1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,760 The story you are about to hear is true. 2 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,280 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:14,840 Fatima cigarettes. 4 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:28,280 Best of all, king-sized cigarettes brings you dragnet on both radio and television. 5 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:32,800 You're a detective sergeant, you're assigned to Wilshire Division, vice detail. 6 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:37,040 An informant sends you word about an extortion racket going on in your area. 7 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:38,880 The victim, a bookmaker. 8 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,320 The suspect, a police officer. 9 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:47,400 Your job, check it out. 10 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,400 Compare Fatima with any other king-sized cigarette. 11 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:54,400 Yes, compare Fatima with any other king-sized cigarette. 12 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:59,160 One, Fatima's length filters the smoke 85 millimeters for your protection. 13 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,840 Two, Fatima's length cools the smoke for your protection. 14 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:08,760 Three, Fatima's length gives you those extra puffs, 21 percent longer than standard cigarette 15 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:09,760 size. 16 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,600 Fatima gives you more for your money. 17 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:18,840 And in king-sized Fatima, you get an extra mild and soothing smoke, plus the added protection 18 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,160 of Fatima quality. 19 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,560 Try Fatima in the bright, sunny yellow pack. 20 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:29,560 Best of all, king-sized cigarettes. 21 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:36,760 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 22 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,920 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 23 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,320 travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 24 00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:46,320 police files. 25 00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:51,960 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 26 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,960 in action. 27 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:59,760 It was Tuesday, October 18th. 28 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,600 It was hot in Los Angeles. 29 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:04,640 We were working the day watch out of Wilshire Division, vice detail. 30 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:06,120 My partner's Frank Smith. 31 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:07,120 The boss is Captain Hayes. 32 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:08,120 My name's Friday. 33 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:12,280 We were on the way downtown from the office, and it was 9.35 a.m. when we got to the felony 34 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,880 section of the main jail, the interview room. 35 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,560 Sit down, Mr. Lawrence. 36 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:19,560 Thanks. 37 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:21,680 Got your message when we checked in this morning. 38 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:22,680 What's it about? 39 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:23,680 Well, I finally made up my mind. 40 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:24,680 I've had enough of this. 41 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:28,080 Say, either one of you got a cigarette, I'll left mine back in the cell. 42 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:29,080 Yeah, sure. 43 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:30,080 Here you are, Lawrence. 44 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:31,080 Oh, thanks. 45 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:32,080 I bet. 46 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,080 Here's a match for you. 47 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:35,680 Now, what's the story? 48 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:36,680 What's on your mind? 49 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,640 Well, I've been thinking about it most of the night. 50 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:42,040 I didn't get very much sleep. 51 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:46,320 So you were going to be yesterday, I mean, when you arrested me? 52 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:47,320 Yeah. 53 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:48,720 Well, it's just like I told you then. 54 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:50,000 I'm not trying to kid anybody. 55 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:51,000 I admit it. 56 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:52,800 I've been taking a few bets. 57 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:54,520 It wasn't any big operation, though. 58 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:59,400 You know, I was just laying off a few bets with my friends and all people in the neighborhood. 59 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:00,400 We know all that, Lawrence. 60 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:01,400 We went through that yesterday. 61 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:02,400 Yeah, I know. 62 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,840 I just wanted to make sure we got it straight. 63 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,160 We're not any big operators. 64 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:10,160 We just ran the bookmaking as a sideline. 65 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:12,160 This hasn't been too good lately. 66 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:13,160 Had to make it up somehow. 67 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:14,160 Sorry, Lawrence. 68 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:15,160 We can't feel bad about it. 69 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:16,160 You were tagged for making the book before. 70 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:17,160 You should have learned your lesson. 71 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:18,160 Oh, I know. 72 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:19,160 I know. 73 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:20,160 I know. 74 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:21,160 I'm not singing the blues. 75 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:22,160 I'm not playing alibi. 76 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:23,160 I didn't call you down here for that. 77 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:24,160 Well, now, what's this all about? 78 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,160 Well, like I told you, I've been thinking about it a lot. 79 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:28,160 I didn't sleep hard at all last night. 80 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,160 I finally made up my mind, though. 81 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:32,160 I'm going to get it off my chest if it kills me. 82 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:33,160 All right. 83 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:34,160 What's that? 84 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:35,160 I know, Stuley. 85 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,160 I don't want to get anybody in trouble, but there's one thing I believe in, and that's 86 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:39,160 playing it square. 87 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:40,160 It doesn't matter what you do. 88 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,160 Just like now, Sergeant, I ain't beating about the rest. 89 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:44,160 You know, man. 90 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:45,160 What do you get, man? 91 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:46,160 What do you want to tell us? 92 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:47,160 Oh, all right. 93 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:48,160 Here it is. 94 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:49,160 You know what the record is. 95 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,160 I stood a pinch for bookmaking a year and a half ago. 96 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,160 I got the thing all squared away, and it came back from my business. 97 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:56,160 I learned my lesson. 98 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:00,160 I didn't want any more trouble, so I laid off the books. 99 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:01,160 All right. 100 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:02,160 Fill us in. 101 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:03,160 What about this policeman? 102 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:04,160 I'm getting to it. 103 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:05,160 Just a minute. 104 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:06,160 Hey, I'm sorry. 105 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:07,160 You have a cigarette, please. 106 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,160 I'm a little jumpy this morning. 107 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,160 Yeah, well, I'll show you. 108 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:13,160 Thanks. 109 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,160 Oh, thanks a lot. 110 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:22,360 Well, like I was saying, you know, when I kid up the last beef, I've begun all about 111 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:23,360 the horses. 112 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:24,360 I was off them for good. 113 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:25,800 My wife made me promise. 114 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,000 I wouldn't have anything more to do with them. 115 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:32,160 We'd just run the business, you know, live on what they made, and we'd get along fine. 116 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:33,160 All right. 117 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:34,160 Go ahead. 118 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:35,160 Everything was going fine, too. 119 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,960 The business wasn't too good, but we made out. 120 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:39,160 Then the trouble started. 121 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,160 My oldest boy, that's Harry Jr. 122 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,160 He had an accident on the job, and he broke his hip. 123 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,160 I had to help his family out while he was in the hospital. 124 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:52,160 Like I say, the business wasn't making too much money, but we made out, though. 125 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:53,160 Go ahead. 126 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:59,160 Yeah, well, then just as soon as Harry got well, the wife came down, gallbladder. 127 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,160 She had to have an operation. 128 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,160 Really cost money, you know. 129 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,160 Well, the wife was resting at home. 130 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:08,160 She didn't come down to the store. 131 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:13,160 I started with the books again, you know, just taking a few bets on the side, just a 132 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:14,160 few. 133 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,160 I didn't really want to do it. 134 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,160 Just one of those things, you know. 135 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,160 I didn't have anybody to go to. 136 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:21,160 The bills had to be paid. 137 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,160 Where does this policeman fit in with this Ray Williams? 138 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,160 Well, I'm just coming to it. 139 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:26,160 Well, he came in the store. 140 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:27,160 He said he wanted to make a bet. 141 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:31,160 I didn't know him from Adam, so I played careful, you know. 142 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,160 I told him I wasn't making books. 143 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,160 Then he said he was a good friend of Myra's. 144 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:39,160 Myra, that's a gal who runs a beauty parlor on Crenshaw. 145 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,160 She used to make books, but she isn't now. 146 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,160 Yeah, we know the spot. 147 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:47,160 Well, when he said that he knew Myra, I figured it was all right, so I took the bet. 148 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,160 That's when it started. 149 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:53,160 As soon as he makes the bet, he comes out and says he's a cop working for Vice. 150 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:57,160 I thought he was just kidding, and he flashes this identification. 151 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:58,160 What kind of identification? 152 00:05:58,160 --> 00:05:59,160 Bag? 153 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:00,160 What kind of a bag? 154 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:01,160 Well, I don't know. 155 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,160 Just a bag. 156 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,160 It looked all right. 157 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:06,160 All right, have a look. 158 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:08,160 This one here, was it like this one? 159 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,160 I don't know. 160 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:11,160 I didn't get too good a look at it. 161 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,160 It might have been something like that. 162 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:14,160 I don't know. 163 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:15,160 Did you ask for any other identification? 164 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:16,160 Did you volunteer to show you any? 165 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:17,160 No. 166 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:18,160 Well, I didn't ask for any. 167 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:19,160 I was scared. 168 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:21,160 I just figured I was arrested again. 169 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:22,160 That's all. 170 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,160 He seemed to know all about the first pinch. 171 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:25,160 I stood there making books. 172 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,160 He told me that I'd been operating for about a month and a half. 173 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,160 He said he had his eye on me. 174 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,160 What did he do after he told you he was a policeman? 175 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,160 Well, I started to explain to him how the thing shaped up 176 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:38,160 while I was making books again, how I had to pay off those doctor bills. 177 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:39,160 I tried to beg off. 178 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,160 I told him that I quit right now. 179 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,160 Then he turns around and tells me I don't have to. 180 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:45,160 What do you mean? 181 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,160 Well, that's just what he said. 182 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,160 He didn't make sense to me either. 183 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:50,160 And he went on. 184 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,160 He told me I was operating in his district. 185 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,160 He said it'd be okay if I went along the way I was. 186 00:06:56,160 --> 00:07:00,160 He'd see to it that I didn't stand any pinches. 187 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:01,160 Yes, sir. 188 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:02,160 What else did he say? 189 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:06,160 Well, he said he wasn't the only one who'd have to be taken care of. 190 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,160 He said there was his partner. 191 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:12,160 A couple of guys over him they'd have to be taken care of too. 192 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,160 He said the juice would cost me 100 bucks a week. 193 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,160 I tried to explain to him. 194 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,160 Well, I told him I wasn't operating big. 195 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:20,160 I was just on the side. 196 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,160 I said I wasn't making that much a week. 197 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,160 Not all I was doing was about 50. 198 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:25,160 That's all. 199 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:26,160 Just 50. 200 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,160 Then he said, well, he says, all right. 201 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:32,160 If that's the way you feel about it, I'll just take you down, book you now. 202 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:33,160 Mm-hmm. 203 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:37,160 Well, I told him I didn't want to stand a pinch again. 204 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:38,160 I'd do the best that I could. 205 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:42,160 So he finally said, I'll give you two weeks to go ahead and open this thing up. 206 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:47,160 He said I'd have to do more business because the juice was just going to cost me 100 a week. 207 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,160 He didn't care how high I got it. 208 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,160 This policeman told you to go ahead and open up, huh? 209 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:53,160 For 100 a week, you can go ahead and make book and nobody bother you. 210 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:54,160 Yeah. 211 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,160 Did your wife ever see this policeman, this fellow Williams? 212 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:57,160 Yeah, she saw him. 213 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:59,160 She saw him a couple of times. 214 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,160 She saw me give him the money. 215 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,160 But when did all this start? 216 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,160 About the 1st of July. 217 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:10,160 Paid him $100 every week since then. 218 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,160 Yeah, I'm all over the spot. 219 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,160 Your fellas picked me up on a stand. 220 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:15,160 He was running me to the ground. 221 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,160 He had me in the bind. 222 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:19,160 You say the man's name was Ray Williams, is that right? 223 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:20,160 Yeah, that's right. 224 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:21,160 You said he had a partner. 225 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:22,160 Did you ever see him? 226 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:23,160 No. 227 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:24,160 I never did. 228 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:25,160 Did Williams ever come in with anybody? 229 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:26,160 Did you ever see him with anybody? 230 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:27,160 No. 231 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:28,160 As a matter of fact, I never did. 232 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,160 One time I asked him who his partner was. 233 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:31,160 He said, none of my business. 234 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,160 What kind of a car does he drive? 235 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:34,160 I don't know. 236 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,160 Never came to my place in the car. 237 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:37,160 He always walked. 238 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:38,160 He came on foot. 239 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:39,160 Do you know anything else about him? 240 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:40,160 Where does he live? 241 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:41,160 I don't know. 242 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:42,160 He never told me. 243 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:43,160 He never told me anything. 244 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:44,160 You see? 245 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:45,160 Nothing. 246 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:48,160 Once I asked him what station he was working out of, who his boss was. 247 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,160 He got a little hard with me. 248 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:52,160 He told me not to get nosy, not to ask so many questions. 249 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,160 Is there anything else you can tell us about Williams? 250 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,160 Maybe where he hangs out, people he knows. 251 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,160 Anything you figure will help us? 252 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:00,160 Well, works out well, sir. 253 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:01,160 You ought to know it. 254 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:02,160 Ray Williams. 255 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:03,160 Yeah, Ray Williams. 256 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:04,160 He was a policeman. 257 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:05,160 Not in my book. 258 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:13,160 Frank and I continued questioning the prisoner, Harold Lawrence, and he gave us a complete 259 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:17,160 description of the extortionist, the man he knew as Officer Ray Williams. 260 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:21,160 Frank got on the phone, notified the commander of the internal affairs division of the latest 261 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:25,160 development, and he advised us to bring the prisoner to his office immediately. 262 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:29,160 We signed Lawrence out of the main jail for investigation and took him to the city hall, 263 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:30,160 room 37. 264 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,160 With the help of Sergeants Lloyd Reiner and Floyd Phillips, we started checking through 265 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:36,160 the personnel files for the suspect. 266 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:40,160 Neither Frank nor myself recognized the name or the description of Williams as given us 267 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:41,160 by Lawrence. 268 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:46,160 The first step was to show the prisoner photographs of every police officer in the department, 269 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,160 regardless of rank or detail. 270 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,160 He was unable to make an identification. 271 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:54,160 We then showed him photographs of all police officers, retired or otherwise. 272 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,160 He failed to identify any of them as Williams. 273 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,160 We showed him photographs of all civilian employees of the department. 274 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,160 Again, no identification. 275 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:06,160 He was unable to find anyone who even closely resembled the extortionist. 276 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:11,160 Not satisfied with this, the prisoner was shown photographs of all law enforcement agency 277 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,160 personnel in the area. 278 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:14,160 The same results. 279 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:16,160 No identification. 280 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:21,160 4.18 p.m. While Reiner and Phillips continued checking on their end, we returned the prisoner 281 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:26,160 to the main jail and then Frank and I drove out to see his wife, Mrs. Mildred Lawrence. 282 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:31,160 We located her at Lawrence's place of business, a small pet shop just off Wilshire Boulevard. 283 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,160 What is it this time? 284 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:34,160 Haven't we got enough trouble? 285 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:35,160 What do you want now? 286 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:36,160 We just got through talking to your husband, ma'am. 287 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:37,160 A few things we'd like to clear up. 288 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:39,160 I'd like to talk to you a few minutes if we could. 289 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:40,160 You talked to Harry? 290 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:41,160 How is he? 291 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:42,160 He's all right, ma'am. 292 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:43,160 We've been with him all day. 293 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:44,160 We're still looking into the case. 294 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:45,160 Why can't you let him alone? 295 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:46,160 He was doing what he was doing. 296 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:47,160 He wasn't lying. 297 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:48,160 He told you everything. 298 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:49,160 Yes, ma'am. 299 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:50,160 We appreciate that. 300 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:51,160 You wanted to let him alone. 301 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:52,160 Let me alone. 302 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:53,160 Trouble. 303 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:54,160 That's all we've had. 304 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:55,160 Sickness and trouble. 305 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:56,160 No end of it. 306 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:57,160 Well, we realize that, Miss Lawrence. 307 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:58,160 We don't like to bother you, but there's something we have to straighten out here. 308 00:10:58,160 --> 00:10:59,160 I haven't anything to tell you. 309 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:00,160 I'm busy. 310 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,160 Left alone here to run the store. 311 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:03,160 No help. 312 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:04,160 I'm sick. 313 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:05,160 Shouldn't even be down here. 314 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:06,160 Let us alone. 315 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:07,160 Let me alone. 316 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:08,160 Harry was wrong. 317 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:09,160 He'll pay for it. 318 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:10,160 We're not asking you for anything. 319 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:11,160 We're asking you for something, ma'am. 320 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:12,160 We'd like you to help us. 321 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:15,160 Help you? 322 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:16,160 Why? 323 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:17,160 Policemen all alike. 324 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:18,160 As far as I'm concerned, you're nothing but trouble. 325 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:19,160 Reason for all our trouble. 326 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:20,160 Well, that's what we'd like to talk to you about, ma'am. 327 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:21,160 I haven't anything to say, I told you. 328 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:22,160 I'm a sick woman. 329 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:23,160 Got a lot of work to do. 330 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:24,160 You mind stepping aside there? 331 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:25,160 Got this whole bin of dogs with the package up. 332 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:26,160 Can't just stand around and talk. 333 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:27,160 Poor little pups have to be fed. 334 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:28,160 Haven't even cleaned their litter yet. 335 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:29,160 We appreciate how you feel, Miss Lawrence. 336 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:30,160 We won't take up too much of your time. 337 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:31,160 Can't you give us just a few minutes, please? 338 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:32,160 Now, you listen to me. 339 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:33,160 I've tried to be nice to you. 340 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:34,160 I've gotten my way. 341 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:35,160 I've tried to be nice to you. 342 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:42,160 I've gotten my way. 343 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:43,160 I've tried to be nice to you. 344 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:44,160 I've gotten my way. 345 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:45,160 I've tried to be nice to you. 346 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:46,160 I've got no reason to either. 347 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:47,160 I could tell you a lot of things about policemen, things you wouldn't want to listen to. 348 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:48,160 I don't think you're so smart. 349 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,160 Maybe Harry was doing wrong, but he's not the only one. 350 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:52,160 I could tell you plenty if I wanted to. 351 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:53,160 Well, that's what we're here for, ma'am. 352 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:54,160 We told you we were with your husband all day. 353 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:55,160 Well, that's what we're here for, ma'am. 354 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:56,160 We told you we were with your husband all day. 355 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:57,160 Then why don't you let me alone? 356 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:58,160 I talked to one cop already today. 357 00:11:58,160 --> 00:11:59,160 I told him to stay away and you do the same. 358 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:00,160 I told him just what I thought of him. 359 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:01,160 Low down thief. 360 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:05,160 Who was this policeman you talked to today? 361 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:06,160 You know who he is. 362 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,160 He was the same place with you. 363 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:09,160 Big, honest policeman. 364 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,160 You never do anything wrong. 365 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,160 That Ray Williams ought to be in jail just like Harry is. 366 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:15,160 Ray Williams? 367 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:16,160 That the man who was here today? 368 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:17,160 That's what I said, wasn't it? 369 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:18,160 Now, will you get out of here? 370 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,160 Now, look, Miss Lawrence, just a minute, please. 371 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,160 We talked to your husband and he told us all about this man, Williams. 372 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:24,160 Then why don't you do something about it? 373 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,160 Go get him and put him in jail just like you did Harry. 374 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,160 That's what we're trying to do if you'll just help us. 375 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:30,160 Williams isn't a policeman. 376 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:31,160 What do you mean? 377 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:32,160 Yes, ma'am. 378 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:33,160 That's what we've been trying to tell you. 379 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,160 We talked to your husband and he told us the whole story. 380 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:36,160 How can you tell? 381 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:37,160 How do you know he's not a policeman? 382 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:38,160 He's not, ma'am. 383 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:39,160 We're sure of that. 384 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:40,160 Harry said he was. 385 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:41,160 Showed Harry his badge. 386 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,160 Well, that doesn't make him a policeman, ma'am. 387 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,160 We had your husband look at pictures of every officer in this area. 388 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,160 He convinced himself that Williams isn't a policeman. 389 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,160 Well, if he isn't a policeman, who is he? 390 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:51,160 That's what we want to find out. 391 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,160 Will you help us, Mrs. Lawrence? 392 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:56,160 You don't have to excuse me. 393 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:57,160 I didn't mean to be nasty. 394 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,160 I guess that I've been sick. 395 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:01,160 I was troubled, Harry in jail. 396 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:02,160 Yes, ma'am. 397 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:03,160 We understand that. 398 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:04,160 Now, you say Williams was here today. 399 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:05,160 About what time was that? 400 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:09,160 It was before lunch, about 11.30, quarter to 12, I think. 401 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:10,160 He came here to get money. 402 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:11,160 That's what he always came for. 403 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:12,160 Did he say he'd be back? 404 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:14,160 No, I told him never to come back. 405 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,160 I told him Harry was in jail. 406 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:17,160 All the money we gave him. 407 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:18,160 What good did it do? 408 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,160 Said I'd go to the city hall if he ever came back. 409 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:21,160 What did he say to that? 410 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:24,160 He said Harry had to expect an arrest now and then. 411 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,160 I told him Harry wasn't going to get arrested anymore. 412 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:27,160 He was through with all that junk. 413 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:29,160 People like him, too. 414 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:31,160 And then he swore at me. 415 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,160 He called me some real nasty names. 416 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,160 Told me I'd better keep my mouth shut or I'd get worse than Harry did. 417 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:37,160 Then he went out and slammed the door. 418 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,160 Was he driving a car? Did you notice? 419 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:40,160 No, I never saw him in one. 420 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:42,160 Is there anything you know about Williams at all? 421 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,160 I mean, anything that would help us locate him, maybe? 422 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,160 No, I don't think so. 423 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:49,160 All I know is he said he was a policeman. 424 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:50,160 His name was Ray Williams. 425 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,160 Couldn't Harry tell you anything? Maybe he knows. 426 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:54,160 No, ma'am, he couldn't tell us much. 427 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:56,160 Oh, excuse me, please. 428 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,160 Yes, ma'am. 429 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,160 My aunt's pet shop. 430 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,160 Yes? What's that? 431 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:04,160 Old man? 432 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:06,160 Hello? 433 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,160 He hung up. 434 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,160 Ma'am? 435 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:12,160 It was Ray Williams. 436 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,160 Said he just drove by here. He saw us. 437 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:15,160 What did he want? 438 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,160 He saw me talking to you. He knows you're a policeman. 439 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,160 Told me to keep my mouth shut. Said if I don't, he's coming back. 440 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:21,160 Yeah. 441 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:23,160 Said he'd kill me. 442 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:30,160 Before we left, we called in and arranged for a 24-hour stakeout on Lawrence's pet shop and also on the Lawrence home. 443 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:34,160 Until the suspect was apprehended, she would be given a 24-hour protection. 444 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:39,160 The next day, we picked up Mrs. Lawrence and brought her downtown to the City Hall, Room 23. 445 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,160 We went through the same procedure with her as we had with her husband. 446 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:47,160 Like her husband, she was unable to identify any of the photographs of police officers in the area. 447 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:51,160 In addition to the personnel photographs, Mrs. Lawrence also went through a group of pictures 448 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:54,160 which Sergeants Reiner and Phillips came up with. 449 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:59,160 They'd had a run made through the staff's office on all known extortionists using the same ammo Williams used, 450 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,160 posing as a police officer. 451 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:06,160 From this group, both Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence gave us two partial identifications. 452 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:09,160 Both men were picked up, questioned, and eliminated. 453 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:14,160 Meantime, we'd gotten out a local broadcast and a teletype was sent to George Brereton, C.I.I. Sacramento, 454 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:17,160 asking for assistance in identifying the extortion suspect. 455 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,160 The investigation went on. 456 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,160 Two days passed. No leads on the suspect. 457 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:26,160 In checking on other possible victims of the extortionists, Ray Williams, 458 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:30,160 we drove to interview Myra Thomas, operator of a beauty shop out on Crenshaw. 459 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,160 She was a tall, good-looking brunette in her early thirties. 460 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,160 This man we're looking for is Thomas Ray Williams. We understand he's a friend of yours. 461 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:40,160 Please, Sergeant, you've described the man to me. You told me his name. It doesn't mean anything to me. 462 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:41,160 I don't know him. 463 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:42,160 Well, then how'd he get your name, Miss? 464 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:44,160 I'm sure I don't know. I'm sorry. I can't help you. 465 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:47,160 Well, now apparently the man knows you or he knows about you. 466 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:51,160 I don't think I understand you. It makes you think this man Williams knows me. 467 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:54,160 Well, we've already told you, ma'am. Mr. Lawrence says that when Ray Williams first approached him, 468 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,160 he used your name as a means of introduction. 469 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,160 Now, it's not a coincidence. I think you'll admit that. 470 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:00,160 I just don't understand what it has to do with me. 471 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,160 I know how you feel. I have an idea of what you're thinking. 472 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:06,160 I was in trouble once, that bookmaking thing. 473 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:08,160 I learned my lesson now. I'm through with that business. 474 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:11,160 We're not here about that old arrest, ma'am. We don't want to bother you. 475 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:13,160 Just thought you might be able to help us locate Williams. 476 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,160 I'm sorry. I don't think I can. 477 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:17,160 Possibly he might have been using another name, ma'am. 478 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:21,160 I still wouldn't know him. The description doesn't sound like anybody I ever knew. 479 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:23,160 You know the Lawrence's pretty well, do you? 480 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,160 Yes, I wouldn't say pretty well, but I do know them. 481 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,160 Have you seen them lately, either one of them? 482 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:28,160 No, I haven't. 483 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,160 You haven't talked with Mrs. Lawrence the last couple of days? 484 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:31,160 No, why? 485 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,160 We thought Mrs. Lawrence might have told you what kind of a man this Ray Williams is. 486 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,160 What do you mean? What's so bad about posing as a policeman? 487 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:41,160 Well, it's more than that, ma'am. He telephoned Mrs. Lawrence, threatened her if she talked to the police about him. 488 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:42,160 What? 489 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:43,160 Yes, ma'am. He said he'd kill her. 490 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,160 Oh, no. Yes, ma'am, that's right. 491 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:48,160 Couldn't be. He wouldn't do a thing like that. 492 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,160 You know him that well? 493 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:05,160 You are listening to Dragnet, authentic stories of your police force in action. 494 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:11,160 Because of its quality, Fatima is the one king-sized cigarette that stands up. 495 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:13,160 Here's the practical way to prove that yourself. 496 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:17,160 Compare Fatima with any other king-sized cigarette. 497 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:22,160 One, Fatima's length filters the smoke 85 millimeters for your protection. 498 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,160 Two, Fatima's length cools the smoke for your protection. 499 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:32,160 Three, Fatima's length gives you those extra puffs, 21 percent longer than standard cigarette size. 500 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,160 Fatima gives you more for your money. 501 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:39,160 And in king-sized Fatima, you get an extra mild and soothing smoke. 502 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:42,160 Plus, the added protection of Fatima quality. 503 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:47,160 Because of its quality, its extra mildness, and superbly blended tobaccos, 504 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:52,160 more and more smokers coast to coast are switching to Fatima every day. 505 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:56,160 Buy Fatima. Your money back plus postage. 506 00:17:56,160 --> 00:18:00,160 If you're not convinced, Fatima is better than the king-sized cigarette you are now smoking. 507 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:05,160 Just return the pack and the unsmoked Fatimas by August 1st, 1952. 508 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,160 Fatima, Box 37, New York 1. 509 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:10,160 Add to your smoking enjoyment. 510 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:15,160 Smoke king-sized Fatima. Extra mild and soothing. 511 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,160 Plus, the added protection of Fatima quality. 512 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:22,160 Get Fatima in the bright, sunny yellow pack. 513 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:25,160 Best of all, king-sized cigarettes. 514 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:36,160 The idea of an extortionist posing as a policeman to obtain money certainly was nothing new. 515 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,160 The idea is as old as crime itself. 516 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:42,160 It's one of the most vicious types of extortion in the eyes of law enforcement agencies 517 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:47,160 because so many such cases go unreported to proper authorities by the victims. 518 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,160 Usually, the victim is a person of circumstances with something to hide. 519 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:54,160 The extortionist discovers the person's secret by one means or another, 520 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:58,160 and he begins the never-ending process of draining the victim of his last dollar, 521 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:01,160 all under the guise of being a police officer. 522 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:05,160 If the victim's intelligent enough, at the first approach by the extortionist, 523 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:07,160 he takes the matter to the proper authorities. 524 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:11,160 If he isn't, and he's lucky enough eventually to escape the extortion trap, 525 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:15,160 he goes on for the rest of his life believing that a man who was hired to protect him 526 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,160 was the source of all his trouble. 527 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:21,160 And for the rest of his life, he hangs on to his idea, and he passes it on to others. 528 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:26,160 A complete disrespect for law and law enforcement officers. 529 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:33,160 Saturday, October 22, 2.15 p.m., Frank Smith and I continued questioning the beauty shop operator, Myra Thomas. 530 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:38,160 The more we talked with her, the more we were convinced that she was acquainted with the suspect, Ray Williams. 531 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:43,160 In order to convince her of the suspect's viciousness, we drove her over to see Mrs. Lawrence at the pet shop. 532 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:48,160 After their talk, we drove Myra Thomas back to the beauty shop, and she told us the story. 533 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,160 Guess I have to admit it, he certainly had me fooled. I thought he was a policeman. 534 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:55,160 You say he showed you his identification, ma'am, I mean when he first approached you. 535 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:59,160 Yes, he showed me a badge that looked authentic to me, and the way he talked, the things he said. 536 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:01,160 I thought he was a policeman, I really did. 537 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:05,160 Well, you've heard our end of the story, Miss Thomas. You've talked to Mrs. Lawrence. Are you willing to help us now? 538 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,160 We won't get around, will we? Won't we need newspapers? 539 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:09,160 They won't get it from us, no. 540 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:12,160 You won't tell my husband, will you? He doesn't have to know all about this. 541 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:14,160 No, ma'am, not unless you want him to. 542 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:18,160 Well, I don't. We're not getting along too well, as it is. Williams is in trouble, too. 543 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:21,160 Guess I should have told you when you first asked me. 544 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:22,160 What's that, miss? 545 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:26,160 Just like the Lawrence's, I was paying him off, too. A lot longer than the Lawrence's. 546 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,160 Every week I paid him, and I couldn't tell anyone. Couldn't even tell my husband. 547 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:30,160 What's that, ma'am? 548 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,160 Guess I thought I was smart, the bookmaking thing I need. 549 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,160 Started taking a few bets from the girls in the shop, just small ones. 550 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:39,160 I didn't mean anything by it, and Miss Williams came in one day. 551 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:43,160 Said his girlfriend made a bet with me, and wanted to place one, too. 552 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:44,160 Did you take it? 553 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:46,160 Yes, like I told you, I thought I was smart. 554 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:50,160 And if I took the bet, he showed me the badge, told me he was a police officer. 555 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:53,160 That's when it started. Same thing, just like the Lawrence's. 556 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,160 How about after you were arrested, Miss Thomas? What happened with Williams then? 557 00:20:56,160 --> 00:21:00,160 Oh, after I got it settled, Williams came back to the shop again. 558 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,160 I told him then I was through with the horses. Wouldn't have anything to do with it again. 559 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:06,160 After that, I didn't see him for a while. I sure was glad. 560 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:08,160 You've seen him since? You know where we can locate him now? 561 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:11,160 Oh, no, I don't. I have seen him since, though. 562 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,160 You promised me my husband won't know about this. You're giving me your word. 563 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:17,160 Miss Thomas, if you don't want your husband to know about this, it's your business. 564 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:18,160 He'll never hear it from us. 565 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,160 Got to be that way, believe me. I love my husband. 566 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:23,160 Ray Williams has caused us nothing but trouble. 567 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:27,160 Can't tell you the worries he's caused me. I mean, besides all the money I paid him, too. 568 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:28,160 You mean you're still paying him? 569 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:30,160 Yes, that's right. Every week. 570 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:33,160 You know how low that man is. I can't begin to tell you. 571 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:34,160 I thought he was a policeman. 572 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:37,160 Why are you still paying him off, ma'am? You mind telling us that? 573 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:40,160 No, I guess I don't mind. I've gone this far. 574 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:42,160 All right. 575 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:46,160 It was while my husband and I were separated. We had a fight when we were separated. 576 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,160 I started going out on dates. Nothing serious. 577 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,160 One night, I was out with a fella from other town. 578 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:54,160 Nice fella. Ray Williams saw me. 579 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:57,160 A fella sitting in the car, parked him out right in the back of the bar. 580 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:01,160 We were necking. Williams came by and knew that I saw him. 581 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:02,160 I see. 582 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:04,160 Wasn't anything wrong, really. I love my husband. 583 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,160 He wouldn't understand about the fella that night, though. 584 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:08,160 I mean, if Williams ever told him. 585 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,160 That's what he's been holding over your head, Henry? 586 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:13,160 Yes. It's more than a year now. I pay him every week. 587 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:16,160 I'll tell you the truth, Sergeant. I can't go on much longer. I can't. 588 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:18,160 Well, you don't have to worry about it anymore. 589 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:20,160 Just help us locate the man. That's all you have to do now. 590 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:24,160 Well, I don't know where he lives, but I know he's gonna contact me. He always does. 591 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,160 That's what we'd like to know. How does he contact you? 592 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,160 He phones, usually once a week, maybe every other week. 593 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:32,160 He calls me and tells me to meet him someplace and bring the money. $50 every week. 594 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,160 And you have a regular time that he calls you? 595 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:38,160 No, almost any time. It's never the same day, never the same place I meet him. 596 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:41,160 I haven't heard from him in over a week now. He should be calling pretty soon, I guess. 597 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:43,160 Uh-huh. Easily call here. Does he phone you at home? 598 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,160 Both places. He always seems to know where to reach me. 599 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:48,160 I don't know what I'm gonna do this time. I just don't know. 600 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:50,160 Ma'am? 601 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,160 I haven't got the money for him. I'm broke. Four or five dollars, that's all I have. 602 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:54,160 Well, don't worry about it. 603 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:56,160 But he's gonna want his payoff. You know that. What am I gonna do? 604 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:58,160 This time it's on us. 605 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,160 BAND PLAYS 606 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:05,160 Before we left Myra Thomas at the beauty shop, we had a definite understanding 607 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,160 that as soon as she heard from the extortionist, Ray Williams, 608 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,160 she was to call us immediately, any time of the day or night. 609 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:14,160 Then we called the office and made arrangements for stake-outs 610 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:17,160 to be placed both at the beauty shop and at Myra Thomas' home 611 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,160 in case Williams decided to contact her in person. 612 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:23,160 The Thomas woman was given a plain envelope containing $50 613 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:26,160 and marked bills which she was to hand over to the suspect 614 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:29,160 the next time he demanded his regular payoff. 615 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:33,160 Two days went by. Tuesday, October 25th. 616 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:36,160 No word on the suspect. Thursday, the 27th. 617 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:40,160 Still no word. Saturday morning, October 29th. 618 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,160 PHONE RINGS 619 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:43,160 I got it. Right. 620 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:46,160 Vice-Detail Smith. How's that? 621 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:49,160 Oh, yeah. Uh-huh. I see. Hold on, huh? Pencil, Joe? 622 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,160 Yeah. Here you go. 623 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:54,160 Over to that place again? Okay. 624 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:57,160 The time? Mm-hmm. 625 00:23:57,160 --> 00:23:59,160 Yeah, surely. In about half an hour. 626 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:01,160 Yes, ma'am. We'll be there. Goodbye. 627 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:03,160 What do you got, Frank? Anything? Yeah, Myra Thomas. 628 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:06,160 Yeah? He wants to see us. I told her we'd be over in about half an hour. 629 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:08,160 What's the deal? Williams called her. He wants his money. 630 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,160 PHONE RINGS 631 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:12,160 11.15 a.m. 632 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:16,160 Frank and I got in the car and drove out to see Myra Thomas at her apartment. 633 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:19,160 She told us that the suspect, Ray Williams, had telephoned her 634 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:22,160 shortly before 11 o'clock that morning and set up a date to meet her 635 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,160 for his regular payoff at 10 o'clock that night. 636 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:29,160 The designated meeting place was a small nightclub out on Santa Monica Boulevard. 637 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:31,160 The Thomas woman was to meet Williams at the bar. 638 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:33,160 We told her to get there a few minutes ahead of time, 639 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:36,160 and if she happened to spot Frank and I in the nightclub, 640 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:38,160 she was to give no sign of recognition. 641 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:40,160 As far as the actual payoff was concerned, 642 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:43,160 we instructed her to hand over the envelope containing the money 643 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:46,160 to the suspect when he demanded it without any argument. 644 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,160 Shortly after 9 o'clock that night, 645 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:52,160 Frank and I entered the nightclub and got a table directly adjoining the bar. 646 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:57,160 It was a modernistic affair, lighted from below with a blue fluorescent lamp. 647 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:00,160 A four-piece orchestra was playing at the rear of the place. 648 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:01,160 Nobody was dancing. 649 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:06,160 Only a few of the tables were occupied, but the bar was doing a good business. 650 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,160 We waited. 9.30. 9.45. 651 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,160 We spotted Myra Thomas as she entered the club. 652 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:15,160 She went to the far end of the bar, sat down on one of the stools, 653 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:19,160 and ordered a highball. 9.50. 10.00 p.m. 654 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:22,160 We kept waiting. 10.15. 10.30. 655 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,160 Still no sign of the suspect. 656 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:27,160 We watched Myra Thomas order another highball. 657 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:29,160 Getting late, Joe. 658 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:30,160 Yeah, what time you got? 659 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:31,160 25 to 11. 660 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:32,160 Joe? 661 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:34,160 Just came in, coming this way, gray suit. 662 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:35,160 Yeah. 663 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:36,160 What do you think? 664 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:37,160 Description fits, doesn't it? 665 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:39,160 It must be. Going up to Miss Thomas, talking to her. 666 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:40,160 All right. 667 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:41,160 He's got the envelope. 668 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:42,160 All right, just a minute. Let's give him room. 669 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:44,160 He's leaving. Going for the front door. 670 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:45,160 What do you say? 671 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:46,160 All right, let's go. 672 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:47,160 Not wasting any time. 673 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:48,160 Come on, let's hurry. 674 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:53,160 Down the street. Come on. 675 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:55,160 All right, Mr. Holden. 676 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:56,160 What's the matter? What do you want? 677 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:58,160 Police officers would like to talk to you. 678 00:25:58,160 --> 00:25:59,160 Me? What about? What's the matter? 679 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:00,160 You got your identification? 680 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:01,160 Well, sure, right here. What do you want? 681 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:02,160 We'd like to look at it. 682 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:04,160 Oh, sure. I hear you. 683 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:05,160 Oh, excuse me. 684 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:06,160 That's your badge? 685 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:07,160 Oh, no, it's nothing. 686 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:08,160 Where'd you get that phony badge? 687 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:09,160 A friend of mine. 688 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:10,160 Why? What's the matter? 689 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:11,160 What do you got in your right-hand pocket? 690 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,160 Nothing. Just an envelope. Why? 691 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:14,160 Is there money in that envelope? 692 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:15,160 What's that? 693 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:16,160 I said, is there any money in that envelope? 694 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:17,160 Currency. 695 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:18,160 Yeah, I think so. Why? What's the difference? 696 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:20,160 You know the serial numbers on the bills in that envelope? 697 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,160 Look, I don't know what you mean, serial numbers on the money. 698 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:23,160 What are you getting at? 699 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:25,160 You got seven pieces of paper money in that envelope. 700 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:27,160 Three $10 bills and four fives. 701 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:28,160 Yeah, what about it? 702 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:29,160 Extortion, mister. You know the pitch. 703 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:30,160 Now, come on. Let's go. 704 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:31,160 Now, hold it. Wait a minute. 705 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:36,160 Let's get this straight, huh? So I got an envelope in my pocket, an ordinary envelope. 706 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:37,160 That's supposed to make me a criminal? 707 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:40,160 No. No more, and that badge makes you a cop. Come on. 708 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:49,160 The story you have just heard was true. 709 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:52,160 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 710 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:56,160 On January 8th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 86, 711 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:58,160 City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 712 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,160 In a moment, the results of that trial. 713 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:03,160 Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. 714 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:05,160 Thank you, George Fenomen. 715 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:10,160 Friends, our sales records show that more and more smokers every day are switching to king-size Fatima. 716 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:13,160 Now, this makes us feel especially good because it backs up what we've been telling you, 717 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,160 that Fatima gives you more for your money. 718 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:18,160 No other king-size cigarette can match Fatima quality. 719 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:22,160 When you buy your first pack and compare them with the cigarette you've been smoking, 720 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:25,160 you'll notice Fatimas do have a better flavor and aroma, 721 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:28,160 and you'll like their extra mild and soothing smoke. 722 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:30,160 Next time, buy Fatima. 723 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,160 Best of all, king-size cigarettes. 724 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:44,160 Raymond Edward Williams was tried and convicted of extortion one count 725 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:46,160 and impersonating an officer one count. 726 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:51,160 He received sentences as prescribed by law and is now serving his term in the state penitentiary. 727 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:56,160 Extortion is punishable by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten years. 728 00:27:56,160 --> 00:28:01,160 Impersonation of an officer is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 729 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:07,160 or by imprisonment for not more than one year or by both such fine and imprisonment. 730 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:10,160 Friends, sometime during the next two weeks, you'll be asked to buy a poppy 731 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,160 in memory of those who fought to keep freedom alive. 732 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:16,160 Give generously when you're asked and wear your poppy proudly. 733 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:29,160 You have just heard Dragnet, the series of authentic cases from official files. 734 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:34,160 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 735 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:39,160 Technical advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Frasier. 736 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:42,160 Heard tonight were Herb Ellis, Vic Rodman, June Whitley. 737 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:48,160 Script by Jim Mosig, music by Walter Schuman, Hal Gibney speaking. 738 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:53,160 King size Fatima, made by the same people who make popular Chesterfield cigarettes, 739 00:28:53,160 --> 00:29:04,160 has brought you Dragnet, transcribed from Los Angeles. 740 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:16,160 Stay tuned for Counterspy next on NBC.