WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:13.060 The story you are about to hear is true. 00:13.060 --> 00:15.880 Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:15.880 --> 00:21.360 Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, brings you Dragnet. 00:21.360 --> 00:31.920 You're a detective sergeant. 00:31.920 --> 00:34.480 You're assigned to forgery detail. 00:34.480 --> 00:38.320 An accomplished check forger resumes operations in your city. 00:38.320 --> 00:41.400 The suspect is described as a middle-aged woman. 00:41.400 --> 00:45.080 She's written more than $20,000 in bad checks. 00:45.080 --> 00:50.880 Your job, get her. 00:50.880 --> 00:53.920 In a moment, an authentic case from official files. 00:53.920 --> 00:57.640 Oh no. 00:57.640 --> 01:01.280 Ah, that's different. 01:01.280 --> 01:03.200 Yes, what a difference. 01:03.200 --> 01:05.720 In Fatima, the difference is quality. 01:05.720 --> 01:11.240 You see, Fatima is the quality king-size cigarette because it contains the finest Turkish and 01:11.240 --> 01:14.080 domestic tobacco superbly blended. 01:14.080 --> 01:19.640 And Fatima is extra mild with a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other 01:19.640 --> 01:21.400 long cigarette. 01:21.400 --> 01:26.900 Because of its quality, its extra mildness, its better flavor and aroma, Fatima has more 01:26.900 --> 01:29.240 than doubled its smokers coast to coast. 01:29.240 --> 01:34.800 Fatima's cost the same as other long cigarettes, but your first puff will tell you. 01:34.800 --> 01:36.680 Ah, that's different. 01:36.680 --> 01:42.760 Yes, in Fatima, the difference is quality. 01:42.760 --> 01:47.640 Ask your dealer for Fatima, the quality king-size cigarette. 01:47.640 --> 01:50.120 Best of all, long cigarettes. 01:50.120 --> 01:54.320 Start enjoying Fatima tomorrow. 01:54.320 --> 02:00.880 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 02:00.880 --> 02:05.440 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 02:05.440 --> 02:09.480 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case from official police 02:09.480 --> 02:10.760 files. 02:10.760 --> 02:15.820 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 02:15.820 --> 02:18.520 in action. 02:18.520 --> 02:21.840 Was Monday, April 17th, was warm in Los Angeles. 02:21.840 --> 02:23.960 We were working a day watch out of forgery detail. 02:23.960 --> 02:26.720 My partner's Ben Romero, the boss is Captain Elliott. 02:26.720 --> 02:27.720 My name's Friday. 02:27.720 --> 02:33.240 I was on the way back into work and it was 7.53 a.m. when I got to room 29. 02:33.240 --> 02:34.240 Forgery detail. 02:34.240 --> 02:35.240 Morning, Joe. 02:35.240 --> 02:38.240 Hi, how'd the weekend go? 02:38.240 --> 02:39.240 Oh, pretty slow. 02:39.240 --> 02:40.240 Stayed home, did some gardening. 02:40.240 --> 02:42.240 How about that new lawn you put in? 02:42.240 --> 02:43.240 How's it doing? 02:43.240 --> 02:45.560 If we want a lawn, we're going to have to move. 02:45.560 --> 02:46.560 What's the matter now? 02:46.560 --> 02:47.560 Same old thing. 02:47.560 --> 02:48.560 Gophers? 02:48.560 --> 02:49.560 Must be hundreds of them. 02:49.560 --> 02:51.560 So many holes at the top of the lawn, looks like an old punch board. 02:51.560 --> 02:53.040 No, that's too bad. 02:53.040 --> 02:55.560 Can't you try some kind of poison on them? 02:55.560 --> 02:57.560 How about those new things they got out? 02:57.560 --> 02:58.560 What do they call them? 02:58.560 --> 02:59.560 Gopher bombs? 02:59.560 --> 03:00.560 I use them with a dozen. 03:00.560 --> 03:01.560 They eat anything. 03:01.560 --> 03:02.560 Joe, Ben? 03:02.560 --> 03:03.560 Yeah, Ferguson. 03:03.560 --> 03:04.560 Good morning, Captain. 03:04.560 --> 03:05.560 Let's see you. 03:05.560 --> 03:06.560 Okay. 03:06.560 --> 03:07.560 What's up, Fergie? 03:07.560 --> 03:10.560 You ain't going to like it. 03:10.560 --> 03:13.560 Skipper will brief you. 03:13.560 --> 03:15.560 Morning, Skipper. 03:15.560 --> 03:17.560 Hi, have a seat. 03:17.560 --> 03:18.560 Yeah, thanks. 03:18.560 --> 03:21.560 You two finished up with the Benson case yesterday, that right? 03:21.560 --> 03:22.560 Yeah, it's all washed up. 03:22.560 --> 03:23.560 We're clear. 03:23.560 --> 03:24.560 Good. 03:24.560 --> 03:25.560 Then you can start on this one right away. 03:25.560 --> 03:27.560 You'll work with Frank Besser and Ferguson here. 03:27.560 --> 03:28.560 What is it? 03:28.560 --> 03:29.560 Grandma. 03:29.560 --> 03:30.560 I had a hunch, Joe. 03:30.560 --> 03:32.560 What have we done to deserve this? 03:32.560 --> 03:33.560 It's nothing any of us have done. 03:33.560 --> 03:34.560 It's what we haven't done. 03:34.560 --> 03:36.560 Now, we're stopped once and for all. 03:36.560 --> 03:38.560 Are we any closer to her than we have been, Fergie? 03:38.560 --> 03:39.560 Just about the same, Joe. 03:39.560 --> 03:41.560 That's why I'm putting two more of you on it. 03:41.560 --> 03:43.560 How well do you know the case? 03:43.560 --> 03:45.560 Just what we've heard around the office. 03:45.560 --> 03:46.560 Same here. 03:46.560 --> 03:47.560 I could stand some briefing. 03:47.560 --> 03:48.560 Ferguson? 03:48.560 --> 03:49.560 Well, you must have heard how she operates. 03:49.560 --> 03:52.560 Three months out of the year, April, October, and December, that's all. 03:52.560 --> 03:54.560 She never been known to change that schedule? 03:54.560 --> 03:56.560 Not as far as I know. 03:56.560 --> 03:58.560 She's been doing it the same for nine years. 03:58.560 --> 04:00.560 All the phony checks she cashes are personal checks. 04:00.560 --> 04:01.560 That's right. 04:01.560 --> 04:04.560 She never writes in less than $2 and never more than $100. 04:04.560 --> 04:05.560 Nine years. 04:05.560 --> 04:06.560 She been going that long? 04:06.560 --> 04:07.560 Nine and a half. 04:07.560 --> 04:09.560 It'll be an even 10 this October. 04:09.560 --> 04:11.560 You want to check them out on the totals, Ferguson? 04:11.560 --> 04:12.560 Mm-hmm. 04:12.560 --> 04:17.560 Up to and including the first of this month, she's cashed 1,273 checks. 04:17.560 --> 04:20.560 The total's a little over $22,000. 04:20.560 --> 04:23.560 Anything special about the way she writes the checks? 04:23.560 --> 04:24.560 Nothing but the signatures. 04:24.560 --> 04:28.560 There's an alias list on her that'll knock your eye out more than 200 different names. 04:28.560 --> 04:32.560 Her description's still the same, about 50 years old, kind of plump, nice face. 04:32.560 --> 04:34.560 A few minor changes. 04:34.560 --> 04:37.560 Last year she had gray hair, dressed very plain. 04:37.560 --> 04:40.560 This year she dyed her hair black, dressed a little more expensively. 04:40.560 --> 04:42.560 Nine years. 04:42.560 --> 04:44.560 That's a long streak of luck for any paper hanger. 04:44.560 --> 04:45.560 That's just it. 04:45.560 --> 04:47.560 This old gal's not just an ordinary paper hanger. 04:47.560 --> 04:49.560 She's no amateur, don't get me wrong, 04:49.560 --> 04:52.560 but she doesn't operate like any check forger I've ever known. 04:52.560 --> 04:55.560 She contradicts part of her M.O., part of it she doesn't. 04:55.560 --> 04:59.560 She takes chances an ordinary paper hanger would never take, and she gets away with them. 04:59.560 --> 05:01.560 Take a look at just one of these exhibits. 05:01.560 --> 05:02.560 Yeah? 05:02.560 --> 05:03.560 This one here. 05:03.560 --> 05:07.560 28 checks passed on the same chain of grocery stores, same company. 05:07.560 --> 05:09.560 She passed them all in one month? 05:09.560 --> 05:10.560 No, that's just the point. 05:10.560 --> 05:14.560 Two years ago she passed 14 of them, spread them out over a period of a month. 05:14.560 --> 05:18.560 Last year she passed another batch of 14 all within three days. 05:18.560 --> 05:20.560 One year she used a different name on each check. 05:20.560 --> 05:22.560 On this batch she used the same name. 05:22.560 --> 05:25.560 Well, does she have any identification when she passes these checks? 05:25.560 --> 05:26.560 Always. 05:26.560 --> 05:29.560 Phony driver's license, Social Security cards, it works. 05:29.560 --> 05:32.560 And she's got that sweet grandmother smile to hers. 05:32.560 --> 05:34.560 Clerks rarely turn her down when she shows up with a check. 05:34.560 --> 05:37.560 You can get used to different descriptions of her too. 05:37.560 --> 05:38.560 Give the file a look. 05:38.560 --> 05:42.560 Hardly three of the check victims can get together on what she looks like exactly. 05:42.560 --> 05:45.560 Well, where are they getting stung most, downtown or out in the neighborhoods? 05:45.560 --> 05:48.560 The neighborhoods, anywhere from the beach area to the valley. 05:48.560 --> 05:51.560 This whole file skipper, that's not just her work, is it? 05:51.560 --> 05:52.560 Every last bit of it. 05:52.560 --> 05:54.560 We can't fit it in a six-foot shelf. 05:54.560 --> 05:57.560 In nine years I've had five teams of men work this thing. 05:57.560 --> 05:58.560 None of them reached her. 05:58.560 --> 06:00.560 You and Friday make the sixth. 06:00.560 --> 06:03.560 It's April 17th. How's she doing so far this month, Freddie? 06:03.560 --> 06:08.560 Cash $624 in checks we know of since the first of the month. 06:08.560 --> 06:10.560 Same general description, same general MO. 06:10.560 --> 06:11.560 No fresh leads? 06:11.560 --> 06:13.560 She's been operating nine years, Joe. 06:13.560 --> 06:15.560 Just as good as ever. 06:19.560 --> 06:25.560 To the working detective, there's no tougher job than tracking a lawbreaker who's half professional and half amateur. 06:25.560 --> 06:31.560 You can expect a criminal who's entirely professional to react generally the same in a given set of circumstances. 06:31.560 --> 06:33.560 The same with the amateur. 06:33.560 --> 06:38.560 But take the two, the professional and the amateur, and intermingle their possible and probable reactions. 06:38.560 --> 06:47.560 You'll likely have a sound reason why and how an elderly woman could victimize merchants with $20,000 in bad checks over a period of nine years without being caught. 06:47.560 --> 06:54.560 Grandma, as she'd come to be known, worked only three months out of each year, April, October, and December. 06:54.560 --> 07:00.560 Her apparent fine sense of timing and her knowledge of psychology was far and away superior to that of the ordinary paper hanger. 07:00.560 --> 07:05.560 If the file on Grandma was any indication, she apparently had been born to be a successful check forger. 07:05.560 --> 07:12.560 After Ben and I spent three days on the case with Sergeant Ferguson and Besser, we were almost convinced that there was only one way we could reach the suspect. 07:12.560 --> 07:14.560 She had to make a mistake. 07:14.560 --> 07:16.560 Bergen, how'd you do? 07:16.560 --> 07:20.560 Pretty sour. Four checks in two days. What'd you fellas get? 07:20.560 --> 07:23.560 Two. Don Meyer checked the signatures. They're all hers. 07:23.560 --> 07:25.560 Here's our list if you're interested. 07:25.560 --> 07:32.560 Meet market out in Pico, $25. Grocery in West Hollywood, $48. Two department stores downtown, $100 apiece. 07:32.560 --> 07:34.560 How do they describe the woman? 07:34.560 --> 07:42.560 Same old yarn. She was a nice, charming little lady, about 55 or 60, small, dark hair, graying, dark eyes, nice smile. 07:42.560 --> 07:45.560 Clerk told me she reminded him of his mother. 07:45.560 --> 07:46.560 Yeah. 07:46.560 --> 07:48.560 Now how'd you make out on those two of yours? 07:48.560 --> 07:51.560 All about the same, even the story about her looking like somebody's mother. 07:51.560 --> 07:54.560 One thing's sure. Her timing's just as good as it was nine years ago. 07:54.560 --> 07:57.560 Downtown Merchants Association screaming again. They're looking for action. 07:57.560 --> 07:58.560 So are we. 07:58.560 --> 08:00.560 Did you talk to the captain today? 08:00.560 --> 08:05.560 Yeah, he's looking for action too. I don't know what we can do unless we get some kind of cooperation from the merchants. 08:05.560 --> 08:11.560 Every time the old gal pushes a bum check, it's three or four days before it gets to the bank and we hear about it. 08:11.560 --> 08:13.560 The trail's pretty cold by then. 08:13.560 --> 08:17.560 Joe and I were talking just before you came in, Fergie. We can't expect too much to happen the way we're going. 08:17.560 --> 08:18.560 Any ideas? 08:18.560 --> 08:22.560 More men and more stakeouts. The captain says he'll buy that. That's about all we can do. 08:22.560 --> 08:27.560 Another ten days in April will be over. Grandma'll be through pushing checks till October again. 08:27.560 --> 08:33.560 I don't know, Joe. Her formula's too perfect for me. There's gotta be a flaw in it someplace. 08:33.560 --> 08:37.560 Yeah. You got out a bulletin of that revised description of her, Fergie? 08:37.560 --> 08:41.560 Yeah, it's all taken care of. Special notices were mailed out to the merchants too. Again? 08:41.560 --> 08:42.560 Yeah. 08:42.560 --> 08:46.560 Forge River Mail. Yes, sir. 08:46.560 --> 08:48.560 Is that... That's it. 08:48.560 --> 08:50.560 Yeah, right away. Thank you. 08:52.560 --> 08:56.560 Supermarket on Temple Street. Grandma. Hit him with two checks. 08:56.560 --> 08:57.560 Any lead? 08:57.560 --> 08:59.560 Clerk says she'd remind him of his money. 09:04.560 --> 09:08.560 A week passed. The number of stakeouts on business places throughout the city was doubled. 09:08.560 --> 09:14.560 The M.O. and description of the suspect was circulated among the merchants in the downtown and suburban shopping centers. 09:14.560 --> 09:17.560 Clerks were especially warned to be on the lookout for. 09:17.560 --> 09:22.560 The precautions went for nothing. Grandma's checks kept showing up at the rate of two and three a day. 09:22.560 --> 09:27.560 On April 27th, she passed a check for $50 at the Delicatessen on Hollywood Boulevard. 09:27.560 --> 09:30.560 We drove out to interview the owner, Mr. Hemerson. 09:30.560 --> 09:33.560 Do you have one of those circulars we send out on this woman? 09:33.560 --> 09:38.560 Well, I'm ashamed to say it, Sergeant, but I have, hanging right back there in the store room. 09:38.560 --> 09:42.560 The thing of it is, I never connected the two, the woman and the notice. 09:42.560 --> 09:47.560 It's the way she looks at you, you know? Like it'd be a heel to even question her. 09:47.560 --> 09:50.560 How was she dressed the last time she was in? Do you remember that? 09:50.560 --> 09:53.560 Well, she had kind of a plain black coat on. 09:54.560 --> 09:58.560 Say, would you excuse me a minute? I don't like to keep customers waiting. 09:58.560 --> 10:00.560 Oh, sure. Go ahead. Yes, sir. 10:00.560 --> 10:02.560 How are you, Mrs. Lyons? 10:02.560 --> 10:06.560 I need some cold meat for kids' lunches. What have you got nice and fresh? 10:06.560 --> 10:11.560 You see right there in the case, head cheese is very fresh. Good for the kidneys. 10:11.560 --> 10:13.560 Pimento loaf's nice, too. 10:13.560 --> 10:16.560 Oh, kids don't like either one, Bussy. 10:16.560 --> 10:19.560 You better give me 35 cents of that small baloney, would you? 10:19.560 --> 10:31.560 Yes, ma'am. 10:36.560 --> 10:38.560 Kids are so fussy nowadays. 10:39.560 --> 10:42.560 They ought to be in Europe, that's what I tell them. 10:42.560 --> 10:44.560 I know what it is to go hungry. 10:44.560 --> 10:48.560 Oh, you better give me a couple of those large kosher pickles, too. 10:48.560 --> 10:50.560 Husband's crazy for them. 10:50.560 --> 10:52.560 Yes, ma'am. 10:53.560 --> 10:56.560 And a loaf of the rye, too. Would you know, see? 10:56.560 --> 10:58.560 Yes, ma'am. 10:58.560 --> 11:01.560 How are the kiddies doing in school, Mrs. Lyons? 11:01.560 --> 11:03.560 Oh, just fine, fine. 11:05.560 --> 11:08.560 Marilyn's in the school pageant next month. She's going to be the queen. 11:08.560 --> 11:10.560 Oh, that's nice. 11:10.560 --> 11:15.560 Well, I don't know how nice it is. More work, that's all. 11:15.560 --> 11:18.560 I have to make her costume. 11:19.560 --> 11:22.560 There you are, Mrs. Lyons. Put it on the bill? 11:22.560 --> 11:25.560 Yeah, would you do that? I'll see you the 15th of the month. 11:25.560 --> 11:26.560 Yes, ma'am. Good-bye. 11:26.560 --> 11:28.560 Uh-huh, good-bye. 11:31.560 --> 11:33.560 Sorry to keep you waiting, officer. 11:33.560 --> 11:34.560 Not at all. 11:34.560 --> 11:36.560 I see now. Where was I? 11:36.560 --> 11:38.560 Well, we asked you how the woman was doing. 11:38.560 --> 11:40.560 Oh, yeah, had a black coat on, I told you that. 11:40.560 --> 11:41.560 Yes, sir. 11:41.560 --> 11:44.560 Very plain-looking clothes, like any other housewife, 11:44.560 --> 11:48.560 print dress, some kind of a scarf around the neck. 11:48.560 --> 11:50.560 That's about all I noticed. 11:50.560 --> 11:52.560 How about that description of her in the bulletin we sent you? 11:52.560 --> 11:53.560 That fit her pretty well? 11:53.560 --> 11:57.560 Yeah, I guess so. She didn't exactly seem plump to me, though. 11:57.560 --> 12:00.560 Kind of a nice figure for a woman of her age. 12:00.560 --> 12:03.560 Do you know if any of your customers were acquainted with her? 12:03.560 --> 12:07.560 I wouldn't know that. She acted as though she was a woman of her age. 12:07.560 --> 12:10.560 She acted as though she knew some of them, 12:10.560 --> 12:14.560 but now that this has happened, I can see she was just putting on. 12:14.560 --> 12:15.560 She was a great disappointment to me. 12:15.560 --> 12:17.560 Yes, yes, she is to a lot of people. 12:17.560 --> 12:19.560 I used to josh with her all the time. 12:19.560 --> 12:21.560 I'm a widower, you know. 12:21.560 --> 12:23.560 Thought once or twice I might even date her up. 12:23.560 --> 12:24.560 Is that so? 12:24.560 --> 12:27.560 Yeah, she seemed like a real good sport, joshing all the time, 12:27.560 --> 12:29.560 fine personality, just as homey as you please. 12:29.560 --> 12:31.560 That fits in with the other descriptions. 12:31.560 --> 12:37.560 How are you ever going to catch somebody like that? 12:37.560 --> 12:40.560 Two days later, on April 30th, right on schedule, 12:40.560 --> 12:43.560 the flow of bogus checks and grandma's handwriting suddenly stopped. 12:43.560 --> 12:47.560 If she continued to work by the same timetable she'd been using for the last nine years, 12:47.560 --> 12:50.560 she wouldn't start operations again until the 1st of October. 12:50.560 --> 12:54.560 During the next five months that followed, from May to the end of September, 12:54.560 --> 12:57.560 Besser, Ferguson, Ben, and I handled the usual run of check cases. 12:57.560 --> 13:00.560 At the same time, we used up every spare hour we had 13:00.560 --> 13:03.560 making preparations for the suspect's next appearance. 13:03.560 --> 13:07.560 Every businessman throughout the city who might be a possible victim was alerted. 13:07.560 --> 13:09.560 A revised description of the suspect, together with her MO, 13:09.560 --> 13:11.560 was printed up and given wide distribution. 13:11.560 --> 13:14.560 Every possible precaution was taken. 13:14.560 --> 13:15.560 October came. 13:15.560 --> 13:19.560 Grandma started on the 10th year of her forgery career without a hitch. 13:19.560 --> 13:24.560 On October 1st, she casted a check for $75 at a large downtown women's shop. 13:24.560 --> 13:27.560 As soon as we got the report, we went to the department where the check had been received. 13:27.560 --> 13:30.560 A fashion show was in progress. 13:30.560 --> 13:33.560 ...ladice wood. She's wearing an even wide velvet dinner suit. 13:33.560 --> 13:36.560 The newest shades are easy to wear. 13:36.560 --> 13:40.560 You will notice the pencil-thin skirt and the doll with three-quarters sleeves. 13:42.560 --> 13:44.560 Excuse me. Are you Mr. Montrose? 13:44.560 --> 13:46.560 Yes. What is it? 13:46.560 --> 13:48.560 Police officers, sir. Forgery detail. 13:48.560 --> 13:52.560 Oh, yes, that check. I wonder if you could hold on for just a moment. 13:52.560 --> 13:53.560 Yes, sir. 13:53.560 --> 13:59.560 Mrs. Janice Morgan next. She wears a gown of striking originality with rich but simple lines. 13:59.560 --> 14:04.560 A black dress with satin skirt with handmade points. 14:04.560 --> 14:10.560 A sculptured silk and latex sweater top with an oval neckline punctuated with ball fringes. 14:10.560 --> 14:14.560 Hey, Joe. What kind of outfit is that that the model's wearing? 14:14.560 --> 14:15.560 I don't know. 14:15.560 --> 14:17.560 How much do it? 14:18.560 --> 14:21.560 All right, officers. Would you like to step this way, please? 14:21.560 --> 14:23.560 Okay. 14:26.560 --> 14:28.560 This is my office here. 14:31.560 --> 14:33.560 Well, I don't know what I can do for you, gentlemen. 14:33.560 --> 14:36.560 The check was passed. Very unfortunate occurrence. 14:36.560 --> 14:38.560 You okayed the check for cash, is that correct? 14:38.560 --> 14:40.560 Yes. The sales girl handled the transaction. 14:40.560 --> 14:43.560 She showed me the check. I knew the signature, so I okayed it. 14:43.560 --> 14:44.560 Mary Walker? 14:44.560 --> 14:46.560 Yes. That's how this check was signed. 14:46.560 --> 14:48.560 What kind of identification did the woman have? 14:48.560 --> 14:52.560 Her charge account plate. You know, the small metal card charge plates we call them. 14:52.560 --> 14:54.560 I recognized that and the signature immediately. 14:54.560 --> 14:56.560 You know this Mary Walker pretty well. 14:56.560 --> 14:58.560 She's one of our best customers. 15:07.560 --> 15:12.560 You are listening to Dragnet. Authentic stories of your police force in action. 15:12.560 --> 15:15.560 Oh, no! 15:17.560 --> 15:19.560 Ah, that's different. 15:19.560 --> 15:21.560 Yes, what a difference. 15:21.560 --> 15:27.560 There's a difference you can hear, there's a difference you can see, but the difference in Fatima is quality. 15:27.560 --> 15:33.560 Yes, friends, when you compare long cigarettes, you'll find that in Fatima the difference is quality. 15:33.560 --> 15:35.560 Quality of tobaccos. 15:35.560 --> 15:46.560 The finest Turkish and domestic varieties, extra mild and superbly blended, to give you a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. 15:46.560 --> 15:53.560 Quality of manufacture. Smooth, plump cigarettes, rolled in the finest paper money can buy. 15:53.560 --> 15:57.560 Quality even to the appearance of the bright, clean yellow package. 15:57.560 --> 16:03.560 Carefully wrapped and sealed to bring you Fatima's rich, fresh, extra mild flavor. 16:03.560 --> 16:08.560 Fatima's cost the same as other long cigarettes, but your first puff will tell you... 16:08.560 --> 16:11.560 Ah, that's different. 16:11.560 --> 16:15.560 Yes, in Fatima the difference is quality. 16:17.560 --> 16:24.560 Ask your dealer for Fatima, the quality king-size cigarette. Best of all, long cigarettes. 16:24.560 --> 16:33.560 Start enjoying Fatima tomorrow. 16:33.560 --> 16:35.560 Friday, October 4th, 2 p.m. 16:35.560 --> 16:43.560 Before we left the store, we found that another worthless check bearing the signature Mary Walker had been cashed in a different department of the store the same day. 16:43.560 --> 16:49.560 The woman had used the same means of identification, a metal charge account plate stamped with the name Mary Walker. 16:49.560 --> 16:53.560 We took the two checks back to the office and had Don Meyer and handwriting compare the signatures. 16:53.560 --> 16:57.560 There wasn't any doubt in his mind. The writing on both checks was Grandma's. 16:57.560 --> 17:03.560 Well, it was only a hunch, but it was beginning to look as though the suspect had finally done what we'd been waiting nine years for her to do. 17:03.560 --> 17:08.560 She'd made a mistake. Ben and I drove out to an address in the Wilshire District to interview Mrs. Mary Walker. 17:08.560 --> 17:14.560 She fit the same general description of the suspect, but she denied writing either one of the checks which bore her signature. 17:14.560 --> 17:21.560 It's out of the question, Sergeant. I couldn't have written the checks. I haven't even been in the city for the past five days. 17:21.560 --> 17:24.560 Then the signatures on these two checks here, Mrs. Walker, they're not yours. 17:24.560 --> 17:30.560 It looks like my handwriting, but it's not. I didn't write those checks. They're forgeries. 17:30.560 --> 17:33.560 Yes, ma'am. You do have a charge account at the store, don't you, ma'am? 17:33.560 --> 17:39.560 Oh, yes. I've had an account there for years. Nothing like this has ever happened, though. 17:39.560 --> 17:41.560 You have one of those charge account plates? 17:41.560 --> 17:43.560 Well, yes. I did have one. 17:43.560 --> 17:45.560 You lent it to someone in your family? 17:45.560 --> 17:51.560 No. As a matter of fact, I lost it. I meant to report it to the store, but it slipped my mind. 17:51.560 --> 17:54.560 Do you have any idea of where and when you might have lost it? 17:54.560 --> 18:02.560 Well, I think it was last Sunday night. I'm not sure. Oh, well, just a minute. I know who would remember. 18:02.560 --> 18:05.560 I nestled in, but she was there. I'm sure she'll remember. 18:05.560 --> 18:06.560 Who's she, ma'am? 18:06.560 --> 18:16.560 Girlfriend's mind. She lives in the neighborhood. 18:16.560 --> 18:25.560 Hello, Inez. Mary Walker, Inez. Oh, just fine. And you? Oh, good. 18:25.560 --> 18:31.560 Say, Inez, which night was it we went to the Boosters Club meeting Sunday? 18:31.560 --> 18:39.560 Yes, I thought that it was. Oh, nothing. Just some silly misunderstanding. 18:39.560 --> 18:46.560 Well, all right, Inez. Thanks for remembering for me. Yes, goodbye. 18:46.560 --> 18:51.560 It was Sunday night, Sergeant. Inez Lambert and I went to the neighborhood Boosters Club meeting. 18:51.560 --> 18:53.560 I'm sure that's where I must have lost it. 18:53.560 --> 18:56.560 Well, you think the charge account plate fell out of your purse, is that it? 18:56.560 --> 18:59.560 Well, either that or it was taken. 18:59.560 --> 19:04.560 Why do you say that, ma'am? Well, it's a serious thing. I didn't want to mention it. 19:04.560 --> 19:05.560 What's that? 19:05.560 --> 19:09.560 I left my purse on the chair next to me a part of the evening. 19:09.560 --> 19:13.560 When I got home, I thought I was missing a five dollar bill for my change purse. 19:13.560 --> 19:17.560 I didn't notice at the time my charge plate was gone. 19:17.560 --> 19:19.560 Do you remember who was at that meeting, Miss Walker? 19:19.560 --> 19:22.560 Oh, 40 or 50 people at least. 19:22.560 --> 19:24.560 How many women would you say? 19:24.560 --> 19:30.560 Hmm, a dozen or so, I suppose. I'm not accusing anybody of robbery, Sergeant. 19:30.560 --> 19:33.560 I know it's a serious charge to make. 19:33.560 --> 19:36.560 Do you know if one of the club officers might have taken a list of those present? 19:36.560 --> 19:40.560 Oh, they didn't have to. We do the same thing at every meeting. 19:40.560 --> 19:41.560 What's that mean? 19:41.560 --> 19:44.560 We all sign the attendance book when we leave. 19:44.560 --> 19:51.560 Three p.m. Ben and I contacted the secretary of the neighborhood Boosters Club. 19:51.560 --> 19:54.560 He gave us a list of those present at the Sunday night meeting of the club. 19:54.560 --> 19:59.560 As Mary Walker had told us, each person present had signed his or her name and address in the attendance book. 19:59.560 --> 20:05.560 We took the record downtown with us and had Don Meyer compare each signature on the list with samples of Grandma's handwriting. 20:05.560 --> 20:08.560 Number 32 on the list, fellas. That's it. 20:08.560 --> 20:09.560 Positive, Mike? 20:09.560 --> 20:11.560 No doubt in my mind. That's Grandma's handwriting. 20:11.560 --> 20:12.560 How'd she sign it? 20:12.560 --> 20:14.560 Mrs. Inez Lambert. 20:14.560 --> 20:22.560 We went down the hall to R&I and had them check the name Inez Lambert through the files. 20:22.560 --> 20:29.560 She had no criminal record. Together with Besser and Ferguson, Ben and I spent the next day and a half trailing Inez Lambert wherever she went. 20:29.560 --> 20:33.560 She fitted the description of the suspect perfectly. We questioned her friends and her neighbors. 20:33.560 --> 20:37.560 We dug back into every corner of her life for the past ten years. 20:37.560 --> 20:41.560 The results were pretty amazing. We found that she was highly respected by everybody she knew. 20:41.560 --> 20:46.560 She was active in a dozen civic and church organizations. Her reputation was spotless. 20:46.560 --> 20:50.560 It was only one hitch. Mrs. Lambert's hobby was charities. 20:50.560 --> 20:57.560 By checking back, we found that during the past ten years, she donated an average of $3,000 annually to various charitable organizations. 20:57.560 --> 21:01.560 Her husband's total annual income was $7,000. 21:01.560 --> 21:04.560 From her bank, we obtained specimens of Inez Lambert's handwriting. 21:04.560 --> 21:07.560 It matched almost perfectly with every signature in the Grandma file. 21:07.560 --> 21:11.560 Monday, October 7th, Ben and I called on Mrs. Lambert. 21:11.560 --> 21:16.560 Oh yes, officers, won't you come in? Mary Walker was telling me about you. Come in, please. 21:16.560 --> 21:17.560 Thank you, ma'am. 21:17.560 --> 21:18.560 Thank you. 21:18.560 --> 21:23.560 Mary told me about the things missing from her purse at the meeting. Is that what you're inquiring about? 21:23.560 --> 21:26.560 Yes, ma'am. We've got a few other questions to ask you besides that. 21:26.560 --> 21:32.560 Well, you sort of caught me at a bad time. Just getting ready to put some baking in the oven for dinner tonight. 21:32.560 --> 21:36.560 Would you mind very much if we talked back in the kitchen? I've got to get this done. 21:36.560 --> 21:37.560 No, not at all, ma'am. 21:37.560 --> 21:39.560 It's back this way. 21:42.560 --> 21:46.560 Oh, there goes my cream sauce again, boiled over. 21:46.560 --> 21:49.560 Just take a chair there, officers. I'll be right with you. 21:49.560 --> 21:50.560 Thank you. Thanks. 21:52.560 --> 21:56.560 This cream sauce is so temperamental, can't take your eye off it for a minute. 21:58.560 --> 22:00.560 There, shouldn't boil over now. 22:01.560 --> 22:05.560 Would either of you officers care for a cup of cocoa? Chilly out today. 22:05.560 --> 22:08.560 No, thank you, ma'am. We only have a few questions for you. It won't take long. 22:08.560 --> 22:12.560 Yes, all right. Would you mind holding this bowl just a minute, sergeant? 22:12.560 --> 22:14.560 Oh, oh, yes. 22:14.560 --> 22:19.560 I just have to get this in the oven for dinner. My husband's favorite dessert. It's called pinch pie. 22:19.560 --> 22:21.560 It's kind of a meringue tart. 22:21.560 --> 22:24.560 Let me see. Take two eggs, I guess. 22:27.560 --> 22:32.560 There we are. Get these egg whites beaten up nice and light. 22:32.560 --> 22:36.560 That cup of sugar on the sink, sergeant, would you be so kind? 22:36.560 --> 22:37.560 Yeah, all right. 22:40.560 --> 22:41.560 Here's your sugar, ma'am. 22:41.560 --> 22:44.560 Thank you. Now, what is it you wanted to know? 22:44.560 --> 22:49.560 Mrs. Walker had her charge account plate stolen that night at the booster club meeting. 22:49.560 --> 22:52.560 Somebody's been using it to cash bad checks in her name. 22:52.560 --> 22:55.560 Is that so? Mary didn't tell me that. 22:55.560 --> 22:59.560 The same person who's using that charge account plate has been cashing bad checks all over the city. 22:59.560 --> 23:01.560 He's been doing it for some time. 23:01.560 --> 23:06.560 Oh, my. Well, I don't think I can help you, sergeant. I went to that meeting with Mary. 23:06.560 --> 23:10.560 She says somebody must have been in her purse, but I didn't see them. 23:10.560 --> 23:13.560 Do you have that charge account plate, Mrs. Lambert? 23:13.560 --> 23:15.560 Me? Oh, no, I have my own. 23:15.560 --> 23:21.560 Now, let me see. Teaspoon vanilla, teaspoon vinegar, teaspoon water. 23:21.560 --> 23:23.560 Combine in a small pitcher or cup. 23:23.560 --> 23:27.560 We've got good reason to believe you have that charge account plate, ma'am. 23:27.560 --> 23:29.560 Did you take it from Mrs. Walker? 23:29.560 --> 23:33.560 That's a silly thing for you to say, sergeant. I told you I have my own charge plate. 23:33.560 --> 23:36.560 I never borrow anyone else's. No reason to. 23:36.560 --> 23:41.560 Add a few drops of combined liquids. Be constantly. 23:41.560 --> 23:45.560 Did you cash two checks last week and sign them with Mrs. Walker's name? 23:45.560 --> 23:47.560 Of course not. Why should I do such a thing? 23:47.560 --> 23:52.560 Mary Walker's one of my best friends. I wouldn't do that to her, even as a joke. 23:52.560 --> 23:55.560 Well, our handwriting man compared the signatures on those two checks, Mrs. Lambert. 23:55.560 --> 23:58.560 Both of them match your handwriting. 23:58.560 --> 24:01.560 And all the ingredients have been added. 24:01.560 --> 24:05.560 Continue to beat the meringue for several minutes. 24:05.560 --> 24:09.560 Oh, I'm sorry. What was that you said, sergeant? 24:09.560 --> 24:12.560 I said that the signatures on those two forged checks, 24:12.560 --> 24:16.560 our handwriting man compared them with specimens of your signature. They both match. 24:16.560 --> 24:20.560 Well, then your handwriting man certainly made a mistake. 24:20.560 --> 24:24.560 There's a large white platter up in that cupboard there. Would you reach it for me, please? 24:24.560 --> 24:31.560 All right. 24:31.560 --> 24:34.560 There you are, ma'am. Thank you. 24:34.560 --> 24:37.560 Now, you deny that you wrote those two forged checks last week. 24:37.560 --> 24:41.560 You deny that you've written and cashed about 1,500 worthless checks in the last nine years. 24:41.560 --> 24:47.560 Of course I deny it. You're sure you haven't made a mistake? 24:47.560 --> 24:50.560 We're sure, ma'am. I'm sorry. You'll have to come downtown with us for questioning. 24:50.560 --> 25:02.560 What's that? Oh, my. It's the cream sauce again. 25:02.560 --> 25:06.560 Sergeant, I can't leave the house now. Right in the middle of getting dinner ready. 25:06.560 --> 25:10.560 My husband will be furious. If you want to talk, couldn't we do it later on? 25:10.560 --> 25:12.560 I'm sorry, ma'am. Afraid not. 25:12.560 --> 25:15.560 But you certainly can't accuse me of doing anything wrong. 25:15.560 --> 25:17.560 The folks at the church will vouch for me. 25:17.560 --> 25:22.560 We've got just as many people who say you've cheated them, and people who cash those checks for you. 25:22.560 --> 25:25.560 Quite a few of them, ma'am. Nine years' worth. 25:25.560 --> 25:30.560 But that silly nine years cashing checks, I'm sure you must mean somebody else, Sergeant. 25:30.560 --> 25:32.560 I've got to get this platter green. 25:32.560 --> 25:45.560 Let's see. Heat meringue upon lightly greased platter here. 25:45.560 --> 25:50.560 Look, we have a record downtown on every single check that you passed since you started, ma'am. 25:50.560 --> 25:53.560 We've got specimens of your handwriting and people to identify you. 25:53.560 --> 25:56.560 We know what your income is. We know how much that you've given to charities. 25:56.560 --> 26:01.560 Money's got to come from someplace. Is that what the checks were for? 26:01.560 --> 26:04.560 Excuse me. I've got to get this meringue in the oven. 26:04.560 --> 26:10.560 Let me see. 26:10.560 --> 26:22.560 275 degrees. 26:22.560 --> 26:27.560 I hope I put in enough vanilla. 26:27.560 --> 26:30.560 You want to tell us about it? 26:30.560 --> 26:34.560 I never thought about anyone finding out. 26:34.560 --> 26:36.560 I guess I should have expected it, shouldn't I? 26:36.560 --> 26:38.560 Yes, ma'am. 26:38.560 --> 26:41.560 I mean, it was all for charity. 26:41.560 --> 26:48.560 There were so many of them. Orphanages, old people's home, Christmas poor fund, 26:48.560 --> 26:52.560 and then the overseas relief charities. They all need money. 26:52.560 --> 26:54.560 Somebody has to take care of them. 26:54.560 --> 26:57.560 Your husband knew nothing about this for ten years? 26:57.560 --> 27:01.560 Nothing at all. They were my charities. 27:01.560 --> 27:04.560 I had to have money for them. 27:04.560 --> 27:09.560 I took money from people who had it and gave it to those who didn't. 27:09.560 --> 27:12.560 What do you think, Sergeant? 27:12.560 --> 27:16.560 Was I wrong? Do you think the good Lord will say I was wrong? 27:16.560 --> 27:18.560 I wouldn't know, ma'am. 27:18.560 --> 27:23.560 I only wanted to help the poor like he did. I came to help the poor. 27:23.560 --> 27:24.560 Well, there's a big difference, ma'am. 27:24.560 --> 27:25.560 Yes? 27:25.560 --> 27:33.560 He didn't use a checkbook. 27:33.560 --> 27:36.560 The story you have just heard was true. 27:36.560 --> 27:39.560 Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. 27:39.560 --> 27:43.560 On December 18th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 91, 27:43.560 --> 27:45.560 City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 27:45.560 --> 27:47.560 In a moment, the results of that trial. 27:47.560 --> 27:50.560 Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. 27:50.560 --> 27:51.560 Thank you. 27:51.560 --> 27:55.560 The efficiency of any local police department depends on the quality of its personnel. 27:55.560 --> 27:59.560 Each and every man is carefully selected and thoroughly trained. 27:59.560 --> 28:03.560 Whether in uniform or plain clothes, your police officer knows his job. 28:03.560 --> 28:05.560 And so with a cigarette. 28:05.560 --> 28:07.560 The men who make Fatima cigarettes know their job. 28:07.560 --> 28:13.560 They carefully select and blend the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos to make Fatima extra mild, 28:13.560 --> 28:15.560 different from other long cigarettes. 28:15.560 --> 28:19.560 They cost the same, but in Fatima, the difference is quality. 28:19.560 --> 28:24.560 If you're a long cigarette smoker like I am, I'm sure you'll like Fatima best. 28:24.560 --> 28:26.560 Start enjoying Fatima tomorrow. 28:26.560 --> 28:34.560 Music 28:34.560 --> 28:38.560 Inez Lorraine Lambert entered a plea of guilty to two counts of forgery, 28:38.560 --> 28:40.560 and the remaining charges were set off calendar. 28:40.560 --> 28:43.560 She was sentenced by the court for the term prescribed by law. 28:43.560 --> 28:47.560 Music 28:47.560 --> 28:51.560 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 28:51.560 --> 28:56.560 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 28:56.560 --> 29:03.560 Fatima cigarettes, the best of all long cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet, portions transcribed from Los Angeles. 29:03.560 --> 29:08.560 This is Robert Young. Here, We the People, next on NBC. 29:08.560 --> 29:21.560 Music