1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,200 Ladies and gentlemen, the star you are about to hear is true. 2 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,480 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 3 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:20,080 Fatima cigarettes, king size, extra mild and soothing, brings you dragnet on both radio 4 00:00:20,080 --> 00:00:29,880 and television. 5 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:30,880 You're a detective sergeant. 6 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,520 You're assigned to forgery detail. 7 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,800 Several small neighborhood businessmen are being victimized by a Czech forger. 8 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,280 His method of operation is an old one, but the merchants continue to be swindled. 9 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:46,120 Your job, get him. 10 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:51,760 Friends, the name Fatima has always stood for quality. 11 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,560 Fatimas are distinctive with a truly different flavor and aroma. 12 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:02,480 And in king size Fatima, you get an extra mild and soothing smoke, plus the added protection 13 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,080 of Fatima quality. 14 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:08,240 Remember, in Fatima, the difference is quality. 15 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:14,000 Because of its quality, its extra mildness, its better flavor and aroma, Fatima continues 16 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,680 to grow in favor among king size cigarette smokers everywhere. 17 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,200 Switch to Fatima yourself today. 18 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,520 Ask your dealer for Fatima in the bright, sunny yellow pack. 19 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:31,200 King size Fatima, the difference is quality. 20 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:38,040 DRAGNET, the documentary drama of an actual crime. 21 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:42,960 For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 22 00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:47,560 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 23 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:49,240 police files. 24 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:54,440 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, DRAGNET is the story of your police force 25 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:55,440 in action. 26 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,800 It was Tuesday, July 22nd. 27 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,160 It was hot in Los Angeles. 28 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,240 We were working the day watch out for a forgery detail. 29 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,320 My partner is Frank Smith, the boss is Thad Brown, chief of detectives. 30 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:09,320 My name is Friday. 31 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:13,960 I was on the way in to work and it was 7.50 a.m. when I got to room 29. 32 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:14,960 Forgery detail. 33 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:15,960 Morning, Joe. 34 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:16,960 Frank, how's it going? 35 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:17,960 Well, what'd I tell you? 36 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:18,960 What do you mean? 37 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,360 What did I say just last night when we signed out? 38 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:22,360 I don't know. 39 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:23,360 What did you say? 40 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:24,360 You remember? 41 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:25,360 Look, Frank, it's been a hot night. 42 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:26,520 Looks like today's gonna be hotter. 43 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:27,520 No guessing, won't it? 44 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:28,520 Well, that's just it. 45 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:29,960 It was hot, just like I told you last night. 46 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:31,320 Well, all right, you convinced me. 47 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:32,320 I don't get it, but it's okay. 48 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:35,800 Joe, I told you yesterday, must have said it five or six times at least, earthquake weather. 49 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,080 That was the last thing I said to you before we went home. 50 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:39,080 Earthquake weather. 51 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:40,080 Yeah, I know. 52 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:41,080 I guess you'll believe me now, huh? 53 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:42,080 This is what they call earthquake weather. 54 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,480 Look, we're not gonna go through all that again, are we? 55 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:45,800 Joe, you felt it, didn't you? 56 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,360 Sure, I felt it, everybody did, that doesn't put any more foundation under that old wives' 57 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:50,360 tale of yours. 58 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:51,880 You ought to believe it now if you never did before. 59 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,520 I tell you, Joe, in this kind of hot muggy weather, you get earthquakes. 60 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:55,520 All right, you win. 61 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:56,520 What about last July? 62 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,240 We didn't have any then, did we? 63 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,760 Well, not every year, no, but that doesn't change it. 64 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:02,400 All earthquakes hit in this kind of weather, Joe. 65 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:03,400 Oh, yeah, sure they do. 66 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,080 Now, you tell them that up at Berkeley, you're gonna change the whole seismograph theory, 67 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:07,080 Frank. 68 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,200 Well, they can't tell you when you're gonna get one, only how bad it was after it hits. 69 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,760 That's what we need up there, Joe, some kind of a gadget to tell us when. 70 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:13,760 Well, why worry? 71 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:14,760 You can tell from the weather. 72 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:15,760 Excuse me, am I in the right place? 73 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:16,760 Is there an Officer Smith around here? 74 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:17,760 Yes, sir, I'm Frank Smith. 75 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:18,760 What can I do for you? 76 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:19,760 My name's Martin Miller. 77 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:20,760 I run Marty's Mart at 6th and Benson. 78 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:21,760 Beg your pardon? 79 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:26,760 Marty's Mart, a little grocery store at 6th Street on the corner of Benson. 80 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:27,760 Oh, yes, sir. 81 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:29,760 Mr. Alm from the bank sent me up to see you. 82 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:30,760 Yeah, sure. 83 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:31,760 This is my partner, Sergeant Friday, Mr. Miller. 84 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:32,760 How are you, Mr. Miller? 85 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:33,760 How are you doing? 86 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:35,760 Alm's over at the B of A call just before you got in, Joe. 87 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:37,760 Said he was sending Mr. Miller over to see us. 88 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:39,760 Why don't you have a chair, Mr. Miller? 89 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:40,760 Here. 90 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,600 Joe, Alm says that somebody's forging Mr. Miller's checks. 91 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:44,760 Your personal checks, sir? 92 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:45,760 No, sir, my business checks. 93 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:46,760 Marty's Mart, 6th and Benson. 94 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:47,760 Let's see if we have this right, Mr. Miller. 95 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:48,760 Yes, sir. 96 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:49,760 According to Alm's, there have been seven checks passed. 97 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:50,760 They were all passed last Saturday night. 98 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:51,760 Is that correct? 99 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:52,760 That's what he told me, yes, sir. 100 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:53,760 That's why I come down to see you, but that's not quite all. 101 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:54,760 How's that, sir? 102 00:03:54,760 --> 00:04:01,760 Well, you see, as soon as I talked to the bank and I found out that somebody was forging 103 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:02,760 my checks, I went home and told the wife about it. 104 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:03,760 Yes, sir. 105 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:04,760 Well, the bank tells me the man who's been doing the dirty work's a fellow by the name 106 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:05,760 of Roger Theodore or something like that. 107 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:06,760 Yes, that's right. 108 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:07,760 That's the way we have it here. 109 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:14,760 Oh, you know this man? 110 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:15,760 You got him arrested already? 111 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:16,760 No, sir. 112 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:18,360 I mean, that's what Mr. Alm's over at the bank told us. 113 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:19,360 Oh, yeah, sure. 114 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,360 I didn't think you boys would move that fast. 115 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,080 That'd be pretty fast work there. 116 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,560 Well, you say there were seven checks years at this Theodore's forging, is that right? 117 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:27,560 No, sir. 118 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:28,560 That's all the bank knows about. 119 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,240 The wife and I did a little detective work on our own. 120 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:32,240 Is that right? 121 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:33,240 You bet we did. 122 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,080 Em and me went through our checkbook and guess what? 123 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:37,080 Yes, sir. 124 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:38,880 When you say seven, me and Emma say 14. 125 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:40,880 Well, how do you mean, sir? 126 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:42,360 14, that's how it come for you. 127 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:43,680 Well, how do you mean 14? 128 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:48,280 Well, the bank's only found seven of them, but he actually stole 14 of our business checks. 129 00:04:48,280 --> 00:04:50,600 Oh, you say you found that out after looking at your checkbook? 130 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:51,600 Yes, sir. 131 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:53,600 Got the figures right here in my vest pocket. 132 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:55,680 Let's see here. 133 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,380 Numbers 7020 to 7033, inclusive. 134 00:04:59,380 --> 00:05:01,120 That makes 14 checks missing or told. 135 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,240 Well, how do you think the theft occurred, sir? 136 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,000 We stole them right out of the back part of the checkbook. 137 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:07,720 I didn't think nobody would find that out. 138 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:08,720 No, sir. 139 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:10,960 What we mean is how did the thief gain access to your checks? 140 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:13,240 Do you leave them out in the open where people could get at them? 141 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,040 Well, they're in a plain black covered book. 142 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:18,800 Emma always makes up checks most of the time. 143 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,920 When she's through, she generally leaves them down underneath the counter in with a size 144 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:23,440 12 paper bags. 145 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:24,800 That way we always know where to find it. 146 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,760 You know, a place for everything so long. 147 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:29,480 About when do you think the theft occurred, would you know? 148 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,800 Well, it'll be kind of hard to tell us the exact time. 149 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,520 Well, when did you say you and your wife first noticed they were missing? 150 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:37,800 This morning, right after we talked to the bank man. 151 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:39,800 That's when I got the idea to go through the checkbook. 152 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:44,680 My wife didn't think so much of the idea, but she found out I was right. 153 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,200 Would you have any idea at all as to who might have taken the checks? 154 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,400 Anyone suspicious loitering around your store or anything like that? 155 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:50,640 No, I don't believe so. 156 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,040 Emma and I know most of the people around our neighborhood. 157 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,960 But I wouldn't think any of those folks would do a thing like this. 158 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:57,560 Well, how about some tranching? 159 00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:59,440 Somebody might have come in the store that you never saw before. 160 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,440 No, nobody I can recall. 161 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:03,080 You live in the back of the store, Mr. Miller. 162 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,160 Yeah, how'd you guess that? 163 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:06,920 Hey, you fellas are real good. 164 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,040 I was just wondering, sir, would it be possible somebody could have broken in during the night? 165 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:11,400 No, sir, not a chance. 166 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,000 No, no, we could have told that. 167 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:14,680 Well, how about when you and your wife have lunch? 168 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,480 Is it possible that you might leave the store unattended for short grids 169 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,080 while both of you are in the back, maybe? 170 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:20,880 Say, that's right. 171 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:22,200 You ever run a store? 172 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:22,920 No, sir. 173 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,560 Hey, George, that just could have happened, all right. 174 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,680 Me and Emma lots of times duck in the back and sit down and grab a bite of lunch 175 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:30,840 or a little cut of Tillamook cheese on a cracker, you know. 176 00:06:30,840 --> 00:06:31,640 Yes, sir. 177 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,360 Hey, George, I'll bet that's what could have happened, all right. 178 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,400 Do you figure the checks were taken in the last month or about when, would you say? 179 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:41,960 Well, let's see, must have been sometime during the last couple of weeks of memory serves. 180 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,240 That's about when we received our new checkbooks, last couple of weeks. 181 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:46,200 That must be it. 182 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:47,240 I see. 183 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,520 But we want you to give the stenographer a full report of this, sir. 184 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,880 Here, Frank, I got the approvals, so follow me now. 185 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,200 Now, if you'll be kind enough to take this slip down to room 23, 186 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:56,520 the stenographer will take your report. 187 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:58,000 Oh, thank you very much. 188 00:06:58,000 --> 00:06:59,480 Appreciate you coming in, Mr. Miller. 189 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,480 We'll keep you informed of the developments of the case. 190 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:02,920 Here's our card if you hear anything. 191 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:04,160 Appreciate you giving us a call. 192 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:04,960 Well, fine. 193 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:06,440 Thank you very much. 194 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:07,960 Yes, sir. 195 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,840 You say you'll keep me informed of what happens on this day? 196 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:12,080 Yes, sir, that's right. 197 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,680 Say, maybe you better talk to Emma when you call the store. 198 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:17,040 That's my wife. 199 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:18,240 Well, yes, sir. Won't you be there? 200 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,840 Oh, I'll be there, all right, but she'd like to have you call her. 201 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:22,800 Well, how's that, sir? 202 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:24,400 Well, it's about their mother missing checks. 203 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:25,280 Yes, sir. 204 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:26,760 I told you it was my idea. 205 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:27,280 Yeah. 206 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,360 It wasn't. It was hers. 207 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,260 The 208 00:07:32,260 --> 00:07:33,960 The 209 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:35,200 930 a.m. 210 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,600 Martin Miller went down the hall to make his report. 211 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,280 Frank and I checked the name Roger Theodore through our files and also through our N.I., 212 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,240 but there was no record on him. 213 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:44,680 10.02 a.m. 214 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:48,080 We checked with the head cashier at the bank where Miller had his checking account. 215 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,640 The cashier was unable to let us see the forged checks, 216 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,960 explaining that they'd been sent back to the people who had deposited them. 217 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:58,640 However, he was able to give us a list of the firms that had taken in the bad checks. 218 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,600 They were all large supermarkets in the central Hollywood area. 219 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:07,680 He told us that the checks had varied in amount from $32.50 up to $78.97 220 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:10,760 and that each check was made out to a Roger G. Theodore 221 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,960 with the endorsement on the back of the check also by Theodore. 222 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:15,560 11.25 a.m. 223 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,720 Frank and I drove out to a market at the corner of Franklin and Yucca. 224 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:22,080 It was a big place with fruit stands along the front and large signs saying, 225 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,280 We never close. 226 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,240 What do you think we find, Imager? 227 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:28,600 Probably in the back there. 228 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,040 These places most of them work on one of the check stands, don't they? 229 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:32,320 Hey, Joe. 230 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:33,560 Look at those Concord grapes. 231 00:08:33,560 --> 00:08:34,680 Everything is so big. 232 00:08:34,680 --> 00:08:36,280 Sweet too, I bet. 233 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,960 Never figured out some way to grow them without C's that got it made. 234 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:40,920 C's always get stuck in my teeth. 235 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:43,240 Not the manager back there unpacking those cans, C, with a badge? 236 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,960 Yeah, that's my opinion. 237 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:47,960 Pardon me, are you the manager here? 238 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:49,160 Yeah, is there something I can do for you? 239 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:50,240 Yes, sir. Police officers. 240 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,080 My partner, Frank Smith. My name's Friday. 241 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,240 How do you do? My name's Giles, Nicky Giles. 242 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:57,440 Would you like to talk to you about that check you cashed for Roger Theodore? 243 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:58,040 Theodore? 244 00:08:58,040 --> 00:08:59,440 Yes, sir. 245 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:04,920 Now, according to the bank, you cashed a check last Saturday for $64.89 for Roger Theodore. 246 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,440 The check was drawn on the account of a Martin Miller. 247 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,280 Yeah, I remember now. You catch the bump? 248 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,640 No, sir, not yet. We'd just like to ask you some questions. 249 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:13,560 Sure. You don't mind if I go ahead with this stuff, do you? 250 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:15,080 I gotta get these cans stowed. 251 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:17,280 No, sir, go ahead. 252 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:19,520 Who cashed the check, sir? Do you remember that? 253 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:21,200 Sure, I remember. Me. 254 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:22,800 At least I okayed it. 255 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:26,840 One of the cashiers called me over and said this guy wanted to cash a check and would I okay it? I did. 256 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:28,040 Can you describe the math? 257 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:29,200 Sure can. 258 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,160 When that check came back from the bank, I got to thinking about the crummy deal. 259 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,760 I remembered almost every word of the conversation. 260 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:38,040 Of all the lousy snow jobs, that no good bum really dished out a lulu. 261 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,600 Yes, sir. How tall would you say the man was? 262 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,160 Hmm, maybe 5'10", 11', about 160 pounds. 263 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:46,760 Said he worked for this grocery store, this Marty's... 264 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,000 Marty's Mark. 265 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,280 Yeah, yeah, said he worked down there. 266 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,920 We talked about the grocery business, he told me how he wanted to start a place of his own. 267 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:55,840 Tired of working for somebody else. 268 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:56,800 Lousy trick. 269 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,040 Can you give us a further description of him? 270 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:00,520 Well, he was dark. 271 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:04,480 Real dark, black wavy hair, his eyes were almost solid black. Nice looking kid. 272 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,320 How old did he say he was, sir? 273 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,920 30, 31, hard to tell. He was the kind of a guy who don't show his age too much. 274 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,320 Do you remember what time he came into the store? 275 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:15,600 Yeah, it was right after I announced the sale of Day Old Bread on the P.A. 276 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,160 That'd make it about 8.30 or 8.40. 277 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:22,960 Always try to make it then so we won't be stuck with a lot of bread the next day, you know, get it off the shelves. 278 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,720 It's not really a day old, but by the time these women get through squeezing it, 279 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:27,760 it sure looks like they've been on the shelves a long time. 280 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:29,760 Well, do you and the habit of cashing checks here often, sir? 281 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,400 We never cash personal checks, get stuck too often. 282 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:34,960 We will cash payroll checks if a guy's got identification. 283 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:36,320 Do you and Dora have identification? 284 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:37,720 Sure, I had it at driver's license. 285 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:39,240 Do you have the check now, sir? 286 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:40,600 Yeah, it's in the back, you want to see it? 287 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:41,840 Yes, sir, I'd like to if we can. 288 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:43,720 Sure thing, hold on a minute, I'll get it for you. 289 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:45,200 All right. 290 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:46,920 Driver's license might lead to something, huh? 291 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,280 Yeah, doesn't figure it uses real name, huh? 292 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:50,320 Here it is. 293 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,360 You see right here in the corner, the driver's license number, W414626. 294 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:55,440 What was that again? 295 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,560 W414626. 296 00:10:58,560 --> 00:10:59,960 No, 26. 297 00:10:59,960 --> 00:11:00,720 Right, thank you. 298 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:01,720 May I see that, sir? 299 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:02,240 Yeah, here. 300 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:03,560 Thanks. 301 00:11:03,560 --> 00:11:04,920 There's an endorsement on the back. 302 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,160 Like I said, I hope you catch it, crummy bum, the dirtiest trick ever played. 303 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:08,680 Yes. 304 00:11:08,680 --> 00:11:14,720 Comes in here, buys a pound of weed, he's 52 cents on special and a kosher dill, grand total 61 cents. 305 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:15,480 Lousy deal. 306 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:17,440 Yes, sir, I wonder if we could take this check with us. 307 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,240 We'd like to have our handwriting man get a look at it. 308 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,200 Sure, anything to catch that's no good, bum. 309 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:25,600 Spends 61 cents and cons me into cashing his check for 64.89. 310 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,280 Not the weenies of the pickling, right me? 311 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:28,080 No, sir. 312 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,480 I thought of that guy spending 63 bucks of my money someplace else. 313 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:42,520 Frank and I called the office and asked them to check with DMV for a make on the number of the driver's license that we'd found written on the check. 314 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:47,880 11.55 a.m., we began to canvas the other six stores where Theodore had passed bad checks. 315 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:51,560 In each instance, the descriptions we were able to obtain varied little. 316 00:11:51,560 --> 00:11:55,760 All of the managers of the stores had described him as a dark man in his early 30s. 317 00:11:55,760 --> 00:12:00,880 In checking with the managers further, we found that all of the checks had been passed within a period of an hour and a half. 318 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:06,360 From the addresses of the stores, we could almost trace the exact route the forger had taken in making his rounds. 319 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:11,280 The victims all gave us the same story, that Theodore had made a small purchase, talked about the grocery business, 320 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:15,280 and used his driver's license as identification to cash the check. 321 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,160 2.14.b.m., we checked back into the office. 322 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:23,080 The teletype had come through from DMV up in Sacramento giving a particulars on the driver's license. 323 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:27,760 The license was made out to a Roger George Theodore, 1082 Whitley Street, Hollywood. 324 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:33,160 The description on the license, however, did not tally with the one that we'd gotten from the victims of the forgeries. 325 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:40,000 We asked DMV to send a photo stat of Theodore's license to us for handwriting comparison with the forged checks that we'd been able to collect. 326 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,080 The stats office made a run for us on Theodore's MO. 327 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,440 The names that they gave us were checked out but let us know where. 328 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:50,800 4.47.p.m., Frank and I drove out to the address listed on Theodore's driver's license. 329 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,040 It was a large brick apartment building with a white marble entrance. 330 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:58,920 We didn't find the suspect's name in the mailboxes, so we rang the bell to the manager's apartment. 331 00:12:58,920 --> 00:12:59,440 Yes? 332 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:00,080 Mrs. Rice? 333 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:01,760 That's right. Can I do for you? 334 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:03,960 Police officers, ma'am. We'd like to ask you a few questions. 335 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,520 Police officers? What's going on? Is something wrong? 336 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:09,120 No, Mrs. Rice. Just some routine questions about one of your tenants. 337 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:11,080 Oh. Well, in that case, come in. 338 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:13,080 Thank you very much. 339 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,960 If you're police officers, I suppose you have some sort of identification. 340 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,600 Yes, ma'am. We do. Here's my ID card. 341 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:20,680 My name is Joe Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith. 342 00:13:20,680 --> 00:13:22,320 I have you. I'm Violet Rice. 343 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,600 Oh, but then you know that. Can't be too careful these days. 344 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,880 Oh, what did you want to know about? I know almost all of my tenants here. 345 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,360 They all know me, too. Call them by their first names and they call me Violet. 346 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,000 I don't like formality. I never could stand it. 347 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:39,120 Oh, speaking of stands, move that sewing under the floor and sit down right there. 348 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:40,880 Oh, yes, ma'am. Thank you very much. 349 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,760 Oh, this is about Roger Theodore, Mrs. Rice. 350 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,280 Roger? Oh, yes. Well, what else do you want to know about him? 351 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,600 Him and his wife, they used to be great friends. 352 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:53,760 Roger was a cartoonist, you know, worked for one of the studios in the valley. 353 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,080 Pictures he used to draw. They're beautiful. 354 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:57,960 I have some of them. If you'd like to see them. 355 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,640 No, ma'am. Not right now. We'd just like to know if Mr. Theodore lives here. 356 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,840 No, his wife moved out about six months ago. 357 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:07,440 I'd have to get the rent receipts to be sure that I think it was about six months ago. 358 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,560 Moved down to the beach. Took it pretty hard, you know. 359 00:14:10,560 --> 00:14:13,800 Well. It took it pretty hard, Mrs. Theodore, with the sudden. 360 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:17,360 What's that, Mrs. Rice? When Roger died six months ago. 361 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:32,760 You are listening to Dragnet, authentic stories of your police force in action. 362 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:37,000 Friends, the name Fatima has always stood for quality. 363 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:41,360 Fatimas are distinctive, with a truly different flavor and aroma. 364 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:46,040 And in king-size Fatima, you get an extra mild and soothing smoke, 365 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,840 plus the added protection of Fatima quality. 366 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:53,080 Yes, there's a good reason why Fatima continues to grow in favor 367 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:55,800 among king-size cigarette smokers everywhere. 368 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:58,520 In Fatima, the difference is quality. 369 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:02,640 Quality of tobaccos. The finest Turkish and domestic varieties, 370 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:08,880 extra mild and superbly blended, to give you a much different, much better flavor and aroma. 371 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:13,640 Quality of manufacture. Smooth, round, perfect cigarettes. 372 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:15,960 Rolled in the finest paper money can buy. 373 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:19,720 Quality, even to the appearance of the bright, sunny yellow pack. 374 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:25,640 Carefully wrapped in seal to bring you Fatima's rich, fresh, extra mild flavor. 375 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:29,200 So next time, insist on Fatima quality. 376 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:33,120 Look for the bright, sunny yellow pack. Smoke Fatima. 377 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:40,240 The extra mild and soothing king-size cigarette, with the added protection of Fatima quality. 378 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:51,960 The Apartment House Manager, Mrs. Rice, went on to tell us that Roger Theodore had caught a bad cold, 379 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:54,120 and that it had developed into pneumonia. 380 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:58,360 She told us that his death had been very sudden, and that his passing had hit his wife very hard. 381 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,880 We questioned her about the other tenants in the building who were friendly with the Theodore's, 382 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:05,160 but she was able to add little information to what we already had. 383 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:09,720 The description she gave us of Theodore matched the one we'd gotten from DMV up in Sacramento, 384 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:13,600 but bore little resemblance to the one we'd obtained from the supermarket managers. 385 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,880 She gave us the address of Mrs. Theodore's beach house. 386 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:22,160 Seven twelve p.m., Frank and I drove up to the residence, a small white house built out over the sand. 387 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:26,960 The paint was peeling off of the shutters, and a window box in front was full of dead geraniums. 388 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:29,600 Mrs. Theodore was a tall woman in her late twenties. 389 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:34,080 She asked us in, and we talked to her. She kept looking at the clock over the fireplace. 390 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:35,520 What time have you got, Sergeant? 391 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:36,920 Seven eighteen, Mrs. Theodore. 392 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,160 Seemed it was earlier than that. Now what was it you were asking about Roger? 393 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:44,840 We were wondering if you could tell us how his driver's license could have been used as identification by someone else, ma'am. 394 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:46,720 No, I haven't the slightest idea. 395 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:48,400 Do you have his private papers, Mrs. Theodore? 396 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,320 Yes, most of them. They're in a strong box at the bank in town. 397 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:54,040 Would his driver's license be among those papers, perhaps? 398 00:16:54,040 --> 00:17:00,560 I don't remember. I think so, but I can't be sure. It seems to me that I put them in the box. Just a minute. 399 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:02,920 All right, fine. 400 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:09,720 Just happened to think it might be in here. I put some of his things in here. Papers I didn't think were too important. 401 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:10,640 Yes, ma'am. 402 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:16,440 Here's his draft card, club membership card, some of his personal business cards. 403 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:19,520 See, he drew a caricature of himself. He's very clever about things like that. 404 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:21,000 Yes, ma'am. 405 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:24,720 To me, that I've seen his license someplace. 406 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:26,640 No, it's not here. 407 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,880 Well, where did Mr. Theodore keep the license, ma'am? 408 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,040 He used to keep it out in the glove compartment of the car. 409 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:35,680 Of course, I knew I'd seen it just a few days ago. It's in the glove compartment. That's where it is. 410 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:37,200 I wonder if we might see it, ma'am. 411 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,520 Surely. What time have you got, Sergeant? 412 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:40,320 At 720. 413 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,320 Thank you. 414 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:47,480 It's really turning cold all of a sudden. 415 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:49,800 Yes, ma'am. Fog's coming in. 416 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:51,720 I usually have at this time of year. 417 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:55,000 Days have been so nice. Warm. 418 00:17:57,880 --> 00:17:59,040 That's funny. 419 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:00,120 What's that, ma'am? 420 00:18:00,120 --> 00:18:01,960 I was sure it was here. 421 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,120 Saw it just the other day. Now it's gone. 422 00:18:04,120 --> 00:18:05,600 Some of the other things, too. 423 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:06,560 Gone, ma'am? 424 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,040 Yes, the driver's license and the social security card. 425 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,080 They were both in a little cellulite folder. 426 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:12,880 Kept them together in here. That's funny. 427 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,200 Was it possible that you might have taken them out of the car? 428 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:19,560 No, I have no reason to. I hardly ever use the glove compartment. 429 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:21,040 No, I'm sure they were here. 430 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,040 Well, maybe you picked something else up and the license came with it. 431 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:25,680 Maybe. 432 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:27,800 Look through my purse as I might have picked them up. 433 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:29,800 Okay, fine. 434 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,800 I'm going to warm up a little. I'll build a fire tonight. 435 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,200 I understand where that license might have gone. 436 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:37,360 Have to ask Lloyd. 437 00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:38,240 Lloyd? 438 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:40,160 Yes, I met him a few weeks ago on the beach. 439 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,960 He came down to swim. We got to be very good friends. 440 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:44,680 Kind of have expecting him to call tonight, 441 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:47,080 but he would have called before this if he was going to. 442 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:47,800 I'll get my purse. 443 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:50,120 Fine, thank you. 444 00:18:50,120 --> 00:18:54,960 I'm sure, though, it was in the glove compartment the last time I saw it. 445 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,320 Lloyd might have seen it when he borrowed the car. 446 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:58,240 He borrowed your car? 447 00:18:58,240 --> 00:18:59,680 Yeah, last week. 448 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:01,160 He said he was having his overhaul. 449 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:03,720 I wasn't using mine, so I told him to take it. 450 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:05,000 Very nice. 451 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,800 Are you sure your watch is right, Sergeant? 452 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:07,680 Yes, ma'am. 453 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:09,480 What day was it Lloyd took your car? 454 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,920 Last Friday or Saturday, one or the other. 455 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:14,520 Nope, not here. 456 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:16,320 I just know where it could have gone. 457 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:18,280 What does this Lloyd look like, Mrs. Theodore? 458 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:19,880 Lloyd, he's a nice looking boy. 459 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,200 Dark hair, dark eyes, nice looking boy. 460 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,560 About how old is he, ma'am? 461 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:24,480 Well, I never asked. 462 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:26,280 I'd guess 30, 31. 463 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:28,000 Lloyd, what's his last name, ma'am? 464 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,320 Stratton, Lloyd Stratton. 465 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:31,840 Why are you asking all these questions about him? 466 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:32,960 Has he done something? 467 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:33,320 Is that it? 468 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:34,160 Well, we don't know, ma'am. 469 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:35,280 Do you know where he lives? 470 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:36,360 Some place in Hollywood. 471 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:37,640 I don't know the number. 472 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:38,520 He hasn't got a phone. 473 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:39,680 I called information once. 474 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:40,600 They didn't have a listing. 475 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:42,560 When was the last time you saw him, ma'am? 476 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:43,560 Monday. 477 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:45,760 He came down to take a swim and we talked. 478 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:47,200 He must be mistaken, officers. 479 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:48,680 He couldn't do anything dishonest. 480 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:49,880 I know. 481 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,360 By the last time he was here, he was a little short of cash. 482 00:19:52,360 --> 00:19:55,280 I offered him $50 to tie the mover. 483 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,600 He didn't want to take it, but I insisted. 484 00:19:57,600 --> 00:19:59,040 I didn't have enough to do it. 485 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:00,120 What's that, ma'am? 486 00:20:00,120 --> 00:20:01,800 He wanted me to cash his payroll check. 487 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:07,240 We questioned Mrs. Theodore further, 488 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,440 but she couldn't add anything to what she'd already told us. 489 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,240 She was unable to give us the names of any of Stratton's friends, 490 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,320 his relatives, or tell us where he might be employed. 491 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:16,840 7 46 PM. 492 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:18,320 Frank and I drove back to the office. 493 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:21,600 We ran the name and description of Lloyd Stratton through R&I. 494 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:23,480 They came up with several possible suspects. 495 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:27,560 In the process of elimination, we were left with one name, Lloyd Stimpson, 496 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,840 who had as one of many aliases the name Lloyd Stratton. 497 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,120 His description tallied closely with the ones we'd gotten 498 00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:34,880 from the victims of the forgeries. 499 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,240 His record showed him to be a two-time loser on parole 500 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:39,400 from San Quentin at the present time. 501 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,960 He'd been convicted both times for forgery. 502 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:43,760 In checking the suspect's handwriting card, 503 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:46,400 Don Meyer was able to tell us that the writing on the checks 504 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:49,080 and the exemplars of the suspects were the same. 505 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,560 We obtained mugshots of the suspect and drove out to check them with the victims. 506 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:53,680 9 22 PM. 507 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:56,000 We got to the market at the corner of Franklin and Yucca Street, 508 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,120 the manager's office. 509 00:20:58,120 --> 00:20:59,120 Mr. Giles. 510 00:20:59,120 --> 00:21:00,240 Yes. 511 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:02,360 Oh, you're the officers who were here this morning. 512 00:21:02,360 --> 00:21:04,160 You caught the guy yet, the one who forged that check? 513 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:05,000 No, sir, not yet. 514 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:06,640 We'd like you to look at some pictures, if you would. 515 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:07,520 The guy? 516 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:08,440 You got pictures of him? 517 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,080 Figures if you had pictures of him, you'd catch him. 518 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:11,720 Well, we think we know who he is, Mr. Giles, 519 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:13,920 but we'd like you to check these pictures just to be sure. 520 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:15,160 Fine, glad to help. 521 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:16,080 Can I get that, bum? 522 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:16,800 Yes, sir. 523 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:18,120 Here are the pictures, Mr. Giles. 524 00:21:18,120 --> 00:21:19,120 Good. 525 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:21,640 Let me sit down here and get this stuff out of my desk. 526 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,240 All right, fine. 527 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,160 Now, just look through some of them, sir, and see if the man is there, if you would. 528 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:30,280 Yeah, let me spread them out here. 529 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:32,720 I'm playing solid there. 530 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:33,920 Look at that one. 531 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,720 Mean looking fellow, real criminal type. 532 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:38,800 No, that's not him. 533 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:40,280 No. 534 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:40,880 Wait a minute. 535 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:41,360 Yes, sir. 536 00:21:41,360 --> 00:21:42,560 This one, right here. 537 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:43,040 He's the guy. 538 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:44,120 He's the one who cashed the check. 539 00:21:44,120 --> 00:21:45,000 You sure, Mr. Giles? 540 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:45,560 I'm positive. 541 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:46,000 That's him. 542 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:46,440 All right, sir. 543 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:47,320 Thank you very much. 544 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:48,080 It's all right, officer. 545 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:49,600 Glad to help. 546 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:50,720 This fellow, Theodore. 547 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:53,080 His real name's Stimson, Lloyd Stimson. 548 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:54,320 Yeah, well, this Stimson. 549 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:55,680 He done this sort of thing before? 550 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:56,480 Sir? 551 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:57,320 Forged checks. 552 00:21:57,320 --> 00:21:57,720 Oh, yes, sir. 553 00:21:57,720 --> 00:21:59,160 He's been convicted twice. 554 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,200 How about that lousy thing? 555 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:02,960 I wonder what he tells his friends when they ask. 556 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:03,600 What's that? 557 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:04,760 About his work. 558 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:06,600 Probably tells them he writes for a living. 559 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,000 We checked with the other victims of the forgeries. 560 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:12,000 We were able to get three more identifications of the suspect. 561 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:13,720 The rest of the people involved couldn't 562 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:15,120 be reached at the time. 563 00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:17,120 We contacted the suspect's parole officer, 564 00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:18,640 and he gave us his last known address, 565 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:20,760 and he said that he'd give us whatever assistance he could 566 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:23,360 in apprehending Stimson alias Stratton. 567 00:22:23,360 --> 00:22:25,680 In checking the address furnished by the parole officer, 568 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,040 we found that the suspect had moved a week before 569 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:30,000 and left no forwarding address. 570 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:31,360 A local and an all-points bulletin 571 00:22:31,360 --> 00:22:33,480 was gotten out on Stratton. 572 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,200 There were still seven people who 573 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:36,800 were charged with the forgery. 574 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:38,840 There were still seven checks to be accounted for, 575 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:40,440 and none of these had been reported to us 576 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:42,600 as having been forged in past. 577 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:44,200 In addition to the local and the APB, 578 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:45,920 we got out a special circular giving 579 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,120 the description of the suspect, his picture, 580 00:22:48,120 --> 00:22:50,000 and a sample of the forged check. 581 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,040 It was distributed to all supermarkets and check 582 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:53,840 cashing agencies in the area. 583 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:55,600 We requested that if the suspect attempted 584 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:57,800 to cash one of the checks, forgery detail 585 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:00,000 be notified at once, and if possible, 586 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,280 that he be delayed until we could pick him up. 587 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:04,000 Since none of the checks had been reported 588 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:05,840 every night, it looked like the suspect might 589 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:07,320 be waiting until the coming weekend 590 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:10,080 to get rid of the other checks he had in his possession. 591 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:12,360 During the following three days, we ran down several leads 592 00:23:12,360 --> 00:23:14,800 on the suspect, but none of them panned out. 593 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:17,640 Saturday, July 26, 8, 40 PM. 594 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:19,120 I got back to the office after seeing 595 00:23:19,120 --> 00:23:20,360 the one remaining victim. 596 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:22,280 That you, Joe? 597 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:24,600 Yeah, I just checked that place out on Melrose. 598 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:25,440 They make him? 599 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:27,040 Yeah, said Stratton was the guy that hung 600 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:28,280 the paper on him last week. 601 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:31,000 Well, that's it then, all seven of them check out. 602 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,400 Yeah, all the managers said they were positive, 603 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:34,920 none of them had any doubt. 604 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:36,200 Oh, it's hot out. 605 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:37,480 Yeah, hot and muggy. 606 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:39,120 Let's not go into that again, huh? 607 00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:40,200 Any word? 608 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:41,680 No, Joe, everything's quiet. 609 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:42,520 If we figured it right, 610 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:44,440 Stratton should make a try tonight, huh? 611 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:46,680 Figures he will, but I don't know, Joe. 612 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:47,560 Maybe he's figured the deal. 613 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:49,240 Maybe he planned to hit the mall one weekend, 614 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:50,200 then leave town. 615 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:51,280 Possible. 616 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:52,200 When he got away with it once, 617 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:54,040 chances are he'll try it again, I'll get it. 618 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:55,560 Oh. 619 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:56,520 Forgery Friday. 620 00:23:57,600 --> 00:23:58,440 Yes, sir? 621 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:00,240 Where? 622 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,640 Yes, sir, what was that address again? 623 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:04,720 Hmm? 624 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:06,680 Yes, sir, we'll be right out. 625 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:07,760 All right, let's hustle it. 626 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:08,800 Mark it out on Primrose. 627 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:09,640 Stratton? 628 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:10,480 Yeah, he's there now. 629 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:15,600 The call had come from a large supermarket 630 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:16,440 in the Hollywood area. 631 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:17,960 From what the clerk had said on the phone, 632 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:19,480 Stratton had made several purchases 633 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:21,200 and then tried to cash a payroll check 634 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:22,760 drawn on Marty's mark. 635 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,360 The clerk had recognized him immediately and called us. 636 00:24:25,360 --> 00:24:26,520 When we walked into the market, 637 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:29,640 one of the clerks motioned to us from a front counter. 638 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:30,640 Over there, Joe. 639 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:32,720 Yeah, there's no one at the stand. 640 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:33,720 Maybe he wouldn't wait. 641 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:34,560 You the cops? 642 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:35,400 I made the call. 643 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:36,240 Yes, sir, we're police officers. 644 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:37,080 Where is he? 645 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:38,400 Back there by counter 25. 646 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:40,480 I told him to be a few minutes before I get the check, okay? 647 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:41,520 He said he'd look around, 648 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:42,760 maybe find something else he wanted. 649 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:43,600 Do you have the check? 650 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:44,440 Yes, sir, right here. 651 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:46,160 You can see it's the same kind as the one on the circuit. 652 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:47,680 Yes, okay, sir, thank you. 653 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:48,520 We won't get any trouble with him. 654 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:49,680 I mean, getting him out of here. 655 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:50,720 Well, that depends on him. 656 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:56,280 I'll go around the counter, come up from the back. 657 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:57,120 All right. 658 00:24:57,120 --> 00:24:58,480 I'll go around the counter, come up from the back. 659 00:24:58,480 --> 00:24:59,640 All right. 660 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:07,640 Mr. Theodore? 661 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:09,640 You Roger Theodore? 662 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:10,760 Yes, you the manager here? 663 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:12,000 I don't see what the problem is. 664 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:13,040 It's a payroll check. 665 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:14,120 If you don't want the business, 666 00:25:14,120 --> 00:25:15,440 there are other stores I can go to. 667 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,120 No, police officer, Mr. Stratton. 668 00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:18,440 I want to talk to you. 669 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:19,760 Certainly, but there's some mistake. 670 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:21,520 My name's not Stratton, it's Roger Theodore. 671 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:23,160 No, no mistake, mister, let's go. 672 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:24,000 No! 673 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:29,000 Come here. 674 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:34,000 Watch it, Joe. 675 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:39,000 All right, hold it up, Stratton. 676 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:40,000 Watch that cart, Joe. 677 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:49,000 Outside. 678 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:53,000 Get in the cart, Joe. 679 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,000 All right, hold it up, Stratton, stay where you are. 680 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:56,000 Don't shoot! 681 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,000 Don't shoot, I won't try anything, don't shoot! 682 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:02,000 All right, out of the car, mister. 683 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:04,000 I'll shake him. 684 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:06,000 What's this all about? 685 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:07,000 What are you trying to prove? 686 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,000 He's clean, Joe, hands behind your back. 687 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:11,000 Want to check the car, Frank? 688 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:12,000 Yeah. 689 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,000 You won't find anything, there's nothing to find. 690 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:15,000 A few groceries, that's all. 691 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:16,000 Must be some kind of mistake. 692 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:17,000 No, I don't think so, Stratton. 693 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:18,000 Frank, what do you got? 694 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,000 Looks clean, Joe, just checking the seat covers. 695 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,000 You sure you got the right guy? 696 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,000 You called me Stratton, I told you my name's Theodore. 697 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:27,000 Look, get my driver's license out of my pocket, it'll tell you who I am. 698 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:28,000 All right, let's come off it. 699 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:29,000 We know who you are. 700 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,000 We got your record and a dozen people to identify you. 701 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:32,000 Joe? 702 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:32,000 Yeah. 703 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,000 All these under the seat covers in the back, checks from Marty's mark. 704 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,000 So what, no law against having a few blank checks, is there? 705 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:39,000 Only when you try to cash them. 706 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:48,000 The story you have just heard was true. 707 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,000 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 708 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:55,000 On October 21st, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 87, 709 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:57,000 City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 710 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,000 In a moment, the results of that trial. 711 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:01,000 And now here is our star, Jack Webb. 712 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:02,000 Thank you, George Fenomen. 713 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:08,000 Friends, there's a good reason why Fatima continues to grow in favor among king-sized cigarette smokers everywhere. 714 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,000 In Fatima, the difference is quality. 715 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:15,000 Quality that gives you extra mildness and a really different flavor and aroma. 716 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,000 That's right, Fatimas are distinctive. 717 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:23,000 In king-sized Fatima, you get an extra mild and soothing smoke, plus the added protection of Fatima quality. 718 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:27,000 Ask your dealer for Fatima in the bright, sunny yellow pack. 719 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:40,000 Lloyd Harold Stimson, alias Lloyd Stratton, was tried and convicted of seven counts of forgery. 720 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,000 He is now serving his term in the State Penitentiary. 721 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:48,000 Forgery is punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than one, nor more than 14 years. 722 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:53,000 Ladies and gentlemen, lightning starts a few forest fires every year. 723 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:56,000 But careless people cause many, many more. 724 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:01,000 This shameful waste of one of our greatest natural resources weakens America. 725 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:07,000 This holiday weekend, if you picnic or camp out, please be careful with fire. 726 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:13,000 Be sure, be very sure your campfire is really out before you leave it. 727 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:17,000 Remember, only you can prevent forest fires. 728 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:32,000 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 729 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:38,000 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 730 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:43,000 Technical advisors Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Winn, Sergeant Vance Brashear. 731 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:47,000 Heard tonight were Herb Ellis, Cliff Arquette, Virginia Gregg. 732 00:28:47,000 --> 00:29:02,000 Script by John Robinson, music by Walter Schuman, Hal Gibney speaking. 733 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:22,000 King-size Fatima has brought you Dragnet, transcribed from Los Angeles. 734 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:35,000 Friday, hear the Mario Lanza show over NBC.