WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:11.640 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. 00:11.640 --> 00:14.440 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:14.440 --> 00:15.440 Dragman. 00:15.440 --> 00:25.760 You're a detective sergeant. 00:25.760 --> 00:27.920 You're assigned a homicide detail. 00:27.920 --> 00:29.920 A call comes into the office. 00:29.920 --> 00:32.040 A woman says her husband is dead. 00:32.040 --> 00:33.960 She thinks he's been murdered. 00:33.960 --> 00:37.960 Your job, investigate. 00:37.960 --> 00:42.760 Dragnet. 00:42.760 --> 00:45.040 The documentary drama of an actual crime. 00:45.040 --> 00:49.960 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 00:49.960 --> 00:54.600 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 00:54.600 --> 00:55.600 police files. 00:55.600 --> 01:01.480 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 01:01.480 --> 01:02.480 in action. 01:02.480 --> 01:05.480 It was Wednesday, July 8th. 01:05.480 --> 01:10.280 It was sunny in Los Angeles. 01:10.280 --> 01:12.000 We were working the day watch out of homicide detail. 01:12.000 --> 01:13.240 My partner is Frank Smith. 01:13.240 --> 01:14.240 The boss is Captain Lawman. 01:14.240 --> 01:15.240 My name is Friday. 01:15.240 --> 01:19.560 It was 1103 a.m. when we got to 906 South Norwood Street. 01:19.560 --> 01:20.560 Front door. 01:20.560 --> 01:23.560 Hi, Friday and Smith, homicide. 01:23.560 --> 01:24.560 How are you? 01:24.560 --> 01:25.560 Carly, 1F14. 01:25.560 --> 01:28.480 Mrs. Pilsen, the victim's wife, is back in the bedroom. 01:28.480 --> 01:29.480 Pretty broken up about it. 01:29.480 --> 01:30.480 Uh-huh. 01:30.480 --> 01:31.480 What about the victim? 01:31.480 --> 01:33.200 Name's George Pilsen, age 57, no children. 01:33.200 --> 01:34.200 Justina's wife live here. 01:34.200 --> 01:35.560 That's about all I got. 01:35.560 --> 01:38.200 She cried so much, I thought it might be better to let her rest until you got here. 01:38.200 --> 01:39.200 That's a good idea. 01:39.200 --> 01:40.200 Where's the body? 01:40.200 --> 01:41.200 In the other bedroom, I'll show you. 01:41.200 --> 01:44.120 All right. 01:44.120 --> 01:46.440 Because she felt so bad, I thought maybe she'd like me to call her doctor. 01:46.440 --> 01:47.680 Said she didn't want any. 01:47.680 --> 01:48.680 Uh-huh. 01:48.680 --> 01:49.680 Mrs. Pilsen's right across the hall. 01:49.680 --> 01:50.680 Right. 01:50.680 --> 01:51.680 That's a head wound. 01:51.680 --> 01:52.680 Yeah. 01:52.680 --> 01:56.960 Looks like somebody was serious. 01:56.960 --> 01:57.960 Yeah. 01:57.960 --> 01:59.680 Now we're gonna need the lab and latent prints. 01:59.680 --> 02:00.680 You want me to call him? 02:00.680 --> 02:01.680 Yeah. 02:01.680 --> 02:02.680 Better call the corner, too. 02:02.680 --> 02:03.680 Will you please? 02:03.680 --> 02:04.680 Right. 02:04.680 --> 02:05.680 Thank you. 02:05.680 --> 02:09.680 When he's lying here, position of his hands outside the covers, doesn't look like there 02:09.680 --> 02:10.680 was much of a struggle, does it? 02:10.680 --> 02:11.680 Oh. 02:11.680 --> 02:13.680 Could have been asleep when he got it, huh? 02:13.680 --> 02:16.680 Better talk to his wife, huh? 02:16.680 --> 02:17.680 Yeah. 02:17.680 --> 02:18.680 Mrs. Pilsen. 02:18.680 --> 02:19.680 Mrs. Pilsen. 02:19.680 --> 02:23.680 Mrs. Pilsen, police officers. 02:23.680 --> 02:24.680 Go ahead. 02:24.680 --> 02:27.680 Police officers, but I can talk to you. 02:27.680 --> 02:31.680 Sorry to disturb you, ma'am, but we'd appreciate it if you'd tell us what you know about all 02:31.680 --> 02:32.680 this. 02:32.680 --> 02:33.680 All right. 02:33.680 --> 02:34.680 You want to go in the front room? 02:34.680 --> 02:35.680 All right, that'll be fine. 02:35.680 --> 02:36.680 You go ahead, please. 02:36.680 --> 02:39.680 I couldn't talk to the other policeman. 02:39.680 --> 02:40.680 We understand. 02:40.680 --> 02:41.680 The calls are all in, Sergeant. 02:41.680 --> 02:42.680 Anything else I can do? 02:42.680 --> 02:43.680 No, thanks, Carly. 02:43.680 --> 02:44.680 We'll handle it now. 02:44.680 --> 02:45.680 Right. 02:45.680 --> 02:46.680 I'll show them off. 02:46.680 --> 02:51.680 Mrs. Pilsen, this is Frank Smith. 02:51.680 --> 02:52.680 My name's Friday. 02:52.680 --> 02:53.680 Uh-huh. 02:53.680 --> 02:56.680 How do you do, ma'am? 02:56.680 --> 03:02.680 This is like so many other mornings, except nobody sat in this chair like you are, Mr. 03:02.680 --> 03:03.680 Friday. 03:03.680 --> 03:06.680 I used to sit here and it was quiet. 03:06.680 --> 03:08.680 I didn't want to disturb George's sleep. 03:08.680 --> 03:11.680 Well, then your husband usually slept during the morning hours, is that right? 03:11.680 --> 03:12.680 Yes. 03:12.680 --> 03:14.680 He worked nights at the Belden Aircraft Company. 03:14.680 --> 03:15.680 All right. 03:15.680 --> 03:16.680 Can you tell us what happened? 03:16.680 --> 03:18.680 What is it to tell? 03:18.680 --> 03:22.680 He came from shopping and found me just like he is now. 03:22.680 --> 03:24.680 Do you remember what time it was? 03:24.680 --> 03:26.680 I don't know for sure. 03:26.680 --> 03:27.680 Ten-thirty. 03:27.680 --> 03:28.680 Somewhere around there. 03:28.680 --> 03:30.680 When did you leave the house? 03:30.680 --> 03:32.680 About the same time I usually do. 03:32.680 --> 03:34.680 I couldn't do my housework in the morning. 03:34.680 --> 03:37.680 I didn't want to disturb George. 03:37.680 --> 03:39.680 About when would that be? 03:39.680 --> 03:41.680 About nine o'clock. 03:41.680 --> 03:42.680 Was your husband asleep when you left? 03:42.680 --> 03:43.680 Yes. 03:43.680 --> 03:46.680 He never closed the door and I looked in before I left. 03:46.680 --> 03:49.680 When you left the house this morning, did you lock the house? 03:49.680 --> 03:51.680 The back door was locked. 03:51.680 --> 03:54.680 I never locked the front when I'm just going to be gone for a short while. 03:54.680 --> 03:55.680 I see. 03:55.680 --> 03:58.680 It doesn't take me more than two hours to shop at the most. 03:58.680 --> 04:00.680 Do you know if your husband had any enemies, Miss Pilsen? 04:00.680 --> 04:01.680 Not that I know of. 04:01.680 --> 04:05.680 He might have, but he never said anything to me about them. 04:05.680 --> 04:07.680 I hope you won't take offense, but we have to ask this. 04:07.680 --> 04:11.680 How did you and your husband get along? 04:11.680 --> 04:14.680 I guess I should have known that I'd be suspect, too. 04:14.680 --> 04:16.680 Well, we have to ask it. 04:16.680 --> 04:17.680 I know, Mr. Friday. 04:17.680 --> 04:19.680 You men are strangers. 04:19.680 --> 04:23.680 How could you know what our marriage was like? 04:23.680 --> 04:27.680 How do you sum up 30 years in one or two sentences? 04:27.680 --> 04:32.680 Good, bad, happy, unhappy? 04:32.680 --> 04:39.680 With all those, I don't think our life is much different than most couples. 04:39.680 --> 04:41.680 Maybe one exception. 04:41.680 --> 04:43.680 You see over there on the table? 04:43.680 --> 04:44.680 Yes, ma'am. 04:44.680 --> 04:46.680 My collection of elephants. 04:46.680 --> 04:48.680 I started collecting them as a little girl. 04:48.680 --> 04:51.680 I always thought that one day I'd have a little girl. 04:51.680 --> 04:53.680 I'd give them to her. 04:53.680 --> 04:55.680 We never had any children. 04:55.680 --> 04:58.680 So my children have been pretend. 04:58.680 --> 05:01.680 I've kept adding to the collection all these years. 05:01.680 --> 05:06.680 Each new elephant is one that my little girl, or perhaps a little boy, would have added. 05:06.680 --> 05:08.680 I see that. 05:08.680 --> 05:11.680 I was wrong before about something I said. 05:11.680 --> 05:12.680 How's that? 05:12.680 --> 05:14.680 I said you were strangers. 05:14.680 --> 05:15.680 Yes. 05:15.680 --> 05:16.680 You're not, really. 05:16.680 --> 05:19.680 Otherwise, I wouldn't have told you about the elephants. 05:19.680 --> 05:20.680 Yes, ma'am. 05:20.680 --> 05:22.680 Then you and your husband haven't had any quarrels recently. 05:22.680 --> 05:24.680 Usual words. 05:24.680 --> 05:26.680 Nothing serious, though. 05:26.680 --> 05:27.680 Now there's something else we'll have to know. 05:27.680 --> 05:28.680 Yes. 05:28.680 --> 05:31.680 Do you know if any personal property is missing? 05:31.680 --> 05:32.680 Stolen, you mean? 05:32.680 --> 05:33.680 That's right. 05:33.680 --> 05:34.680 Well, I'd have to look first. 05:34.680 --> 05:36.680 What if you do that for us? 05:36.680 --> 05:37.680 Right now? 05:37.680 --> 05:38.680 Yes, ma'am. 05:38.680 --> 05:40.680 If you feel up to it, we'd appreciate it if you could. 05:40.680 --> 05:43.680 You want to know about the bedroom, too? 05:43.680 --> 05:46.680 Yes, ma'am. 05:46.680 --> 05:48.680 All right. 05:48.680 --> 05:49.680 One other thing, Miss Pilsen. 05:49.680 --> 05:50.680 Yes. 05:50.680 --> 05:52.680 Would your husband have been in the habit of carrying large sums of money on his personal, 05:52.680 --> 05:53.680 would you know? 05:53.680 --> 05:54.680 No, no. 05:54.680 --> 05:57.680 He usually carried some cash, but never large amounts. 05:57.680 --> 05:58.680 I see. 05:58.680 --> 05:59.680 All right. 05:59.680 --> 06:02.680 Would you like to start checking now, Miss Pilsen? 06:02.680 --> 06:05.680 Do you mind if we sit a moment longer? 06:05.680 --> 06:08.680 No, it's all right. 06:08.680 --> 06:09.680 Take your time. 06:09.680 --> 06:12.680 I was just remembering how like other days this is. 06:12.680 --> 06:18.680 I'd sit here reading and maybe just looking at my elephants and thinking. 06:18.680 --> 06:19.680 Mm-hmm. 06:19.680 --> 06:25.680 It would be real quiet, and the clock would strike twelve. 06:25.680 --> 06:28.680 I'd go in and wake George. 06:28.680 --> 06:29.680 Yes, ma'am. 06:29.680 --> 06:30.680 Shall we go in? 06:30.680 --> 06:32.680 Yes, if you're ready. 06:32.680 --> 06:35.680 It's not quite time. 06:35.680 --> 06:36.680 That won't make any difference now. 06:36.680 --> 06:37.680 Are you fine? 06:37.680 --> 06:40.680 He won't hear us. 06:40.680 --> 06:49.680 When we checked the bedroom, Miss Pilsen told us her husband's watch and diamond ring were missing. 06:49.680 --> 06:52.680 She said as far as she could determine, nothing else had been taken from the house. 06:52.680 --> 06:56.680 In the meantime, crews from the crime lab and Leighton Prince arrived. 06:56.680 --> 07:00.680 Frank called the office, and they ran the names George and Maureen Pilsen through R&I. 07:00.680 --> 07:04.680 They called back later to say they could find no record on either one of them. 07:04.680 --> 07:09.680 Further questioning of the victim's wife failed to give us any definite lead as to who our suspect might be. 07:09.680 --> 07:11.680 We left the home and began to question some of the neighbors. 07:11.680 --> 07:15.680 One fourteen p.m. We rang the bell at the house directly across the street. 07:15.680 --> 07:19.680 We identified ourselves and Sam Mordell, the occupant, admitted it. 07:19.680 --> 07:20.680 We went into the front room. 07:20.680 --> 07:23.680 I began to think I'd have to go look you fellas up. 07:23.680 --> 07:24.680 How do you mean that, sir? 07:24.680 --> 07:28.680 I saw the cars and activity over at the Pilsen's. I couldn't figure out what it was. 07:28.680 --> 07:31.680 I thought it must be trouble of some kind. 07:31.680 --> 07:34.680 Curiosity just about got the best of me. 07:34.680 --> 07:37.680 Grab a chair. Might as well be comfortable while you're here. 07:37.680 --> 07:40.680 Thank you, sir. Thank you very much, Mr. Mordell. 07:40.680 --> 07:44.680 Don't mind all the wood shavings on the floor. You see, I'm a woodcarver. 07:44.680 --> 07:48.680 It's not my job. It's just a hobby. I'm retired. I'm a railroad man. 07:48.680 --> 07:49.680 Yes, sir. 07:49.680 --> 07:55.680 I had a rug in here, but I took it out. I always liked those eaten places with the sawdust on the floor. 07:55.680 --> 07:57.680 You and you know the kind. 07:57.680 --> 08:01.680 Of course, shavings aren't sawdust, but then it's easier to save them this way, too. 08:01.680 --> 08:04.680 Yes, sir. I wonder if you'd answer a few questions for us. 08:04.680 --> 08:09.680 Sure thing. Anyhow, if I keep on gabbing, I won't find out what this is all about. 08:09.680 --> 08:11.680 You go ahead and ask your questions. 08:11.680 --> 08:13.680 Thank you. Do you usually sit in that chair when you work? 08:13.680 --> 08:17.680 Sure do. Seldom miss a day. I call this my cab window. 08:17.680 --> 08:18.680 What's that, sir? 08:18.680 --> 08:24.680 Cab window. I used to be an engineer. I sort of got used to looking out and enjoying the scenery as it went by. 08:24.680 --> 08:29.680 Of course, now the view doesn't change much, but I still like to see what's going on in the neighborhood. 08:29.680 --> 08:30.680 Yes, sir. 08:30.680 --> 08:32.680 Were you sitting here this morning, sir? 08:32.680 --> 08:37.680 Yeah. Don't miss many days. I haven't the time. I have to get this chain finished. 08:37.680 --> 08:39.680 A lot of work to carve out the wood chain. 08:39.680 --> 08:43.680 Yes, sir. Would you remember seeing anybody around the Pilsen residence this morning? 08:43.680 --> 08:45.680 You mean besides Mrs. Pilsen? 08:45.680 --> 08:46.680 You saw her, did you? 08:46.680 --> 08:51.680 Sure. She went shopping. She always goes Wednesday morning, of course, unless the weather is bad. 08:51.680 --> 08:53.680 Yes, sir. Did you see anybody else? 08:53.680 --> 08:57.680 Yes. I saw a fellow come out of there while Mrs. Pilsen was at the store. 08:57.680 --> 08:58.680 Saw a man come out of the house? 08:58.680 --> 08:59.680 Yeah. 08:59.680 --> 09:00.680 Would you remember what time that was? 09:00.680 --> 09:02.680 Ten o'clock sharp. 09:02.680 --> 09:03.680 You sure of that? 09:03.680 --> 09:04.680 That's right. You see this watch? 09:04.680 --> 09:06.680 Yes, sir. 09:06.680 --> 09:11.680 They gave me this when I retired. You can see what it says on the back. See? See? 09:13.680 --> 09:14.680 It's real nice. 09:14.680 --> 09:21.680 Railroad watch. Doesn't vary a bit. I don't get a newspaper, so I listen to the radio news when I'm working. 09:21.680 --> 09:22.680 Mm-hmm. 09:22.680 --> 09:29.680 I always check the time they come on. But I know that my watch is right. Sometimes they're a couple of seconds late or early. 09:29.680 --> 09:33.680 Most of the old pretty much on schedule make good railroad men. 09:33.680 --> 09:34.680 Yes, sir. 09:34.680 --> 09:38.680 It was ten o'clock sharp by my watch. Program was three seconds late. 09:38.680 --> 09:40.680 Yes, sir. Now did you see that man go in? 09:40.680 --> 09:43.680 No. I went out to make a pot of coffee. 09:43.680 --> 09:44.680 How long were you out of the room? 09:44.680 --> 09:48.680 Twenty minutes. It would take any more than twenty minutes. 09:48.680 --> 09:53.680 Do you mind if I carve while we talk? I've got to get this chain finished. They're going to get a new record. 09:53.680 --> 09:55.680 Yes, sir. All right. Could you describe this man for us? 09:55.680 --> 09:57.680 Sure. I can give you a better clue than that. 09:57.680 --> 09:58.680 What's that, Mr. Modell? 09:58.680 --> 10:02.680 He had a truck, gladly, printing on the side. 10:02.680 --> 10:03.680 Uh-huh. 10:03.680 --> 10:06.680 Man's name. Said he's sharpened lawnmowers. 10:06.680 --> 10:07.680 Do you know the name? 10:07.680 --> 10:11.680 Well, I'm not real sure. Either Ray or Gray. 10:11.680 --> 10:12.680 Was there an address? 10:12.680 --> 10:17.680 Yeah. The letter was too small. Anyhow, I wasn't too interested. I sharpened my own mower. 10:17.680 --> 10:19.680 Uh-huh. Can you tell us what kind of a truck it was? 10:19.680 --> 10:26.680 Not to make, but it was a closed-in kind. Green color. Didn't look too new. 10:26.680 --> 10:30.680 Uh-huh. And you say the name on the side was either Ray or Gray? Is that it? 10:30.680 --> 10:37.680 Yeah. My eyes are good yet, but only the Ray part was real clear. It looked like there could have been another letter in the front, though. 10:37.680 --> 10:39.680 Uh-huh. 10:39.680 --> 10:40.680 Just thought of something. 10:40.680 --> 10:41.680 Yes, sir. 10:41.680 --> 10:46.680 It didn't have to be gray. It could have been bray or tray. 10:46.680 --> 10:48.680 Wait and check that out. 10:48.680 --> 10:50.680 Now, can I ask you something? 10:50.680 --> 10:51.680 What's after? 10:51.680 --> 10:52.680 What's the trouble? 10:52.680 --> 10:54.680 Well, Mr. Pilsen's dead. 10:54.680 --> 11:00.680 Well, couldn't have been a natural death if you fellas wouldn't be asking questions. 11:00.680 --> 11:03.680 That's too bad. George was a pretty good neighbor. 11:03.680 --> 11:04.680 Is that right, sir? 11:04.680 --> 11:11.680 Be tough on his wife, too, being married so long and all. I went there 25th anniversary. 11:11.680 --> 11:16.680 Isn't easy to go on alone. I lost my wife seven years ago. 11:16.680 --> 11:21.680 Not when you've been happy. It's not easy. 11:21.680 --> 11:25.680 Yes, sir. Mr. Mordell, you said you could give us a description of the man you saw coming out of Pilsen. 11:25.680 --> 11:30.680 Yeah, and if he had anything to do with George's death, he's going to get what I wanted for so long. 11:30.680 --> 11:32.680 What's that say? 11:32.680 --> 11:38.680 That's when you catch him, I mean. There. He'll get his name in the paper. 11:38.680 --> 11:39.680 How's that again? 11:39.680 --> 11:45.680 That's why I'm carving this chain. It's going to be the longest chain ever carved out of a single piece of wood. 11:45.680 --> 11:46.680 Oh, I see. 11:46.680 --> 11:52.680 Almost made it a couple other times, and then I got too anxious and botched the whole thing. See there? 11:52.680 --> 11:53.680 Schavins? 11:53.680 --> 11:54.680 Yes, sir. 11:54.680 --> 12:00.680 When I finish, I'm going to sweep them all up and weigh them. You know, give the reporter something to write about. 12:00.680 --> 12:02.680 Well, sir, I hope this one turns out for you. 12:02.680 --> 12:08.680 Thanks. I'll make it this time. Maybe it won't be on the front page, but my name will be in the paper, too. 12:08.680 --> 12:10.680 We need to be sure of one thing. 12:10.680 --> 12:11.680 Yeah? 12:11.680 --> 12:13.680 You picked a little better way to get there. 12:13.680 --> 12:20.680 Sam Wardell gave us a description of the man that he'd seen. 12:20.680 --> 12:24.680 We called the office and got out a local broadcast, and then we went back to the Pilsen house. 12:24.680 --> 12:30.680 We found a lawnmower in the backyard. Mrs. Pilsen said her husband had sent the lawnmower out to be sharpened, 12:30.680 --> 12:32.680 but she didn't know who the man was that did the work. 12:32.680 --> 12:37.680 We checked the classified directory, and we found the name Gray's Lawnmower Service. 12:37.680 --> 12:40.680 The listing had been underlined in pencil. 12:40.680 --> 12:43.680 Frank and I drove to the address, 2604 Royal Street. 12:43.680 --> 12:47.680 It was a small shop set well back from the street. The place was locked. 12:47.680 --> 12:52.680 A clock sign on the door read, We'll be back at, and the hand pointed to 430. 12:52.680 --> 12:55.680 We parked across the street and we waited. 12:55.680 --> 12:59.680 At 443 p.m., a man answering the description we'd been given unlocked the door and entered the shop. 12:59.680 --> 13:01.680 445 p.m. 13:01.680 --> 13:05.680 Oh, hiya. 13:05.680 --> 13:08.680 Either this is perfect timing or you've been waiting for me. 13:08.680 --> 13:10.680 We're police officers. 13:10.680 --> 13:11.680 Uh-huh. 13:11.680 --> 13:14.680 Well, I guess that writes off the timing part. 13:14.680 --> 13:15.680 Is your name Gray? 13:15.680 --> 13:16.680 No, it's Para. 13:16.680 --> 13:17.680 Do you work for a man named Gray? 13:17.680 --> 13:20.680 Uh-uh. It's my own business. I bought it from him. 13:20.680 --> 13:21.680 I see. 13:21.680 --> 13:23.680 He'd been here for some 20 years, so I just kept the name. 13:23.680 --> 13:25.680 Do you pick up and deliver in your business? 13:25.680 --> 13:26.680 Yeah. 13:26.680 --> 13:27.680 Well, then you have a truck. 13:27.680 --> 13:28.680 That's right. 13:28.680 --> 13:29.680 What kind? 13:29.680 --> 13:30.680 Panel job, Dodge. 13:30.680 --> 13:31.680 What color? 13:31.680 --> 13:32.680 Green. 13:32.680 --> 13:33.680 Look, I don't mind answering questions. 13:33.680 --> 13:39.680 I know you got a job to do, but the way I see it, this question and answer game plays better if we both know what counts and what doesn't. 13:39.680 --> 13:40.680 How about it? 13:40.680 --> 13:42.680 Well, for the time being, let's just say you called it, huh? 13:42.680 --> 13:43.680 Yeah. 13:43.680 --> 13:44.680 We got a job to do. 13:44.680 --> 13:45.680 That's it. 13:45.680 --> 13:46.680 It'll have to be for now. 13:46.680 --> 13:48.680 Yeah, I don't want to buck you guys. 13:48.680 --> 13:52.680 I got nothing to hide, but I get the same feeling when somebody won't cash a check for me. 13:52.680 --> 13:53.680 Yeah. 13:53.680 --> 13:56.680 It galls me to think I'm lined up as a bad risk. 13:56.680 --> 13:58.680 We're not accusing you of anything. 13:58.680 --> 14:00.680 We'd appreciate your cooperation, but try and keep this in mind. 14:00.680 --> 14:02.680 We'll still get what we came here for. 14:02.680 --> 14:03.680 Now, you make the choice how you want it. 14:03.680 --> 14:04.680 Okay. 14:04.680 --> 14:06.680 What are you after, hot lawn mowers? 14:06.680 --> 14:08.680 You said you made deliveries, is that right? 14:08.680 --> 14:09.680 Yeah. 14:09.680 --> 14:10.680 Do you keep a record of the calls you make? 14:10.680 --> 14:11.680 Sure. 14:11.680 --> 14:12.680 Can we see the record? 14:12.680 --> 14:14.680 If you want, the book's over to death in the drawer. 14:14.680 --> 14:15.680 I'll get it. 14:15.680 --> 14:16.680 I'll get it. 14:16.680 --> 14:18.680 What'd you expect? 14:18.680 --> 14:20.680 That we're going to pull a gun out of the drawer? 14:20.680 --> 14:21.680 That's the one? 14:21.680 --> 14:22.680 Yeah. 14:22.680 --> 14:24.680 Here you are, Joe. 14:24.680 --> 14:28.680 Thanks. 14:28.680 --> 14:30.680 Are these all the calls for today? 14:30.680 --> 14:32.680 That's right. 14:32.680 --> 14:35.680 Austin, Kemper, when'd you make these calls? 14:35.680 --> 14:36.680 What time? 14:36.680 --> 14:37.680 That's right. 14:37.680 --> 14:39.680 Well, Kemper this morning, Austin this afternoon. 14:39.680 --> 14:41.680 They're the only ones you made today, huh? 14:41.680 --> 14:42.680 Yeah. 14:42.680 --> 14:44.680 Wait a minute, let me see the book for a second. 14:44.680 --> 14:45.680 Yeah. 14:45.680 --> 14:47.680 There's one here, I guess I forgot to enter it. 14:47.680 --> 14:48.680 What's that? 14:48.680 --> 14:49.680 Another call I made. 14:49.680 --> 14:50.680 What was that? 14:50.680 --> 14:53.680 On Norwood Street, 906, I think it was. 14:53.680 --> 14:54.680 Remember the name? 14:54.680 --> 14:55.680 Yeah, Pilsen. 14:55.680 --> 14:57.680 What time were you there? 14:57.680 --> 14:59.680 I'm not sure, 9.30 or so, I guess. 14:59.680 --> 15:00.680 Who'd you talk to? 15:00.680 --> 15:02.680 Nobody, didn't see anyone around. 15:02.680 --> 15:03.680 Did you go in the house? 15:03.680 --> 15:04.680 Why? 15:04.680 --> 15:05.680 Did you? 15:05.680 --> 15:07.680 Yeah, I rang the bell a couple times and I knocked. 15:07.680 --> 15:08.680 Yeah. 15:08.680 --> 15:10.680 I thought maybe they were in the back of the house, 15:10.680 --> 15:12.680 couldn't hear me, the door was open a little so I walked in. 15:12.680 --> 15:13.680 Yeah. 15:13.680 --> 15:16.680 Went in the front room, called out, didn't get any answers so I left. 15:16.680 --> 15:18.680 You didn't leave the front room? 15:18.680 --> 15:19.680 That's right. 15:19.680 --> 15:20.680 Did you see anybody? 15:20.680 --> 15:22.680 I told you, I didn't, what more do you want? 15:22.680 --> 15:23.680 You said you called out. 15:23.680 --> 15:24.680 Yeah? 15:24.680 --> 15:25.680 How loud? 15:25.680 --> 15:26.680 What do you mean? 15:26.680 --> 15:28.680 Loud enough to wake a person sleeping in the back bedroom, maybe? 15:28.680 --> 15:31.680 I guess so, no one answered, it came out, I know that. 15:31.680 --> 15:34.680 Why, was there someone there when I called? 15:34.680 --> 15:35.680 That's right. 15:35.680 --> 15:36.680 Well, ask them then. 15:36.680 --> 15:38.680 I don't know what you're getting at, I walked into a house. 15:38.680 --> 15:40.680 I didn't do anything wrong there. 15:40.680 --> 15:42.680 But was someone there, ask them. 15:42.680 --> 15:43.680 Be a little hard to do. 15:43.680 --> 15:44.680 Huh? 15:44.680 --> 15:45.680 He's dead. 15:45.680 --> 15:51.680 We took Para back to the office and questioned him further. 15:51.680 --> 15:53.680 He continued to maintain his innocence. 15:53.680 --> 15:57.680 We ran his name through R&I and found a package for him showing one arrest for suspicion of 15:57.680 --> 15:58.680 ADW as a juvenile. 15:58.680 --> 16:03.680 We booked him on suspicion of 187 PC murder and Frank and I went back to his shop. 16:03.680 --> 16:06.680 We thoroughly searched both the building and his truck but we failed to turn up either 16:06.680 --> 16:08.680 the ring or the watch. 16:08.680 --> 16:11.680 Thursday morning, Leighton Prince reported that they'd found no fingerprints in the house 16:11.680 --> 16:13.680 other than those of the victim and his wife. 16:13.680 --> 16:15.680 We got a call from Ray Pinker in the crime lab. 16:15.680 --> 16:18.680 He said that George Pilsen had been beaten about the head with some type of round instrument. 16:18.680 --> 16:22.680 He also substantiated our theory that there had been a little struggle on the part of 16:22.680 --> 16:23.680 the victim. 16:23.680 --> 16:27.680 We called the county morgue and Dr. Seffel who said he'd notify us as soon as he posted 16:27.680 --> 16:29.680 the body, 1126 AM. 16:29.680 --> 16:30.680 Joe? 16:30.680 --> 16:31.680 Uh-huh? 16:31.680 --> 16:33.680 Just checking over these time elements. 16:33.680 --> 16:34.680 Yeah? 16:34.680 --> 16:35.680 Mrs. Pilsen left at nine. 16:35.680 --> 16:37.680 It's gone about an hour and a half. 16:37.680 --> 16:40.680 The neighbors saw Para leave the house at ten, right? 16:40.680 --> 16:41.680 Yep. 16:41.680 --> 16:45.680 And if Mordell was right about how long he was gone from his front window, Para could 16:45.680 --> 16:46.680 have been there about twenty minutes. 16:46.680 --> 16:48.680 That's the way it checks out. 16:48.680 --> 16:50.680 Well, give him enough time, don't you think? 16:50.680 --> 16:52.680 Well, we've still got to figure maybe he's telling us the truth. 16:52.680 --> 16:53.680 Yeah. 16:53.680 --> 16:55.680 And if he is, that gives us several possibilities. 16:55.680 --> 16:58.680 When Pilsen didn't answer, maybe it's because he couldn't. 16:58.680 --> 17:00.680 Now, say what you mean. 17:00.680 --> 17:02.680 I got it. 17:02.680 --> 17:04.680 Homicide Friday. 17:04.680 --> 17:06.680 Yeah. 17:06.680 --> 17:08.680 It was there. 17:08.680 --> 17:09.680 Yeah. 17:09.680 --> 17:10.680 I see. 17:10.680 --> 17:11.680 Right. 17:11.680 --> 17:13.680 Be right over. 17:13.680 --> 17:15.680 Dr. Seffel who just finished posting the body. 17:15.680 --> 17:16.680 Yeah. 17:16.680 --> 17:18.680 It's possible that Pilsen wasn't killed by the head blow. 17:18.680 --> 17:19.680 What do you mean? 17:19.680 --> 17:20.680 Might have been dead before he was hit. 17:20.680 --> 17:28.680 We went over to the morgue. 17:28.680 --> 17:32.680 Dr. Seffel who said he'd found evidence of a barbiturate in the victim's body in a quantity 17:32.680 --> 17:33.680 large enough to kill him. 17:33.680 --> 17:37.680 He also pointed out that the lack of profuse bleeding from the head wounds led him to believe 17:37.680 --> 17:40.680 that the victim was dead before the beating occurred. 17:40.680 --> 17:42.680 Frank and I drove out to the Pilsen residence. 17:42.680 --> 17:43.680 We talked to the victim's wife. 17:43.680 --> 17:46.680 We explained to her that it was necessary that we know more about her husband's physical 17:46.680 --> 17:47.680 condition prior to his death. 17:47.680 --> 17:49.680 We went into the front room and sat down. 17:49.680 --> 17:54.680 I tried to answer your questions, but today I'm just beginning to realize what it's going 17:54.680 --> 17:55.680 to be like being alone. 17:55.680 --> 17:56.680 Yes, ma'am. 17:56.680 --> 17:57.680 We understand that. 17:57.680 --> 17:58.680 We'll try to be as brief as possible. 17:58.680 --> 17:59.680 Thank you. 17:59.680 --> 18:02.680 Now, had your husband been under a doctor's care recently? 18:02.680 --> 18:03.680 No. 18:03.680 --> 18:04.680 Had he been in good mental spirits? 18:04.680 --> 18:05.680 Yes. 18:05.680 --> 18:07.680 He didn't seem unusually worried about anything? 18:07.680 --> 18:09.680 Not that I know of. 18:09.680 --> 18:12.680 Well, now would you tell us about yourself, Ms. Pilsen? 18:12.680 --> 18:13.680 What do you mean? 18:13.680 --> 18:16.680 Well, have you been under a doctor's care recently? 18:16.680 --> 18:17.680 No. 18:17.680 --> 18:20.680 What does all this to do with my husband's death? 18:20.680 --> 18:24.680 We'd like to know if there would be any reason for you or your husband to have a prescription 18:24.680 --> 18:26.680 for a strong barbiturate in the house. 18:26.680 --> 18:27.680 A what? 18:27.680 --> 18:28.680 A sedative, ma'am. 18:28.680 --> 18:30.680 You mean to make you sleep? 18:30.680 --> 18:31.680 That's right. 18:31.680 --> 18:32.680 No. 18:32.680 --> 18:33.680 We did never use them. 18:33.680 --> 18:34.680 Then you haven't had any in the house recently. 18:34.680 --> 18:35.680 I haven't. 18:35.680 --> 18:36.680 I don't think George did. 18:36.680 --> 18:39.680 Would it be possible that your husband could have used a barbiturate and you didn't know 18:39.680 --> 18:40.680 about it? 18:40.680 --> 18:41.680 Yes. 18:41.680 --> 18:43.680 But if he did, I'm sure he'd have told me. 18:43.680 --> 18:45.680 We didn't have secrets from each other. 18:45.680 --> 18:46.680 I see. 18:46.680 --> 18:47.680 I'll get it. 18:47.680 --> 18:48.680 All right. 18:48.680 --> 18:49.680 Oh, Marie, you poor thing. 18:49.680 --> 18:51.680 I just got back and heard the terrible news that came right over. 18:51.680 --> 18:52.680 Thank you, Lydia. 18:52.680 --> 18:53.680 You'll come back later. 18:53.680 --> 18:54.680 Well, sure, dear. 18:54.680 --> 18:55.680 Is there anything I can do for you? 18:55.680 --> 18:56.680 Maybe, but I can't talk now. 18:56.680 --> 18:57.680 All right, Marie. 18:57.680 --> 18:58.680 Are the police here? 18:58.680 --> 18:59.680 Yes. 18:59.680 --> 19:00.680 So won't you come back later? 19:00.680 --> 19:01.680 Have you told them? 19:01.680 --> 19:02.680 Yes. 19:02.680 --> 19:03.680 Have you told them what George tried to do? 19:03.680 --> 19:04.680 Yes. 19:04.680 --> 19:05.680 Excuse me, ma'am. 19:05.680 --> 19:12.680 Couldn't help overhearing your conversation. 19:12.680 --> 19:14.680 Oh, you're the policeman? 19:14.680 --> 19:15.680 That's right. 19:15.680 --> 19:16.680 Yes, ma'am. 19:16.680 --> 19:17.680 I'm Marie's neighbor. 19:17.680 --> 19:18.680 Yes, I understand. 19:18.680 --> 19:20.680 What did you mean about Mr. Pilsen trying to do something? 19:20.680 --> 19:21.680 Well, she didn't mean anything. 19:21.680 --> 19:22.680 She was just talking. 19:22.680 --> 19:23.680 Well, look, let's let her tell us, shall we? 19:23.680 --> 19:24.680 Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. 19:24.680 --> 19:25.680 What did you mean, ma'am? 19:25.680 --> 19:26.680 Maybe it's not important. 19:26.680 --> 19:27.680 Why don't you tell us anyway? 19:27.680 --> 19:28.680 George tried to kill Marie. 19:28.680 --> 19:42.680 We brought the neighbor Lydia Shires into the house for further questioning. 19:42.680 --> 19:44.680 She explained that she was a close friend of Marie Pilsen's. 19:44.680 --> 19:47.680 It was quite evident that Mrs. Pilsen didn't want her friend to talk to us. 19:47.680 --> 19:51.680 If I had any idea I was going to cause all this trouble, I'd never come over. 19:51.680 --> 19:52.680 I only meant to help Marie. 19:52.680 --> 19:55.680 Would you tell us why you said that Mr. Pilsen was trying to kill his wife? 19:55.680 --> 19:57.680 Sure, but Marie can tell you better than I can. 19:57.680 --> 20:00.680 Oh, now, honey, don't get upset. 20:00.680 --> 20:02.680 It's going to work out all right. 20:02.680 --> 20:05.680 Well, I'll tell you what I know, but Marie, I have to fill in the details. 20:05.680 --> 20:07.680 All right, go ahead, please. 20:07.680 --> 20:10.680 Last week it was, she came over to my house terribly worried. 20:10.680 --> 20:13.680 She was afraid she was going to have another nervous breakdown. 20:13.680 --> 20:14.680 Oh, please don't, please don't. 20:14.680 --> 20:16.680 Now, don't fret, dear. 20:16.680 --> 20:17.680 We all want to help you. 20:17.680 --> 20:22.680 Mrs. Pilsen, once more, had you been under a doctor's care recently? 20:22.680 --> 20:25.680 It was George, her husband, that made her sick. 20:25.680 --> 20:28.680 He kept telling her she was going crazy, said she was going to die. 20:28.680 --> 20:30.680 Finally, she got to believe in the things he was saying. 20:30.680 --> 20:31.680 Yeah. 20:31.680 --> 20:32.680 That's when she had the breakdown. 20:32.680 --> 20:33.680 How long ago was this? 20:33.680 --> 20:34.680 About three weeks ago. 20:34.680 --> 20:35.680 All right, go ahead, will you? 20:35.680 --> 20:39.680 Well, George got these pills for her, something for her nerves to make her rest. 20:39.680 --> 20:40.680 Yeah. 20:40.680 --> 20:42.680 That may be our office, I'll guess. 20:42.680 --> 20:43.680 All right. 20:43.680 --> 20:45.680 Hello. 20:45.680 --> 20:46.680 That's right. 20:46.680 --> 20:47.680 No, he isn't. 20:47.680 --> 20:49.680 You want to tell me who's calling? 20:49.680 --> 20:51.680 You'd like to leave a message. 20:51.680 --> 20:53.680 All right. 20:53.680 --> 20:56.680 No, my name's Spath, I... 20:56.680 --> 21:00.680 She hung up. 21:00.680 --> 21:02.680 A woman asked me for Mr. Pilsen. 21:02.680 --> 21:03.680 Did she give her name? 21:03.680 --> 21:04.680 No, said she was a friend of the family. 21:04.680 --> 21:05.680 It was her. 21:05.680 --> 21:06.680 I know it. 21:06.680 --> 21:07.680 I wish I'd talked to her. 21:07.680 --> 21:08.680 Who was it, Miss Pilsen? 21:08.680 --> 21:10.680 I don't know her name, but she lied. 21:10.680 --> 21:13.680 You know, a friend of mine, she called it all this. 21:13.680 --> 21:14.680 How do you mean? 21:14.680 --> 21:16.680 That's why George was trying to kill me. 21:16.680 --> 21:18.680 With me out of the way, he could have her. 21:18.680 --> 21:20.680 She'd come and live in my home. 21:20.680 --> 21:21.680 You never told me about her. 21:21.680 --> 21:23.680 I still had some pride. 21:23.680 --> 21:25.680 All right, now this medicine your husband got, 21:25.680 --> 21:26.680 was it a barbacher? 21:26.680 --> 21:27.680 Yes. 21:27.680 --> 21:28.680 That's how he was going to kill me. 21:28.680 --> 21:29.680 Where'd he get the pills? 21:29.680 --> 21:31.680 I don't know. 21:31.680 --> 21:33.680 George would come in and sit on my bed in the early morning. 21:33.680 --> 21:36.680 When he'd come in from work, he'd wake me up. 21:36.680 --> 21:38.680 Tell me I was going to lose my mind. 21:38.680 --> 21:39.680 Yeah. 21:39.680 --> 21:41.680 Darn, after time he did it. 21:41.680 --> 21:42.680 I began to think he was right. 21:42.680 --> 21:44.680 I couldn't remember doing things. 21:44.680 --> 21:46.680 That's when he started taking these pills, huh? 21:46.680 --> 21:47.680 Yeah, that's right. 21:47.680 --> 21:48.680 I see. 21:48.680 --> 21:50.680 He'd put them in my food or in my drink. 21:50.680 --> 21:51.680 You're sure he did that? 21:51.680 --> 21:53.680 Yes. 21:53.680 --> 21:56.680 I counted the capsules in the bottle every time I took one. 21:56.680 --> 21:58.680 Got so I couldn't remember if I'd taken them or not, 21:58.680 --> 21:59.680 so I counted them. 21:59.680 --> 22:00.680 Mm-hmm. 22:00.680 --> 22:03.680 I wrote the number down on paper so I'd be sure. 22:03.680 --> 22:04.680 Some were always missing. 22:04.680 --> 22:06.680 I knew he'd been giving them to me. 22:06.680 --> 22:07.680 All right, go ahead. 22:07.680 --> 22:10.680 That's when I told Lydia about it. 22:10.680 --> 22:12.680 She said to stop. 22:12.680 --> 22:14.680 Is that right, Miss Shire? 22:14.680 --> 22:16.680 Yeah, I told her not to take any more. 22:16.680 --> 22:18.680 Did you stop taking the sedatives? 22:18.680 --> 22:19.680 Yes. 22:19.680 --> 22:20.680 I told George about what Lydia said. 22:20.680 --> 22:23.680 He got mad and said I shouldn't have gone to her. 22:23.680 --> 22:25.680 Then he started telling me I'd go crazy if I didn't take them. 22:25.680 --> 22:27.680 He kept after me. 22:27.680 --> 22:29.680 Is that why you killed him, Miss Wilson? 22:29.680 --> 22:30.680 Yeah, me and Marie did it. 22:30.680 --> 22:33.680 He kept after me. 22:33.680 --> 22:34.680 I knew he was trying to get rid of me. 22:34.680 --> 22:37.680 He'd stay out all night when he wasn't working. 22:37.680 --> 22:38.680 Did he tell you about the other woman? 22:38.680 --> 22:39.680 No, he didn't have to. 22:39.680 --> 22:40.680 I knew. 22:40.680 --> 22:41.680 A couple of times she'd called here. 22:41.680 --> 22:43.680 I answered the phone when she heard my voice. 22:43.680 --> 22:44.680 She hung up. 22:44.680 --> 22:46.680 So you gave him the pills you'd been taking. 22:46.680 --> 22:47.680 Is that it? 22:47.680 --> 22:48.680 To make him sleep. 22:48.680 --> 22:49.680 Yeah. 22:49.680 --> 22:51.680 I always had a sandwich when he came home from work. 22:51.680 --> 22:53.680 I fixed it before I went to bed. 22:53.680 --> 22:55.680 When'd you strike him? 22:55.680 --> 22:59.680 When I came home from the market, I suppose. 22:59.680 --> 23:00.680 You'll want the weapon, won't you? 23:00.680 --> 23:02.680 Yeah, I'm gonna watch in the ring, too. 23:02.680 --> 23:03.680 All right. 23:03.680 --> 23:06.680 Marie, how could you do it? 23:06.680 --> 23:07.680 It had to be. 23:07.680 --> 23:09.680 He was gonna kill me. 23:09.680 --> 23:10.680 She was gonna... 23:10.680 --> 23:15.680 gonna live at my home with my children. 23:15.680 --> 23:16.680 Lydia. 23:16.680 --> 23:17.680 Yeah? 23:17.680 --> 23:19.680 I want you to take my family. 23:19.680 --> 23:20.680 What? 23:20.680 --> 23:21.680 My elephants. 23:21.680 --> 23:24.680 I want you to have them. 23:24.680 --> 23:25.680 All right, Marie. 23:25.680 --> 23:30.680 Do you want to tell us where the weapon is, Miss Pilsen? 23:30.680 --> 23:31.680 All right. 23:31.680 --> 23:35.680 I didn't believe George, and that he was telling the truth. 23:35.680 --> 23:36.680 Yeah. 23:36.680 --> 23:38.680 He told me this would happen. 23:38.680 --> 23:39.680 What's that? 23:39.680 --> 23:41.680 He said I was crazy. 23:41.680 --> 23:51.680 The story you've just heard is true. 23:51.680 --> 23:54.680 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 23:54.680 --> 23:57.680 On November 3rd, trial was held in Department 97, 23:57.680 --> 23:59.680 Superior Court of the State of California, 23:59.680 --> 24:01.680 in and for the County of Los Angeles. 24:01.680 --> 24:12.680 Marie Ellen Pilsen was examined by three psychiatrists 24:12.680 --> 24:14.680 appointed by the state and found to be insane. 24:14.680 --> 24:17.680 She was confined to Mendocino State Hospital 24:17.680 --> 24:22.680 for the criminally insane for treatment. 24:22.680 --> 24:24.680 You have just heard Dragnet, 24:24.680 --> 24:27.680 the authentic story of your police force in action, 24:27.680 --> 24:29.680 starring Jack Webb, 24:29.680 --> 24:33.680 a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service.