WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:12.160 The story you are about to hear is true. 00:12.160 --> 00:16.440 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:16.440 --> 00:25.040 You're a detective sergeant. 00:25.040 --> 00:27.360 You're assigned to robbery detail. 00:27.360 --> 00:31.340 Two armed bandits invade the home of an elderly couple in your city. 00:31.340 --> 00:35.040 The aging husband is tortured unmercifully before he reveals the hiding place of his 00:35.040 --> 00:36.040 valuables. 00:36.040 --> 00:39.040 The two thieves make good their escape. 00:39.040 --> 00:51.400 Your job, get them. 00:51.400 --> 00:55.160 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 00:55.160 --> 00:59.520 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 00:59.520 --> 01:04.040 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 01:04.040 --> 01:05.600 police files. 01:05.600 --> 01:10.760 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 01:10.760 --> 01:16.580 in action. 01:16.580 --> 01:18.160 Was Saturday, October 3rd. 01:18.160 --> 01:19.160 Was hot in Los Angeles. 01:19.160 --> 01:22.240 We were working the day watch out of robbery detail. 01:22.240 --> 01:25.640 My partner's Ben Romero, the boss is Harry Diddy and captain of robbery. 01:25.640 --> 01:26.640 My name's Friday. 01:26.640 --> 01:31.780 It was 11.38 p.m. when I got to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital, room five. 01:31.780 --> 01:32.780 Treatment room. 01:32.780 --> 01:33.780 Joe? 01:33.780 --> 01:35.120 Hi, how's it going, Ben? 01:35.120 --> 01:37.320 We're not going to be able to talk to him any more tonight. 01:37.320 --> 01:39.240 Doctor said maybe late tomorrow morning. 01:39.240 --> 01:40.240 How's the old man making out? 01:40.240 --> 01:41.400 He's resting a lot better. 01:41.400 --> 01:42.400 Doctor gave him a sedative. 01:42.400 --> 01:44.400 Old fellow sure had a rough time. 01:44.400 --> 01:46.040 Well, how about since I've been gone? 01:46.040 --> 01:47.040 Did he tell you anything else? 01:47.040 --> 01:48.920 No, just kept repeating the same thing. 01:48.920 --> 01:52.680 Two guys forced their way into his house, beat his wife, tortured him, took all their 01:52.680 --> 01:53.680 jewelry. 01:53.680 --> 01:54.680 That's about it. 01:54.680 --> 01:55.680 Well, I put in a call to the office. 01:55.680 --> 01:57.360 I got a broadcast out on the information that we have. 01:57.360 --> 01:58.360 There's not much to go on. 01:58.360 --> 02:01.200 We should be able to pick up a little something more tomorrow. 02:01.200 --> 02:04.240 Doc said it's been a long time since he's seen anything like this, where they worked 02:04.240 --> 02:05.240 old man over. 02:05.240 --> 02:08.080 What'd they do to the fellow's hands anyway, the doctor able to tell? 02:08.080 --> 02:10.480 He thinks they used a hat pin on him, something like that. 02:10.480 --> 02:11.480 It's sharp and thin. 02:11.480 --> 02:13.960 At least a dozen wounds in both hands. 02:13.960 --> 02:15.800 He's pretty badly burned too. 02:15.800 --> 02:21.320 It's hard to imagine somebody that cold blooded, 71 year old man, soles of his feet, a mass 02:21.320 --> 02:22.320 of burns. 02:22.320 --> 02:24.240 Wonder his heart stood up through the beating I gave him. 02:24.240 --> 02:25.420 Well, has he got a weak heart? 02:25.420 --> 02:27.160 He's had a little trouble, yeah. 02:27.160 --> 02:29.760 Terrific shock going through something like this at his age. 02:29.760 --> 02:32.000 Well, maybe we better check back at their house, huh? 02:32.000 --> 02:33.840 See how the old fellow's wife is doing. 02:33.840 --> 02:34.840 Yeah, right. 02:34.840 --> 02:37.920 How's it shape up for you? 02:37.920 --> 02:40.200 Well, there's not an awful lot to go on yet. 02:40.200 --> 02:41.760 Wasn't a shot in the dark. 02:41.760 --> 02:42.760 I think we can count on that. 02:42.760 --> 02:45.680 Whoever the thieves were, they had some kind of an inside tip. 02:45.680 --> 02:48.880 The old man and his wife, well, they don't put up much of an appearance. 02:48.880 --> 02:51.840 You wouldn't be apt to figure that they had three or four thousand in jewelry put away 02:51.840 --> 02:52.840 at home, would you? 02:52.840 --> 02:54.320 Maybe his wife might have some ideas. 02:54.320 --> 02:57.040 He always allows his shame. 02:57.040 --> 02:58.040 Yeah. 02:58.040 --> 02:59.040 Yeah. 02:59.040 --> 03:01.320 You might half way understand that they just held them up, but working them over the way 03:01.320 --> 03:02.320 they did. 03:02.320 --> 03:03.320 There was no sense to it at all. 03:03.320 --> 03:06.400 Trying to show off what a couple of rough bums they are, maybe that's it. 03:06.400 --> 03:07.400 Well, then let's do them a favor. 03:07.400 --> 03:11.480 Let's show them what it costs. 03:11.480 --> 03:14.800 Ben and I got in the car and drove back to the West Lake Park area to the home of the 03:14.800 --> 03:18.640 robbery victim, 71 year old Wendell McClung and his wife, Catherine McClung. 03:18.640 --> 03:23.240 It was a one story wooden frame building, gray shingled, a typical modest four room 03:23.240 --> 03:24.240 bungalow. 03:24.240 --> 03:28.880 The men from unit 31R who had answered the robbery call were still there standing by. 03:28.880 --> 03:32.480 Another pair of men from robbery detail, Powers and Gonzalez, were checking the neighborhood 03:32.480 --> 03:35.960 for possible leads on the suspects. 03:35.960 --> 03:39.760 Inside the house, Ben and I found Mrs. McClung propped up in an easy chair in the living 03:39.760 --> 03:40.760 room. 03:40.760 --> 03:44.560 She was a small chubby woman, gray haired, looked to be in her fifties. 03:44.560 --> 03:47.040 We assured her her husband's condition wasn't critical. 03:47.040 --> 03:50.880 Outside of a small bruise on her forehead and a case of nervous upset, she seemed to 03:50.880 --> 03:52.160 be all right. 03:52.160 --> 03:55.920 In recounting the story of the holdup, Mrs. McClung told us the two bandits rang the front 03:55.920 --> 04:00.120 doorbell and forced their way into the house at gunpoint shortly before eight o'clock that 04:00.120 --> 04:01.120 night. 04:01.120 --> 04:02.120 How about the color of their hair, ma'am? 04:02.120 --> 04:03.120 Their weight and height? 04:03.120 --> 04:06.120 No, I hardly saw a thing. 04:06.120 --> 04:09.120 That one look at them when they first pushed their way in. 04:09.120 --> 04:10.120 How was that baby? 04:10.120 --> 04:11.120 Blindfolded? 04:11.120 --> 04:14.080 Yes, they might just as well have. 04:14.080 --> 04:20.120 You see, when they started to hit Wendell, my husband Wendell, knock him down, I went 04:20.120 --> 04:24.480 after them and one of them slapped me right across my face and knocked my glasses off. 04:24.480 --> 04:28.880 I reached out to find them, but before I did, I guess one of those gangsters stepped on 04:28.880 --> 04:29.880 them. 04:29.880 --> 04:33.360 Thirty-five dollar glasses broke the lenses, just ruined the frames. 04:33.360 --> 04:34.360 Look at that. 04:34.360 --> 04:37.760 Of course, I can't see a thing without them. 04:37.760 --> 04:39.880 That's why I say it might as well have been blindfolded. 04:39.880 --> 04:43.000 You didn't have a chance to notice what kind of clothes they had on and what they looked 04:43.000 --> 04:44.000 like at all? 04:44.000 --> 04:46.600 Well, they weren't shabby, I know that. 04:46.600 --> 04:49.280 Pretty well dressed, if memory serves. 04:49.280 --> 04:50.760 Both of them in dark suits. 04:50.760 --> 04:52.920 If only they wouldn't have broken my glasses. 04:52.920 --> 04:54.600 How about their voices, Miss McClung? 04:54.600 --> 04:56.160 Anything unusual about the way they talked? 04:56.160 --> 04:57.760 Anything that they might have said? 04:57.760 --> 04:58.760 Miss McClung? 04:58.760 --> 05:01.560 No, I was just thinking. 05:01.560 --> 05:04.680 One's name was Sam, I remember that. 05:04.680 --> 05:07.280 The other one had sort of an accent of some kind. 05:07.280 --> 05:12.780 Maybe from the Midwest or maybe Texas, one of those funny people. 05:12.780 --> 05:13.780 Funny people? 05:13.780 --> 05:14.780 What do you mean? 05:14.780 --> 05:20.160 Well, you know, something like a cowboy or a farmer, that funny kind of talk. 05:20.160 --> 05:21.160 I see. 05:21.160 --> 05:26.640 I guess I really should be inside fixing you men a cup of tea, maybe if you'd just help 05:26.640 --> 05:27.640 me up. 05:27.640 --> 05:29.080 That's all right, ma'am, you just sit there. 05:29.080 --> 05:31.560 When my sister Dolly gets here, it shouldn't be too long. 05:31.560 --> 05:32.560 I'll have her fix something. 05:32.560 --> 05:34.280 There's no need to bother, ma'am. 05:34.280 --> 05:35.800 We'd like to have you tell us this if you can. 05:35.800 --> 05:37.760 Did your husband do anything at all to provoke the two men? 05:37.760 --> 05:40.640 I mean, did he call out for help or try to get to a phone, anything like that? 05:40.640 --> 05:42.760 It was the jewelry we had. 05:42.760 --> 05:45.320 Wendell and I, just those few pieces. 05:45.320 --> 05:48.720 The two men seemed to know all about it, just as if they had a list of the things. 05:48.720 --> 05:49.720 That's how? 05:49.720 --> 05:50.720 Yes. 05:50.720 --> 05:54.800 When they first came in, they took my engagement ring and old brooch that belonged to my mother 05:54.800 --> 05:56.440 I was wearing. 05:56.440 --> 06:00.760 Then they got Wendell in that chair over there and tried to make him tell where our other 06:00.760 --> 06:01.760 things were. 06:01.760 --> 06:05.480 Well, now is it pretty common knowledge around the neighborhood here that you and your husband 06:05.480 --> 06:07.040 own expensive jewelry, ma'am? 06:07.040 --> 06:09.360 No, I don't think so. 06:09.360 --> 06:13.800 What the men seemed most interested in was Wendell's ring, his diamond signet ring, 06:13.800 --> 06:15.640 it was a beautiful thing for a carrot. 06:15.640 --> 06:17.880 Yes, ma'am, we've got a description on that. 06:17.880 --> 06:20.520 That was when they tried to force your husband to tell them where it was hidden, is that 06:20.520 --> 06:21.520 right? 06:21.520 --> 06:24.240 I never thought anybody'd be that cruel, officer. 06:24.240 --> 06:26.320 Downright cruel. 06:26.320 --> 06:31.120 They burned his hands and his feet, kept hitting him in the face with their fists. 06:31.120 --> 06:34.440 It was just terrible. 06:34.440 --> 06:35.440 Poor Wendell. 06:35.440 --> 06:37.000 He finally had to tell them. 06:37.000 --> 06:38.120 I see. 06:38.120 --> 06:42.640 They went and found the things and then they came back in here and ripped out the phone, 06:42.640 --> 06:43.960 warned us not to move. 06:43.960 --> 06:46.960 And then they left. 06:46.960 --> 06:52.240 I just broke down and cried, officer, to see poor Wendell there the way they abused him. 06:52.240 --> 06:53.800 Yes, ma'am, we understand. 06:53.800 --> 06:55.440 You're sure he's gonna be all right? 06:55.440 --> 06:57.000 What did the doctor say? 06:57.000 --> 06:58.400 Well, he said there's no danger, ma'am. 06:58.400 --> 07:00.040 Mr. McClung's resting comfortably now. 07:00.040 --> 07:01.520 Well, that must be my sister's outing. 07:01.520 --> 07:03.120 You want to stay right here with Ms. McClung, Ben? 07:03.120 --> 07:04.120 I'll get that. 07:04.120 --> 07:05.120 Yeah, all right. 07:05.120 --> 07:08.120 Hi, Joe. 07:08.120 --> 07:09.120 Hi, Jess. 07:09.120 --> 07:10.440 You and Powers doing any good? 07:10.440 --> 07:13.360 I've been checking through the neighborhood, three, four blocks around. 07:13.360 --> 07:14.360 Not an awful lot. 07:14.360 --> 07:15.840 A lot of people know the McClung's. 07:15.840 --> 07:17.560 Few of them know about their having jewelry. 07:17.560 --> 07:19.760 None of them saw anything unusual going on tonight. 07:19.760 --> 07:20.760 The thieves used the car. 07:20.760 --> 07:21.760 We know that. 07:21.760 --> 07:22.760 Didn't anybody at all spot it? 07:22.760 --> 07:25.000 I'm not sure, but there's one possibility. 07:25.000 --> 07:28.520 Some of the neighbors said a young kid was peddling magazines down this block tonight. 07:28.520 --> 07:30.240 Just about the same time as the robbery. 07:30.240 --> 07:31.240 He might have spotted something. 07:31.240 --> 07:32.240 Well, that's fine. 07:32.240 --> 07:33.240 Where is the boy? 07:33.240 --> 07:34.240 Where does he live? 07:34.240 --> 07:35.240 I don't know. 07:35.240 --> 07:36.240 Nobody knows. 07:36.240 --> 07:42.440 A supplementary broadcast and an APB was gotten out containing what description we had on the 07:42.440 --> 07:47.440 two holdup men, plus descriptions of each article of jewelry taken from Mr. and Mrs. 07:47.440 --> 07:48.560 McClung. 07:48.560 --> 07:53.160 The following morning, along with Jess Gonzalez and Johnny Powers, we continued canvassing 07:53.160 --> 07:55.580 the immediate neighborhood of the holdup. 07:55.580 --> 07:59.240 The only thing we got was a fair description of the boy who had been selling magazines 07:59.240 --> 08:03.800 the night before in the vicinity of the McClung house and also the names of the magazines 08:03.800 --> 08:05.480 he was peddling. 08:05.480 --> 08:09.360 Monday morning, 9 a.m., we got in touch with the local distributor for the publications, 08:09.360 --> 08:13.760 got a list of five boys who sold for them in that general area, and started checking 08:13.760 --> 08:14.760 them out. 08:14.760 --> 08:20.040 Third on the list was a Bill Newsome, a sophomore student at a nearby parochial high school. 08:20.040 --> 08:21.960 He lived a half a dozen blocks from the McClungs. 08:21.960 --> 08:25.800 We checked at his house, but his mother told us he wasn't at home. 08:25.800 --> 08:27.360 I'm sure, Billy, it won't be long. 08:27.360 --> 08:28.360 Thank you, ma'am. 08:28.360 --> 08:29.360 Right in here, officer. 08:29.360 --> 08:30.360 Just go ahead. 08:30.360 --> 08:31.360 Thank you. 08:31.360 --> 08:34.880 Sit down, won't you? 08:34.880 --> 08:35.880 Thank you very much. 08:35.880 --> 08:37.880 It must be him now. 08:37.880 --> 08:38.880 Billy, in here. 08:38.880 --> 08:39.880 Yeah, ma. 08:39.880 --> 08:40.880 Come in here, Bill. 08:40.880 --> 08:41.880 Two police officers to see you. 08:41.880 --> 08:44.520 Bill, this is Sergeant Friday and Sergeant Romero, my son Bill. 08:44.520 --> 08:45.520 How are you? 08:45.520 --> 08:46.520 How are you? 08:46.520 --> 08:47.520 Would you excuse me? 08:47.520 --> 08:48.520 I'm going to have to start fixing dinner. 08:48.520 --> 08:49.520 You go right ahead and have your talk with Bill. 08:49.520 --> 08:50.520 I'll be out in the kitchen. 08:50.520 --> 08:51.520 All right, ma'am. 08:51.520 --> 08:52.520 Thank you very much. 08:52.520 --> 08:53.520 You speak right up now, Bill. 08:53.520 --> 08:54.520 Try and help the officers all you can. 08:54.520 --> 08:55.520 How can I help you? 08:55.520 --> 08:56.520 What's it all about? 08:56.520 --> 08:57.520 We understand you have a magazine right in the neighborhood, Bill. 08:57.520 --> 09:01.640 Your mother tells us you were out selling this last Saturday night. 09:01.640 --> 09:02.640 Yes, sir, that's right. 09:02.640 --> 09:03.640 Thursdays and Saturdays, they're my regular nights. 09:03.640 --> 09:04.640 I don't really sell, though. 09:04.640 --> 09:05.640 How do you mean, son? 09:05.640 --> 09:06.640 Well, you see, I line up all my customers ahead of time. 09:06.640 --> 09:07.640 I got a regular list of people who buy from me every week. 09:07.640 --> 09:08.640 I don't do any door-to-door selling. 09:08.640 --> 09:09.640 That way, it's not much good. 09:09.640 --> 09:10.640 I see. 09:10.640 --> 09:11.640 Do you have a regular customer on your list by the name of McClung Bill? 09:11.640 --> 09:12.640 That's M-C-C-L-U-N-G? 09:12.640 --> 09:13.640 Yeah, Mr. McClung, once a month, he takes a gardening magazine. 09:13.640 --> 09:14.640 Comes out the last week. 09:14.640 --> 09:15.640 He's got a couple of books that he's been reading. 09:15.640 --> 09:16.640 He's got a book that he's been reading. 09:16.640 --> 09:28.640 He's got a book that he's been reading. 09:28.640 --> 09:30.640 Were you over near the McClung's place Saturday night? 09:30.640 --> 09:31.640 Do you remember? 09:31.640 --> 09:32.640 Yeah, I was. 09:32.640 --> 09:33.640 I went right by it. 09:33.640 --> 09:35.640 I've got customers all along that block there. 09:35.640 --> 09:37.640 Say, this wouldn't be about that robbery. 09:37.640 --> 09:38.640 That's right, Bill. 09:38.640 --> 09:39.640 You heard about it? 09:39.640 --> 09:43.640 After church Sunday, a couple of kids who go to the same school I do, they live right 09:43.640 --> 09:44.920 around the McClung's. 09:44.920 --> 09:45.920 They heard about it. 09:45.920 --> 09:47.920 What time was it when you went by there Saturday night? 09:47.920 --> 09:48.920 You remember? 09:48.920 --> 09:52.200 Oh, about a couple of minutes after nine, I guess. 09:52.200 --> 09:53.840 Maybe a quarter after. 09:53.840 --> 09:57.200 When I heard about the robbery on Sunday, I thought maybe I ought to tell somebody about 09:57.200 --> 09:58.200 it. 09:58.200 --> 09:59.200 I wasn't sure about it, though. 09:59.200 --> 10:00.200 You know, I didn't want to be a pest. 10:00.200 --> 10:01.200 What do you mean, son? 10:01.200 --> 10:02.200 You weren't sure about what? 10:02.200 --> 10:06.800 This dark blue sedan I saw parked on the street there, just a couple of houses down from the 10:06.800 --> 10:07.800 McClung's place. 10:07.800 --> 10:12.360 The reason I even noticed it was because it was a new car, almost a brand new car, but 10:12.360 --> 10:15.200 it looked like the license plates on it were kind of old. 10:15.200 --> 10:16.200 What else? 10:16.200 --> 10:20.960 Well, I delivered some magazines to Mrs. Brubaker and I got my money for them. 10:20.960 --> 10:23.800 And then coming down the stairs, I saw these two men. 10:23.800 --> 10:25.840 I'm not sure they came out of Mr. McClung's house. 10:25.840 --> 10:28.960 It was dark, you know, but I thought that's where they came from. 10:28.960 --> 10:32.160 Anyway, they went down the street, got in the car and took off. 10:32.160 --> 10:33.160 Seemed to be in a hurry. 10:33.160 --> 10:34.960 Well, what did the two men look like, Bill? 10:34.960 --> 10:35.960 Do you have any idea? 10:35.960 --> 10:37.960 No, I didn't see them too well. 10:37.960 --> 10:40.160 I wasn't too close to them. 10:40.160 --> 10:44.200 I was about from, oh, here to across the street from them. 10:44.200 --> 10:45.200 How about their clothes? 10:45.200 --> 10:46.200 You noticed them at all? 10:46.200 --> 10:48.120 Yeah, they had suits on, dark suits. 10:48.120 --> 10:49.120 I know that. 10:49.120 --> 10:50.520 How would you describe their build, son? 10:50.520 --> 10:51.920 Medium, tall, fat, skinny? 10:51.920 --> 10:52.920 What would you say? 10:52.920 --> 10:54.640 Well, I think I'd say medium. 10:54.640 --> 10:56.560 Yeah, both of them medium. 10:56.560 --> 11:00.360 Now about that car, Bill, you said it was a dark blue sedan, new model and the license 11:00.360 --> 11:01.360 plates look kind of old. 11:01.360 --> 11:02.360 Is that right? 11:02.360 --> 11:03.360 Yeah, that's right. 11:03.360 --> 11:05.160 That's how I first noticed it parked down by the restaurant. 11:05.160 --> 11:06.560 How's that? 11:06.560 --> 11:13.120 About 715 when I started my route down on South Benson, I saw the same car parked outside 11:13.120 --> 11:15.320 the restaurant down there. 11:15.320 --> 11:16.320 Forget the name of the place now. 11:16.320 --> 11:17.520 It just opened about a month ago. 11:17.520 --> 11:18.800 I'm sure it was the same car. 11:18.800 --> 11:20.920 Oh yeah, yeah, I'm pretty sure. 11:20.920 --> 11:23.560 That's why I noticed it again when I saw it up by McClung's place. 11:23.560 --> 11:27.880 I thought it looked kind of terrible, brand new car like that with the old license plates. 11:27.880 --> 11:31.000 By any chance, son, do you remember the license number on those plates? 11:31.000 --> 11:34.320 No, sir, I didn't notice it at all. 11:34.320 --> 11:35.320 I'll tell you what though. 11:35.320 --> 11:36.320 Yeah? 11:36.320 --> 11:43.600 If you see that car again, I'll be sure and get the number for you. 11:43.600 --> 11:47.320 Before we left the home of 16 year old Bill Newsome, we got a complete description of 11:47.320 --> 11:51.280 the car which he'd seen parked near the McClung's home on the night of the robbery. 11:51.280 --> 11:57.080 He told us it was a 1950 Hudson, four door sedan, dark blue, white sidewall tires. 11:57.080 --> 12:00.640 We relayed the information downtown to robbery detail. 12:00.640 --> 12:04.680 After we left the boy's house, we drove to the vicinity of the restaurant on South Benson 12:04.680 --> 12:08.120 where the Newsome boy had first spotted the Hudson sedan. 12:08.120 --> 12:12.040 After making the rounds of several bars and coffee counters in the area, we started checking 12:12.040 --> 12:13.520 at the restaurant. 12:13.520 --> 12:17.760 It was newly opened just as the boy had described it, full of glass, brick, and fancy modern 12:17.760 --> 12:18.760 stonework. 12:18.760 --> 12:22.960 The main bar was situated just off the lobby set apart from the main dining room. 12:22.960 --> 12:27.120 We interviewed the head bartender and he thought he remembered serving two customers answering 12:27.120 --> 12:30.440 the general description of the holdup men on the previous Saturday night. 12:30.440 --> 12:36.840 Not a bad looking pair, they're in a little early, around 715, 730, they seem to be alright. 12:36.840 --> 12:38.800 Do you remember what they looked like at all? 12:38.800 --> 12:40.440 No, I didn't notice them that much, officer. 12:40.440 --> 12:42.240 Can you give us some general idea? 12:42.240 --> 12:46.600 They're on the young side, I guess, not more than 28, 30. 12:46.600 --> 12:50.600 One of them talked like a midwesterner, I think, you know, maybe Arkansas, Texas, some 12:50.600 --> 12:51.600 place like that. 12:51.600 --> 12:53.400 Could you give us any idea what they were wearing, would you remember that? 12:53.400 --> 12:58.200 Well, one had suits on, dark suits, one had on a gray hat, that's about all I remember. 12:58.200 --> 13:01.760 The reason I can place them at all is because Saturday was a pretty slow night at the bar, 13:01.760 --> 13:04.800 it's a new place here, you know, it takes a little time to cultivate a trade. 13:04.800 --> 13:07.200 Well, did these two men stop for dinner here, do you remember that? 13:07.200 --> 13:10.960 No, no, they sat right here at the bar, had a couple of beers and then they left, no dinner. 13:10.960 --> 13:11.960 Did you wait on them, sir? 13:11.960 --> 13:12.960 Yes, sir, I did. 13:12.960 --> 13:16.000 I served them both a bottle of beer, imported Dutch beer. 13:16.000 --> 13:18.200 Do you serve quite a bit of that imported beer, do you? 13:18.200 --> 13:22.720 No, not here, no, it's mostly cocktail trade, these two fellows, the only ones I remember 13:22.720 --> 13:23.720 asking for. 13:23.720 --> 13:26.360 Oh, do you remember if the two men handled the beer bottles at all? 13:26.360 --> 13:27.360 They handled them? 13:27.360 --> 13:29.680 Well, I mean, did you pour it? 13:29.680 --> 13:33.560 I filled up the glasses and set the bottle down, I guess they did handle them, they emptied 13:33.560 --> 13:34.560 the bottle. 13:34.560 --> 13:35.560 I see. 13:35.560 --> 13:36.560 They'd almost have to, wouldn't they? 13:36.560 --> 13:38.360 Would you still have those two bottles on hand? 13:38.360 --> 13:43.080 No, let's see, they, yeah, I guess they would, they don't pick up the empties till something 13:43.080 --> 13:44.080 around the middle of the week. 13:44.080 --> 13:45.360 We'd like to take a look at them if you don't mind. 13:45.360 --> 13:46.360 Oh, sure thing. 13:46.360 --> 13:48.760 You guys just want to follow me down to the bar here, it's in the store room, just in 13:48.760 --> 13:49.760 back. 13:49.760 --> 13:50.760 All right, let's go. 13:50.760 --> 13:53.760 It's right back here, officer. 13:53.760 --> 13:54.760 Fine. 13:54.760 --> 14:00.560 Let's see, yeah, yeah, they're right over here. 14:00.560 --> 14:02.640 There you go. 14:02.640 --> 14:05.920 Holland Label, only ones in the whole case, the same two I served those fellows. 14:05.920 --> 14:06.920 Yeah, I see. 14:06.920 --> 14:07.920 What do you think, fingerprints? 14:07.920 --> 14:08.920 Maybe. 14:08.920 --> 14:11.280 And as soon as you get the fingerprints, you can pick them up, can't you? 14:11.280 --> 14:16.160 Yeah, when we find the men they belong to. 14:16.160 --> 14:17.800 Monday 6 p.m. 14:17.800 --> 14:20.640 We called Layton Fingerprints and they came out to check the evidence. 14:20.640 --> 14:26.040 First, they obtained a set of the bartender's fingerprints to serve as a basis for comparison. 14:26.040 --> 14:29.200 Then they dusted each of the empty beer bottles carefully. 14:29.200 --> 14:32.400 After the various sets of prints were lifted off the bottles, the men went back to the 14:32.400 --> 14:37.280 office to run the sets through, classify their findings, and then turn them over to R&I for 14:37.280 --> 14:39.120 further checking. 14:39.120 --> 14:42.560 While they worked on it, Ben and I ducked out and had a sandwich and a bowl of soup for 14:42.560 --> 14:43.560 dinner. 14:43.560 --> 14:45.800 7.25 p.m. 14:45.800 --> 14:47.840 We got back to the city hall. 14:47.840 --> 14:52.000 I sure am getting tired of the kind of food that guy serves, Joe. 14:52.000 --> 14:54.080 It seems to get worse every time I go in there. 14:54.080 --> 14:55.360 Yeah, it wasn't very good, was it? 14:55.360 --> 14:59.120 I'm willing to bet I know his formula for the soup, two gallons of hot water and one 14:59.120 --> 15:00.120 bouillon cube. 15:00.120 --> 15:02.400 Well, I've gone and done it before. 15:02.400 --> 15:03.400 I may still do it again. 15:03.400 --> 15:04.400 What's that? 15:04.400 --> 15:06.040 Bring my dinner from home in a paper sack. 15:06.040 --> 15:07.720 Pack a thermos full of hot coffee. 15:07.720 --> 15:09.160 It'd be a better deal than cross the street. 15:09.160 --> 15:10.160 I don't know about that. 15:10.160 --> 15:12.920 Do you remember the last time you had your wife fix you up a thermos full of coffee? 15:12.920 --> 15:14.240 Yeah, I almost forgot. 15:14.240 --> 15:16.960 Wasn't any better than the stuff across the street. 15:16.960 --> 15:19.160 Hi, where you two been? 15:19.160 --> 15:20.160 Hi, Jess. 15:20.160 --> 15:21.160 Getting something to eat. 15:21.160 --> 15:22.600 A latent Prince called just a minute ago. 15:22.600 --> 15:24.240 Told him I'd give you the message. 15:24.240 --> 15:25.240 What's that? 15:25.240 --> 15:28.160 Well, the Prince, they lifted off those beer bottles, checked them through the record bureau. 15:28.160 --> 15:29.160 Huh. 15:29.160 --> 15:30.160 Found two sets. 15:30.160 --> 15:31.160 They made both of them. 15:31.160 --> 15:53.720 October 5th, Saturday, 740 p.m. 15:53.720 --> 15:57.040 The two sets of fingerprints which had been lifted from the empty beer bottles were checked 15:57.040 --> 16:01.440 through R&I and identified as those belonging to two known criminals. 16:01.440 --> 16:06.320 The first was Henry Vincent Moss, WMA, 29 years old. 16:06.320 --> 16:11.120 He'd served two terms in the county jail for burglary and grand theft auto and one term 16:11.120 --> 16:13.400 in San Quentin for robbery. 16:13.400 --> 16:18.000 The second was Ernest Robert Windsor, WMA, 28 years old. 16:18.000 --> 16:22.080 His home was listed as Little Rock, Arkansas, where he'd twice been convicted on charges 16:22.080 --> 16:27.000 of first degree burglary and served time at the Arkansas State Penitentiary. 16:27.000 --> 16:30.720 We pulled the packages on both of the men, checked the last known addresses, but failed 16:30.720 --> 16:33.120 to locate either of them. 16:33.120 --> 16:37.200 To double check their identification, we showed mug shots of Windsor and Moss to the robbery 16:37.200 --> 16:40.160 and torture victims, Mr. and Mrs. McClung. 16:40.160 --> 16:42.860 They gave positive identification of both men. 16:42.860 --> 16:46.160 So did the bartender at the restaurant where they'd stopped for the beer. 16:46.160 --> 16:50.080 We got out a broadcast and an all points bulletin on them immediately. 16:50.080 --> 16:54.120 We began the routine legwork, checking with all the friends, relatives, and associates 16:54.120 --> 16:57.160 who were listed on the mama sheet in each suspect's package. 16:57.160 --> 17:00.320 As usual, it was a long monotonous haul. 17:00.320 --> 17:04.400 One of the persons listed as fairly close to Ernest Windsor was an aunt of his, a Mrs. 17:04.400 --> 17:08.200 Marie Rolfe, whom we located at her home in the Echo Park district. 17:08.200 --> 17:11.600 No, I hadn't seen Ernest in almost a year, Sergeant. 17:11.600 --> 17:12.600 What is it you want him for? 17:12.600 --> 17:15.160 I'd like to talk to you about it a few minutes, Mrs. Rolfe, if you don't mind. 17:15.160 --> 17:16.640 I don't know how I can help you. 17:16.640 --> 17:18.400 You can come in for a minute if you want. 17:18.400 --> 17:20.440 I've got to go out and do some errands pretty soon, though. 17:20.440 --> 17:21.440 That's all right, ma'am. 17:21.440 --> 17:22.440 Thank you. 17:22.440 --> 17:23.440 Right in here. 17:23.440 --> 17:24.440 Sit down if you want. 17:24.440 --> 17:25.440 Thank you very much. 17:25.440 --> 17:29.640 I've got finished taking care of my little children here, giving them nice clean cages. 17:29.640 --> 17:30.640 Good singers. 17:30.640 --> 17:31.640 They're all canaries, ma'am? 17:31.640 --> 17:32.640 Oh, yes. 17:32.640 --> 17:35.520 Oscar and Ethel, that's these two here, they're both genuine rollers. 17:35.520 --> 17:37.240 Their grand folks came from Germany. 17:37.240 --> 17:38.240 Beautiful singers. 17:38.240 --> 17:39.240 Wonderful company. 17:39.240 --> 17:40.240 Yes, ma'am. 17:40.240 --> 17:41.240 My others are pretty, too. 17:41.240 --> 17:42.240 They're only choppers, though. 17:42.240 --> 17:43.240 Ma'am. 17:43.240 --> 17:44.240 Choppers. 17:44.240 --> 17:45.240 They're different than rollers. 17:45.240 --> 17:46.240 They sing much louder. 17:46.240 --> 17:47.520 Maybe not as nicely, but I don't like to play favorites. 17:47.520 --> 17:48.960 I like all of them. 17:48.960 --> 17:49.960 You have birds, Sergeant? 17:49.960 --> 17:50.960 No, ma'am. 17:50.960 --> 17:51.960 You should. 17:51.960 --> 17:53.600 Everybody should have a canary in the house. 17:53.600 --> 17:54.600 Cheerful, you know. 17:54.600 --> 17:55.600 Wonderful company. 17:55.600 --> 17:57.760 Don't know what I'd do without mine. 17:57.760 --> 18:01.360 About your nephew, Ernest, Miss Rolfe, do you have any idea at all how we could contact 18:01.360 --> 18:02.360 him? 18:02.360 --> 18:05.080 As I say, it's been almost a year since I last heard from him. 18:05.080 --> 18:06.080 What would this be about, Sergeant? 18:06.080 --> 18:07.920 It's a routine investigation, ma'am. 18:07.920 --> 18:11.080 We understand that you're quite close with your nephew, that he lived with you for a 18:11.080 --> 18:12.080 time. 18:12.080 --> 18:13.080 Yes, that's right. 18:13.080 --> 18:14.080 He did. 18:14.080 --> 18:15.080 When you come right down to it, Ernie's a good boy. 18:15.080 --> 18:16.080 He kept bad company, that's what I always said. 18:16.080 --> 18:17.080 Got him in trouble two or three times. 18:17.080 --> 18:18.080 I suppose you know that. 18:18.080 --> 18:19.080 You live alone here in the house, do you, Miss Rolfe? 18:19.080 --> 18:20.080 Yes, ma'am. 18:20.080 --> 18:22.080 That's right, Sergeant. 18:22.080 --> 18:25.080 See, I'm a widow. 18:25.080 --> 18:27.120 Husband's gone a good many years now. 18:27.120 --> 18:29.320 You don't take in boarders or anyone like that, do you? 18:29.320 --> 18:30.320 Oh, no. 18:30.320 --> 18:31.320 Just me and my pets here. 18:31.320 --> 18:32.320 They're company enough. 18:32.320 --> 18:36.920 I wonder if you'd explain that laundry piled up in the bed there in the next room, ma'am. 18:36.920 --> 18:37.920 What's that? 18:37.920 --> 18:39.320 The men's shirts, stockings, the underwear. 18:39.320 --> 18:40.800 They're right there in the bed there. 18:40.800 --> 18:43.640 I usually try to keep things in better order than that. 18:43.640 --> 18:44.640 Just some laundry I do, Sergeant. 18:44.640 --> 18:47.720 A little odd jobs for some of the bachelor men in the neighborhood. 18:47.720 --> 18:49.400 I do it as a favor for them. 18:49.400 --> 18:51.520 You sure about that, Miss Rolfe? 18:51.520 --> 18:52.520 Ma'am? 18:52.520 --> 18:55.120 What do you want Ernest for? 18:55.120 --> 18:57.360 Why do you have to chase after him all the time? 18:57.360 --> 18:58.360 Persecute him. 18:58.360 --> 18:59.360 We're not persecuting him. 18:59.360 --> 19:02.280 Ever since he's come here from Arkansas, it's been nothing but police chasing after him. 19:02.280 --> 19:03.600 Can't you give Ernie a chance? 19:03.600 --> 19:05.040 All he wants is a chance. 19:05.040 --> 19:06.040 He told me so himself. 19:06.040 --> 19:07.800 We've checked through his record, Miss Rolfe. 19:07.800 --> 19:10.440 He's had all the chances in the world and nobody's persecuting him. 19:10.440 --> 19:11.800 Why are you chasing him again? 19:11.800 --> 19:12.800 Hunting him down. 19:12.800 --> 19:14.520 Why don't you leave him alone for a spell? 19:14.520 --> 19:17.440 Give him a chance to get a job, do something. 19:17.440 --> 19:18.440 Why are you chasing him? 19:18.440 --> 19:20.000 This is a robbery charge, Miss Rolfe. 19:20.000 --> 19:21.360 He's been positively identified. 19:21.360 --> 19:24.800 He and Henry Moss forced their way into an old couple's home a few weeks back. 19:24.800 --> 19:27.320 They tortured the old man and they beat him till he was unconscious. 19:27.320 --> 19:28.320 That's what we want Ernie for. 19:28.320 --> 19:29.720 How do you know it was Ernie? 19:29.720 --> 19:31.200 He could have made a mistake. 19:31.200 --> 19:32.200 No mistake, ma'am. 19:32.200 --> 19:35.040 The victims identified his picture and there wasn't a doubt in their mind. 19:35.040 --> 19:36.040 And where is he? 19:36.040 --> 19:37.040 You sure that's the truth? 19:37.040 --> 19:38.040 You sure it's Ernie again? 19:38.040 --> 19:39.040 Yes, ma'am, again. 19:39.040 --> 19:40.040 You can have all the proof you need. 19:40.040 --> 19:46.320 The last time he told me, he swore on the memory of his own mother. 19:46.320 --> 19:48.320 He swore he wouldn't do anything wrong again. 19:48.320 --> 19:51.080 I guess I just don't know Ernest. 19:51.080 --> 19:52.080 Where is he, ma'am? 19:52.080 --> 19:53.080 You want to tell us? 19:53.080 --> 19:55.080 It's the last time, Sergeant, I'm sorry. 19:55.080 --> 19:56.520 Ernie's had his last time. 19:56.520 --> 19:57.520 Yes, ma'am. 19:57.520 --> 19:58.520 He's sleeping. 19:58.520 --> 20:00.240 The room over the garage. 20:00.240 --> 20:05.400 You'll find him there. 20:05.400 --> 20:08.760 Ernest Windsor was apprehended and placed under arrest. 20:08.760 --> 20:13.200 His room was searched as well as the entire home of his aunt, Mrs. Marie Rolfe. 20:13.200 --> 20:17.440 We failed to find a trace of any of the jewelry stolen from Mr. and Mrs. McClung. 20:17.440 --> 20:20.960 After we made arrangements for a stakeout on the house, Windsor was taken downtown to 20:20.960 --> 20:25.840 the interrogation room where Jess Gonzalez, Ben and I questioned him for five hours. 20:25.840 --> 20:27.440 He refused to tell us anything. 20:27.440 --> 20:33.240 At a special show up, he was positively identified as one of the holdup men by the two victims. 20:33.240 --> 20:37.120 Windsor was booked at the main jail on suspicion of 211 P.C. 20:37.120 --> 20:39.240 The investigation went on. 20:39.240 --> 20:42.920 Every possible lead on the other suspect, Henry Moss, was checked out. 20:42.920 --> 20:43.920 We got nowhere. 20:43.920 --> 20:48.040 It was obvious that either Moss was in possession of all the jewelry stolen from the McClung's 20:48.040 --> 20:52.680 or it had been hidden away someplace known only to Windsor and Moss. 20:52.680 --> 20:55.880 From time to time, we had Windsor taken from his jail cell for questioning. 20:55.880 --> 20:59.600 It wasn't hard to tell he was bothered with the possibility that perhaps Moss had run 20:59.600 --> 21:05.360 off with the entire loot and was enjoying himself while Windsor spent his time in jail. 21:05.360 --> 21:09.080 We worked hard on that particular angle while we questioned him, but Windsor still refused 21:09.080 --> 21:15.760 to break to give us any kind of a lead on Moss. 21:15.760 --> 21:19.920 Sure working out into a dull routine, a full month, we got exactly what we started with. 21:19.920 --> 21:23.120 Yeah, if we could only get Windsor to break it, it sure would do a lot to wrap this thing 21:23.120 --> 21:24.120 up, wouldn't it? 21:24.120 --> 21:26.160 I don't know what he figured he was going to gain by keeping quiet. 21:26.160 --> 21:27.160 Yeah. 21:27.160 --> 21:30.480 Gonzalez and Johnny Power said they were checking out a tip from some informant this morning. 21:30.480 --> 21:32.040 Supposed to know where Henry Moss is. 21:32.040 --> 21:33.280 I wonder if they found any luck. 21:33.280 --> 21:34.280 They ought to be back by now. 21:34.280 --> 21:35.280 Yeah. 21:35.280 --> 21:36.280 Go ahead. 21:36.280 --> 21:37.280 Hey, Jess. 21:37.280 --> 21:38.280 Oh, hi. 21:38.280 --> 21:39.280 How about it? 21:39.280 --> 21:40.280 Did you do any good this morning? 21:40.280 --> 21:41.280 Oh, not a bit. 21:41.280 --> 21:42.840 Informant didn't even show up. 21:42.840 --> 21:43.840 Johnny's going to meet him this afternoon. 21:43.840 --> 21:45.400 It doesn't look to be very much. 21:45.400 --> 21:46.400 How about you fellas? 21:46.400 --> 21:47.400 Same, Jess. 21:47.400 --> 21:48.400 We're going as slow as you are. 21:48.400 --> 21:49.400 I'll get it. 21:49.400 --> 21:50.400 Robbery, Friday. 21:50.400 --> 21:51.400 Yeah, George. 21:51.400 --> 21:52.400 Uh-huh. 21:52.400 --> 21:53.400 Third and Main. 21:53.400 --> 21:54.400 You sure, huh? 21:54.400 --> 21:55.400 Right. 21:55.400 --> 21:56.400 Yeah, right away. 21:56.400 --> 21:59.400 Well, maybe we got a break. 21:59.400 --> 22:00.400 What is it? 22:00.400 --> 22:01.400 Henry Moss. 22:01.400 --> 22:03.840 He tried to hock a ring at a pawn shop, Third and Main, about 20 minutes ago. 22:03.840 --> 22:04.840 He make it? 22:04.840 --> 22:05.840 Well, the pawnbroker stalled him. 22:05.840 --> 22:07.040 He didn't know for sure that the guy was hot. 22:07.040 --> 22:08.040 Well, how's it stand? 22:08.040 --> 22:09.760 Henry Moss said he'd come back to close the deal. 22:09.760 --> 22:10.760 When? 22:10.760 --> 22:13.760 Half an hour. 22:13.760 --> 22:15.760 11.55 a.m. 22:15.760 --> 22:19.800 A special detail of men, including Gonzalez and Powers, Ben and myself, were sent to cover 22:19.800 --> 22:22.000 the pawn shop near Third and Main. 22:22.000 --> 22:25.120 Gonzalez and Powers staked out in stores adjoining the place. 22:25.120 --> 22:27.960 Ben and I were stationed inside the pawn shop. 22:27.960 --> 22:30.280 Another team of men covered the rear exit. 22:30.280 --> 22:31.480 We waited. 22:31.480 --> 22:34.560 The suspect, Henry Moss, failed to show at the appointed time. 22:34.560 --> 22:35.560 We kept waiting. 22:35.560 --> 22:37.400 1 p.m., 1.30. 22:37.400 --> 22:38.400 No sign of him. 22:38.400 --> 22:43.180 At 1.45 p.m., a young-looking, dark-haired man in a neat gray suit entered the shop and 22:43.180 --> 22:45.080 approached the manager at the rear counter. 22:45.080 --> 22:48.020 There wasn't any mistaking him, Henry Moss. 22:48.020 --> 22:50.480 He surrendered himself without even protesting. 22:50.480 --> 22:54.360 We took him to the city hall, to the interrogation room where we started to question him. 22:54.360 --> 22:58.960 Meantime, Gonzalez and Powers located the apartment where the suspect had been staying. 22:58.960 --> 23:03.560 His rooms and personal belongings were searched and every piece of the missing jewelry recovered. 23:03.560 --> 23:08.680 Surprisingly enough, in contrast to his partner, Ernie Windsor, Moss was cooperative, even 23:08.680 --> 23:09.840 obliging. 23:09.840 --> 23:11.800 We had a stenographer take his full statement. 23:11.800 --> 23:15.200 Then we got ready to move him over to the main jail for booking. 23:15.200 --> 23:17.240 Just a couple of questions before we leave, Moss. 23:17.240 --> 23:18.560 Sure, Sergeant, go ahead. 23:18.560 --> 23:19.560 We've had you in here before. 23:19.560 --> 23:21.480 How come all the cooperation this time? 23:21.480 --> 23:22.480 Why not? 23:22.480 --> 23:23.480 I had it figured before time. 23:23.480 --> 23:25.520 If you got me, you'd have everything you need on me. 23:25.520 --> 23:27.480 Wouldn't do much good putting in a beef, would it? 23:27.480 --> 23:30.280 Whose idea was it to start with, Moss, the holdup deal? 23:30.280 --> 23:31.280 Yours or was it Windsor's? 23:31.280 --> 23:32.280 Both of us, I guess. 23:32.280 --> 23:36.200 I didn't want to get rough with the old man, I mean the way Ernie did. 23:36.200 --> 23:37.200 That part I didn't like. 23:37.200 --> 23:38.680 All I wanted was a loot. 23:38.680 --> 23:40.320 Ernie just lost his head. 23:40.320 --> 23:41.320 Too bad. 23:41.320 --> 23:42.840 All right, you ready to go? 23:42.840 --> 23:43.840 Anytime, Sergeant. 23:43.840 --> 23:46.280 Hey, I wonder if I could ask a favor. 23:46.280 --> 23:47.280 What's that? 23:47.280 --> 23:50.080 Well, it's gonna get a little tough in there in that jail. 23:50.080 --> 23:54.440 I wonder if we couldn't stop for a good steak and some french fries first, huh? 23:54.440 --> 23:55.440 Maybe some good restaurant around here? 23:55.440 --> 23:56.440 No, it won't work, Moss. 23:56.440 --> 23:58.040 You know I wouldn't try anything. 23:58.040 --> 24:00.080 You put your order in a long time ago, Mr. 24:00.080 --> 24:01.080 What do you mean? 24:01.080 --> 24:02.080 When you worked over that old couple. 24:02.080 --> 24:03.080 Oh, yeah? 24:03.080 --> 24:12.080 That's when you ordered jail food. 24:12.080 --> 24:14.840 The story you have just heard was true. 24:14.840 --> 24:17.520 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 24:17.520 --> 24:22.160 On March 2nd, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 88, City and County of Los Angeles, 24:22.160 --> 24:23.160 State of California. 24:23.160 --> 24:35.240 In a moment, the results of that trial. 24:35.240 --> 24:39.520 Ernest Windsor and Henry Moss were tried and convicted on one count of first degree robbery 24:39.520 --> 24:43.160 and one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm. 24:43.160 --> 24:46.520 Both men are now serving their terms in the state penitentiary. 24:46.520 --> 24:52.320 First degree robbery is punishable by imprisonment for no less than one, nor more, than ten years. 24:52.320 --> 25:05.640 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 25:05.640 --> 25:10.280 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police 25:10.280 --> 25:11.280 Department. 25:11.280 --> 25:27.880 Your seemingly innocent name is wrong now. 25:27.880 --> 25:32.800 The