Here's another in NBC's great parade of new shows.
Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true.
Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
NBC brings you Dragnet.
You're a detective sergeant.
You're assigned to Homicide Bureau.
A police officer has been shot, mortally wounded.
One of the suspects has been apprehended.
The other is still at large.
Your job?
Find him.
Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime, investigated and solved by the men
who unrelentingly stand watch on the security of your home, your family, and your life.
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 from official police
files.
From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force
in action.
It was Thursday, November 16th.
It was foggy in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of homicide.
My partner's Ben Romero.
The boss is Ed Backstrand, chief of detectives.
My name's Friday.
It was 11 58 a.m. when we got to the Georgia Street Receiving Hospital, second floor, room
five, treatment room.
Oh, you made good time.
How's Vamie, sir?
Got him the lungs banned three times.
He's going fast.
Is his wife with him?
They're bringing him down now.
Can we talk to him?
Make it fast.
Come on, Joe.
This way.
Easy.
John, John, it's Friday in Romero.
I want to talk to you a minute.
Doc, Doc, it burns.
My chest burning up.
Nurse?
Yes, doctor?
The hypodermic?
Yes, doctor.
Easy.
All right, fellas.
Don't take too long.
John, it's Joe Friday.
Can you tell us how it happened?
Joe, Joe.
How did it happen, boy?
Can you tell me?
Can't figure it, Joe.
Why'd he do it?
We got to find out.
Now, how did it happen?
I don't know.
I was directing traffic.
East Broadway, first street, Gray Coop.
Pulled up for the stop.
Gray Coop.
How many men in the car?
How many, John?
Two.
Gray Coop.
Two men.
Gray Coop.
Pulled up for the stop.
In the pedestrian lane.
Went over.
Going to ask him to back up.
Back up out of lane.
Just going to ask him.
Yeah, John, and then what?
Driver.
Dark hair.
Eyes.
Dark.
Went over.
Going to ask him to back up.
Pointed a gun.
No reason.
Pointed a gun at me.
All right, easy, John.
Take it easy.
No reason, Joe.
No reason to fire.
Hurry it up, Joe.
Yeah.
I'm going to go.
Don't push him, Joe.
Yeah.
What about the other man in the car?
Did you see him?
Can you describe him?
Joe.
Joe, did you get him?
Gray Coop.
Driver.
Guy with him.
We've got the driver, John.
He's upstairs.
The other one got away.
We got to find him.
You got to help us.
My wife.
Somebody sent Fedora.
She's on her way.
She'll be here in a minute.
Can you tell us the other man in the car?
What did he look like?
Gray Coop.
What did he look like?
Don't press him, Joe.
Gray Coop.
The driver.
Pointed a gun.
Dark hair.
Yeah.
I know the other man, John. We got the driver. What did the other man look like?
Senfer. Dora.
Come on, Ben.
Thanks, Doc.
Okay, Joe.
You're going fast.
Yeah.
John got any kids?
Two.
Always pick up family, man.
This thing's got a phony ring to it, Ben. You don't just pull a gun and shoot a man.
Not if you're saying you don't. There's a stairs.
The guy we got is as sane as they come.
And how do we explain it?
All I know is that hood shot John Bemus and I want to know why.
Might be a lead in that car he was driving.
Maybe. Come on, here we are.
Phone message for you, Friday. Came in a few moments ago.
Thanks, Davis. It's from R. and I.
They got a make?
Take a look.
No make or warrants on James Vickers, Gray.
Let's talk to him. Come on.
All right.
Minor wound, Joe.
Bullet penetrated the fleshy part of his hand. Didn't touch the bone.
Thought this guy had an arm wound, too.
Just a neck, Ben.
That officer you shot Vickers?
He's dying.
Is he?
He's a family guy. Got a wife, two kids.
Has he?
Why did you shoot him, Vickers?
Ask him.
We did.
Then you know the reason.
Said there wasn't any reason.
That's right.
Look, we're going to make you on this, Vickers. You know that, don't you?
I don't know anything.
Why'd you shoot him?
Shut up.
Why'd you shoot him?
Joe.
Yeah.
Davis?
Yeah?
Stay with him. Doc, get us an M.T. slip on this guy, will you?
We'll be back in a minute. Come on, Ben.
All right, Joe.
How about a rep?
Too big a punk.
Easy, Joe.
Oh, easy, nothing. I've seen too many good cops like Bemis cut down by punks like that Vickers.
Getting mad won't help.
Come on, down the stairs.
Back to see Bemis? Why?
Just for the record. I want to see if the Doc thinks it's okay for us to bring Vickers down.
I'd like to have Bemis definitely identify him as the guy who shot him.
We've got three good witnesses.
An identification for Bemis will clench it.
I want to see Vickers get everything he's earned when he goes to court.
Here we are.
Yeah.
He went fast, Joe.
Yeah.
That his wife?
Yeah.
Did she make it in time?
No.
Did he say anything that'd help?
No, it might. He said a prayer.
City Hall.
2625.
Auto records, Crowley.
Joe Friday, Vince. What about a make on that car used in the Bemis shooting this morning?
Yeah, Joe. Been trying to get a hold of you. Where are you now?
Georgia Street, second floor. What about the make?
Car was reported stolen yesterday afternoon, registered to Harold Simpers, 716 Everett Street.
Reports said the car was taken from a parking lot at Grandin Wabash.
Okay, Vince, thanks.
What about the guns they found in the car?
Lee Jones still has them over at the crime lab. He's running them through.
No word yet?
No.
You make up the impound report on the car, Joe?
Yeah, recovery report, too. They're still testing for prints.
MT slip ready, Doc?
Yeah, right here, Ben. Medical card, history, MT slip.
You ready, Vickers?
Yeah.
All right, put out your wrists. Put the cuffs on him, Ben. Watch his hands.
You saving me for the headlights?
All right, let's go.
I'm not going to jail.
You're in jail now.
Looks like a hospital.
Bar is on the windows, aren't it?
All right, come on.
Give me a smoke.
Here.
Okay.
Lie.
What do I get if I open up?
No deal.
I might talk. Make it attractive.
Who was the other guy in the car?
Hitchhiker. I always give rides.
Then why'd he run when we chased you?
Maybe he was scared.
You're proud of a gang.
Maybe.
Who was the other guy?
What's it worth?
Oh, come on, Vickers. You're wasting our time.
Where are we going?
All right.
My hand hurts. I want to call my own doctor.
You hear me?
That cop pulled his gun first. I can prove it.
Yeah, down the stairs.
Easy, Hutt.
Where are we going?
I said, where are we going?
All right, what's it worth if I talk?
I could tell you all about it.
Let's make a deal.
You'll tell us anyhow.
Think so?
All right, you out the door.
Wait a minute, huh? Cigarettes out.
All right, Ben, light it.
Nice of you guys.
Thanks.
Get up, Ben.
Vickers, stop.
He's crossing the street.
Fire over his head. Watch the crowd.
Vickers!
Joe, he's running for that car.
All right, hold it, Vickers.
All right, stop it, Ben.
Please stop. Come on, Joe.
All right, come on, get back, please.
Let us through here. Let us through.
Shall I call the police?
Shall I call the doctor, Joe?
No, he wouldn't be interested. The guy's dead.
James Vickers, murder suspect, address unknown, died almost instantly at 1.13 p.m. November 16th while attempting to escape.
His body was taken to the county morgue where it was posted.
All the personal effects found on the body were listed by the coroner and a receipt for them given to our office.
At 8.35 the next morning, Ben and I met with Chief Detective Zed Backstrand.
Those four guns they found in the car Vickers was driving, they're all U.S. Army property.
Where were they stolen from, Skipper?
I don't know. Each one of the guns is stamped U.S. Army. That's all.
Well, that makes it easy.
The coroner find anything on the body?
Nothing to tell us why Vickers decided to kill a traffic cop.
What did Bemis say before he died?
He was on traffic duty yesterday morning down at East Broadway and First.
At 10.35 a gray coupe pulled up for a stop sign. Vickers was driving.
Bemis started over to tell him to back up out of the pedestrian zone. Vickers pulled a gun and shot him.
How'd they catch Vickers?
Chased him three miles before he piled into a lumber truck. The guy with him got away.
Fine.
Checked R. and I. No make or warrants on Vickers. Kickback's not in on his fingerprint.
All right. What's your guess, Franny?
I don't have one, Ed.
Vickers could have been hopped up.
Doc Stanley over at Georgia Street said no. We checked him.
Wait a minute. Backstrand. Yeah, hold on. For you, Franny.
Thanks. Friday talking. Yeah. Yeah, good. Be right over, Lee.
We're in business, Ed. Crime lab just found Vickers' address.
There it is, Joe.
Thanks, Lee. Let's see, huh?
Silver Dollar Hotel. Received a Mr. James Vickers, $6.50, room 345.
Where'd you find it, Lee?
Under the front seat, in with the tools.
Anything else?
Not a thing.
How about prints?
Two. Kind of smudged. Hope we can run a make with them.
No prints on those four guns, Lee?
Smeared. Not enough to classify.
This is it, Ben.
That's all we got.
Come on. Let's see if we can make it pay off.
We located the Silver Dollar Hotel on East Grand between 16th Street and Pico.
It was an old-type frame building with a brightly colored neon sign
jutting out over the sidewalk just above the dark entrance.
The manager's name was Luther Gage.
We showed him a picture of James Vickers.
He definitely identified him as one of his former tenants.
He told us that Vickers had stayed at the hotel one week in room 345
and that he had checked out two days ago.
Was Vickers staying here alone, Mr. Gay?
Yes, alone. Quiet man.
Did he have any visitors?
Maybe. Wouldn't know. Paid his bills.
Spent most of his time away from the hotel. Good tenant.
Did Vickers have any friends here in the hotel?
Mmm, maybe.
Fell in the room next to Mr. Vickers.
He still lives here. Two of them used to be kind of thick.
Can we look at that room Vickers stayed in, Mr. Gage?
Mmm, let's see. Yes, it's still vacant.
All right, this way.
This man Vickers was friendly with. What's his name, Gay?
Mmm, Knight. Raymond Knight. Room 343.
Is he in his room now?
No, went out about eight this morning.
Here's the elevator.
How well would you say Knight and Vickers knew each other?
Couldn't say. Good tenants, both of them. Paid their bills.
Did they go out together, seem to know each other well?
Wouldn't know. I don't pry.
Look, this case involves murder, Mr. Gage. We told you that.
We'd appreciate your cooperation.
Cooperation? Don't pay the rent, Sergeant.
Third floor.
This way.
Here, 345.
Open it up.
Nothing.
Yeah, over here.
Looks pretty clean, Joe.
All my rooms are clean.
You didn't mean it that way, Mr. Gage.
I wonder if you'd show us Knight's room now. That's next door, isn't it?
Hmm, I don't know about this.
Poking into other people's rooms. Not regular.
Neither is murder. Come on, let's go.
Does Mr. Knight have this room to himself?
Sure ask questions, don't you?
No, Knight has a friend staying with him.
About two weeks now. Not in much.
Is he in now? Don't think so.
Oh, I... Ben, watch it!
Rough at you!
That shot, Mr. Gage. Look out!
Come on, clumsy!
Ha!
Come on, get up!
Ben?
He's out cold.
Look what you've done to the room.
I thought you said Knight wasn't in.
He isn't. This is his friend.
Great friends.
45 automatic in his hand.
38 snub nose in the bureau. Another 45.
Look in his bag.
I don't pry. He pays his bills. Good tenant.
Yeah. Can I get outside on this phone?
Hmm, yes. All outside calls are ten cents.
Yeah. Here.
Have to keep the book straight.
Sure you do.
Who's gonna pay for the damage?
Ask Mr. Knight's friend here.
Well, say...
Why worry? He pays his bills. Good tenant.
I called Ed Backstrand and he set out a special detail
to stake out the hotel and bring in Raymond Knight if and when he returned.
Ben and I drove to the Georgia Street receiving hospital
where Doc Stanley patched up the cut on Ben's scalp
and treated Raymond Knight's friend for simple cuts and bruises.
From papers found in his wallet and in the hotel room,
he was identified as Frank Gannon,
9896 Wasatch Street, Kansas City, Missouri.
When we got to headquarters, we had Gannon taken to the interrogation room
where we questioned him briefly.
He told us that he was a self-employed watch salesman,
that he was in the city on a business trip.
He admitted friendship with Knight, but not with Fickers.
We booked him at the Cotty jail for assault with intent to commit murder.
The three guns found in the hotel room were turned over to the crime lab.
We reported back to the office.
Joe, my head's pounding like mad. That Gannon's a mean one.
Yeah, it's a nasty crack. I got some aspirin in my desk.
It might help.
Yeah.
Hi, boys. Rough day?
I don't get much rougher, Eddie.
Message for you on the desk.
I'm gonna eat. Starving.
Right, Tracy.
What is it, Joe?
Well, Jones got a make on those prints he lifted off the car.
Let's see.
Yeah, something else to know on James Baker's.
Uh-huh. Wanted 10-14-43, desertion, U.S. Army.
That could account for those stolen Army guns.
Yeah.
What about the make on those prints Lee found?
Let's take a look.
Vance Taylor's. Good solid record.
Four burglaries. Two armed robberies, two assaults.
Wait a minute. Here's the mama sheet.
Mm-hmm.
Born, so-and-so, age 36, height and weight.
Alias John Fields, Harold Grant, Tom Bissell, Joe...
Hey.
Yeah, alias Raymond Knight.
The other man who rode in the car with James Baker's
the morning he shot down traffic officer Bemis
finally had been identified.
Vance Taylor, alias Raymond Knight.
Well, that still didn't explain the unprovoked murder.
It didn't explain the four guns found in the car
or the three guns found in the hotel room.
An assortment of arms like that could mean something big,
but we didn't know what.
Gannon's sudden willingness to shoot it out in the hotel room
meant something, too, but we didn't know what.
We had Gannon brought back to the interrogation room.
Hi, Gannon. Have a seat.
Everything all right?
I'll bet you're worried.
No, we're not worried, Gannon. You ought to be.
Don't make me laugh.
You're tied in with Raymond Knight. That's enough for us.
You send me up for it.
We're gonna try.
Big talk.
How long did you know Vickers?
I didn't.
Funny. His prints are all over one of those guns we found in your room.
I'm not worrying.
Then you better start, Gannon. Vickers and Knight killed a man.
If you run with him, your hands are dirty, too.
I room with Knight, that's all.
Knight didn't come back to the hotel. Where is he?
We're not that close.
You share your guns and your friends. That's close enough for us.
I don't know Vickers.
You mean you didn't know him?
I said I don't know him.
We got Vickers, Gannon. He's dead.
Good story.
Okay. Come on, Gannon. Let's go down to the morgue.
Down this way, Joe.
Cold today, isn't it?
Yeah, it's damp.
Dead sinus, really.
No.
What is all this?
Never seen a corpse before?
No, I'm not in this.
Take me back. I don't want to look.
You can close your eye.
Take me back. I don't want to look.
Here we are, fellas.
Sam 45.
This way, Gannon.
I get sick. I don't want to look.
Throw back the sheet, Fred.
Take a good look, Gannon.
No, he's Knight's friend. I'm not in it.
Who is in it?
I don't know.
Take me out. I'm sick.
All right, Fred. Thanks.
Okay, bud.
Interrogation room, Friday.
Joe, on stake out at the Silver Daughter Hotel.
No sign of Raymond Knight. Keep you posted.
Okay, Dave. Thanks.
How long does this go on? I can call a lawyer, you know.
Then you better call one right away, Gannon.
They just picked up Knight at the hotel. He's incriminated you.
You're a liar.
Sure. Like we were about Vickers.
We'll prove it to you, Gannon. The officers are on their way in now.
They're going to put Knight in the next room. You can listen to him.
Look, I came here to sell watches. I ain't in this.
Gannon, you and Vickers and Knight were planning a job, a big one. We know that.
If you want a way to get on the witness stand to tell your story, it's all right with us.
Well, didn't take too long to break this one.
Smoke, Joe?
Yeah. Thanks.
Gannon? Smoke?
What are you going to do?
Nothing. Just kill a little time. They bring in Knight.
You haven't got Knight.
I haven't unwrapped him yet, Joe.
You want to check me out?
Okay, open him up.
Give him a good shuffle, huh?
You're going to have some time on your hands, Gannon.
Want to learn a new card game?
Nah.
Suit yourself.
It's a good game for two. Better with three.
You want a lot of coins.
Yeah. You got two decks there.
First off, this game is quite a bit like gin rummy.
Yeah?
There are eight of every suit. Four jokers. Jokers count 50 points.
Mm-hmm.
Red threes count 100 points each.
If you get a black three, you can freeze the deck.
Oh, I see.
I shouldn't say deck. In this game, they call it the pack.
The pack? What's a pack?
Well, it's the discard pile. Same as in gin.
You get a red three, you can freeze it.
No, it's a black three.
What happens when you freeze it?
Nobody can pick it up.
All right. Let's deal out a dummy hand here.
Fine game, Ganon. Sure you won't change your mind?
You don't want to play, Joe.
All right. Now, I'm two-handed. You deal out 15 cards, see?
How many can play?
As many as six, I think. I've only played up to four.
You play partners with four?
Yeah, that's right.
Okay. Count your cards. I think that's 15.
13, 14, 15. Right. Now, what do I do?
Well, I guess you better lay your hand open.
That'll be the easiest way to show it.
Okay. I'll spread them all out over there.
Well, you don't have a great hand there.
You got a couple of black threes. You can use those.
Yeah, that's fine. They count 100 a pick.
No, no, no. Those are red threes.
Black threes don't count anything.
Oh, red three. That's right.
Do you remember what black threes are for?
You can use them to freeze a pile.
Pack. That's right.
The pack. Well, you know what I mean.
All right. Now, look, you see, I got a joker here.
Jokers are wild. Do you remember how much they count?
They're wild. 100 points.
No, red threes are worth 100. Jokers count 50.
You don't explain it very good. I don't understand.
Well, how simple can it be? Gannon's not even playing.
You get it, don't you, Gannon?
Okay. Red threes count 100.
Jokers count 50. Black threes, you can freeze the pack.
Yeah, good. Now, hold on to that, will you?
Now, black threes freeze the pack,
but that's not the only card that can do it.
No? No.
Deuces can do the same thing.
Well, you see, the only difference is if you use a deuce,
which is also a wild card,
you have to have a natural pair in order to pick up the pack.
Now, with a black three, it's only good until...
I knew it. I knew it wouldn't work.
It was sour right from the start.
Vickers killed the cop.
Ben, call the denographer.
I'm coming out. I'm taking no wraps.
Johnny, this denographer.
Right, Ben.
All right, Gannon.
Too late. They haven't got time.
20 after one are gonna do it. Do what?
Payroll. Brazier Company.
Messenger leaves at 120. He's got the payroll.
30 grand, they're gonna get him.
Where does the messenger leave?
120. You're too late. I'm not in it.
Where does he leave?
120 leaves the bank, I think.
No, maybe the company.
Where's the company?
Third and Spring. They're gonna get him.
Where's the bank the messenger goes to?
Up the block, Second National, Third and Hill.
Where are they gonna get the messenger?
By the alley, Clay Street. I'm not in it.
Ben, check it. Get out of communications.
Have them put out a call to block off the area.
Give them the details.
Right.
Johnny. Yeah, John?
Stay with this guy. Okay.
Davis? Davis?
Where's he going?
Brazier. Brazier.
Brazier Manufacturing.
Olympia.
Good afternoon. Brazier Manufacturing Company.
Give me your payroll division. This is a police department emergency.
What's that, sir?
Your payroll division. It's an emergency.
One moment, sir.
Come on, hurry up.
Payroll, Hopkins.
Mr. Hopkins, this is Sergeant Friday, police department.
We've had a tip your payroll messenger's going to be held up today.
Has he left your building yet?
The messenger? Yeah.
Oh, my, he left early today.
Went out the door about ten minutes ago.
Thanks.
Second National, Second National, Second National, Second National,
what's the role of the three?
Friday, with all the excitement, you're breaking that game?
I'll be there in a minute, Ed. No time.
Good afternoon, Second National.
Give me the manager on duty, please. Emergency.
One moment, please.
One moment.
Come on, come on.
I'm sorry, sir. The line is busy. Would you care to wait?
Give me the chief teller.
Thank you.
Chief teller, Waters.
This is Sergeant Friday, police department. Emergency call.
Has the payroll messenger from the Brazier company left the bank yet?
Well, I wouldn't know, Sergeant.
Just a moment. I'll have your call switched.
Yeah.
Operator.
Beatrice, would you give this call to Miss Chalmers?
It's important.
Thank you, Mr. Waters.
Miss Chalmers, good afternoon.
Miss Chalmers.
What's the matter, Freddy? Are you sick?
Yeah, I'm sick.
Miss Chalmers, good afternoon.
Miss Chalmers, this is Sergeant Friday, police department.
Has the payroll messenger from the Brazier company left the bank yet?
From Brazier's? Why, yes, not more than two or three minutes ago.
And he had the payroll with him?
Of course.
Thanks.
Got a tip on a payroll stick, I bet you coming?
Yeah, let's go.
Ben, down this way. Coming.
Let's hustle it, down the stairs.
Communications, get the story?
Got it on there now.
Where is this Brazier company?
Third and Spring, about five blocks from here.
Come on, here's the garage.
All right, come on, hit it. Let's make time.
Get the radio on.
Just warming up.
All units, attention all units.
On third street corner, play alley 211.
A back messenger, suspects are headed west on play alley.
Suspects are armed. Code three.
11R, take the call.
The cars are closing in fast.
Fourth street up ahead, Ben.
Might meet them at this end of play alley.
Hold on.
No, looks pretty quiet at this end.
Not much you can do without...
Hey, hey, look, coming out of the alley now.
Guy with the police, brown coat.
Guy with the pull-up, Ben.
Let's go.
All right, you two, hold it.
They're running for it.
Come on.
Ben, watch this bus.
Let's go.
Come on, they're losing it.
I see them up ahead.
They're turning on the hill street.
Romero, come on.
Where are you, skipper?
You see them, Joe?
Heading for the subway terminal.
Yeah, they're going into the crowd.
Don't lose them.
All right, I'll take the ramp to the left.
Ben, go with them.
I'll take the one to the right.
You see them, Joe?
No, I lost them.
Now, wait a minute. There they are.
Over the turnstile. Come on.
Joe, they're off the platform.
They're crossing the track.
Ed's got one of them.
Come on, over the turnstile.
Come on, there.
Joe, the other guy.
He's just gone into the tunnel.
He's crazy.
Come on, after him.
Hug the side.
He's trapped, Ben.
There's a train coming through.
You, come back.
You're trapped.
Ben, get out.
Hug the side.
Get into it, Joe.
You all right, Joe?
Yeah.
Are you?
Mm-hmm.
You want to check?
No, I don't think it's any use.
Yeah.
Well, let's go.
I wonder why he tried so hard, Joe.
I don't know, Ben.
Some people are like that.
You can blow the whistle all you want.
You never know when to stop.
The story you have just heard is true.
Only the names were changed to protect the innocent.
Frank Gannon, the only surviving member of the holdup gang, was tried and killed.
Gannon was tried and convicted of the crime of assault with intent to commit murder.
He is now serving out his sentence at the state penitentiary.
You have just heard the 16th in a new series of authentic cases from official files.
Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Acting Chief of Police, W.A. Wharton,
Los Angeles Police Department.
Tonight's program is dedicated to Private Richard H. Taylor of the Washington, D.C.
Police Department, who on the evening of December 13, 1946, gave his life so that yours might
be more secure.
Dragnet came to you from Los Angeles.
Phil Harris likes a great deal about the South.
We like a great deal about Phil Harris.
For instance, we like his beautiful blonde wife, Alice Fay.
In fact, we like the Phil Harris, Alice Fay show, and it just happens that it returns to the NBC air tomorrow.
Why don't you take our advice and listen to one of the funniest shows around anywhere?
That's the Phil Harris, Alice Fay show tomorrow on most of these same NBC stations.
You're tuned for the stars on NBC.