Sound off for Chesterfield.
Chesterfield, first cigarette in America to give you premium quality in both regular and
king size brings you drag men.
Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
You're a detective sergeant.
You're assigned to homicide detail.
You got a call that a man has been murdered.
His killer is unknown.
Your job, get him.
Here's what the tobacco trade press has had to say about Chesterfield.
U.S. Tobacco Journal, Boston, Massachusetts.
Chesterfield cigarettes in the new king size is still maintaining large turnovers in this
area.
Dealers report that sales continue to climb on this size and it seems that volume on the
regular size has climbed to new heights with its big brother.
And Tobacco Leaf reports from Chicago, more calls for Chesterfield king size cigarettes
than for most brands being marketed.
Dealers all over the country tell us no product they ever handled has grown so fast in so
short a time as king size Chesterfield.
King size cigarettes give you quantity, but only Chesterfield king size gives you quantity
plus quality, premium quality.
Chesterfield king size contains tobaccos of better quality and higher price than any other
king size cigarettes.
In fact, the only difference between Chesterfield king size and Chesterfield regular is that
the king size is larger, contains more of these same tobaccos, enough to give you more
than a one-fifth longer smoke.
So remember, Chesterfield is the only cigarette to give smokers premium quality in both regular
and king size.
Ask your dealer for Chesterfield, either way you like them.
Premium quality Chesterfields and much milder.
Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime.
For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will
travel step by step on the side of the law to an actual case transcribed from official
police files.
From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force
in action.
Was Saturday, May 12th.
It was warm in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of homicide detail.
My partner's Frank Smith.
The boss is Captain Warman.
My name's Friday.
It was 8.04 a.m. when I got to room 42.
Homicide.
After you, Joe?
Yeah, I'm sorry I'm late, Frank.
I got held up in traffic.
Okay, no problem.
I'll sure be dead when I get that freeway finished, won't you?
Around the end of the pass this time of the morning, you can't go more than 10 miles an
hour.
Yeah, cars really climb up around Franklin.
Oh boy, when we get through tonight, I'm gonna go straight to bed.
I might not even stop to eat.
Oh, what's the matter?
Have trouble getting to sleep last night?
Well, I wouldn't have had any trouble if I'd had the chance to do it.
What do you mean, I'll get it?
My brother-in-law.
Oh, what'd he have to do with it?
Well, a couple of weeks ago, he sent away for one of those courses in hypnotism at home.
Book got to the house yesterday right away.
He's got a new career.
He's gonna go into the hypnotism business.
All right.
Yeah.
Book tells how if you do it right, you can have full control over people and make them
do things you want, all that stuff.
Right away, he's got a new career.
He's got a new job.
was going to have enough trouble as it was.
I don't think I understand.
Suicide Sergeant.
The one unforgivable sin.
Yes ma'am.
Okay Joe, I called him.
Checked with the fellas in the car there looking around the neighborhood.
Miss Curtis.
Yes.
I wonder if you could give us a description of the man you saw.
We'd like to get out a call on him.
Of course.
I saw him pretty good.
Just standing there looking at me.
Well how old a man would you say he was?
Maybe 35 or 40.
Maybe older than that I'm sure.
How tall would you say he was?
Taller than you.
About how much taller?
Oh, maybe a couple of inches.
I think about six one or two, is that right?
Yes, I think that's pretty close.
About his weight, how heavy do you think he was?
I'm not very good at that.
I'd guess about 180 around there.
What about his clothes?
What was he wearing, could you remember?
He had on one of those blue denim outfits, you know the trousers and the jacket, light blue.
His coat had that dark blue trim knitted around the bottom and collar.
Had on a white shirt, no tie.
And a pair of those shoes with a real thick sole.
That rubber.
Anything unusual about him?
I don't think I know what you mean.
Well did he have any marks or scars, anything that might make it easier for us to identify him?
No, not that I could see.
But you won't have any trouble identifying him.
I'll tell you if you have the right one or not.
Did he have a car, would you know that?
I don't think so, I didn't see one.
Thank you ma'am.
I'll call us in right away Joe, get out the local and APB.
Yeah, Miss Curtis?
Yes.
Could you tell us exactly what time the shooting took place?
Not exactly, but I'd say about a quarter to eight.
Did this man say anything to you?
No, not a word.
You never saw him before, maybe around the neighborhood of the stars, in the street some place?
No, I never saw him, I know that.
But if I see him again, I'll know him.
Alright ma'am, I'll be right back Joe.
I hope you won't take offense ma'am.
What's that sergeant?
Well you don't seem too greatly concerned about your son's death here.
I thought I'd explain that to you.
I told you that I have to figure that it's the Lord's will.
I might as well tell you sergeant, you'll probably find out anyway.
What's that ma'am?
Well, Jeff and I had a few arguments.
Nothing serious, but we did have words.
How may you pardon me?
Well, I told you that my daughter took her own life.
Oh yeah.
She lived with us here in this house.
I thought it was a happy home.
I found out it wasn't.
I found out too well.
You see Alice, that's my daughter.
Yes ma'am.
Well she was going to marry.
She'd met a young man who worked in an aircraft factory.
She seemed to think he was very nice.
I couldn't see much in him.
I told her so.
We had quite a few rows about it, once when he was here.
On that night, the row, Alice's young man left,
made quite a fuss about my trying to run the children's lives.
Told Alice that he'd marry her right away that night.
But when they were married, he didn't want to have anything to do with Jeff or me.
Well did Jeff take any part in this quarrel?
No my yes.
Finally the young man stormed out of the house.
Alice was in tears, just seemed to go to pieces.
That night she took an overdose of sleeping pills.
I'll never forget when I called her for breakfast.
Terrible.
That's not doing any good.
I'm sorry sergeant.
That's quite all right ma'am.
Now you said you and your son had several arguments.
Was it about this engagement thing?
Yes, after Alice's funeral.
Jeff seemed to sulk around the house.
Then at night he'd go out and drink quite a bit.
He seemed to think that I'd caused Alice to do away with herself.
I tried to tell him that I didn't, that I was just as sorry as he was.
I told him how badly I felt, but he didn't seem to do any good.
Well have you heard from Alice's fiance since that night?
He was at the funeral.
What's his name Mrs. Criss?
Dudley, Bruce Dudley.
Do you know where we can get in touch with him?
I think Jeff had his address. I can look for it.
Thank you.
But you don't think that Bruce had anything to do with this?
I know it wasn't him. I know Bruce.
I know what he looks like. It wasn't him in the living room.
Well we just want to talk to him ma'am.
Of course he might have hired someone else.
No, I'm sure Bruce had nothing to do with it.
Even with what he did say.
Ma'am?
That night when they had the fight,
Jeff told him that if he didn't get out he'd throw him out.
When he left Bruce said that someday our meddling in other people's lives was going to backfire.
That it might take some time but that we'd be repaid.
And that look in his eyes when he went through the door,
Sergeant, maybe he did do it.
He looked mad enough to kill us both.
912 A.M.
The coroner arrived and removed the body.
The men from the crime lab crew went over the place.
A complete set of pictures was taken before the body was removed.
Latent prints went over the rifle on the table and the cleaning apparatus.
Frank and I noticed that the tablecloth on the living room table had been on the floor when we got to the house.
Mrs. Curtis had told us that her son had grabbed it as he fell to the floor.
We talked with the neighbors.
One of them, Mrs. Alvin Kemper, said that she had been watering the lawn between 7.30 and 8.00 A.M.
But that she had seen no one enter or leave the Curtis house.
She told us that she had heard frequent and loud arguments between Mrs. Curtis and her son.
Frank and I drove out to the address of Bruce Dudley.
It was a modern one-room apartment on Riverside Drive in the San Fernando Valley.
We rang the buzzer a second time and waited.
Looks like he's not in.
What time have you got?
About 17.
He's probably gone out. Come on, we can check the manager.
Yeah? Mr. Dudley?
Yeah, what do you want?
We're police officers. We'd like to talk to you.
Okay, come on in.
I just got up out late last night.
I don't feel at all well.
Now move those clothes and sit down. I'm going to put a pot of coffee on.
Oh, I feel like a troop of midgets ran barefoot over my tongue.
Yes, sir. Go right ahead.
What do you want to see me about?
You know a Jeff Curtis?
Yeah, I know him.
Hey, what did you say your name's were?
Well, my name's Friday. It's my partner, Frank Smith.
You got any badge, something to prove that you're cops?
Yes, sir. Here's my ID.
Sergeant Joseph Friday.
Okay. Now what's this about Jeff?
He's dead, Mr. Dudley.
Dead?
Yes, sir.
How'd it happen? Accident?
Well, we're not sure.
He didn't kill himself, did he?
Why do you ask that?
I just thought he might have.
Sister killed herself. Thought he might have done the same thing.
Do you know of any reason that he'd do something like that?
No, not that I could name.
I understand you and Mr. Curtis didn't get along too well.
We got along all right.
Oh, when Alice and I split up, there were some worries and I think it's serious.
Well, the way we get it, you were pretty sure of him.
Yeah?
Yeah. I understand you and he had quite an argument.
He was ready to throw you out of the house.
You've been talking to his mother. She's been throwing lies around again.
Well, is it true? Did you and Curtis have an argument?
Yeah, I got nothing to hide.
You been out of the house this morning?
No, why?
Have any way of proving you were here all morning?
Just got up. You know that. You guys got me out of bed.
What are you trying to prove?
Just want to know if you can account for your time, that's all.
You think I had something to do with Jeff's death, is that it?
We didn't say that.
No, but you meant it.
Oh, excuse me. I got to get the coffee.
You want some coffee?
No, no thanks.
How about you?
No.
You don't mind if I have a cup, huh?
No, sir. Go right ahead.
Thanks.
Ah, let's face it.
You guys really think I had anything to do with what happened to Jeff?
We're not paid to say what we think. We try to get the facts.
Yeah.
And if I was you, I'd concentrate on Mrs. Curtis.
I wouldn't put it past the old bat to kill her own son.
Check around the bar as a neighbor to talk to his friends, I'll tell you.
His mother was scared to death that he'd marry one of these days, walk out on her.
Used to be on his back all the time about the girls he went out with.
I knew some of them.
Alice and me used to double date with him once in a while.
Did they ever have any arguments about this while you were around?
A couple of times, yeah.
If you don't believe me, why don't you check with Harry?
He'll tell you the same story.
Lord knows he went through enough of it.
Harry?
Yeah, Jeff's brother. He got married...
Oh, let's see, about five years ago.
Moved out of the house, locked, stocked in baggage.
He went through a thrash with his mother about it.
He'll tell you about it.
Used to come over to see Jeff once in a while after he got married,
but the old lady caused so much trouble that they started me at a bar.
Got to the point where Harry wouldn't go in the house.
Check with him, he'll tell you.
You know where we can get in touch with him?
No, I haven't got the address.
Look it up in the book, Harry Curtis.
I think it's out on Selma, someplace in Hollywood.
All right, sir.
Where do you work?
Meier Aircraft. I'm a toolmaker.
You work the day shift?
Yeah, I'm off today.
What's this for?
Just wanted to know where we could meet you.
You still think I had something to do with it, huh?
No, we didn't say you did.
Your name came up and we had to check it out.
Yeah.
Oh, there were a lot of times when Jeff and I didn't get along.
I won't try to tell you that there weren't.
I never do anything to hurt him.
He got enough in his hands with that mother.
Sure, one night when we came home from a date, Alice, me, Jeff and his date,
we're sitting around the kitchen having something to eat.
Mother came in madder than a wet hen.
Ray's cane told Jeff to get the woman out of the house.
Jeff told her he wouldn't have her talk to the girl like that.
He thought quite a bit of her.
He walked right over and slapped the girl across the face,
told her to leave Jeff alone.
That she'd rather see him dead than tied up with a girl like that.
2.40 p.m. we drove back to the office.
There had been no replies from the local or the APB.
We checked the names of Jeffrey Curtis and Bruce Dudley through R&I.
There was no record on Curtis, but Dudley had been arrested twice
for LAMC 4127C, being drunk in a public place.
He served sentences in the city jail on both charges.
We checked with the coroner's office and they told us that Curtis had been killed
by a.38 caliber bullet.
It had been fired at close range into the back of his skull.
The bullet was booked for evidence and we made out a dead body report.
We put in a call to the brother's house, but we were told that he was out of the city
and he wouldn't return until sometime that night.
We left word for him to call our office as soon as he returned.
We checked on the suicide story given us by Mrs. Curtis
and found that an Alice Curtis had taken her own life
with an overdose of sleeping pills two years before.
5.20 p.m. Frank and I drove out to talk to Mrs. Curtis again.
You want to look at Jeff's room, don't you?
Yes, Mrs. Curtis.
This way.
When we were here this morning you didn't say anything about your other son.
Harry? Well, you see, Officer, Harry doesn't care much for me.
I know it's hard to believe that a boy would desert his own mother,
but that's what Harry did.
And right away his wife started to cause trouble between us.
The rifle your son was cleaning this morning?
Oh, yes. Those men from the crime lab, I think they said they took it.
Yes, ma'am. Did your son do much hunting?
Well, he used to. He used to do quite a bit before Harry got married.
They used to be great pals.
Mother couldn't ask for a better pair of sons.
And when Harry left home, Jeff sort of gave it up.
He cleaned the gun when he had to, but he didn't go after game anymore.
Then, too, he was afraid to leave me alone at night.
Ma'am?
Well, we've had a lot of trouble with prowlers in the neighborhood.
Had to call the police a couple of times.
They didn't find anybody, though.
Mm-hmm.
These your son's clothes, ma'am?
Yes.
This man you saw this morning, did you notice that he had a gun?
Yes, he did. It was a revolver.
When I came into the room it was still smoking.
Mm-hmm. Did your son keep any other firearms in the house?
Oh, no. Just the rifle.
I wouldn't have any other guns in the place. I don't like them.
You had me call to go up in the attic, lady, Mrs. Curtis?
What?
The attic, ma'am.
Have either you or your son had any reason to go up there?
No, I don't think we've been up there since we moved.
Could I get you officers a cup of coffee or anything?
I've got some nice fresh cake, like a slice of that.
No, ma'am. Thanks. Just the same.
Oh.
Now.
Look at here.
Ma'am. Look at here on the shoulders of these suits in the back.
You see this dirt?
Looks like it came down from that door to the attic.
Now, let me get a chair and we'll have a look.
What's this all about?
I told you we haven't used that attic. Don't you believe me?
I'd just like to take a look if you don't mind, ma'am.
Well, maybe I do mind.
It's just going to take a minute, ma'am.
I think you officers have sure got your nerves.
I tried to be nice to you, help you out.
Isn't enough that my boy's dead.
Now you have to come in here and tear my home apart.
There's something up here for that attic. I can reach it.
Yeah, here it is. Get my pencil.
Have you ever seen this, Mrs. Curtis?
No. I haven't got any idea how that gun got there.
Doesn't belong to us.
What do you think, Joe?
I don't know. 38 caliber.
You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action.
And now a report every smoker should hear.
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First such report published about any cigarette.
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Forty-five percent of the group of smoked Chesterfields from one to 30 years, for an average of 10 years each.
At the beginning and end of the six months, each smoker was given a thorough examination, including x-rays and covering the sinuses, nose, ears, and throat.
After these examinations, the medical specialist stated,
It is my opinion that the ears, nose, throat, and accessory organs of all participating subjects examined by me were not adversely affected in the six-month period by smoking the cigarettes provided.
Remember this report and buy Chesterfields, regular or king size, premium quality Chesterfields, and much milder.
We took the gun back to the city hall. It was checked for fingerprints, but none were found.
We checked with pawn shop records, but the gun had not been registered.
By checking with the manufacturer, we got the retailer's name.
It had been sold to the victim, Jeff Curtis.
The gun was turned over to Russ Camp for the routine check through ballistics.
Just a minute, and I'll take it out.
Right.
Okay.
There's another comparison knife.
There we are.
What's the matter now?
Viations here.
Got a make, Russ?
Yeah, a match.
1146 p.m. Harry Curtis called the office. He was surprised to hear of his brother's death, but said that he would be down to see us in the morning.
Frank and I checked out, and the next morning we drove out to the house on Burns Street and picked up Mrs. Curtis.
We talked to her in the interrogation room.
This is perfectly ridiculous. I don't understand what you're trying to get me to say.
Well, maybe if we laid out for you, ma'am.
Yes, that might do it. At least it would be something.
All right, when we walked into your house yesterday morning, you said that nothing in the house had been touched, that everything was just as it was when your son was killed. Is that right?
Yes, I guess I said that.
I'd have you be sure one way or the other, ma'am. What did you say?
I said that. I hadn't touched anything. Nobody did.
Would you tell us what your son was doing when you left the room?
I told you he was cleaning the rifle.
On the living room table?
Yes, that's right.
What did you say he did after he was shot?
I said he fell down.
Did he touch anything as he fell? Brush up against anything?
Well, when he fell, he grabbed the tablecloth, pulled it down with him.
Yes, ma'am. Well, then maybe you can explain how it was that all the things he used to clean the rifle and the gun itself were still on the table.
What?
How is it those things didn't come off the table when he pulled the cloth off?
I don't know what you're trying to get me to say.
Well, we'd like for you to tell us the truth.
I'm telling that.
All right, ma'am. When the crime lab went over your house, they found two places in the kitchen floor that had been filled in with plastic wood. The job didn't look very old.
Well, what's wrong with that? Jeff took good care of the house. He might have tried to plug up someplace where ants were getting in.
When the men from the lab dug up the patches, they found two.38 caliber bullets underneath. They checked them with a bullet that killed your son. The bullets came from the same gun.
I don't know what you're talking about. What does all this show?
You talked about the prowlers. Have you had trouble with them in the neighborhood?
That's right.
What actions did you take to stop this?
I called the police. Had them come out and try to find the person who was causing the trouble.
When did you call the police last?
Three weeks ago.
We've checked the reports, ma'am. There's no record of anyone having called the police to check prowlers in that neighborhood for the past six months.
Are you trying to make me out a liar? Is that what you're trying to do?
We're trying to get the truth.
Frank.
Yeah, Joe.
You want to check the office and see if Mr. Kurz is here yet?
Yeah, sure.
You brought my son here?
Yes, ma'am. We've got to get the truth to this.
Well, why did you have to get him involved in it?
Well, as I said, ma'am, we're trying to find the facts.
You don't believe what I've told you?
Well, no, ma'am. You've made it a little difficult.
How can you say that?
Well, first you tell us that nothing was touched, yet the physical setup doesn't make that possible.
You deny knowing anything about the gun when we find it, but we find two bullets that have been fired from the same gun embedded in the floor of the kitchen.
You told us about prowlers in the neighborhood, but there's no police record of it.
Your next door neighbor says she was out in front of her house all morning, but she didn't see anyone enter or leave your house.
We find the murder gun up in the attic.
You told us you saw the killer leave the house with a gun.
Your son died instantly. Now, can you tell us who put the gun there?
No, ma'am. There's too much here that doesn't tell.
They got you into this, didn't they, Harry?
Yes, mother.
They're trying to tell you that I killed Jeff.
They want me to tell them that I killed my own boy.
Tell them. Tell them I wouldn't do a thing like that.
Not my own boy.
I'm afraid I can't, mother.
What do you mean you can't?
The officers just told me about it.
Well, who are you going to believe, the policeman or me, your mother?
You don't give me much choice.
What?
I love you, mother. You've got to believe that. I know that whatever you did, you thought was right.
I know you didn't mean to hurt Jeff. I know that.
Then you think I killed him, too?
Don't you?
Harry, give me an answer.
You think I killed Jeff, don't you?
Yes, mother.
Well, I did.
I didn't think I meant to do it.
I think I just wanted to frighten him.
He was running around so much.
Those tramps, they were seeing terrible women.
I had to keep him home. I had to keep him with me.
It was all I had.
I'm not young anymore, Harry.
You went away, then Alice.
Jeff was all I had.
I didn't want him to leave, and he was going to.
We had an argument.
He was cleaning the gun.
I got the revolver.
That way I knew that I'd always have him with me, that he wouldn't leave.
I pulled the trigger, then I knew what I'd done.
That Jeff was gone, too.
I didn't know what I was doing.
I didn't know.
You've got to believe that, officer.
Yes, ma'am.
Do you believe me?
That I just wanted my boy?
I wanted to keep him.
That's all any mother wants.
I tried to keep my boy.
Maybe that's what was wrong.
What do you mean?
You tried too hard.
The story you have just heard was true.
The names were changed to protect the innocent.
On September 4th, trial was held in Department 87, Superior Court of the State of California,
in and for the County of Los Angeles.
In a moment, the results of that trial.
Now, here is our star, Jack Webb.
Each of our dragnet case histories is based entirely on facts taken from authentic police files,
and everything we tell you about Chesterfield is based on facts, too.
Chesterfield, for example, was the first to name its ingredients.
Chesterfield tells you what it's made of, because you should know what gives you the best possible smoke.
Now, that brings me to the report that George Fenomen and Hal Gibney read earlier.
That, too, is based entirely on facts.
Nose, throat, and accessory organs not adversely affected by smoking Chesterfield.
First such report ever published about any cigarette.
Remember this the next time you buy cigarettes and ask for Chesterfield.
Regular or king size, premium quality Chesterfield gives you the best possible smoke.
Edith A. Curtis was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree
and was sentenced to the state penitentiary for women to Hatchipi, California.
While serving her sentence there, she died from natural causes.
Murder in the first degree is punishable by death or confinement in the state penitentiary for life.
You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files.
Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department.
Technical advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher.
Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Herb Ellis, Helen Klebe, and Whit Conner.
Script by John Robinson, music by Walter Shuman, Hal Gibney speaking.
Tomorrow, sound off for Chesterfield.
Either way you like them, regular or king size, Chesterfield gives you the best possible smoke.
Much milder Chesterfield.
Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet, transcribed from Los Angeles.
This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.