Dragnet - Big Fall Guy

0:00Chesterfield brings you dragnet for a smile in your smoking by Chesterfield smoother cooler best for you ladies and gentlemen the story you're about to hear is true the names have been changed to protect the innocent you're a detective sergeant you're assigned a robbery detail the owner of a small delicatessen reports that he's been robbed he says the thief casually walked out of his store and disappeared your job find him put a smile in your smoking next time you buy cigarettes stop remember this in

1:03the whole wide world no cigarette satisfies like Chesterfield put a smile in your smoking instantly you'll smile you're approval of Chesterfield smoothness so smooth so satisfying you want them mild we make them mild mild and mellow with the smooth and refreshing taste of the right combination of the world's best tobacco so next time you buy cigarettes stop start smoking with a smile with Chesterfield smiling all the while with Chesterfield put a smile in your smoking just give them a try light up a Chesterfield they satisfy dragnet the document a 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

2:06police files from beginning to end from crime to punishment dragnet is the story of your police force in action with Sunday October 9th it was overcast in Los Angeles we were working the day watch out a robbery detail my partner's Frank Smith the boss of Chivity Techers Thad Brown my name's Friday as I'm away back from communications that was 3.48 p.m. when I got to room 278 robbery I got it Robert Friday get a second look at that pan yeah all right go ahead please all right I have it what happened how long go all right right away thank you I came into a delicatessen over on sunset took out a pretty big order a sack full of money for 15 p.m. Frank and I drove out to a small combination delicatessen and

3:10grocery on the corner of sunset and third the owner of the store Mr. Paul Clay pool told us that the robbery had taken place approximately 20 minutes earlier he said that the patrol car officer who had answered his call had left to make an immediate search for the suspect gave a real good description I did yes he said that kept my wets about me all the time that young hoodlums in the store I was studying him didn't let him catch all the course but I was making mental notes I wonder if you tell us just what happened Mr. Claypool how's that we like to hear about the robbery right from the beginning oh check it up on me sir making sure I give you the same store I gave another car oh no sir that's not the idea I told him everything that was to tell oh we like to hear it too that's all you ain't gonna hear nothing different than what he did oh would you tell us anyway well if that's how you wanted this year cook fella came walking into my store biggest life that's how I began I was about 20 minutes ago wasn't who might be twenty one or two but now depends on how long you've been talking to me yes sir what do you say when he came out then it fell off that's right nothing nothing that's what he said not a single solitary word I say he'd even open his mouth just handed me an

4:10envelope you know seal it was sealed up shut hmm go ahead struck me as being kind of peculiar what do you mean well lots of my customers bringing lists of things they're supposed to buy they don't see them at no envelope my instinct show was right it wasn't no grocery list as far from it presents up no inside hand printed it was I say on the one said well that would be nice yes sir take all of the money out of the cash register but it is a paper bag and hand it over that wasn't all you want to hear the rest if you wouldn't please don't do any talking don't try to stop me if you do I'll kill you I was the end of it do you still have this note mr. Claypool right over there slaying all the register what if we could see it please well that's up to you I guess hmm other cops said I wasn't a handle it on the kind of fingerprints we'll try to be careful with it help yourself take my place to take no chances on the strong valuable evidence yes sir well had it right didn't it word for word yes sir you

5:14sure did after you read this note what you do mr. Claypool I done just what it said you gave the money from the register that's right put in the paper bag in number eight what's that eight eight that that was the size of the bag oh how much money did you give them all there was an able to fifty dollars most of it in bills most I'd say a couple of ten see four five some ones the rest was changed all right what happened next I took the bag kind of grand and walked out look real pleased with himself did you see where he went left the store yes sir I mean after that turn down the street to get into a car I didn't see none you didn't try to follow no I didn't aim to stick out my neck none figure that was up to you follow that's right mr. Claypool you know if the robber had again must have did you see it hope but that's not said he'd kill me if I gave him any trouble yes sir must have had a gun if he aimed to kill me well stands to reason yes sir was there anybody else in here when he came in just me I don't do much business this time last noon and not on Sunday and do you ever seen this man before no not that I recollect I wonder if you describe him for us oh

6:17sure I told you I give him a real good ones hold him yes sir first all is a young fellow right around the old 20 I'd say husky about five ten maybe ways one seventy not that you understand you're just husky what about his coloring well I'm coming to that yes round hair medium brown kind of gray eyes medium complex I mean marks of scars no how is he dressed pants dark colored surge more unlikely new surge they look like there was part of a suit hmm couldn't see a shirt he had on a sweater yellowish with the one of them of them colors a choke show what's it fits all around your neck is he like so turtle neck sweater what was that what you call it yes sir curtain like well that's a right good name that's just what it looks like turtle poking out his neck yes sir there's anything else you can tell us about this man what have you gotten mine well mr. Claypool anything would help us identify well sir he acted real funny almost like he didn't know what he was doing oh time to look at me funny too hmm don't know

7:20how to put it into words exactly yes sir one of you come down the city hall for a few minutes mr. Claypool city hall yes sir we'd like to show you some mug shots if you can make an identification for us well that mean closing up the store I won't take very long well I guess it will help catch this fellow we appreciate it oh excuse me yes sir Claypool's done with the test man how's that who Friday that's for us sir oh here you are thank you this Friday yeah that's right how long go fountain yeah I got it thank you but we won't need you downtown just yet mr. Claypool change your mind huh yes sir what's that flower shop over on fountain yeah sounds like the same guy Frank and I told mr. Claypool we'd check with them later we left the delicatessen drove out to the Pringer for a shop on fountain and Selma 442 p.m. we talked to

8:23the victim Miss Norma Devaro she seemed to be extremely agitated she told us that a man had walked into the store about 430 and gave her a sealed envelope she showed us the note the envelope it contained and it appeared to be a duplicate of the note mr. Claypool had been given to this man saying anything to him mr. Devaro I I don't remember I don't think so what did you say anything to him oh I was too scared yes man how much money did you take I gave him all it was everything in the register I see but about how much would you say I'm not sure you see I don't work here I was just helping out the store belongs to my sister and brother-in-law I see they wanted to take their children for a ride this afternoon so I said I'd look after the shop oh I never should have offered I might have known something like this would happen I've had a funny feeling all day long that right it's a bad week for me anyway this whole week huh according to my horoscope oh you don't have any idea how much money was stolen mr. Devaro I don't think it was very much a few bills and some coins do you happen to know what day this is the day I mean yes man this is the ninth ninth oh I might have known she said to be especially careful on the ninth and the eleventh what am I pay more attention to that last reading it certainly

9:27cost me enough I miss Devaro you notice where this man went when he left the shop what did you notice where he went oh no I didn't pay any attention I was just so relieved that he was gone what if you describe him for us please well mr. Devaro I'm trying to think yes man it just comes up a blank his face everything about him well how's he dressed I'm terribly sorry I just can't remember well maybe we can help you was he wearing a coat or a sweater that's right a sweater I remember the sweater what color was it a right age I think I'm not sure what kind of a sweater would you recall that just sweater I guess how about his hair eyes and anything at all mr. Devaro well there's one thing I don't know whether it would do any good or not yes man I feel like such a fool not being able to remember where it was or when but I'm almost certain about it what's that I've seen him before Frank and I continue to question the victim she

10:33insisted that she hadn't met her seen the suspect sometime before the crime but she was unable to recall the circumstances 538 p.m. we drove both victims down to the city hall and asked them to go through the mug books for the purpose of identifying the suspect we've finished another book sergeant yes ma'am seems like you sure have enough of them yes sir I could only think where it was that I signed before yes I get you folks and coffee that sounds like a right good idea how about you miss what would you like some coffee too is Devaro that's it that's it I remember now his face everything about him it's the same man I'm positive it is it was when you mentioned coffee that's what brought it back to me yes ma'am I just when wasn't you saw this man oh let's see it was last week when I went shopping for a new coat Tuesday yes that's when it was Tuesday I was having lunch the fairway cafeteria in Hollywood yes ma'am well it was crowded and I was sitting alone he came by and asked if he could use the same table I'm glad I nodded and he sat

11:36down I didn't pay any attention to him not really I just went on and finished my lunch he was still eating when I left and anything else you can tell us about him I think he had on the same clothes he was wearing today the sweater anyway I remember the sweater real plain now I see now you're sure this was the same man or object oh yes I know it was that'll help won't it my remembering where I saw him well it might I'll bet he eats there all the time at that same cafeteria yes ma'am we'll check on that oh he does I just feel certain of it you'll see sergeant it was faith made me go into that restaurant and it was faith that made him set at my table yes ma'am was all part of a big plan our meeting like that and then him robbing me today was all part of a big plan so that you could catch him yes that's right and you will catch him don't you worry about that you'll catch him fates against him well it makes his even and then what so are we now that she remembered seeing the suspect before Miss Devaro confirmed Paul Claypool's description we asked the victims to continue going through the mug books they were unable to

12:38come up with an identification 6.31 p.m. Frank and I drove them home and we went off duty the next day October 10th 10.05 a.m. we interviewed the day cash years at the fairway cafeteria they couldn't recall any specific customer who answered the suspect's description 11.46 a.m. we went back to the office robbery Freddy gallery mm-hmm well thanks anyways right Sloan yeah says he can't give us a lead from the way those notes were printed huh well how about nearly lunch today all right with me where do you want to go well I don't care how about you the main difference to me we'll suggest something I told you doesn't mean difference well I don't know why it always has to be up to me Joe hmm where we eat why don't you decide once in a while all right fine let's go over that new Chinese place on Broadway for lunch well why not you don't want Chinese food for lunch Joe I don't of course not what do you got in mind I don't know hmm I'd end up making the choice sure as a problem isn't it well it gets

13:40kind of a not-nice that's all buddy yeah something to do for you it's just here well you the guys in handle robberies yeah it's right I've named two yesterday which to go to store on flower shop you know something about him do you yeah I know something well just what is it who robbed him I know who it was down this was me for a smile and you're smoking next time you buy cigarettes stop remember this it's today's biggest cigarette news Chesterfield is made the modern way with Accuré the Accuré controller is the greatest improvement in cigarette making in years and it's a Chesterfield exclusive this

14:40amazing quality detective electronically checks and controls the making of your Chesterfield giving a uniformity and smoking quality never possible before so buy Chesterfield today for the first time you get a perfect smoke column from end to end a perfect smoke column from end to end from the first puff to the last puff your Chesterfield smoke smoother from the first puff to the last puff your Chesterfield smokes cooler from the first puff to the last puff Chesterfield is best for you next time you buy cigarettes stop remember Chester Field is made the modern way with Accuré for the smile and you're smoking just give them a try light up a Chesterfield they said it's fine the man would come into the office answer the description would receive from the victims he was

15:42in his early 20 stocky billed about five ten brown hair and gray eyes he was wearing dark blue trousers in the yellow turtleneck sweater he told us that his name was Harvey Tilden that he lived in a rooming house on West Ivar he readily admitted the two robberies but he insisted he had not meant to commit the crimes I didn't know what I was doing that's all I just didn't know what are you trying to sell us were you drunk of course not I hadn't had a drink not even a beer well well he told me it was money they owed that I was collecting it for him who told you that stony who's stony well that's all I know him by stony and you were collecting money for him is that it uh-huh and you expect to buy that too don't you know I guess no one want to try giving us the truth well look now may I not the brightest guy in the world if I was I wouldn't be in this message I come to you in my own accord didn't I well maybe you got scared maybe you figured it go easier with you if you gave yourself up is not it yeah I guess I can't blame you for thinking that sure was a dumb drink well why'd you do it then because I didn't know because he told me it was just a job I was doing stony told you

16:45yeah yeah that's right my knowledge here to your way you know well you he said he worked for kind of collection agency you know where they go after them dead beach you know yeah well he said he had to have somebody to help him only part time but the pay would be good yeah offered me the work mm-hmm and I had a steady job lately sound kind of good to me yeah go ahead well I was supposed to meet him yesterday afternoon three o'clock he picked me up in front of the place where I live now drove me past that grocery store and parked around the corner give me an envelope and he told me to take it inside handed to a fellow who worked there he said I was to make sure nobody else is in the store on a county he didn't want to make the old guy feel bad by collecting the debt in front of somebody else you know yeah so I've done what he told me I'll give the old guy the note he give me the money and I took it back to stony well where was he while you're in the store around the corner like I said why didn't he go in with it you want to see

17:46if I could handle it myself on my own you know that's what he told me mm-hmm well then we we drove over to that there flower place same routine yeah only this time I got kind of suspicious you know yeah she acted so scared the lady there didn't seem to me to have to pay up a debted make somebody so scared I told stony afterwards he said it was just a act that they all put on like that mm-hmm you know what I I didn't exactly believe him so next place we stopped I opened up the envelope for I went inside and I read that there no yeah well I didn't know what to do finally I went back to the car and I really told him off stony I told him I was a new thief I told him he had to return all that money what did he say he just laughed at me he said I was the biggest pigeon he ever meant I said if he didn't take back the door I go to the cops he told me you throw me in jail that you never believe a word I told you mm-hmm what happened then I got out of the car I said I wasn't a cook and over was gonna make me be

18:49one mm-hmm I was heading right for the police station then I all I got to thinking I seem like maybe he was right that nobody would believe a story like this yeah so I went home all right why'd you come in today well I didn't sleep none too good last night it's kind of worrying me what I've done I think it maybe he'd find some other stucker lock me and pull that same stunt over again now I didn't want him to get away with it so I decided to take my chances all you guys huh I'm gonna get a short count now am I you know where the stony lives no he never said not to me and you don't always last night either or did you meet him at least Jim or on Olympic I hang out there sometimes you'll fight or I had some bouts here how'd you and stony get acquainted well I don't know it just start talking one day last week he come in for a steam bath and afterwards we're both watching some of the guys work out here's again on Saturday that's

19:50that's when he offered me this job what kind of a car is he drive Chevy so damn no coop hardtop last year's model you know the license no I'm paying no attention it wouldn't matter for dead I might you remember and things yeah can you tell us what stony looks like yeah why is a big fella shop dresser how old is it 35 maybe 40 what colors is here sort of red anything else scars anything like that no that's the whole story huh yeah you didn't know you were robbing those stores you didn't have any idea honest I didn't sounds crazy don't yeah it does Joe I'm not you for me yeah you wait right there tell me okay okay I must think we're pretty done expect us to fall for a line like that what you think is for I don't know it wouldn't be true I don't worry then heck of it is for such a darn full

20:50story Joe I just can't help believing it I'm a war so do I Frank and I continue to interrogate the suspect he maintained his innocence and we were unable to shake him we ran the name Harvey Tilden through our eye we had nothing on him we also ran the name stony through the moniker file when we came up with two possible we pulled them mug shots and showed them to Tilden he tentatively identified one of the photos James Brightstone but he wasn't positive we telephone Brightstone's last on address a small downtown hotel they told us he'd moved during the summer and they had no idea of his present whereabouts we checked the MV in our own vehicle records they reported that a late model Chevrolet was registered in Brightstone's name Harvey Tilden was held in custody for further questioning 408 p.m. Frank and I drove over to Hentley's gym on South Olympic and talked to the owner George Hentley Stony yeah that's right full name maybe James Brightstone we're not sure don't ring a bell in a fight game but we aren't sure how about a Harvey Tilden you

21:51know him sure sure I know he found here pretty often often on you still a little bottle at a perfect record six fights six chaos he was a punty before ever got in a ring Tilden says this is where he met his stony I could take a look at this picture what you've ever seen this guy before you got a man and you Jeff well I wouldn't swear to a guy look something like this he's coming in lately works out takes a steam bag you know is he ever asked he been around the day no not so far but it was the last time do you remember and the last week Friday Saturday you talking to Tilden no I don't know maybe guys come in here friendly type guys they all talking to each other right here's our card so this fella comes back he was called with you you want to talk to him okay he comes in I'll call you thanks sure I'm a real obliged and I feel like I got no people you can't be a waste of time though huh calling you you want to see this guy all you got to do is turn around what's that he just walked in the door Frank and I talked to the man George Hentley had pointed out he readily admitted that he was James Brightstone he also admitted knowing Harvey Tilden

22:52he said he had spent the previous afternoon in this room at the Jackman hotel with telephone to hotel but the clerk was unable to confirm Brightstone's alibi 5.31 pm we drove the suspect down to the city hall and continued our interrogation I look why don't you guys just tell me what it is you want to know spell it out in real big letters and I'll give you the answer same size where were he yesterday afternoon thought we already covered that let's go over it again okay boys I was in my hotel room well a clerk doesn't back up well does he say I wasn't there it was the last time he saw Harvey Tilden Saturday over at the gym not yesterday the gym is an open and sundays you know we're Tilden lives no you pick him up his rooming house yesterday didn't you so why would I be picking a crumb up like that did you offer Tilden a job oh that's pretty funny what's the joke I ain't got a job myself did you ever take Tilden for a drive boys I'm telling you the only place I ever seen the guys at least Jim yeah he knows what kind of a car you got oh making model well maybe you see me I didn't see him hmm oh look just Tilden fall he's a screw ball he don't even know what time it is whatever he told you to forget it well there are a couple things we can't forget yeah Tilden says you put him up to robbing two

23:53stars yesterday you couldn't he says you had him to work for you to collect some past due bills oh I this kid is really off his rocker isn't maybe well as I supposed to be what he was doing me these favors outside in your car waiting for him hmm go on boys you interest me what's about it and you'd pick up a guy in a funny story like that he look I'm getting out of here Tilden and the only guy who's not sit down bright stone all right you jokers prove any part of it we're gonna try to I like know how we got a team out right now checking the neighborhood of both robberies if anybody saw your car on those stores yesterday afternoon you got trouble I got news for you guys it don't matter where I was yesterday you can't tie me into these jobs we'll see matter of fact I'll give you a hand I might have been driving around those stores yesterday is that right yeah coming to think of it I went for a ride along about two o'clock slip a mind before sure not that I know where Tilden pulled his heist your dollar sure of course now then want to make you think you were in the vicinity well I'm not saying I was and saying I might have been yeah that's where I worry who knows it took me a real long drive what time do you leave your hotel two o'clock maybe what time to get back later how much

24:55later all right I tell you what I'm gonna give you guys a break good now I know you can keep this up for 72 hours and they got more important things to do so let's get it over with okay valley up to you okay okay okay tell them was given up to your square he was just a pigeon dumbest pigeon I ever ran into yeah go ahead well that's it you got it now what are you gonna do about it what do you think oh if you're smart you're gonna turn me loose yeah look let me give you a little advice free so Tilden was the fog I already admitted to you guys yeah but to nobody else anybody else asked me I didn't I have the whole thing so you might as well place smart you figure out a stick of me with this rap you got to have a sign confession I'm gonna give it to you well now maybe we won't need it boy you got the biggest rocks in your head Tilden was in those stores I wasn't he took the money I didn't you go in a court you come out look and dumber and he does that's my word against is you think anybody in a right mind is going to believe this boy you think he's the chance of convincing the jury believe my that chance he convinced us

26:03the story you have just heard is true the names were changed to protect the innocent on January 8th trial was held in department 98 superior court of the state of California in and fall the county of Los Angeles in a moment the results of that trial now here is our star Jack Webb the date June 19th the man in question father the gift for father's day Chesterfield make it a point to pick up a couple of cartons first chance you get it's the easiest way I know to put a smile and dad smoking and a nice way to remember a great guy the district attorney failed to issue a complaint against Harvey Tilden james hill bright stone was tried and convicted of robbery in the second degree two counts robbery in the second degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than one year

27:06you have just heard dragnet the 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 advisers captain jack donnohoes sergeant marty winds sergeant bandspracer heard tonight where Ben Alexander pick rodman Virginia Greg Eddie Firestone script by Frank Berks music by Walter Schuman hell kidney speaking watch an entirely different dragnet case history each week on your local nvc television station please check your newspapers for the day and time Chesterfield has brought you dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles this is it ellen m filters it stands out from all the rest nirical tip much more flavor ellen m's got everything it's the best notice the color of ellen m's miracle tip it's white pure white to give you the purest and best filter

28:08and ellen m gives you a rich good tasting fully satisfying smoke the kind you can get only from highest quality tobaccos by ell and m it's got everything flavor taste mildness and the best filter ell and m a courageous chaplain honored as mr citizen thwarts a prison break and converts a juvenile delinquent to a new way of life don't miss mr citizen this week check your local tv listings for time and station here dragnet next week same time same station here biography and sound on the nbc radio network