1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:11,760 The story you are about to hear is true. 2 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,560 Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. 3 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:16,300 Fatima cigarettes. 4 00:00:16,300 --> 00:00:28,080 Best of all, long cigarettes brings you dragnet. 5 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:32,000 You're a detective sergeant, you're assigned to auto theft detail. 6 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,920 A well organized ring of car thieves begins operations in your city. 7 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,840 It's one of the most puzzling cases you've ever encountered. 8 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:46,000 Your job, break it. 9 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,480 You'll be amazed when you compare Fatima with other long cigarettes. 10 00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:53,480 You'll find they now cost the same. 11 00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:57,000 But in Fatima, the difference is quality. 12 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:03,000 You see, Fatima is the quality king size cigarette because it contains the finest domestic and 13 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:06,120 Turkish tobacco superbly blended. 14 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:12,080 And Fatima is extra mild with a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other 15 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:13,440 long cigarette. 16 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,480 So compare Fatima yourself. 17 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:22,280 Fatima's now cost the same as other long cigarettes, but your first puff will tell you. 18 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:25,000 Ah, that's different. 19 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:29,680 Yes, in Fatima, the difference is quality. 20 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:35,000 Ask your dealer for Fatima, the quality king size cigarette. 21 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,880 Best of all, long cigarettes. 22 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:42,440 Start enjoying Fatima tomorrow. 23 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:49,360 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 24 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:54,040 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 25 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:58,720 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 26 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:00,480 police files. 27 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:05,520 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 28 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:07,680 in action. 29 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:12,560 It was Monday, May 11th. 30 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:13,880 It was fair in Los Angeles. 31 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,600 We were working the day watch out of auto theft detail. 32 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,040 My partner's Ben Romero. 33 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:19,480 The boss is Captain Stilson. 34 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:20,480 My name's Friday. 35 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:25,560 It was 8.35 a.m. when I got to room 40, auto theft division. 36 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:26,560 Captain's office. 37 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:27,560 Morning, Friday. 38 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:28,560 Morning. 39 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:29,560 Hi, Joe. 40 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:30,560 Ben. 41 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:31,560 Want to sit down? 42 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:32,560 Thank you. 43 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:33,840 I was just telling Romero here, I'm briefing all the men in the bureau on this thing. 44 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:35,320 That's the reason I called you two in. 45 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:36,320 Yeah. 46 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,160 I've got some figures here I want to go over with you. 47 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:39,160 All right. 48 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:44,480 As you know, the percentage of all auto theft recoveries is 96 to 98 percent on the average. 49 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:45,480 That's normally. 50 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:46,480 Yeah. 51 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,920 And checking the monthly averages, the past four months that percentage has dropped to 52 00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:49,920 the low 80s. 53 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:50,920 That's a good drop. 54 00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:52,320 The corner pocket thinks so too. 55 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:53,520 They want some action on it. 56 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:54,880 Well, we've been working on it. 57 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,480 Absolutely no pattern to the thefts, time, location, the method. 58 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,080 Makes it impossible to stake out on it. 59 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,800 Yeah, those are some of the reasons our percentage has taken such a dive. 60 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:04,200 I know the problems. 61 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,040 We all do, but we got to break this thing soon. 62 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,680 I know what figures we're dealing with, a well organized bunch. 63 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:10,680 They know what they're doing. 64 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,720 Across checking all the reports, it seems to boil down to this in general. 65 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,520 It appears that all the outstanding thefts are GM cars. 66 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:21,760 Cadds, Pontiacs, Chevys, Oldsmobile, all late models, all seem to be in good condition, 67 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:22,760 low mileage cars. 68 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,640 Well, in addition to the regular broadcast and teletypes, we got out a special bullet 69 00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:27,640 on this tonight. 70 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:28,640 That's right. 71 00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:30,760 All the thefts were listed, licensed, make, model and color. 72 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:33,480 Been sent to all major cities and border patrol stations. 73 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:34,480 Nothing so far. 74 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,360 I was checking through the salvage reports, salvage by. 75 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,160 Do you have the last two months' headscape from March and April? 76 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:41,160 Yeah, right here. 77 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,080 I know it's the same thing, that outfit down in San Pedro Street. 78 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,080 Yeah, let me see. 79 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,960 Oh, yeah. 80 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,480 This is a composite on the reports for the past two months? 81 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:52,480 That's right. 82 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:57,040 This one here, Herman Salvy's 2716 West San Pedro. 83 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,480 They seem to deal a little heavy on General Motors cars, don't they? 84 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:00,480 Yeah, they do. 85 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,720 I've been watching the buys on this place for the past few weeks now. 86 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:04,200 I wanted to make sure it wasn't coincidence. 87 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,440 Well, it looks like a good place to run down anyway. 88 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:07,680 You two want to check it out? 89 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:08,680 All right, fine. 90 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:09,680 2716 West San Pedro. 91 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:10,680 That's it. 92 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:11,680 Outfit appears to be okay. 93 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:12,680 Never been out of line. 94 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,680 It seems funny they should deal at the top of every GM cars, doesn't it? 95 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,520 Right when our recovery percentage takes a dive, yeah. 96 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:21,520 Do you have the last salvage report there, Captain? 97 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,520 Yeah, the last one. 98 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,520 Here you are. 99 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:28,520 Thank you. 100 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,240 Yeah, here's one for Herman's, 1949 Cadillac. 101 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:38,240 And a little further down, Herman's again, 47 Olds. 102 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,320 Yeah, there's five GM buys on the list. 103 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,000 One got four out of five of them. 104 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:50,920 Let's find out why. 105 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:55,480 From the time an automobile is first manufactured and sold, a constant and complete record is 106 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:57,160 maintained on that automobile. 107 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:01,600 The certificate of ownership, the pink slip in the state of California, the certificate 108 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:03,600 of registration, the white slip. 109 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:07,480 These two slips of paper contain the information necessary for the positive identification 110 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:08,480 of your car. 111 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:10,560 The fact that every motorist knows. 112 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:15,000 Now there are many agencies that work for the protection and security of your automobile. 113 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:20,040 One of these is the National Auto Theft Bureau, a kind of nationwide clearinghouse. 114 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:24,960 Acting upon information supplied by the various insurance companies and other allied agencies, 115 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:29,360 this bureau forwards all facts and figures concerning the disposition of motor vehicles 116 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,440 on a nationwide basis. 117 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,880 Reports are made available to all law enforcement agencies. 118 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,680 One of the pieces of information put out by the National Auto Theft Bureau is the salvage 119 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:43,720 report listing all sales and purchases of automobiles that for one reason or another 120 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,240 may have been relegated to the junkyard or to the salvage company. 121 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:49,440 A fact that many motorists may not know. 122 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,160 Nine fourteen a.m. 123 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,800 Ben and I checked through the police commission and found that the owner of Herman's Salvage 124 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:56,440 was a Herman Lester. 125 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:00,280 He had been in business at the same location for six years and appeared to be a reputable 126 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:01,520 businessman. 127 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,600 We drove down to 2716 West San Pedro to check it out. 128 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:08,760 It was an average looking garage with a connecting salvage yard filled with several hundred 129 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,000 smashed up cars of all makes and models. 130 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,040 It was nine thirty two a.m. when we walked into the garage. 131 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,240 There's a fellow there in a white shirt. 132 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:19,240 Yeah, I see him. 133 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:20,240 Can I help you, gentlemen? 134 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:21,240 Yes, sir. 135 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:22,240 Police officers. 136 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:23,240 Auto theft detail. 137 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:24,240 Oh, yes. 138 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:25,240 I don't believe I know you fellas. 139 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:26,240 My name is Lester. 140 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:27,240 This is Sergeant Friday. 141 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:28,240 My name is Romero. 142 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:29,240 How do you do? 143 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:30,240 How are you? 144 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:31,240 Are you the owner here? 145 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:32,240 Yeah, that's right. 146 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:37,000 Whatever happened to Mac and Donovan used to drop in once twice a month. 147 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:38,320 Haven't seen them for two, three weeks now. 148 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,480 Well, they're a little busy on a special assignment. 149 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:41,480 Oh, I see. 150 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:43,360 All right, if we look around here. 151 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:44,360 Oh, you bet. 152 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:45,360 Make yourselves right at home. 153 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:46,360 Any special? 154 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:47,360 No, just looking. 155 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:48,360 OK. 156 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,360 Notice you've been pretty busy, huh? 157 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,360 Yeah, had a pretty good month. 158 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:57,160 Salvage rackets going to get sour again, looks like, with the Korean War and all the cutbacks. 159 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,360 Doesn't seem to have hit you so far. 160 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,480 Well, no, not so far. 161 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,400 Looks like it may tighten up anytime. 162 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:07,440 I noticed from our salvage report you've been doing a big business in GM merchandise. 163 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:08,440 Yeah, we have. 164 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,080 You know, they're starting to build tanks back there now. 165 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,480 We wanted to make sure we wouldn't run short on parts. 166 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:15,600 You get a lot of call for GM parts, do you? 167 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:17,320 Oh, yeah, we sure do. 168 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:21,120 Everybody in town knows if they need something for a Caddy or a Buick or any of those cars, 169 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:22,120 it's the place to come. 170 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,920 We've kind of built up a reputation specializing in GM used parts. 171 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:26,920 I see. 172 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:28,920 Mind if we check your last few by? 173 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:29,920 Fine. 174 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:38,960 You have 49 Cadillac, 47 Olds, Pontiac 48, 1949 Chevrolet. 175 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,560 Wonder if we might see those. 176 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:42,560 Yes, sir. 177 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:43,560 Right out in the yard. 178 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:44,560 Back this way. 179 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:49,240 All four of them are really bent up, bad shape. 180 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:53,200 Just breaks your heart to see beautiful merchandise like that all smashed up. 181 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,400 I don't know what people are thinking of the way they drive. 182 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:56,400 Yeah. 183 00:07:56,400 --> 00:08:00,800 We'll take a new Caddy, one of those new convertibles, really beautiful merchandise. 184 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,800 Somebody takes one out, rolls it, we pick it up and tow it down here. 185 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:06,920 Beautiful car like that all rolled up in a ball. 186 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,920 Georgia Street receiving lots that'll probably pick up the rear. 187 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,240 Yeah, it's really shame. 188 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:14,240 Here we go. 189 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,240 There's a Caddy. 190 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:19,240 Oh, yeah. 191 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,880 The Olds and the Pontiac are in that row there. 192 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:23,880 See? 193 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:24,880 Yeah. 194 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,800 And that Chevrolet, wasn't it? 195 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:28,800 Yes, sir. 196 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:29,800 1949. 197 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:30,800 Yeah. 198 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:31,800 Oh, yeah. 199 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:32,800 There she is over there. 200 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:33,800 Third car down, Maroon. 201 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:34,800 Yeah. 202 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:35,800 Maroon one, yeah. 203 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:36,800 Down there. 204 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:37,800 Yeah. 205 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:40,800 Looks like a graveyard, doesn't it? 206 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:41,800 Sure does. 207 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:42,800 What do you do with all these cars? 208 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:43,800 Strip them down for parts? 209 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:47,800 Well, at least the four you're checking now, yeah, they're all total wrecks. 210 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,800 Nothing much can be done with them except for parts. 211 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:51,800 Mm-hmm. 212 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,800 How about that Cadillac down there, the sedan? 213 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:55,800 Huh? 214 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:57,120 That one over there, can't you fix that one up? 215 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,480 That doesn't look beyond repair from here. 216 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,280 Oh, step around the other side here. 217 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,280 You can't see from where you're standing. 218 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:04,280 Here. 219 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,520 Yeah, the right side's all stove in. 220 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:10,440 By the time you figure you're replacing those side panels and fenders, trim, we couldn't 221 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:11,440 come out on it. 222 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:12,440 Yeah, I see now. 223 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:14,840 Well, I don't know too much about it, but it'll look good from over there. 224 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,000 Yeah, that's what we get all the time. 225 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,320 People want us to pay top prices for stuff we can't get our money out of. 226 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,240 If we could repair them, fix them up, and resell them as a complete automobile, there'd 227 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:24,240 be a lot of money in this business. 228 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:25,240 You do that with some of them, don't you? 229 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:26,240 Well, very few of them, I'll tell you. 230 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:27,240 That's what we look for, but we don't always get lucky. 231 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:28,240 Mm-hmm, I see. 232 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:29,240 Say, how'd you boys like to see some really beautiful merchandise? 233 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:30,240 What's that? 234 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:31,240 Well, come on back in the shop. 235 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:32,240 All right. 236 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:33,240 Kind of a hobby of mine. 237 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:34,240 Mm-hmm. 238 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:35,240 Here's what keeps us busy. 239 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:40,240 Plates and pink slips on the way up to Sacramento for cancellation. 240 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:41,240 Oh, huh. 241 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:42,240 Yeah, over this way. 242 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:55,240 Here we are. 243 00:09:55,240 --> 00:10:01,240 Take a look at this baby. 244 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:02,240 Yeah. 245 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:03,240 Hot rod, huh? 246 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:04,240 No, not exactly. 247 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,240 We don't go in for that kid stuff racing around town. 248 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:07,840 Well, sure, it looks like one. 249 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,360 Yeah, but it's a little better than most of the kids can throw together. 250 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:11,920 What'll it do? 251 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,640 We clocked her up at Murrock at 112 last weekend. 252 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,960 You know, they've been coming in here from all over town to see this car? 253 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:18,960 That's so. 254 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:19,960 Yeah. 255 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:20,960 You ever get up to Murrock Dry Lake? 256 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,360 No, I never do, but that's the place for it. 257 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,160 Running around town on those things can cause a lot of accidents. 258 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:27,760 Those drag races the kids have? 259 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:28,760 Yeah. 260 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:29,760 We don't go in for that stuff. 261 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:31,880 This is strictly scientific as far as I'm concerned. 262 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:34,040 I like to build them up, see what we can make them do. 263 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:36,040 Costs a lot of money, don't they? 264 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,000 That's $5,400 on this one right now. 265 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:39,480 I'm putting more into it. 266 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:41,520 Mallory ignition, milled heads, twin wake fields. 267 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,520 Here, let me start it up for you. 268 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:44,520 Okay. 269 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:45,520 120 horses under there. 270 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:46,520 Yeah, sounds good. 271 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:47,520 Listen to that. 272 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:48,520 Beautiful, isn't it? 273 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:49,520 Yeah. 274 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:50,520 A lot of power here. 275 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:51,520 Go ahead. 276 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:52,520 You ought to see it up in the lake. 277 00:10:52,520 --> 00:11:13,520 It really goes. 278 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,840 Yeah, I'll bet. 279 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:19,200 This all made up out of salvage cars? 280 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:20,200 Every bit of it. 281 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:24,480 I can buy a few things new, but most of it's right out of wrecks like those outside there. 282 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:28,080 It takes a lot of talent to build up something like this from scrap, doesn't it? 283 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:29,080 No, not really. 284 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,440 After you've been at it as long as I have, it's not too tough. 285 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:35,040 The trick is to get more speed out of them than anyone else can. 286 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:36,040 Yeah. 287 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:37,040 We did a good job on this car, right? 288 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:44,120 Well, if you put your mind to it, you can do a lot with a wrecked car. 289 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,880 Before we left Herman's salvage, we checked all four of the GM cars that were listed on 290 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:49,400 the salvage report. 291 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:53,440 We made a careful check on all of the cars in the yard and in the garage, paying special 292 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:57,160 attention to the few cars that were in the process of being rebuilt by Herman Lester's 293 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:58,160 mechanics. 294 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:02,640 We went over his records, carefully checking the disposition of all of his buys for the 295 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:04,400 past several months. 296 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:06,080 Everything was in perfect order. 297 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:10,200 We found that in the past three weeks, Lester had taken in 10 cars. 298 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:15,680 Eight of them had been stripped down for parts, and two of them had been rebuilt and resold. 299 00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:20,600 The investigation showed that four of those cars were GM cars, and the two that were resold 300 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:22,240 were both General Motors. 301 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:23,240 1128 a.m. 302 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:27,440 Ben and I drove back to the office and asked Mack and Donovan if they'd check through the 303 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:32,360 two resale cars to make sure everything was in order as the reports indicated. 304 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:35,280 We checked through on the remaining eight cars that were listed by Herman Lester as 305 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:37,320 broken down for parts. 306 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:41,440 According to DMV, all plates and pink slips had been returned to them for cancellation. 307 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:42,440 1150 a.m. 308 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:43,440 Well, that's it, Joe. 309 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:44,440 Yeah. 310 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:48,080 Eight of the cars check out, two of those were GM. 311 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:51,320 Yeah, well, that leaves just the two that Mack and Donovan are checking, huh? 312 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:52,320 Oh, I don't know. 313 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:53,720 Everything down there looked all right. 314 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:57,320 It's a sense Lester wasn't holding back anything, as far as I could tell. 315 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,400 Co-operative, everything in order. 316 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,880 If those two that Mack and Donovan are working on check out. 317 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:03,360 I got a hunch they will. 318 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,800 Seems to me Lester told us everything, everything we asked him anyway. 319 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,640 I don't think he yelled back. 320 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,640 If he did, I got an idea he might be able to tell us somebody's been left out in the 321 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:13,640 cold here. 322 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:14,640 What are you getting at? 323 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:18,000 Well, now, if Herman's been able to buy up all those GM cars, what have the other salvage 324 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:19,400 dealers been doing about it? 325 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:20,400 Thanks for the thought. 326 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,400 Let's check his competition. 327 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,360 1240 p.m. 328 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,640 We drove back down to West San Pedro Street. 329 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:33,040 We picked out a group of salvage companies in the immediate neighborhood close to Herman's. 330 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,600 3209 West San Pedro, John's Wrecking Yard. 331 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,800 We introduced ourselves and started to talk with the owner, John Bacon. 332 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:43,840 A routine check was made of his establishment and as far as we could tell, everything appeared 333 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:44,840 to be okay. 334 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:45,840 And that's all you made, huh? 335 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:46,840 Just that one buy? 336 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:47,840 That's it. 337 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:48,840 1946 Ford. 338 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,440 We're dying a slow death. 339 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:52,440 Business pretty bad, huh? 340 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:53,440 Never seen it worse. 341 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,040 At least as far as we're concerned. 342 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,040 How do you account for that, Mr. Bacon? 343 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:58,720 Oh, everything I guess. 344 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,320 Business bad all over at the moment. 345 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,200 Scrap metal situations in a state of flux at the present time. 346 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,600 And looking around, Mr. Bacon, we noticed you don't have much in the way of General 347 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:07,600 Motors, do I? 348 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,120 Is that because of GM going into war production? 349 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,560 Any cutback would eventually affect you fellows, wouldn't it? 350 00:14:12,560 --> 00:14:13,920 No, no, not at all. 351 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,440 Cutback would, sure, but there's no tremendous curtain on right at the present time. 352 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,000 They're still turning out a lot of automobiles back there. 353 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:21,840 Well, then what's your problem? 354 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:25,000 We're being outbid right up and down the line by the same outfit. 355 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:26,000 Who's that, sir? 356 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:29,360 A company by the name of Herman's Salvage just up the street there. 357 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,880 Go out to buy a piece of merchandise, their boys just won't let us get near it. 358 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:34,640 They pay more than you do, huh? 359 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:35,640 More than we can, Sergeant. 360 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:39,440 I honestly don't see how they're coming out on some of their deals. 361 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:40,920 It's that much out of line, huh? 362 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:41,920 Certainly is. 363 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:46,040 You know, whenever there's anything available, all the salvage companies get their bid in. 364 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:47,800 Well, Herman simply outbids all of us. 365 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:49,120 Yeah, it makes it kind of rough. 366 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:50,120 I'm not the only one. 367 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:53,720 Pete Larkin up the street, old man, Henry next door, all of us. 368 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:55,840 I don't know what we can do about it. 369 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:59,720 Herman seems to be doing all right, no matter what he pays for his cars. 370 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:00,720 Mm-hmm. 371 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:02,720 None of us can figure it out. 372 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:07,400 Just judging from the number of cars he outbids us on and the number he rebuilds, I just can't 373 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,040 see how he's coming out. 374 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:11,040 But he is, huh? 375 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:12,920 I figure he's laying odds on a big shortage. 376 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:14,280 That's what all of us think. 377 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,240 He's laying in the stockpile, is that the idea? 378 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:17,240 Sure. 379 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:21,000 What else could it be? 380 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:25,200 We continued our check on all salvage dealers, both in the neighborhood of Herman Lester's 381 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:26,720 place and throughout the city. 382 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:30,960 It seemed to be a fact well known to most dealers that Herman was outbidding all of 383 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,000 them on any and all GM automobiles. 384 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,040 The only possible explanation was that he must be trying to lay in a large stockpile 385 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,240 of this particular make of car, 335 PM. 386 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:44,320 We received word from Sergeants Mack and Donovan that they had checked out the two remaining 387 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:47,720 cars listed in Herman's books, the resales. 388 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:48,720 Ben was right. 389 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,200 They checked out with no discrepancy. 390 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,560 During the next 10 days, the investigation continued. 391 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:58,460 The theft of late model GM cars continued with few recoveries. 392 00:15:58,460 --> 00:16:00,240 Suspects were arrested and questioned. 393 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,920 We could find no connection that might lead us to an organized ring of car thieves that 394 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,640 might be responsible for the lack of GM car recoveries. 395 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,600 The salvage report showed no change in Herman's buying technique. 396 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:15,120 Apparently, he was still dealing heavy on the one particular make of car. 397 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:21,720 Thursday, May 25th, we received a teletype from DMV listing all the salvage buy transfers. 398 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:27,120 In making our usual daily check of this teletype, we noticed a 1949 Cadillac, engine number 399 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,720 598-77415. 400 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,840 It had been resold from salvage to a used car lot. 401 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:38,280 That's the place right up the block. 402 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:39,840 Yeah, I see. 403 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:41,760 Same Cad we saw in Herman's salvage yard. 404 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:42,760 Yeah, it's funny, isn't it? 405 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,160 The one in particular that I asked him about, you remember? 406 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:46,160 Yeah, I remember. 407 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,080 You thought it could be fixed up, he said no. 408 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,200 It's only been a little over two weeks ago, hasn't it? 409 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:51,200 Yeah, I tried. 410 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,200 Still doesn't prove anything. 411 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,200 Here we are. 412 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:56,200 Jakes. 413 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:59,840 Yeah, there's a Cad in the front line right down there. 414 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,440 I don't see anyone around, do you? 415 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:04,440 No, I don't. 416 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,120 Well, I guess it's all right to check the engine number anyway. 417 00:17:07,120 --> 00:17:08,600 Yeah, I'll get the hood released. 418 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:09,600 Right. 419 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:14,600 Yeah, there we go. 420 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:24,760 Yeah, the engine's had a good steam cleaning. 421 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:27,680 Let's see. 422 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:36,800 Five, nine, eight, seven, seven, four, one, five. 423 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:37,800 That's it. 424 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,800 Herman sure did a nice job, didn't he? 425 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,080 Yeah, almost looks too good, doesn't it? 426 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:46,080 Yeah, just a minute. 427 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:47,560 Body serial doesn't match. 428 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:49,680 Doesn't correspond with the engine model. 429 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:51,680 It's a 49 body. 430 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:55,120 Could be a late 49, but it's a definite switch, isn't it? 431 00:17:55,120 --> 00:17:56,120 It sure is. 432 00:17:56,120 --> 00:17:57,120 That's funny. 433 00:17:57,120 --> 00:17:58,120 Yeah. 434 00:17:58,120 --> 00:18:01,720 Look at this right side here. 435 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:03,720 This was the bad side, wasn't it? 436 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:04,720 Yeah, that's right. 437 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,320 Does it look like it's been rolled out to you? 438 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:12,400 No, there's no feathering, no orange peel. 439 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,960 Either that's the best repaint job I've ever seen or it's never been in an accident. 440 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:17,440 I'll take a look underneath. 441 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:18,440 All right. 442 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:19,440 OK. 443 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:20,920 Want to move your feet there? 444 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,920 Yeah, all right. 445 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:24,920 Anything? 446 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:27,920 No, nothing. 447 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,400 There's not a seam or a joint under there. 448 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,080 No welding marks of any kind. 449 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:35,680 This car's never been in a smash up. 450 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,080 The engine number checks, the body doesn't. 451 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:39,600 This is the one Herman couldn't fix up. 452 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:40,600 Yeah, that's what he said. 453 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:41,600 Maybe he changed his mind. 454 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:42,600 Or he lied. 455 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:57,480 You are listening to Dragnet. 456 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:02,960 From beginning to end, Dragnet is the authentic story of your police force in action. 457 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:07,080 Now from beginning to end, the Fatima story. 458 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:12,040 Actual convincing proof that in Fatima, the difference is quality. 459 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:18,500 Quality of tobaccos, the finest domestic and Turkish varieties, extra mild and superbly 460 00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:23,760 blended to give you a much different, much better flavor and aroma. 461 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:29,960 Quality of manufacture, smooth, round, perfect cigarettes, rolled in the finest paper money 462 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:35,520 can buy, manufactured in the newest and most modern of all cigarette factories. 463 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:41,120 Quality even to the appearance of the bright, clean, golden yellow package, carefully wrapped 464 00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:47,200 and sealed to bring you Fatima's rich, fresh, extra mild flavor. 465 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:53,680 Because of its quality, its extra mildness, its better flavor and aroma, more long cigarette 466 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:57,480 smokers are now insisting on Fatima than ever before. 467 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:02,200 So if you smoke a long cigarette, compare Fatima. 468 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:05,040 You'll find they now cost the same. 469 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,320 But your first puff will tell you. 470 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:09,400 Ah, that's different. 471 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:13,960 Yes, in Fatima, the difference is quality. 472 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:15,880 Insist on Fatima. 473 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,440 Start enjoying the quality king-size cigarette. 474 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:21,120 Fatima. 475 00:20:21,120 --> 00:20:25,160 Best of all long cigarettes. 476 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:36,800 1949 Cadillac, engine number 59877415. 477 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,440 When checking out this automobile, Ben and I had found that the engine number corresponded 478 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,480 with the salvage report concerning Herman Lester's place. 479 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:47,240 The one big item that did not jive was the fact that the engine was now mounted in a 480 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,040 different body than when the car left the factory. 481 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,720 A fact that had to be accounted for in complete detail. 482 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:57,840 When we had checked this automobile on the 11th of May at Herman's salvage yard, both 483 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,440 engine and body numbers corresponded. 484 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:04,400 In taking a close look at the car, it was obvious that the body had not been repaired 485 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:05,400 in any way. 486 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:09,480 It was clear that this particular car had not been in any kind of collision. 487 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:13,240 We went back to the rear of the lot and asked one of the salesmen not to sell the car without 488 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:14,240 informing us. 489 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:18,840 When we got back to the office, we started rechecking all of the auto theft reports. 490 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:23,360 We found five stolen Cadillacs, but all the body styles and models were different with 491 00:21:23,360 --> 00:21:24,640 the exception of one. 492 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:29,440 A 1949 Cadillac sedan, reported stolen on May 14th. 493 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:31,520 It was registered in the name of William Brownell. 494 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,040 We checked his home and found that he was at work. 495 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,760 He was a superintendent for the North American Van Line. 496 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:44,000 We drove over and picked him up and took him to J.Q.'s car lot on Vermont Avenue. 497 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,200 This is the car, Mr. Brownell? 498 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:47,200 Mm-hmm. 499 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:51,640 Well, it's just like mine, but I don't think it's the one. 500 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:52,640 Are you sure? 501 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:53,840 For one thing, it's a different color. 502 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:54,840 My car was maroon. 503 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,520 You want to step over here, Mr. Brownell? 504 00:21:57,520 --> 00:21:58,520 Huh? 505 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:07,160 Well, if you look very closely here on the door edging and on the jamb, right here, see? 506 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,720 This is the one place sometimes they miss with a spray gun if they're going to repaint. 507 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:14,560 Oh, yeah, there's a faint trace of red under the blue paint there. 508 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:16,240 Looks like it could be maroon, doesn't it? 509 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:17,920 Yeah, it does it there. 510 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:19,360 This car's been repainted. 511 00:22:19,360 --> 00:22:20,360 It was maroon. 512 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:21,360 Mm-hmm. 513 00:22:21,360 --> 00:22:24,640 Well, mine didn't have these kind of seat covers. 514 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:26,640 Let's see. 515 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:33,560 Same kind of upholstery I had, though, underneath here. 516 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:34,560 I don't know. 517 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:38,080 Mr. Brownell, there must be something other than the color and the upholstery that you'd 518 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:39,560 know your own car by. 519 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:40,560 Never give it much thought. 520 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,520 Well, it was usually some little identifying mark of some kind. 521 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:47,920 I know that on my car, the lens on the right headlight got broken, and I had to replace 522 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:49,560 it with one that didn't match. 523 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:50,560 Something like that, sir? 524 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:51,560 I see. 525 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:54,560 Could I look inside there a minute? 526 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:55,560 Sure. 527 00:22:55,560 --> 00:23:01,480 All right, here under the speedometer, there was a thumbprint pressed into the factory. 528 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:02,480 It was pretty deep. 529 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:03,480 No, it's not there now. 530 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:04,480 Mm-hmm. 531 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,480 Now, don't forget that the car's been repainted. 532 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:08,960 It might have been covered up. 533 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:11,000 No, this was cleared out of the metal. 534 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,760 Apparently when they were installing the instruments at the factory, the panel wasn't 535 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:14,760 dry yet. 536 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,640 Not there now, and they couldn't have covered it up unless they made a special port of it. 537 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:19,640 Well, sometimes that's done. 538 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:21,640 Car thieves are kind of clever. 539 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:26,120 I'm sorry, gentlemen, I don't think this is my car. 540 00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:28,440 Don't think I don't wish it was, but it's not. 541 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,560 Can you think of just one other thing, maybe? 542 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,320 Just one mark of identification is all we need. 543 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:34,320 No. 544 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:35,320 Even these tires aren't mine. 545 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:36,320 I had white sidewalls. 546 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:38,120 Well, it could have been switched. 547 00:23:38,120 --> 00:23:39,120 They were pretty new. 548 00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:42,120 Wait a minute, I think I remember something. 549 00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:45,800 Oh, there's no rip-up there. 550 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:48,040 What's that, sir? 551 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:49,160 I just thought of something. 552 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,800 Some boys down in the office gave me a St. Christopher medal. 553 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:54,920 You know, the large metal kind you're supposed to bolt to your dashboard? 554 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:55,920 Yes, sir. 555 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,720 I didn't want to put it on, so I carried it around with me in the car. 556 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:03,240 There was a rip-up there in the inner lining of the top, but see, there's no rip-up in 557 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:04,240 this. 558 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:05,240 Let me see. 559 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:06,240 How about it, there? 560 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:07,240 Yeah. 561 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:08,240 Yeah, I can feel it. 562 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:09,600 Does it feel like a medal? 563 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,520 Let me get my pocket knife on it. 564 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:12,520 Okay. 565 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:14,320 What do you think, they replaced the cloth there? 566 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,320 I don't know. 567 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:17,320 Yeah. 568 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:18,320 Yeah, here it is. 569 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:19,320 Is this it, Mr. Brownell? 570 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:20,320 That's it. 571 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:21,320 Look, on the back there, my name's engraved on it, see? 572 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:22,320 Yes, sir. 573 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:23,320 Well, I sure didn't think this was my car. 574 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:24,320 I never would have known it. 575 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:25,320 That's what the guys figure who stole it. 576 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:26,760 The 1949 Cadillac was taken to the police garage and a complete and thorough check was 577 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:27,760 made. 578 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:28,760 The car, with the exception of the engine, was positively identified as the property of 579 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:29,760 William Brownell. 580 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:30,760 This definitely implicated Herman Lester and showed his dismay. 581 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:31,760 He was a very good driver. 582 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:32,760 He was a very good driver. 583 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:33,760 He was a very good driver. 584 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:34,760 He was a very good driver. 585 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:35,760 He was a very good driver. 586 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:36,760 He was a very good driver. 587 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:37,760 He was a very good driver. 588 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:38,760 He was a very good driver. 589 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:48,760 He was a very good driver. 590 00:24:48,760 --> 00:25:03,760 He was a very good driver. 591 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:12,760 He was a very good driver. 592 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:20,760 He was a very good driver. 593 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:31,760 He was a very good driver. 594 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:38,760 He was a very good driver. 595 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:45,760 He was a very good driver. 596 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:54,760 He was a very good driver. 597 00:25:54,760 --> 00:26:01,760 He was a very good driver. 598 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:08,760 He was a very good driver. 599 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:17,760 He was a very good driver. 600 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:27,760 He was a very good driver. 601 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:34,760 He was a very good driver. 602 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:45,760 He was a very good driver. 603 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:52,760 He was a very good driver. 604 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:59,760 He was a very good driver. 605 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:10,760 He was a very good driver. 606 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:20,760 He was a very good driver. 607 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:27,760 He was a very good driver. 608 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:36,760 He was a very good driver. 609 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:42,160 The story you just heard was true. 610 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,860 Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. 611 00:27:44,860 --> 00:27:49,400 On August 15th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 82, City and County of Los 612 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:50,920 Angeles, State of California. 613 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:53,140 In a moment, the results of that trial. 614 00:27:53,140 --> 00:27:56,040 And now, here is our star, Jack Webb. 615 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:57,040 Thank you. 616 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:01,120 Friends, one of the first things a detective learns is that you can't rely on snap judgments 617 00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:02,360 or first appearances. 618 00:28:02,360 --> 00:28:05,640 You get all the evidence first, and then you arrive at a decision. 619 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:09,600 And that's just as true when it comes to choosing a king-size cigarette. 620 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:12,520 Place a Fatima alongside any other king-size cigarette. 621 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:15,520 Now, side by side, they'll look identical. 622 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:18,360 When you smoke them, you'll find a world of difference. 623 00:28:18,360 --> 00:28:22,840 You'll find, as I have, in Fatima, the difference is quality. 624 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:27,000 Quality that gives you extra mildness, a much better flavor and aroma. 625 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:31,760 If you haven't smoked Fatimas yet, buy a pack tomorrow and see if you don't agree. 626 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:42,720 In Fatima, the difference is quality. 627 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:47,120 Herman W. Lester was tried and convicted on three counts of grand theft auto and two counts 628 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:51,200 of grand theft money, all sentences to run consecutively. 629 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:55,800 Grand theft auto is punishable by imprisonment for a term of one to five years, grand theft 630 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,160 money by a term of one to ten years. 631 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:05,760 The suspect was also filed on by federal authorities for violation of the Dior Act. 632 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:09,560 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 633 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:13,720 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police 634 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:14,720 Department. 635 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:19,000 Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, has brought you a Dragnet, portions transcribed 636 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,240 from Los Angeles. 637 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:32,720 Stay tuned for Counter Spy next over many NBC stations.