WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:11.160 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. 00:11.160 --> 00:14.160 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:14.160 --> 00:18.480 Dragnet is brought to you by Chesterfield, made by Liggett and Myers. 00:18.480 --> 00:26.640 First major tobacco company to give you a complete line of quality cigarettes. 00:26.640 --> 00:35.280 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide detail. 00:35.280 --> 00:38.080 You get a call that a woman has been badly beaten. 00:38.080 --> 00:43.120 The circumstances indicate foul play. Your job, check it out. 00:43.120 --> 00:51.200 The nation's top golfers and sports writers have named Ben Hogan 00:51.200 --> 00:55.440 professional golfer of the year. Ben, of course, smokes Chesterfield. 00:55.440 --> 00:58.320 But let's hear what he has to say about them himself. 00:58.320 --> 01:01.920 I'm a Chesterfield smoker and have been for seven years. 01:01.920 --> 01:05.440 The reason is simple. Chesterfield is the best for me. 01:05.440 --> 01:09.840 They're milder and they taste great. Try them yourself. 01:09.840 --> 01:16.160 Take that suggestion from Ben Hogan today. Try Chesterfield, regular or king size. 01:16.160 --> 01:23.320 They're low in nicotine, highest in quality, really mild, really satisfying. 01:23.320 --> 01:28.320 Chesterfield, best for you. 01:28.320 --> 01:36.320 Dragnet, the documentary drama of an actual crime. 01:36.320 --> 01:40.320 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, 01:40.320 --> 01:44.320 you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case 01:44.320 --> 01:50.320 transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, 01:50.320 --> 02:00.320 Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 02:00.320 --> 02:03.320 It was Tuesday, November 17th. It was raining in Los Angeles. 02:03.320 --> 02:05.320 We were working the night watch out of homicide detail. 02:05.320 --> 02:07.320 My partner is Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Warman. 02:07.320 --> 02:09.320 My name is Friday. We were on our way back from the main jail 02:09.320 --> 02:15.320 and it was 11.27 p.m. when we got to room 42. Homicide. 02:15.320 --> 02:18.320 We've got to get that car radio fixed, Joe. It's getting worse all the time. 02:18.320 --> 02:20.320 Yeah, well, we can take it over in the morning. 02:20.320 --> 02:22.320 Thing almost knocked me right out of the seat when I called in the night. 02:22.320 --> 02:25.320 As soon as you press the button, bang, you get a shock. 02:25.320 --> 02:27.320 Yeah, well, I was out with Lope yesterday. He picked up the mic. 02:27.320 --> 02:28.320 I thought he was going to climb out of the window. 02:28.320 --> 02:31.320 Yeah, well, that's pretty funny as long as you don't have to use the thing. 02:31.320 --> 02:33.320 Well, it must be a short someplace, huh? 02:33.320 --> 02:37.320 Got to get it fixed. You know, I must have used the dollars where the dime's calling in today. 02:37.320 --> 02:39.320 If this keeps up, I'm going to have to give up lunches. 02:39.320 --> 02:41.320 Well, that wouldn't hurt you either. 02:41.320 --> 02:45.320 That's not kind, Joe. I've lost seven pounds in the last two weeks. 02:45.320 --> 02:47.320 Where? 02:47.320 --> 02:48.320 I'm going to see about a transfer. 02:48.320 --> 02:50.320 Well, let's finish up these reports when you get out of here. What do you say? 02:50.320 --> 02:51.320 Okay, I'm with you. 02:51.320 --> 02:53.320 Hot shot. I get it. 02:58.320 --> 03:00.320 That's a robbery call, a bar out in the Olympic. 03:00.320 --> 03:03.320 Oh, thought for a minute we were going to have to go out. 03:03.320 --> 03:06.320 All I want to do is get home and get some dry socks on. My feet are killing me. 03:06.320 --> 03:08.320 Yeah, well, I got an idea. 03:08.320 --> 03:12.320 If you'll stop talking and pick up a pencil, we can quit on time for a change. 03:12.320 --> 03:13.320 Another hot shot. 03:13.320 --> 03:17.320 I'll get it. 03:22.320 --> 03:23.320 Get your hat. It's beating out in Hollywood. 03:23.320 --> 03:24.320 Yeah? 03:24.320 --> 03:25.320 A woman found her laying in the gutter. 03:25.320 --> 03:26.320 Is she still alive? 03:26.320 --> 03:28.320 Was. When they got the call, we'd better step on it, though. 03:28.320 --> 03:30.320 They don't know how long she's going to last. 03:37.320 --> 03:40.320 When we got to the address we'd been given by the complaint board, 03:40.320 --> 03:43.320 two radio cars from Hollywood Division were already there. 03:43.320 --> 03:46.320 An ambulance had arrived and the crew was doing what they could for the victim. 03:46.320 --> 03:49.320 She was still alive, but the attendant said that she appeared to have a skull fracture 03:49.320 --> 03:51.320 in addition to possible internal injuries. 03:51.320 --> 03:53.320 From one of the officers who answered the call, 03:53.320 --> 03:57.320 we found that the victim had been sprawled across the sidewalk, her head in the gutter. 03:57.320 --> 04:01.320 Due to the heavy rain, a stream of water was running down and into a storm drain. 04:01.320 --> 04:03.320 The fact that the drain was above the victim's head 04:03.320 --> 04:06.320 appeared to be the only thing that saved her from drowning. 04:06.320 --> 04:08.320 The crime lab had been called and the men from Hollywood Division 04:08.320 --> 04:10.320 were doing what they could to keep the crowd back 04:10.320 --> 04:13.320 in order to preserve any physical evidence that might have been left. 04:13.320 --> 04:16.320 The victim appeared to be a woman in her early 40s. 04:16.320 --> 04:19.320 The clothes she wore looked expensive, but they were badly torn. 04:19.320 --> 04:21.320 Her face was cut and the men in the ambulance crew 04:21.320 --> 04:24.320 removed her immediately to Hollywood Emergency Hospital for treatment. 04:24.320 --> 04:28.320 An officer was assigned to her in the event she regained consciousness. 04:28.320 --> 04:32.320 When she was found, her left shoe was missing and there was no sign of any purse or wallet. 04:32.320 --> 04:36.320 None of the people who'd gathered in the crowd could give us an identification of her. 04:36.320 --> 04:39.320 The homes in the vicinity were large and the area was sparsely populated. 04:39.320 --> 04:44.320 The nearest house to the place where the victim was found was at least 300 feet down the street. 04:44.320 --> 04:47.320 We talked to the people in the crowd and found that the man who'd made the original call 04:47.320 --> 04:49.320 was still supposed to be there. 04:49.320 --> 04:52.320 We checked with the officers in the radio unit, but they said they hadn't seen him. 04:52.320 --> 04:57.320 From them, however, we found that the call had been from the home of a Mr. and Mrs. Roger Heflin. 04:57.320 --> 05:00.320 We contacted them and they came back to the scene and pointed out the man. 05:00.320 --> 05:02.320 Frank and I took them over to our car for questioning. 05:02.320 --> 05:04.320 All right, Johnson, you want to tell us what happened? 05:04.320 --> 05:05.320 I don't know. 05:05.320 --> 05:06.320 You called the police, didn't you? 05:06.320 --> 05:07.320 Yeah, I called them. 05:07.320 --> 05:08.320 You found her? 05:08.320 --> 05:10.320 Yes, sir. She was lying on the street like that. 05:10.320 --> 05:12.320 I got scared and I called the police. I thought maybe she was dead. 05:12.320 --> 05:14.320 What were you doing up here this time of night? 05:14.320 --> 05:15.320 Just walking around. 05:15.320 --> 05:16.320 You live up here, do you? 05:16.320 --> 05:17.320 No. 05:17.320 --> 05:18.320 Where do you live? 05:18.320 --> 05:19.320 Got a room down a fountain. 05:19.320 --> 05:21.320 Let me see your identification, will you please? 05:21.320 --> 05:23.320 Oh, yeah. Here's my wallet. 05:23.320 --> 05:24.320 Any money in it? 05:24.320 --> 05:25.320 No. 05:25.320 --> 05:26.320 All right, let me have it. 05:26.320 --> 05:28.320 Here you are. 05:28.320 --> 05:31.320 Is this your true name, Cecil August Johnson? 05:31.320 --> 05:32.320 Yeah. 05:32.320 --> 05:33.320 Who's Mary Johnson? 05:33.320 --> 05:34.320 Hmm? 05:34.320 --> 05:35.320 Hey, who's Mary Johnson? Who's she? 05:35.320 --> 05:36.320 My sister. 05:36.320 --> 05:38.320 Is this her address here on the card? 05:38.320 --> 05:39.320 Yeah. 05:39.320 --> 05:40.320 Hey, you aren't going to call her, are you? 05:40.320 --> 05:41.320 You aren't going to call her. 05:41.320 --> 05:42.320 Why? 05:42.320 --> 05:44.320 Well, she'd be pretty sure about it if you did. 05:44.320 --> 05:46.320 She don't like me for me to get mixed up with cops. 05:46.320 --> 05:47.320 She don't like it at all. 05:47.320 --> 05:48.320 You ever been in an institution? 05:48.320 --> 05:49.320 Hmm? 05:49.320 --> 05:50.320 State institution. You ever been in one? 05:50.320 --> 05:52.320 Yeah. I was in Camarillo once. 05:52.320 --> 05:54.320 How long ago did you get out? 05:54.320 --> 05:56.320 Oh, a long time ago. Three days. 05:56.320 --> 05:58.320 Long time ago. I haven't been there for a long time. 05:58.320 --> 05:59.320 What were you there for? 05:59.320 --> 06:00.320 Well, less than people. 06:00.320 --> 06:01.320 Who? 06:01.320 --> 06:02.320 I was in Camarillo. 06:02.320 --> 06:04.320 Why'd they send you there, fella? 06:04.320 --> 06:05.320 To get well. 06:05.320 --> 06:06.320 From what? 06:06.320 --> 06:07.320 Just well. 06:07.320 --> 06:08.320 Yeah, we know. 06:08.320 --> 06:10.320 And what'd they want you to get well from? 06:10.320 --> 06:12.320 I was never in Camarillo. 06:12.320 --> 06:14.320 You haven't been drinking, have you? 06:14.320 --> 06:15.320 Hmm? 06:15.320 --> 06:16.320 I said you haven't been drinking. 06:16.320 --> 06:17.320 Yeah, a little bit. 06:17.320 --> 06:18.320 Where? 06:18.320 --> 06:20.320 By down Highway Boulevard. 06:20.320 --> 06:22.320 When they sent you to the hospital, what was the reason? 06:22.320 --> 06:24.320 I never been to the hospital. 06:24.320 --> 06:25.320 They told us that you'd been in Camarillo. 06:25.320 --> 06:27.320 Well, that was to get well. 06:27.320 --> 06:29.320 Well, look, fella, we asked you before. What for? 06:29.320 --> 06:30.320 They thought I was molesting people. 06:30.320 --> 06:31.320 Were you? 06:31.320 --> 06:32.320 No, I didn't hurt anybody. 06:32.320 --> 06:33.320 Did they say you did? 06:33.320 --> 06:34.320 Yeah. 06:34.320 --> 06:35.320 Who? 06:35.320 --> 06:36.320 A lady. They said I hit her. 06:36.320 --> 06:37.320 Did you hit her? 06:37.320 --> 06:38.320 Huh? 06:38.320 --> 06:39.320 I said, did you hit the woman? 06:39.320 --> 06:40.320 No, I never hurt anybody. 06:40.320 --> 06:42.320 You know who the woman is that you found? 06:42.320 --> 06:44.320 You're not going to call my sister, are you? 06:44.320 --> 06:45.320 Do you know who the woman is? 06:45.320 --> 06:46.320 What woman? 06:46.320 --> 06:47.320 Now, look, fella, pay attention. 06:47.320 --> 06:49.320 The one you found tonight. 06:49.320 --> 06:51.320 Yeah, I've known her for a long time. 06:51.320 --> 06:52.320 What's her name? 06:52.320 --> 06:53.320 Grace. 06:53.320 --> 06:54.320 You know her last name? 06:54.320 --> 06:55.320 Hmm? 06:55.320 --> 06:56.320 Do you know her last name? 06:56.320 --> 06:57.320 No. 06:57.320 --> 07:00.320 You know, I never really been in Camarillo. 07:00.320 --> 07:01.320 I just told you that. 07:01.320 --> 07:02.320 That's so. 07:02.320 --> 07:03.320 Why? 07:03.320 --> 07:04.320 I don't know. 07:04.320 --> 07:05.320 Just sometimes I like to do things like that. 07:05.320 --> 07:06.320 I don't have no reason. 07:06.320 --> 07:07.320 I just like to do it. 07:07.320 --> 07:10.320 Like, once I told my sister I killed a man, she almost fainted. 07:10.320 --> 07:12.320 I just like to do that once in a while. 07:12.320 --> 07:13.320 Things get dull. 07:13.320 --> 07:14.320 I like to get them started. 07:14.320 --> 07:15.320 Where'd you meet Grace? 07:15.320 --> 07:16.320 Bar down in Hollywood. 07:16.320 --> 07:17.320 I go in there all the time. 07:17.320 --> 07:18.320 I met her there. 07:18.320 --> 07:19.320 Did you meet her there at night? 07:19.320 --> 07:20.320 Yeah. 07:20.320 --> 07:21.320 Yeah, she was there. 07:21.320 --> 07:22.320 I said she had a fight with her old man. 07:22.320 --> 07:23.320 Said they had a real beef. 07:23.320 --> 07:24.320 She told me you hit her. 07:24.320 --> 07:25.320 Belted her right in the mouth. 07:25.320 --> 07:26.320 What do you think of a guy do a thing like that? 07:26.320 --> 07:27.320 I don't know. 07:27.320 --> 07:30.320 Any man do a thing like that, he's no good. 07:30.320 --> 07:31.320 No good at all. 07:31.320 --> 07:32.320 They said I did it too. 07:32.320 --> 07:33.320 Told my sister I hit a woman. 07:33.320 --> 07:34.320 Who said that? 07:34.320 --> 07:35.320 Other cops when they arrested me. 07:35.320 --> 07:36.320 When was this? 07:36.320 --> 07:37.320 When I was at Camarilla to get well. 07:37.320 --> 07:38.320 You under a doctor's care now? 07:38.320 --> 07:39.320 No. 07:39.320 --> 07:40.320 I got real well at Camarilla. 07:40.320 --> 07:41.320 Real well. 07:41.320 --> 07:42.320 They let me go. 07:42.320 --> 07:43.320 You just got through telling us that you'd never been there. 07:43.320 --> 07:44.320 I'm a liar. 07:44.320 --> 07:45.320 You can't believe anything I say. 07:45.320 --> 07:46.320 I'm a real liar. 07:46.320 --> 07:47.320 My sister's all the time saying that about me. 07:47.320 --> 07:48.320 She says I'm a liar. 07:48.320 --> 07:49.320 That's one of the reasons she used to get so angry. 07:49.320 --> 07:50.320 I'm a liar. 07:50.320 --> 07:51.320 I'm a liar. 07:51.320 --> 07:52.320 I'm a real liar. 07:52.320 --> 07:53.320 I'm a real liar. 07:53.320 --> 07:58.320 My sister's all the time saying that about me. 07:58.320 --> 07:59.320 I'm a liar. 07:59.320 --> 08:00.320 That's one of the reasons she used to get so angry. 08:00.320 --> 08:01.320 I'm such a liar. 08:01.320 --> 08:02.320 I was never there. 08:02.320 --> 08:03.320 You know where this Grace lived? 08:03.320 --> 08:04.320 No. 08:04.320 --> 08:05.320 I think it was up on Ledgewood Drive. 08:05.320 --> 08:06.320 I think that's where it was, on Ledgewood Drive. 08:06.320 --> 08:07.320 You know where the house is? 08:07.320 --> 08:08.320 I never saw it. 08:08.320 --> 08:11.320 I was going to go up there one day and punch your old man in the nose. 08:11.320 --> 08:12.320 You know, because he hit Grace? 08:12.320 --> 08:14.320 I was plenty sore about it. 08:14.320 --> 08:15.320 He gave her a black eye. 08:15.320 --> 08:16.320 I was plenty sore. 08:16.320 --> 08:17.320 But I didn't. 08:17.320 --> 08:18.320 You know why? 08:18.320 --> 08:19.320 You tell us. 08:19.320 --> 08:21.320 Because I thought my sister would get mad at me. 08:21.320 --> 08:23.320 She always gets mad when I get in fights. 08:23.320 --> 08:25.320 And when I lie, she gets real sore. 08:25.320 --> 08:27.320 She's got no sense of humor. 08:27.320 --> 08:30.320 There's a guy at the hospital who had a real sense of humor. 08:30.320 --> 08:31.320 He was funny. 08:31.320 --> 08:33.320 He had a piece of inner tube and he wore it like a hat. 08:33.320 --> 08:34.320 Floppy, you know? 08:34.320 --> 08:36.320 He had a real great sense of humor. 08:36.320 --> 08:39.320 But my sister, she don't like anybody to laugh. 08:39.320 --> 08:42.320 How many times have you been arrested, fella? 08:42.320 --> 08:43.320 Maybe a couple. 08:43.320 --> 08:44.320 Here in Los Angeles? 08:44.320 --> 08:45.320 Yeah. 08:45.320 --> 08:46.320 All the time in L.A. 08:46.320 --> 08:47.320 Cops here don't like me. 08:47.320 --> 08:48.320 They've got no sense of humor. 08:48.320 --> 08:49.320 None. 08:49.320 --> 08:50.320 I never saw such dull cops. 08:50.320 --> 08:51.320 All right, Johnson, you wait here. 08:51.320 --> 08:54.320 We've got a few things to check out and then we want to take you downtown. 08:54.320 --> 08:56.320 You aren't going to arrest me, are you? 08:56.320 --> 08:57.320 We'll see. 08:57.320 --> 08:58.320 Well, I hope not. 08:58.320 --> 09:00.320 My sister, she'd be real sore. 09:00.320 --> 09:01.320 Johnson? 09:01.320 --> 09:02.320 Hmm? 09:02.320 --> 09:03.320 Tell me something. 09:03.320 --> 09:04.320 Did you hit her? 09:04.320 --> 09:05.320 You mean did I hit Grace? 09:05.320 --> 09:06.320 Is that what you mean? 09:06.320 --> 09:07.320 That's what I mean. 09:07.320 --> 09:08.320 No. 09:08.320 --> 09:11.320 I met her tonight and she asked me to take a walk with her. 09:11.320 --> 09:12.320 To take a walk, that's all. 09:12.320 --> 09:14.320 Then all of a sudden she was lying on the ground. 09:14.320 --> 09:15.320 I was pretty drunk. 09:15.320 --> 09:16.320 I didn't know what happened. 09:16.320 --> 09:20.320 Just all of a sudden she was there and I got scared and I called the cops. 09:20.320 --> 09:21.320 But I didn't hit her. 09:21.320 --> 09:25.320 I wouldn't do a thing like that to Grace, not me. 09:25.320 --> 09:28.320 You believe that, don't you? 09:28.320 --> 09:31.320 Well, don't you? 09:31.320 --> 09:33.320 You've got to buy it. 09:33.320 --> 09:34.320 You've got to because it's the truth. 09:34.320 --> 09:35.320 Is that right? 09:35.320 --> 09:36.320 Sure. 09:36.320 --> 09:37.320 It's the truth. 09:37.320 --> 09:38.320 Every word. 09:38.320 --> 09:41.320 Well, you said it yourself, didn't you? 09:41.320 --> 09:42.320 Hmm? 09:42.320 --> 09:46.320 You're a liar. 09:46.320 --> 09:47.320 12.52 AM. 09:47.320 --> 09:51.320 While one of the officers from a radio unit stood by with Cecil Johnson, we talked with 09:51.320 --> 09:53.320 Lieutenant Lee Jones from the crime lab. 09:53.320 --> 09:57.320 He told us what footprints they'd found in the immediate vicinity of the victim had been 09:57.320 --> 09:58.320 destroyed by the rain. 09:58.320 --> 10:02.320 He told us that his crew was unable to find any useful physical evidence. 10:02.320 --> 10:05.320 The area was searched, but we failed to find either the missing left shoe or the woman's 10:05.320 --> 10:07.320 purse, if she'd carried one. 10:07.320 --> 10:10.320 We put in a call to the Hollywood Receiving Hospital. 10:10.320 --> 10:15.320 Dr. Elwin Terrell told us that the victim was suffering from a fracture of the skull and apparently several broken ribs. 10:15.820 --> 10:19.320 He told us that the woman was in a deep coma and she couldn't be questioned at that time. 10:19.820 --> 10:23.320 We asked him to contact us through the business office in the event that she regained consciousness. 10:23.820 --> 10:26.820 We questioned the people in the neighborhood, but they were of no aid. 10:27.320 --> 10:32.320 None of them recalled hearing any automobiles on the streets, and none of them could testify as to the people loitering in the area. 10:32.820 --> 10:37.820 One ten a.m. We took Cecil Johnson and had him detained at the city jail pending further investigation. 10:37.820 --> 10:43.820 A check of his record showed that he'd been sent to Camarillo twice on charges of molesting and violation of Section 245 P.C. 10:44.320 --> 10:47.320 He'd been released into the custody of his sister three weeks previously. 10:47.820 --> 10:52.820 Before he was placed in a cell, we got the name and address of the bar where he said he'd met the woman he called Grace. 10:53.320 --> 10:58.320 One forty a.m. Frank and I drove out to the place. It was located on Hollywood Boulevard near Las Palmas Avenue. 10:58.820 --> 11:02.820 There was only one other customer in the place when we went in. The bartender was cleaning up for the night. 11:04.320 --> 11:05.320 What'll it be? 11:05.820 --> 11:06.820 We're looking for Amel. 11:06.820 --> 11:10.320 I'm him. What do you want? It's none of that lousy Jackie, is it? 11:10.820 --> 11:11.820 What's that? 11:12.320 --> 11:14.320 You're cops, aren't you? Isn't this about Jackie? 11:14.820 --> 11:15.820 We're police officers, yeah. 11:16.320 --> 11:20.320 You gotta understand, I thought he was an actor. You know, I thought he was just hanging around the place to take work calls. 11:20.820 --> 11:23.320 That's what he told me. I didn't have no way of knowing different. 11:23.820 --> 11:24.320 There's the truth. 11:24.820 --> 11:27.320 We don't know anything about Jackie. We'd like to ask you some questions about a man named Cecil Johnson. 11:27.820 --> 11:31.320 That crackpot? You know, I thought you were after me because of Jackie. 11:31.820 --> 11:33.820 Oh, there it goes again. Excuse me. 11:34.320 --> 11:35.320 Yeah. 11:35.320 --> 11:37.320 Hello? Here it is. 11:37.820 --> 11:39.820 No, he ain't here anymore. 11:40.320 --> 11:44.820 What? I don't care how the horse did. Jackie ain't here. Now, don't call me no more. 11:46.320 --> 11:49.820 You see, this guy Jackie's a book. All the time he's using my phone and I don't know it. 11:50.320 --> 11:53.820 Yesterday a couple of cops come in and put their arm on him. All day the phone's been ringing. 11:54.320 --> 11:57.820 From what they say, he's lucky he got arrested. He must have lost his shirt yesterday. 11:58.320 --> 12:00.820 Horse came in that paid 20 to 1. Boy, he really must have had it. 12:01.320 --> 12:02.820 I see. Now, what do you know about the Cecil Johnson? 12:02.820 --> 12:05.320 That creep. A real creep. Did you see him tonight? 12:05.820 --> 12:07.320 Yeah, he was in. By what time? 12:07.820 --> 12:12.320 Let's see. It was just before the fight on TV. That'll make it about 6.45. 12:12.820 --> 12:14.320 Yeah, about that. About 6.45. 12:14.820 --> 12:17.320 He come in alone? Oh, yeah. Always does. He don't have no friends. 12:17.820 --> 12:19.320 What time did he leave? Do you remember? 12:19.820 --> 12:27.320 Well, he stayed around and watched the fight, got into an argument with a guy, then he left about, let's see, I guess it must have been about 9.30, quarter of 10. 12:27.820 --> 12:30.320 You know a woman named Grace? We understand she's in here quite a bit. 12:30.320 --> 12:33.820 Grace, huh? We've only got a couple of Graces come in here. What's yours look like? 12:34.320 --> 12:36.820 About 42, dark hair, wearing a tweed coat. 12:37.320 --> 12:39.820 Excuse me a minute, huh? Yeah. 12:41.320 --> 12:45.820 Hello? Yeah, it is. No, he's not here. He won't be back, so stop calling. 12:46.320 --> 12:51.820 I don't care if it did pay that. Look, bud, I got no part in the action. Now, forget the number, huh? Jackie's gone. He's in the can. 12:52.320 --> 12:55.820 Yeah, he's pinched. Now, lay off, huh? 12:55.820 --> 13:01.320 Now, let's see, dark hair, tweed coat. Oh, yeah, that'll be Grace Dillon. 13:01.820 --> 13:04.320 Dillon? Yeah, she's pretty much of a regular. 13:04.820 --> 13:10.320 D-I-L-L-O-N. Yeah, I guess so. D-I-L-L-O-N. I guess that's the way to spell it. 13:10.820 --> 13:12.320 Well, what's all the questions? Something wrong? 13:12.820 --> 13:15.320 What time was she in here tonight? Who says she was? 13:15.820 --> 13:22.320 Well, that's what we understand. Oh. Oh, yeah, well, there's nothing wrong around here. No reason not to cooperate. She was here come in about 8. 13:22.820 --> 13:23.320 What time did she leave? 13:23.320 --> 13:25.820 What time did she leave? Well, I guess it was 9.30, 9.45. 13:26.320 --> 13:28.820 Did she leave alone? I ain't got to think about that. 13:29.320 --> 13:32.820 Lots of people in here with the fights, you know. Let me think. 13:33.320 --> 13:35.820 I'm gonna tear that thing right out of the wall. 13:36.320 --> 13:40.820 He ain't here. He's been pinched. I don't know when he'll be back, and I don't care. 13:41.320 --> 13:45.820 You know, comp to think about it, I think she left with that Cecil. Johnson? Yeah. 13:46.320 --> 13:50.820 Do you want him to have much to drink, you know? Well, Cecil had a couple of beers. It's all he needs. Don't take much with him. 13:50.820 --> 13:55.320 How about the dillum woman? She was feeling no pain when she got here. Really carrying a load. 13:55.820 --> 13:59.320 I finally told her to take a walk, told her I couldn't serve her no more. That's when she left. 13:59.820 --> 14:05.320 Her and Cecil were sitting right there next to each other. When I told her I wouldn't pour no more for her, she got hacked, and her and Cecil left. 14:05.820 --> 14:09.320 You know where she lives? Not right off. I can look it up. We keep a list of people who come in here. 14:09.820 --> 14:13.320 Send them announcements about things, like when we get a new piano playing, things like that. I see. 14:13.820 --> 14:16.320 I can look it up for you. Just take a minute. Fine, thanks. 14:16.320 --> 14:20.820 C-A-B-C... Oh, here it is. 14:21.320 --> 14:25.820 Darby, Dexter, Dibbs. I wish he'd come in and pick up the tab we're carrying. 14:26.320 --> 14:29.820 Oh, let's see here. Here it is. Here it is. 2917, Ledgewood Drive. 14:30.320 --> 14:31.820 2917. Thank you. 14:32.320 --> 14:34.820 You can take the card if you want. Don't make any difference to me if she never comes back. 14:35.320 --> 14:38.820 The way she carried on tonight, people just don't understand. 14:39.320 --> 14:44.820 What's that? You can just serve them so much. After that, you're pouring a hundred-proof trouble. You gotta shut them off sometime. 14:44.820 --> 14:46.320 Uh-huh. Has she ever come in here with her husband? 14:46.820 --> 14:48.320 Dylan? Yeah. 14:48.820 --> 14:53.320 A couple of times. Quite a while ago, though. They came in late one night, sat back there in the booth, had a couple of quick belts. 14:53.820 --> 15:00.320 He drinks Irish whiskey, likes it neat. They had a big beef. I finally had to go back and ask him to go out. He's a real bum. He's mean. 15:00.820 --> 15:02.320 Uh-huh. Yeah. 15:02.820 --> 15:05.320 The kind of guy where to know him is to hate him. You know the kind? Yeah. 15:07.820 --> 15:12.320 He ain't here. I don't care how much you lost. He's in the can and what... What? 15:12.320 --> 15:20.820 Oh, yeah, honey. Well, I didn't know it was you. Uh-huh. Yeah, I'll be home early, soon as I close up. Right. 15:21.320 --> 15:28.820 Yeah, well, I do, too. What? All right, honey. I love you. 15:29.320 --> 15:37.820 I do, too, mean it. Look, honey, there's a couple of men here I gotta talk to. Well, yeah, as soon as I close up. Yeah. Good-bye, honey. What? 15:37.820 --> 15:44.320 Oh, yeah. Yeah, all right. There. Bye. 15:44.820 --> 15:50.320 It's the wife. We've just been married a couple of weeks. She's kind of a... You know. Yeah. 15:50.820 --> 15:58.320 Did Dillon ever hit his wife, would you know? Yeah, he did. She came in here one night with a mouse that had no end. Said her old man gave it to her. 15:58.820 --> 16:03.320 Say, what's all this about, anyway? There's something wrong with Grace? Something happened to her? Well, we don't know yet. 16:03.320 --> 16:10.820 Well, let me give you this for free. If there's anything happened to her, 621 even was her old man. It's a real bum. He's mean. 16:11.320 --> 16:16.820 Anything wrong, and it's him that caused it. You better talk to him. You'll find out. All right, sir. Thank you very much. Yes, sir, we will. Thanks. 16:17.320 --> 16:23.820 No, not at all. Glad to help out. All right. Good night. Say, you guys going downtown? Yeah, that's right. To the jail? Yeah. 16:24.320 --> 16:30.820 Well, if you see Jackie, will you give him a message for me? All right. What's that? Tell him if he gets out, I don't want him back here no more. Okay. 16:30.820 --> 16:33.320 Guy ties up my phone. 16:37.820 --> 16:43.320 2 26 a.m. We got a description of the victim's husband and checked the name through R&I. We were unable to come up with any criminal record on him. 16:43.820 --> 16:50.320 Frank and I drove out to the address given us by the bartender. It was a large English stucco house, five blocks from where Grace Dillon had been found. 16:50.820 --> 16:55.320 We rang the bell and waited. An elderly woman answered the door and told us that Herman Dillon was not in. 16:55.320 --> 17:03.820 She explained that she was a babysitter and that she'd been called to take care of the couple's three children. She went on to say that Mr. Dillon left the house at approximately 10, 15 p.m. and had not yet returned. 17:04.320 --> 17:12.820 We called the office and arranged for a stakeout to be set up on the house. While we waited for the officers to arrive, the babysitter told us that the Dillons had constant fights. 17:13.320 --> 17:17.820 She said that on several occasions Mr. Dillon threatened to kill his wife if she didn't spend more time at home taking care of the children. 17:17.820 --> 17:26.320 She went on to explain that there'd been an argument that evening and that after a loud fight, the wife had left the house. After she'd been gone for over an hour, Herman Dillon left to find her. 17:26.820 --> 17:32.320 Three-oh-two a.m. The officers arrived. We asked them to wait for the husband to return and then to notify us immediately. 17:32.820 --> 17:37.320 Frank and I drove downtown and checked into the crime lab. We talked with Lieutenant Lee Jones regarding his findings. 17:37.820 --> 17:42.320 He told us that he'd gone over the victim's clothing, but he was unable to find any physical evidence to help us in finding her assailant. 17:42.320 --> 17:47.820 Three-forty-six a.m. We checked into the office and put in a call to the hospital. How do you spell that, Doc? Huh? 17:49.320 --> 17:53.820 A-D-E. Yes, sir. Do you have any idea when that might be? 17:55.320 --> 17:58.820 I see, sir. Well, if you'll let us know. Right. 17:59.320 --> 18:02.820 You have the business office here. We'll know how to reach it. Right. 18:03.320 --> 18:05.820 Thanks again. Good night, Doc. How is she? 18:06.320 --> 18:09.820 Well, the doctor says he's finished his examination. She's got a frontal bone fracture. 18:09.820 --> 18:12.320 Three broken ribs, cuts and contusions. Is she gonna be all right? 18:12.820 --> 18:15.320 Yeah, you think so. So she might come out of it any time. 18:15.820 --> 18:17.320 Says it looks like she might have been thrown from a car. 18:17.820 --> 18:20.320 Well, that would explain the missing shoe and purse, wouldn't it? Yeah. 18:20.820 --> 18:23.320 You have any idea when we can talk to her? No. Might not do any good anyway. 18:23.820 --> 18:28.320 What do you mean? Well, the doc says this kind of fracture can produce a retrograde amnesia. 18:28.320 --> 18:42.820 Huh? She won't remember anything. 18:43.320 --> 18:47.820 You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action. 18:48.320 --> 18:52.820 It's taking place at your dealers, cigarette dealers coast to coast. 18:53.320 --> 18:56.820 Smokers by the thousands are now changing to Chesterfield. 18:56.820 --> 19:05.320 Join them today, and you'll be smoking the only cigarette that gives you proof of low nicotine highest quality. 19:05.820 --> 19:09.320 I want you to know that's a matter of record. And so is this. 19:09.820 --> 19:16.320 As I've been telling you, Chesterfield is the only cigarette with this proven record with smokers. 19:16.820 --> 19:22.320 No adverse effects to the nose, throat and sinuses from smoking Chesterfield. 19:22.320 --> 19:26.820 Good reasons why you should change to Chesterfield? You bet. 19:27.320 --> 19:32.820 Ask for Chesterfield. Regular or king size, best for you. 19:33.320 --> 19:45.820 Four-oh-two a.m. Frank and I signed out of the office and we went home. 19:46.320 --> 19:49.820 At five-thirteen a.m. I got a call that the husband of the victim, Herman Dillon, had returned home. 19:49.820 --> 19:53.320 The officers had called and said they were bringing him down to the city hall. 19:53.820 --> 19:57.320 I got in touch with Frank and by the time we got to the squad room, Dillon was already there. 19:57.820 --> 20:00.320 He appeared dazed and acted as if he'd been drinking heavily. 20:00.820 --> 20:05.320 We sent out for some black coffee for him. He apparently didn't know what had happened to his wife. 20:05.820 --> 20:08.320 What's all this about anyway? What are you dragging me out of my house like this for? 20:08.820 --> 20:10.320 Got a few questions we want to ask you, Dillon. 20:10.820 --> 20:13.320 What do you got that's so important you got to go through it at six in the morning? 20:13.820 --> 20:15.320 When did you see your wife last? 20:15.820 --> 20:17.320 About seven-thirty last night. Why? 20:17.320 --> 20:18.820 How do you and your wife get along? 20:19.320 --> 20:20.820 We've been married for ten years. 20:21.320 --> 20:22.820 That's not much of an answer, mister. 20:23.320 --> 20:25.820 You're not married. You've been married ten years and it's an answer. 20:26.320 --> 20:28.820 You've been married ten years, it's all the answer you need. 20:29.320 --> 20:30.820 Well, maybe you'd better spell it out for me. 20:31.320 --> 20:35.820 After that long, you have a few disagreements bound to, you know, being together all that time. 20:36.320 --> 20:37.820 You and your wife have a disagreement last night, did you? 20:38.320 --> 20:39.820 Yeah, we had a discussion. 20:40.320 --> 20:40.820 What about? 20:41.320 --> 20:42.820 I don't think that's any of your business. 20:43.320 --> 20:44.820 Yeah, well, maybe it is. Now, what'd you argue about? 20:44.820 --> 20:49.320 Running around. It wasn't a real argument, just a discussion. 20:49.820 --> 20:51.320 Well, we got it. It was more than that. 20:51.820 --> 20:52.320 Then you got it wrong. 20:52.820 --> 20:53.320 We heard you hit her a couple of times. 20:53.820 --> 20:59.320 That's a lie. I might have shoved her a little. She had it coming though, all the time running around. 20:59.820 --> 21:03.320 We got three kids, three little kids, and she doesn't care that for them. 21:03.820 --> 21:07.320 Always going out, hanging around those cheap bars, boozing it up. 21:07.820 --> 21:11.320 I came home the other night, she'd walked out and left the kids all alone, all by themselves. 21:11.820 --> 21:12.320 Didn't even get a sitter for them. 21:12.820 --> 21:13.320 Where you been tonight? 21:13.320 --> 21:15.820 Why? Why you have to know that? 21:16.320 --> 21:16.820 You want to tell us? 21:17.320 --> 21:22.820 Yeah. After Grace and me had the fight, she walked out. I waited for her to come home. Then when she didn't, I went out to find her. 21:23.320 --> 21:24.820 Did you? Did you find her? 21:25.320 --> 21:28.820 No, I looked all over for her. All the bars along the boulevard, but she wasn't there. 21:29.320 --> 21:30.820 Where you been since the bars closed? 21:31.320 --> 21:31.820 Walking around. 21:32.320 --> 21:32.820 In all this rain? 21:33.320 --> 21:36.820 Yeah. I've been trying to figure out what to do, trying to make up my mind. 21:37.320 --> 21:37.820 About what? 21:38.320 --> 21:40.820 What I should do with Grace. Things can't go on like this, they just can't. 21:40.820 --> 21:43.320 You've heard from some of your wife's friends that you made threats in their lives, is that right? 21:43.820 --> 21:44.320 Who told you that? 21:44.820 --> 21:46.320 We just heard it, is it true? 21:46.820 --> 21:52.320 Yeah, I suppose so. If I'd have found her tonight, I'd have maybe killed her. I've never been so mad before. 21:52.820 --> 21:54.320 You see anybody you knew tonight? 21:54.820 --> 21:55.320 What? 21:55.820 --> 21:57.320 When you were walking around, did you see anybody you knew? 21:57.820 --> 21:58.320 No, why? 21:58.820 --> 22:00.320 When you got no way to prove where you were. 22:00.820 --> 22:01.320 Why do I have to do that? 22:01.820 --> 22:02.320 Might make things easier on you. 22:02.820 --> 22:09.320 Hey, what's this all about anyway? Why you asking all these questions about me and Grace? What are you trying to say? Where is Grace? 22:09.320 --> 22:09.820 You know? 22:10.320 --> 22:10.820 Yeah. 22:11.320 --> 22:12.820 Well, where is she? What's happened to her? 22:13.320 --> 22:14.820 She's in the hospital. She had an accident. It's pretty bad. 22:15.320 --> 22:15.820 What kind of an accident? 22:16.320 --> 22:16.820 Looks like she was beaten. 22:17.320 --> 22:17.820 And you think I did it? 22:18.320 --> 22:18.820 Might have been you. 22:19.320 --> 22:19.820 Is she alive? 22:20.320 --> 22:20.820 Yeah. 22:21.320 --> 22:22.820 You think I beat her up? 22:23.320 --> 22:23.820 Did you? 22:24.320 --> 22:26.820 No, I maybe wanted to, knocked some sense into her, but I didn't do it. 22:27.320 --> 22:27.820 You proved where you were tonight? 22:28.320 --> 22:28.820 Why? 22:29.320 --> 22:29.820 Can you prove where you were? 22:30.320 --> 22:33.820 No, I don't even know myself. Hey, you really think I did it? 22:34.320 --> 22:34.820 That's what we're trying to find out. 22:35.320 --> 22:37.820 You know, I was pretty drunk tonight. I was trying to find out what happened. 22:37.820 --> 22:40.320 You know, I was pretty drunk tonight. I got real loaded. That's a terrible point. 22:40.820 --> 22:41.320 Yeah, let me see your hands, will you? 22:41.820 --> 22:42.320 Why? 22:42.820 --> 22:43.320 Let me see them. 22:43.820 --> 22:44.320 Why? 22:44.820 --> 22:45.320 Put them up there, both of them. 22:45.820 --> 22:46.320 Here. 22:46.820 --> 22:47.320 Where'd you get those bruises? 22:47.820 --> 22:48.320 I don't know. I don't remember. 22:48.820 --> 22:49.320 You better try. This is pretty important. 22:49.820 --> 22:50.320 I told you I was drunk. 22:50.820 --> 22:52.320 There's only one thing that'll put bruises like that on your hands. 22:52.820 --> 22:53.320 Yeah? 22:53.820 --> 22:54.320 You hit something pretty hard. 23:00.820 --> 23:03.320 Herman Dillon was detained pending further investigation. 23:03.820 --> 23:06.320 We'd called the hospital, but there was no change in Mrs. Dillon's condition. 23:06.320 --> 23:10.820 Because of the lack of physical evidence, her testimony was essential in apprehending the person who'd beaten her. 23:11.320 --> 23:15.820 We had two prime suspects. Cecil Johnson, who was known to have been in her company when she left the bar. 23:16.320 --> 23:18.820 Johnson's record indicated that he was capable of committing the crime. 23:19.320 --> 23:21.820 On the other hand, the victim's husband had stated that he might kill her. 23:22.320 --> 23:24.820 He was unable to explain his movements at the time of the attack. 23:25.320 --> 23:31.820 The only person who could tell us the true story was the victim herself, and we had the doctor's statement that she might not remember the events immediately leading up to the beating. 23:31.820 --> 23:39.320 At 10.14 a.m. the following morning, the officer called from the hospital telling us that Mrs. Dillon had regained consciousness and could be questioned. 23:39.820 --> 23:43.320 The doctor told us that she was calling for her husband and asked that we bring Dillon with us. 23:43.820 --> 23:47.320 We went by the city jail and picked him up, and then we drove over to the hospital. 23:47.820 --> 23:51.320 The doctor told us that Mrs. Dillon was in a weak condition and that we couldn't talk to her at any length. 23:51.820 --> 23:54.320 Frank, Dillon, and I went into her room and waited for her to open her eyes. 23:54.820 --> 23:55.320 Is that you, Herman? 23:55.820 --> 23:56.320 Yes, dear. 23:56.820 --> 24:00.320 You're not mad at me, are you? You're not still mad at me? 24:00.320 --> 24:01.820 No, dear, I'm not. 24:02.320 --> 24:06.820 Oh, that's good. I was afraid you still were mad. 24:07.320 --> 24:12.820 You know, Herman, you shouldn't have hit me like you did. I know maybe I had a reason, but you shouldn't have hit me. 24:13.320 --> 24:14.820 Can you tell us what happened, Mrs. Dillon? 24:15.320 --> 24:15.820 Who are you? 24:16.320 --> 24:16.820 Police officers. 24:17.320 --> 24:17.820 What are you doing here? 24:18.320 --> 24:19.820 Trying to find out who did this to you. 24:20.320 --> 24:21.820 Wasn't anybody did it. 24:22.320 --> 24:22.820 Who? 24:23.320 --> 24:25.820 Wasn't anybody. I did it myself. So I did it all by myself. 24:26.320 --> 24:27.820 I don't believe I understand, Mrs. Dillon. 24:27.820 --> 24:34.320 Herman and me had a fight and I walked out. I was going to leave him. I went down and had a few drinks, just a few. 24:34.820 --> 24:42.320 And I got to thinking about me and Herman. How I was such a bad wife. I got to thinking about the kids and how I was a bad mother. 24:42.820 --> 24:46.320 You aren't still mad at me, are you, Herman? Really, in your heart? 24:46.820 --> 24:49.320 No, Grace, I'm glad you're going to be all right. That's all that counts. 24:49.820 --> 24:51.320 You want to tell us what happened, Mrs. Dillon, please? 24:51.320 --> 25:00.820 I was on my way home. I was going back. Cecil was walking home with me. It was raining pretty hard and we came to a gutter that was full of water. 25:01.320 --> 25:05.820 I stepped up on the curb to go around and I didn't want to step in the water and I fell. 25:06.320 --> 25:11.820 Fell down the hill, rolled all the way to the bottom, all the way to the next street. 25:12.320 --> 25:17.820 I remember falling. I remember laying in the street down below and how I couldn't move. 25:17.820 --> 25:24.320 I didn't know about anything else after that. Until just when you got here, Len, I don't remember much of anything. 25:24.820 --> 25:27.320 You mean that you fell down yourself, that nobody beat you up, huh? 25:27.820 --> 25:36.320 No. Herman hit me when I was home. He got mad at me and hit me. But he was right. You were right, honey, real right. 25:36.820 --> 25:42.320 But it's going to be different, I promise you, just as long as you ain't still mad at me. That's all that matters, that you ain't mad. 25:42.320 --> 25:47.820 Now take it easy, honey. Everything's going to be all right. Just take it easy and try to get some sleep. 25:48.320 --> 25:55.820 I love you, Herman. I love you very much. And I'm going to make it all up to you, all the bad times. I'm going to make it all up to you. 25:56.320 --> 25:59.820 I love you too, Grace. Now you go to sleep. Get some rest. 26:00.320 --> 26:01.820 All right, honey. 26:01.820 --> 26:13.320 All right, thank you, Mrs. Dillon. We better go. You going to want me anywhere, Sergeant? 26:13.820 --> 26:15.320 No, I don't think so. 26:15.820 --> 26:18.320 I wonder if she means it, if she really does. 26:18.820 --> 26:19.320 What's that? 26:19.820 --> 26:21.320 About making it up to the kids, how things are going to be different. 26:21.820 --> 26:23.320 I don't know. She said she would. 26:23.320 --> 26:34.820 That's just it. She said it so many times before. 26:35.320 --> 26:39.820 The story you have just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. 26:40.320 --> 26:45.820 On November 18th, the meeting was held in the Captain's Office Homicide Division. In a moment, the results of that meeting. 26:46.320 --> 26:47.820 Now here is our star, Jack Webb. 26:47.820 --> 26:53.320 Thank you, George Fenomen. Friends, we've been getting letters from people all over the country telling us that they've switched to Chesterfield. 26:53.820 --> 27:01.320 Now just as I've been telling you, thousands of smokers are changing to Chesterfield because only Chesterfield gives proof of low nicotine, highest quality. 27:01.820 --> 27:10.320 That's why I recommend you try them today. Regular or king size, Chesterfields are really mild, really satisfying. Best for you. 27:10.320 --> 27:23.820 Since no crime had been committed, no legal action was taken against Mr. and Mrs. Dillon. 27:24.320 --> 27:30.820 Cecil August Johnson was removed to Room 5, Georgia Street Receiving Hospital for further psychiatric examination. 27:30.820 --> 27:44.320 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 27:44.820 --> 27:49.320 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 27:49.820 --> 27:54.320 Technical advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Fance Brasher. 27:54.820 --> 27:59.320 Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Jack Crouchon, Vivi Janis, Harry Bartel. 27:59.320 --> 28:05.820 Script by John Robinson. Music by Walter Schuman. Hal Gibney speaking. 28:06.320 --> 28:11.820 Watch an entirely new Dragnet case history each week on your local NBC television station. 28:12.320 --> 28:16.820 Please check your newspapers for the day and time. 28:17.320 --> 28:26.820 Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles. 28:26.820 --> 28:34.320 Have you tried new cork tip Fatima? It's the smooth smoke, with Fatima tips of perfect cork. 28:34.820 --> 28:41.320 King size for longer filtering and Fatima quality for a much better flavor and aroma. 28:41.820 --> 28:49.320 Fatima is made and guaranteed by Liggett and Myers Tobacco Company. Try Fatima today. 28:49.320 --> 29:04.820 Here, Frank Sinatra as Rocky Fortune tonight on the NBC Radio Network.