WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:11.640 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. 00:11.640 --> 00:14.240 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:14.240 --> 00:19.000 Dragnet is brought to you by Chesterfield, made by Liggett and Myers. 00:19.000 --> 00:32.400 The first major tobacco company to bring you a complete line of quality cigarettes. 00:32.400 --> 00:33.840 You're a detective sergeant. 00:33.840 --> 00:35.960 You're assigned to robbery detail. 00:35.960 --> 00:38.840 Fourteen women in your city have been robbed and beaten. 00:38.840 --> 00:41.440 You've got a half dozen descriptions of their attacker. 00:41.440 --> 00:42.800 None of them match. 00:42.800 --> 00:44.460 The man's still free. 00:44.460 --> 00:47.560 Your job, get him. 00:47.560 --> 00:52.120 Chesterfield's for me. 00:52.120 --> 00:54.240 You'll hear it everywhere. 00:54.240 --> 00:58.840 Tonight we hear from America's number one bandleader, Ray Anthony, who with his attractive 00:58.840 --> 01:02.080 wife Dee, plays college dates from coast to coast. 01:02.080 --> 01:05.200 In cigarettes, the young crowd really goes for Chesterfield. 01:05.200 --> 01:07.080 I've noticed that wherever we've played. 01:07.080 --> 01:12.000 And I guess it's one of the reasons Chesterfield is America's most popular two-way cigarette. 01:12.000 --> 01:16.440 Of course, Dee and I are Chesterfield smokers too. 01:16.440 --> 01:18.040 We know they're best for us. 01:18.040 --> 01:20.280 Chesterfield's for me. 01:20.280 --> 01:22.360 You'll hear it everywhere. 01:22.360 --> 01:27.900 For the taste you want, the mildness you want, change to Chesterfield. 01:27.900 --> 01:31.840 They satisfy millions. 01:31.840 --> 01:40.240 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 01:40.240 --> 01:44.520 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 01:44.520 --> 01:49.120 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 01:49.120 --> 01:50.820 police violence. 01:50.820 --> 01:56.000 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 01:56.000 --> 02:00.760 in action. 02:00.760 --> 02:01.760 It was Wednesday, November 26th. 02:01.760 --> 02:03.400 It was cold in Los Angeles. 02:03.400 --> 02:05.440 We were working the day watch out of robbery detail. 02:05.440 --> 02:08.360 My partner's Frank Smith, the boss's chief of detectives, Thad Brown. 02:08.360 --> 02:09.360 My name's Friday. 02:09.360 --> 02:14.080 I was on my way back to the office and it was 2.34 p.m. when I got to room 27A. 02:14.080 --> 02:15.080 It was a robbery. 02:15.080 --> 02:16.080 Come on, Joe. 02:16.080 --> 02:17.080 Everybody's in the skipper's office. 02:17.080 --> 02:18.080 All right. 02:18.080 --> 02:23.960 I'll take Bayard and I to pick up these packages. 02:23.960 --> 02:24.960 Anything on them? 02:24.960 --> 02:25.960 No, not much. 02:25.960 --> 02:26.960 We'll check them out, but they don't look like they're going anyplace. 02:26.960 --> 02:27.960 Yeah, go ahead. 02:27.960 --> 02:29.520 Joe, Frank, you want to come over here? 02:29.520 --> 02:30.520 Yes, sir. 02:30.520 --> 02:31.520 Sorry we're late. 02:31.520 --> 02:32.520 Don't worry about it. 02:32.520 --> 02:35.520 Let's get this thing on the road. 02:35.520 --> 02:36.520 All right. 02:36.520 --> 02:37.520 Want to settle down? 02:37.520 --> 02:40.520 Let's get started. 02:40.520 --> 02:44.360 The word's probably gotten to you about why we're here. 02:44.360 --> 02:46.960 It's on this purse snatching thing Friday and Smith have got. 02:46.960 --> 02:48.320 Things got them way out of hand. 02:48.320 --> 02:50.440 Teeth hit again the night before last. 02:50.440 --> 02:52.960 Victims at the county hospital in a critical condition. 02:52.960 --> 02:55.600 She was pistol whipped and it looks like she's got a fractured skull. 02:55.600 --> 02:58.240 It's only a matter of time before somebody's killed. 02:58.240 --> 03:01.080 That's the reason we're here, to see that it doesn't happen. 03:01.080 --> 03:04.400 Now, you all got mimeographed M.O. sheets. 03:04.400 --> 03:06.560 On it you'll find what information we've got. 03:06.560 --> 03:10.320 Some of it's pretty broad, but it's the best we've been able to come up with. 03:10.320 --> 03:14.360 Friday and Smith have handled the thing to here, so I'll let them give you the details. 03:14.360 --> 03:15.360 You want to tell them? 03:15.360 --> 03:18.360 Yeah, all right, Skipper. 03:18.360 --> 03:21.440 Well first off, you'll notice on those M.O. sheets all of the crimes have been listed 03:21.440 --> 03:23.840 in the order that they happened. 03:23.840 --> 03:25.800 Also the place and the time. 03:25.800 --> 03:29.480 There's also a description of the clothing the suspect wore and when we could get it, 03:29.480 --> 03:31.600 a description of the suspect. 03:31.600 --> 03:37.440 Now, you'll notice that in most cases there's quite a difference there on the physical description 03:37.440 --> 03:38.440 of the suspect. 03:38.440 --> 03:43.000 However, we've been able to put them all together and we've come up with a composite drawing 03:43.000 --> 03:45.760 that should look something like the suspect. 03:45.760 --> 03:50.040 One thing that's fairly constant is the description of the clothing worn by the suspect. 03:50.040 --> 03:52.040 It's almost always dark. 03:52.040 --> 03:55.840 Wears a hat and he's been known to wear a top coat. 03:55.840 --> 03:58.080 The hat and the coat are also dark material. 03:58.080 --> 03:59.080 Clear? 03:59.080 --> 04:00.080 Yeah, honey. 04:00.080 --> 04:06.960 All right, now take a look over here at the wall map. 04:06.960 --> 04:10.400 We've pinpointed all the jobs so you can get a little better picture of the operations. 04:10.400 --> 04:12.400 Can you all see there? 04:12.400 --> 04:14.800 All right. 04:14.800 --> 04:18.360 First one took place at 73rd Street just off Broadway. 04:18.360 --> 04:19.360 Right here. 04:19.360 --> 04:23.240 The rest of the pins along here show the jobs that he made from there. 04:23.240 --> 04:25.040 All the way up to Jefferson. 04:25.040 --> 04:30.280 He's also worked Avalon Boulevard, Central Avenue, any street where there's a street 04:30.280 --> 04:32.720 car or a bus line, he's hit. 04:32.720 --> 04:37.160 He works between the hours of 5.30 and 11.30 p.m. 04:37.160 --> 04:39.000 The approach is almost always the same. 04:39.000 --> 04:42.160 Frank, you want to tell them about the victim? 04:42.160 --> 04:43.160 Yeah. 04:43.160 --> 04:46.840 The victim will get off the street car usually or the bus, whatever it is, and starts to 04:46.840 --> 04:47.840 walk home. 04:47.840 --> 04:53.480 As soon as the woman gets in the area that's not lighted well or that hasn't got much traffic, 04:53.480 --> 04:56.880 the guy walks up behind her and grabs him. 04:56.880 --> 04:58.560 After that, he tries to take a purse. 04:58.560 --> 05:03.360 If the victim offers any resistance, well, he usually slugs him, cause the fact that two 05:03.360 --> 05:05.400 of the victims have seen a gun in his hand. 05:05.400 --> 05:09.280 We know he's armed, so the gun's been described as revolver too. 05:09.280 --> 05:11.320 How about a car, Joe? 05:11.320 --> 05:12.320 Excuse me. 05:12.320 --> 05:13.560 Does the suspect drive one? 05:13.560 --> 05:14.560 Car? 05:14.560 --> 05:15.560 Yeah. 05:15.560 --> 05:17.280 Well, we've got to assume that, yeah. 05:17.280 --> 05:20.320 He's been seen a couple of times by people in the neighborhoods as he ran through their 05:20.320 --> 05:21.320 yards. 05:21.320 --> 05:24.760 Pretty safe to figure that he's got a car parked on the side street somewhere. 05:24.760 --> 05:29.560 None of the victims have seen a car, however, but we know he leaves the area immediately. 05:29.560 --> 05:31.560 No description of the vehicle, huh? 05:31.560 --> 05:32.560 No. 05:32.560 --> 05:35.120 No, we've had a couple of calls, but they didn't check out. 05:35.120 --> 05:40.680 Now, the plan here is to use police women as decoys and try to bait him out into the 05:40.680 --> 05:41.680 open. 05:41.680 --> 05:44.040 That's the reason the women officers are here. 05:44.040 --> 05:45.240 You figure to work the main arterials? 05:45.240 --> 05:46.240 What was that? 05:46.240 --> 05:47.240 You figure to work the main arterials? 05:47.240 --> 05:48.240 Yeah. 05:48.240 --> 05:52.400 Yeah, there'll be two officers assigned to follow each police woman. 05:52.400 --> 05:54.680 We've been able to obtain 10 and all. 05:54.680 --> 05:57.920 That'll mean that 20 officers will be assigned to them. 05:57.920 --> 06:00.240 The rest of you will be in the area somewhere. 06:00.240 --> 06:04.600 Now, one of the things to look for is any vehicle which closely follows a streetcar 06:04.600 --> 06:05.600 or a bus. 06:05.600 --> 06:06.600 What happened? 06:06.600 --> 06:07.600 How about it? 06:07.600 --> 06:08.600 Any questions? 06:08.600 --> 06:09.600 Yes. 06:09.600 --> 06:11.600 How are we going to get our assignments? 06:11.600 --> 06:13.960 Well, a skipper here has a list, Lomi. 06:13.960 --> 06:17.240 All of the officers who are to work with a police woman are noted. 06:17.240 --> 06:20.800 The others are given the areas that they're supposed to patrol. 06:20.800 --> 06:21.800 What about other calls coming in? 06:21.800 --> 06:22.800 What? 06:22.800 --> 06:23.800 I didn't hear you. 06:23.800 --> 06:24.800 What about other calls coming in? 06:24.800 --> 06:25.800 Who's going to handle them? 06:25.800 --> 06:27.720 Well, those officers are not assigned to a police woman. 06:27.720 --> 06:31.120 See, there'll be other units from the outlying areas on the operation too. 06:31.120 --> 06:32.560 They'll lend us a hand. 06:32.560 --> 06:37.560 But remember this, under no circumstances are those officers working with the decoy to 06:37.560 --> 06:38.560 leave her. 06:38.560 --> 06:39.560 Is that clear? 06:39.560 --> 06:40.560 Yeah. 06:40.560 --> 06:41.560 Don't leave the police woman. 06:41.560 --> 06:42.560 Right. 06:42.560 --> 06:43.560 Well, then we stick with the detail unless there's an emergency call. 06:43.560 --> 06:44.560 Yeah, that's right. 06:44.560 --> 06:46.640 Well, if we run into any problems, who do we call, Joe? 06:46.640 --> 06:48.920 Well, we'll be in the area in 1K80. 06:48.920 --> 06:50.920 You can get in touch with us, Harry. 06:50.920 --> 06:51.920 How about it? 06:51.920 --> 06:55.560 Well, if we pick up a suspect, should we get in touch with you? 06:55.560 --> 06:58.240 Well, you can use your own judgment on that, George. 06:58.240 --> 07:02.160 If you think it's a routine pick up, take him to robbery and you'll be processed there. 07:02.160 --> 07:03.160 Right. 07:03.160 --> 07:04.160 Any more questions? 07:04.160 --> 07:05.160 No. 07:05.160 --> 07:06.160 Skipper, anything else? 07:06.160 --> 07:09.160 We all know about the day's off cancellation. 07:09.160 --> 07:12.680 Sorry it has to hit now, but that's the way it's got to be. 07:12.680 --> 07:15.040 No one will draw any time until this thing is cleaned up. 07:15.040 --> 07:16.040 Right. 07:16.040 --> 07:19.320 When Murphy won't do any good to have your wife call me, you're still going to have to 07:19.320 --> 07:20.320 worry. 07:20.320 --> 07:22.120 That's it. 07:22.120 --> 07:25.400 The operation will start tonight and go until the suspect's in custody. 07:25.400 --> 07:26.880 Have a happy Thanksgiving. 07:26.880 --> 07:27.880 Okay. 07:27.880 --> 07:29.520 So, hey, wait a minute. 07:29.520 --> 07:33.600 Before you go, the worksheet's on the board outside. 07:33.600 --> 07:35.000 You can check it on the way out. 07:35.000 --> 07:36.000 You better do that. 07:36.000 --> 07:37.000 Right. 07:37.000 --> 07:40.400 Is there anything else you need to carry it off? 07:40.400 --> 07:41.400 No, it's all there, Skipper. 07:41.400 --> 07:43.680 The only thing we can use now is luck. 07:43.680 --> 07:45.760 No reason for you to be different. 07:45.760 --> 07:46.760 Suspect's had his share. 07:46.760 --> 07:54.280 Frank and I left the office and drove out to the area of the operation. 07:54.280 --> 07:58.600 The plan was that the policewomen would board the cars and buses and get off at the points 07:58.600 --> 08:01.720 where previous sluggings had not taken place. 08:01.720 --> 08:05.800 In the established MO of the suspect, it was noted that he never hit on any street more 08:05.800 --> 08:06.800 than once. 08:06.800 --> 08:12.680 At 4 p.m. that afternoon, all of the units were in place and the plan was started. 08:12.680 --> 08:16.360 During the night, several pickups were made, but no one was apprehended who resembled the 08:16.360 --> 08:17.360 suspect. 08:17.360 --> 08:21.760 Those people who were detained were processed and they were either booked or released. 08:21.760 --> 08:26.200 The following day, Thursday, November 27, Frank and I checked the reports filed by officers 08:26.200 --> 08:27.200 in the field. 08:27.200 --> 08:31.720 At 3 p.m., we stopped at a small restaurant and we had a plate of sliced turkey, cold 08:31.720 --> 08:33.880 gravy and some lumpy mashed potatoes. 08:33.880 --> 08:35.760 We wished each other a happy Thanksgiving. 08:35.760 --> 08:40.400 We went back to Unit 1K80 and cruised the streets marked for surveillance. 08:40.400 --> 08:42.800 Another night went by without the suspect hitting. 08:42.800 --> 08:48.880 Saturday, November 29, 1130 p.m., Frank and I were driving down San Pedro Street at Vernon 08:48.880 --> 08:49.880 Avenue. 08:49.880 --> 08:50.880 Looks like another one shot, huh? 08:50.880 --> 08:53.000 Yeah, it's beginning to shape up that way, isn't it? 08:53.000 --> 08:55.400 You figure the suspect knows about the operation? 08:55.400 --> 08:57.200 I mean where we're working. 08:57.200 --> 09:00.200 You got as much as I have, doesn't seem likely. 09:00.200 --> 09:01.200 You got a cigarette? 09:01.200 --> 09:02.200 I'm out. 09:02.200 --> 09:03.200 Yeah. 09:03.200 --> 09:04.200 Here you go. 09:04.200 --> 09:05.200 Thanks. 09:05.200 --> 09:06.200 Yeah, I'm gonna give you a light. 09:06.200 --> 09:07.200 Thanks. 09:07.200 --> 09:13.160 Fay was sure hacked about Thanksgiving. 09:13.160 --> 09:14.160 Well, I figured. 09:14.160 --> 09:16.040 It didn't make me too mad. 09:16.040 --> 09:17.360 She had the in-laws over. 09:17.360 --> 09:18.360 Yeah. 09:18.360 --> 09:19.360 Her brother. 09:19.360 --> 09:23.560 One thing about that guy, he can eat more than any ten people. 09:23.560 --> 09:26.520 You know, I've had to sit there and just look at him and everybody's through and he's still 09:26.520 --> 09:27.520 going strong. 09:27.520 --> 09:28.520 Yeah. 09:28.520 --> 09:31.640 Nephew was over too. 09:31.640 --> 09:32.640 You know, little Sam? 09:32.640 --> 09:34.000 You've heard me talk about little Sam? 09:34.000 --> 09:35.600 No, I don't think so. 09:35.600 --> 09:36.600 Yeah, little Sam. 09:36.600 --> 09:39.000 The kid's a monster. 09:39.000 --> 09:41.000 Only ten years old, he's a real monster. 09:41.000 --> 09:44.520 Fay's sister lets the kid do whatever comes into his mind. 09:44.520 --> 09:46.640 They say it isn't good to repress him. 09:46.640 --> 09:47.640 What? 09:47.640 --> 09:49.080 They say it isn't good to repress him. 09:49.080 --> 09:50.800 That's what they, you know, repress him. 09:50.800 --> 09:51.800 Yeah. 09:51.800 --> 09:52.800 I'd like to take him over. 09:52.800 --> 09:53.800 I'd repress him. 09:53.800 --> 09:56.800 Yeah, I guess you'd do that real good, wouldn't you? 09:56.800 --> 10:05.720 1K80, 1K80, meet unit 1K87 at the 300 block, East 51st street, code two. 10:05.720 --> 10:08.760 1K80, Roger, KMA 367. 10:08.760 --> 10:09.760 Let's go. 10:09.760 --> 10:13.760 Yeah, that's one of the units assigned to a decoy. 10:13.760 --> 10:14.760 Think it's a good one? 10:14.760 --> 10:15.760 Well, there's one way to find out, isn't there? 10:15.760 --> 10:16.760 Yeah. 10:16.760 --> 10:17.760 Ask them. 10:17.760 --> 10:25.840 South Park is located at the corner of San Pedro and 51st street. 10:25.840 --> 10:29.760 One of the police women had gotten off a streetcar at the corner of Main Street and 51st. 10:29.760 --> 10:33.520 She'd walked east and as she passed the park, a man had approached, blocked her progress 10:33.520 --> 10:35.360 and demanded money. 10:35.360 --> 10:38.320 The man was pretty drunk and when the officers following the woman arrived at the scene, 10:38.320 --> 10:40.320 he was struggling with a police woman. 10:40.320 --> 10:42.720 He was taken into custody and we were called. 10:42.720 --> 10:46.040 We took the man to room 27A and from there to the interrogation room. 10:46.040 --> 10:49.720 Physically, he masked the description of the suspect as we'd gotten it from the victims. 10:49.720 --> 10:50.720 12, 15 a.m. 10:50.720 --> 10:54.640 That's the dirtiest thing I've heard of, pulling me in here like this. 10:54.640 --> 10:55.880 All right, what's your name? 10:55.880 --> 10:57.680 I don't think I'm going to tell you. 10:57.680 --> 10:58.680 Let me see your wallet. 10:58.680 --> 11:00.440 There's nothing in there. 11:00.440 --> 11:01.440 No juice. 11:01.440 --> 11:02.440 Empty your pockets on the table. 11:02.440 --> 11:05.480 Did you have a copy of the L.A. phone book around here? 11:05.480 --> 11:08.160 Come on, Mr. Empty your pockets, will you? 11:08.160 --> 11:09.160 All right. 11:09.160 --> 11:12.160 Come on, everything. 11:12.160 --> 11:14.600 How about your wallet? 11:14.600 --> 11:16.960 There you are, young man. 11:16.960 --> 11:17.960 No juice. 11:17.960 --> 11:19.520 Take the money out. 11:19.520 --> 11:21.920 I told you, there's no juice. 11:21.920 --> 11:22.920 No money in the wallet? 11:22.920 --> 11:23.920 No. 11:23.920 --> 11:26.920 All right, how about it? 11:26.920 --> 11:30.520 Is this your true name, Victor Nathaniel Roberts? 11:30.520 --> 11:31.520 You think I use alias? 11:31.520 --> 11:32.520 Now, don't be smart. 11:32.520 --> 11:35.520 Where do you live? 11:35.520 --> 11:37.520 Well, I have no path. 11:37.520 --> 11:39.520 Where have you been sleeping? 11:39.520 --> 11:41.360 Where have I been? 11:41.360 --> 11:42.360 You got a job? 11:42.360 --> 11:43.360 What? 11:43.360 --> 11:44.360 Do you work? 11:44.360 --> 11:45.360 No. 11:45.360 --> 11:47.360 You ever hold a job? 11:47.360 --> 11:48.360 No. 11:48.360 --> 11:49.360 Never had a job? 11:49.360 --> 11:50.360 Can't remember one. 11:50.360 --> 11:54.360 What were you doing on 51st Street tonight? 11:54.360 --> 11:57.360 Oh, I was just looking around. 11:57.360 --> 11:58.360 At 1130 at night? 11:58.360 --> 12:00.360 The sun hurts my eyes. 12:00.360 --> 12:05.360 I was just walking along the street, 12:05.360 --> 12:08.560 and this young woman stopped me. 12:08.560 --> 12:09.560 She stopped you? 12:09.560 --> 12:12.560 She tried to pick me up. 12:12.560 --> 12:13.560 That girl was a policewoman. 12:13.560 --> 12:14.560 You're telling me. 12:14.560 --> 12:20.360 Now, what were you doing out there? 12:20.360 --> 12:23.120 I'm never going there again. 12:23.120 --> 12:25.360 Ever been arrested? 12:25.360 --> 12:26.360 I am now. 12:26.360 --> 12:27.360 Before? 12:27.360 --> 12:29.920 I'll tell you the truth. 12:29.920 --> 12:31.960 Yeah, you do that. 12:31.960 --> 12:32.960 I have. 12:32.960 --> 12:33.960 Where? 12:33.960 --> 12:34.960 Oh, all around. 12:34.960 --> 12:37.960 What were you arrested for? 12:37.960 --> 12:38.960 Vag. 12:38.960 --> 12:41.960 Have you done time in California? 12:41.960 --> 12:46.960 Come on, have you done time in California? 12:46.960 --> 12:47.960 Have you? 12:47.960 --> 12:48.960 Yes. 12:48.960 --> 12:51.960 I'll check the record, John. 12:51.960 --> 12:54.960 Is he going to look me up? 12:54.960 --> 12:55.960 What's that? 12:55.960 --> 12:57.960 I say, is he going to look me up? 12:57.960 --> 13:01.960 He's going to check your record, yeah. 13:01.960 --> 13:06.960 Officer, you mind a little constructive criticism? 13:06.960 --> 13:07.960 Now, you listen, mister. 13:07.960 --> 13:09.960 Your funny time's running out here. 13:09.960 --> 13:13.960 You must feel a little sneaky about this whole thing, 13:13.960 --> 13:14.960 don't you? 13:14.960 --> 13:15.960 What's that? 13:15.960 --> 13:18.960 I mean this whole business about the policewoman. 13:18.960 --> 13:22.960 Don't you think that that's going too far? 13:22.960 --> 13:24.960 How long you been in Los Angeles? 13:24.960 --> 13:27.960 Oh, sometime this year. 13:27.960 --> 13:28.960 What do you mean by that? 13:28.960 --> 13:32.960 Oh, checked in about a year. 13:32.960 --> 13:33.960 What? 13:33.960 --> 13:36.960 I said I checked in about a year. 13:36.960 --> 13:37.960 A year ago, you mean? 13:37.960 --> 13:39.960 Yeah, yeah, about a year ago. 13:39.960 --> 13:43.960 Well, if you haven't got a job, how do you manage to live? 13:43.960 --> 13:46.960 I haven't got a little drink, have you? 13:46.960 --> 13:47.960 Joe. 13:47.960 --> 13:48.960 Yeah. 13:48.960 --> 13:49.960 See you in a minute. 13:49.960 --> 13:50.960 Fine. 13:50.960 --> 13:51.960 You sit still. 13:51.960 --> 13:52.960 What do you got? 13:52.960 --> 13:54.960 Checked R&I, got the word on Roberts. 13:54.960 --> 13:55.960 Yeah, what about him? 13:55.960 --> 13:56.960 He's been tagged 67 times for drunk. 13:56.960 --> 13:57.960 All in LA? 13:57.960 --> 13:58.960 Total's 92. 13:58.960 --> 14:00.960 Doesn't look like he's our man, though. 14:00.960 --> 14:01.960 Why? 14:01.960 --> 14:03.960 Well, he's been in Camarillo for the last three months. 14:03.960 --> 14:12.960 We put in a call to the superintendent at the state hospital up at Camarillo. 14:12.960 --> 14:15.960 He told us that Victor Roberts had only been released 10 days before. 14:15.960 --> 14:18.960 He'd spent three months undergoing treatment for alcoholism. 14:18.960 --> 14:22.960 The suspect we were looking for had been working for the past two months. 14:22.960 --> 14:28.960 Roberts was booked in at the main jail on the charge of violation of Section 4127A LAMC. 14:28.960 --> 14:33.960 During the time we'd been working on the case, all known purse snatchers had been picked up and interrogated. 14:33.960 --> 14:37.960 Runs by the stats office had been made and the names they gave us had been checked out. 14:37.960 --> 14:42.960 Locals and APBs were gotten out carrying the description and the MO of the suspect. 14:42.960 --> 14:45.960 The leads that came in were followed up without result. 14:45.960 --> 14:50.960 Informants were questioned and George Breton up at CII in Sacramento furnished us a list of possibles. 14:50.960 --> 14:53.960 All in all, over 100 people had been questioned. 14:53.960 --> 14:59.960 In the course of the investigation, several other cases were cleared, but our prime suspect was still free. 14:59.960 --> 15:01.960 Meantime, the operation continued. 15:01.960 --> 15:06.960 Each night at 4.30 p.m., 10 police women would board streetcars and buses in the area. 15:06.960 --> 15:10.960 10 police cars carrying 20 officers would follow them. 15:10.960 --> 15:15.960 In the immediate vicinity, another 40 men were patrolling the streets and alleys looking for the thief. 15:15.960 --> 15:23.960 As a result of the newspaper stories on the string of crimes, calls were coming into the complaint board at such a rate that they were jamming our normal facilities. 15:23.960 --> 15:26.960 Women refused to walk the streets alone after dark. 15:26.960 --> 15:29.960 Apparently, the thief could come and go as he pleased. 15:29.960 --> 15:33.960 In the next two days, he hit three times, but in areas that were not covered. 15:33.960 --> 15:36.960 He began to hit in places he hadn't worked before. 15:36.960 --> 15:40.960 He seemed to know where we were and that we were using decoys. 15:40.960 --> 15:42.960 The search went on. 15:42.960 --> 15:46.960 Tuesday, December 2nd, we got a call from the manager of a cheap hotel in the Skid Row area. 15:46.960 --> 15:48.960 We drove out to see her. 15:48.960 --> 15:50.960 Right down this way. He's not in. 15:50.960 --> 15:52.960 Well, just what is it you want us to see? 15:52.960 --> 15:54.960 You wait. When you get a good look, you'll know. 15:54.960 --> 15:55.960 Yes, ma'am. 15:55.960 --> 15:58.960 Here we are. I'll get the door. 16:00.960 --> 16:01.960 You just come on in. 16:01.960 --> 16:03.960 Thank you. Yes, ma'am. 16:03.960 --> 16:09.960 Over here. I was cleaning up this morning. My girl's sick. Had to do it myself. 16:09.960 --> 16:13.960 And just cleaning up, and I found them over here in the closet. 16:13.960 --> 16:14.960 Yeah. 16:14.960 --> 16:18.960 Up on the shelf. Can you see them up there? Way back? 16:18.960 --> 16:20.960 Right, I'm going to have to get a chair. 16:20.960 --> 16:23.960 Well, I was just straightening up and I saw them and I thought to myself, 16:23.960 --> 16:26.960 I ought to call the police, get them right out here. That's what I thought to myself. 16:26.960 --> 16:27.960 Yes, ma'am. 16:27.960 --> 16:30.960 I always feel it's the duty of every citizen to cooperate with the police. 16:30.960 --> 16:31.960 Yes, ma'am. 16:31.960 --> 16:33.960 Can I get your flashlight, please? 16:33.960 --> 16:34.960 Flashlight. 16:34.960 --> 16:35.960 Oh, yeah. Here you go. 16:35.960 --> 16:38.960 Well, do you see them up there on the shelf? 16:38.960 --> 16:40.960 Yes, ma'am. Frank. 16:40.960 --> 16:41.960 Yeah? 16:41.960 --> 16:43.960 There's something down there I can pick them up with. 16:43.960 --> 16:45.960 Well, you'll find out anyway. 16:45.960 --> 16:48.960 You don't have to worry about fingerprints. I guess I shouldn't have done it. 16:48.960 --> 16:51.960 But when I found them, I picked them up, but I put them right back, right where I found them. 16:51.960 --> 16:52.960 Here you are. 16:52.960 --> 16:54.960 Okay. 16:54.960 --> 16:56.960 What you got? 16:56.960 --> 16:57.960 Two women's purses. 16:57.960 --> 16:59.960 Mm-hmm. Two. 16:59.960 --> 17:02.960 Look inside of them. All kinds of cards and things. 17:02.960 --> 17:04.960 No money, but all kinds of other stuff. You just look. 17:04.960 --> 17:05.960 Who has this room? 17:05.960 --> 17:06.960 You mean registered? 17:06.960 --> 17:07.960 Yeah. 17:07.960 --> 17:11.960 Well, he gave his name as Jerry Kilgallen. You ask me, though, I think it's phony. 17:11.960 --> 17:13.960 He took the room alone, did he? 17:13.960 --> 17:16.960 Oh, absolutely. This is a hotel for men who don't allow no women in. 17:16.960 --> 17:19.960 Is it possible that somebody else left these purses up there? 17:19.960 --> 17:23.960 Hardly. These rooms are cleaned every day, cleaned thoroughly. I don't miss anything. 17:23.960 --> 17:24.960 Yes, ma'am. 17:24.960 --> 17:26.960 How about the identification in them, Joe? 17:26.960 --> 17:29.960 I don't recognize the names. We'll have to check them. 17:29.960 --> 17:33.960 Take a look at this, though. No, here, on the lining of the purse. This one. 17:33.960 --> 17:34.960 Oh, yeah. 17:34.960 --> 17:36.960 Better get it to the lab, huh? 17:36.960 --> 17:37.960 What is it? You find something? 17:37.960 --> 17:38.960 We're not sure. 17:38.960 --> 17:41.960 Well, what is it I called you? I got a right to know. What is it? 17:41.960 --> 17:43.960 It looks like blood stains. 17:43.960 --> 17:47.960 You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action. 17:47.960 --> 17:52.960 Tobacco has been one of man's basic pleasures for over 400 years, 17:52.960 --> 17:57.960 and the Chesterfields you smoke today are the best cigarettes ever made. 17:57.960 --> 18:03.960 When I say that, I mean Chesterfield regular, I mean Chesterfield king-sized. 18:03.960 --> 18:08.960 And the Chesterfields you smoke today are the best cigarettes ever made. 18:08.960 --> 18:13.960 When I say that, I mean Chesterfield regular, I mean Chesterfield king-sized. 18:13.960 --> 18:17.960 Remember, Chesterfield is the cigarette that is tested and approved 18:17.960 --> 18:21.960 by 30 years of scientific tobacco research. 18:21.960 --> 18:24.960 The cigarette that gives you proof of highest quality. 18:24.960 --> 18:31.960 Yes, friends, the Chesterfields you smoke today are the best cigarettes ever made. 18:31.960 --> 18:37.960 For the taste you want, the mildness you want, change to Chesterfield. 18:37.960 --> 18:39.960 They satisfy millions. 18:47.960 --> 18:51.960 We got a complete description of Jerry Kilgallen and Frank called it into our N.I. 18:51.960 --> 18:53.960 We found no record on him under that name. 18:53.960 --> 18:56.960 The purse was sent to Lieutenant Lee Jones at the crime lab, 18:56.960 --> 19:00.960 and after running a precipitate test, he told us that the stains were human blood. 19:00.960 --> 19:04.960 A stakeout was placed on the hotel, and that night Kilgallen was taken into custody. 19:04.960 --> 19:10.960 Under interrogation, he admitted taking the purses from two women in a department store in downtown Los Angeles. 19:10.960 --> 19:14.960 He went on to explain that he'd just gotten into town and that he was broke and hungry. 19:14.960 --> 19:17.960 He gave us the date and the times of the thefts, and when we called the victims, 19:17.960 --> 19:19.960 they were able to give us positive identifications. 19:19.960 --> 19:22.960 He told us that when he'd taken the second purse, he'd cut his hand on the clasp 19:22.960 --> 19:25.960 and that the blood stains we found were his own. 19:25.960 --> 19:28.960 He was booked in at the main jail on the charge of suspicion of robbery. 19:28.960 --> 19:31.960 That night, Frank and I took up our place in the dragnet operation. 19:31.960 --> 19:32.960 Nothing happened. 19:32.960 --> 19:34.960 The next night went by without activity. 19:34.960 --> 19:38.960 On Thursday night at approximately 845, a woman was slugged and robbed 19:38.960 --> 19:41.960 after she left the bus on 71st Street just off Ramon. 19:41.960 --> 19:46.960 All cars in the operation converged on the area, and a block-by-block search was made. 19:46.960 --> 19:48.960 Additional officers were called in to aid in the hunt. 19:48.960 --> 19:52.960 Every alley, every street, and every backyard was gone over thoroughly. 19:52.960 --> 19:54.960 1115 p.m. While the search continued, 19:54.960 --> 19:58.960 Frank and I drove down to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital to talk to the latest victim. 19:58.960 --> 20:03.960 I was on my way home. I didn't think anything like this would happen. 20:03.960 --> 20:05.960 I was just walking home. 20:05.960 --> 20:07.960 Can you give us a description of the man? 20:07.960 --> 20:10.960 I don't know. It was dark. 20:10.960 --> 20:12.960 I was just walking home and it happened. 20:12.960 --> 20:14.960 Did you see the man at all? 20:14.960 --> 20:16.960 Yes. It was dark. 20:16.960 --> 20:18.960 Was he a tall man? 20:18.960 --> 20:22.960 I guess so. I guess he was tall. 20:22.960 --> 20:25.960 I talked to the other men. Isn't that enough? I talked to them. 20:25.960 --> 20:28.960 We're trying to get all the information we can. 20:28.960 --> 20:30.960 I don't remember good. 20:30.960 --> 20:35.960 My head hurts. Isn't there something I can do to make my head stop hurting? 20:35.960 --> 20:38.960 Did you see the man's face? Did you get a look at it? 20:38.960 --> 20:41.960 Yes, I did. I saw his face. 20:41.960 --> 20:44.960 Can you describe it for us? Can you tell us what he looked like? 20:44.960 --> 20:47.960 I don't know. I don't feel good. 20:47.960 --> 20:50.960 This is pretty important, ma'am. 20:50.960 --> 20:54.960 He had a real white face. Real white. 20:54.960 --> 20:57.960 What about his eyes? Can you tell us what color they were? 20:57.960 --> 21:00.960 Blue. Watery. Blue. 21:00.960 --> 21:02.960 How about his hair? 21:02.960 --> 21:05.960 It looked brown. I'm not sure. 21:05.960 --> 21:07.960 I think it was brown. 21:07.960 --> 21:10.960 He had a hat on. I couldn't tell good. 21:10.960 --> 21:12.960 All right. Just a few more questions now. 21:12.960 --> 21:13.960 Yeah. 21:13.960 --> 21:15.960 Can you tell what color his hat was? 21:15.960 --> 21:20.960 I don't know. My head hurts. Can't you do something? 21:20.960 --> 21:23.960 We'll send for the doctor again. He might be able to give you another set of it. 21:23.960 --> 21:24.960 It hurts. 21:24.960 --> 21:27.960 Something else, ma'am. Was the man clean shaven? 21:27.960 --> 21:30.960 I said, did he have a mustache? 21:30.960 --> 21:32.960 No. No mustache. 21:32.960 --> 21:33.960 Do you wear glasses? 21:33.960 --> 21:34.960 No. 21:34.960 --> 21:37.960 Is there anything else you can tell us about his appearance? 21:37.960 --> 21:40.960 No. Nothing. 21:40.960 --> 21:43.960 He had a gun. I know that. 21:43.960 --> 21:47.960 He had a gun. That's what he hit me with. Gun. 21:47.960 --> 21:50.960 He hit me when I wouldn't give him the purse. 21:50.960 --> 21:53.960 First he asked me for the money. 21:53.960 --> 21:56.960 But when I got out of my way, he said he'd kill me. 21:56.960 --> 21:58.960 Then he hit me on the head. 21:58.960 --> 22:00.960 He hit me as hard as he could. 22:00.960 --> 22:01.960 All right, ma'am. 22:01.960 --> 22:04.960 Now, is there anything else you can tell us that might make it easier to identify him? 22:04.960 --> 22:07.960 No. Nothing. 22:07.960 --> 22:10.960 I told you everything I know. Nothing else. 22:10.960 --> 22:12.960 All right. We're sorry to have bothered you. Thank you. 22:12.960 --> 22:14.960 We'll be talking with you again when you're feeling better. 22:14.960 --> 22:18.960 Yeah. You come back then. I'll tell you I remembered that. 22:18.960 --> 22:20.960 Thank you very much for your help. 22:20.960 --> 22:23.960 It's all right. You ask the doctor to come back, won't you? 22:23.960 --> 22:25.960 Yes, ma'am. 22:25.960 --> 22:27.960 Officer. Yes, ma'am. 22:27.960 --> 22:30.960 Something else might help a little bit. 22:30.960 --> 22:32.960 What's that, ma'am? 22:32.960 --> 22:36.960 Before he hit me, I remember there was a fight. 22:36.960 --> 22:38.960 I didn't want him to take my purse. 22:38.960 --> 22:40.960 There was a fight. Yeah. 22:40.960 --> 22:43.960 I tried to stop him and I scratched him. 22:43.960 --> 22:45.960 I scratched him hard. 22:45.960 --> 22:48.960 See, I broke a finger nail when I did it. 22:48.960 --> 22:50.960 That'll help, won't it? 22:50.960 --> 22:51.960 Yes, ma'am. 22:51.960 --> 22:53.960 It should. 22:53.960 --> 22:58.960 Last thing I remember before he hit me, he was bleeding a lot. 22:58.960 --> 23:01.960 Where did you scratch him, ma'am? Do you remember? On the hand? 23:01.960 --> 23:05.960 No. No, right across the face. 23:05.960 --> 23:08.960 Not... left side. 23:08.960 --> 23:11.960 We got to a phone and we had a broadcast put out... 23:11.960 --> 23:13.960 carrying the additional information on the man... 23:13.960 --> 23:15.960 and the fact that he had been badly scratched. 23:15.960 --> 23:17.960 Officers in the immediate area of the attack... 23:17.960 --> 23:19.960 started to check all the drug stores that were open... 23:19.960 --> 23:21.960 in the hope that the thief had stopped for medication. 23:21.960 --> 23:24.960 After getting the call out, Frank and I left the hospital... 23:24.960 --> 23:26.960 and started back to search the area. 23:26.960 --> 23:27.960 11.46 p.m. 23:27.960 --> 23:29.960 You talked to the doctor about the victim? 23:29.960 --> 23:30.960 Yeah, she's in pretty bad shape. 23:30.960 --> 23:32.960 They're gonna move her to General. 23:32.960 --> 23:33.960 Sebastian says he might have to operate. 23:33.960 --> 23:35.960 Be glad to get this guy. Yeah. 23:35.960 --> 23:38.960 Attention all units. Attention all units. 23:38.960 --> 23:39.960 You want to turn it up, Joe? 23:39.960 --> 23:42.960 All units on frequency seven, please stand by. 23:42.960 --> 23:45.960 All units in the vicinity of the 100 block on West 29th Street. 23:45.960 --> 23:49.960 Officer needs help. Special attention 1K80, code three. 23:49.960 --> 23:51.960 Lean on it. Right. 23:52.960 --> 23:56.960 All units in the vicinity of the 100 block on West 29th Street. 23:56.960 --> 24:00.960 Officer needs help. Special attention 1K80, code three. 24:00.960 --> 24:02.960 Frequency seven, clear. 24:02.960 --> 24:05.960 I'll call in. 24:05.960 --> 24:06.960 1K80 to control one. 24:06.960 --> 24:09.960 Acknowledging the call to the 100 block on West 29th Street. 24:09.960 --> 24:11.960 KMA 367. 24:17.960 --> 24:19.960 It took us two and a half minutes to get to the location. 24:19.960 --> 24:22.960 At the curb on the side of the street, we saw a parked police unit. 24:22.960 --> 24:24.960 Standing next to it was a woman officer. 24:24.960 --> 24:26.960 We pulled up next to the unit and talked to her. 24:26.960 --> 24:28.960 She told us that our suspect had tried to attack her... 24:28.960 --> 24:30.960 and on the arrival of the two officers had fled the scene. 24:30.960 --> 24:33.960 At that moment, officers Sluder and Murphy were in pursuit. 24:33.960 --> 24:35.960 While Frank got additional information from the policewoman... 24:35.960 --> 24:37.960 I went back to the car and got on the radio. 24:37.960 --> 24:41.960 1K80 to control one. 1K80 to control one. 24:41.960 --> 24:44.960 Control one to 1K80. Go ahead. 24:44.960 --> 24:48.960 Suspect is now on foot being pursued by two plain clothes officers... 24:48.960 --> 24:51.960 through backyards in the area of West 100 block... 24:51.960 --> 24:54.960 between 29th Street and 30th Street. 24:54.960 --> 24:58.960 Dispatch units to block intersections of Broadway and 29th Street. 24:58.960 --> 25:01.960 Broadway and 30th. Broadway and 28th Street. 25:01.960 --> 25:05.960 Broadway and 27th. Intersections of Main and 28th. 25:05.960 --> 25:08.960 Main and 29th. Main and 30th Street. 25:08.960 --> 25:10.960 Main and 27th Street. 25:10.960 --> 25:15.960 Control one to 1K80. Roger. KMA 367. 25:15.960 --> 25:17.960 I got the story, you set? Yeah, let's go. 25:17.960 --> 25:19.960 Policewoman says they're headed west. 25:19.960 --> 25:21.960 We'll do the back of the house down there. All right. 25:21.960 --> 25:22.960 Let's move. 25:22.960 --> 25:25.960 Attention all units. Attention all units. 25:25.960 --> 25:28.960 Attention all units. 1K80 reports... 25:28.960 --> 25:30.960 Policewoman says the suspect ducked into a driveway. 25:30.960 --> 25:32.960 That one right up there. All right, take it easy. 25:32.960 --> 25:35.960 West 29th Street now being pursued by three plain clothes officers... 25:35.960 --> 25:36.960 Looks like we got a live one this time, huh? 25:36.960 --> 25:37.960 Well, let's hope we can keep him. 25:37.960 --> 25:40.960 In the backyards between 100 block, 29th Street... 25:40.960 --> 25:43.960 and 100 block, West 30th Street. 25:43.960 --> 25:46.960 1K82. Block the intersection. 25:46.960 --> 25:49.960 Flashlights over there, Joe. Let's take a look. 25:50.960 --> 25:52.960 You see who it is? No. 25:52.960 --> 25:55.960 Ducked back behind the garage. 25:57.960 --> 25:59.960 Come on. 26:01.960 --> 26:02.960 Sluiter, what do you got? 26:02.960 --> 26:03.960 He's back there. Murphy's with him. 26:03.960 --> 26:04.960 You guys all right? Yeah. 26:04.960 --> 26:05.960 All right, let's take a look. 26:05.960 --> 26:08.960 You want to call an ambulance, Frank? Right. 26:11.960 --> 26:12.960 How is he? 26:12.960 --> 26:14.960 You better stop Frank. Yeah. 26:14.960 --> 26:15.960 Tell him to cancel that ambulance. 26:15.960 --> 26:16.960 He opened up first, Joe. 26:16.960 --> 26:18.960 Murphy and I gave him every chance. 26:18.960 --> 26:22.960 Well, that's more than he gave those women. 26:27.960 --> 26:29.960 The story you have just heard is true. 26:29.960 --> 26:32.960 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 26:32.960 --> 26:35.960 On December 8th, an inquest was held in the offices of the coroner... 26:35.960 --> 26:37.960 in and for the county of Los Angeles. 26:37.960 --> 26:39.960 In a moment, the results of that inquest. 26:39.960 --> 26:41.960 Now here is our star, Jack Webb. 26:41.960 --> 26:42.960 Thank you. 26:42.960 --> 26:45.960 Earlier, George Feneman told you exactly why the Chesterfield... 26:45.960 --> 26:47.960 you smoked today is the best cigarette ever made. 26:47.960 --> 26:48.960 And best for you. 26:48.960 --> 26:50.960 Now the rest is up to you. 26:50.960 --> 26:52.960 Get a carton or two for yourself. 26:52.960 --> 26:56.960 Smoke them and you'll say as we do, it's Chesterfield's for me. 27:03.960 --> 27:06.960 At the inquest, the coroner's jury returned a verdict... 27:06.960 --> 27:10.960 that the suspect, Kenneth Neal Stewart, died as a result of gunshot wounds... 27:10.960 --> 27:12.960 inflicted by police officers in the line of duty. 27:12.960 --> 27:17.960 The death was listed as justifiable homicide. 27:35.960 --> 27:40.960 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 27:40.960 --> 27:43.960 Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police... 27:43.960 --> 27:45.960 W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 27:45.960 --> 27:50.960 Technical advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher. 27:50.960 --> 27:55.960 Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Vic Perrin, Vivianus Herb Ellis. 27:55.960 --> 27:57.960 Script by John Robinson. 27:57.960 --> 28:00.960 Music by Walter Schuman. Hal Gibney speaking. 28:02.960 --> 28:05.960 Watch an entirely different Dragnet case history... 28:05.960 --> 28:08.960 each week on your local NBC television station. 28:08.960 --> 28:11.960 Please check your newspapers for the day and time. 28:12.960 --> 28:16.960 Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles. 28:18.960 --> 28:22.960 Filter cigarette smokers, here is headline news. 28:22.960 --> 28:28.960 Nationwide demand for L and M filters drops price. 28:28.960 --> 28:32.960 Now you save up to four cents a pack, forty cents a carton. 28:32.960 --> 28:38.960 Now everyone can afford Abarica's highest quality and best filter tip cigarette. 28:38.960 --> 28:43.960 Remember only L and M's have the miracle filter tip containing alpha cellulose. 28:43.960 --> 28:47.960 You get much more flavor, much less nicotine. 28:47.960 --> 28:53.960 Buy L and M filters, the distinctive monogram cigarette at the new low price. 28:53.960 --> 29:05.960 L and M filters. 29:05.960 --> 29:20.960 Hear Crime and Peter Chambers following John Cameron Swayze on the NBC Radio Network.