WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:13.800 The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the 00:13.800 --> 00:14.800 innocent. 00:14.800 --> 00:30.080 Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, brings you Dragnet. 00:30.080 --> 00:35.840 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to Narcotics Bureau. For seven months you've 00:35.840 --> 00:41.280 been working with federal and state agents and breaking a narcotics ring. You've apprehended 00:41.280 --> 00:52.280 the small fry. Next in the line, the big man. Your job, get him. 00:52.280 --> 00:59.400 If you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. Smoke Fatima. Fatima 00:59.400 --> 01:05.320 is the long cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos, superbly blended 01:05.320 --> 01:11.280 to make Fatima extra mild. And that's why Fatima has a much different, much better flavor 01:11.280 --> 01:17.520 and aroma than any other long cigarette. That's why Fatima has more than doubled its smokers 01:17.520 --> 01:25.000 coast to coast. So if you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. Smoke 01:25.000 --> 01:26.000 Fatima. 01:26.000 --> 01:33.240 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes in cooperation 01:33.240 --> 01:37.360 with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the 01:37.360 --> 01:43.400 law through an actual case from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to 01:43.400 --> 01:48.040 punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 01:48.040 --> 01:53.920 It was Wednesday, July 9th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch 01:53.920 --> 01:58.760 out at Narcotics Bureau. My partner is Ben Romero. The boss is Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives. 01:58.760 --> 02:04.680 My name is Friday. I was on the way into work and it was 3.58 p.m. when I got to room 24, 02:04.680 --> 02:05.680 Narcotics Bureau. 02:05.680 --> 02:07.400 Hi Joe, feel better? 02:07.400 --> 02:12.960 Oh, not quite as tired, Ben. In Costello, it was a long haul. 02:12.960 --> 02:18.720 Narcotics Romero. Okay, Big'em. I'll tell him. Meeting's in five minutes. Chief Brown 02:18.720 --> 02:19.720 drove in. 02:19.720 --> 02:24.360 Okay, I want to pick up my stuff from the captain first. Hi, Skipper. 02:24.360 --> 02:28.680 Come on in. You look a little better Friday. Get some rest. 02:28.680 --> 02:32.080 Yeah, a couple of good meals. What's the trouble with the Flats gang? They never know where 02:32.080 --> 02:33.080 to eat. 02:33.080 --> 02:37.840 Sit down, Joe. I want to talk to you. We got a couple of minutes before the meeting. You'll 02:37.840 --> 02:41.920 probably be getting this all up and down the line from here in. Just want to let you know 02:41.920 --> 02:45.520 that we think you and all the men in the operation did a fine job. 02:45.520 --> 02:47.800 My part wasn't much. You did more than I did. 02:47.800 --> 02:54.760 Oh, we all worked, but you had the dirty end of it. Good job. Here's your equipment. You'll 02:54.760 --> 02:55.760 need it now. 02:55.760 --> 02:56.760 Oh, yeah, thanks. 02:56.760 --> 03:00.280 And your ID card. You got six shells. That's all of it. 03:00.280 --> 03:02.520 Mm-hmm. That's it. Thank you. 03:02.520 --> 03:03.520 You're back at it. 03:03.520 --> 03:04.520 Yep. 03:04.520 --> 03:08.480 Here's one for you. Look at this. 03:08.480 --> 03:09.480 What's that you got? 03:09.480 --> 03:12.560 Mugshot of a girl picked up in a narcotics raid last night. 03:12.560 --> 03:14.080 Oh, pretty girl. 03:14.080 --> 03:16.840 Long blonde hair, beautiful eye. 03:16.840 --> 03:18.760 She looks young. High school girl. 03:18.760 --> 03:26.480 She was when that picture was taken, 1947. She was 16. Here, look at this one. 03:26.480 --> 03:28.240 Yeah. Same girl. 03:28.240 --> 03:31.920 Yeah. That's the way she looked at 1130 last night when we picked her up. 03:31.920 --> 03:32.920 She looks 50. 03:32.920 --> 03:35.720 19 years old. Three years on heroin. 03:35.720 --> 03:37.120 She might as well be dead. 03:37.120 --> 03:42.760 She is. Eight o'clock this morning. Let's go. It's time for the meeting. 03:42.760 --> 03:45.880 You just looked at the best reason I know of for getting Belmont. 03:45.880 --> 03:47.800 Did she get her stuff from Belmont? 03:47.800 --> 03:51.480 Costello was pushing to her. He got his stuff from Belmont. They all do. 03:51.480 --> 03:52.480 Now let's go. 03:52.480 --> 03:53.480 Bye, William. 03:53.480 --> 03:58.000 Anybody brief you on the Costello interview, Joe? 03:58.000 --> 03:59.000 No, no, not yet. 03:59.000 --> 04:00.000 Chief Brown will fill you in. 04:00.000 --> 04:01.000 Chief? 04:01.000 --> 04:02.000 Gentlemen, come on in. 04:02.000 --> 04:03.000 You men all know each other. 04:03.000 --> 04:04.000 Hiya, Craig. 04:04.000 --> 04:05.000 Captain White, I think you and your men know Policewoman Caswell. 04:05.000 --> 04:06.000 Yes, sir. How are you, Florence? 04:06.000 --> 04:07.000 Hello. 04:07.000 --> 04:08.000 Ms. Caswell, Inspector Virgil Beckman, State Narcotics. 04:08.000 --> 04:09.000 How do you do? 04:09.000 --> 04:10.000 Bill Craig, AIDS and Charge Federal Narcotics. 04:10.000 --> 04:11.000 Hello. 04:11.000 --> 04:12.000 I'm a doctor. 04:12.000 --> 04:13.000 I'm a doctor. 04:13.000 --> 04:14.000 I'm a doctor. 04:14.000 --> 04:15.000 I'm a doctor. 04:15.000 --> 04:16.000 I'm a doctor. 04:16.000 --> 04:17.000 I'm a doctor. 04:17.000 --> 04:18.000 I'm a doctor. 04:18.000 --> 04:19.000 I'm a doctor. 04:19.000 --> 04:20.000 I'm a doctor. 04:20.000 --> 04:21.000 I'm a doctor. 04:21.000 --> 04:22.000 I'm a doctor. 04:22.000 --> 04:23.000 I'm a doctor. 04:23.000 --> 04:24.000 I'm a doctor. 04:24.000 --> 04:25.000 How do you do? 04:25.000 --> 04:29.220 Before we get into Velmat procedure, let's see how we stand on the Costello case. 04:29.220 --> 04:33.160 Why do you want to fill everybody in on information we got from Ralph Costello? 04:33.160 --> 04:35.340 Yes, sir. 04:35.340 --> 04:38.780 After his arrest on Monday night, we interrogated Costello for about four hours. 04:38.780 --> 04:41.360 We confronted him with the package he sold Friday here. 04:41.360 --> 04:42.560 How'd the stuff test go? 04:42.560 --> 04:43.560 Crime lab ran it through. 04:43.560 --> 04:44.840 About a third of an ounce of heroin. 04:44.840 --> 04:46.480 Fair quality Mexican stuff. 04:46.480 --> 04:50.200 The man we picked up with Costello, Tony Morse, was questioned as well. 04:50.200 --> 04:51.700 He corroborated Costello's story. 04:51.700 --> 04:52.900 What did you get from him? 04:52.900 --> 04:57.540 Well, he told us he had a great deal of information on the big man in the operation, Belmont, 04:57.540 --> 05:00.840 but he wouldn't tell us a thing unless we made a deal with him. 05:00.840 --> 05:01.840 What kind of a deal? 05:01.840 --> 05:03.700 He wanted everything. 05:03.700 --> 05:07.220 But we finally agreed that the only thing we might possibly work out was his prison 05:07.220 --> 05:08.220 term. 05:08.220 --> 05:11.700 We called in the U.S. district attorney and we talked another four hours. 05:11.700 --> 05:13.020 How'd it work out? 05:13.020 --> 05:17.180 District attorney told Costello the only thing he'd do for him was to have his prison terms 05:17.180 --> 05:19.460 run concurrently rather than consecutively. 05:19.460 --> 05:21.700 Not much to pay for what we got. 05:21.700 --> 05:25.060 Costello gave us enough to enable us to start moving on Belmont right away. 05:25.060 --> 05:26.060 We've had his M.O. confirmed. 05:26.060 --> 05:28.100 We've got a list of most of his pushers. 05:28.100 --> 05:29.620 Now we can get to him. 05:29.620 --> 05:30.620 Any definite plan, G? 05:30.620 --> 05:34.700 White and I have been talking over here with Craig and Beck. 05:34.700 --> 05:37.340 It worked out what we think might be a pretty good plan. 05:37.340 --> 05:41.380 Craig, do you want to lay out how your men are going to handle it from the federal end? 05:41.380 --> 05:43.540 We'll work from out of town to the center here. 05:43.540 --> 05:45.820 We'll check his contacts across the state lines. 05:45.820 --> 05:48.540 We've already traced his connections to the east, New York, Centicat. 05:48.540 --> 05:50.100 We'll keep working that end. 05:50.100 --> 05:52.300 Beck, how about your state narcotics man? 05:52.300 --> 05:54.100 We'll work inside the state line here. 05:54.100 --> 05:56.260 We've already checked out part of his operations. 05:56.260 --> 06:01.700 We've located sources in San Francisco, Bakersfield, Fresno, as far south as San Diego, lower California. 06:01.700 --> 06:03.540 We'll draw all those ends up tight. 06:03.540 --> 06:04.540 Keep moving. 06:04.540 --> 06:06.260 You fellows can both give us a hand if we need assistance. 06:06.260 --> 06:07.260 You bet. 06:07.260 --> 06:08.260 That's right. 06:08.260 --> 06:09.260 Fine. 06:09.260 --> 06:10.260 White, what are we going to do locally? 06:10.260 --> 06:12.780 It's going to be a case of taking what we know and finding out what we don't know, putting 06:12.780 --> 06:13.780 the two together. 06:13.780 --> 06:16.740 It seems to me to be a case of watching the man at all times. 06:16.740 --> 06:19.380 Belmont shouldn't be able to blow his nose without one of our men knowing him. 06:19.380 --> 06:20.980 It's going to be a tremendous undertaking. 06:20.980 --> 06:23.820 You all know the tough job of those shadowing narcotics men. 06:23.820 --> 06:25.220 They're fidgety, hypersensitive. 06:25.220 --> 06:27.500 They recognize anything out of the ordinary at once. 06:27.500 --> 06:30.260 For that reason, it can't be a one-man operation. 06:30.260 --> 06:31.260 Everybody's got to work. 06:31.260 --> 06:32.780 Our undercover won't work this time. 06:32.780 --> 06:34.540 They're no doubt alerted. 06:34.540 --> 06:36.060 So we'll work it from another angle. 06:36.060 --> 06:37.060 When do we start? 06:37.060 --> 06:38.060 We've already started. 06:38.060 --> 06:39.860 Belmont lives in Manhattan Beach. 06:39.860 --> 06:40.860 His house is under surveillance. 06:40.860 --> 06:41.860 It has been since yesterday. 06:41.860 --> 06:45.740 I can't impress upon all of you the importance of not letting Belmont out of your sight for 06:45.740 --> 06:46.740 an instant. 06:46.740 --> 06:49.740 If we don't get him out of the narcotics, by could be made in 30 seconds. 06:49.740 --> 06:51.740 If we're not there at the instant, we lose him. 06:51.740 --> 06:54.740 Do we have anything in total as to when he might be ready to deal again? 06:54.740 --> 06:55.740 Nothing. 06:55.740 --> 06:57.740 Nobody seems to know Belmont's exact operating time. 06:57.740 --> 06:58.740 Could be any time. 06:58.740 --> 07:03.740 And in order to prosecute him, we've got to be there when the narcotics are in his possession 07:03.740 --> 07:04.740 or under his control. 07:04.740 --> 07:08.740 So we start to live with him and stay as close as we can without being tapped until there's 07:08.740 --> 07:09.740 a by. 07:09.740 --> 07:10.740 That's it. 07:10.740 --> 07:11.740 Captain White has all the assignments for our local men. 07:11.740 --> 07:12.740 Okay. 07:12.740 --> 07:13.740 We'll watch him. 07:13.740 --> 07:14.740 Stay close to him. 07:14.740 --> 07:19.740 The meeting lasted four hours. 07:19.740 --> 07:23.900 During that four hours, a plan was formulated which we hoped would end in the successful 07:23.900 --> 07:29.980 apprehension of the number one man in Pacific Coast narcotics traffic, Arthur Z. Belmont. 07:29.980 --> 07:34.460 How do you watch a man is every move for 24 hours, day in, day out, without his knowing 07:34.460 --> 07:35.460 it. 07:35.460 --> 07:39.860 How do you watch a man whose very existence depends upon not being watched, who is expertly 07:39.860 --> 07:44.860 schooled in every trick and device of police surveillance, whose method of operation will 07:44.860 --> 07:46.740 change with the slightest disturbance of his daily routine. 07:46.740 --> 07:49.140 And if that MO changes, you've lost him. 07:49.140 --> 07:56.700 Thursday, July 10th, in the small Los Angeles suburb of Manhattan Beach, population 10,172. 07:56.700 --> 07:59.020 Three very ordinary events took place. 07:59.020 --> 08:01.500 A public nurse began a house-to-house survey. 08:01.500 --> 08:05.740 She asked the simple question, have you ever been vaccinated for smallpox? 08:05.740 --> 08:09.420 She started canvassing 27 blocks from the home of Belmont. 08:09.420 --> 08:11.740 Policewoman Florence Caswell. 08:11.740 --> 08:15.500 Two Japanese gardeners new to the city of Manhattan Beach began soliciting work. 08:15.500 --> 08:19.540 They started asking for jobs 38 blocks from the home of Belmont. 08:19.540 --> 08:22.380 Sergeant 10 Fujikuni and Patrolman John Kagawa. 08:22.380 --> 08:27.540 A team of surveyors driving a station wagon marked with the seal of Los Angeles County 08:27.540 --> 08:32.620 began taking linear measurements for the proposed enlargement of storm drains in the area. 08:32.620 --> 08:35.460 They started 14 blocks from the home of Belmont. 08:35.460 --> 08:39.580 Lieutenant John Bigam, Central Narcotics Sergeant Ben Romero and myself. 08:39.580 --> 08:43.460 Okay Ben, bring in the rod. 08:43.460 --> 08:45.380 Let's knock off for lunch. 08:45.380 --> 08:46.380 What do you want to eat John? 08:46.380 --> 08:47.380 The wagon. 08:47.380 --> 08:50.260 Better take the transfer with us, kids might pick it up. 08:50.260 --> 08:52.060 Okay, I got it. 08:52.060 --> 08:54.380 I can't keep the sand out of my shoes. 08:54.380 --> 08:58.180 Might as well get used to it, we're a long ways from home. 08:58.180 --> 09:01.580 Nine years on the job, it's the first time I ever brought my lunch in a paper sack. 09:01.580 --> 09:05.020 Who knows Joe, this might change your whole way of living. 09:05.020 --> 09:06.980 Want to sit in the front? 09:06.980 --> 09:08.820 No, I'm getting back. 09:08.820 --> 09:14.180 So let's have a look at the local paper. 09:14.180 --> 09:15.180 No, why? 09:15.180 --> 09:18.420 It had Beach Sentinel down the bottom of page one in the box. 09:18.420 --> 09:19.420 Read it. 09:19.420 --> 09:20.420 Yeah, let me see. 09:20.420 --> 09:21.420 It's good. 09:21.420 --> 09:22.420 What is it Joe? 09:22.420 --> 09:23.420 Read it out loud. 09:23.420 --> 09:27.940 Well, it says preliminary work on storm drains started. 09:27.940 --> 09:32.500 Surveyors, well it goes on to say that surveyors have started taking measurements for the new 09:32.500 --> 09:33.500 drains. 09:33.500 --> 09:35.180 On the right side, do you have the story planned? 09:35.180 --> 09:36.540 Even got a release from the planning commission. 09:36.540 --> 09:38.180 Won't hurt us a bit. 09:38.180 --> 09:40.260 Well, you said lunch time. 09:40.260 --> 09:43.700 I've got enough here for the whole department. 09:43.700 --> 09:46.340 Four hard boiled eggs. 09:46.340 --> 09:49.860 See what kind of sandwiches I drew. 09:49.860 --> 09:50.860 Devil egg. 09:50.860 --> 09:55.020 Look here, she even put them on egg bread. 09:55.020 --> 09:56.900 I hate eggs. 09:56.900 --> 09:58.780 Looks like the captain driving up the street. 09:58.780 --> 09:59.780 No, not him. 09:59.780 --> 10:03.820 Driving a city car, chief engineer. 10:03.820 --> 10:08.420 How's it going, Viggen? 10:08.420 --> 10:09.420 Fine. 10:09.420 --> 10:10.420 Slow. 10:10.420 --> 10:13.420 How's your lunch? 10:13.420 --> 10:16.940 What do you got? 10:16.940 --> 10:18.900 Devil egg sandwiches, got plenty. 10:18.900 --> 10:19.900 Can't stand them. 10:19.900 --> 10:21.180 How about a ham and cheese? 10:21.180 --> 10:22.180 Yeah, thanks. 10:22.180 --> 10:23.180 There you go. 10:23.180 --> 10:24.180 How's everybody else doing? 10:24.180 --> 10:25.180 Very slow. 10:25.180 --> 10:26.180 Takes time. 10:26.180 --> 10:31.500 Got to keep taking our time. 10:31.500 --> 10:32.980 We tip it before we get close enough. 10:32.980 --> 10:33.980 Belmont's on his way. 10:33.980 --> 10:37.060 How long are we going to have to keep our distance? 10:37.060 --> 10:38.060 Not much longer. 10:38.060 --> 10:41.060 We can't take the chance of starting everybody out right on top of Belmont. 10:41.060 --> 10:42.580 It might look funny to him. 10:42.580 --> 10:44.500 Anybody else would be okay. 10:44.500 --> 10:48.660 The average person, your operations might look normal, but we can't afford to try to 10:48.660 --> 10:50.700 get it by Belmont that way. 10:50.700 --> 10:52.740 With a hop cutter, you never know. 10:52.740 --> 10:54.220 It's not so much that we don't know. 10:54.220 --> 10:56.420 We just can't take any kind of a chance. 10:56.420 --> 10:57.420 That's what I mean. 10:57.420 --> 11:02.020 He might have died right on Belmont's front lawn, and he'd never got wise, but we wouldn't 11:02.020 --> 11:03.020 want to risk it. 11:03.020 --> 11:04.340 Belmont been out of his house today? 11:04.340 --> 11:07.300 He's on the go quite a bit. 11:07.300 --> 11:12.140 Left his house at 9.13 a.m., went out of his shop, right market, bought a half pound of 11:12.140 --> 11:15.180 bacon, two dozen eggs, loaf of bread, over wheat. 11:15.180 --> 11:16.580 Sergeant Hodges waited on him. 11:16.580 --> 11:19.940 He's clerking in the grocery department. 11:19.940 --> 11:23.460 Then he drove over to his neighborhood gas station, got a full tank of ethanol and two 11:23.460 --> 11:26.900 quarts of oil, 30 weight, drove home, got back at 9.42. 11:26.900 --> 11:28.540 Are he still there? 11:28.540 --> 11:29.540 Yeah. 11:29.540 --> 11:31.460 About time you guys were back at it. 11:31.460 --> 11:32.460 Right. 11:32.460 --> 11:33.460 Okay, Ben. 11:33.460 --> 11:35.460 You want to grab some of the gear? 11:35.460 --> 11:36.460 Yeah. 11:36.460 --> 11:37.460 Hey, Joe. 11:37.460 --> 11:41.260 Give me a leftover bread crust, will you? 11:41.260 --> 11:42.260 I'll give them to Seco. 11:42.260 --> 11:43.260 Yeah, sure. 11:43.260 --> 11:44.260 Here you go. 11:44.260 --> 11:48.460 Well, foot by foot, we're getting closer to Belmont. 11:48.460 --> 11:50.020 Hope nobody tips it. 11:50.020 --> 11:54.420 They should unless you don't trust those girls. 11:54.420 --> 11:57.180 We surveyed the city of Manhattan Beach for five weeks. 11:57.180 --> 12:00.700 Policewoman Caswell, posing as a nurse, continued canvassing. 12:00.700 --> 12:04.180 Everybody concerned with a job of standing watch over Arthur Z. Belmont carried out their 12:04.180 --> 12:06.180 routine day by day. 12:06.180 --> 12:08.860 Daily reports came in from everyone in the operation. 12:08.860 --> 12:12.700 These reports would be sifted at central narcotics and progress reports compiled for the use of 12:12.700 --> 12:15.180 those in the field on the Belmont case. 12:15.180 --> 12:18.820 All police cars as well as city cars such as we were employing were equipped with three-way 12:18.820 --> 12:20.620 radio communication. 12:20.620 --> 12:23.380 All personnel were in constant contact with one another. 12:23.380 --> 12:28.100 Wednesday, August 12th, it was the decision of Captain Lynn White that the idea of our 12:28.100 --> 12:31.020 posing as city surveyors had been exhausted. 12:31.020 --> 12:34.180 Further use of this could possibly arouse suspicion. 12:34.180 --> 12:36.760 Belmont lived at 1227 Ocean Avenue. 12:36.760 --> 12:40.620 Two days before we were called off the surveying job, the city leased the private residence 12:40.620 --> 12:42.500 at 1216 Ocean Avenue. 12:42.500 --> 12:44.440 A van load of furniture was moved in. 12:44.440 --> 12:46.140 Drapes and curtains were hung. 12:46.140 --> 12:49.380 Further deliveries of daily newspapers and milk were made to the house. 12:49.380 --> 12:52.820 To all outward appearances, the house was occupied by an average family. 12:52.820 --> 12:57.860 Actually, it provided another blind from which we could continue to observe Belmont. 12:57.860 --> 13:00.540 Shortwave radio equipment was installed in an upstairs room. 13:00.540 --> 13:02.580 Ben and I were assigned the night watch. 13:02.580 --> 13:05.820 Now the car just stopped in front of Belmont's house. 13:05.820 --> 13:06.820 How many does that make? 13:06.820 --> 13:07.820 Three cars. 13:07.820 --> 13:08.820 Just a minute. 13:08.820 --> 13:09.820 Yeah. 13:09.820 --> 13:10.820 A couple of guys getting out. 13:10.820 --> 13:11.820 One up the front door. 13:11.820 --> 13:12.820 Where? 13:12.820 --> 13:16.460 Let me see, huh? 13:16.460 --> 13:18.940 There's a lot. 13:18.940 --> 13:19.940 Watch curtain. 13:19.940 --> 13:20.940 Uh-huh. 13:20.940 --> 13:21.940 Yeah. 13:21.940 --> 13:24.540 Belmont answers the door. 13:24.540 --> 13:25.540 He's letting them in. 13:25.540 --> 13:26.540 Something's doing. 13:26.540 --> 13:27.540 What do you think? 13:27.540 --> 13:28.540 I don't know. 13:28.540 --> 13:29.540 You called Captain White, didn't you? 13:29.540 --> 13:30.540 An hour ago. 13:30.540 --> 13:31.540 Just after the first car pulled up. 13:31.540 --> 13:33.740 He'll park in the alley and come up the back way. 13:33.740 --> 13:38.940 I better check with everybody again. 13:38.940 --> 13:41.380 This portable seemed to warm up slower than our car radio. 13:41.380 --> 13:43.820 I'm about to say. 13:43.820 --> 13:45.780 Here we go. 13:45.780 --> 13:48.060 Unit 140K to unit 145K. 13:48.060 --> 13:52.100 145K, go ahead. 13:52.100 --> 13:53.100 Just checking. 13:53.100 --> 13:54.100 Your location the same? 13:54.100 --> 13:55.100 That's right. 13:55.100 --> 13:56.860 Motion and clever. 13:56.860 --> 13:58.460 We got three cars to cover now. 13:58.460 --> 13:59.460 Stand by. 13:59.460 --> 14:00.460 Roger. 14:00.460 --> 14:01.460 Unit 140K to 143K. 14:01.460 --> 14:02.460 143K, we got it. 14:02.460 --> 14:03.460 Standing by. 14:03.460 --> 14:04.460 Location still good? 14:04.460 --> 14:05.460 Same. 14:05.460 --> 14:06.460 Be talking to each other. 14:06.460 --> 14:11.460 Stand by. 14:11.460 --> 14:14.460 140K to 149K. 14:14.460 --> 14:18.140 149K, go ahead. 14:18.140 --> 14:19.140 Stay put. 14:19.140 --> 14:20.140 We got three cars now. 14:20.140 --> 14:21.140 Yeah, we heard. 14:21.140 --> 14:22.140 Still the same spot. 14:22.140 --> 14:23.140 Stand by. 14:23.140 --> 14:24.140 Roger. 14:24.140 --> 14:26.140 Captain just pulled in the alley, Joe. 14:26.140 --> 14:27.140 Good. 14:27.140 --> 14:29.140 Belmont's porch light just went out. 14:29.140 --> 14:30.340 Let's see. 14:30.340 --> 14:32.060 Three guys came in the first car. 14:32.060 --> 14:33.060 Two in the second, two in the third. 14:33.060 --> 14:34.060 Is that right? 14:34.060 --> 14:35.060 Yeah. 14:35.060 --> 14:36.060 Seven all in total. 14:36.060 --> 14:37.060 Maybe he's running for office. 14:37.060 --> 14:42.060 Joe, Ben, any changes since you called me? 14:42.060 --> 14:43.060 Another car. 14:43.060 --> 14:44.060 Anybody you know? 14:44.060 --> 14:45.060 Too dark to see their faces. 14:45.060 --> 14:46.060 Yeah. 14:46.060 --> 14:47.060 Dodge Coupe, gray, black packet sedan, green cherry. 14:47.060 --> 14:48.060 That might be for me. 14:48.060 --> 14:49.060 I told the office they could reach me. 14:49.060 --> 14:50.060 Yeah. 14:50.060 --> 14:51.060 White. 14:51.060 --> 14:52.060 Yeah, Bingham. 14:52.060 --> 14:53.060 You must be wrong. 14:53.060 --> 14:54.060 You sure he's not lying? 14:54.060 --> 14:55.060 All right, thanks. 14:55.060 --> 14:56.060 Yeah. 14:56.060 --> 15:10.460 You sure Belmont hasn't left his house since you came on duty? 15:10.460 --> 15:11.460 Couldn't possibly. 15:11.460 --> 15:12.940 Not without somebody in the details, partner. 15:12.940 --> 15:13.940 He got out somehow. 15:13.940 --> 15:14.940 He made a bye. 15:14.940 --> 15:22.460 Captain White called the office and talked to Benny Arradondo, our narcotics undercover 15:22.460 --> 15:23.460 man. 15:23.460 --> 15:27.380 He confirmed the fact that somehow Belmont had a meat and successfully completed a narcotics 15:27.380 --> 15:28.380 transaction. 15:28.380 --> 15:31.900 None of us could figure how and we didn't know when the meat took place. 15:31.900 --> 15:36.060 Arradondo told us that the bye had been made sometime in the past 10 hours. 15:36.060 --> 15:40.300 The arresting officers had recovered a portion of the narcotics, two bindles of heroin. 15:40.300 --> 15:43.340 They were found in the possession of one of Belmont's runners, Archie Scott. 15:43.340 --> 15:44.820 I can't figure him. 15:44.820 --> 15:46.260 What do we do now, Skipper? 15:46.260 --> 15:50.140 Sit tight and watch those three cars in front of Belmont's house over there. 15:50.140 --> 15:52.060 Maybe he didn't have to leave the house to make a bye. 15:52.060 --> 15:54.740 That's the way I got it, Peg. 15:54.740 --> 15:58.740 Those cars down there, those are the first visitors he's had in the past 24 hours. 15:58.740 --> 16:01.540 As far as anybody knows, we've watched it close. 16:01.540 --> 16:02.540 Sometimes it's like that. 16:02.540 --> 16:05.220 It looks like somebody's coming out over there. 16:05.220 --> 16:06.220 Two guys. 16:06.220 --> 16:07.220 How many in there? 16:07.220 --> 16:08.220 Eight, Captain Belmont. 16:08.220 --> 16:11.020 All right, Friday, get to the cars. 16:11.020 --> 16:12.020 Yeah. 16:12.020 --> 16:14.100 They start to move out yet? 16:14.100 --> 16:15.100 No. 16:15.100 --> 16:16.100 Five, six, seven. 16:16.100 --> 16:17.100 That's all of them. 16:17.100 --> 16:18.100 They're heading to the car. 16:18.100 --> 16:19.100 Yeah. 16:19.100 --> 16:20.100 Looks like a three-way switch. 16:20.100 --> 16:23.100 We'll see when they start to move out. 16:23.100 --> 16:25.660 Attention all units in special detail, stand by. 16:25.660 --> 16:26.660 Here's the license numbers, Joe. 16:26.660 --> 16:27.660 Oh, good. 16:27.660 --> 16:28.660 I need those. 16:28.660 --> 16:29.660 Green Chevy's headed south. 16:29.660 --> 16:31.380 Black Packet's going north. 16:31.380 --> 16:32.380 So's the Dodge Coupe. 16:32.380 --> 16:33.380 Uh-huh. 16:33.380 --> 16:34.380 Dodge turned left at the corner. 16:34.380 --> 16:35.380 It's headed east now. 16:35.380 --> 16:36.380 Got it. 16:36.380 --> 16:38.940 140K to all units in special detail. 16:38.940 --> 16:39.940 Unit 149K. 16:39.940 --> 16:42.940 149K, go ahead. 16:42.940 --> 16:49.140 1946 Green Chevrolet sedan, license 6-1 William 852, headed south on Ocean. 16:49.140 --> 16:50.140 Roger. 16:50.140 --> 16:51.140 Unit 145K. 16:51.140 --> 16:54.140 145K, go ahead. 16:54.140 --> 17:02.140 1947 Gray Dodge Coupe, license 1X-Ray 1898, headed east on Clipper Street. 17:02.140 --> 17:03.140 Roger. 17:03.140 --> 17:06.140 143K, come in. 17:06.140 --> 17:09.140 143K, yep. 17:09.140 --> 17:15.140 1939 Black Packet sedan, license 6 Mary 6778, headed north on Ocean. 17:15.140 --> 17:16.140 Roger. 17:16.140 --> 17:17.140 Downspotted. 17:17.140 --> 17:21.140 Could be a dry run, couldn't afford to chance it either way. 17:21.140 --> 17:23.140 Nothing to do now but wait it out. 17:23.140 --> 17:26.140 That's right and pray for rain. 17:26.140 --> 17:29.140 It was eight minutes past 8 p.m. 17:29.140 --> 17:33.140 We sat back and waited for the reports to come in from the cars. 17:33.140 --> 17:39.140 At 8.25 p.m., 17 minutes after the alert was broadcast, unit 149K reported in on the Gray 17:39.140 --> 17:40.140 Chevrolet sedan. 17:40.140 --> 17:43.140 The car and its occupants were thoroughly searched. 17:43.140 --> 17:45.140 No trace of narcotics was found. 17:45.140 --> 17:48.140 8.42 p.m., 34 minutes after the alert. 17:48.140 --> 17:51.140 Unit 143K to 140K. 17:51.140 --> 17:54.140 143K, go ahead. 17:54.140 --> 18:01.140 On that 1939 Packet sedan, license 6 Mary 6778, shook them down. 18:01.140 --> 18:02.140 Nothing. 18:02.140 --> 18:03.140 They're clean. 18:03.140 --> 18:05.140 8.50 p.m., 42 minutes after the alert. 18:05.140 --> 18:10.140 The report on the third and final car came in, the 1947 Gray Dodge Coupe. 18:10.140 --> 18:11.140 That's it. 18:11.140 --> 18:15.140 No trace of narcotics in any of those three cars. 18:15.140 --> 18:16.140 Belmont beat us. 18:16.140 --> 18:17.140 It's tough, huh? 18:17.140 --> 18:18.140 It's going to be tougher. 18:18.140 --> 18:20.140 Now he knows we're after him. 18:20.140 --> 18:34.140 You are listening to Dragnet, authentic stories of your police force in action. 18:34.140 --> 18:38.140 Now, here's an authentic report from Fatima cigarettes. 18:38.140 --> 18:43.140 In 1949, Fatima more than doubled its smokers from coast to coast. 18:43.140 --> 18:47.140 In 1950, enjoy Fatima yourself. 18:47.140 --> 18:49.140 You'll find Fatima extra mild. 18:49.140 --> 18:54.140 Because Fatima is the long cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic 18:54.140 --> 18:59.140 tobaccos superbly blended to make Fatima extra mild. 18:59.140 --> 19:02.140 You'll find Fatima tastes much better. 19:02.140 --> 19:07.140 Fatima's superb blend gives you a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any 19:07.140 --> 19:09.140 other long cigarette. 19:09.140 --> 19:12.140 You'll find Fatima best in cigarette quality. 19:12.140 --> 19:16.140 Fatima has always stood for the best in cigarette quality. 19:16.140 --> 19:22.140 For a new year of greater smoking enjoyment, buy Fatima in the appealing golden yellow package. 19:22.140 --> 19:34.140 You will agree Fatima is the best of all long cigarettes. 19:34.140 --> 19:38.140 The three car switch, three cars arrive at a given point at different times. 19:38.140 --> 19:40.140 The meet takes place. 19:40.140 --> 19:43.140 The drivers of the various cars leave the given point at the same time. 19:43.140 --> 19:48.140 Each drives away from the point in a different direction making it three times as difficult to follow them. 19:48.140 --> 19:52.140 The practice was not new to the Narcotics Bureau or the dealers in narcotics. 19:52.140 --> 19:58.140 It usually includes the dry run in which the actual mechanics of the narcotics are carried out. 19:58.140 --> 20:01.140 But neither the merchandise nor the money is on hand. 20:01.140 --> 20:04.140 This practice forces the narcotics officer into pure guesswork. 20:04.140 --> 20:07.140 If the officer doesn't follow up, the buy could be successful. 20:07.140 --> 20:13.140 If he chooses to follow up, he takes the chance of exposing himself and tipping his hand on a rehearsal. 20:13.140 --> 20:16.140 In the case of this particular car switch, we lost. 20:16.140 --> 20:20.140 But taken in the car roundup were seven of Belmont's trusted runners. 20:20.140 --> 20:25.140 Six of these men refused to talk, but the seventh, Clifford Bissell, gave us a lead to one of 20:25.140 --> 20:27.140 Arthur Belmont's most trusted friends. 20:27.140 --> 20:29.140 His name was Floyd Ketchel. 20:29.140 --> 20:32.140 He and his wife lived at 357 Evergreen Drive, Linwood. 20:32.140 --> 20:34.140 It's a nice house. 20:34.140 --> 20:35.140 Yeah. 20:36.140 --> 20:37.140 Yes? 20:37.140 --> 20:40.140 Police officers would like to ask you a few questions. 20:40.140 --> 20:41.140 What about? 20:41.140 --> 20:44.140 Well, as you probably know, there's been a series of burglaries here in your neighborhood. 20:44.140 --> 20:45.140 No, I didn't, though. 20:45.140 --> 20:49.140 Oh, yes, quite a few. Would you mind if we came in and talked to you about it? 20:49.140 --> 20:52.140 I don't know anything about any robberies around here. Everything's okay. 20:52.140 --> 20:56.140 This is just a routine check, Mr. Ketchel. Everybody else in the neighborhood's cooperating. 20:56.140 --> 20:57.140 I'm going to take just a minute. 20:57.140 --> 21:00.140 All right, you can come in, but I have to leave in about 15 minutes. 21:00.140 --> 21:01.140 Thank you. 21:03.140 --> 21:05.140 You have a nice place here, Mr. Ketchel. 21:05.140 --> 21:08.140 Yes. Now, what was it you wanted me to help you with? 21:08.140 --> 21:11.140 You know a man by the name of Clifford Bissell? 21:11.140 --> 21:12.140 No. 21:12.140 --> 21:14.140 How about Arthur Z. Belmont? 21:14.140 --> 21:15.140 Who? 21:14.140 --> 21:18.140 Arthur Z. Belmont. Bissell says you and Belmont are good friends. 21:18.140 --> 21:21.140 I don't understand this. I thought you wanted to ask me about some robberies. 21:21.140 --> 21:25.140 I wonder if you'd mind rolling up your left sleeve and I could look at your arm. What for? 21:25.140 --> 21:27.140 You're a user, aren't you? 21:27.140 --> 21:28.140 No, I'm not. 21:28.140 --> 21:29.140 Then you know what we're talking about, don't you? 21:29.140 --> 21:30.140 No, I don't. 21:30.140 --> 21:32.140 Do you have any narcotics here in the house? 21:32.140 --> 21:33.140 Certainly not. 21:33.140 --> 21:34.140 Mind if we look around? 21:34.140 --> 21:36.140 Why do you want to search the house? 21:36.140 --> 21:38.140 Why won't you show us your left arm? 21:41.140 --> 21:44.140 Floyd Ketchel would admit nothing, but he allowed us to search his home and grounds. 21:44.140 --> 21:47.140 An extra detail of men was called out to aid us in the search. 21:47.140 --> 21:51.140 We covered every foot of the acre of ground. This took two days. We found nothing. 21:51.140 --> 21:56.140 On the third day, under the flooring of an upper bedroom of the Ketchel home, we found Ketchel's plant. 21:56.140 --> 21:58.140 He was using heroin. 21:58.140 --> 22:00.140 You want me to call Belmont, is that the idea? 22:00.140 --> 22:03.140 That's right. We want you to set up a meet with him. 22:03.140 --> 22:05.140 I'm not going to rat on Artie. He's a friend of mine. 22:05.140 --> 22:09.140 Search yourself. We found your plant there. We've got you. You'll be the fall guy. 22:09.140 --> 22:10.140 You mean I take all the heat? 22:10.140 --> 22:11.140 Why not? 22:11.140 --> 22:14.140 Bissell put the finger on you. We've got to have somebody. Why pick on me? 22:14.140 --> 22:17.140 We just told you. We found the stuff here. Bissell fingered you. You're it. 22:17.140 --> 22:19.140 All you have to do is make a phone call. 22:19.140 --> 22:23.140 You won't have a clean slate, but it's going to sound a lot better in court. 22:23.140 --> 22:25.140 All right. It makes sense. 22:25.140 --> 22:28.140 You know what to tell him. We've already been over all that. Call him now. 22:28.140 --> 22:33.140 Friday, listen in on the extension. If Ketchel changes his mind in the middle of the conversation, I'll see that he hangs up. 22:33.140 --> 22:51.140 Yeah. 22:51.140 --> 22:52.140 Hello? 22:52.140 --> 22:53.140 Hi, Art. Floyd Ketchel. 22:53.140 --> 22:54.140 How are you, Ketch? 22:54.140 --> 22:55.140 Fine. 22:55.140 --> 22:56.140 How's Edna? 22:56.140 --> 22:59.140 She's fine, Art. Say, I got a friend on his way to Honolulu. 22:59.140 --> 23:00.140 Uh-huh. 23:00.140 --> 23:03.140 He wants to take a little package along. Got to have it. 23:03.140 --> 23:05.140 You know him? Is he okay? 23:05.140 --> 23:06.140 Yeah. Old friend. 23:06.140 --> 23:07.140 You sure? 23:07.140 --> 23:08.140 Yeah. 23:08.140 --> 23:11.140 You have to be pretty careful. He got hit Wednesday night down the beach. 23:11.140 --> 23:12.140 Yeah? Who'd they get? 23:12.140 --> 23:17.140 Bissell and six guys from New York. Got off easy. It was a dry run. 23:17.140 --> 23:19.140 I didn't know that. Nothing in the papers. 23:19.140 --> 23:22.140 He hasn't hit yet. It will. How much did your friend need? 23:22.140 --> 23:25.140 Going to be in the islands for quite a while. There's a couple ounces you do it. 23:25.140 --> 23:26.140 You got the money now? 23:26.140 --> 23:30.140 He's good. Can you swing it tonight? Boat leaves from San Francisco day after tomorrow. 23:30.140 --> 23:33.140 He hasn't got much time, has he? Okay, you want to pick it up? 23:33.140 --> 23:37.140 Yeah. All right, if I bring him along, I want you to meet him. Good customer. 23:37.140 --> 23:39.140 Are you sure about him? Yeah. Eight-thirty at the store. 23:39.140 --> 23:40.140 We'll be there, Art. 23:40.140 --> 23:41.140 He's 1100 cash? 23:41.140 --> 23:42.140 Yeah. 23:42.140 --> 23:43.140 Better be okay, Ketch? 23:43.140 --> 23:44.140 He is. 23:44.140 --> 23:50.140 Better be. I had one dry run this week. I can have another. 23:50.140 --> 23:57.140 322 p.m. We took Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Ketchel back to Central Division where they were booked on suspicion of violation of the State Narcotics Act. 23:57.140 --> 24:01.140 4 p.m. We met in the office of Chief of Detective Stad Brown. 24:01.140 --> 24:03.140 You need $1100, is that right? Yeah, that's right. 24:03.140 --> 24:08.140 How much was in the Secret Service Fund? $223. Allotment for this month's all gone. 24:08.140 --> 24:09.140 Where'd you get the rest of it? 24:09.140 --> 24:13.140 Haven't got it all yet. Romero's the banker. How you got it figured, Ben? 24:13.140 --> 24:15.140 Well, let's see. I've got it all written down here. 24:15.140 --> 24:22.140 First off, we got $223 cash. These fellows all gave us their personal checks. Jack Donahoe and Robert gave us 200. 24:22.140 --> 24:26.140 Johnny Begum put up 100. Captain White's in for 150. 24:26.140 --> 24:30.140 Joe Pinnum, 35 bucks and 22's all I could swine. 24:30.140 --> 24:34.140 That's $720. You need 380, right? 24:34.140 --> 24:36.140 Yeah, that's the way I got it figured. 24:36.140 --> 24:38.140 Okay, I think I can make up the rest. 24:38.140 --> 24:40.140 How about Wynn's Cadillac, he loaned it to you? 24:40.140 --> 24:42.140 He's out getting it washed. 24:42.140 --> 24:44.140 It's 41, isn't it? 24:44.140 --> 24:47.140 Yeah, sedan. A little old, but it looks good when it's washed. Flashy. 24:47.140 --> 24:50.140 Oh, that's what you need. You gonna make the buy-away? 24:50.140 --> 24:52.140 Yeah. Ketchel will be with me. 24:52.140 --> 24:54.140 Okay, so here, $1100. 24:54.140 --> 24:58.140 Yeah, we only got one hitch. It's 5 o'clock and the banks are closed. 24:58.140 --> 25:01.140 Not much time to run around getting checks cashed. 25:03.140 --> 25:07.140 It was 5 p.m. We had 3 hours to cash $720 in personal checks. 25:07.140 --> 25:12.140 We split up and covered every possible place in the city where we were known and where we knew they would cash them. 25:12.140 --> 25:15.140 By 7.45 p.m. we had the $1100 in cash. 25:15.140 --> 25:19.140 The serial number on each bill was listed and the money turned over to Captain White. 25:19.140 --> 25:23.140 The scene of the meet was a hardware store on East 9th Street, which Belmont used as a front. 25:23.140 --> 25:27.140 Belmont's hardware was located in a small neighborhood shopping district. 25:27.140 --> 25:30.140 On Friday nights, the stores remained open until 9 p.m. 25:30.140 --> 25:34.140 Promptly at 8.30, Captain White and Floyd Ketchel pulled up in front of the store and went in. 25:34.140 --> 25:37.140 Ben and I waited in our car a half a block down the street. 25:37.140 --> 25:39.140 It was 8.35. 25:39.140 --> 25:41.140 There they are. They're coming out. 25:41.140 --> 25:43.140 It was too late to buy. 25:43.140 --> 25:44.140 Starting the car. 25:44.140 --> 25:47.140 Here they come. Watch for the skipper signal, huh? 25:47.140 --> 25:48.140 Yeah. 25:48.140 --> 25:50.140 There it is. 25:50.140 --> 25:52.140 Let's go. 25:54.140 --> 25:56.140 Okay, pull over here. 25:58.140 --> 26:00.140 Come on. 26:00.140 --> 26:03.140 Come on. 26:07.140 --> 26:09.140 There's a clerk back there. You see Belmont? 26:09.140 --> 26:11.140 No. 26:11.140 --> 26:14.140 Yes, sir. Can I help you? 26:14.140 --> 26:16.140 Is Mr. Belmont around? 26:16.140 --> 26:18.140 No, sir. He just stepped out. 26:18.140 --> 26:19.140 You sure? 26:19.140 --> 26:22.140 Yeah, sir. He went out the back door not a minute ago. 26:22.140 --> 26:24.140 Bigam and Castor are out there, aren't they? 26:24.140 --> 26:26.140 Yeah, he won't go for it. 26:26.140 --> 26:28.140 Oh, there's Mr. Belmont. 26:28.140 --> 26:32.140 Mr. Belmont, these gentlemen want to see you. 26:32.140 --> 26:34.140 He's running up the stairs to my house, isn't he? 26:34.140 --> 26:36.140 Come on. 26:36.140 --> 26:38.140 All right, Belmont. Wait a minute. 26:38.140 --> 26:40.140 Watch that barrel. Watch it. Look out. 26:40.140 --> 26:42.140 Pushing that barrel down the stairs. 26:45.140 --> 26:47.140 Go on, Mike. Let's go. Come on. 26:49.140 --> 26:51.140 There he is. He's trying to reach that skylight. 26:51.140 --> 26:53.140 Belmont, get down. You'll never make it. 26:53.140 --> 26:58.140 I'm slipping, Joe. Belmont! 27:02.140 --> 27:03.140 Come on. 27:03.140 --> 27:05.140 He didn't do that showcase any good. 27:08.140 --> 27:10.140 Yeah, he's through. 27:11.140 --> 27:14.140 Piece of that glass. Right through him. 27:14.140 --> 27:16.140 Yeah, it's a rough way to go. 27:16.140 --> 27:20.140 Yeah. At least narcotics didn't kill him. 27:20.140 --> 27:30.140 The story you have just heard was true. 27:30.140 --> 27:34.140 Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. 27:34.140 --> 27:38.140 On December 10, 1948, trial was held in Superior Court, 27:38.140 --> 27:42.140 Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California, 27:42.140 --> 27:44.140 in a moment, the results of that trial. 27:44.140 --> 27:48.140 It's amazing how many long cigarette smokers are changing to Fatima. 27:48.140 --> 27:50.140 Here is the actual report. 27:50.140 --> 27:54.140 From coast to coast, Fatima has more than doubled its smokers. 27:54.140 --> 28:01.140 Yes, more and more smokers every day are discovering that Fatima is the best of all long cigarettes. 28:01.140 --> 28:08.140 Smokers find Fatima has a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. 28:08.140 --> 28:13.140 They find that Fatima is extra mild because it's the long cigarette 28:13.140 --> 28:19.140 which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos, superbly blended to make it extra mild. 28:19.140 --> 28:25.140 Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. Best of all long cigarettes. 28:34.140 --> 28:40.140 Twelve members of Arthur Z. Belmont's Narcotics Gang were finally rounded up by federal, state and local authorities. 28:40.140 --> 28:46.140 All twelve were tried and convicted of violating the Harrison Act and the State Narcotics Act. 28:46.140 --> 28:53.140 They received sentences as prescribed by law and are now serving their terms in state and federal penitentiaries. 28:57.140 --> 29:02.140 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 29:02.140 --> 29:09.140 Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.A. Wharton, Los Angeles Police Department. 29:09.140 --> 29:14.140 Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet from Los Angeles. 29:14.140 --> 29:40.140 Be sure to hear Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Coleman in Halls of Ivy tomorrow on NBC.