I'm glad I have a chance to take care of them. I guess I just like kids. Can't understand it when people don't appreciate them. I don't have a family of my own.

[Brian]

Oh, I see.

[Sergeant Friday]

Ms. Marin, when you were with your sister last Tuesday night. You say she didn't mention anything at all about taking that trip out of town?

[Bernice Marin]

No, just the opposite. Like I told you, she said she was moving out of her apartment into a new place. That's why she needed the money.

[Brian]

Well, what's the story about this money your sister came to pick up Ms. Mann? I don't think I quite got that clear.

[Bernice Marin]

Well, we have this baby grand piano my mother gave Rose and me just before she died. Kids have been sick the last couple of months, one thing and another. I needed a little money to catch up on some doctor bills, so I sold the piano. I needed to do it, but the bills had to be paid. Well, Rose found out about it somehow, and she wanted half of the money I got for the piano. She wanted the money for herself. Can you imagine that? She wasn't even willing to pay for her own kids. Doctor bills. It'd be different if I was charging her to take care of the kids. I'd just do it because I like them.

[Sergeant Friday]

Mm, I see.

[Bernice Marin]

Well, anyway, she found out about it and I had to split the check with her. The whole thing was for $400.

[Brian]

I understand your sister got the check cashed that night. That correct?

[Bernice Marin]

Yeah, that's right. It was 8 o' clock at night. But Rose said she knew somebody who'd cash it. She wanted the money that night, Save an argument. We got in the car and went to see this friend of hers, some bartender. He couldn't cash the thing, so Rose took the car and went out to look up another friend she thought would cash it. I didn't want to go chasing all over town with her, so I stayed at this bar and had a beer.

[Sergeant Friday]

And that's the last time you saw your sister, is it?

[Bernice Marin]

Yes. I waited a couple of hours and then I walked home. Two blocks from the house, I saw my car pulled up the curb right on Exposition Boulevard. Car keys were in the glove compartment. $200 in cash right under them. No sign of Rose, though.

[Brian]

Well, what time was it when he got back to the house? You remember?

[Bernice Marin]

It was after 11. Close to 11:30, I think. I went right to bed.

[Sergeant Friday]

And since that time, you've had no indication where your sister might have gone? No phone calls, no letters? No word from one of her friends who might have seen her?

[Bernice Marin]

No, not a thing. She's in trouble. You can understand why. It's been coming for a long time. Last five years, going downhill all the time. She's no good, Sergeant. I don't know how it happened. Just no good at all.

[Brian]

Thank you very much, Ms. Marin.

[Sergeant Friday]

Thank you, ma'.

[Roy]

Am.

[Bernice Marin]

Oh, not at all. No trouble. Guess I better get dinner started for the kids.

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, if you hear anything about your sister, we'd appreciate it if you'd give us a call.

[Bernice Marin]

Yes, all right. It's gonna be the same old story, same thing all over again. You can bet on it, ma'.

[Carl Shelton]

Am.

[Bernice Marin]

She'll come back when the money's gone.

[Sergeant Friday]

5:15pm Ed and I drove back downtown and went directly to the crime lab. The missing woman's purse, which had been found in the vacant lot out in Hollywood, had been examined thoroughly. They'd found nothing that'd provide US with a new lead. We checked communications, but there was still no answer to the apb. We'd gotten out on Fred Lyons, the man who'd worked with Rose Baker and who dropped from sight the same day she did. 5:30pm we got back to the squadroom.

[Carl Shelton]

Hi, I'm Brian.

[Brian]

You just got back?

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah. You get the word?

[Sergeant Friday]

No. What's that?

[Brian]

Mrs. Baker.

[Carl Shelton]

They just found her body.

[Dragnet Announcer]

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

[Sergeant Friday]

June 3, Monday, 6pm the body of 38 year old rose Baker had been discovered in the Hollywood hills area. Approximately 3/4 of a mile from the intersection of Mulholland Drive and Oak Knoll Terrace. A dirt road branched off to the left of Mulholland and wound about 300 yards down the hill to a dead end stop. Just below the guardrail which circled the edge of the road there were two eucalyptus trees. They overlooked a deep ravine covered with scrub oak and patches of laurel. Halfway down one slope of the ravine they found the body of the missing woman. There were two bullet holes in the left side of the skull. There was another one at the base of the throat. In her clenched right hand there was a 50 cent piece. The immediate area surrounding the body had been roped off and Lt. Lee Jones and the crime lab crew were making their preliminary investigation. There was no sign of the murder weapon. The coroner arrived and when the preliminary investigation was completed, the body was taken downtown to the county morgue. All clothing and personal effects were removed from the body and sent to the crime lab for detailed examination. Rose Baker's sister, Bernice Marin, was brought to the county morgue and identified the body. A few minutes after 10 o' clock that night, Ed and I got back to the office. I got it. Homicide Friday.

[Carl Shelton]

Is this Sergeant Friday?

[Sergeant Friday]

Yes, sir, that's right.

[Carl Shelton]

This is Carl Shelton. Sergeant. You were out to talk to me this morning. You remember?

[Sergeant Friday]

Oh, yeah. Shelton.

[Carl Shelton]

I heard about Rosie just a couple minutes ago. I got to talk to you, Sergeant. There's something I got to tell you.

[Sergeant Friday]

Was that so? Do you want to tell me now?

[Carl Shelton]

I don't want to tell you on the phone. I'll drive in to see you. I'll leave right now.

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, yeah. All right. Do you mind telling me what it's about?

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah. I know who killed Rosie.

[Sergeant Friday]

1108pm Carl Shelton arrived at the office. Ed and I took him down the hall to the interrogation room where he gave us his story. He told us first of all that he was well acquainted with most of the regular customers at the tavern where Rose Baker and her sister had first stopped to cash the $400 check. He told us one of these people, Leroy Hansen, had contacted him after he read in the morning paper about Mrs. Baker's murder.

[Carl Shelton]

I've known Leroy at least four or five years. Used to work with him. He wouldn't lie to me.

[Brian]

What'd this fellow tell you? Shelton? That's Leroy Hanson.

[Carl Shelton]

He said he got to the bar a little after midnight. It had to be at least that, because Leroy doesn't get off work till 11:30. Said he saw Rosie sitting in a car parked a couple doors down from the bar. There was a woman in the car with her. He described her just like Rosie's sister. They were having a beef.

[Sergeant Friday]

This friend of yours hear what Mrs. Baker and this woman were talking about?

[Carl Shelton]

No, but he's smart enough to know a big argument when he sees one. He says they were really going to it.

[Sergeant Friday]

Is he sure about the time?

[Carl Shelton]

He's got to be. Leroy works at a sheet metal plant south of town. He gets off at 11:30. Takes him more than a half hour to get in. Why should he lie about it? He wasn't even going to mention it till he found out she was dead.

[Brian]

This woman he says Ms. Baker was with, she fits her sister's description. That closer?

[Carl Shelton]

Yes, exactly. And there was a guy with Leroy. He'll back it up. If the sister says she wasn't sitting in that car with Rosie outside that bar after midnight, she's a liar.

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, she is if you can prove your story.

[Carl Shelton]

Here's the phone. You ask Leroy.

[Sergeant Friday]

11:22pm we put in calls to both of the men who were supposed to have seen Rose Baker and her sister Bernice sitting in a parked car outside the tavern six nights before. Both of them corroborated Carl Shelton's story down to the last detail. They were especially certain about the time Bernice Marin told us that on the night her sister Rose disappeared, she hadn't seen her after 9:15pm and that she had walked home and was in bed by 11:30. Both Leroy Hansen and his friend told us that they had seen Rose Baker and a woman answering her sister's description sitting together in a car parked outside the tavern. They were both certain at the time that it was well past midnight. We made a check on Leroy Hansen and his friend. As far as we were able to find out, there was no logical reason why they should lie about what they told us. Ed and I got in the car and drove out to the home of Bernice Marin. Just off Exposition boulevard. It was 20 minutes past midnight. We rang the front doorbell and got her out of bed.

[Bernice Marin]

Oh, hello, Officers. Didn't know who it was. Come in.

[Brian]

Thank you, man.

[Bernice Marin]

Well, you have to wait long before I answered. I sleep pretty sound.

[Carl Shelton]

Fred.

[Brian]

We'll have to ask you to get dressed. Ms. Marin. Like to talk to you downtown.

[Bernice Marin]

Why? What's the matter?

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, some more questions we have to ask you, ma'. Am. Few more things we have to clear up about.

[Bernice Marin]

Well, I've told you everything I know. I don't like to go out and leave the kids alone at night. What is it you want to ask me about?

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, you told us the last time you saw your sister was about 9:15 last Tuesday night. Ms. Marin.

[Bernice Marin]

Yes, that's right.

[Sergeant Friday]

We've got a couple people who claim they saw you with your sister after midnight Tuesday. You were sitting with her in your car parked outside a tavern. You're having an argument with her. At least two people saw you. And they'll swear to that?

[Bernice Marin]

No, that couldn't be right.

[Brian]

They claim it is.

[Bernice Marin]

They say it was after midnight and they saw me with Rose.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yes, ma', am, that's what they say.

[Bernice Marin]

And you believe it? You believe it was me?

[Sergeant Friday]

Yes, ma', am, we do.

[Bernice Marin]

You think I killed Rose?

[Mildred Dunn]

Is that it?

[Sergeant Friday]

Yes, ma', am, we think so. How about it, Miss Marin?

[Bernice Marin]

It'll take me a minute to get my clothes on. I want to talk to the oldest boy, my nephew Frank. Would it be all right?

[Sergeant Friday]

Well, I'll have to go along with you.

[Bernice Marin]

All right. This way. Down the hall. In here. I don't want to wake the other kids if I can help it.

[Sergeant Friday]

All right.

[Bernice Marin]

Frank, Wake up, Frank. Frankie.

[Carl Shelton]

What do you want, Anthony?

[Bernice Marin]

I hate to wake you up, Frankie. I'm gonna have to go downtown tonight. I'm leaving now. In case I'm not here when you and the kids get up, I want you to take care of everything. All right, honey?

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah, okay. What do you have to go downtown for?

[Bernice Marin]

Well, it's something about your mother, Frank. Might take a little time. You see the girls get off to school on time in the morning, won't you? Bobby, too. The sandwiches are all made. They're in the icebox. All you have to do is put them in a paper sack. All right?

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah, okay. Why do you have to go now? Can't you wait until tomorrow?

[Bernice Marin]

I'm afraid not, honey. You take care of everything, huh? Make sure all the doors are locked and don't forget to feed the dog.

[Carl Shelton]

No, I won't. Forget.

[Sergeant Friday]

What's the matter?

[Carl Shelton]

Is there anything wrong?

[Bernice Marin]

No, of course not. Now, if something happens so I can't get back tomorrow, I'll call you on the phone, all right?

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah, okay.

[Sergeant Friday]

You be sure and call, huh?

[Bernice Marin]

I'll call you, honey. Go to sleep now, huh? It'll be all right. You get some sleep. Good night, Frankie.

[Carl Shelton]

Yeah, okay. Good night.

[Bernice Marin]

I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I had to tell Frank what to do. The kids wouldn't understand. I mean, if they woke up and didn't find me here.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. What'd you do with a murder gun, Ms. Marin?

[Bernice Marin]

Out in the garage. I'll show you. I had her four kids to raise. It's not easy. You know what it costs to feed them, put clothes on their back? It's not the kids I minded. They're wonderful. I love every one of them. I'm glad to get the chance to raise them. Never married myself. Never had any of my own. Hasn't been easy at all. Working all day. Coming home and cooking for them. Doing the wash. Trying to keep the. The house clean. Rose never gave me a dime to pay a bill for her own kids too. She gave us nothing. And she tried to take everything. Tried to bleed me for my last dollar. She cashed the check that night. Said she was gonna keep all the money. I couldn't stand anymore. We argued. And I killed her.

[Sergeant Friday]

Yeah, well, I'm sorry, ma'.

[Dragnet Announcer]

Am.

[Sergeant Friday]

We'll have to go.

[Bernice Marin]

Yes. All right. What'll I do, Sergeant? What'll I say?

[Sergeant Friday]

I advise you to tell the truth. You'll get a fair trial.

[Bernice Marin]

I know that. It's not what I mean.

[Sergeant Friday]

What do you mean?

[Bernice Marin]

Inside there. What am I going to say? How will I explain it, ma'? Am, the kids. How do you tell four kids you killed their mother?

[Narrator]

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

[Dragnet Announcer]

On October 3, trial was held in Superior Court Department 92, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. When their aunt, Bernice Alberta Marin, was apprehended on suspicion of 187pc the four Baker children were taken into protective custody by juvenile authorities. Bernice Marin was indicted for murder and entered a plea of self defense. She claimed that at the time of the murder, her sister attacked her with a knife. While they argued over the division of the $400 check. Bernice Marin was tried in Superior Court by a jury composed of nine men and three women. She was found not guilty. 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. Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Van Spracher. Heard tonight were Barney Phillips, Virginia Greg, Vic Perin. Script by Jim Moser Music by Walter Schuman Hal Gibney speaking.

[Sergeant Friday]

Next, it's counterspy on NBC.

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, kind of an interesting ending in that she was acquitted. It leaves me with quite a few questions about this, the real life situation as well as some of the adaptation issues. Like did the alleged attack from Rose actually happen or was it something that she made up later? It does seem like when police confronted her, that would probably be one of the first things that she would say. The adaptation leaves it feeling like that she acted in anger. So it'd be more like a case of perhaps manslaughter. And of course, if the self defense story was true, it seems like there would be some corroborating evidence in the car or on the body. Although this might also be a case of a situation where you could say to someone, no jury in the world would ever convict me if I took some rash action. And it actually is true, Bernice would be a very sympathetic defendant. And a lot of people, if not most people, have had a relative similar to Rose. So maybe that sympathy overrode any evidence. If, on the other hand, it really was self defense and there was not any sort of maliciousness, you'd hope that she would get custody of the kids back or at least that that process would be considered. But again, there is a limit to what we can know from the Dragnet radio play. All right, well now it's time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the Day. Thank you to Nancy, Patreon supporter, Since March of 2016, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Nancy, 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 Doll, or where.

[Roy]

Nice to hear from you again, Johnny. What can I do for you, Roy?

[Johnny Doll]

I'm putting this call on expense account.

[Carl Shelton]

That ain't all.

[Johnny Doll]

If I could make connections down to New York. Well, let's see. There's a plane leaving for the West Coast a little after midnight, so I'd arrive in LA early in the morning.

[Roy]

You're coming out here?

[Johnny Doll]

Unless somebody's been pulling my leg. Roy, do you have a policyholder named Helen Dainer lives somewhere up here?

[Roy]

We certainly do.

[Johnny Doll]

Well, now, what's that mean?

[Roy]

She's an elderly woman, a spinster, who lives up in the little town of Morro bay. That's about 200 miles north of here. Johnny, she called this office early this afternoon. She demanded your phone number there in Hartford.

[Johnny Doll]

And?

[Roy]

Well, I didn't give it to her.

[Johnny Doll]

Why not?

[Roy]

Because she wouldn't say why. She wanted to get in touch with you.

[Johnny Doll]

Oh, fuck.

[Roy]

And knowing how busy you always are. Well, just a few minutes ago, I began to wonder about it. Yes? Well, after all, if she wanted to contact you about some insurance matter.

[Johnny Doll]

Yeah.

[Roy]

What?

[Johnny Doll]

Well, did you call her back?

[Roy]

Yes, since we handle all her insurance, that is. I tried to, but I got no answer.

[Johnny Doll]

Then, Roy, I'm going to grab that plane I was talking about.

[Roy]

Well, now, wait. Did she get to you? Did you talk to her?

[Johnny Doll]

Yes.

[Roy]

And it has something to do with her insurance.

[Johnny Doll]

Plenty. So I'm flying out there, Roy. At your company's expense.

[Roy]

Now, just a minute.

[Johnny Doll]

Unless, of course, you'd rather pay off her insurance to some beneficiary.

[Roy]

Johnny.

[Johnny Doll]

Then just be sure to have a rental car waiting for me when I pull into the airport.

[Adam Graham]

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

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[Carl Shelton]

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[Brian]

Please.

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[Sergeant Friday]

Did this parking lot have a waterfall?

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