Loading...
Loading...

Choice Classic Radio presents Dragnet, which aired from 1949 to 1957. Today we bring to you the episode titled “The Big Fall Guy.”
Please consider supporting our show by becoming a patron at http://choiceclassicradio.com
We hope you enjoy the show!
Welcome to Choice Classic Radio, where we bring to you the greatest old-time radio shows.
Like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, and thank you for donating at choiceclassicradio.com.
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 the whole wide world, no cigarette satisfies like Chesterfield.
Put a smile in your smoking.
Instantly, you'll smile your approval of Chesterfield's 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 tobaccos.
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 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.
With Sunday, October 9th, it was overcast in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of robbery detail.
My partner's Frank Smith, the boss's chief executive's dad Brown. My name's Friday.
I was on my way back from communications that was 3.48 pm when I got to room 27A.
Robbery.
Oh, I got it.
Robbery, Friday. Yeah, just a second.
Give me that pen.
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. Sack full of money.
415 pm. Frank and I drove out to a small combination delicatessen and grocery on the corner of sunset and third.
The owner of the store, Mr. Paul Claypool, 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.
He gave a real good description I did. Yes, he said that.
Kept my wets about me. All the time, that young Hitler was in the store, I was studying him.
Didn't let him catch on, of course, but I was making mental notes.
I wonder if you'd tell us just what happened, Mr. Claypool. How's that?
Well, we'd like to hear about the robbery right from the beginning.
Oh, check it up on me, huh?
Sir.
Making sure I give you the same story I gave another cop.
Oh, no, sir. That's not the idea.
I told him everything that was to tell.
Well, we'd like to hear it, too. That's all.
You ain't going to hear nothing different than what he did.
Well, would you tell us anyway?
Well, if that's how you wanted.
This year, a cook fella came walking into my store. Biggest life. That time it began.
That was about 20 minutes ago, wasn't it?
Well, it might be 21 or two, but now it depends on how long you've been talking to me.
Yes, sir.
What do you say when he came in?
Bandit fella?
That's right.
Nothing.
What?
Nothing.
That's what he said.
Not a single solitary word, I say.
He'd even open his mouth, just handed me an envelope.
Yeah.
Sealed it was.
Sealed up shut.
Go ahead.
Stuck me as being kind of peculiar.
And what do you mean?
Well, lots of my customers bringing in lists of things they're supposed to buy.
They don't seal them in no envelope, though.
I see.
My instinct show was right.
It wasn't no grocery list.
There's far from it.
Is that so?
No insight.
And printed it was.
I see.
On the one that said?
Well, that would be nice, yes, sir.
Take all of the money out of the cash register, put it in the 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.
That was the end of it.
Do you still have this note, Mr. Claypool?
Right over there, slaying on the register.
What if we could see it, please?
Well, that's up to you, I guess.
Other cops said I wasn't a handle it on the kind of fingerprints.
We'll try to be careful with it.
Help yourself.
Ain't my place to take no chances on destroying valuable evidence?
Yes, sir.
Well, had it right, didn't it?
Word for word?
Yes, sir, you sure did.
After you read this note, what'd you do, Mr. Claypool?
I'd done just what it said.
You gave them the money from the register.
That's right.
Put it in the paper bag and number eight.
What's that, sir?
Eight, eight.
That was the size of the bag.
How much money did you give them?
All there was, and they were $50.
Most of it in bills.
Most, I'd say, a couple of tens, three or four, five,
some ones, a restless change.
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.
Turned down the street.
You get into a car.
I didn't see none.
You didn't try to follow him.
Nope, I didn't aim to stick out my neck none.
Figured that was up to you, fellow.
That's right.
Mr. Claypool, do you know if the robber had a gun?
Must have.
Did you see it?
Nope.
But let that note say they'd kill me if I gave him any trouble.
Yes, sir.
Must have had a gun if he aimed to kill me.
Well, it 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 afternoon.
They're not on Sunday either.
I don't.
Have you ever seen this man before?
Nope, not that I reckon with.
I wonder if you can describe him for us.
Oh, sure.
I told you I gave him a real good once holder.
Yes, sir.
First of all, his young fellow, right around the old 20, I'd say.
Husky, about 5'10, maybe weighs 170.
Not that you understand.
You're just husky.
Well, what about his coloring?
Well, I'm coming to that.
Yes, sir.
Brown hair, medium brown.
Kind of gray eyes, medium complex.
Any marks or scars?
Nope.
How was he dressed?
Pants, dark colored, surge, more and likely.
New surge.
They looked like they was part of a suit.
Couldn't see a shirt.
They had on a sweater.
Yellowish with the one of them.
Colors a choke show.
What's that?
It fits all around your neck.
Is he like so?
Turtle neck sweater.
Was that what you call it?
Yes, sir.
Turtle neck, huh?
Well, that's a right good name.
That's just what it looks like.
Turtle poking out of his neck.
Yes, sir.
Is there anything else you can tell us about this man?
What have you gotten mine?
Well, Mr. Claypool, anything that would help us identify him.
Well, sir, he acted real funny.
Almost like he didn't know what he was doing.
Kind of looked at me funny, too.
Hmm.
Don't know how 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.
And we'll take very long.
Well, I guess it will help catch this fellow.
We'd appreciate it.
Excuse me.
Yes, sir.
Claypool's done with the testimony.
How's that?
Who?
Friday?
That's for us, sir.
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Here you are.
Thank you.
It's Friday.
Yeah, that's right.
How long go?
Fountain?
Yeah, I got it.
Thank you.
Well, we won't need you downtown just yet, Mr. Claypool.
Change your mind, huh?
Yes, sir.
What's up?
Flower shop over on Fountain.
Yeah.
Sounds like the same guy.
Frank and I told Mr. Claypool we'd check with him later.
We left the delicatessen and drove out to the Pringar Flora shop on Fountain and Selma.
442 p.m., we talked to the 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 had contained,
and it appeared to be a duplicate of a note Mr. Claypool had been given.
Did this man say anything to you, Mr. Devaro?
Hi.
I don't remember.
I don't think so.
Well, did you say anything to him?
Well, I was too scared.
Yes, ma'am.
How much money did you take?
Well, I gave him all there 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.
Yes, ma'am.
Oh, I never should have offered.
I might have known something like this would happen.
I've had a funny feeling all day long.
Is that right?
It's a bad week for me anyway.
This whole week, according to my horoscope.
And you don't have any idea how much money was stolen, Mr. Arrow.
Well, 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, ma'am.
This is the ninth.
The ninth.
Oh, I might have known.
She said to be especially careful on the ninth and the 11th.
Why didn't I pay more attention to that last reading?
It certainly cost me enough.
Mr. Arrow, you noticed 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.
One of you described him for us, please.
Well...
Mr. Arrow?
I'm trying to think.
Yes, ma'am.
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.
Mm-hmm.
What color was it?
A lightish, I think.
I'm not sure.
What kind of a sweater?
Would you recall that?
Just a sweater, I guess.
How about his hair?
Eyes?
And anything at all, Mr. Arrow?
Well, there's one thing.
I don't know whether it would do any good or not.
Yes, ma'am.
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?
That I've seen him before.
Frank and I continued to question the victim.
She insisted 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, but I saw him before.
Yes.
Did I get you folks some coffee?
That sounds like a right good idea.
How about you, Miss?
What?
Would you like some coffee, too?
Is Deborah.
That's it.
That's it.
I remember now his face, everything about him.
It's the same man I'm positive it is.
Oh.
It was when you mentioned coffee.
That's what brought it back to me.
Yes, ma'am.
I just when was it you saw this, ma'am?
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.
And I was sitting alone.
He came by and asked if he could use the same table.
All right, go ahead.
I nodded and he sat down.
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.
Mm-hmm.
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 who robbed you?
Oh, yes.
I know it was.
That'll help, won't it?
My remembering where I saw him.
Well, at mine.
I 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 that made me go into that restaurant
and it was faith that made him sit at my table.
Yes, ma'am.
It was all part of a big plan.
Our meeting like that.
And then him robbing me today.
It 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, that makes us even then, doesn't it?
What?
So are we.
Now that she remembered seeing the suspect before him
is Deborah O. Confirmed Paul Claypool's description.
We asked the victims to continue going through the mug books.
They were unable to come 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 cashiers 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.
Robby Freddy.
We all are here.
Mm-hmm.
Well, thanks anyway.
Right.
Sloan.
Yeah?
Says he can't give us a lead from the way those notes were printed.
Huh?
Well, how about an early lunch today?
It's all right with me.
Where do you want to go?
I don't care.
How about you?
The main difference to me.
We'll suggest something.
I told you it doesn't mean difference.
Well, I don't know.
Why it always has to be up to me, Joe.
Where we eat?
Why?
Why don't you decide once in a while?
All right, fine.
Let's go to that new Chinese place on Broadway.
For lunch?
Well, why not?
Well, you don't want Chinese food for lunch, Joe.
I don't know.
Of course not.
Well, what do you got in mind?
I don't know.
I'd end up making the choice.
Sure is a problem, isn't it?
Well, it gets kind of a nut in us.
That's all, buddy.
It's tough.
See?
Well, yeah, something we can do for you.
Well, it's just here where you...
You the guys at Handel Robries?
Yeah, that's right.
Like them two yesterday?
Which two?
Grocery store and flower shop.
You know something about them, do you?
Yeah, I know something.
Well, just what is it?
Robdom, I know who it was.
Yeah.
Well, guess it was me.
Put a smile in your 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 amazing quality detective electronically checks and controls the making of your Chesterfield,
giving you 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 smokes 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, Chesterfield is made the modern way, with Accuré.
Put a smile in your smoking.
Just give them a try.
Light up a Chesterfield.
They satisfy.
The man who would come into the office answered the description we'd received from the victims.
He was in his early 20s stocky build about 5-10 brown hair and gray eyes.
He was wearing dark blue trousers and the yellow turtle next sweater.
He told us that his name was Harvey Tilden that he lived in a roaming 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, he told me it was money they owed that I was collecting it for him.
Who told you that?
Tony. Who's Tony?
Well, that's all I know him by.
And you were collecting money for him, is that it?
Uh-huh.
And you expect us to buy that, too, don't you?
No, I guess not.
Well, then why don't you 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 mess.
No.
I come to you in my own accord, didn't I?
Well, maybe you got scared, maybe you figured it'd go easier with you if you gave yourself up, isn't that it?
Yeah, I guess I can't blame you for thinking that.
Sure was a dumb drink.
Why don't you do it then?
Because I didn't know, because he told me it was just a job I was doing.
Mm-hmm. Stone he told you.
Yeah, yeah, that's right.
All right, now let's hear it your way.
Yeah, well, he said he worked for a 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.
I had a steady job lately.
Sound kind of good to me.
Yeah, go ahead.
Yeah, well, I was supposed to meet him yesterday afternoon three o'clock.
He picked me up in front of the place where I live.
Yeah.
Throw me past that grocery store and parked around the corner.
He gave me an envelope and he told me to take it inside, hand it 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 done what he told me.
I'll give the old guy the note.
He gave me the money and I took it back to Stoney.
Well, where was he while you were in the store?
Around the corner, like I said.
Why didn't he go in with it?
He wanted to see if I could handle it myself on my own, you know?
That's what he told me.
Mm-hmm.
Well, then we drove over to that 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 that having to pay up a debted makes somebody so scared.
I told Stoney afterwards.
He said it was just an act that they all put on like that.
Mm-hmm.
You know what?
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 a note.
Yeah.
Well, I didn't know what to do.
Finally, I went back to the car and I really told him off.
Stoney.
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 met.
I said if he didn't take back the door, I'd go to the cops.
He told me you'd throw me in jail and you'd never believe a word I told you.
Mm-hmm.
What happened then?
I got out of the car.
I said I wasn't a crook and no one was going to make me be one.
I was heading right for the police station then.
Well, I got to think and I seemed like maybe he was right that nobody would believe a star like this.
Well.
So I went home.
All right, why'd you come in today?
Well, I didn't sleep none too good last night.
It was kind of worrying me what I'd done.
I figured maybe he'd find some other sucker like 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 on you guys.
I'm going to get a short count now, am I?
No, he never said not to me.
And you don't always last name either.
Uh-uh.
Or did you meet him?
Hentley's gym.
Or on Olympic?
I hang out there sometimes.
You a fighter?
Well, I had some bouts here.
How'd you and Stoney get acquainted?
Well, I don't know.
It just started talking one day last week.
He came in for a steam bath and afterwards we were both watching some of the guys work out.
Here's there again on Saturday.
That's when he offered me this job.
What kind of a car is he driving?
Chevy?
sedan?
No, a coupe.
Hardtop.
Last year's model.
You know the license?
No.
I don't pay no attention.
It wouldn't matter if it did.
I ain't much you remember and things.
Can you tell us what Stoney looks like?
Yeah, well, he's a big fella.
A sharp dresser.
How old is he?
35.
Maybe 40.
What color is his hair?
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 you?
Yeah, it does.
Joe.
Not you for a minute.
Yeah.
You wait right there, tell them.
You okay?
Okay.
I must think we're pretty dumb.
I expect this to fall for a line like that.
I don't know.
What'd she take us for?
I don't know.
Couldn't be true.
I don't worry about that.
I think of it as.
Yeah.
It's such a darn full story, Joe.
I just can't help believing it.
I'm a lower.
So do I.
Frank and I continued 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 Stoney through the moniker file
and we came up with two possible.
We pulled him mug shots and showed them to Tilden.
He tentatively identified one of the photos.
James Brightstone, but he wasn't positive.
We telephoned Brightstone's last known 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 DMV 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 PM.
Frank and I drove over to Hentley's gym on South Olympic
and talked to the owner, George Hentley.
What's right?
Stoney.
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 know him?
That's your, sure I know.
He found here pretty often.
Oh, often, huh?
You used to do a little boxing.
He had a perfect record.
Six fights, six chaos.
He was a punchy before he ever got in a ring.
Tilden says this is where he met the Stoney.
Yeah, it could be.
Take a look at this picture, will you?
Have you ever seen this guy before?
Hey, you've got a left hand, Eugene.
Well, I wouldn't swear to a guy.
Look at something like this.
He's coming in lately.
It works out.
Takes a steam bag.
You know his name?
I never ask.
You've been around a day?
No, not so far.
When was the last time, do you remember?
Oh.
And the last week, Friday Saturday.
Have you been talking to Tilden?
No, I don't know.
Maybe guys come in here.
Friendly type guys.
They all talk to each other.
All right, here's our card.
So, this fella comes back.
Give us a call with you.
Do you want him for something?
I want to talk to him.
Okay, if he comes in, I'll call you.
Thanks.
Sure, I'm a real obligeent type fellow.
I got no people you come from.
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.
He said he had spent the previous afternoon in this room
at the Jackman Hotel.
We telephoned the hotel, but the clerk was unable
to confirm Brightstone's alibi.
5.31 p.m.
We drove the suspect down to the city hall
and continued our interrogation.
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 you yesterday afternoon?
I thought we already covered that.
Let's go over it again.
Okay, boys.
How is it my hotel room?
Well, the clerk doesn't back you 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, huh?
The gym is open on Sundays.
You know we're Tilden lives?
Nope.
You pick him up his rooming house yesterday, didn't you?
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 guy is at least Jim.
Yeah.
He knows what kind of a car you got.
Oh.
Making a model.
Well, maybe he's seeing me in it.
I didn't see him.
Mm-hmm.
Look, this Tilden fall.
He's a screw ball.
He don't even know what time it is.
Whatever he told you, you can forget it.
Well, there are a couple things we can't forget.
Yeah.
Tilden says you put him up to robbing two stores yesterday.
You couldn't.
He says you hired him to work for you to collect some past due bills.
Oh, this kid is really off his rocker, isn't he?
Maybe.
Well, as I was supposed to be while he was doing me these favors.
Outside in your car waiting for him.
Mm-hmm.
Go on, boys.
You interest me.
Well, that's about it.
And you pick up a guy in a phony story like that.
Hey, look, I'm getting out of here.
Tilden ain't the only guy who's not.
Sit down, bright stone.
All right, you jokers.
Prove any part of it.
We're going to try to.
I like to 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 that no 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 mine before it.
Sure.
Not that I know where Tilden pulled his heist.
Your dollar.
Sure, of course not.
Then what makes you think you were in the vicinity?
Well, I'm not saying I was.
I'm saying I might have been.
Yeah.
Just where were you?
Who knows.
It took me a real long drive.
What time do you leave your hotel?
Two o'clock, maybe.
What time do you get back?
Later.
How much later?
All right.
I'll tell you what.
I'm going to give you guys a break.
Good.
Now, I know you can keep this up for 72 hours.
And I got more important things to do.
So let's get it over with.
OK?
Charlie up to you.
OK.
OK.
Tilden was giving it to you square.
He was just a pigeon.
That was pigeon I ever ran into.
Yeah, go ahead.
Well, that's it.
You got it.
Now, what are you going to do about it?
What do you think?
If you're smart, you're going to turn me loose.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Look, let me give you a little advice.
Free.
So Tilden was a fog guy.
I already admitted to you guys.
Yeah.
But to nobody else.
Anybody else asked me, I did not have the whole thing.
So you might as well place smart.
You figure out a stick of me with this wrap.
You've got to have a signed confession.
I'm going to 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 the court.
You come out looking dumb and he does.
Mm-hmm.
That's my word against his.
You think anybody in the right mind is going to believe this boy?
You think he'd stand a chance and convince him to jury?
Well, he might.
That chance.
He convinced us.
The 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 Brightstone 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.
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 Ben Sprecher.
Heard tonight where Ben Alexander,
Vic Rodman, Virginia Greg, Eddie Firestone.
Scripted by Frank Bert,
Music by Walter Schumann, Hellgibney Speaking.
Watch an entirely different dragnet case history
each week on your local NBC television station.
Please check your newspapers for the day and time.
Chesterfield has brought you dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles.
This is it.
L&M filters.
It stands out from all the rest.
Miracle tip.
Much more flavor.
L&M's got everything.
It's the best.
Notice the color of L&M's Miracle tip.
It's white.
Pure white.
To give you the purest and best filter.
And L&M gives you a rich, good tasting, fully satisfying smoke.
The kind you can get only from highest quality tobaccos.
By L&M.
It's got everything.
Flavor.
Taste.
Mildness.
And the best filter.
L&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.
Music.

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio