Loading...
About this Episode
https://www.solgoodmedia.com - Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free! Dive into the captivating world of classic crime-solving with "Dragnet Radio," where each episode brings to life the thrilling police investigations from the original 1950s radio series. Join Sergeant Joe Friday and his partners as they navigate the mean streets of Los Angeles, unraveling complex cases with meticulous detail and unflinching determination. This podcast not only revisits the groundbreaking drama that set the standard for all future police procedurals but also explores the cultural impact and historical significance of one of the most influential shows of its time.
Hosts & Guests
Transcript
You're having a good time, you're out drinking with the boys, now it's time to pay the
tab.
Well, there are court costs, attorney fees, higher insurance costs, damage to your car,
do you why fines?
Not to mention the damage to your social life, plan a sober ride or pay the price.
Drinking and driving costs more than your drinks, it could cost a life.
One more at What'sTheDamage.org, brought to you by Virginia DMV.
Most people would rather attend a corporate team building workshop than search for auto
and home insurance.
That's why the zebra searches for you, comparing over 100 insurance companies to find savings
no one else can, compared today at the zebra.com.
Finding great candidates to hire can be like, well, trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Sure, you can post your job to some job board.
But then all you can do is hope the right person comes along, which is why you should
try Zippercrooter for free.
At zippercrooter.com slash zip.
Zippercrooter doesn't depend on candidates finding you, it finds them for you.
Its powerful technology identifies people with the right experience and actively invites
them to apply to your job.
You get qualified candidates fast, so while other companies might deliver a lot of hey,
Zippercrooter finds you what you're looking for.
The needle in the haystack.
See why four out of five employers who post a job on Zippercrooter get a quality candidate
within the first day.
Zippercrooter, the smartest way to hire.
And right now, you can try Zippercrooter for free.
That's right.
Free at zippercrooter.com slash zip.
That zippercrooter.com slash zip zippercrooter.com slash zip.
Sound off, or Chesterfield.
Chesterfield, low and nicotine, highest in quality, best for you.
Chesterfield brings you dragnet.
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 forgery detail.
For the past six years, a forger has been working in your city.
The victims describe the suspect as a woman.
Our MO is simple, but it continues to work.
Your job, stopper.
Mokers by the thousands are now changing to Chesterfield.
No wonder.
More and more smokers are learning this fact for themselves.
Chesterfield, low and nicotine, highest in quality.
A published fact proved by chemical analyses
of the country's six leading cigarette brands.
Chesterfield, the only cigarette ever with a record like this.
Regular or king's eyes.
Chesterfield is best for you.
Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime.
For the next 30 minutes in cooperation
with the Los Angeles Police Department,
you will travel step by step on the side of the law
through an actual case transcribed from official police files.
From beginning to end, from crime to punishment,
Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.
It was Friday, September 18th.
It was warm in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of forgery detail.
My partner's Frank Smith, the boss's captain Welsh.
My name's Friday.
We're on our way out from the office, and it was 10.42 a.m.
when we got to the ninth floor of the Beckworth Department
store, the credit manager's office.
Yes?
Would I like to see Mr. Donaldson, please?
May I say who's calling?
Sergeant Friday, Los Angeles Police Department.
Oh, yes, he's expecting you.
Just a moment.
Thank you.
Yes?
The gentleman from the police department
who are here, Mr. Donaldson.
Send him in, please.
Yes, sir.
You want to go right in?
That's the door.
Thank you very much.
Come on in, Donaldson.
Thank you.
Mr. Donaldson?
Yes.
I'm Sergeant Friday.
This is my partner, Frank Smith.
How did you do?
How did you do?
Sit down.
Thank you very much.
Do you want to tell us what this is all about?
Well, it's a little mother, again.
I've got the receipts here in the desk.
Sergeant Ferguson's still working on this case?
Yes, sir.
I talked to him the last time over stuck.
Usual type of things, Charlie.
Yes, children's shoes, dresses, sweaters.
Same as always.
I see.
Now, what if I can have those slips Mr. Donaldson?
Sure.
Here you are.
Thank you.
All made out the same day.
August 22nd.
Yes.
Our experience is that she usually comes in on the Saturday.
It seems that the store is more crowded there, isn't it?
Girls don't take any more time to verify the accounts
than they have to.
Can I see those gentlemen here?
Here you are.
What if we could talk to the sales girl who waited on her?
Sure.
I'll have a set up, fine.
Yes, sir.
As far as stolen, do you please have Mrs. Allen set up?
Yes, sir.
I know this here.
The only item to charge is not for children as a woman's slip.
Yes.
We've had a couple of them in the past.
Pieces of women's clothing.
I talked to Sergeant Ferguson about when they was here.
Did you get the bullet when we sent out this month?
Big pardon?
The bulletin was giving the woman's description
samples over handwriting.
Did you get it?
Yes, sir.
We did.
You've got to understand, Sergeant.
This is one of the biggest stores in the city.
We do a lot of business.
It'll be almost impossible to learn all of the sales girls
to watch for the woman.
Yes, so we understand that.
But where's the description sent to the children's department?
It was.
It didn't do any good, though.
If a woman charged large amounts, it might be easier.
But look at the sales slip yourself.
More dollars, shoes, three dollars, dresses.
Nothing to make a charge like that stand out.
We make sure that there's an account in the name
and then let it go.
Don't you use the charge of play system?
Yes, we do.
But if a customer wants to charge an item
and hasn't got the plate, we usually just verify the account
and let them sign the sales slip.
Well, how about identification?
Well, normally, we do ask for it.
Because as I said, these sales are such small amounts.
And the woman comes in when the store is crowded.
The girls just call the credit department,
let us sign the receipt.
I see.
Excuse me.
Yes, sir.
Yes?
Miss Ellen here.
Oh, all right.
Just a moment.
Yes, sir.
A woman who waited on her is out in the office.
Do you want to talk to her in here?
Well, we don't want to take up any more of your time,
so we can see her out there.
All right.
Is there anything else you need?
I'll be here.
Yes, sir.
Oh, officer?
Yes, sir.
You know what?
I feel a little funny about this thing.
Why is that, sir?
Well, a thing she's charged.
That's it.
A thing she's taken.
There are almost all kids' clothes.
It doesn't seem to be interested in anything else.
Total amounts of the article she's taken.
Don't add up too much.
It's the principle of the thing more than the value.
It just seems that the only thing she's interested in
is the children.
And it feels a little funny to call a piece
about a person like that.
Yes, sir, we understand.
We've got a lot of us going on.
But the others, they take things for themselves.
Ruggish, you know, expensive items.
But she doesn't.
Just one kid.
She doesn't seem to be at all interested in herself.
Well, we are.
Yes, well, I suppose so.
Well, I'll be here if you need anything more.
Thank you, Mr. Donaldson.
Thanks very much.
We'll be in touch with you.
You'll bring the sales slips back, won't you?
Yes, your sales.
We've had the chance to photograph them.
Well, I hope you can do something about it.
Yes, your should away.
Thank you very much.
Anything you need, you should let me know.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Yes, the moment.
Mrs. Allen?
Yes.
This is the police officer.
How are you doing, ma'am?
I'm Sergeant Friday.
This is my partner, Frank Smith.
Hello.
How are you doing, Ms. Allen?
Do you want to sit down over here, please?
Yes, all right.
I feel just terrible about this.
Ma'am.
All this forgery thing.
Are you weighted on the woman, did you?
Yes, the police in the little girls department.
What if you get a scriber for us?
Well, she was a little woman.
I'd say a 10.
How's that again, ma'am?
A size 10.
Five, one, about 105 pounds.
Two to the button.
Did she have the children with her?
No, no, she didn't.
I thought it was a little funny at the time,
but as I say, we were so busy with the school rush
that afternoon that none of us girls
had a chance to really think about anything.
Yes, ma'am.
What color hair did she have?
Kind of sandy color.
Guess she's called a blonde.
Warred up in a bun.
You know, back here, you know?
Yes, ma'am.
The other girls noticed it long.
Look nice.
Difference in all the other short haircuts.
Kind of old-fashioned in the home.
Yes, ma'am.
How was she dressed?
Not very well.
Hello, blue hat, dark coat.
Color came up like this, you know?
Slash pockets.
Nice, but not expensive.
Can I say, ma'am, now would you know her if you saw her again?
Oh, my, yes, your hood.
Well, we'd like you to come over to our office
and look at some pictures, if you would.
All right.
I'll have to talk to the floor manager.
We'll take care of that, Ms. Darling.
All right.
Do you think that you might have a picture of her?
We don't know.
I kind of hope not.
No.
I hope you don't have a picture.
I guess it's a little simple to even think of it,
but she had a reason for what she did.
I'm sure of it.
Why do you say that, Ms. Darling?
Officer, I've been selling for a long time.
I met a lot of people in that time.
Nice ones and nasty ones.
And believe me, this is one of the sweetest people
I've ever served.
I understand that you call her the little mother, right?
Well, we don't, ma'am.
That's what the newspaper's color.
Well, it fits her to a tee.
Right to the tee.
Where she bustled around those dresses, looking, testing.
She was just like a mother-in trying to find something for a brood.
Little doll, cute as a button.
She just got to have a reason for what she's doing.
Sergeant Friday?
Yes, Mr. Darling.
I'm glad I caught you.
I think we've got it, sir.
The little mother is downstairs now.
Most people would rather tend a corporate team building
workshop than search for auto and home insurance.
Go team, feel that synergy.
That's why the Zebra searches for you,
comparing over 100 insurance companies
to find savings no one else can.
Compared today at the Zebra.com.
Who's ready for the truss fall?
Finding great candidates to hire can be like, well,
trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Sure, you can post your job to some job board.
But then all you can do is hope the right person comes along,
which is why you should try Zippercrooter for free.
At zippercrooter.com slash zip.
Zippercrooter doesn't depend on candidates finding you.
It finds them for you.
It's powerful technology identifies people
with the right experience and actively invites them
to apply to your job.
You get qualified candidates fast.
So while other companies might deliver a lot of,
hey, Zippercrooter finds you what you're looking for.
The needle in the haystack.
See why four out of five employers who post a job
on Zippercrooter get a quality candidate
within the first day.
Zippercrooter, the smartest way to hire.
And right now, you can try Zippercrooter for free.
That's right, free at zippercrooter.com slash zip.
That zippercrooter.com slash zip.
Zippercrooter.com slash zip.
Finding great candidates to hire can be like, well,
trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Sure, you can post your job to some job board,
but then all you can do is hope the right person comes along,
which is why you should try Zippercrooter for free.
At zippercrooter.com slash zip.
Zippercrooter doesn't depend on candidates finding you.
It finds them for you.
It's powerful technology identifies people
with the right experience and actively invites them
to apply to your job.
You get qualified candidates fast.
So while other companies might deliver a lot of,
hey, Zippercrooter finds you what you're looking for.
The needle in the haystack.
See why four out of five employers who post a job
on Zippercrooter get a quality candidate
within the first day.
Zippercrooter, the smartest way to hire.
And right now, you can try Zippercrooter for free.
That's right, free at zippercrooter.com slash zip.
That zippercrooter.com slash zip.
Zippercrooter.com slash zip.
So the last six years, the same woman
had been operating in the downtown department stores.
During that period, she'd forged a total of $1,300
with a merchandise that we knew of.
Because of her MO, there was no way of telling how much more
had gone undetected.
The operation was a simple one.
She'd had her a store, go to one of the departments.
There, she'd pick up articles of a peril,
mostly for children, and then ask to charge them.
She'd explain that she'd forgotten her charge of plate
and after the account had been verified,
she'd sign the charge slip.
These slips would be put in the mail to the people
who maintained the account, and it wouldn't be until they
noticed a discrepancy that we'd be notified.
Usually, a month would pass between the time the clothing
was taken, and we were told of it.
In the six years, that the little mother,
as the newspapers had dubbed her, had been operating,
almost every team of detectives in the forgery detail
had worked on the case.
Statements from sales girls would wait it on her were taken.
Photo stats of the sales slips were made.
Witnesses were interrogated.
And then when the sum total of actual physical evidence
was weighed and sifted, there was
no lead to the identity of the forgery.
The police department had gotten outprinted bulletins
and copies of composite drawings of the suspect,
and these had been distributed to all department stores
in the area, but because of the suspect's appearance
and the way she operated, none of the victims
became suspicious in time to notify us.
The department stores protectively was working with us,
but they met with the same dead ends that we'd found.
Meanwhile, the evidence continued to pile up.
The operation continued to work.
When the manager of Beckworth's department store
told us that the suspect was in the store,
Frank and I were able to come up with the first concrete lead
we'd had since we'd been working on the case.
And the company of the manager in the saleswoman,
Mrs. Myra Allen, Frank and I went down to the boys' department
where the suspect was reported to be.
Down this way, yes, sir.
The girl said she was over with a boy's suits.
I hope they were able to hold it.
Just a minute, yes, sir.
I know I don't have to tell you, gentlemen,
about the store's liability in a situation like this.
No, sir.
Now, I'm sure it's her, but it could be very embarrassing
and expensive to the store if we make the mistake.
All right, sir, we understand.
Good.
Over here.
Mr. Donaldson?
Mr. Donaldson?
Yes, Mrs. Franklin.
Why is she?
It's not my fault you've got to believe that.
What's the matter, Miss?
Don't tell me you're going to stop the wrong person.
You've caused trouble with an innocent party
and she could sue the store.
I'm sorry, Mr. Donaldson.
Where is the woman, Miss?
That's what I'm trying to tell you.
Yes, ma'am.
She wouldn't wait.
A quick search of the immediate vicinity
in the store failed to turn up the suspect.
The department store security staff was notified
and a watch was put on all of the doors.
The credit department was notified and they took action.
We checked with the elevator operators.
We found one that told us she'd seen a woman
who answered the description, get in her car.
She explained that the woman seemed to be in a hurry
and had left the elevator as soon as it had reached the main floor.
A further check of the store netted us nothing.
The suspect had escaped.
In the downtown crowds, it would have been almost impossible
to try to find her on the streets.
However, an additional broadcast carrying a complete description
of the clothing she was wearing
was gotten out to all cars in the area.
The first good chance we'd had for apprehending her was gone.
We had to go back to the legwork and the waiting.
Three months passed.
During that time, Frank and I cleaned up a series
of counterfeit payroll check cashings.
Another 30 days went by without activity for the little mother.
There were four new sales slips added to the file.
But when the leads resulting from these were checked out,
we were no closer to her than we'd been six years before.
Thursday, December 17th, 12.55 p.m.
I checked into the office.
Joe, that's you?
Yeah.
What do you got?
I'll just talk to Skipper.
Yeah.
Got a couple more beefs about the little mother.
Want to come in this morning?
Why?
Don Myers got him.
He's checking the handwriting.
Well, how about the name she used?
Wait a minute.
I got him here in my book.
There they are.
Mrs. Norris Farrow.
Mrs. James Sleggle, I guess it is.
Mrs. Ross Neiman.
I called the stores and got the information on these people.
Did you talk to him?
Yeah.
I asked all the routine stuff.
None of them can think of any friends who match the description.
How about the things she charged, anything there?
No.
There's a lot of items.
See, a pair of Levi's for kids.
One child's cotton dress.
There's one thing different.
What's that?
Well, I checked the sizes of the clothes.
Last bunch of sales slips we had.
The dresses were for a 10-year-old.
Yeah.
This time she bought them for a 12-year-old.
Kids are getting bigger, Joe.
Yeah, that's a big help.
All we got to do is look for a couple of kids that are growing.
Well, I'll just try to help, Joe.
No, I mean, it just doesn't seem to be anywhere to go.
All the time we've put in, all the people we've talked to.
All we got for it is a file drawer.
A file drawer, all to ourself on the thing.
I get it.
Forgery, Friday.
Who?
Yes, ma'am.
Mm-hmm.
Yes, ma'am.
I remember.
Where is she now?
Let me see.
Yeah.
We can be right over.
Yes, ma'am.
Bye.
Bye.
All we got it.
What do you mean?
That was Mrs. Allen.
Remember the sales lady over at Beckworth's?
Oh, yeah.
I think I do.
What do you have to say?
Tell me she's having lunch in the restaurant
and she's not expecting to be sitting next to her.
102 p.m.
We checked out of the office and drove over to the restaurant.
It was located at the rear of a large drugstore.
When we came into the place, Mrs. Allen met us at the entrance.
She took us back down the counter and pointed out a small woman sitting on the last stool.
That's her.
You sure, ma'am?
I'm positive.
That's her.
All right.
Let's go.
Yes.
You want to wait here, Mrs. Allen?
Certainly.
Something you gentlemen want?
We're police officers, ma'am.
We'd like to talk to you.
Police?
Yes, ma'am.
You want to step over there to talk?
Might be better.
If you want to say anything to me, you can say it right here.
I haven't done anything wrong.
What if we can see your identification?
Why?
Your identification, ma'am.
Could we see it?
All right.
Just a minute.
I've got my purse.
Getting terrible.
I don't know what you officers are trying to find out.
But I'm going to tell you right now.
If you can't prove you've got a reason for making me do this, you're in trouble.
We're not making you do anything, ma'am.
We don't want to cause you any embarrassment.
I'm a funny way of showing it.
I want to tell you that my husband knows people in this town when he hears about this.
Oh, here you are.
Here's my driver's license.
Would you take it out of your wallet, please?
Here.
Mrs. Evelyn Nelson?
That's who I am.
Is this your present address?
No, it isn't.
We moved a few months ago, but I haven't had a chance to have it changed.
Is that all you want?
No, Ms. Nelson, it isn't.
I wonder if we could talk to you in our office.
Why?
I always thought you had to arrest people before you could order them around.
We're asking you to come over to the city hall with us if you're well, ma'am.
A few things we'd like to check out.
What things?
I wonder if I can see what you've got in the bags here.
What are you looking for?
Do you mind if we take a look?
Well, they're just some clothes for my children.
Nothing in there to interest you.
I wonder if we wouldn't hurt if we looked what it is.
Go ahead, you won't find anything.
You want to take a couple of each pack?
Yeah, I got it.
Well, what about it?
You find anything wrong?
Maybe it's done.
No, ma'am, but I want to keep explaining this.
What's that?
It's charged slip here.
Signed by Mrs. Ross Neiman.
Certainly.
That was probably in the bag when I bought the things.
I don't know anything about it.
All right, Ms. Nelson.
Fred, we're going to have to ask you to come with us.
On what charge?
The suspicion of forgery.
You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action.
At cigarette dealers.
Inventing machines.
At supermarkets and stores, coast to coast.
Chesterfield, peace.
Smokers by the thousands.
Yes, smokers by the thousands are now changing to Chesterfield.
They only cigarette ever to give you one proof of low nicotine, highest quality.
Chemical analyses of the country's six leading brands confirm that.
Two, the only cigarette ever to give you this proven record with smokers.
Again and again, over a four year and one half.
A group of Chesterfield smokers have been given thorough medical examinations.
The doctor's reports are a matter of record.
No adverse effects to the nose, throat and sinuses from smoking Chesterfield.
A responsible independent research laboratory supervises this continuing program.
Chesterfield.
They only cigarette ever with a record like this.
Chesterfield.
Best for you.
We return the suspect to the city hall for questioning.
While Frank checked her name through the files, I tried to get her to talk.
For 20 minutes, her attitude was one of surprise and she answered the questions I put to her with indignance.
Finally, she lapsed into silence and wouldn't we fly at all to further interrogation.
Frank came back from on eye with the information that there was no arrest record for Mrs. Nelson.
We put out calls to the sales girls who had waited on a little mother in the past and asked them to come down to the office to see if they could identify the suspect.
Yes, ma'am. Room 29.
Yes, I'm right in the first read entrance, turned left into the police department.
That's right, ma'am. There's an arch there. Go right through it.
Straight down the hall of the right.
Well, it's the only way you can go.
It's on the left as you go down the hall.
That's right, 29.
If you last for Sergeant Friday, you're off to Smith.
No, ma'am. Smith.
That's all right, ma'am. We'll expect you. Goodbye.
I'll call the next one.
Yeah.
You know, you'd save yourself and us a lot of trouble if you tell us the truth, Mrs. Nelson.
Mrs. Nelson?
Hello, ma'am. I think we'll miss Brundage, please.
And children's wear. Yes, ma'am, I will.
Hang up the phone.
Big part.
You don't have to go through this anymore.
All right, ma'am.
Do you want to tell us that?
Mrs. Nelson?
I only did it for them, the kids. I didn't want it.
How do you think I felt when I knew I was stealing? How do you think I felt?
You want to go ahead?
My husband calls a good man.
What he's done, he thinks is right. I can't quarrel with him.
But he doesn't know he doesn't understand.
It isn't that he doesn't love the kids he does. He really does.
It's just that he doesn't understand. You can see that, can't you?
He doesn't understand about them.
Do you even have a handkerchief?
I came away this morning without one.
Yes, ma'am.
Yeah.
Thanks.
I want to go ahead, please.
All his life, he's worked.
Put in long hours without a thought of what he was doing to himself.
Every nickel.
Every nickel he made was put away so I'd be able to feel secure.
So he wouldn't have to worry about anything.
It was all right when we first got married.
I could understand it then.
I went along with what he thought.
But the last few years, it's gotten to be an obsession with him.
The almighty dollar, that's all, it seems important to him.
What kind of work has he has been doing, Mrs. Nelson?
He owns a grocery store.
Small place, but it does good, makes a good living.
Only we aren't living, we're existing.
He gives me $10 a week to run the house and buy clothes for the kids.
I've tried, Lord knows I've tried, budget meals, cheap cuts for me, day old bread.
Anyway, you spend it no matter how you figure $10.
This doesn't go very far.
Well, I'm Mrs. Nelson, didn't you talk to your husband about it?
Didn't you ask him for additional money for the expenses?
Yes, I'd ask him.
And he'd tell me if I had to make do, all the time, make do,
just a little longer until he had the money in the bank.
And we'd be all right.
Only the mort went on the worst it got.
It didn't seem to make any difference how much money we had.
I was told in the past book when he wasn't satisfied.
Had to be a little more, a little more.
I guess I'm feeling sorry for myself.
But you see, he could afford to buy the kid decent clothes.
At least that.
He'll agree with me, don't you?
Well, that's hard to say, man.
Not for me.
I'll never forget the day when my boy came home crying, been fighting.
One of the other boys at school had said something about the patches on his clothes.
Just a little kid that's all he was ridiculed by his friends.
That's when I made up my mind to do something about it.
Does your husband know anything about your activity?
No, nothing.
How'd you explain the new clothes for the youngsters doing?
I didn't have to.
Last year he's been working so hard at the store I hardly ever see him.
The kids don't hardly know him.
He even spends Sunday at the store dressing the windows.
How many spends all his time there?
Every minute he's not asleep.
He let one quirky head go so we could save the money.
Always save the money.
It doesn't make any difference who gets hurt.
Get that dollar and put it away.
That's what...
Put the dollar away.
You know something officer?
What's that, Miss Nelson?
I haven't been able to sit down and talk to my husband for six weeks.
Six weeks.
He gets home at 12.30, one o'clock in the morning.
He's up and gone at 6.30.
Kids are always asking when Daddy's coming home.
How do you answer him?
How do you make him understand?
I can't.
I've tried the only way I know how.
And I did it so wrong.
All right, Miss Nelson.
We'll try to work it out.
Can I use your phone?
I've got to tell the children what to do about dinner.
I'll call for you if you like.
Man, what's the number?
Hollywood 9844.
Where's your husband now, Miss Nelson?
At the start, I guess you're going to call him?
I think we should, man.
I don't even know what's happened.
I guess so.
Somebody's got to take care of you.
Hello, I'm calling for Mrs. Nelson.
I wonder if I can speak to her son.
Mrs. Sergeant Friday, Los Angeles, please, department.
Who?
Yes, no.
She's down here now.
Room 29.
All right, fine.
Was that my boy I wanted to talk to him?
No, man.
That was your husband.
He's on his way down here.
2.14 p.m.
Paul Nelson walked into the office.
Frank and I took him and his wife to the interrogation room.
She'd asked us while we waited for him.
If we'd let her talk to him for a few minutes alone.
We stayed out in the hall, and after a brief wait,
Paul Nelson opened the door and asked us to come into the room.
His wife had evidently told him a full story
because he was visibly shaken.
He walked over to his wife and sat down beside her.
Oh, no, no.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
He told him a full story because he was visibly shaken.
He walked over to his wife and sat down beside her.
Well, I guess I've really done it, haven't I?
What do you mean, sir?
I'm really ruined everything.
Oh, my kids everything.
All the time it was happening.
I never knew.
I never had an idea.
Don't blame yourself too much, Paul.
But I should have known.
I should have seen it myself.
Even when you tried to tell me I was too busy to see it,
too wrapped up with the business.
It wasn't for me, Paul.
It was for the children.
It doesn't make any difference.
So it was for.
I'm the one who caused it.
I'm the one.
It's my fault.
I'm sorry, Evelyn.
How can I have them make it up to you?
Don't think about that now.
Paul, it won't do any good.
What's been done can't be changed.
How about it, officer?
Sir, what happens now?
Well, your wife's going to be given a preliminary hearing.
She'll have a chance to plead guilty.
She does.
The court will decide what to do.
What's the punishment for what she's done?
Well, according to Section 473,
the penal code is imprisonment in the state penitentiary
for one to 14 years or for not more than a year in the county jail.
Is there any way out of it?
What do you mean?
Anyway, you're getting Evelyn out of it.
If I went to the judge and told him why she did it,
if I told him it was my fault, would that make a difference?
I don't know.
I'd be up to the court.
But I could try.
Yes, sir.
If I paid the money back for all the things she's taken,
I can afford it.
I could go to the stores and pay him.
Maybe they'd feel different then, huh?
I could make it up to him.
Everything would be all right.
Well, it's been going on for six years, you know.
But if I did pay the stores back,
it would make it up to him, wouldn't it?
Maybe, but how about your wife?
What?
How are you going to make it up to her?
4.30 p.m., the suspect was released on a writ.
The next afternoon, Frank and I met with Mr. and Mrs. Nelson
and their attorney.
We talked over the case.
It seemed that the husband's change of heart was permanent.
He swore that he'd never give his wife
cause for unhappiness again.
Two weeks later, in Department 89,
the superior court, Mrs. Nelson entered a plea
of guilty to 14 counts of forgery.
When the court reviewed the circumstances
and was informed that Mr. Nelson intended to make full restitution,
the probation board recommended that Mrs. Nelson
be placed on probation for three years.
After the hearing, Frank and I had a brief talk with a couple.
They thanked us for our consideration and understanding.
Apparently, the cause of trouble between the Nelson's
had been erased.
Another two weeks went by.
January 22nd, Frank and I got back from lunch
and we checked into the office.
Here they are, here.
Mr. Friday, Mr. Smith?
Mr. Nelson, Mr. Nelson, how are you?
Just fine, Sergeant. How are you, too?
Fine, thank you very much, ma'am.
How can we do for you?
That's what we want to do for you, sir.
You got the boxes, honey?
Yeah, they are.
It's not much, but we thought that you'd like.
I made them ourselves to say thanks.
Look at that, Joe.
That's not necessary, ma'am.
You didn't have to do that.
No, no, we wanted to.
Tollhouse cookies.
He made a box for each of me.
Real good, lots of chocolate.
Well, that's very nice of you.
We just hope you'll enjoy him.
That's right, I'm sure we will.
Yes, ma'am.
How are things going with you?
Well, just fine.
Paul and I have gotten everything straightened out.
I help him out of the store now.
That way you've got more time to spend with the kids.
Things just couldn't be much better.
I would like to hear that.
The funny thing to say, Mr. Friday, but it's true.
The best thing that ever happened to us.
What's that, Miss Nelson?
Am I getting arrested?
The story you've just heard is true.
The names were changed to protect the innocent.
On January 8th, the meeting was held in the county probationers' office
in and fall to the county of Los Angeles State of California.
In a moment, the results of that meeting.
Now, here is our star, Jack Webb.
Thank you, George Fenerman.
Friends, we've been getting letters from people all over the country telling us
that they've switched to Chesterfield.
Just as I've been telling you, thousands of smokers are changing to Chesterfield
because only Chesterfield gives proof of low nicotine, highest quality.
That's why I recommend you try him today.
Regular or king-size, you'll find Chesterfield best for you.
At the end of three years, Mrs. Evelyn Margaret Nelson
had fulfilled the requirements of her probation,
and the case was officially marked closed.
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 Fan Sprecher.
Her tonight, we're Ben Alexander, Vic Rodman, Joyce McCluskey,
scripted by John Robinson, music by Walter Schumann.
Hell, give me speaking.
Watch an entirely new Dragnet case history each week on your local NBC television station.
Please check your newspaper for the day and time.
Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet, transcribed from Los Angeles.
Have you tried new cork-tipped Fatima?
It's the smooth smoke.
Here's why new Fatima tips of perfect cork,
king-size for longer filtering,
and Fatima quality for a much better flavor and aroma.
Remember, Fatima has the tip for your lips.
Try new Fatima.
See how smooth it is.
Fatima is made by the makers of Chesterfield,
Liggard and Myers, one of tobacco's most respected names.
This is the NBC radio network.
Warning, the following Zippercruder radio spot you are about to hear
is going to be filled with F words.
When you're hiring, we at Zippercruder know you can feel frustrated.
For Lauren, even, like your efforts are futile,
and you can spend a fortune trying to find fabulous people,
only to get flooded with candidates who are just fine.
F***!
Fortunately, Zippercruder figured out how to fix all that.
And right now, you can try Zippercruder for free.
At zippercruder.com slash zip.
With Zippercruder, you can forget your frustrations,
because we find the right people for your roles fast,
which is our absolute favorite effort.
In fact, four out of five employers who post on Zippercruder
get a quality candidate within the first day.
Fantastic!
So, whether you need to hire four,
40, or 400 people,
get ready to meet first rate talent.
Just go to zippercruder.com slash zip to try Zippercruder for free.
Don't forget, that's zippercruder.com slash zip.
Finally, that zippercruder.com slash zip.
Access to affordable credit helps me pay my employees,
that I don't really need it.
Infliction is killing me!
Who cares? Big retailers and making record profits!
That's why we support the Durban Marshall Credit Card Bill!
See, banks and credit unions help small businesses make payroll.
This bill would cut the vital resources they need.
While increasing megastore profits,
they deserve it.
Don't they?
Tell Congress, stop the Durban Marshall Money Grab for corporate megastores,
paid for by the Electronic Payments Coalition.
Finding great candidates to hire can be like,
well, trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Sure, you can post your job to some job board,
but then all you can do is hope the right person comes along,
which is why you should try Zippercruder for free.
At zippercruder.com slash zip.
Zippercruder doesn't depend on candidates finding you.
It finds them for you.
It's powerful technology identifies people with the right experience
and actively invites them to apply to your job.
You get qualified candidates fast.
So, while other companies might deliver a lot of hay,
Zippercruder finds you what you're looking for.
The needle in the haystack.
See why four out of five employers who post a job on Zippercruder
get a quality candidate within the first day.
Zippercruder, the smartest way to hire.
And right now, you can try Zippercruder for free.
That's right, free at zippercruder.com slash zip.
That zippercruder.com slash zip.
Zippercruder.com slash zip.
