Dragnet: The Big Safe (EP5034)

Summary

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The Great Detectives Present Dragnet

Episode: “The Big Safe” (EP5034)

Date: August 6, 2026

Host: Adam Graham
Original Air Date of Dragnet Episode: May 1, 1952

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Episode Overview

In this episode, host Adam Graham revisits the classic "Dragnet" radio episode "The Big Safe." The story follows Sgt. Joe Friday and his new partner, Bill Lockwood, as they attempt to catch a gang of professional safe burglars causing a crime wave in Los Angeles. The episode illustrates the meticulous police work required to eliminate suspects and ultimately capture the real criminals, focusing on authenticity and the day-to-day grind of police investigations. After the episode, Adam Graham offers commentary on the broadcast, its historical context, and its characters.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Setting the Stage: The Crime Wave

• [03:08-04:13] The Dragnet announcer outlines the context: a series of expertly executed safe burglaries plague the city. No leads exist on the professional crew responsible.
  • Quote: “The jobs are well planned, well executed. There's no lead to the whereabouts of the suspects. Your job: get them.” — [03:35] Joe Friday

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2. Routine Police Work: Eliminating Suspects

Interrogation of Charles Boyd

• [04:29-11:01] Sgt. Friday interviews Charles Boyd, who was picked up at dawn attempting to break into a drugstore. Initially, Boyd claims illness and the need for medicine.

• Boyd’s Story: He insists he just wanted something for his nerves, but inconsistencies and the presence of a crowbar make police suspicious.

• Police Method: Methodically challenge Boyd’s statements and compare his whereabouts with the timeline for the burglaries.

  • Quote: “Now you tell us how much sense it makes driving 10 miles to a drugstore at 4:30 in the morning.” — [08:05] Joe Friday

• Outcome: Boyd is revealed to be a narcotics user, attempting burglary for drugs, not involved in the safe jobs. He is ruled out after checking jail records for the burglary dates.

  • Quote: "Just about rules him out, huh? 9th and the 22nd he was in jail. He couldn't have had anything to do with those last two jobs." — [10:12] Suspect
  • Insight: Highlights the tedious but necessary process of vetting and discarding “possible suspects.”

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Interview with Mark Chandler

• [12:25-15:14] Detectives check up on Mark Chandler, a recent parolee working on a chicken ranch.
• Routine Checking: Chandler’s financial situation and alibis are thoroughly checked, with corroboration from his parole officer and family.
• Outcome: Chandler is found to have solid alibis and is eliminated as a suspect.

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3. A Lead at the Fix-It Shop

• [16:08-17:59] A Fix-It shop owner, Mr. Van Owen, reports a suspicious man named Ralph McKinley who requests a custom mechanical part, which the owner suspects could be used in safecracking.

  • Quote: “I've been tinkering around in this business long enough... I think it's a pull. Only one job they're any good for. Yeah, breaking into a safe.” — [17:50] Mr. Van Owen

• Efforts: Police set up a stakeout, but McKinley doesn’t return immediately.

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4. Another Burglary: The Big Break

• [18:59-21:23] Another safe job occurs at a liquor store beneath an apartment hotel. The burglars gained entry by tearing a hole in the floor of an upstairs hotel room.
• Clues: Items found include a button, an envelope addressed to “F. Gordon,” and clothing.
• From Descriptions: The hotel manager, Clyde Winters, recalls two young men (one with prematurely gray hair) and provides a crucial car license number.

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5. Closing the Net on McKinley

• [22:15-23:25] The suspect vehicle is registered to Ralph McKinley. Detectives find his address and bring him in for questioning.

• McKinley’s Demeanor: McKinley is evasive, denies involvement, but inconsistently references details only a guilty party would know.

  • Quote: “You're Getting nothing from me. I don't have any. Tell you a thing.” — [23:51] McKinley

• Forensic Evidence: The crime lab ties the clothing, handwriting samples, and a button fragment directly to McKinley and the safe burglary.

  • Quote: “The signature's in your handwriting, McKinley.” — [24:58] Joe Friday
  • Quote: “They ran tests on all the clothes... particles of fire clay from the safe that you broke into down below in the liquor store.” — [25:44] Joe Friday

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6. Breakthrough and Confession

• [26:01-27:36] Police confront McKinley with evidence and the news that his partner was apprehended and is talking. Realizing the case against him is airtight and that his partner may shift blame, McKinley finally gives up.
  • Memorable Line: “You got my story, cop. I was out of town. You can't prove I wasn't.” — [25:11] McKinley
  • Quote: "Better order up a stenographer, huh Joe? Ever ready to take the statement when they bring the guy in?" — [27:43] Frank Smith

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7. Epilogue: Justice Served

• [28:04-28:55] The narrator summarizes the trial outcome:
  • Ralph Arthur McKinley and his accomplice John Warren Hatfield are convicted on six counts of second-degree burglary.
  • Sentenced to "not less than one, nor more than fifteen years" per count.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Exhaustion of Routine Police Work:
  “For all practical purposes, we were right back where we'd started from two months before... In the final analysis, they meant nothing to the case. But... they couldn't be ignored.” — [11:01] Joe Friday

• Suspect Description Humor:
  “Few things stand out like prematurely, a graying man in his 20s, or at least few things did back in 1952. People have found a whole lot of other even more distinct ways to stand out.” — [32:00] Adam Graham (host commentary)

• Definition of Dragnet Style:
  “Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.” — [03:48] Narrator

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Adam Graham’s Post-Episode Commentary

• [31:16-32:40] Adam Graham reflects on the casting history, Frank Smith’s emergence as Joe Friday’s partner, and the thematic element of memorable (even oddly identifiable) criminals like McKinley.

  • Quote: “I don't think anyone should be a criminal, but that goes double A and triple A for those of us who are distinctly identifiable... Few things stand out like prematurely, a graying man in his 20s.”

• Graham speculates the police likely exaggerated the partner’s confession to coax McKinley, remarking it was perhaps a kindness, so he didn’t take all the heat himself.

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Key Timestamps

• [03:08-04:13] — Case introduction: Safe burglary wave context
• [04:29-11:01] — Interrogation and elimination of suspect Charles Boyd
• [12:25-15:14] — Interview and alibi check with Mark Chandler
• [16:08-17:59] — The Fix-It shop lead (Van Owen, McKinley’s request)
• [18:59-21:23] — The liquor store burglary, discovery of physical evidence
• [22:15-23:25] — Bringing in McKinley, initial questioning
• [24:41-26:28] — Forensic evidence presented, suspect wavers
• [27:06-27:45] — Reveal that the partner is caught and willing to talk
• [28:04-28:55] — Epilogue: Trial and sentencing
• [31:16-32:40] — Adam Graham’s commentary and analysis

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Summary Tone and Style

• The show maintains a dry, factual tone, “just the facts,” reflecting Dragnet’s signature style.
• Host Adam Graham’s commentary is friendly, enthusiastic, and gently humorous, offering retrospective insights.

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Takeaway

This episode exemplifies classic Dragnet: methodical, unsensationalized police work that slowly but inexorably closes in on the suspects. Through dead ends and laborious interviews, the detectives’ perseverance and teamwork ultimately pay off—with a little help from forensic science and a criminal who couldn’t help but stand out.

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Transcript

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first I 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 you can support the show on a one time basis by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, P.O. box 15913. That's P.O. box 15913, Boise, ID 83715 and you can also become one of our owners for as little as $2 per month at patreon.greatdetectives.net now here from May 1, 1952 is the big safe.

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[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

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 burglary detail for more than two months. A wave of safe burglaries apparently it's

[Joe Friday]

the work of professionals.

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

The jobs are well planned, well executed. There's no lead to the whereabouts of the suspects.

[Joe Friday]

Your job. Get them,

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

Dragnet. The documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, 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.

[Joe Friday]

It was Sunday, June 8th. Was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of Burglary Division safe detail. My partner's Bill Lockwood. The boss is Captain Wisdom. My name's Friday. I was on the way back to the office and it was 8:36am when I got to room 45. Burglary division.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, hi, Smith.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

There's a note in the book for us from the captain about your partner.

[Joe Friday]

Lockwood. Yeah, what's that?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Forgot to make that sick report on him yesterday. Did you call him? How's his life?

[Joe Friday]

I talked to him on the phone last night. Pretty bad ankle sprain. Doctor figures he'll be out for a couple of weeks anyway. Who's a fellow you got there?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Suspect Jones and McCready. Picked up on stakeout, drugstore, 3rd and Ventura.

[Joe Friday]

What do you got on him?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Grady says they picked him up about quarter to five this morning. He and Jones were staked out inside the drugstore. Saw this fella drive up in the car, get out and try the front door of the place. And he went around and backed the place, tried the back door. Then he came around in front again, tried to jimmy the door. Finally gave up, got in his car and started to drive off. Jones and McCready followed him, picked him up and brought him in.

[Joe Friday]

Where's Jones and McCready now, do you know?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I told him to go ahead home. No reason for him to hang around. We carried the thing from here.

[Joe Friday]

What have you done so far? Did you check him through R and I yet?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Call Frank Cunningham. He's doing it now. Hoyden. Address at 239 W. 92nd St. That's

[Joe Friday]

what he tells us, anyway. Is that your name, fella?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, that's my name. Saw my identification. No reason for me to lie. You can check me out. All right.

[Joe Friday]

Hold your hand up there. We'll get these cuffs off of you.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, sure.

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

All right.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

There you are. Thanks. Sure tired sitting here handcuffed. Sitting in one place.

[Joe Friday]

Frank, you want to tell Gaffney we'll be down in the interrogation room when R&I calls back. Tell him to transfer it in there, would you?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah. Okay, I'll meet you then. All right. Thanks.

[Joe Friday]

All right, boy, let's go. I can talk to you down the hall.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Hang on. Let's get this thing over with. I don't feel good. I want to get out of here.

[Joe Friday]

What are you shaking for? There's nothing to get nervous about it. You sick?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah. I haven't been feeling good at all the last couple of days. Wouldn't you know it, Alice smokes. Hey, say, would you happen to have a cigarette, please?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Here. Thanks.

[Joe Friday]

Here's a light for you.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, I got it.

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

Thanks.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

All right.

[Joe Friday]

Turn around a minute, will you? Let me look at your eyes, huh? Turn around. All right, let's go.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

It's okay, Joe. I told Gaffney. He'll put through the call tomorrow night.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, that's fine.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

You sure? This won't take long. I'd like to get out of here and get home.

[Joe Friday]

I've been sick for a week.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I ought to be in bed right now.

[Joe Friday]

We'll make it as fast as we can. All right, in here.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Have a chair board. Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

All right, mister, you say you're not feeling well, you're tired, you want to go home. So are we. We've been working all night. Now, how about getting the bottom of this thing?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Oh, sure, I'm all for it. Try to explain to the guys who picked me up. I don't know what it's all about. Ask me anything you want. Now, let's start it here. Boyd, what were you doing out there hanging around that drugstore at quarter to 5 this morning? It's the same thing I told the other officers. I was sick. I wanted to get something for my nerves. Jumpy as a cat. I couldn't sleep. And then the drugstore was closed.

[Joe Friday]

That was pretty obvious, wasn't it?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, that's right, it was. I just drove up there, tried the door, and I saw the joint was closed, so I left. That's all there is to it. Just what I told the other.

[Joe Friday]

No, that's not true, Boyd, and you know it isn't. You hung around the store for more than 10 minutes. You tried the front door. Then you waited a couple of minutes. You went around to the back. You tried to get in back there. You couldn't make it, so you came around front again. You tried to jimmy the front door, didn't you?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

No, no, that's. You got it all wrong. How about this, boy? This your crowbar?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

What about it? Just a car Tool used to fix flat tires. Carry it around all the time in

[Joe Friday]

the car to carry it on you.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

No, not all the time. I just happened to have it, that's all.

[Joe Friday]

Now, look. Boy, that's not gonna get it. The officers have picked you up. Saw you using this bar on the door of that drugstore. I thought you were willing to get down to facts. You were gonna square with us. How about it?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Sure. Sure, I'll square with you. I wanted to get over as much as you do. Just tell me what you want to know. All we want is the truth. This address on your id, the one you gave us, is that your true address? You living there now? Yeah, that's right. Check it out if you want. I'm not lying. No reason to lie.

[Joe Friday]

We think there is. This address of yours is just about 10 miles away from where you were picked up. Now you tell us how much sense it makes driving 10 miles to a drugstore at 4:30 in the morning.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Well, I had to. I was sick. It was the only place open.

[Joe Friday]

You're lying and you know it, Mister. You had to pass at least two all night drugstores on the way. Why couldn't you stop at one of those?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I didn't see any stores open. I was sick. I just kept calling till I spotted a place I thought was open. Looked at me like it was open. A lot of lights in the window. Inside the store, too. I didn't know it was closed till I tried the door. You usually tried doors with a crowbar board. Oh, look.

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

Look.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

What are you getting at? You think I was trying to break in that place?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's what we think.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Well, what for what? I want to break in there. I wanted to get something for my nerves, that's all. I wanted to find a drugstore. Why should I break open a place and just get a bottle of medicine?

[Joe Friday]

We don't think you were looking for medicine, Boyd.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Well, then, what was it? Well, what do you figure?

[Joe Friday]

This is what we figure, mister. You were going in that store to burglarize the safe. The area's the same. The time element's right. So is the type of business. The MO Matches right down the line.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I don't know what you're talking about. Six safe jobs in the last two. I don't know what you're talking about. It's the truth. I'm not a burglar. You got me wrong. I never touched a safe in my life.

[Joe Friday]

How many times you been arrested, mister?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Huh?

[Joe Friday]

How many times you've been arrested?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Well, A couple of times I've been picked up. Nothing serious, though. So help me, it's the truth. I never touched a safe in my whole life. It's not gonna do much good lying to us, boy. We'll get everything we need from records. I got a record. I ain't denying that, but I'm no burglar.

[Joe Friday]

Now, what were you doing at quarter of five this morning? Trying to get in that Dr. You're not a burger.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I tried to explain to you. I wasn't trying to break in. I needed some medicine. Something for my nerves. I thought the place was open. I'm a sick man. I swear in a Bible, officer. That's just the way it was.

[Joe Friday]

I get it.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah. Friday talk. Oh, yeah. Charles Boyd. Yeah, that's right.

[Joe Friday]

That's him.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

What do you got, huh?

[Joe Friday]

All the same. Let's see. Give me the last two. No, the last two arrests again.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

May 9th, May 22nd.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

All right.

[Joe Friday]

Cunningham. Yeah, thanks very much,

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Frank.

[Joe Friday]

You got that folder there, Those crime reports?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah. Here you are. What do you have to say?

[Joe Friday]

Boyd was in custody May 9, May 22.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

What was he in on?

[Joe Friday]

Narcotics. He's a user. Long record. It's all the same, though. Never been picked up for anything. But narcotics.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Just about rules him out, huh? 9th and the 22nd he was in jail. He couldn't have had anything to do with those last two judges.

[Joe Friday]

It's about the size of it.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

You guys straight now? I told you. You thought I was lying, didn't you? I'm no burglar. You know what my. I never touched a safe in my life.

[Joe Friday]

Just checking it out, Boyd. Sometimes it happens this way.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Sure. No hard feelings. Take off now and go home. I'm not feeling well at all. I guess it's okay.

[Joe Friday]

No, you just sit still, Boyd. You're not going yet.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

What do you mean?

[Joe Friday]

Red tab on your card down at the record bureau. Your last arrest, May 22nd. Violation state narcotics act. You went out on a fifteen hundred dollar bail. Yeah, that's right. It was all legal.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I paid for it.

[Joe Friday]

Why didn't you show up for your preliminary hearing? We got a bench warrant for your arrest.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Oh, no. They wouldn't do that to me, would they? I was sick in bed. I couldn't make it to court. You just look at me. You can tell, can't you? I ought to be in bed.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. You don't look good at all.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Of course I don't. I'm a sick man. Really sick. I'll be in a hospital.

[Joe Friday]

Well, maybe that's where they'll send you. We continued questioning the suspect, Charles Boyd, who finally admitted that he'd gone to the drugstore early that morning for the purpose of burglarizing the place to obtain narcotics. He told us it was his first attempt at burglary, and further interrogation proved beyond a doubt he had nothing to do with the current wave of safe burglaries. He was booked on the bench warrant, and narcotics detail was notified of his arrest. For all practical purposes, we were right back where we'd started from two months before, when the campaign of safe jobs first started. Boyd was just another in a long line of possible suspects who had to be tracked down and checked out. In the final analysis, they meant nothing to the case. But tracking them down and checking them out meant long hours of legwork, days, even weeks, and then more hours spent interrogating him. Boyd typified the possible suspect. He added nothing, but he couldn't be ignored. In the weeks that followed, stakeouts continued in the general area where the safe burglaries had been operating. No further lead. The investigation went on. On June 17, Frank Smith and I drove out to the San Fernando Valley to check a lead on a possible suspect we'd gotten from one of our informants. Was that the possible suspect, an ex convict by the name of Mark Chandler, who'd served time for burglary, had apparently come into some money recently through the parole office. We located Chandler on a chicken ranch just outside of Van Nuys.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, I've been out here almost three months now. Nice life. Pretty hard work, though. Got a few routine questions for you, Mark. Like we told you, we're from burglary detail. I guess you know why we're out here. Yeah, I think I get the idea. I admit there was a time when you wouldn't be very welcome, but right now it's different. Anything I can do to help. It's all right, folks.

[Joe Friday]

We're gonna lay it right on the table for you. Mark, you own this place, do you?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, that's right. Me and my brother.

[Joe Friday]

Where'd the money come from?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

My brother, he set the whole thing up.

[Joe Friday]

You say you and your brother. Whose money bought the place, Mark?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Well, my brother made the down payment. You can check on it. The whole deal went through escrow right down here at the local bank. What's the deal, anyway? Didn't you check with my parole officer? Yeah, we checked with Galloway. He told us you were still on active parole. You were running a chicken ranch. Didn't say it was for your brother. Though I thought I filled him in on it. I didn't have enough cash to swing the deal. My brother put up most of the dough. I only had 800 bucks.

[Joe Friday]

That's your car back there in the driveway, Mark?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

No, that's my brother's. Nice one, huh? Yeah, I got permission from the parole officer to drive. Say, would you mind walking back with me to the brooder shack? I got a new batch of Rhode Islands in this morning. Day old chicks.

[Joe Friday]

Gotta be sure the heat's right.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, all right. There's a lot of work around a place like this. I just built those pens. Eh? Uh huh.

[Joe Friday]

They're nice.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Good looking flock of chicks there, wouldn't you say? Four weeks old. Those are bar graphs. Notice how they're starting to feather out already. Getting nice and heavy. Make wonderful fryers, you know.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, that's all?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Oh yeah. Ed, just a minute. Look at that mash rack. They like fiends. I just filled that thing an hour ago. That's where the money goes, you know. That mash goes for better than five bucks a sack. Look, we don't want to take too much of your time, Chandler. We can see you're busy. We got a couple of dates we'd like to check with you.

[Joe Friday]

Where you were, what you did.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Oh sure, fellow. Just let me check the temperature in the brooder house here. It won't take a minute. Come on in. They're pretty cute when they're small, huh? Let me see here. Just look at that, huh Joe?

[Joe Friday]

Piled all over each other.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Must be more than a thousand of them. Yeah, at least. Yeah, just right. 89. Gotta watch em pretty close the first week. Fell up the road. Lost a big batch last week. Heating element in the brooder went out overnight. Oh, you gotta shove that door hard.

[Joe Friday]

Sticks a little. Yeah, I'll get it.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Okay. What else was it, officers? I'm glad to help you any way I can. Those dates we want to check, Mark, it was almost a month ago. The week ending May 7th. Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Can you account for your time on that weekend where you were, what you did May 7th?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Let's see. Yeah, I was here.

[Joe Friday]

You any way approving that?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, I think so. I started here 23rd April. Been here every night since. Anyone we can check with on that? Well, my brother and his wife, they were here. They can tell you. Neighbors too. They come over for cards on the weekends. Come to think of it, I remember my parole officer was out to see me one of those weekends. I'm pretty sure of it. You can check with him.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Mark. Thanks.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

What's the pitch anyway, Sergeant? Safe jobs around town, is that it? That's it.

[Joe Friday]

You heard anything, Mark? Any rumbles at all?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

No, sorry. This job keeps me pretty close to home. I don't get around at all. Maybe two, three nights a month. That's the only time I get out.

[Joe Friday]

That's all we're asking about. Before we left the suspect, Mark Chandler, we called his parole officer and he substantiated the fact that he visited with Chandler on the night of May 7, the date of one of the safe burglaries. We checked with his brother, his sister in law and the neighbors. And all of them fully corroborated his story. Before we left, we were satisfied that Chandler had nothing to do with the safe burglary. Was just another of the more than half a hundred possibles that we checked out in the course of the investigation. On June 22, we got a lead on still another one. It came from the proprietor of a fix it shop on West Pico Boulevard near Normandy. We drove out to interview him.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, just a minute, officers. Be with you in a minute. All right. Yeah, okay. Have to get these keys made. The lady will be back soon, says she needs them.

[Joe Friday]

What time you got, Frank?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

10 to 12. Getting hungry?

[Joe Friday]

I didn't have much breakfast. How about dropping by Felipe's?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

All right. Suits me. I could use a good French dip sandwich. Haven't been down there for a while. Well, all right, Officer. Sorry to keep you waiting. I had to get the keys done. I promised a woman.

[Joe Friday]

That's all right, Mr. Van Owen, but what was it you wanted to see us about?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Well, I don't know how to tell the truth. Maybe it's something. Maybe nothing at all. I just don't know. Figured I ought to let somebody know about it.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

The young fellow was in here the day before yesterday. Said his name was Ralph McKinley. Told me he lived around the neighborhood, but I don't think I ever saw him before. He didn't act right to me. Said he's an inventor. I doubt it, though. He just didn't look the part to me. Young fellow, you know, dresses pretty flashy. Never met an inventor that looked like that before.

[Joe Friday]

What did he want with you, sir?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

He wanted me to make up a piece of machinery for him. He said it was a special part of a new gadget he was working and brought in his own drawing of the thing. I got it down here someplace.

[Joe Friday]

What'd the young fellow look like? Would you remember that?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Oh, typical. Pool room Cowboy, I guess. About 29, 30 years old, thin size tall. Got a lot of gray hair for a young fella. Hair was almost gray. Here's the drawing. This is what he wants me to make up for. What do you think it's supposed to be? Ms. McKinley said it was part of a new hydraulic press he's working on. I got a few doubts about that.

[Joe Friday]

How do you mean?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I've been tinkering around in this business long enough to know what goes into a hydraulic press. Can't see where this thing fits in at all.

[Joe Friday]

What's your idea on it?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I think it's a pull. Only one job they're any good for. Yeah, Breaking into a safe.

[Joe Friday]

Before we left the Fix It Shop, Van Owen gave us a couple complete description of Ralph McKinley, the man who'd ordered the gadget made for him. We showed him several mug shots of possible suspects, but he was unable to make any identification. Van Owen told us that McKinley said he'd call back in about three or four days to pick it up. Except for the man's chance remark that he lived in the neighborhood, Van Owen had no idea as to his whereabouts. 12:10pm we drove back to the office and made arrangements for an immediate stakeout at the Fix It Shop. Then we checked the name and Description of Ralph McKinley through R& I and through the staff's office. It got us nothing. As far as we could find out, he had no previous criminal record. The end of the week came and went. The man known as McKinley failed to show up at Van Owens Fix It Shop to pick up the article that he'd ordered. 8 o', clock Monday morning, June 28th. We got the report when we checked in for work. Despite all precautions, another safe job had occurred over the weekend. This time at a liquor store on South Alvarado. The time the area and the MO Were generally the same. Frank and I drove out to the location. The store was located in the middle of the block, directly beneath an apartment hotel. Two of the rooms on the second floor of the hotel were situated above the liquor store. In one of these rooms, a hole had been ripped in the floor. A hole large enough to allow a man to pass through it and gain access to the liquor store directly beneath. After we checked over the room, we put in a call for Ray Pinker and the crime lab crew. Then we went downstairs to interview the manager of the hotel, the Clyde Winters.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, I rented that room Friday night. A couple young fellows, they checked in a few minutes before seven. I figure I'm a pretty Good judge of faces. It sure didn't look like thieves to me. How'd they register Mr. Winters? One signed his name was Gordon. The other one was Richardson, I think. The register's right outside on the desk. You can check it if you like.

[Joe Friday]

Yes, sir, we'd like to do that. When these two men, Gordon and Richardson, checked in here, did they have any baggage with them? Would you know that?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Oh, yes. Yes, they had baggage.

[Joe Friday]

They.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

They took most of it with them, though they left a few old clothes behind. They must have left for the back way sometime. Late Sunday night, I figure. Imagine tearing up the floor of that room. The lousy bums. I should like to get my hands on them. Did they have a car, do you know? Yeah, they had a car. I got the license number two.

[Joe Friday]

You think you'd recognize the two men if you saw them again?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Oh, I'd peg him in a minute.

[Joe Friday]

You sure that.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Are you boss? Do I. I'd know him in a minute. Especially the young fellow, Richardson. He couldn't have been more than 27, 28 years old. Hair was gray, almost completely gray.

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

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

[Joe Friday]

Monday, June 28, 8:55am the crime lab crew arrived at the scene of the latest safe burglary, the liquor store on South Alvarado, and began their investigation. The store was gone over thoroughly, as well as the hotel room directly above it through which the burglars had gained access by ripping a hole in the floor. In the store itself, a few feet from the safe, the men from the crime lab found what appeared to be a broken button, probably off a coat. They also found a crumpled envelope on the floor with the name F. Gordon on it written in pencil, along with the half a dozen pieces of clothing found in the hotel room. The items were taken back to the crime lab for further examination. 9:10am after we finished interviewing the hotel manager, Clyde Winters, Frank Smith and I returned to the office with a license number and description of the suspect's car, as well as exemplars of their handwriting which we'd obtained from the hotel register. We gave our DMV all the information on the car and they began an immediate check. The vehicle was registered in the Name of Ralph McKinley at a Bronson Avenue address. The legal owner was a local bank. We checked the Bronson Avenue place, but they told us there that the man known as McKinley had moved out seven months before. They had no information on his whereabouts. 10:20am we talked to the people at the bank which held the pink slip on the car. They told us that the last two monthly payments on the car had been mailed in from a Clifford street address. Frank and I drove out to the location. A one story duplex apartment building near the intersection of Clifford and Beverly Boulevard.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Nice units, aren't they? Growing up all over town.

[Joe Friday]

They seem to be, don't they?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I'll get it. Right. Yeah. Your name Ralph McKinley? Yeah, that's right.

[Joe Friday]

Police officers. You want to get your coat, McKinley, like, talk you downtown?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

What for?

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

What's it all about?

[Joe Friday]

Anybody else living here with you?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

No, just myself. Look, you mind tell me what this is all about? Got a few questions we'd like to ask you. It won't take long. I can't go with you now. I got a business appointment. Half an hour. I've been out of town the last couple of months. I'm due back on the job today. That's all. Yeah, I just can't spare the time. Appointments all day long. I got a whole flock of business I have to clear up.

[Joe Friday]

Well, that makes us even. Come on, let's go. Well, there wasn't much doubt about McKinley. He fitted the suspect's description almost perfectly. Tall, slight build, approximately 29 years of age. Prematurely gray hair. We went over the apartment, but there was no sign of anyone else on the premises. No sign of any of the loot taken in the burglaries. We checked the adjoining garage, but it was empty. The suspect refused to admit that he even owned a car. Frank got on the phone, called the office and arranged for an immediate stakeout on the apartment. When the men arrived, we drove McKinley back to the city hall and took him to the interrogation room. He was arrogant and uncooperative. We talked to him for a full hour, but he admit nothing. Frank left and went down the street to the crime lab to check with Ray Pinker on his findings. I continued questioning McKinley.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I don't care what the old man says. I don't know what you're talking about.

[Joe Friday]

He described you perfectly. He says you were in his fix it shop a little over a week ago. You told him you were an inventor. You ordered this gadget from him.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Here. I don't get it. What's that supposed to prove?

[Joe Friday]

Well, you admit you went to the old man. You had to make this thing up for you, didn't you?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I don't admit anything. Why should I?

[Joe Friday]

All we're looking for is a straight story. We're going to get it Sooner or later, McKinley. Might as well be now.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

You're Getting nothing from me. I don't have any. Tell you a thing.

[Joe Friday]

How about the hotel over on South Alvarado? You stayed there last weekend?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

No, of course not. Why should I go to a hotel? I stayed at my place.

[Joe Friday]

Thought you said you'd been away. You just got back in town.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Sure, that's what I said. I just got back last week.

[Joe Friday]

Well, then you didn't stay at that hotel in South Alvarado.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I told you I didn't. I don't even know the place.

[Joe Friday]

But you know Mr. Van. Oh, and the old fell at the Fix it shop.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I don't know him either. I don't even go near that end of town.

[Joe Friday]

What end of town?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

What are you talking about? Where you said the shop is.

[Joe Friday]

I didn't mention where it was. I asked you if you knew him, Mr. Van Owen, if you ever went to his Fix it shop to order anything.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Look, what are you lying for? What's the angle?

[Joe Friday]

No angle, McKinley. I told you. I like to have a straight story, that's all.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Well, you got it, mister. You heard everything I have to say. I don't know any old man. I don't know anything about that hotel

[Joe Friday]

Friday talking. Yeah, Don, how'd it go? Uh huh. I see. Yeah, we'll pick it up. No, we'll pick it up.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Right.

[Joe Friday]

Thanks a lot. You know, library good, McKinley.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Now, what are you talking about?

[Joe Friday]

That was our handwriting man. He just finished checking those exemplars of your handwriting we got from you. He compared him to a signature in the register at the hotel in South Alvarado.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I already told you, I don't know the place.

[Joe Friday]

Young fellow by the name of Richardson checked in there Friday night about 7 o'.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Clock.

[Joe Friday]

He signed the register. The signature's in your handwriting, McKinley.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, sure, that's right. I don't know the place. I never been there.

[Joe Friday]

Now, look, you're gonna have to do better than that, fella. The hotel manager's on his way down here now to identify you. So's Mr. Van Owen from that Fix it shop. Maybe you better piece together a new story, huh?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

You got my story, cop. I was out of town. You can't prove I wasn't.

[Joe Friday]

All right, McKinley. Anywhere you want it.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Joe.

[Joe Friday]

Hi. How'd it go?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Pretty good. Ray Pinker finished checking. I stuffed the crime lab. Here's a report on it.

[Joe Friday]

Thank you.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Just about sews it up, no doubt about it.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, you're right.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

All right, what is it this time? More of your phony charges? I want out of here. Can't be done, McKinley. Report on the clothes found in that hotel room. You know they're not my clothes. I wasn't even in the place. I'd say you were cleaning tags on a pair of trousers. One of the coats traced them through the dry cleaners to you. But a lie. I told you I wasn't in the place.

[Joe Friday]

There's something else here, fella. They ran tests on all the clothes they found in your room. They found particles of fire clay from the safe that you broke into down below in the liquor store. Your coat, your trousers, they were covered with the stuff.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Save your breath, will you?

[Joe Friday]

When you ripped up the floor of that hotel room, you picked up something else on the clothes. Particles of floor varnish, small bits of wood. They all tie in.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

You through?

[Joe Friday]

No, not quite. A piece of broken coat button we picked up a couple of feet from the safe. They matched it up with one of the buttons on your coat. A broken one. The pieces fit perfectly.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Kenley, how about it? You've got my story.

[Joe Friday]

No, you got a lot to explain.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I'll take my chances.

[Joe Friday]

What's the pitch, McKinley? You know you gotta come up with a story. Might as well be now.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

There's no story to it. I was out of town. I told you that. Why don't you get off it, mister? It's not gonna take much to make a liar out of you. You know that, don't you? Oh, look, why don't you get off my back, the two of you. I told you everything.

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

I'm gonna tell you.

[Joe Friday]

Sit down, McKinley.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I'm getting out of here. Sit down. All right, go ahead. I can wait it out as long as you can.

[Joe Friday]

I doubt that.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

I'll get it. All right. Medspacus. Oh, yeah, Jim. What is it? That right?

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

Fine.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah, thanks. Piece of news for you, McKinley? Yeah? Your partner came back to your place a few minutes ago. Our men picked him up. They're bringing him in now. That is news to me. I don't have any partner. I'm in business for myself. That's what your partner figures. Tell me. He claims you got all the money. Thinks you were trying to run out on him.

[Adam Graham]

Oh?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

What money? Look, I showed you my wallet. You know how much I got?

[Joe Friday]

Now we're gonna ask you just once more.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

You got it? There's nothing else to say. All right.

[Joe Friday]

Frank. Yeah?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Let's book him in. According to Rogers, his partner's willing to talk. We'll get the story from him.

[Joe Friday]

All right, McKinley, let's go.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

What do you mean, go where?

[Joe Friday]

Main jail. We're booking you in.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Come on, let's go. Go ahead, Frank. Yeah? What did he say anyway? This guy you say they picked up.

[Joe Friday]

Know your partner? Who told you what he said? Why? What's the matter?

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Nothing. Just that. Better order up a stenographer, huh, Joe? Ever ready to take the statement when they bring the guy in?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. It's a good idea,

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

Sergeant.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Yeah. Let's go back. I'll tell you.

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On September 19, trial was held in Superior Court Department 91. City and county of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Ralph Arthur McKinley and his accomplice, John Warren Hatfield. Were tried and convicted on six counts of second degree burglary. They received sentences as prescribed by law. Second degree burglary as punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year. Or by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not less than 1, nor more than 15 years. Ladies and gentlemen, to protect our nation and the free world against communist aggression. We must produce vast quantities of guns, planes, tanks and explosives. Defense of our country against aggression abroad and inflation at home.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Depends on our ability to fill both

[Narrator/Dragnet Announcer]

our military and civilian requirements. 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. Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Harry Bartel, Stacy Harris, Jack Crucian. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney, spe. There's more adventurous entertainment with Nightbeat next on NBC.

[Adam Graham]

John Daly here.

[Joe Friday]

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, Martin Milner was unable to appear. Whether it was illness or a scheduling conflict, we don't know, but given the short length of the Bill Lockwood incumbency, it's a bit unfortunate. Now, of course, Frank Smith would become Friday's new partner, although not Frank Smith as we hear him here. But it is fair to say that Webb was pretty well settled on that being the name. And Fairly quickly in June 1952, the Dragnet comic strip was launched and it featured Friday having a partner of Frank Smith. And that would be a theme where that would be the predominant name, even as they tried a couple different actors in the particular part. So it begins to look more and more like Frank Smith, whoever that's going to be. I do have to say regarding our criminal I don't think anyone should be a criminal, but that goes double A and triple A for those of us who are distinctly identifiable. I know that there are quite a few people for whom it's a bit of a pastime to look at local booking photos and people who really, really do stand out. And few things stand out like prematurely, a graying man in his 20s, or at least few things did back in 1952, people have found a whole lot of other even more distinct ways to stand out. Now, whether his partner had told all or not, there's a good case to argue or to imagine that they were making up a story to get a confession. I think they were doing the guy a favor, whether that was their intention or not. Because yeah, he was going to jail regardless because he was just too recognizable not to. But at least he didn't take the full heat alone. Alright, well now it's time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the day. And I want to thank Jeffrey, patreon supporter since October 2023, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks for your support Jeffrey, and that will do it for today. If you are 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 wear item 5.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

A buck and a half for a cab to 727 East 51st. A real fancy place. And the doorman wore enough gold braid to sink a battleship. I showed him my credentials and he had the elevator boy take me up to the single apartment on the whole seventh floor. Straight ahead, sir. Okay, thanks. I see the door is open like it usually is. But maybe you better ring, sir. Yes? Miss burling?

[Adam Graham]

Miss burlington.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Hello? Anybody? Eighteen Precinct Sergeant 1 Lieutenant Randy Singer and homicide.

[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.

[Joe Friday]

Hi, Uncle Laser.

[Suspects/Interviewees]

Here.

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