WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:05.140 Ladies and gentlemen, due to technical difficulties beyond our control at the moment, the dragnet 00:05.140 --> 00:09.600 program originally scheduled at this period has been postponed temporarily. 00:09.600 --> 00:12.600 It will be heard in just a few moments. 00:12.600 --> 00:19.600 There's a boss, Steve. 00:19.600 --> 00:22.600 My name's Friday. 00:22.600 --> 00:25.600 We're on the way out from the office. 00:25.600 --> 00:31.200 738 A.M. when we got to Paris Avenue. 00:31.200 --> 00:32.200 Number 213. 00:32.200 --> 00:33.200 Yes? 00:33.200 --> 00:35.440 How do you do, Miss Wagner? 00:35.440 --> 00:36.440 Police officers. 00:36.440 --> 00:37.440 I'm Sergeant Jacobs. 00:37.440 --> 00:38.440 This is my partner, Sergeant Friday. 00:38.440 --> 00:39.440 Oh, yes, Sergeant. 00:39.440 --> 00:40.560 I've been expecting you. 00:40.560 --> 00:41.560 Would you come in, please? 00:41.560 --> 00:42.560 Thank you very much. 00:42.560 --> 00:44.560 Thank you. 00:44.560 --> 00:48.040 Hope you'll excuse the way the house looks, officers, right in the middle of packing, 00:48.040 --> 00:49.040 getting ready to move. 00:49.040 --> 00:50.040 I understand. 00:50.040 --> 00:51.040 I'll try not to keep you, Miss Wagner. 00:51.040 --> 00:52.360 So much to do. 00:52.360 --> 00:55.480 Making arrangements for Dorothy's funeral, the undertaker. 00:55.480 --> 00:57.720 And all this moving business on top of it. 00:57.720 --> 00:59.640 I couldn't bear to stay here any longer, though. 00:59.640 --> 01:00.640 Yes, ma'am, we understand. 01:00.640 --> 01:02.080 We'll make it as brief as we can. 01:02.080 --> 01:05.920 I'd like to have you tell us about this trouble that your sister had, as much as you know 01:05.920 --> 01:06.920 about it, I mean. 01:06.920 --> 01:09.280 Plain out-and-out murder, in my opinion. 01:09.280 --> 01:12.160 Might just as well have taken a gun and killed her, no difference. 01:12.160 --> 01:15.520 You knew all about the relationship between your sister Dorothy and this man Reynolds, 01:15.520 --> 01:16.520 is that correct? 01:16.520 --> 01:17.520 Yes, right from the beginning. 01:17.520 --> 01:18.920 I was there when they met. 01:18.920 --> 01:22.160 Would you mind if I went ahead packing these few things here? 01:22.160 --> 01:25.960 My sister's things, I'd like to finish up before I leave. 01:25.960 --> 01:27.760 Have an appointment at noon, the mortuary. 01:27.760 --> 01:30.760 Surely go right ahead. 01:30.760 --> 01:36.760 A few books, knick-knacks, personal things to Dorothy. 01:36.760 --> 01:39.480 Foolish woman, I gave her credit for more sense. 01:39.480 --> 01:41.560 Now, about this man Reynolds, Miss Wagner. 01:41.560 --> 01:43.200 I saw through him right from the start. 01:43.200 --> 01:44.200 I tried to tell Dorothy. 01:44.200 --> 01:47.080 He was a fortune hunter, money-hungry. 01:47.080 --> 01:48.240 Of course, she wouldn't listen. 01:48.240 --> 01:49.240 She always knew better. 01:49.240 --> 01:52.080 Charles R. Reynolds, is that the name you knew him by, ma'am? 01:52.080 --> 01:53.080 Yes, that's right. 01:53.080 --> 01:56.520 Dorothy and I met him one Sunday night in the hotel dining room. 01:56.520 --> 02:00.600 Two of us always had dinner at the hotel Sunday nights, every Sunday. 02:00.600 --> 02:02.680 That's the hotel Alan Wiltshire you told us about? 02:02.680 --> 02:03.680 That's correct. 02:03.680 --> 02:06.480 It'll be exactly a month this coming Sunday. 02:06.480 --> 02:08.040 Came up to our table and introduced himself. 02:08.040 --> 02:11.040 Claimed he knew my father when he was alive. 02:11.040 --> 02:14.040 Dad owned some big packing plants in the East. 02:14.040 --> 02:16.840 Died nine years ago, left the estate to Dorothy and me. 02:16.840 --> 02:17.840 I see. 02:17.840 --> 02:21.240 Would you have anything to add to the description that you gave us on Reynolds, Miss Wagner? 02:21.240 --> 02:24.000 I mean, can you think of anything unusual about him at all? 02:24.000 --> 02:26.200 Scars, peculiar mannerisms, anything like that? 02:26.200 --> 02:28.240 No, nothing special. 02:28.240 --> 02:30.640 Dressed well, as I say, apparently cultured, well-traveled. 02:30.640 --> 02:31.640 Mm-hmm. 02:31.640 --> 02:34.560 He was handsome enough, attractive. 02:34.560 --> 02:38.400 I knew he was only after our money, though, playing up to Dorothy that way, kissing her 02:38.400 --> 02:41.200 hand, taking her out all the time. 02:41.200 --> 02:43.000 Probably would have tried the same thing with me. 02:43.000 --> 02:44.520 It's lucky I knew better. 02:44.520 --> 02:47.000 How did you after the first meeting with him, Miss Wagner? 02:47.000 --> 02:49.240 Did you start dating your sister Dorothy right away? 02:49.240 --> 02:51.120 Yes, the next night. 02:51.120 --> 02:53.480 Called here at our home and asked Dorothy to the theater. 02:53.480 --> 02:56.520 I think he was going to ask me, but he was too smart for that. 02:56.520 --> 02:58.720 I knew him for what he was. 02:58.720 --> 02:59.720 Huh. 02:59.720 --> 03:00.720 Imagine that. 03:00.720 --> 03:05.840 A poem Miss Dorothy wrote in high school. 03:05.840 --> 03:06.840 Love poems. 03:06.840 --> 03:07.840 Silly. 03:07.840 --> 03:12.800 She never did get it out of her head. 03:12.800 --> 03:15.400 You and your sister lived alone here in the house, did you, ma'am? 03:15.400 --> 03:17.880 Yes, Dorothy and I and the maid. 03:17.880 --> 03:19.680 I don't want to stay here after what's happened, though. 03:19.680 --> 03:21.280 I'm going to my cousin's in Vermont. 03:21.280 --> 03:23.080 Never want to see this place again. 03:23.080 --> 03:25.160 Yes, ma'am, I can understand. 03:25.160 --> 03:27.640 How soon after you met Reynolds did he marry your sister? 03:27.640 --> 03:28.640 Little over two weeks. 03:28.640 --> 03:33.840 He'd been seeing her almost every night, taking her out dancing to the theaters, big dinners, 03:33.840 --> 03:34.840 bringing her home late. 03:34.840 --> 03:37.480 He'd sit here in the living room. 03:37.480 --> 03:41.440 I could hear them from my bedroom upstairs laughing, him telling her how beautiful she 03:41.440 --> 03:42.440 was. 03:42.440 --> 03:44.960 Forty-two year old woman, imagine that. 03:44.960 --> 03:47.320 You're about the same age your sister was? 03:47.320 --> 03:48.320 Just about. 03:48.320 --> 03:49.600 A little older. 03:49.600 --> 03:53.400 Reynolds always took us for twins, though. 03:53.400 --> 03:57.440 Here's a snapshot of me taking in my twenties. 03:57.440 --> 04:00.280 The boy with me there, he wanted to marry me. 04:00.280 --> 04:03.680 My money, of course, that's all he wanted. 04:03.680 --> 04:04.680 Too bad. 04:04.680 --> 04:08.080 Dorothy never seemed to realize that about men. 04:08.080 --> 04:10.080 Girls from wealthy families have to be careful. 04:10.080 --> 04:13.880 I understand Reynolds took your sister out of town to be married, is that right? 04:13.880 --> 04:15.480 Yes, Las Vegas. 04:15.480 --> 04:19.680 Reynolds had told her his bank funds were tied up temporarily in a Canadian bank. 04:19.680 --> 04:23.520 He wrote Dorothy a check for ten thousand dollars and she gave him her check for the 04:23.520 --> 04:24.520 same amount. 04:24.520 --> 04:29.080 He said he wanted to book reservations for a round the world trip for both of them. 04:29.080 --> 04:30.080 I see. 04:30.080 --> 04:33.320 The same day Dorothy gave him the check, he cashed it. 04:33.320 --> 04:36.120 The bank called her about it and she said it was perfectly all right. 04:36.120 --> 04:38.760 Now, after he cashed it, Reynolds disappeared. 04:38.760 --> 04:40.480 No trace of him. 04:40.480 --> 04:42.240 Of course, his check's worthless. 04:42.240 --> 04:43.240 We found that out. 04:43.240 --> 04:46.320 And you figured that's the only reason your sister took her own life? 04:46.320 --> 04:47.760 There's no other reason. 04:47.760 --> 04:49.480 It wasn't the money so much. 04:49.480 --> 04:51.360 Dorothy has her share of the estate. 04:51.360 --> 04:56.160 It's a shame, I suppose, awful shame, disappointment. 04:56.160 --> 04:58.280 She should have known better, a woman her age. 04:58.280 --> 05:00.560 Had your sister ever been married before, Miss Wagner? 05:00.560 --> 05:02.680 Yes, when she was eighteen. 05:02.680 --> 05:04.640 Ran off to Chicago and married a young fellow. 05:04.640 --> 05:06.920 She claimed she loved him, too. 05:06.920 --> 05:08.840 Naturally, he was after our money. 05:08.840 --> 05:11.120 My father and I went and brought her home. 05:11.120 --> 05:13.520 We had the marriage annulled. 05:13.520 --> 05:15.000 It was that way all her life. 05:15.000 --> 05:16.000 Half a dozen men. 05:16.000 --> 05:19.520 They brought Dorothy nothing but misery. 05:19.520 --> 05:21.480 This was the last, this Charles Reynolds. 05:21.480 --> 05:23.240 How about his background, ma'am? 05:23.240 --> 05:24.240 His business connections. 05:24.240 --> 05:26.480 He ever mention any of that to you or your sister? 05:26.480 --> 05:29.280 Claimed he had interests all over South America, Australia. 05:29.280 --> 05:31.080 Seemed to have plenty of money. 05:31.080 --> 05:33.000 Guess his kind always has. 05:33.000 --> 05:35.440 Do you think you'll find him? 05:35.440 --> 05:37.720 We're going to try, Miss Wagner. 05:37.720 --> 05:39.960 Dorothy went upstairs to her bedroom and stayed there. 05:39.960 --> 05:42.000 She looks a-strange. 05:42.000 --> 05:45.040 She took out some press flowers from a book. 05:45.040 --> 05:47.600 Some boy had given them to her once, years ago. 05:47.600 --> 05:49.640 Don't know who. 05:49.640 --> 05:52.120 She just sat on the edge of her bed and stared at them. 05:52.120 --> 05:54.640 Old press flowers. 05:54.640 --> 05:59.160 Next morning, the maid came upstairs and Dorothy was lying on the floor. 05:59.160 --> 06:02.000 Empty bottle of pills next to her. 06:02.000 --> 06:03.000 Awful disgrace. 06:03.000 --> 06:05.440 Never happened before in our family. 06:05.440 --> 06:09.800 If you don't mind, Miss Wagner, we like to get as many particulars about this man 06:09.800 --> 06:12.240 Reynolds as you can remember. 06:12.240 --> 06:13.240 There. 06:13.240 --> 06:15.240 That's the last. 06:15.240 --> 06:20.200 I don't know what else to tell you, Officer. 06:20.200 --> 06:23.000 All I know is I was young when Dorothy was young. 06:23.000 --> 06:25.480 I could have had a man if I wanted. 06:25.480 --> 06:27.960 But I didn't run off when I was 18 to marry a boy. 06:27.960 --> 06:29.880 I knew my duty. 06:29.880 --> 06:30.880 It wasn't proper. 06:30.880 --> 06:32.720 It wasn't love. 06:32.720 --> 06:36.960 I didn't run off as a middle-aged woman to marry a fortune hunter either. 06:36.960 --> 06:38.400 What made her do it? 06:38.400 --> 06:39.400 I wouldn't know, ma'am. 06:39.400 --> 06:40.400 She was your sister. 06:40.400 --> 06:41.960 What kind of a man was he? 06:41.960 --> 06:43.640 What kind of a mind? 06:43.640 --> 06:46.840 Making love, kissing her, just to take her money. 06:46.840 --> 06:47.840 Imagine. 06:47.840 --> 06:49.320 Selling somebody with a kiss. 06:49.320 --> 06:51.920 Well, it's not the first time, ma'am. 06:51.920 --> 06:52.920 Is that so? 06:52.920 --> 06:53.920 Look it up. 06:53.920 --> 06:56.920 You'll find it in the Bible. 06:56.920 --> 06:58.800 1118 a.m. 06:58.800 --> 07:06.280 We continued to interview the victim's sister for another 40 minutes and then we left the 07:06.280 --> 07:10.600 Wagner home, drove back to the office and continued our investigation of the suspect, 07:10.600 --> 07:11.600 Charles R. Reynolds. 07:11.600 --> 07:16.800 As far as we were concerned, the criminal was new to us, but the crime wasn't. 07:16.800 --> 07:19.560 The marriage rackets as old as any con game on earth. 07:19.560 --> 07:22.960 And as con games go, it's one of the lowest. 07:22.960 --> 07:28.040 It trades on one of the most natural and normal instincts a man or a woman has, a desire for 07:28.040 --> 07:31.480 companionship, a home, and a family. 07:31.480 --> 07:36.240 And for the sake of an easy dollar, it betrays the victim and the instinct ruthlessly, regardless 07:36.240 --> 07:37.240 of the consequences. 07:37.240 --> 07:43.520 In the case of 42 year old heiress Dorothy Wagner, the disappointment was too much to 07:43.520 --> 07:44.520 cope with. 07:44.520 --> 07:49.600 For her, the marriage game ended in the front parlor of a mortuary on South Hoover Street. 07:49.600 --> 07:54.360 For the suspect, Charles Reynolds, it had continued to be a paying business until he 07:54.360 --> 07:56.280 was stopped. 07:56.280 --> 08:00.600 After homicide detail completed their investigation of the case and it was definitely determined 08:00.600 --> 08:05.160 that Dorothy Wagner took her own life, the matter was turned over to us. 08:05.160 --> 08:06.800 1150 a.m. 08:06.800 --> 08:11.040 We got off a request to Las Vegas asking them for all the information on the marriage. 08:11.040 --> 08:14.960 And then I contacted the stats office and asked them to make a run on the suspect for 08:14.960 --> 08:19.360 us based on his detailed description and also on his method of operation. 08:19.360 --> 08:23.000 I went back down the hall and met Ed Jacobs at the R&I counter. 08:23.000 --> 08:25.600 How you doing? 08:25.600 --> 08:26.600 Not too much luck, Joe. 08:26.600 --> 08:29.560 Forger didn't come up with anything either, nothing on the nerf files. 08:29.560 --> 08:31.280 It's not much of a start, is it? 08:31.280 --> 08:33.520 Apparently this is the first time he's worked at town. 08:33.520 --> 08:36.440 Orangeley couldn't find anything on the name, not in the main file anyway. 08:36.440 --> 08:38.400 What do you got there? 08:38.400 --> 08:40.560 I asked John to check the correspondence file. 08:40.560 --> 08:41.560 He came up with this. 08:41.560 --> 08:42.560 Out of Chicago, huh? 08:42.560 --> 08:48.160 Yeah, he came in over three months ago, inquiry from their bunko detail. 08:48.160 --> 08:51.800 Suspect name right here, Frank L. Richland. 08:51.800 --> 08:53.280 Same angle, marriage racket. 08:53.280 --> 08:55.720 The MO is pretty close. 08:55.720 --> 08:56.720 Any description? 08:56.720 --> 08:57.720 Oh, here. 08:57.720 --> 09:00.720 What do you think? 09:00.720 --> 09:05.520 170 pounds, gray wavy hair, blue eyes, fair complexion. 09:05.520 --> 09:08.320 That's fairly close, could be. 09:08.320 --> 09:11.840 There's the alias list Richland uses as long as your arm. 09:11.840 --> 09:13.760 Here's one called R.I. Reynolds. 09:13.760 --> 09:20.720 Alias George A. Reynolds, Thomas R. Reynolds, alias C.H. Reynolds, alias Charles R. Reynolds. 09:20.720 --> 09:23.680 Wants on him for forgery, bunko, grand theft, a lot of experience. 09:23.680 --> 09:25.800 How about a mugshot on his foot? 09:25.800 --> 09:26.800 None attached. 09:26.800 --> 09:28.600 No LA contacts either. 09:28.600 --> 09:32.760 Then we better get off a wire to Chicago PD, have them send us what they can on him. 09:32.760 --> 09:36.200 Want to prove it one way or the other by the end of the week maybe, huh? 09:36.200 --> 09:38.800 Yeah, copy his name down here. 09:38.800 --> 09:52.760 Frank L. Richland, correspondence number C143732, Chicago case number D-612-32. 09:52.760 --> 09:54.360 Attention Lieutenant Smirkels. 09:54.360 --> 09:57.520 I'm just thinking, Ed. 09:57.520 --> 09:59.920 The last time anyone saw Reynolds, when was it? 09:59.920 --> 10:01.240 Ten, twelve days ago? 10:01.240 --> 10:02.760 Ten days ago, yeah. 10:02.760 --> 10:05.840 September 23rd, same day cashed the check and took a run out. 10:05.840 --> 10:10.080 Well if he's working the city for the first time he must figure he's had some fair luck. 10:10.080 --> 10:12.600 Ten thousand on the first try is pretty encouraging. 10:12.600 --> 10:13.600 Yeah? 10:13.600 --> 10:17.120 If he gets the idea that town's a gold mine he's not going to pull out stakes here. 10:17.120 --> 10:18.120 Hmm, figures. 10:18.120 --> 10:21.720 Probably trying to reach a couple other women with the same angle, could be he's working 10:21.720 --> 10:22.720 on it now. 10:22.720 --> 10:23.720 Well that's the problem. 10:23.720 --> 10:24.720 What do you mean? 10:24.720 --> 10:28.280 Say he's been romancing three or four of them around town, he's got them all primed. 10:28.280 --> 10:29.280 Huh? 10:29.280 --> 10:37.560 How are you going to warn a woman about a thief before a purse is gone? 10:37.560 --> 10:41.200 After getting off a wire to Chicago regarding the suspect, which was in addition to the 10:41.200 --> 10:46.200 broadcast and the APB we'd gotten out on him, Ed Jacobs and I continued checking out the 10:46.200 --> 10:48.980 various contacts that he'd made in the city. 10:48.980 --> 10:53.480 We checked stores where he shopped, banks where he allegedly did business, restaurants 10:53.480 --> 10:56.600 and hotels which he reportedly patronized. 10:56.600 --> 10:59.600 It took three days of dull steady legwork. 10:59.600 --> 11:02.360 You can say it much faster than you can do it. 11:02.360 --> 11:05.640 All of the bank references without exception were falsified. 11:05.640 --> 11:08.720 Where he made purchases it was strictly cash dealing. 11:08.720 --> 11:10.960 The same for the restaurants he'd frequented. 11:10.960 --> 11:14.400 Besides meager descriptions of the man, the restaurant employees weren't able to help 11:14.400 --> 11:15.400 us much. 11:15.400 --> 11:20.120 At one of the two hotels where we learned he was a guest for a full month, we finally 11:20.120 --> 11:21.780 met at half a lead. 11:21.780 --> 11:25.720 One of the bell boys told us that the man known as Charles Reynolds seemed to be pretty 11:25.720 --> 11:30.160 friendly with the head waiter in the hotel dining room, the Henry Kingsbury. 11:30.160 --> 11:34.080 We located Kingsbury in the dining room in mid afternoon directing arrangements for a 11:34.080 --> 11:37.560 large private party to be held that night. 11:37.560 --> 11:41.360 Across the dance floor the orchestra was on the bandstand rehearsing. 11:41.360 --> 11:43.960 The musicians in their shirt sleeves. 11:43.960 --> 11:49.080 Kingsbury was reserved, not too cooperative. 11:49.080 --> 11:52.360 I was acquainted with Mr. Reynolds, no more than the other guests though. 11:52.360 --> 11:54.040 That's not the way we get it Mr. Kingsbury. 11:54.040 --> 11:55.960 We hear you were pretty friendly with him. 11:55.960 --> 12:00.840 Only as far as my job goes that's my business making people feel at home, making them comfortable. 12:00.840 --> 12:03.040 We understand Reynolds was a pretty heavy tipper, is that right? 12:03.040 --> 12:06.680 He always took good care of me and the boys, the waiters, he was very generous. 12:06.680 --> 12:09.280 Did he expect anything special in return for the tips that he gave you? 12:09.280 --> 12:10.280 I don't think I understand. 12:10.280 --> 12:11.280 Oh I think you do. 12:11.280 --> 12:12.280 How about it? 12:12.280 --> 12:15.000 Well he was always very good to us, all of us. 12:15.000 --> 12:16.000 I could hardly refuse. 12:16.000 --> 12:17.000 Refuse what? 12:17.000 --> 12:20.040 When he first moved into the hotel he became friendly with me. 12:20.040 --> 12:24.080 Introduced himself, gave me a good tip in advance to take care of him. 12:24.080 --> 12:28.120 First few nights here he spent at the cocktail bar, you know meeting people, buying a few 12:28.120 --> 12:29.120 drinks, getting acquainted. 12:29.120 --> 12:32.960 Third or fourth night, that's when he asked me. 12:32.960 --> 12:33.960 Yeah? 12:33.960 --> 12:37.680 He said when some prominent women came into the dining room, wealthy women, would I point 12:37.680 --> 12:38.680 them out to him? 12:38.680 --> 12:40.360 Single women of course. 12:40.360 --> 12:41.560 I couldn't see any harm in it. 12:41.560 --> 12:43.200 He put a twenty dollar bill in my hand. 12:43.200 --> 12:46.400 I said yes I would, after all we have to look out for ourselves. 12:46.400 --> 12:48.320 Did he expect anything else for those tips? 12:48.320 --> 12:49.320 I don't know. 12:49.320 --> 12:51.600 I don't think you'd be right if I told you. 12:51.600 --> 12:54.200 You know why we're here Mr. Kingsbury, we leveled with him. 12:54.200 --> 12:56.200 We expect you to do the same with us. 12:56.200 --> 13:00.520 Well there was the two Wagner sisters, they came here every Sunday night for dinner, regular 13:00.520 --> 13:01.520 routine for them. 13:01.520 --> 13:02.520 Yeah? 13:02.520 --> 13:06.520 Mr. Reynolds was at the bar, he asked who they were and I told him, he seemed impressed. 13:06.520 --> 13:10.620 He asked me to help with an introduction to them and I did. 13:10.620 --> 13:14.040 Next afternoon he came to me again, he said he was taking one of the Wagner sisters to 13:14.040 --> 13:15.040 dinner that night. 13:15.040 --> 13:18.720 It was important to him, he gave me another big tip, said he wanted us to roll out the 13:18.720 --> 13:20.680 red carpet for him that night. 13:20.680 --> 13:21.680 What'd that consist of? 13:21.680 --> 13:25.240 Well special consideration, the best treatment in the house, you know. 13:25.240 --> 13:27.240 I was to act as if I'd known him for years. 13:27.240 --> 13:32.560 Well it was a good tip, I did what he asked, as I say we have to look out for ourselves. 13:32.560 --> 13:33.840 Has it happened more than once today? 13:33.840 --> 13:36.160 Two or three times, yeah. 13:36.160 --> 13:39.440 Miss Wagner, Dorothy Wagner, she seemed impressed. 13:39.440 --> 13:42.360 At the time I didn't think anything was wrong with it. 13:42.360 --> 13:44.240 You actually didn't know Reynolds, is that right? 13:44.240 --> 13:45.840 You'd never seen him before. 13:45.840 --> 13:51.000 Well I suppose, yes, I only found out later though reading the papers, I mean what really 13:51.000 --> 13:52.240 happened. 13:52.240 --> 13:54.160 I didn't know what he was at the time. 13:54.160 --> 13:56.840 You couldn't see what Reynolds was up to, you didn't know what he was doing? 13:56.840 --> 14:00.600 No, naturally not, he was a good tipper, that's all I know, it was the money. 14:00.600 --> 14:02.400 We have to look out for ourselves. 14:02.400 --> 14:03.400 Yeah. 14:03.400 --> 14:06.720 I felt sorry about Miss Wagner, I went to the funeral. 14:06.720 --> 14:08.720 They couldn't say I'm to blame, could they? 14:08.720 --> 14:12.760 What happened I mean, it's not on my conscience, you wouldn't say so, would you? 14:12.760 --> 14:18.560 She's dead mister, you figure it. 14:18.560 --> 14:23.280 Thursday October 13th, the investigation continued, still no sign of the suspect. 14:23.280 --> 14:29.200 We got an answer from Las Vegas and also from the Chicago PD's bunker detail on our inquiries. 14:29.200 --> 14:34.640 They enclosed mug shots and fingerprint classification of the suspect, Frank Richland, alias Charles 14:34.640 --> 14:35.640 R. Reynolds. 14:35.640 --> 14:40.160 The pictures were shown to witnesses and acquaintances who'd known the suspect and they definitely 14:40.160 --> 14:45.520 established Frank Richland and Charles Reynolds as one and the same person. 14:45.520 --> 14:50.400 We got out a supplementary APB containing the latest information on the suspect. 14:50.400 --> 14:55.880 Saturday October 15th, we got our second complaint on the marriage bunko artist, this time from 14:55.880 --> 15:00.560 the proprietress of a small chain of lunch counters in the San Pedro area, a Miss Hoggar 15:00.560 --> 15:01.560 Lindstrom. 15:01.560 --> 15:06.760 Ed and I drove down to the harbor area where we interviewed her at one of her lunch counters. 15:06.760 --> 15:09.200 She identified Richland's mug shot. 15:09.200 --> 15:13.240 Another story of the married swindle matched closely with that of the previous victim, Dorothy 15:13.240 --> 15:14.240 Wagner. 15:14.240 --> 15:18.720 Yeah, he was a fine gentleman, Mr. John Richland. 15:18.720 --> 15:21.080 They don't know what happened, they don't know what to say. 15:21.080 --> 15:23.240 He told you he was from England, Miss Lindstrom, is that right? 15:23.240 --> 15:28.360 Yeah, he talked like English when he could speak good English, like from London or someplace. 15:28.360 --> 15:30.440 Says he builds boats, big ones. 15:30.440 --> 15:31.440 How did he find me? 15:31.440 --> 15:32.440 Big boats. 15:32.440 --> 15:33.440 Oh yes. 15:33.440 --> 15:34.440 He told me that's his business. 15:34.440 --> 15:39.960 He said he had lots of money, he would sail around the world on a honeymoon. 15:39.960 --> 15:42.600 Maybe he will come back still, I hope so. 15:42.600 --> 15:44.560 I wouldn't count on that, Miss Lindstrom. 15:44.560 --> 15:47.960 Would you tell us this please, how did you happen to meet this man, Richland? 15:47.960 --> 15:53.920 At the hotel up the street, the big hotel, bacon shirt to you, the one on Jackson Street. 15:53.920 --> 15:54.920 Yes ma'am. 15:54.920 --> 15:58.400 They seemed to know he was a rich man, nice close he wore. 15:58.400 --> 15:59.720 He spent money a lot. 15:59.720 --> 16:02.920 When they got married, they spent lots of money. 16:02.920 --> 16:03.920 Where were you married ma'am? 16:03.920 --> 16:06.040 We went down to Mexico. 16:06.040 --> 16:09.360 One weekend we went down there and we got married. 16:09.360 --> 16:12.600 It was romantic, very nice. 16:12.600 --> 16:14.480 Even Lars liked it. 16:14.480 --> 16:15.480 Who's that ma'am? 16:15.480 --> 16:18.120 Lars, that's him down the counter there. 16:18.120 --> 16:19.600 Lars, my brother. 16:19.600 --> 16:22.840 Oh, your brother went along with you when you got married, is that right? 16:22.840 --> 16:25.360 Lars and I go every place together. 16:25.360 --> 16:27.880 They don't do anything without Lars. 16:27.880 --> 16:29.880 Mr. Richland was nice about it. 16:29.880 --> 16:32.280 He doesn't seem to mind Lars. 16:32.280 --> 16:34.360 Just a minute they call him. 16:34.360 --> 16:35.360 Lars, Lars. 16:35.360 --> 16:42.320 Lars and I run the business together at the soda fountain we have. 16:42.320 --> 16:45.440 It's a long time we have worked at it, hard work. 16:45.440 --> 16:46.440 Yes ma'am, I guess so. 16:46.440 --> 16:49.320 We make good living, not easy though. 16:49.320 --> 16:52.480 That's why it was so bad, Mr. Richland. 16:52.480 --> 16:54.480 Three thousand dollars it took. 16:54.480 --> 16:59.160 These are the police Lars, they want to know about Mr. Richland. 16:59.160 --> 17:00.160 How are you sir? 17:00.160 --> 17:02.840 He was no good. 17:02.840 --> 17:04.320 When they find him they hit him. 17:04.320 --> 17:07.320 Now the three thousand dollars he got from you ma'am, how did that work? 17:07.320 --> 17:09.720 I mean, did you give him the money, lend it to him? 17:09.720 --> 17:10.720 Just what was it? 17:10.720 --> 17:16.240 When we came back from Mexico from being married, Mr. Richland and me and Lars, he said he was 17:16.240 --> 17:19.280 waiting for money from his bank in New York. 17:19.280 --> 17:21.120 Mr. Richland said that. 17:21.120 --> 17:23.120 He wrote me a check for three thousand dollars. 17:23.120 --> 17:26.000 I gave him our check for three thousand. 17:26.000 --> 17:28.000 Even Lars thought it was all right. 17:28.000 --> 17:29.000 Didn't you Lars? 17:29.000 --> 17:32.640 Yeah, he was crazy, his check was no good. 17:32.640 --> 17:35.280 He beat him up, they punched him good. 17:35.280 --> 17:37.000 That's quite a bit of money Miss Lindstrom. 17:37.000 --> 17:38.520 What kind of a story did he give you? 17:38.520 --> 17:42.280 He would buy the tickets for a honeymoon trip, that's what he said. 17:42.280 --> 17:45.520 A long trip together, romantic. 17:45.520 --> 17:48.200 Mr. Richland and me and Lars. 17:48.200 --> 17:51.600 He didn't mind Lars coming along either, did he Lars? 17:51.600 --> 17:52.600 No he didn't mind. 17:52.600 --> 17:56.200 Now this Ritland disappeared right after he cashed your check, is that right? 17:56.200 --> 18:00.040 Yes sir, he got the money and he was gone six days ago. 18:00.040 --> 18:01.040 We never heard him. 18:01.040 --> 18:04.040 I don't know why he did this to us. 18:04.040 --> 18:06.040 I thought he loved me. 18:06.040 --> 18:08.040 I thought he was my husband. 18:08.040 --> 18:11.040 We haven't seen or heard anything of him since he disappeared? 18:11.040 --> 18:14.040 Not me nor Lars, but maybe we know. 18:14.040 --> 18:16.040 That's why we call you officers. 18:16.040 --> 18:17.040 Yes ma'am. 18:17.040 --> 18:19.040 We have this friend, Antony M. Swenson. 18:19.040 --> 18:22.040 He met Mr. Richland once when he was here. 18:22.040 --> 18:25.040 Swenson called Lars on the telephone. 18:25.040 --> 18:29.040 He said he saw Mr. Richland downtown, going into the hotel. 18:29.040 --> 18:30.040 Are you sure it was Richland? 18:30.040 --> 18:32.040 Yes, he said he thought so. 18:32.040 --> 18:33.040 How long ago did he see him? 18:33.040 --> 18:34.040 Last night. 18:34.040 --> 18:40.040 We got on the phone right away and talked to the friend of the Lindstroms, James Swenson. 18:40.040 --> 18:46.040 He gave us the name and location of the downtown hotel where he thought he'd seen the suspect Richland the night before. 18:46.040 --> 18:49.040 Ed called the hotel and checked with the desk clerk. 18:49.040 --> 18:50.040 Yes, that's right. 18:50.040 --> 18:52.040 Fairly tall, wavy gray hair, fair complexion. 18:52.040 --> 18:55.040 He might be registered as John Richland. 18:55.040 --> 18:57.040 That's right. 18:57.040 --> 18:58.040 Okay, we'll check with you later. 18:58.040 --> 18:59.040 Bye. 18:59.040 --> 19:00.040 Good luck. 19:00.040 --> 19:02.040 Guy registered as Harold Richland. 19:02.040 --> 19:03.040 Descriptions match. 19:03.040 --> 19:04.040 He's still there. 19:04.040 --> 19:05.040 Checked out this morning. 19:05.040 --> 19:18.040 You are listening to Drag Myth. 19:18.040 --> 19:22.040 Authentic stories of your police force in action. 19:22.040 --> 19:26.040 Compare Fatima with any other king-size cigarette. 19:26.040 --> 19:32.040 One, Fatima's length filters the smoke 85 millimeters for your protection. 19:32.040 --> 19:36.040 Two, Fatima's length cools the smoke for your protection. 19:36.040 --> 19:43.040 Three, Fatima's length gives you those extra puffs, 21 percent longer than standard cigarette size. 19:43.040 --> 19:51.040 And in Fatima, you get an extra mild and soothing smoke plus the added protection of Fatima quality. 19:51.040 --> 19:57.040 To show our confidence in Fatima, we make this money back guarantee to every king-size cigarette smoker. 19:57.040 --> 19:59.040 Buy a pack of Fatimas. 19:59.040 --> 20:04.040 Enjoy Fatima quality, extra mildness and superbly blended tobaccos. 20:04.040 --> 20:09.040 If you're not convinced Fatima is better than the king-size cigarette you're now smoking, 20:09.040 --> 20:15.040 just return the pack in the unsmoked Fatimas before August 1st, 1952, 20:15.040 --> 20:18.040 and we'll give you your money back plus postage. 20:18.040 --> 20:21.040 Fatima Box 37, New York 1. 20:21.040 --> 20:29.040 Remember, each king-size Fatima gives you an extra mild and soothing smoke plus the added protection of Fatima quality. 20:29.040 --> 20:31.040 Switch to Fatima today. 20:31.040 --> 20:35.040 Best of all, king-size cigarettes. 20:35.040 --> 20:42.040 ["The New York Times"] 20:42.040 --> 20:45.040 Saturday, October 15th, 2.30 p.m. 20:45.040 --> 20:51.040 Ed Jacobs and I drove back downtown to the hotel where the bunko suspect Richland supposedly had been staying. 20:51.040 --> 20:57.040 The desk clerk definitely identified his mugshot and told us that the man registered as Harold Richland 20:57.040 --> 21:00.040 had checked out a few minutes before 9 a.m. that morning. 21:00.040 --> 21:02.040 No forwarding address. 21:02.040 --> 21:07.040 We examined the room he'd been staying in, talked to the residents and the employees of the hotel, 21:07.040 --> 21:11.040 but we failed to come up with a single lead as to the suspect's whereabouts. 21:11.040 --> 21:17.040 During the week that followed, we received three different kickbacks on the all points we'd gotten out on Richland. 21:17.040 --> 21:21.040 We checked each one of them out, but they failed to materialize into anything. 21:21.040 --> 21:26.040 We stayed on it. October 19th, Wednesday, 7.50 a.m. 21:26.040 --> 21:28.040 Morning. Hi. What's doing? 21:28.040 --> 21:32.040 I got a first call from Forgery. I went over to talk to them and came up with something on the Richland thing. 21:32.040 --> 21:33.040 Yeah, what's that? 21:33.040 --> 21:38.040 Picked up a woman last night named Helen Stokes. She's got a good-sized record of checks, bunko records. 21:38.040 --> 21:42.040 Got her this time on a check beef. She wrote one for $3,500. 21:42.040 --> 21:44.040 Yeah, well, how's it tying with us? 21:44.040 --> 21:46.040 Check was made out to Harold Richland. 21:48.040 --> 21:54.040 8.15 a.m. We signed out, drove over to the main jail and had the Forgery suspect Helen Stokes 21:54.040 --> 21:56.040 brought to one of the interrogation rooms. 21:56.040 --> 22:00.040 She was a dark-haired, fairly attractive woman in her early 30s. 22:00.040 --> 22:03.040 As a bunko artist, she apparently knew her trade pretty well. 22:03.040 --> 22:05.040 She was relaxed and talkative. 22:05.040 --> 22:10.040 She told us Richland had introduced himself to her at a Palm Springs resort the week before. 22:10.040 --> 22:12.040 When did the business of the check come up? 22:12.040 --> 22:15.040 Soon as we got back in town, he gave me the story his money was in a New York bank. 22:15.040 --> 22:19.040 I played along with the gag. He wrote me a piece of wallpaper for $3,500. 22:19.040 --> 22:21.040 I did the same for him. What's the difference? Nobody hurt. 22:21.040 --> 22:22.040 Both check, solid rubber. 22:22.040 --> 22:24.040 Maybe you forget, ma'am. There's a law against it. 22:24.040 --> 22:26.040 It's only a gag. I told you that. 22:26.040 --> 22:30.040 I would have loved to have seen his face when he found out the check was a phony. 22:30.040 --> 22:32.040 You don't think they're going to push the charge against me, do you? 22:32.040 --> 22:35.040 No, we've already told you, miss. You wrote a bad one. There's a law against it. 22:35.040 --> 22:38.040 I was only stringing him along. I knew his check was a phony, too. 22:38.040 --> 22:40.040 I didn't have anything to gain. 22:40.040 --> 22:42.040 Look, suppose I help you find him. 22:42.040 --> 22:44.040 Will you give me a hand on this? See, I get a break. 22:44.040 --> 22:48.040 We can't make any promises. You cooperate, helps find Richland, be taken into consideration. 22:48.040 --> 22:51.040 All right, you're on. You can tell lover boy I tipped you. 22:51.040 --> 22:52.040 You know where Richland is now? 22:52.040 --> 22:53.040 I can come close to it. 22:53.040 --> 22:54.040 How do you mean? 22:54.040 --> 22:55.040 I know where he'll be next week. 22:57.040 --> 23:03.040 On further questioning, Helen Stokes told us that on one occasion while she was at Palm Springs with Richland, 23:03.040 --> 23:08.040 she prowled his hotel room, went through his personal effects, and read his correspondence. 23:08.040 --> 23:14.040 She told us that she read one letter from a friend of Richland's inviting him for a visit the week of October 31st. 23:14.040 --> 23:18.040 She also noted Richland's answer, accepting the invitation. 23:18.040 --> 23:25.040 She said the friend's name was Maurice Archer and that the letter came from an Ocean Boulevard address in the beach town of Venice. 23:25.040 --> 23:33.040 We went back to the office, ran Archer's name through R&I, and found out that he had a previous criminal record of petty theft and grand theft. 23:33.040 --> 23:38.040 We located him at an Ocean Boulevard address and brought him in for interrogation. 23:38.040 --> 23:41.040 If there was any trouble, he wanted no part of it. 23:41.040 --> 23:45.040 After talking to him only a few minutes, he broke down and told us where we could find Richland, 23:45.040 --> 23:48.040 an address out near the end of Melrose Avenue. 23:48.040 --> 23:53.040 It was an apartment court. The suspect was registered in one of the rear cottages under the name of Reynolds. 23:53.040 --> 23:58.040 He wasn't at home. Ed and I went on stakeout inside the cottage. 23:58.040 --> 24:01.040 We waited. 6.30 p.m. 24:02.040 --> 24:03.040 Somebody coming in? 24:03.040 --> 24:04.040 Yeah. 24:04.040 --> 24:07.040 Hold it right there, Mr. Police Officers. 24:07.040 --> 24:08.040 What's this? 24:08.040 --> 24:09.040 Hands out and they open. Come on up. 24:09.040 --> 24:10.040 I don't understand this. 24:10.040 --> 24:11.040 You want to shake them down in? 24:11.040 --> 24:12.040 Yeah. 24:12.040 --> 24:13.040 All right, he's clean. 24:13.040 --> 24:16.040 Look, I don't know what you want, officers, but this is a mistake. 24:16.040 --> 24:17.040 Your name Charles Reynolds? 24:17.040 --> 24:19.040 Reynolds? No, my name's Richland. 24:19.040 --> 24:20.040 That'll do. Let's go. 24:20.040 --> 24:23.040 Now, just a minute, please. What am I accused of? Who's accusing me? 24:23.040 --> 24:27.040 The last pigeon you had lined up. She wanted us to tell you. Helen Stokes. 24:27.040 --> 24:32.040 Stokes. Funny, Dame. You can't believe her, officer. She's phony. She's nothing but a con artist. 24:32.040 --> 24:33.040 That's a good reason to believe her. 24:33.040 --> 24:34.040 What? 24:34.040 --> 24:35.040 Takes one to know one. 24:35.040 --> 24:41.040 7.05 p.m. After checking through the cottage, Ed and I drove Richland downtown and took him to the interrogation room. 24:41.040 --> 24:47.040 He'd admit nothing. We called Miss Wagner, the sister of his first victim, and she was still in town. 24:47.040 --> 24:50.040 She agreed to come down to the office to confront the suspect. 24:50.040 --> 24:55.040 So did the second victim, Hoggar Lindstrom, and her brother Lars. 24:55.040 --> 24:57.040 Cars were set out to pick them up. 24:57.040 --> 25:00.040 At a special show up, Richland was picked out as the suspect. 25:00.040 --> 25:05.040 We took him back to the interrogation room. Miss Wagner was the first one called in. 25:05.040 --> 25:11.040 She again identified Richland, alias Reynolds, as the man who had married and swindled her sister Dorothy. 25:11.040 --> 25:13.040 All right, Miss Wagner. That'll be all. Thanks very much for coming in. 25:13.040 --> 25:15.040 Yes, all right. Thank you. 25:15.040 --> 25:20.040 Look, I don't know that woman. I'm not trying to be stubborn, but I'm afraid you're wrong. I'm not the man you want. 25:20.040 --> 25:22.040 Lindstrom's are outside, Joe. Wait. 25:22.040 --> 25:23.040 All right. Bring him in. 25:23.040 --> 25:30.040 Miss Lindstrom, Mr. Lindstrom, come in, please. 25:30.040 --> 25:35.040 Miss Lindstrom, Mr. Lindstrom. 25:35.040 --> 25:36.040 Yeah, it's him. 25:36.040 --> 25:39.040 Yeah. I don't know you. I've never seen you before. 25:39.040 --> 25:43.040 You married me, John. You wanted to be my husband. You said that. 25:43.040 --> 25:45.040 Why did you want to hurt me? 25:45.040 --> 25:46.040 Sorry, I don't know her. 25:46.040 --> 25:47.040 I don't know her. 25:47.040 --> 25:48.040 I don't know her. 25:48.040 --> 25:49.040 I don't know her. 25:49.040 --> 25:53.040 You said that. Why did you want to hurt me? 25:53.040 --> 25:54.040 Sorry, I don't know her. 25:54.040 --> 25:59.040 You said for you and me and Lars to go on the boat, honeymoon around the world. 25:59.040 --> 26:03.040 You and me and Lars, you said all those things. Why did you want to hurt us? 26:03.040 --> 26:06.040 Oh, well, I've read enough for you. 26:06.040 --> 26:08.040 I don't know what they're talking about. They bait you up. 26:08.040 --> 26:09.040 Take it easy, Mr. Lindstrom. 26:09.040 --> 26:10.040 Lars. 26:10.040 --> 26:13.040 Lies. He said we all go around the world, honeymoon. 26:13.040 --> 26:16.040 All right, all right. Get him out of here. 26:16.040 --> 26:18.040 Okay, Mr. Lindstrom. Thanks. 26:18.040 --> 26:20.040 I'm going to get Lars. Come. 26:20.040 --> 26:23.040 Please, stop this way, please. 26:23.040 --> 26:26.040 Yes, I need him. I need him. Thank you very much. 26:26.040 --> 26:29.040 Yeah, yeah. All right. 26:29.040 --> 26:31.040 All right, Richard, you ready to give us a statement? 26:31.040 --> 26:34.040 All right, I'll tell you. You can't blame me for that one. 26:34.040 --> 26:37.040 You wouldn't have gone through with that deal yourself. Nobody would. 26:37.040 --> 26:38.040 What's wrong? A nice-looking girl? 26:38.040 --> 26:40.040 Sure, I don't mean that. 26:40.040 --> 26:41.040 What do you mean? 26:41.040 --> 26:43.040 A big clown or Brother Lars. 26:43.040 --> 26:44.040 Yeah? 26:44.040 --> 26:48.040 I'd take that along on a honeymoon. 26:53.040 --> 26:56.040 The story you have just heard was true. 26:56.040 --> 26:59.040 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 26:59.040 --> 27:02.040 On January 14th, trial was held in Superior Court, 27:02.040 --> 27:06.040 Department 88, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 27:06.040 --> 27:08.040 In a moment, the results of that trial. 27:08.040 --> 27:11.040 Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. 27:11.040 --> 27:13.040 Thank you, George Fenomen. 27:13.040 --> 27:17.040 Friends, the reason Fatima can make the money back guarantee you heard earlier 27:17.040 --> 27:19.040 can be summed up in two words. 27:19.040 --> 27:21.040 Fatima quality. 27:21.040 --> 27:23.040 Just prove Fatima quality yourself. 27:23.040 --> 27:27.040 Just compare Fatima with any other king-size cigarette. 27:27.040 --> 27:32.040 Fatima's length filters the smoke 85 millimeters, cools the smoke. 27:32.040 --> 27:34.040 All for your protection. 27:34.040 --> 27:40.040 You get those extra puffs because Fatima is 21 percent longer than standard cigarette size. 27:40.040 --> 27:43.040 And Fatima gives you an extra mild and soothing smoke, 27:43.040 --> 27:46.040 plus the added protection of Fatima quality. 27:46.040 --> 27:48.040 Prove it today. 27:48.040 --> 27:50.040 Bye, Fatima. 27:58.040 --> 28:02.040 Frank Richland was tried and convicted of two counts of grand theft 28:02.040 --> 28:05.040 and three counts of forgery of a fictitious name. 28:05.040 --> 28:09.040 After serving his term in the State Penitentiary at San Quentin, California, 28:09.040 --> 28:13.040 he is to be released to Chicago authorities for prosecution. 28:13.040 --> 28:19.040 Grand theft is punishable by imprisonment for not less than one, nor more than 10 years. 28:19.040 --> 28:25.040 Forgery of a fictitious name is punishable by imprisonment from 2 to 14 years. 28:25.040 --> 28:29.040 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 28:29.040 --> 28:34.040 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 28:34.040 --> 28:37.040 Heard tonight were Barney Phillips and Virginia Gregg. 28:37.040 --> 28:39.040 Script by Jim Moser. 28:39.040 --> 28:41.040 Music by Walter Schuman. 28:41.040 --> 28:43.040 Hal Gibney speaking. 28:43.040 --> 28:55.040 Fatima cigarettes, best of all, king-size cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles. 28:55.040 --> 29:01.040 February 18th here the Gala City Service Silver Radio Jubilee on NBC. 29:01.040 --> 29:07.040 The Gala City Service Silver Radio Jubilee is a production of the Los Angeles Public Radio. 29:07.040 --> 29:14.040 February 18th here the Gala City Service Silver Radio Jubilee on NBC.