Dragnet - Big Affair

0:00The story you were about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Fatima cigarettes. Best of all, King size cigarettes brings you dragnet. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a robbery detail. An unidentified armed bandit starts a campaign of jewelry storehold ups in your city. The robberies are carefully planned, carefully executed. The bandit commits brutal attacks on each of the victims. Your job? Get him. The latest Fatima sales report shows thousands and thousands of King size cigarettes smokers are switching to Fatima. For the month of October, coast to coast actual figures show Fatima sales are up 110%. Or more than double.

1:03Fatima, best of all, King size cigarettes. Definitely the best quality in its class. But the same price to cigarette you're now smoking. Remember, thousands of Americans are switching to extra mild Fatima. Next time, insist on the best, King size Fatima in the distinctive golden yellow package. 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 transferred from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was Wednesday, March 10th. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of robbery detail. My partner is Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Didian. My name is Friday.

2:04There was 3.28 pm when I got to room 27-8. The robbery detail. You know, this is mentioned in Mr. Gordon. Folks would like to have him meet my partner, so I can fry him. How are you doing, glad and knowing? How are you, Sergeant? Mrs. Gordon, you feel a little better now? What did he say? You must have seen how he was feeling. He was very happy. He was very happy. He's a lot better now, Sergeant. Thank you. My French isn't very good, but it's a lot better than her English. The field has only been over here a couple of weeks. I met her when I was on occupation duty over there. We'll try to keep you on. We've got a few questions about the robbery. I think your wife might be able to help us. We'll try, Sergeant. We might help you anyway we can. Your wife was in the one-mastore besides its lurk at the time. But hold up. Like to have a tell us everything and happen if you would. Kisski at Tarevets alabijou Tarevets. Oh, yes. I can tell you everything. She said she saw everything that happened. What would you like to know first? How about to hold up, Mr. Gordon? Your wife got a good look at him. Can she describe him for her?

3:06Kisski at Tarevets. Her teeth are creed. Her lips are blue. They could be a blue, but it was a white, white, white. As if I was wearing a blue coat. My dark hair was in a very big man. She had any idea about how to call you. She said, how tall is she? Like that. She would come up to your shoulders and make you look like 80 kg. She can't say exactly how tall, Sergeant. She said he'd come up to about here on my shoulder about 5-4-8 I guess. She thinks maybe we're about 170 pounds. She's not sure. Well, do you ask exactly what happened at the store? That is as much as she can remember. She said, do you love exactly what happened? Well, I was in the office when I was in the office. She said, she was going to the bathroom to see if she could serve me. She had a revolver in her hand. She said she was standing by the counter-sizing when the whole of man came in. She said, the fellow went over to the clerk. The man who was waiting on her. She said, I had a gun in his hand. Would you ask her to go on the plane?

4:07A upgrade, you see? She forced the bathroom to give him all the jewels and the money in a bag of paper. She said the whole of man made the clerk get up the jewelry. The guy took it and dumped it in a paper bag. She sealed the A up bag. She saw his own after he saw all the jewels and he put it in the bathroom with the revolver. It was horrible, it was horrible. It started to create and then he beat me. It was all in his hand. It was horrible. Well, after he got all this jewelry in the paper bag the thief began beating up on the clerk. She said for no reason at all, it began plugging the clerk with a gun he was carrying. It really got nasty with him. It really scared the wife and she let out a scream. He turned around and hit her. It says it's all she remembers. She's like to get my hands on the lovelies. I understand how you feel, Mr. Gordon. Could you ask your wife for anything else about the whole of man? There she is. To write, tell the thief that the thief proposed to the clerk. Have they sealed the case of the thief's death? No, no, they're not. How about the man's clothes? Did she remember anything else he was wearing besides that blue jacket?

5:09No, I don't think he was wearing a fancy dress, but I don't remember anything else. She thinks maybe he had a dark trousers, she's not sure though. She was too scared to notice. She was poor, she was too young. No, he didn't have a hat. He was wearing your hat, she said no, she sure of that. Say well, there's anything else that she can remember about him, anything at all. And at Phil's other show at school, the police do well. Do you know what? No, I'll tell them everything. You got it all, thank you. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Gordon. Mrs. Gordon. I don't understand. How's that, ma'am? I don't understand. Why did she say that? She says she can't understand how a man like her does such a thing. She means how he cut up the clerk that way. Well, school clerk that? So hard for her, she just can't understand. Tell her we can't eat her. Two weeks before on the 27th of April, a 2.30 in the afternoon,

6:11the robbery suspected begun its campaign of downtown jewelry store holdups. Since that time, in the same general area, he'd succeeded in committing three more jewelry robberies and making good his escape. Each of the holdups netted more than $3,000 in rings, diamonds, and other precious stuff. From his emol, it was obvious that he was experienced. All of the robberies were committed in broad daylight. All of them were apparently well planned. After obtaining a loot which he dumped into an ordinary paper bag, he turned on his victims and with no provocation beat them viciously. After two weeks of investigation, we had yet to come up with a solid lead on either the identity of the suspect or his whereabouts. We had a fair description of the holdup, ma'am. We had a good run to the jewelry store. We had a good run down on his method of operation, but repeated checks on possible suspects through the record bureau, CII and Sacramento, and through our statisticians office failed to get us anything. There were no kickbacks on our all points bulletproof. After we interviewed Mrs. Gordon, the witness to the latest jewelry robbery,

7:12we were no further along a little or two weeks before, and they're all in the description. Neither one of them were giving us much help. 4.05 pm, we met with Captain Dittian. How are the mud books, any luck there? They didn't ask you for it, but their husband is checking through them nothing yet. What else are you going to work on? We're going through the stats office. Third one this week might get us something. A store manager on that job was after them, did you talk to him? Yeah, we did. He gave us the best lead we've had so far and the thing looks pretty good. We had him checking the mud books, and he came up with a partial identification from one of them, fan-quent reliefs. Now, Gakmeanard has only been arrested once here at Grunk Charge, done time up at Q for robbery before. Better not pull the package out of it. We figured we ought to still be serving time at Quetal. Couldn't tell from his record, though. Now's that. Most possibly might have been parole the last month or so. I'd put him in line for these hold-ups. You check, Quentin. We've got to tell the fact that the ward is over. It's late this morning, Skipper. We have answered pretty soon. Best lead we've had so far, I hope it stands up. Excuse me. Rob Ray Dittian.

8:13Yeah? Oh, yeah, I'm out here, is not it? No, you're on the cat upstairs. Yeah, that's right. Over the weekend, anyway. You all right, Gakmeanard? Well, what's the answer? He's had three weeks. He's cleared four jobs. Every one of them in broad daylight. More than $10,000 for other stuff. Now, how do we reach him? How about some extra men, Park Skipper, Kim, and Managing? What do you got in mind? Steak ox seems to be the best angle for us. This time we said that. How many teams you figured it'll take? Oh, doesn't any of you figure that, Joe? Yeah, it's just about. The thief seems to be concentrating on the downtown area. All four hold up through in the same general neighborhood within a 20 block radius. We can't cover all of your storage with a dozen teams. It'll give us pretty good coverage, though. You sure help our chances. You can check out all the other angles, huh? Everything. Not doing us much good. Rob Ray Dittian. Yeah, just a minute. You, Friday. Oh, Friday. Yeah, Friday talking. Yeah, that's right. Mm-hmm. That's all.

9:15No, we'll pick it up. Thank you. Let's communication. It's just got an answer in that teletype equipment. On Jack Menon, what did they say? No way. He's still in prison. We went back and started again from the beginning. With our best lead gone, there wasn't any alternative. The following day, Thursday, March 11th, the Steak ox went into effect. A dozen jewelry stores in the immediate downtown area, all of them potential hold up victims were placed under constant surveillance. Three days passed. Nothing happened. No sign of the hold up, man. We stayed on it. Tuesday, March 16th, 11am. At a small downtown jewelry shop, three blocks from the nearest Steak ox team, the bandit committed this the successive robbery and made good escape. The M.O. in description matched in almost every respect. Ben and I answered the call and go to the scene of the hold up, the interviews of income. A Mr. Walter Myers. He came straight back this way. He's just what I'm looking. I was at the end of that counter there, just where you are. He had a brown paper bag in one hand,

10:16and it was just a couple of feet from me. He put his other hand in his coat pocket and he came up with a gun, pointed to write at me. Doar was empty at the time for no customers around? Yeah, that's right. Just myself and my son were all heard in the back room. I guess he heard the Steve talking to me and he came out to see what it was all about. That's when the fireworks started and what happened. Well, he made her blind up along the counter right next to me. By this time he had all the loody wanted and the paper bag he was carrying. Just when I thought he was going to leave, he turned around all of a sudden. He said to her, you think you're a smart guy, don't you? Then he slugged her with the gun. Brody right down on the side of his head, all this might. Oh, well the fight started, is that right? Just about, yeah. Herb fell down on one knee. There was a great big gash on the side of his face. Even when he was down, the thief kept slugging her, kept pounding him in the face with that gun. Herb wasn't doing anything. I got good and sore. What happened Lord? Well, I didn't care what happened. I just got sore at the lousy crook. I made a dive for him, grabbed him around the chest. There's something like this.

11:17Yeah. The two of us went down on the floor and I wrestled him for the gun. That's when it went off. A wild shot. Flod right into the wall over there. Herb picked himself up and piled on the guy too. I guess the crook really must have figured he was through, fought like a wild man. I had a good hold of the top coat he had on, but he slipped right out of it. He grabbed his gun and the paper bag ran out of the store, left me there holding an empty coat. So this is the coat he was wearing right here, is that right? Yeah, that's it. You can see one of the sleeves there. They almost ripped the clean off crime to get away. Yeah, I see. I already looked through the pockets. Nothing in it. Now, how about this description of the man, Mr. Myers? You're pretty sure of that, are you? Yeah, I'm positive, Sergeant. Man, you want to call a crime lab and use a phone booth right over there, you mind? Oh, yeah, I think. I wonder if I could check that spot with a bullet hit, Mr. Myers, that wild shot he fired? Oh, yeah. Right over here, Sergeant. Back in the casher.

12:19Yeah, I bet it in there pretty solid. Yeah, lucky it was the wall, not one of us. Say, I got a pocket knife here if you want to dig it out. No, sir, we've got a crew on the way out from our crime lab. Ballistics, man, they'll take care of it. I would like to take another look at that topcoat, the one that the thief was wearing. Oh, yeah, sure. I already looked it over pretty good. Nothing in the pockets. Couldn't find anything. Hey, here. All right, sir. Just no ordinary topcoat, isn't there? No label on it. Nope, right, nothing in the pocket. Oh, what is, do you find something? Oh, no, sir. It feels like a hole in the pocket here. Good size, sir. No, no. Yeah, why am I on the way? Should be in a couple of minutes. Okay, fine. Anything at all in the coat? Well, I don't know, here. Seems to be a hole in this pocket here. It's possible something might have dropped down into the landing with a coat. Yeah, let me hold out that in. All right, thank you. I'm going to hold it up a little. That's fine, I guess. Like this?

13:19Uh-huh. Yeah. It feels like something down in here. What is it? It's just a minute I get my hand down in there. See if I can get it. Yeah. Here we are. Uh-huh. A scrap of paper. It's a writing line. What is it, Jim? Telephone number. The phone number printed neatly on the scrap of paper was crest view 92085. There were no other notations. We checked out the number and found that the telephoto was installed at 6414, cord overdrive in the Las Vegas district. After the crime lab crew arrived at the store, then a man took the bandit's top coat and drove to the address listed to the phone number at 12 unit apartment house on the corner of Franklin Avenue in Fairfax. The number turned out to be a public phone booth located in the lobby of the apartment. The manager could tell us nothing. We began checking with the tenants on the first floor of the building. We gave them the description of the jewelry store abandoned. We showed them the top coat. They failed to recognize either one.

14:19We started on the second floor at the end of the hall. The tentacles are Mrs. Iverson. You recognize the description of the door and the service and anything to you? Yes, I'd say it's the exception. We tried the apartment mixed door and the King's apartment. Oh, no, ma'am. Why do you ask that? Yes, almost sure, Avax. Yes. I've seen a man who looks like this, but in there several times. You are listening to Dragneth, authentic stories of your police force in action. Millions hurt it. Yet only 52 have written, starting on Dragneth over two months ago, on September 20th, to be exact. Fatima made a special money back offer to more than 10 million listeners. The results? Amazing. Millions hurt it. Yet only 52 have written, if you smoke King-sized cigarettes.

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16:25March 16, Tuesday, 2.48 pm. Ben and I went next door to the apartment where a man answering the description of the jewelry store bandit reportedly had been seen several times. We ran, but there was no answer. We went back and checked with the manager of the building who told us that the apartment was registered to a Miss Lennore King. He told us that as far as he knew, Miss King worked during the day and that she usually returned to a apartment between 7 and 8 o'clock at night. The manager gave us the address of the place she worked and we checked it out. It was an exclusive gift shop on La Siena Gabullavard in West Hollywood. We located Lennore King back at the main packing desk where she was employed as a gift wrapper. When we put the question to her that a man answering the description of the jewelry store bandit had been seen visiting her, she readily admitted it. Yes, that's right. I'd say look just like that. He dropped by my apartment four or five times a month with names Marty. What's his last name, Miss King? What's your final name? Sorry, I never did know his last name. I swear I don't know where you can find him either. Well, how's that, Miss King? He's visiting you quite a bit. He's a friend of yours, isn't it?

17:26Not exactly. I know him. That's about all. He's a friend of a friend that's more like that. Excuse me. I'm sorry, this package has a rush on it. I have to wrap it now, do you mind? No, man, you go out ahead. About this man, Marty, Miss King, you mind explaining a little more? If you don't know him well, why should he visit you so often? Well, I want to tell you the truth. It's more of a favor than anything. It's for a genius. She's my girlfriend. I don't know. I wish I never got mixed up in it to begin with. Why do you mean mixed up with what? Well, it's confidential, Sergeant. I just assumed not to mention if you don't mind. Well, I like to have you tell us everything you know about it. It's a pretty important matter, man. Well, I didn't know really how it started. I mean, how the two of them got together, Marty and Virginia. It just met, I suppose. Virginia fell in love with him. She had to find somebody out. How's that? Virginia. She was crazy about Marty. I guess she still is. They didn't want to get on with Vogue. I need a one of them. From Maddie, can I wait? Could I have a sooner or later, Sergeant? Yes, here he is, though. Well, two of them want us to see each other once a week.

18:28It's enough for Virginia, she says. She loves him and it's our account. So the one who know where Marty lives, what he does, anything about him, I guess he's the same goes for Marty. And see, so the two of them get in touch with each other through you, is that it? That's right. Usually once a week, maybe once every two weeks. I just assume that's not the best if you don't mind, though. I can give you Virginia's a grasp. She can tell you more about Marty than I can. You have no idea where we can locate the man. I'm sorry, none of all. The only contact I have is when Marty phones me or when it comes around, he leaves a message for Virginia where to meet him and when and then leaves. I really think you ought to talk to Virginia about it, though. There we are. One thing I don't quite understand, ma'am. It's girl from the yours, Virginia. You say she's in love with his fellow, Ma'am? We have crazy about him. And why are they playing this high to seek if they're in love? Why don't they come out and get married? What's the problem? Virginia. What? She's already married. Before we left Lamar King, we advised her what the situation was. In the event the suspect Marty contacted her, she was to get in touch with us immediately.

19:29She gave us her promise that she wouldn't disclose our conversation with her. We left her our card and she gave us the address of her girlfriend, Virginia Brewer, who was a South Argyl Street address, but Mrs. Brewer wasn't at home. 8.15 p.m., we drove to a place of employment, a valley nightclub out along Ventura Boulevard, where she was appearing in the floor show. She was a dancer. We located her backstage waiting to go on. You must have some other girl in mind, Oscar. I don't know anyone by the name of Marty. You sure about that, Ms. Brewer? We got it from a pretty good source. No, I'm sure I don't know where you got it, but it's long. The name isn't familiar at all. We'll told you this anyway. Close friend of yours, ma'am. She seemed to know what she was talking about. I got a wife who knew that. Lamar King? Lamar! How did she tell you a story like that? We wouldn't know, ma'am. Place it to truth. Of course it's not the truth. I don't know any Marty. I don't even know what this is all about. She says you know the man, Mrs. Brewer. She says you're in love with him. She seemed to have all of the details. Now is there any good reason why she tell lies about you? I don't know. Do you believe what she told you?

20:29Yes, ma'am. We do. Unless you can prove it's a lie. I'm sorry. That's my introduction. I have to fall off. Oh, I have to go away. I have to go away. I have to go away. I have to go away. I have to go away. I have to go away. I have to go away. I have to go away. That's my introduction.

21:29Be right there. I have to take another ball. Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead. I have to go. I have to go. I have to go. You want to come back here, Officer? Yes, ma'am. We can talk there. All right, big time. Good. And here. Thank you. Well, I... Well, there's many points. I'm trying to cover it over. Only one thing I'd like to ask you. Yes, ma'am. My husband doesn't have to know, does he? I mean, whatever there is to this, you don't have to tell the papers, do you? You can keep it quiet. Whatever your tell us will be strictly confidential, ma'am. All right. I know, Marty. I've known him for six months. I know I wasn't lying. I'm loving him. Well, we're not trying into your personal life, Ms. Brewer. We just like to locate this man, Marty. That's all. It's pretty important. Why is it important? Why are you wanting? Well, I'll bring investigation. Ma'am, would I have to get hold of him for an interview?

22:30Probably. I think Marty's done something. Is that why you want it? We're not sure. Do you have any idea where we can find him? No. And where the Nanoar. I guess she told you about it. I mean, Marty and I have to be in. How's it been? You have no idea where he stays or where he works? No, I don't. It's been that way from the beginning. The Nanoar knows as much about that as I do. Only one way I can get in touch with him. That's when he leaves a message at the Norse. I leave a message. He first met Marty and I. And that's the way we both wanted it. He doesn't want to get on the ball. Because my husband hid him either. Have you seen this, Marty, late Lea and Ms. Brewer? Yes. About ten days ago. I expect to see him again soon. I don't know. I suppose so. He'll leave a message for the Norse. He wants me to call it and go on. Could you leave a message for him, Mr. Lino? Yes, I suppose so. I have to wait any longer. Can't you tell me more about it, Sergeant? Why do you want him? What's it about? We're going to have to ask your cooperation, ma'am. Your friend's a robbery suspect. I think he's a pretty good one. Marty?

23:30Yes, ma'am. And the next time he contacts you, the next time he sets up a date with you, we'd like to know where, we'd like to know when. You think he's guilty? You really think he's done something? Not he's a suspect, ma'am. That's all we know. I guess you know I told you. I love him. Love him more than anyone. Not make me different. Man. Not make me different. I love him. Even if he is guilty, he won't make me different. A will to him. 855 PM. We continued questioning Virginia Brewer. Before we left, we got her promised that in the event the man known as Marty contacted Hershey would notify us immediately. 920 PM. We checked back in at the office and made arrangements to keep the home of Virginia Brewer under constant surveillance, as well as the apartment of her girlfriend, Lamar King. The following morning, we checked with a ballistics man at the crime lab who examined the slug, which had been taken from the wall of Walter Myers' jewelry store, the latest of the hold up man's victims. It was identified as having been fired from a 32-calibre revolver. The slug was marked and filed as evidence.

24:32Thurough examination of the top coat with the suspected left behind of his last hold up, failed to yield any new leads. The jewel trays at the store which had been held up were also checked for fingerprints. A week passed, no sign of the jewel thing. Wednesday, March 24th. I'll grab it. All right. Robert and Merle. Oh, yes, yes, ma'am. Well, when was that? All right. Fine, yes, ma'am. Thank you. Bye. You got anything? That's friend of Mrs. Brewer's in North King. Yeah. So this was a muddy cold a few minutes ago, or... Set up a date with Mrs. Brewer. I suppose the minute of the North Department went eight o'clock tonight. 4.45 p.m., we checked with Captain Diddy and then set up a plan to have the apartment building, where the North King lived, thoroughly covered that night. Car and Matthews were assigned to cover outside the main entrance. Michaela Ben Olson would cover the lobby. Ben and I would be in the apartment proper along with Mrs. Brewer and LaNor King.

25:33By six o'clock that night, we were all in position. We waited. 6.30 p.m., 7.30 p.m., we waited. Mrs. Brewer walked the floor with a drink in her hand. 7.45 p.m., 7.50 p.m., Ben watched at the window. Virginia Brewer got nervous. You can't prove it. You don't know anything for sure. How I know you're not trying for a frame, trying to blame Marty for something he didn't do. We're not blaming him for anything. Mammies are suspect we want to talk to him, that's all. Why don't you sit down, how big can you know you're getting up, said it'll be all right. Come on, I got him all over the place for the horse. Car. Waiting for Marty, what am I supposed to say? Why don't you relax, Mrs. Brewer? If he's not the man, you got nothing to worry about. He's right, honey. Sit down, huh? Let me freshen up that tree. Good, Joe. Yeah. Car pulling up outside the sit down. I'm not going to say it. Right in front, see? Man getting up. He's coming in here. Marty. Can't see, we must be inside.

26:37Marty. Marty. What did you tell me? Well, I have downstairs benchy, what happened to him? It'll be all right, honey. Take a seat, it'll be all right. I didn't know. Sorry, but why did you do it? Do what, ma'am? Marty. I didn't know about it. I didn't know anything about each other and this has to happen. Why didn't he tell me? I wouldn't know. I love him. The rest I don't know, but I love him. He was in trouble, he could have told me. He loved me, what have told me. He would have told me everything. I guess maybe you got the answer. What? He didn't love you. He didn't love you. He didn't love you. The story you've just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On June 29, trial was held in Superior Court Department 91,

27:40city and county of Los Angeles, state of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Now here is our star, Jack Webb. Thank you, George Feneman. Friend, the man who sells you your Fatima's, your neighborhood cigarette dealer, and the very good man to go see during the holiday season. When you drop in, notice Fatima's new poster. It's a reminder that he has Fatima's and smart Christmas carton. Now this Christmas season, I'm buying Fatima's for all my friends. I suggest you do the same. You'll be giving the best and believe me, they'll thank you for introducing them to Fatima quality. It's extra mildness and better flavor in aroma. Remember, ask your dealer for Fatima in the distinctive new Christmas wrapper. When you see it, you'll agree if the smartest of all Christmas cartons, just as it should be, because Fatima is the best of all King-Sai cigarettes. The suspect Martin Arthur Kessington was wounded,

28:43but not fatally, when he attempted to resist arrest. After interrogation, he dictated a sign statement admitting guilt for all five of the jewelry store holdups. He was tried and convicted on five counts of first-degree robbery, and received a sentence as prescribed by law. Robbery in the first-degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a term of five years to life. 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. Watney Arboros, Sergeant Ben Romero, also heard with Nick Paren and Virginia Greg, scripted by Jim Moser, music by Walter Schumann. Hellgivly speaking. Fatima cigarettes, best of all King-Sai cigarettes, has brought to you a dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles.

29:44Next, cover spy fights international intrigue on NBC.