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For the next 30 minutes in cooperation 14 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:56,880 with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step-by-step on the side of the law through 15 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:02,640 an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to 16 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:11,240 punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was Wednesday, March 18th. 17 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:16,160 It was cold in Los Angeles. We're working the night watch out of robbery detail. My partner's 18 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:22,320 Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Ed Walker. My name is Friday. It was 9 48 p.m. when I got to room 27A, 19 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:30,480 robbery detail. Hi, you ready to go? Yeah, we're gonna hustle. Here's your top coat, Joe. Thank 20 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:37,120 you, Ben. Where's Tom? We can pick him up down the hall. He's checking out some tear gas shelves. 21 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:41,360 Might need him. How about the address? You confirm it? 2100 Buchanan Avenue. It's a corner house. 22 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:46,760 Skipper? You know what to expect when you get out there. Don't take any chances. He's alone in the 23 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,680 house, all right? Supposed to be. Yeah, that won't give you much of a break. How do you mean? He's 24 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:55,640 heavy on guns, two revolvers and a hunting rifle. He's not shy about using them. Don't forget it. 25 00:02:55,640 --> 00:03:05,680 Right, Ed. Slacks, Ben? Let's go. Okay. It's been a long haul. Yeah, hopeless washes it up. 26 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:11,160 Hunting rifle, couple of revolvers. What do you think, Joe? 18 robberies in three months. You 27 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:20,480 know the guy as well as I do. Yeah. What's your guess? His name was Hoffman, George R. 28 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:26,160 In our files, his criminal record dated back to high school days. Petty theft, grand theft, auto, 29 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:31,200 burglary, armed robbery. His record included two terms at Preston Reformatory and one at San 30 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:37,200 Quentin. Hoffman's latest campaign was a three-month run of armed robberies. We tried everything we knew 31 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:41,520 to stop him, but it wasn't enough. We'd failed to get a line on him until one of Captain Walker's 32 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:46,080 informants came up with a tip that Hoffman had been hiding out for the past month in a small bungalow 33 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,960 on the corner of Buchanan Avenue and Selma Street. According to the information, the suspect had a 34 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:58,160 good supply of food, ammunition, and three guns. 10, 15 p.m. Together with Sergeants Tom Gaffney and 35 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:03,920 Slats Henry, Ben and I parked our car down the street and started toward the house. It was foggy. 36 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,840 The street was poorly lighted. As we approached the house, we could see a light burning in one of 37 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:16,480 the rooms at the rear of the bungalow. The light in the back room, George, just went out. Yeah. 38 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:21,280 Slats, you and Tom want to cover the back? Right. Let's go, Tom. Be careful. Yeah. 39 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,240 All right, Ben. Easy, huh? 40 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,800 Wait a minute, Joe. Curtain's in that corner room. I thought I saw a move. 41 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,840 Come on, Ben. The front door. Come on. Hit it. Yeah. 42 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:44,560 Come on. Hit it again. Yeah. All right. Come on. 43 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,120 They got it blocked or something. Something piled against it. Come on. Once more. 44 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,520 Watch the furniture, Joe. Yeah. That front room's clear. 45 00:04:55,520 --> 00:05:00,080 Joe, in the back. Come on. 46 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:07,520 Went outside window. Where'd he go? Across the street. Got him pinned down behind that car there. 47 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,240 He's in the car. All right, let's go for the tires. 48 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:20,960 All right, Hoffman, give it up. Cover this end, Slats. Right. Ben, that hedge across the street, 49 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:29,360 you see it? Yeah. OK. Let's run for it. Come on. You OK, Joe? Yeah. Hoffman, 50 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:38,800 you haven't got a chance. Throw out your guns. OK, Ben, give it back. All right. All right. I'm coming out. 51 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,480 Throw out your guns. Throw them in the street. Here they are. 52 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:50,240 All right, get out of the car. Hands behind your head. Come on. 53 00:05:56,080 --> 00:06:02,640 All right. All right. Hands behind your back now. Slats. Yeah. You want to get our car? Right, Joe. 54 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:08,960 Who told you? Who gave you the tip? Does it matter? I made it easy enough for you. Lousy car wouldn't 55 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:13,600 start. It'd be three miles away if it would have started. Better call a tow truck, huh, Joe? Let me 56 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:32,480 give it a look, huh? Lousy luck, that's all it is. What was wrong with it, Joe? I tried it. It 57 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:40,640 wouldn't start for me. It should have turned on the ignition. George Hoffman was taken downtown 58 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:45,120 and booked on suspicion of robbery. At a special show up, he was identified by more than a dozen 59 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:49,760 of his robbery victims. Between his arraignments and his preliminary hearings, we worked together 60 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:53,440 with the district attorney's office in lining up witnesses and preparing the evidence against the 61 00:06:53,440 --> 00:07:05,600 suspect. We figured we had an airtight case. Hoffman's trial in Superior Court was set for May 14th. 62 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:11,440 Hi, Joe. Hi, Slats. What's doing? Is it still raining, Hoffman? Yeah. This trial's coming up. 63 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:30,320 Hey, what happened to your eye? Yeah, how about that? I'll never live with that down. Yeah, come here. Let's see. 64 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:36,400 This real black eye I ever had had a bruise plenty. They hurt, you know. Yeah, how'd that happen? 65 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:40,560 Well, every week, Gaffney and I go up to the neighborhood boys club after work to help 66 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:48,960 coach the kids in sports, you know. Well, last week we had boxing lessons. Yeah. I was coaching this 67 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:54,320 one youngster. He turned out to be a lot quicker than I thought. You're really connected. I guess 68 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:59,600 everybody in the building's heard the story, huh? Yeah, just about. Gaffney took care of that. Captain 69 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:04,880 called me in this morning, asked me if I wanted to file assault charges against the kid. Some joke. 70 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:11,440 Never fails. You still coaching the kids up there? Not this week. Kids are supposed to get lessons in 71 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:16,480 wrestling. I'm not taking any chances. Yeah? They've been watching television for months. 72 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:22,640 I'll see you later, man. Yeah. Oh, nice, Lance. Hi, Ben. How are you? Pretty good. Put your coat on, Joe. 73 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,640 Yeah? What's the matter? George Hoffman. Yeah? Just broke a jail. 74 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:34,000 The morning of his escape, Hoffman was scheduled to appear in Superior Court for arraignment. 75 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:38,160 According to routine, he was taken from his county jail cell on the 12th floor of the 76 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:42,160 building. He was arrested on the day of the arrest. He was arrested on the day of the 77 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:46,720 arrest. He was arrested on the day of the arrest. He was arrested on the day of the arrest. He was 78 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:51,200 taken from his county jail cell on the 12th floor of the Hall of Justice and escorted to the jail 79 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:56,880 shower room on the 14th floor. There he was to take a bath, changed to his civilian clothes for his 80 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:01,840 appearance in court. While he was in the shower room, he turned on the hot water faucets, filling 81 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:06,560 the room with steam to hide his actions from the guard. He succeeded in forcing his way out through 82 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:11,920 one of the windows, climbed up one story to the roof. Realizing that he couldn't escape down 83 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:16,720 the edge of the roof and using the narrow crevices between the bricks to hold on, he climbed seven 84 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:21,760 stories down the outside of the building. At the eighth floor, he found an open window and got 85 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:26,080 inside. He slugged a bailiff who tried to stop him and then ran down the remaining flights of 86 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:30,640 stairs into the street and disappeared in the crowd. 20 minutes later, he robbed a dentist 87 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:35,920 office at 3rd and Los Angeles streets and got away. Police and sheriff's deputies covered the city 88 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:42,240 room. Ben and I were among them. 11 55 p.m. We checked back in with Captain Ed Walker. 89 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,000 You want to cut that speaker bin? Yeah. 90 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:58,960 Nothing. Not a trace of him. He must have a good friend someplace in town. Everything's covered. His 91 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,800 friends, relatives, his hideout, everyone he knows, every place he's ever been. We've plugged every 92 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:07,440 loophole we can think of. The depots, terminals, the airports, still no trace of him. I don't know. 93 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:11,680 It sure is a strange one. No stranger than climbing down the side of a building. Did you check that 94 00:10:11,680 --> 00:10:16,080 story out, Ed? It's the truth. Apparently Hoffman planned the thing out pretty carefully. How do you 95 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:20,080 mean? The sheriff's men talked to some of the prisoners in the jail. They said Hoffman was 96 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:24,400 practicing for it since the day we put him in there. He'd work out five to six hours every night 97 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:28,240 building up his hands and fingers. How'd he do that? He used the upper bunk in his cell, 98 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:32,480 hang from the edge of it with the tips of his fingers. He'd do it for hours pulling his body up 99 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:37,120 and down. Made little grooves in the wall, dug his fingertips into him. Prisoners say he got so he 100 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:41,600 could hold himself up like that. Ten minutes of the stretch. That's pretty amazing. How about the bail 101 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,720 if he slugged? He'll be all right. A couple of bad bumps on the head, that's all. 102 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:53,600 Robbery, Walker. Oh yeah, little John. I sent them out about 10 minutes ago to relieve you. 103 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:58,960 Yeah, they ought to be there pretty soon. Right. How about our schedule, Ed? As far as I know, 104 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:04,960 we're going all night on this thing. Sheriff's office is the same. You two were relieved at 1130. 105 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:10,880 Better check back about 5 30 a.m. Okay? Right. It's a hot shot. I got it. 106 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:17,040 What is it? Drugstore holdup. They think it's Hoffman. 107 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:20,720 The scene of the holdup was the Rex Lake Pharmacy on the corner of Pico Boulevard and Pine Lake 108 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,720 Street. The victim, a Mr. Clarence Gerringer, told us that the holdup man had entered through a rear 109 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:29,280 door, slugged him and escaped on foot with his overcoat and about 150 dollars in cash. 110 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:34,960 We showed him a number of mug shots. He identified George Hoffman as the bandit. A special detail of 111 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:39,280 men were ordered on a thorough search of the general area around the drugstore. No sign of 112 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:45,600 the suspect. The citywide dragnet caught him. He was a man of the word. He was a man of the word. 113 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:51,280 The citywide dragnet continued all that night and into the next day. No developments. The search went 114 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:56,640 on. A week passed. Two weeks. At 10 p.m. on the day Hoffman was scheduled to be tried in Superior 115 00:11:56,640 --> 00:12:00,640 Court, he beat up and robbed a 40-year-old liquor salesman in the Highland Park area. 116 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,800 Again, he made good his escape. Routine investigation failed to turn up a single lead. 117 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,880 June 8th. The suspect was still at large. The legwork continued. 118 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:13,840 817. Is that the address you got? Yeah, he said it was near the corner. Oh yeah, yeah, there it is. 119 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,560 The town's end hobby shop. Yeah, let's go in. 120 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:25,200 Joe, look at the electric train. Look at that one. Beautiful layout, huh? I guess that's all they 121 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,800 handle in here, electric trains. There must be money in it. Look at those signals there and 122 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,800 switches. They're all automatic. I wonder if my boy is old enough for a train yet. 123 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:39,200 There must be the manager over there. Come on. Say, excuse me, sir. Just a moment, please. Be right with you. 124 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:42,000 You've got to check this transformer. All right. 125 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:54,000 Uh-huh. Automatic coupling on the tanker car. Looked out of kilter. 126 00:12:54,000 --> 00:13:03,200 Automatic coupling on the tanker car. Looked out of kilter. No mistake. Now, now let's see. 127 00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:17,520 Yeah, she's a dandy, isn't she? All right. I'm sorry, gentlemen. Have to keep up our maintenance on 128 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:21,920 the rolling stock. What can I do for you? Police officers. We're looking for a Mr. Townsend. Oh yes, 129 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:25,520 I'm Roy Townsend. Are you the sergeant I talked with on the phone? Yes, sir. That's right. This is 130 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:30,160 my partner, Sergeant Romero. How can I do that? You mentioned that you might have some information 131 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:34,720 for us. Yes, as a matter of fact, I may have. About that fellow who climbed out and escaped. 132 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,640 Well, it was in all the papers. George Hoffman. Hoffman, Hoffman, that's it. 133 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:44,000 I'm a pretty good one for faces. I think I might have seen him last night. Where was that? On my 134 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:48,720 way home from the meeting. I belong to a model train club. Don't get enough of it here every day. 135 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:52,880 Yes, sir. We'd like to know about this man that you saw. As I say, I saw him going into the 136 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:57,440 auto court just down the street from where Mother and I live. It was pretty late after midnight. 137 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:01,840 Where do you live, Mr. Townsend? All the way by Pasadena, Royal Oaks Avenue. I know Mrs. Cox at 138 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:06,320 the auto court very well. I see. Well, this man that you saw last night, you're sure it was Hoffman? 139 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:11,200 I saw his picture in the paper when he climbed down and escaped. I don't say I'm positive it was 140 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:19,120 him, but I'm good on faces. Well, I wonder if you'd mind checking through these pictures. Not at all. 141 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:26,880 This one. He's the one I saw. Am I right? That's Hoffman. Do you happen to know if he's staying 142 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:31,360 there at that auto court? Oh, yes. He's been there for a month. Say, Sergeant, if you find out it 143 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,520 really is this Hoffman, don't tell Mrs. Cox at the auto court or they'll just break her heart. 144 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:41,440 Oh, is that so? She's sort of an amateur detective. She thinks she knows faces better than I do. 145 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:47,200 After we left the train shop, we called the office and filled them in. 146 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:51,600 Captain Walker called Pasadena and notified them. Then we drove out to the auto court where the 147 00:14:51,600 --> 00:15:02,800 suspect was reportedly seen. Yes, you want something? Yeah, are you Mrs. Cox? Yes, I'm the manager here. 148 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:07,360 If you want lodgings, we're filled up. You might try the Golden Eagle straight down the street there. 149 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:12,400 Police officers, Mrs. Cox. Do you have Mr. Hoffman staying here? Hoffman? No, I don't. 150 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,800 Got a Hoffmeyer, though. You sure that's not it? No, look, would you look at this picture, ma'am. 151 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:21,760 Recognize him? Yes, but his name's not Hoffman. It's Kane, 152 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:33,600 number 23. He's not in, though, left this morning. Oh, is that so? Yes, won't be back for another hour. 153 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:42,560 You are listening to Dragnet for the solution to an actual case from official police files. 154 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:49,600 Now here's a real solution to many of your Christmas shopping problems. If your friends 155 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:56,320 smoke long cigarettes, give the best of long cigarettes. Give king-size Fatima. 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Give Fatima the quality king-size cigarette, 164 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,200 best of all long cigarettes. 165 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:04,240 Before going on stakeout at the auto court where George Hoffman was registered, Ben put in a call 166 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:09,280 to the office. The owner of the court, Mrs. Cox, gave us a passkey to cottage number 23 where the 167 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:14,640 suspect was staying. We advised her to say nothing to Hoffman when he returned. We went to cottage 23 168 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:21,200 and waited. An hour passed. Hoffman failed to show. Another hour went by. Still no sign of him. 169 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:30,000 Well, what do you think? You got me, I don't know. One hour overdue. No chance it could have been 170 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:34,800 tipped. I don't see how. Mrs. Cox is the only one who knows we're here. There's no reason for her to 171 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:41,920 warn him. I don't know. His things are all here. His clothes. Well, we've had longer waits than this. 172 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:52,400 Relax, huh? Yeah. Hey, wait a minute. Can you see who it is? Man, coming from next door. 173 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:58,880 Joe? Okay, I'll cover you. Open it. 174 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:04,480 Oh, your new telephone directory? Oh, yeah, thanks. Anything wrong? No, there's nothing wrong. Thanks. 175 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,440 New phone book. Yeah. 176 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:16,640 We waited another hour. George Hoffman still had failed to appear. At four that afternoon, 177 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:21,840 we checked with the office. No word. At five thirty, we were still waiting. I'm just thinking, Joe. 178 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:26,320 Yeah. That fella Townsend in the train shop. That sure must be a dandy Hoffman. 179 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:32,080 Electric train. It runs into money, though, doesn't it? I think I'll talk to the wife about it. 180 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:37,040 Their education, you know. My boy sure get a kick out of having his own train. He's pretty young, 181 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:41,120 isn't he? Three years old. I could show him how to work it, put things together for him. 182 00:18:41,120 --> 00:18:51,120 I'll get him. All right. Yeah. Oh, yeah, Leiden. I don't know when. Okay, thanks. What's doing? 183 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:54,880 Skipper just got a call from Pasadena. Yeah. They picked up Hoffman ten minutes ago. 184 00:18:54,880 --> 00:19:00,080 The suspect George Hoffman was taken back to Los Angeles and lodged in county jail. 185 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:04,720 This time there was no escape. At his superior court trial on August 16th, he was convicted on 186 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:09,680 several counts of armed robbery and sentenced to the state penitentiary. From August to January of 187 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:13,920 the following year, the months went fast. We washed up a string of liquor store holdups just 188 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:18,800 before Christmas, got two days off. My uncle George and Aunt Allen came down from Renton, 189 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:23,440 Washington, and they were all in the hospital. We had to get them out of the hospital. 190 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,640 One came down from Renton, Washington to visit with my mother during the holidays. 191 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:33,200 In January, Ben was off work for a week with a bad dose of flu. Another five months went by. 192 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:37,840 Toward the end of June, we got word that George Hoffman was no longer at the state penitentiary. 193 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:41,840 After serving 11 months, the former holdup man had been paroled into the army with a provision 194 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:48,160 that he serve overseas. Another three weeks passed. July 12th, Tuesday, Ben and I had lunch at 195 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:55,040 Cokin's Cafe and checked back in at the office. I wish Cokin would change his menus a little often. 196 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:58,640 Fried beans and pastrami sandwiches. He seems to have the same thing every time. 197 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:01,360 You sure dug into him. I got the idea that you like him. 198 00:20:01,360 --> 00:20:05,520 Like him all right. I don't just eat too much, that's all. Three sandwiches, two plates of beans. 199 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:07,760 I wonder I never eat dinner. 200 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:13,680 Ben, Joe? 201 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:14,180 Yeah. 202 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:16,480 You two back from lunch? I want to grab a sandwich. 203 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:18,240 Yeah, go ahead, slats. We can cover. 204 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:22,160 Okay, thanks. Chair, there's somebody waiting in the next room for you. I want to see you. 205 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:23,360 Okay, see you later. 206 00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:23,860 Right. 207 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:28,800 Want to see who it is, Joe? I'll check the book. 208 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:29,600 Yeah, all right, fine. 209 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:35,440 Yes, sir, my name's Friday. You want to see me? 210 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,080 Yeah, that's right, Sergeant. Remember me? George Hoffman? 211 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:42,800 Oh, yeah, Hoffman. The army uniform there. I didn't recognize you. 212 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:47,120 Yeah, I thought I might fool you. I guess you heard about me. Good break, huh? 213 00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:50,720 I'm glad you feel that way. How you doing with the army, huh? 214 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:51,920 Pretty good. I like it. 215 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:52,720 Well, that's fine. 216 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,480 Just thought I'd drop up and see you fellas. You still that partner you had? What's his name? 217 00:20:57,360 --> 00:20:58,240 Rodriguez? 218 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,400 Romero. Yeah, yeah, we still work together. 219 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,120 Yeah, Romero. I knew it was some kind of name like that. 220 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:04,400 Yeah, well, come on in, Hoffman. 221 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:04,900 Oh, thanks. 222 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:11,360 Hey, Ben, George Hoffman here. He stopped in to see us. 223 00:21:11,360 --> 00:21:12,000 Oh, yeah. 224 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,480 Hi. It's been a long time, Hoffman. How are you? 225 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:19,040 Pretty good, Sergeant. Thanks. Just thought I'd stop by, you know, show there's no hard feelings. 226 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:22,160 Oh, sure thing. You got any idea when you're going overseas? 227 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:26,720 Oh, boys in my outfit figure day after tomorrow. That's kind of one reason why I dropped in to see you. 228 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:27,360 Well, how's that? 229 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:34,480 Well, I know it's pretty nervy, but I got lots of that. You see, a bunch of us are on leave till 230 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:39,280 tomorrow noon. Figured we'd go out tonight and I'm a little short. You know how the army pays. 231 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:44,000 Okay. Well, how about a couple of bucks, George? Will that do you any good? 232 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,400 Sure, I swear to you, Sergeant. Believe me, I'll see you get it back. 233 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,960 Here's a couple more, Hoffman. Might help out. 234 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:56,240 Well, it's no use telling you how much I appreciate it. I give you my word I won't forget it. 235 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,000 I'm going to pay this money back to you. 236 00:21:58,000 --> 00:21:59,600 Oh, forget it, George. We're glad to help you out. 237 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,800 Well, thanks again for the touch, huh? Sure and I see you. 238 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,240 Okay. Now drop a card if you get a chance. Like to hear how you're doing over there. 239 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:08,080 Sure thing. See you later, huh? 240 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:09,680 Right. Good luck to you, boy. 241 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,000 Well, looks like a turn for the better anyway, huh? 242 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:19,680 But it was my last two bucks, dog. Gone did it never fail. 243 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:21,040 Well, we had to give him something. 244 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:23,120 Yeah, but what do I do for lunch money tomorrow? 245 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:32,160 2 p.m. We drove out to the Wilshire district to interview a robbery victim. 246 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,480 We brought him back downtown and took his statement. 247 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:36,960 4.30 p.m. We checked back in with Captain Walker. 248 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:40,960 Hi, skipper. Henry says that ex-con George Hoffman was in today. 249 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:42,960 Yeah. Yeah, that's right, Ed. Why? 250 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:44,960 Have a look. Thanks. 251 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:47,520 The MP's left about 20 minutes ago. 252 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,360 Well, your two bucks went for nothing, Ben. Hoffman's wanted. 253 00:22:51,360 --> 00:22:51,920 Huh? 254 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,240 He broke out of Army prison 10 o'clock this morning. 255 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:03,520 Together with the Army authorities, local officers joined in the citywide search for George Hoffman. 256 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:08,320 At 10 o'clock that night, a food market on Santa Fe and Riala was robbed and the proprietor beaten. 257 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:12,080 From our mug shots, the victim identified Hoffman as the holdup man. 258 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,000 Shortly after midnight, a drugstore on Crenshaw was held up. 259 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,240 Hoffman was again tabbed as the suspect. 260 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:21,440 The next two days, the search was intensified. No leads. 261 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:22,960 Two more days went by. 262 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:27,200 Late Saturday morning, we got a hurry-up call from the detail on duty at the Union station. 263 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:29,200 Hoffman had been reported in the vicinity. 264 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:33,760 Ben and I drove down to the depot to check with the officer in charge, Slats Henry. 265 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:36,480 Spot him, Joe? 266 00:23:37,360 --> 00:23:39,520 No. Let's have a look back at the ticket counters, huh? 267 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:45,440 Yeah, there he is over by the phone booth. Come on. 268 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:49,200 Hi, Slats. 269 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:50,480 Hi. Looks pretty good. 270 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:51,520 What's the story? 271 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:53,680 One of the newsboys up the street gave us a tip. 272 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,560 About an hour ago, a guy gave him a dollar to come down here and buy a ticket for him. 273 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:57,280 Ticket to Phoenix. 274 00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:57,680 Yeah? 275 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:00,480 Kid came in, bought the ticket, went back up the street and gave it to the man. 276 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:03,840 We showed the kid a bunch of mug shots. He picked out Hoffman's. 277 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:05,840 Yeah. He's not wearing his army uniform, huh? 278 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:09,600 No. Brown suit, dark blue overcoat, no hat. That's what the kid told us. 279 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,520 Any idea which train he was taking for Phoenix? 280 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:14,240 Not exactly. He asked when the first train for Phoenix was. 281 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:15,840 Newsboy told him 3.35. 282 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:17,920 Mm-hmm. Ten minutes to 12 now. 283 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:19,440 You got enough men to handle it, Slats? 284 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:21,520 Everything's covered. Only one thing lacking. 285 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:21,920 Yeah? 286 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:22,400 Hoffman. 287 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:26,560 Well, the stakeout continued on the Union Station. Ben and I, together with Gaffney and Henry from 288 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:31,040 robbery, covered the bars, restaurants and hotels in the immediate area for a sign of the suspect. 289 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:32,480 2.30 p.m. 290 00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:35,920 What do you think? 291 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,720 We better head back down for the station and see what's going on. 292 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:39,520 You're okay. 293 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:44,560 I'd like to have a dime for every mile we have logged on this case. 294 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:45,120 Yeah. 295 00:24:45,120 --> 00:24:47,120 Joe, have a look. 296 00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:47,920 Where? 297 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:50,720 Across the street, dark blue overcoat. Same build as Hoffman. 298 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:52,320 I'll bet on him. Come on. 299 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:57,120 He spotted us. 300 00:24:57,520 --> 00:24:59,120 Yeah, that's Hoffman. Come on. 301 00:24:59,120 --> 00:25:00,320 We'll pick it up. 302 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:05,120 I lost him, Joe. Where'd he go? 303 00:25:05,120 --> 00:25:06,320 Turned down first, Joe. 304 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:07,520 He's got a gun. 305 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:08,720 He's got a gun. 306 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:09,920 He's got a gun. 307 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:11,120 He's got a gun. 308 00:25:11,120 --> 00:25:12,320 He's got a gun. 309 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:13,520 He's got a gun. 310 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:15,920 Joe, where'd he go? Turned down first street. Come on, hurry. 311 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:16,720 Yeah. 312 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:19,120 Across the street, Ben. Watch the traffic. 313 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:21,920 Where'd he go? 314 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:22,920 I've seen him. 315 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:24,920 That antique store on the corner. He ran in there. 316 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:25,720 Come on. Yeah. 317 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:30,120 There he is. All right, Hoffman. 318 00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:31,320 Out of the way, mister. 319 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:34,320 All right, hold it right there, Hoffman. 320 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:35,720 I'm coming out. Move. 321 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:36,520 Watch it, Joe. 322 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:39,720 I said I'm coming on. You hear me? 323 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:41,920 You're going the hard way, George. 324 00:25:41,920 --> 00:26:09,920 Come on, drop it. Drop it. 325 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:10,920 All right, Hoffman. 326 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:12,920 All right, Hoffman. All right. On your feet. 327 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:13,920 Come on, get up. 328 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:17,720 Now, get your hands behind you. 329 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:19,920 Sure. 330 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:21,720 What goods are going to do you? 331 00:26:22,120 --> 00:26:23,320 All right, mister. Let's go. 332 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:25,120 What goods are going to do? I already proved it. 333 00:26:25,120 --> 00:26:27,520 I can break jail any time. I proved it twice. 334 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:29,320 You're going right back in again. 335 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:30,520 What's that prove? 336 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:40,120 The story you have just heard was true. 337 00:26:40,120 --> 00:26:43,120 Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. 338 00:26:43,120 --> 00:26:45,920 On October 8th, trial was held in Superior Court, 339 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:49,320 Department 89, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 340 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:51,120 In a moment, the results of that trial. 341 00:26:51,120 --> 00:26:53,920 Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. 342 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:54,920 Thank you. 343 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,720 To get year-round thanks for the gift you give this Christmas, 344 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,920 give Fatimas to every long cigarette smoker on your list. 345 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:03,520 Their first pack of extra mild Fatimas 346 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:05,520 will have them convinced like I am, 347 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:07,920 that in Fatima, the difference is quality. 348 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,320 In Christmas, Fatimas come in a distinctive 349 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:14,320 royal blue slip-over jacket that makes a perfect gift just as is. 350 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:17,920 Remember, Fatimas now cost the same as other long cigarettes, 351 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,520 but in Fatima, the difference is quality. 352 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,520 Give Fatimas the quality king-size cigarette 353 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:25,520 to every long cigarette smoker. 354 00:27:34,120 --> 00:27:36,320 George R. Hoffman was tried and convicted 355 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:38,720 on several counts of robbery and received a life sentence 356 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:40,120 as a hardened criminal. 357 00:27:40,120 --> 00:27:41,920 After serving 10 months of his sentence, 358 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:44,120 Hoffman attempted an escape and failed. 359 00:27:44,120 --> 00:27:47,920 A few weeks later, he took his own life in his prison cell by hanging. 360 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:50,920 Ladies and gentlemen, next week, in answer to your requests, 361 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:53,920 Dragnet will repeat A Gun for Christmas, 362 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:58,320 the actual case history broadcast last year during the Yuletide season. 363 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:10,320 That's next Thursday, December 21st. 364 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:11,920 You have just heard Dragnet, 365 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:14,920 a series of authentic cases from official files. 366 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:18,320 Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Chief of Police, 367 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:27,120 W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 368 00:28:27,120 --> 00:28:29,520 This is Bob Hope. Can we steal a second? 369 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:44,120 Don't forget to give Crosby for Christmas. 370 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:47,920 I mean the Chesterfield Christmas Carton with Bing as Papa Santa Claus. 371 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:57,320 See you Tuesday. 372 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:00,720 Fatima cigarettes, the best of all long cigarettes, 373 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:10,320 has brought you Dragnet, portions transcribed from Los Angeles. 374 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:19,320 We the People is next with more good times on NBC.