Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Dragnet.
You're a detective sergeant.
You're assigned to robbery detail.
You get a call that a holdup man has hit one of the larger auction houses in your city.
You have a good description of him.
Your job.
Find him.
Dragnet.
The documentary 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 through 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.
It was Tuesday, February 1st.
It was raining in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of robbery detail.
My partner is Frank Smith, the boss of Chief of Detective Stad Brown.
My name's Friday.
I was on my way into the office and it was 8.07 a.m. when I got to room 27A.
Robbery squad room.
Morning, Joe.
Hi.
Is the rain let up?
No.
It's still coming down.
It doesn't look like it's going to stop either.
Sure got it out in the valley.
Anything in the book for us?
No.
Talk to Skipper.
He's got a couple things for us to check out.
What have we got, you know?
We had a bank job last week.
Stats office came up with a list of possible.
We're supposed to help check them out.
Here's a list.
A couple on there we know, too.
When did Rocky get out?
A couple of months ago.
He can't stay out of trouble, can he?
I called the adult authority.
They say he's got a job working nine to six.
We can still find a way to get out.
Yeah.
Now let's get on it.
Okay.
You think I'll need my rubbers?
What?
My rubbers.
You think I'll need them?
I don't know.
They're your feet.
It's raining pretty hard.
Well, I guess I better take them.
Say I'll get sort of.
Finds out I'm not wearing them.
I didn't hear you.
I say say I'll get sort of.
Finds out I'm not wearing them.
I get home, she looks at the soles of my shoes.
If they're wet, she knows I left the over shoes in the locker.
She gets real hacked, so.
Yeah.
You gonna put them on now?
Yeah, I've walked outside.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, shoot, I had to get on.
Are you about finished there?
Yeah.
I want to see Danny before he leaves.
What is it, something special?
No, I heard that he had a set of golf clubs for sale.
I thought maybe I'd look at them.
Are you gonna start playing golf?
No.
I thought maybe I'd take a look at them.
You know, something that maybe I'd like to see.
I don't know.
I don't know if I can look at them.
You know, I'm thinking maybe I ought to do something like that.
Some kind of hobby.
Golf isn't too expensive, is it?
Fishing, Joe.
What?
You ought to take up fishing.
That's for you.
It is.
Sure, fishing.
Out in the boat, fighting the unknown.
With golf, you hit a ball and you know where it's going.
No, not me.
You know what I mean.
With golf, you kind of know what's gonna happen.
But with fishing, there's always that mystery of what's going on at the other end of your
line.
You never know.
Yeah.
No, you don't, Joe.
You never know what's gonna take the bait.
Might be a big school of white sea bass or yellowtail down there.
Might even be a school of albacore.
Now, fishing's for you, Joe.
You think so, Gene?
Well, it's a little early yet, but you just hang on, old buddy, and tell you what, I'll
take you out with me this year.
Show you how it's done.
No, I don't think so.
I heard about your fishing.
What do you mean?
Oh, Gene Patrick was telling me about how you robbed the bait tank, strung up the horse
sardines, and took them home.
He's jealous, Joe.
He is, huh?
Yeah.
He wanted them.
Hot shot.
I'll get it.
You better hurry up.
We got one to roll on.
Yeah?
Auction house out of Rosher Boulevard.
Huh?
They were just hit.
Eight thirty-seven a.m.
We arrived at the Charles Kane Auction Gallery.
It was a large Spanish-type building located on the corner of West and East.
It was a large Spanish-type building located on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Gregory
Drive.
A radio card answered the call, and the officers from the unit were taking reports.
The policeman at the door told us that his partner was making a check of the neighborhood
to see if he could come up with any information for us.
An ambulance had arrived, and the man at the door told us that the attendant was in the
store taking care of one of the victims.
We went in and talked to him.
Hey, what could that?
He's like a stove in my head, Ian.
Oh, sorry, Mr. Kane.
Are you one of those officers?
Yeah, that's right.
Friday and Smith Central Robbery.
All right, if we talk to him.
Sure, I'm almost finished here.
Sure, you can talk to me.
Go ahead, I'll tell you.
All right, sir, this is my partner Frank Smith.
My name's Friday.
Charles Kane.
This is my place.
I'm the one that we route.
Yes, sir, we understand.
This is Miss Morgan.
I know these are policemen.
How do you do?
How are you?
Where are the other cops?
Sir?
Other fellas.
The ones in the police car, where'd they go?
Well, they're outside, Mr. Kane.
Oh, you fellas are the guns, huh?
What's that say?
The guns, the big ones.
You know, the ones who are going to handle it?
Well, I guess you could say that.
Yeah, well, suppose you want me to tell you all about it, huh?
Yes, sir, if you would, please.
Yeah, been in the auctioning business a long time.
This is the first time a thing like this has ever happened.
First time.
Came in this morning early.
Came in to check the consignment from Santa Barbara.
Loading new stuff.
Only it's old.
We bought it up.
It's supposed to be here this morning.
I came in the office.
Yeah, yeah, right in here.
A fellow was standing back at the door.
As soon as I came in, he clouted me on the head.
Whacked me a good'un.
Hey, hey, wait.
He's not here.
Whacked me a good'un.
Hey, hey, wait.
Take it easy with that bandage, will you?
Yes, sir, I'm sorry.
He liked that fellow Ickabod.
Who's that?
Ickabod, you know, from Washington, Irvine.
Ickabod Crane.
A fellow who rode around carrying his head under his arm.
Ah, sir, I feel like I could do that.
Ah, Grand Rider Irvine.
Read almost all this stuff.
Grand.
Yes, sir, what time did you come in?
Yeah, grand.
Oh, it must have been about 7.45.
I wonder if you can give us a description of the man.
Sure, don't you want me to tell you the rest of the story first?
If we can get a description of the man, Mr. Crane, we can get a broadcast out on him.
Yeah, he robbed the safe, too, you know.
Yes, sir, we understand.
Cleaned it right out.
How tall was the man, sir?
About six foot two.
Big fella.
Or it might even have been bigger.
How about his weight?
Big there, too.
Maybe a couple hundred pounds.
Did you see the man, Miss Morgan?
Yes, he was here when I came in.
Yeah, but I'm the one he hit.
Well, he was back here with Mr. Crane when I came in.
The man must have just hit him.
Did you get a pretty good look at him?
Yes, sir.
Yeah, he hit me again.
He gave me a real whack right on the head.
Yes, sir.
This fella's covered it all up with bandages.
You'd be able to see it.
A real whack.
Yes, sir, we understand.
Think that'll take care of it, Mr. Crane?
Will, huh?
Yes, sir.
I suggest you see your doctor, though.
Yeah, why?
We usually recommend it, sir.
Oh, yeah.
Well, thanks, young fella.
Yes, sir.
How about the man's coloring, Mr. Crane?
That ambulance fella been real nice.
Yes, sir.
Can you tell us about the man who held you up?
Right.
Yes, sir.
He was a good man.
Can you tell us about the man who held you up?
Right, right, conflicted.
Did he wear glasses?
No, didn't have glasses.
Well, he had them on when I saw him.
Yeah?
Well, he didn't when he whacked me.
What kind of glasses were they, ma'am?
Well, they were the ones with the plastic rims, sort of a light color.
Must have taken them off when he hit me.
What was he wearing?
Gray suit.
Business suit.
Gray.
Was he clean shaven, do you remember?
Yes, he had a dark beard, though.
Real heavy, but he was clean shaven.
I'll get this out, Joe.
Right.
Did he have any accent when he talked, Mr. Crane?
No, just hauled off and hit me as soon as I came in the door.
Didn't say a word.
Just whacked me on the head.
Did he speak to you, Miss Morgan?
Yes, he did.
He told me to keep quiet and nothing would happen.
Did you notice anything in his speech?
No, he talked just like anybody else.
Okay, you called him, Frank?
Yeah.
Miss Morgan?
Yes, sir?
What time did you get in this morning?
Oh, it must have been about eight, maybe a couple of minutes after.
Did you see the holdup man when he came in?
No, not right away.
He wasn't out in the gallery.
Uh-huh.
I came into the office here.
This is where I work most of the time.
That's when I saw him.
He was standing right over there.
Mr. Crane was on the floor and the robber was standing next to him.
I guess he just hit Mr. Crane.
Uh-huh.
What did he say to you?
Oh, I told you.
He said for me to keep quiet and nothing would happen to me.
Did he say anything else?
No, no, he didn't.
Didn't say much to me either.
Just whacked me.
Would you know the man if you saw him again, Miss Morgan?
Yes, yes, I would.
So would I.
All right, sir.
Well, we'd like both of you to come downtown and look at some pictures, if you would.
Oh, got him, man.
Fast work.
Oh, no, sir.
We haven't got him in custody yet, but we may have a picture of him downtown.
Yeah?
How'd that be?
Well, if he's done this kind of thing before and he's been arrested, we'd have a record
on him.
Oh, yeah.
Mr. Crane.
Yeah?
What kind of a burglar alarm system do you have here in the store?
Oh, it's right there on the window.
Uh-huh.
Hey, you see those little strips of foil?
Electricity runs through them.
They get broke and it rings a bell out in front of the store.
You're not on a system, though, are you?
Oh, no, no.
All is figured if the bell went off, the cops would be here soon enough.
I see.
He must have found out some way to turn the thing off, though.
Didn't ring at all.
I'd have heard it if it had.
I'd have heard it sure.
Do either of you people smoke?
Yeah, both of us.
Got out the broadcast, Joe.
Good.
It's all the Climb lab that are on the way.
All right, Climb.
I took another look at the front door.
Whoever broke in sure knew his job real clean.
You got anything?
Well, we don't know yet.
Either of you two people smoked this morning here in the office.
Not me.
Sure could use a cigarette, though.
Calm me down.
There you are, Miss Kent.
How about you, Miss?
Thank you.
Why all these questions about smoking?
I want to know if you're going to catch that man.
It was over $1,200 in that safe and I had a couple of hundred on me.
He took all that.
What you asking all these silly questions for?
Well, there's some cigarettes here on the floor.
Looks like the holdup man must have waited for you two to get here.
Yeah, probably did.
Broke into the safe and then waited for the cops to come in.
Dirty sneak.
What do you got, Joe?
Paper matches here.
Might be something.
Yeah?
Take a look at them.
Yeah.
Huh, what's there?
Some print on that one.
Can you read what it says?
23 miles to Wilming.
The rest of it's burned off.
Probably Wilming's in there.
Huh-huh.
You got something?
A clue?
We don't know yet, sir.
Here's another one, Joe.
Can you read it?
Yeah.
This one's almost full.
Only the tip's been burned.
What's it say?
It says 14 miles to Santa Monica.
What was it?
14 miles to Santa Monica.
Looks like matches from a motel or any hotel, something like that.
Might be a restaurant.
You guys won't have any trouble at all getting a fella, I mean.
Sir?
Yeah, simple.
Just find a place that's 23 miles from Wilmington, 14 miles to Santa Monica.
Don't you get it?
Find that place and your man will be waiting for you.
You get it?
Yes, sir.
Yeah, simple.
Find that place and your man will be there.
The crime lab arrived and went over the place.
The burned matches and the cigarette butts were retained for evidence.
Pictures were taken of their position relative to the safe.
We continued to question the two victims.
From their stories, we were able to piece together what had happened.
They were both asked to go with us to the robbery division to check through the mug
books for an identification of the holdup man.
We were told that the man had been killed in the crime lab.
From their descriptions of the man, we were able to come up with an accurate idea of what
he looked like.
We contacted the artist up in the crime analysis division and asked him to start a composite
drawing of the thief.
The crime lab called and gave us additional information on the matches.
From the distances printed on them, we were able to get an idea where the original match
book might have come from.
The intersection of the lines was in the Hollywood area.
3.15 p.m. We drove over to talk to the manager of the company who had made the matches,
a Mr. Tom Holder.
Come on in.
Thanks, sir.
Thank you very much.
Sit down.
All right, sir, fine.
Now, what can I do for you?
We're police officers, Mr. Holder.
My name's Friday.
This is my partner, Frank Smith.
How do you do?
Well, what can I do for you?
I hope it's nothing I've done wrong.
No, sir, nothing like that.
We'd like some help if you can give it to us.
Sure.
Always glad to cooperate with the police.
I never know when I'm going to need them.
All right, sir.
We have some matches here, Mr. Holder.
We understand they were made by your firm.
Our matches, huh?
Yes, sir.
We'd like to know who they were made for if you could tell us.
Yeah, we made them.
Sort of an exclusive design.
Can you tell us who you made them for?
I'll check the book.
Probably have them in there.
Now, let me see.
I think that's model 4XY892.
Yes.
Yes, here's the book.
It's probably in here.
Huh.
A lot of matches.
Oh, yes, we make quite a few.
They all differ?
Most of them.
Some are the same.
You know, a customer sees a sample he likes
and orders the same thing for his business.
We make a few changes so that it fits the line he's in, you know.
Uh-huh.
Neither one of you fellows is collectors, are you?
Make what?
Collectors.
Either one of you guys save match books?
Oh, no, sir.
Neither one of you?
No, sir.
Oh, it's a good hobby.
I've got quite a collection.
I guess maybe six, maybe 7,000.
That many?
Oh, yes, yes.
Some of the collectors have more.
I've only been saving for about five years.
Yeah.
Working in a place like this makes collecting easier, huh?
Oh, no, you can't do that.
Huh?
Well, I can't take them out of these samples.
They can't?
Oh, no, no.
That wouldn't do at all.
You have to find them.
Wouldn't be fair to take advantage of my position
to get the books.
Oh, no, not fair at all.
Wouldn't.
Oh, no.
I take trips.
Drive all over to get one.
Last summer I went back to the Smithsonian Institute.
Now they've really got a collection.
Oh, it's just beautiful.
That right.
Oh, my, yes, beautiful.
Had a wonderful trip.
Got a lot of new books.
My wife did very good, too.
Came back with two shopping bags full of sugar.
How's that?
Sugar.
She saves sugar cubes.
You know, with the wrappings
to tell where the cubes came from?
Oh, oh, yeah.
Yes, sir, I've seen them.
I know what you mean.
She saves them.
Two shopping bags full.
Wonderful trip.
About the matches, sir.
I wonder if you could tell us.
Oh, yes, yes.
Well, here you are.
I think this is it.
Now, let me see the ones you have.
Here you are, sir.
Mm-hmm.
Now, let me see.
Oh, same one.
Yes, that's it.
You know, we have guys coming in here all the time
to see if they can't get some books for their collection.
I won't go for it, though.
The Dodgers they use.
Some of the stories would really make you laugh
if you didn't know what they were trying to do.
Yes, sir.
How about these match books here?
What?
Oh, well, I try to tell them.
I go out and get the matches fair.
Don't come around here and try to do things the easy way.
Go out and get them fair.
That's what I tell them.
Can you tell us where these matches came from, please?
Oh, all over the world.
They come from all over.
No, sir, the matches we brought in.
Hmm?
Please.
Oh, oh, yes.
Oh, my, no, no.
These came from Hollywood.
I meant the others, the ones for collecting.
Yes, sir.
Can you tell us where in Hollywood?
Well, let me see.
Here is, uh, mm-hmm.
One, two, three, four, five, six.
Oh, six places that use these matches
have a different cover on them, of course.
Well, anyway, you can tell us
where these particular matches came from.
Well, not when they're burned.
I can see the color of the head, I might be able to tell.
How big part?
Well, we put a different color head on the matches.
Oh, I see.
Different place, different color.
Any way you could tell from these, though?
Well, could be done.
Takes some time.
Uh-huh.
Analyze the burned portion.
Tell what the chemical content is in the head.
Tell that way.
Take some time, though.
About how long?
Well, a couple of hours, maybe a little longer.
Well, how much would knowing the color help?
Well, you can see here in the book,
there are two with red heads, two with green,
and two with white.
Be able to narrow it down to two for you.
Well, that's not necessary, Mr. Holder.
Be glad to do it.
Well, we'll drop the matches by our crime lab.
They can run the test, and then we'll call you back.
All right, that'll be fine.
Wonder if you could give us the address
of the places that use the match books.
Oh, sure, I got them right here.
I'll make a copy for you.
Sure, appreciate it.
No trouble at all.
Say, I was just thinking.
What's that, sir?
You fellas wouldn't like to start a collection, would you?
I could let you have a few books to get you started.
Well, sir.
Wouldn't be cheating, just a few.
No, sir, thanks, it's the same.
Well, take some of these along anyway.
Loads of fun.
Huh?
Sugar cubes all the way from Des Moines.
We got the list of places using the type of book matches
found at the scene of the robbery.
We told Tom Holder that we'd be back if we needed any more help,
and then we left.
5.30 p.m.
We called the office and talked to Sergeants Murphy and Rafferty.
We gave them the addresses of the three motels
and asked them to check them out.
6.46 p.m.
We started to check out the three motels on our list.
The rain continued to fall.
The Weather Bureau's report indicated that it would keep up for another 12 hours.
At the first two places, we got no new information on the holdup man.
7.29 p.m.
We checked at the last place on our list.
Yeah?
Police officers would like to talk to you, sir.
Oh, sure, come on in.
Thank you.
Boy, you're coming down, isn't it?
Yes, sir.
Now, what's all this about?
Something wrong?
No, we'd just like your help.
Well, I think I can do.
Say, you guys like a cup of hot coffee.
Take the chill out of your bones.
No, sir, no thanks.
You got it all ready.
You won't be in trouble.
No, sir, thanks just the same.
Well, how about your partner?
No, thanks.
All right.
Now, what can I do for you?
I'd like for you to take a look at a picture here
and tell us if you've seen the man.
Sure.
Frank, you got the sketch there?
Oh, yeah, got it right here.
A little wet.
Mm-hmm.
Get some water you got in the pocket.
Yeah.
What do you want this guy for, something special?
We'd like to talk to him.
Yeah, sure, I didn't mean to pry.
Just wonder if it was a big job or maybe a bad check, something like that.
There you are.
Seen him before?
This is his description down here at the bottom?
That's right.
Robbery, huh?
Yes, sir.
Big deal.
You seen him?
I'm not sure.
Description fit a lot of people.
Does it fit anyone registered here?
Yeah, at least four guys.
7.36 p.m.
We continued to talk to the manager of the motel.
He went through the registration cards
of the four men who answered the description of the holdup man that we were after.
We were able to eliminate two of them.
In the manager's company, we left to check out the other two occupants.
Cabin number 26 was registered to a John Keller.
We've given his address as 1624 Shannon Street, San Francisco.
There's nobody here.
You want me to open the door?
You better let us do it, huh?
You think he might give you some trouble?
We don't know, sir.
I hope not.
I run a quiet place here.
I like to keep it that way.
All right, would you just stand over there, sir?
Sure.
Not here.
When did you see him last?
Well, I didn't see him at all today.
Last time was yesterday evening.
He came by to see if there was any phone messages for him.
Did you say who was going to call him?
No.
Kind of impressed me like he was just asking to kill time.
Uh-huh.
Better check the closet, huh?
Yeah.
I didn't check it good at first.
I will now, sir.
How long has this Keller been here?
A couple of days.
That's all.
Just a couple of days.
I didn't know he'd cause any trouble.
I wouldn't let him in if I'd have known that.
Sorry, sir.
Joe?
Yeah.
See you, man.
Sure.
You got something?
Yeah.
I'll do the laundry here.
Take a look.
Yeah.
Burglar tools.
The burglar tools were not disturbed until they could be checked for fingerprints.
We asked the manager of the motel to go back to the office and act as if nothing had happened
when the suspect came in.
He told us the motel had a switchboard telephone and we asked him to ring us in the event the
office called.
I called the city hall and told them where we were.
I also asked that another team of men be sent out to help us with the stakeout.
Then Frank and I settled down to wait for John Keller.
The rain kept up.
We waited.
Eight.
Eight thirty.
No sign of the suspect.
The office called to say that they were sending Stuart and Creasy out to relieve us at midnight.
Nine thirty.
Ten fifteen p.m.
Well, I sure wish we could smoke.
Yeah.
I wonder what he's doing out in a night like this.
Sure coming down, isn't it?
Yeah.
Hope the kids are all right.
Is there anything wrong?
No, but once in a while when the rain's real heavy like this, the storm drain across the
street gets clogged, water backs up, fills the street, you know.
Yeah.
We only got another half hour to go here.
Yeah.
I'm glad to get some dry socks on.
Hold it.
Huh?
Somebody coming out there.
Yeah.
All right, Keller, stand still.
Who are you?
What are you doing in my place?
Police officers, you're under arrest.
Watch it, Frank!
That's it!
Oh, fuck!
All right, look out, Frank!
Get out.
Come on.
Get up.
Come on.
Get on your feet.
What do you want me for?
I haven't done anything.
Those your tools in the closet?
You guys been snooping around.
Better shake them, Frank.
Yeah.
I got a gun.
You'll find it out.
I got a gun.
All right, give it to him.
38,000.
I got it.
Let's get out of here, huh?
You got nothing on me.
Let me call the lawyer.
He'll be turning me loose in a couple hours.
Oh, still, Keller.
Yeah.
What do you got here?
Pretty wise.
You guys don't miss a trick.
32 strapped to his leg, Joe.
What are you doing with that, Keller?
I'm saying nothing until I see a lawyer.
Where's your wallet?
In my coat.
Is that where you keep your money?
You know a better place?
All right, take it out.
I'll be right back.
You know, the thing about my coat, he was the guy.
He was the guy.
My coat, he gave me a gun.
My coat.
That's where you keep your money?
You know a better place?
All right, take it out.
Lousy cops think they own you.
You ever done any big time?
I know what you're talking about.
I drove out here. You need protection on a trip like that.
How much money you got in your wallet there?
I don't know.
About how much?
I haven't got the slightest idea.
I always know how much I got.
Maybe it makes a difference to you.
Count it.
What for?
Count it.
Fifty.
Hundred.
Hundred and fifty.
Put it out on the table. We can both count it.
Now let's try it again.
Yes.
Four.
Seven.
It's, uh...
Comes out three thousand and fifty-three dollars.
You want me to count the change in my pocket too?
Where'd you get the money?
I worked for it.
Where?
In your business.
All right, Keller, let's go downtown.
Frank, you want to get the tools?
Yeah.
Pick up the money, Keller. Put it back in your wallet.
Look, suppose I just leave it there and walk out of here.
Wouldn't that make it all right?
You know better than that. Now put it back in your wallet.
Doesn't make any difference anyway.
You guys got nothing on me. Nothing you can hold me on.
Yeah. Come on, Keller.
Bad boy.
Yeah.
I'll get the tools, Joe.
Right.
Hey, how about my coat?
Your what?
Coat.
All right, here.
Now let's go.
You guys are sure going to feel pretty silly.
Is that right?
Sure. You got nothing on me.
My lawyer will have me out in no time. He's a good lawyer.
Yeah, well, he's going to have to be.
Huh?
To get you out of this one.
The story you have just heard is true.
The names were changed to protect the innocent.
On June 14th, trial was held in Department 97, Superior Court of the State of California,
in and for the County of Los Angeles.
John Rudolph Keller was tried and convicted of robbery in the first degree, one count,
and burglary in the first degree, six counts, and received punishment as prescribed by law.
Robbery in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary
for a period of not less than five years.
Burglary in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than five years in the State Penitentiary.
The story you have just heard is true.
You have just heard Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action,
and starring Jack Webb, a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service.
The story you have just heard is true.