1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been 2 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:31,400 changed to protect the innocent. Fatima cigarettes, best of long cigarettes, brings you Dragnet. 3 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:36,840 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to robbery detail. Eight thousand dollars 4 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:43,560 worth of Chinese jade has been stolen. The criminal is vicious. His weapon, a handful 5 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:53,440 of buckshot in a handkerchief. Your job, get him. If you want a long cigarette, smoke the 6 00:00:53,440 --> 00:01:00,280 best of long cigarettes. Smoke Fatima. Fatima is the long cigarette which contains the finest 7 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:06,200 Turkish and domestic tobaccos, superbly blended to make Fatima extra mild. And that's why 8 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:12,960 Fatima is a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. That's 9 00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:19,680 why Fatima is doubling and redoubling its smokers. So if you want a long cigarette, smoke the 10 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:27,880 best of all long cigarettes. Smoke Fatima. Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual 11 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:33,240 crime. For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you 12 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,720 will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case from official police 13 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:44,320 files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police 14 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:52,600 force in action. It was Monday, December 1st. It was foggy in Los Angeles. We were working 15 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:57,360 the day watch out of robbery detail. My partner is Ben Romero. The boss is Ed Backstrand, 16 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:02,840 chief of detectives. My name's Friday. It was 7.15 p.m. when we got to the police academy. 17 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:09,120 We were in the banquet room. Where do we sit, Joe? Lee Jones is holding a couple of seats 18 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:14,600 for us someplace. You see him? Oh, yeah, yeah. There he is up there. Look at him. But he's 19 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:20,720 here. Yeah, ought to be. Hi, fellas. A couple of ringside seats. Thanks, Lee. Did you get 20 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:26,080 it? Yeah. Right here. Mind if I take a look at it? No, go ahead. How come it didn't get 21 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:33,880 wrapped as a gift? No time. Gift box would have been nice. No cotton even? Beautiful 22 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:40,480 watch. Radium dial? Yeah. Universal Geneva. Fine movement. He like it. Look on the back. 23 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:47,600 Let's see. For chief Ed Backstrand, a good cop, detective bureau. Not very good engraving. 24 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:53,040 No time. I didn't think the old man really meant it. 26 years. You get tired after 26 25 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:57,840 years. You've been at it 25, Lee. Don't look at me like that. I got a book to finish. 23 26 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:02,480 chapters. How many chapters you got, Fanny? Two. How long you been writing it? Two years. 27 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:07,040 Well, at that rate, we'll be stuck with you for another 21 years. If you're lucky. Excuse 28 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:18,040 me, fellas. Got to make a speech. Aye, Lee. Gentlemen. I have a question for you. Your 29 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:23,600 opinion? Get the proceedings underway here before we introduce the man of the hour. I'd 30 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:29,640 like to pass along a little story you might get a kick out of. I was driving down from 31 00:03:29,640 --> 00:03:35,200 Utah last year, stopped off at a hotel in Elko, Nevada. When I went up to register for 32 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:40,440 my room, there was an Indian ahead of me. The clerk asked his Indian fella to sign his 33 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:46,920 name and the clerk handed him the pen. The Indian made a next on the book. The clerk 34 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:52,120 looked at him from him and said, Say, aren't you, Chief Dearskin, have I seen you in the 35 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:59,520 movies? The Indian nodded his head and looked a little upset. Oh, he said. Oh, he make 36 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:05,320 a lot of movies in Hollywood. The clerk smiled and said, Well, people in Elko here like 37 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:10,720 to get your autograph, Chief. And the Indian grabbed the pen up again and he said, Me no 38 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:17,120 like a photograph, others. Me no wanna be bothered. Then he drew a circle around the 39 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:24,520 ax he made. The clerk said, Why you do that, Chief? The Indian said, Me no use the right 40 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:30,720 name. Oh, hey, there's Rodgers over there. He's motioning to where? Oh, yeah. Excuse 41 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:38,520 me about that. Chief was retiring tonight. He's been using his right name for 26 years 42 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:43,120 and he's proud of it. And we're proud to have been associated. You want me, Rodgers? I've 43 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:47,920 phone for you, Joe. You can take it on the extension outside. Thanks, Pete. He's retiring 44 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:54,920 from the Los Angeles police department. We're gonna miss him. Gentlemen, our fine officer, 45 00:04:54,920 --> 00:05:06,720 Chief Hedgeback Smith. Where's the phone? Right over here. Thanks. Friday. Joe, this 46 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,920 is Gonzalez. Yeah, Jeff. Sorry to bother you, but power's set as you'd call you. Yeah? I 47 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:15,520 need some liquid. Something big? Pretty big, yeah. Too many loose ends. Penny and I can't 48 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,120 pull them all in. When do you want us? As soon as you can get out here. That important, 49 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:31,520 huh? A man may die, Joe. Hi, Jess. Got here as soon as we could. Sorry to pull you away. 50 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:40,520 Hello, Romero. Gonzalez, what's up? Come on in here. Here's a report, not complete yet. 51 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:46,120 A Chinese fella. Name's George Kwan. He's a jeweler, gem cutter. Yeah. Jade expert. Knows 52 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:51,480 as much about jade as anybody on the coast. Says it happened at 5.30 today on El Verado 53 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:56,320 near the park. They weren't kidding, were they? They almost killed him. Yeah. Any idea 54 00:05:56,320 --> 00:06:00,320 what the weapon was, Jeff? Not sure. Looks like some sort of blackjack, something homemade. 55 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,960 Yeah. When they picked up Kwan, they found several buckshot pellets lying around in a 56 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:08,280 man's handkerchief. Ray Pinker has the stuff over at the crime lab now. Where's Kwan? Have 57 00:06:08,280 --> 00:06:12,040 you talked to him? Got in a couple questions down at Georgia Street while the doc was giving 58 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:17,880 him sedatives. Little guy's a mess, Joe. Gonna be all right? 50-50 chance when I called you 59 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,760 out of the academy. Why did they beat him, dear, is that it? I don't have it all yet, 60 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,600 but from what he said, he was jumped from behind, didn't have a chance to fight. Whoever 61 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,640 it was kept beating him long after he was unconscious. What'd they take him for? A couple 62 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:36,240 pieces of jade, large ones. Very rare. You got anything else? Yeah, we got a star witness, 63 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,880 just one. Did you talk to him yet? Just did for an hour and a half. You want to crack 64 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:48,880 at him? Are you having trouble with him? Yeah, a little. All right, Pena, send him in again. 65 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:58,120 Yes, sir, you want to talk some more? Six years old, Joe. His name was Norman Eugene 66 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:02,960 Fisher and he was six years of age last April. By all young boys his age, his imagination 67 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:07,400 ran away with him. What would be only a minor detail to an adult witness assumed tremendous 68 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:12,600 proportions in Norman's young mind. He told us his story three times, each time he elaborated 69 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,240 a little more until what he claimed was the truth could only have been figments of a small 70 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:21,280 child's imagination. Ben and I, together with Gonzales and Pena, talked with the boy for 71 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:26,480 another hour. We were getting tired, but Norman enjoyed his position as star witness. Once 72 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:31,920 more, Norman, please try to remember it as it really happened. It was just like I said. 73 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:37,200 Let me try, Jeff. Go ahead, Ramon. You did see it happen this afternoon, didn't you, 74 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:42,360 Norman? Yes, sir, I did. Good. Now, you were on your way home from a store. Oh, no, sir, 75 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,680 I was running away from a man. He was chasing me. But you just told us, Norman, that you 76 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:51,760 were on your way home from a store. Oh, no, sir, that was yesterday. But you told us. 77 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:57,040 Oh, no, sir, I didn't, Ben. Norman, how old are you? Next year I'm going to be 21. No, 78 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:02,160 that's not right, 21. That's older than I am. Well, when I am 21, I'm going to get a hot 79 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:06,920 ride. Fastest car in the world, 10,000 miles an hour. Sure you will. But how old are you 80 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:13,680 now? Six, but I'm one. But I'm going to be 21 soon. I remember when I was six years old, 81 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:18,760 Norman, a lot of things I wanted, electric train. I got one. Well, it must be something 82 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:23,640 you'd like to have. One thing that maybe now that you don't have. Will you give it to me? 83 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:29,800 Well, if I can. What do you want? I'd like your gun. Well, what do you want a gun for? 84 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:34,800 I want to put people in jail like you guys do. Sometimes it takes more than a gun, Norman. 85 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:38,600 What do you mean? Just because you've got a gun doesn't mean you're a cop. Well, what 86 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:54,400 does? Just a minute, son. Here you go, Norman. A good cop uses this more than a gun. Gee. 87 00:08:54,400 --> 00:09:04,160 It's a real police badge. It's mine. Official? Official. Can I hold it? Go ahead. It's yours. 88 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,880 When I wear this, I'm a real detective. Well, that's part of it. The other part is to tell 89 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:12,080 us what you really saw today. Now, how about it? There were four men, like I said, and 90 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:15,160 they all had machine guns. No, no, wait a minute, Norman. I thought you said you were 91 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:19,760 a detective now. I am. Well, a good detective has to remember exactly what he sees, not 92 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:24,440 something he makes up. It's not very scary that way. No, it's no use, Joe. He can't get 93 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:29,200 his story straight. Oh, yes, I can. I'm a detective now and I know what happened. All 94 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:34,360 right, Norman, you tell us, huh? I was on my way home from the store. I saw this truck 95 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:38,520 stop down the street. What did the truck look like? I don't know. It was a funny kind of 96 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:43,320 truck. Had a wood back. You mean like a dump truck? Kind of, but it was a small truck. 97 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:47,920 Owned kind of car, like he took out the back part and put wood boards like a truck. You 98 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:51,400 mean whoever owned the truck cut the back end out and made it look like a truck, huh? 99 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:56,000 Yeah, yeah, that's the way it looked. Anyway, this truck stopped by this Chinese man and 100 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:00,880 the man got out and the man started to hit this man and the man followed him a sidewalk 101 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:04,400 and the man kept hitting him and hitting him as hard as anything. Well, what was he hitting 102 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:08,880 him with? With his handkerchief. There he goes again. No, I don't know. How about that 103 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:13,880 chest? Good tie in. Go on, Norman. Well, that's all I saw. No, no, I mean after the man hit 104 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:18,520 him, what did he do? Oh, well, he grabbed a bunch of stuff from this man's pocket and 105 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:23,000 he went into the truck and he speeded away. Norman, you're a good detective. I want you 106 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:27,880 to think real hard now. Do you know what a license number is? Yeah. Good. Do you think 107 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:33,320 you could remember the numbers on that truck? If I knew what they were, I could. In school, 108 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:37,800 we're just having numbers now. I only know up to seven, but there were two sevens in it. 109 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,440 You're getting all this jazz? Yeah, keep going. Norman, you've helped us a lot. Can you remember 110 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:45,760 what the man on the truck looked like? He had a big head and he looked mean. All right, 111 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:49,520 just one more thing now. Can you remember the color of that truck? It looked black, 112 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:54,640 but the back part had black and white stripes. I don't know how you did it, Joe. What do 113 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:59,040 you think? How about it? Me too. All right, Norman, your mother's waiting outside for 114 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:05,280 you. You can go home now. You're a real detective. Can I wear my badge now? You bet you can. 115 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:16,280 Okay. Say. Yes, sir? As soon as I arrest somebody, will you put them in jail? With the help of 116 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:20,400 an outdated police badge no longer official, we had the statement of a six-year-old boy 117 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:24,760 with a healthy imagination. We had an idea he was telling us the truth, but we had no 118 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:29,200 way of being certain. Since he was the only witness, we had to accept his word and hope 119 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:33,080 that he was putting us on the right track. The quickest way to make sure was to see if 120 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:37,920 some of the details in little Norman Fisher's story would check out. Jess Gonzalez and Manuel 121 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:42,080 Pena took the job of trying to locate a homemade pickup truck with two sevens in the license 122 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:48,360 number. They started by checking all the late 3.8 forms of vehicle theft and impound reports. 123 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:52,080 The next morning, Ben and I called the General Hospital and talked with Dr. Sebastian. He 124 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,880 told us that the victim, George Kwan, had improved sufficiently to allow a brief interview. 125 00:11:55,880 --> 00:12:00,600 It was 10, 14 a.m. when we got to Ward C, General Hospital. Doctor tells us you're a 126 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:06,120 little better this morning, Mr. Kwan. Yes, sir. I shall be all right, although it is 127 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,800 quite painful at times. We're sorry to bother you, Mr. Kwan, but we've got to have a little 128 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:15,160 more information on the robbery. Oh, I will tell you all I can, sir. I should like to 129 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:20,320 recover the missing jade pieces. It is a great loss to me. Did you get any kind of a look 130 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:25,840 at the man who hit you? Oh, he attacked me from behind, knocked me to the pavement. I 131 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:31,760 made an attempt to get to my feet, but he struck me again and again here at the base 132 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:36,160 of my neck. You didn't see him at all then? No, sir, I did not. Do you have any idea who 133 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:42,040 could have done this? Unfortunately, no. I cannot think of anyone. What was stolen from 134 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:46,720 you? We know it was jade, but can you give us a more detailed description? Well, sir, 135 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:52,000 I lost two thumb rings, very rare, collector's items. Thumb rings, sir, how much were they 136 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:57,560 worth, would you say? Well, I paid 8,000 for the two rings. I wonder if you could describe 137 00:12:57,560 --> 00:13:03,120 them to us. Well, both rings were relics of the time when the Chinese archer drew his 138 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:08,800 hunting bow with a special thumb ring. Any particular identifying marks on them? They 139 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:13,840 both have linings of fine gold to fit them to the fingers of the new owners. Who were 140 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:19,240 the new owners? I had just purchased them yesterday before I was robbed. I was on my 141 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:25,480 way to San Francisco to show them to prospective buyers. Who did you buy the rings from, Mr. 142 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:31,480 Quine? Mrs. Inez Curtis, a very reputable dealer. We have done business for many years. 143 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:36,720 I wonder if we could have her business address, huh? She has her office at her home. It is 144 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:45,720 1957 Harper Annex off Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills. How many people knew that you 145 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:52,240 had the jade on you at that particular time yesterday? Oh, let me see. There were only 146 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:58,960 two other buyers present beside Mrs. Curtis. Do not recall their names. They were new to 147 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:03,880 me. Mrs. Curtis would know. Mr. Quine, we know that you're tired. We have just one more 148 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:10,000 customer. Certainly. I wonder if I might trouble you to hand me that tumbler of water with 149 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:21,200 a glass straw. Surely. Here you are. Thank you very much. You're welcome. Now those thumb 150 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,280 rings, Mr. Quine, would there be any practical disposition of them other than selling them 151 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:31,080 as they are? Well, hardly, Sergeant. To anyone who really knows the value of jade, it would 152 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:35,240 be unheard of to change them in any way. I see. Well, thank you, Mr. Quine. We'll do 153 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:41,880 our best. You know, Sergeant, we Chinese place a great sentimental value on our jade. We'll 154 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:48,440 do everything we can to recover it. Thank you. May I tell you my favorite quotation on jade? 155 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:55,960 Yes, sir. It is from the writings of Tong Zhongzou. He wrote, the magic powers of heaven 156 00:14:55,960 --> 00:15:04,560 and earth always combine to form perfect result so the pure essences of hell and water become 157 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:11,920 solidified in precious jade. Ben and I drove out to 1957 Harper Annex, the residence of 158 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:17,440 Mrs. Inez Curtis. There was no one at home. We left one of our cars. It was 1222 p.m. 159 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:22,800 when we got back to Central Division. Here's a phone message for you, Joe. What's it say? 160 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:27,720 Oh, Jess Gonzalez. He's at the Wilshire Division. Okay, thanks, Ben. 161 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:41,200 Wilshire Detective's, Dillion. Hi, Harry. Gonzalez around? Just a minute. Take on three, 162 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:46,920 Jess. Gonzalez. Friday, Jess. We got the truck and we got the driver. We'll be right out. 163 00:15:46,920 --> 00:16:01,480 Nothing else, Joe. Yeah. The kid was right. There were two sevens in the license number. 164 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:07,040 You are listening to Dragnet for the solution to an actual case from official police files. 165 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:12,960 Now, here is a real solution to many of your Christmas shopping problems. If your friends 166 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:19,840 smoke a long cigarette, give the best of long cigarettes, Fatima. Give Fatima for quality. 167 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:26,400 The name Fatima has always stood for the best in cigarette quality. Give Fatima for flavor. 168 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:32,560 Fatima has a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. Give 169 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:40,220 Fatima their extra mild. Yes, Fatima is the long cigarette which contains the finest Turkish 170 00:16:40,220 --> 00:16:47,960 and domestic tobaccos blended to make Fatima extra mild. Yes, extra mild. So give Fatima 171 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:54,340 for Christmas in the attractive golden yellow carton. It's the long cigarette that has doubled 172 00:16:54,340 --> 00:17:01,360 and redoubled its smokers. More and more smokers every day agree Fatima is the best of all 173 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:13,960 long cigarettes. Wilbur Rasmussen, white male American, age 31, 5 feet 10 inches, 190 pounds, 174 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:19,300 black hair, brown eyes. He was the driver of the truck. Gonzalez and Peña began by 175 00:17:19,300 --> 00:17:23,680 checking through all of the reports of trucks impounded during the past 24 hours. There 176 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:29,100 were 23. Out of those 23, they narrowed it down to four possibilities. The third vehicle 177 00:17:29,100 --> 00:17:33,160 that they checked fitted the young witnesses description of the holdup truck. We still 178 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:37,240 could not be absolutely certain that the impounded truck was the one we were looking for. The 179 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:42,380 same could be said of the driver, Wilbur Rasmussen. The net result of checking impound reports 180 00:17:42,380 --> 00:17:46,400 doesn't always result in the apprehension of a suspect, but in this case we were lucky. 181 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:50,920 The driver had been picked up for drunk driving. It was 1.30 p.m. when we checked in at the 182 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:56,200 Wilshire Division. Hi, James. Where is he? You're a little late. What do you mean? He's 183 00:17:56,200 --> 00:18:00,800 gone, released on bail. Who furnished the bail? The woman who works for Mrs. Inez Curtis. 184 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,280 Well, that doesn't figure, Jess, or does it? Why not? How many people knew Kwan had the 185 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,960 jade? That's not my guess. Kwan vouches for her. He's been doing business with her for 186 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:13,200 a year. What do you think, Joe? It's your show. I'm just tagging along. Well, one thing's 187 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:23,320 sure of... Just a minute. Wilshire Detectives, Gonzalez. Yeah, Peña. He did? No, meet me 188 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:31,040 back here. Hmm? Friday and Romero are here. The Fisher kid just identified Rasmussen's 189 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:38,680 picture. The identification of Wilbur Rasmussen by six-year-old Norman Fisher was far from 190 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:43,360 sufficient to take the case to court. We had to have evidence, lots of it. Rasmussen had 191 00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:47,200 been given a thorough shakedown in his apartment and the truck. There was no sign of the stolen 192 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:51,280 jade rings. Gonzalez told us that the truck had come from the U Drive truck rental on 193 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:56,560 Figueroa Street. We checked with Mr. Crockett at U Drive. Let me have another look at that 194 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:04,040 picture, boys. Yeah, here you are. What'd you say his name was? Rasmussen. Wilbur Rasmussen. 195 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:08,520 You want to know if he rented a truck from Miss Wayne? Yesterday. Maybe the day before. 196 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:17,160 No, not this fella. Never seen him. Before we left U Drive, we checked over the rental 197 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:21,840 contract on the truck in question. The deposit check for the truck was signed by Mrs. Inez 198 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:27,240 Curtis. The truck was checked out at 6 a.m. The rental contract, the actual release form 199 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:31,480 showing to whom the vehicle had been rented, was signed by a Harry Wilson. Rasmussen's 200 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:36,040 name did not appear on any of the usual rental forms. The manager of U Drive was positive 201 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:41,340 that he had not rented a truck to Rasmussen. We drove out to 1957 Harper Annex. This time 202 00:19:41,340 --> 00:19:48,160 we found Mrs. Inez Curtis at home. I'm terribly sorry about Mr. Cron. Did he have everything 203 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:51,560 he needs in the hospital? Yes, ma'am. How long did you say this Harry Wilson had been 204 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:56,760 working for you? Six or eight weeks. But I'm sure you're wrong about him. We're not accusing 205 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:00,480 him of anything, Miss Curtis. We just want to talk to him. He certainly came to me well 206 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:06,240 recommended. He was a nice man. When was the last time you saw him? Day before yesterday. 207 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:12,280 He asked for his check, said he was quitting. Told him I was sorry to see him go. I'm anxious 208 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:16,240 to get that guest house finished. How about Rasmussen, Miss Curtis? How long has he been 209 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:20,600 with you? Wilbur's been with me for about seven months. Good worker, but he drinks too 210 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:25,520 much. I feel sorry for him. You've rented trucks from the U Drive company right along? 211 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:31,680 Oh yes, from Mr. Crockett. We had to have a truck to haul our building supplies. I'm 212 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:36,080 saving an awful lot of money contracting this myself. It's a great saving. Yes, ma'am. The 213 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:40,280 deposit on his last rental. Did you give that check to Wilson or to Rasmussen? I sent both 214 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:45,440 of them down to pick it up. Like I say, Wilbur's been drinking rather heavily lately and I 215 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:49,240 think Harry's the better driver of the two. Do you know which one of those men was driving 216 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:54,120 the truck about 5.30 in the afternoon day before yesterday? How would I know that, Sergeant? 217 00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:59,320 All I know is that I sent both of them down. I told Harry to drive. Yeah, I see. Miss Curtis, 218 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:03,360 were either of those men present the day you sold the jade rings to Mr. Kwan? No. They 219 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:07,360 have nothing to do with my gym business, whatever. Did either of these men know about Mr. Kwan's 220 00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:13,840 purchase? Well, that's possible. They knew he was here. I'm sure they saw him come in. 221 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,800 It's entirely possible that they might have overheard something. When did Mr. Kwan leave 222 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:21,960 your house? About five o'clock. What time did the two men go after the truck? Oh, they 223 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:26,000 picked that up early in the morning. Mr. Crockett down at U Drive says that only Harry Wilson 224 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:31,240 checked out the truck. Says he's never seen Rasmussen before. That's entirely possible. 225 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,720 Like I say, they might well have made other arrangements. Were there any other people 226 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:40,080 present when Mr. Kwan bought that jade? Yes, there were. Two other buyers. They were bidding 227 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:44,800 for the thumb rings, too. Mr. Kwan had the high bid, so I sold them to him. What if we 228 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,800 could have their names? Certainly, I'll write them down for you. Miss Curtis, do you have 229 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:53,160 any idea where we might locate Harry Wilson? Well, he told me he was going to Mexico. Said 230 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:57,440 he had friends down there. Well, thank you, Miss Curtis. You've been very helpful. Are 231 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:04,440 you sure there isn't anything Mr. Kwan needs? Yes, ma'am. Two jade rings. Mrs. Inez Curtis 232 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:09,240 gave us a detailed description of Harry Wilson. She also gave us the names and addresses of 233 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:13,320 the two other buyers who were present when Mr. George Kwan made his purchase. We checked 234 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:17,000 them out and found them to be equally as reputable as Mrs. Curtis. They could tell us nothing 235 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:21,120 of the robbery. We went back to the office and got out an APB and a radiogram on Harry 236 00:22:21,120 --> 00:22:25,440 Wilson from the description given us by Mrs. Curtis. Stakeouts were maintained at Wilbur 237 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:30,320 Rasmussen's apartment and at the home of Mrs. Inez Curtis. It was 4.30 p.m. when we got 238 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:34,800 to the second floor of the Old City Jail Building, the crime lab. Lee Jones had the evidence 239 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,640 laid out for us. How do you think about the handkerchief, boys? What's that, Lee? The 240 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:42,400 blood stains. Old ones along with the new ones. How does that feel? We know how the 241 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,440 new ones were made when the handkerchief was filled with buckshot and used on Kwan. The 242 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:50,200 old ones, hard to tell. How old did you say they were? The handkerchief has been through 243 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:55,400 the laundry a few times. Stains didn't come out. Laundry marks right here. I don't see 244 00:22:55,400 --> 00:23:01,040 them. Man used peerless laundry. Infrared marking system. Let me show you. Infrared 245 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:06,520 lampley? Yeah. There's your marking. Pen you trace it down. Who's it belong to? Man used 246 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:11,880 the name of Harry Wilson. There was nothing to do now but wait for some word on Harry 247 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:16,560 Wilson. The stakeout's been here. We requested Wilbur Rasmussen and we talked again with 248 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:21,120 Mrs. Curtis and George Kwan. It was Tuesday, December the 8th. We checked in for work at 249 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:27,040 8 a.m. Morning, Jess. Hi, Joe. Where's Ben? We're in a case and getting a mail. Any word 250 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:31,280 on the new chief of detectives? No, nothing. What's your guess? Oh, I think Thad Brown. 251 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:37,120 Good man. Maybe. Sloan's a good man, too. When you come in here? Not yet. Why? Maybe 252 00:23:37,120 --> 00:23:40,440 he'd like to take a little airplane trip. What do you got? Cheyenne, Wyoming. They picked 253 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:47,520 up Harry Wilson. Two days later, Thursday, December the 10th, Harry Wilson was returned 254 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:51,920 to the Los Angeles County Jail and booked on suspicion of robbery. We checked with Lieutenant 255 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:56,280 Frank Cunningham and the record bureau. From Wilson's fingerprints, he ran a make on him. 256 00:23:56,280 --> 00:24:00,280 Harry Wilson was an alias. We found out that he had lengthy records of arrests and jail 257 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:05,520 terms for robbery, burglary, and grand larceny. Mr. Crockett at U Drive identified Wilson's 258 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:10,440 picture. He was a two-time loser. It's up to you, Wilson. It can go hard for you or easy. 259 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:14,600 I'm in the spot, huh? You're in the spot. Lay it out for him, Jess. It's all stacked 260 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:18,280 against you, Wilson. We know you rented the truck. You knew Quann was at Mrs. Curtis' 261 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,120 house. Your handkerchief was found at the scene of the crime. You wouldn't believe me 262 00:24:21,120 --> 00:24:25,760 if I said I didn't do it. With that kind of evidence, how can we? I didn't. I don't know 263 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:29,160 if I can prove it, but I didn't. If you didn't, we'll help you prove it. First, you gotta 264 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:34,360 believe me. You know why. Yeah. I've had it twice. Once more and I'm in for life. All 265 00:24:34,360 --> 00:24:38,640 right, you got it figured. Now what do you got to say? Rasmussen did it. He knocked 266 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:42,760 Quann over. Where were you? Buying my ticket for Cheyenne. I didn't want any part of it. 267 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:46,800 How'd you come for that handkerchief? It was mine, but Rasmussen had it. He got his finger 268 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:51,640 one day on the job. I loaned it to him. That checks. Old blood stains, new ones. All right, 269 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:57,680 let's pick up Rasmussen. Oh, you're at it. Pick up the Curtis stain. She planned it. 270 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:03,760 Wilbur Rasmussen was picked up and brought in. After intense cross-questioning, we confronted 271 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:07,880 him with Harry Wilson's statement. In the face of this testimony, he broke completely. 272 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:12,280 He gave us a full confession implicating Mrs. Inez Curtis. He admitted beating George Quann 273 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:17,880 and taking the jade thumb rings. He said he received $200 for Mrs. Curtis for the job. 274 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:21,720 He requested that he be allowed to turn state's evidence. Mrs. Inez Curtis was brought to 275 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:27,000 the interrogation room. Gosh, you gentlemen have proof to substantiate all these accusations. 276 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:32,120 Yes, ma'am, we have. It better be good. I have a fine lawyer. We've got signed and recorded 277 00:25:32,120 --> 00:25:36,100 confessions of Wilson and Rasmussen, the two men who worked for you. Can we play the recording 278 00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:42,040 for you? That won't be necessary. Miss Curtis, you got $8,000 for those rings. Wasn't that 279 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:47,760 enough? Not when I could make $16,000. No. Where are the rings now? I'm not going to 280 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:54,440 get life for this, you know. No. Jade doesn't spoil. It'll still be good when I get out. 281 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:58,960 Yeah, but you'll be told to appreciate it, Miss Curtis. Okay, fine. 282 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:08,080 Well, that was a funny one. Sure was. How about it? Did you figure this way, Joe? You 283 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:20,840 don't expect me to answer that, do you? The story you have just heard was true. Only the 284 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:27,280 names were changed to protect the innocent. On March 2nd, 1949, trial was held in Superior 285 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:31,800 Court, Department 82, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, 286 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:36,480 the results of that trial. Now, here are authentic reports from all over the country that tell 287 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:42,600 the story of Fatima's sensational increase in popularity. New York Division. Fatima sales 288 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:50,880 up 132 percent. Chicago Division. Fatima sales up 453 percent. Los Angeles Division. Fatima 289 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:59,440 sales up 545 percent. Yes, more and more smokers agree Fatima is the best of long cigarettes. 290 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:04,900 So enjoy Fatima yourself and give extra mild Fatimas for Christmas in the attractive golden 291 00:27:04,900 --> 00:27:11,440 yellow carton. Everyone who smokes Fatima says that this great new long cigarette is 292 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:26,040 the best of all long cigarettes. Mrs. Inez Curtis was tried and convicted of robbery 293 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:32,040 and conspiracy. She received the maximum sentence as prescribed by law. In consideration for 294 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:42,320 turning state's evidence, Wilbur Rasmussen received a minimum term. You have just heard 295 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:48,840 Dragnet, a new series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice for Dragnet 296 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:54,940 comes from the Office of Acting Chief of Police, W.A. Wharton, Los Angeles Police Department. 297 00:27:54,940 --> 00:27:59,440 Dragnet honors the city of Knoxville, State of Tennessee, and the men who make up the 298 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:05,400 Knoxville Police Department, another of America's great law enforcement agencies. One of these 299 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:11,200 men, Sergeant Joe H. Roberts, Director of the Knoxville City School Safety Patrols, 300 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:20,600 who dedicates his life to making yours more secure. Fatima cigarettes, the best of long 301 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:32,800 cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet, portion transcribed from Los Angeles. Let that merry 302 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:37,880 tune remind you to get him the big Christmas humidor of smooth, sure fresh, velvet pipe 303 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:42,780 and cigarette tobacco. It's a double pleasure to any smoker when you give this generous 304 00:28:42,780 --> 00:28:48,360 humidor of velvet. It smokes cool and sweet in both pipe and cigarette. In every way, 305 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:53,000 the gift for him is a Christmas humidor of velvet, America's smoothest smoke. Be sure 306 00:28:53,000 --> 00:29:21,640 to listen to Dragnet next week. You're tuned for the harvest on NBC.