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 a robbery detail.
For the past three weeks, a strong arm holdup man has been terrorizing the downtown area.
You've got a description of the thief and a method of operation for him.
Your job, finding.
Dragnet.
The documented drama of an actual crime.
For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will
travel step by step on the side of the law 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 Monday, May 3rd.
It was warm in Los Angeles.
We were working the night watch out a robbery detail.
My partner is Frank Smith.
The boss is Chief of Detective Stad Brown.
My name is Frank.
I was on the way back to the office.
It was 4.02 p.m. when I got to room 27.
Robbery.
Hi, Joe.
Hi.
Jim, how's it going?
Good.
What do you got here?
That's a new gimmick they're trying.
What's it do?
Suppose let all of us in the room hear what comes over the hotshot phone.
You mean without picking it up, huh?
Yeah.
How does it work?
Well, look, I'll show you.
This knob here is the volume control.
You just turn it on, put the phone on it like this.
You have to adjust it so it gives most of what fits the earpiece.
That's all there is to it.
Where do we hear it?
Through that speaker over there.
Uh-huh.
We got another one hooked up in the squad room.
Well, we ought to be able to hear it any place then, huh?
Yeah.
You don't have to get up and pick up the receiver.
You can hear the whole call.
It should make a lot easier.
We're going to keep it?
We're just trying it out the way it looks.
We'll leave it in.
It ought to save a lot of steps.
Oh.
It's called a phonodeck, huh?
Yeah.
Works good.
A lot better than trying to juggle a phone on your shoulder and write at the same time.
And the desk man doesn't have to repeat what's said to everybody in the room.
All right.
I only got one question.
What's that?
Wilson and Market Street, Southeast corner, 211 and slugging.
Never mind.
I just got the answer.
Huh?
It works.
Wilson and Market Street, Southeast corner, 211 and slugging.
Frank, Jim, Austin, and I left the city hall.
There was no way of telling from the hotshot call if the suspect was the one we were looking
for or not, but either way, we had to check it out.
It took us three minutes to get to the scene.
An ambulance was in the area and they'd answered the call.
The attendant was giving the victim first aid.
She was a woman in her late 50s or early 60s.
The woman was crying.
I got the first aid.
She was crying very hard.
I was talking to somebody.
It was a woman.
I was talking to a man.
I was talking to a woman.
And there was this woman in her bed.
So I was thinking, I'm going to call the police.
I'm going to call the police.
All right.
Please.
Do something.
I can't stand my throat.
Please do something.
All right.
We'll talk to her?
Yeah.
Make a brief.
We got to move her in as soon as we can.
All right.
Lady, I'm a police officer.
I've got to talk to you.
Oh.
Go away.
I can't talk to anybody.
hadn't Doncs I would say this movie I use I think
a good one man. They do see
what it would like Panni I'd get done. Like
though no. Have aakes good. But happened with me Spiritual I
I didn't know. I think the way. I want to let him have it and then he kicked me in
the back and I. Just
a minute miss McFadden. Excuse me sorry no have to give
a more. The man. Was
he tall. About five foot eight five ten maybe. Or was he dark. Did he say anything
to you at all no. Well you're wearing a coat. When you're wearing a coat.
Yes ma'am. I don't know. Me and I.
Know. My my. I mean I didn't feel it. Anymore.
We'll take her in. What you find out Jim and he talked to
a new boy on the corner did you see it at the beginning for the woman screen turned around so
that I bring his knee up your back up on the sidewalk to the other look at it yeah
so it's about down that way. But I ran after when he realized he couldn't tag him he came back call the
ambulance how about a description gave that the other fellows they got it out. How's it
going to you to all the way the guy will come for. Switches them always hit in the daytime now
you know something else that old lady he's getting braver all the time. We
talked to the witness of what he told us about the suspect it was the same person we were after
was only one change in his method of operations that are waiting for darkness he was now hitting in
the daylight hours during the time we spent on the case the staff office had made several runs trying
to give us some kind of a lead everything about the suspect had been checked and rechecked special
show up to arrange impossible suspect was shown to the victims in spite of our efforts the suspect
continued to run free Wednesday May 5th Frank I stopped for dinner across the street from the city
hall. The big thing now what's that mom both mom both and that they've been trying to get me
to learn to see that on TV all of. They said the man looks sophisticated when he does it so she says
that yeah I think it would. Would want to make me look to the kid you want me to be honest
charge I don't think anything could do that for you. I'm glad to hear it all but I'm going to
tell a thing keep her off my back about taking them lessons. I do I did because I don't
pretty good at Donahoe said you're going to. My partner Frank Smith is Dick Blake writes for
the L.A. Examiner. I haven't seen you for a while Frank. Want a cup of coffee No no thanks I just
had dinner. You're looking for something special day like to get a story on the stronger man you
fellas are after anything you can give me no you've got about all of it what about the McFadden
woman she's going to be all right we haven't heard me I call the county hospital staff and then
I said her legs been set to take some time to heal given her new kind of serum she's going to
be all right though I'm not sure yet I don't know if there's any injury to her spine sure
roughly the way this guy does business we've been getting calls for the last ten days letters the
editor is everything you know you get in line they could be coming at us from all sides what
he got on. Well we ought to put out a mini graph answer that. Take a lot of paper is there anything
I can have no secret most of the victims are told the same story guy comes up to start the
conversation about a ride some place a cup of coffee anything for the victim down. First chance
it gets he slams victim into a wall and asked for the money before the McFadden when he worked at
night didn't you know what about his choice of victims a possible tie in there. Not that we can
find anybody on the street is right you got description on yeah white male American around
thirty dark hair dark eyes hundred sixty five pounds five eight five ten that's a couple of
thousand people yeah now what about the area he's working is there anything there to make most of his
pickups down around the plaza and what about the victims himself winning well usually look like
the care money no not all the time last week he beat up a service man it's a very close he took
forty four dollars from him it didn't look like he had a dime in his pocket yeah nothing about
this guy that's a pattern that there's only one thing we can drop in the pocket he's mean the way
it works to kick it gets out of beating up a person's got to mean more than just money to him
yeah well one more thing how close are you outside a country mile half the divisions been on his tail
this keeps up Metro's gonna ask for an increase in budget to hire more men we got the area covered
like rain and he don't get wet well I gotta get back to the office write something try to take it
easy on us when look we're on your side now thanks for the help okay see you around right so I'm
Frank thank cool yeah anything comes up let me know huh we get something you'll hear about it
sure like to get a break on the story well we're both even there so would we. For the next week
the patrol of the streets continued the strong arm bad it hit three more times each time the
victim and the witnesses gave us the same description it matched the suspect we were
looking for Thursday May 13th seven fifty two p.m. we go back to the squad room and then come in
now take back on Hawaii how does it look no good what do you mean according to Brett and he's been
in jail for the last two months yeah waiting for trial in Stockton what does it say what he fell
for armed robbery graduated I got it robbery Friday hello yeah well could you speak up I can't
hear you yeah that's better how's that. Well what was that name again yeah well now give me your
name no we can't do much with that. What do you got all this is an even a strong arm bad it's
Benny Jessup what about the person called I'm not an honor yeah what do you think was one way to
find out yeah ask many just. After we checked the name through our night Frank and I went out to
Benny Jessup's address. Benny just. How what do you want you Benny just yeah police officers want
to talk to you. Looking for something special couple of questions I want to ask you sure I
got no baby cops appreciate it you keep it short I got big trouble but this cells might help.
Now you got to hold it in bad food really. You know what's it all about you've been arrested
just. You know look to be a lot easier and faster if I start off telling you I've been around you
guys check the record before you came up here you know I fell once for burglary you know I'm
free now I don't know nobody nothing let's go from there all right you got a job yeah what do you do
I'm a candy butcher but I still can where one of the theaters downtown when you work nights name
them Monday through Saturday what our check in at four work till eleven eleven thirty how come you're
not there tonight I told you I'm sick how long you had the job a couple of years anybody at the
theater to back that up when you mean well anybody else so you're there you better tell me what this
is about I'm not hung up on anything I got no part of any action you guys are in on it comes down
to one thing you can prove you're working every night you're clean yeah I know that now how do you
sell this candy hmm where are you in the theater when you work all over store room lobby all over
you got a regular stand you work in the aisle stand in a lobby somebody there take tickets yeah well
I ought to be able to tell them Jimmy tell you nothing I've been working since I got out of the
joint you go down there and start asking a lot of questions you're going to cause a lot of trouble
that right I will get me fired don't worry about it yeah easy to say you haven't got the job better
call and check yeah you got a phone you see one around give me the number I don't know what you
work there but you don't know the phone number I forgot where is the place current third and
well or what's the manager's name you got to talk to him I look I can do it on the phone or we can
go on down there how do you want it names Woodrum I'll take a joke if you tell me what this is about
if it fits you'll know who turned you on me what look who tried the box job you got reason to come
up here I don't know what you're digging for but I'm not around somebody gave you my name didn't
they heard it who if we told you the truth you wouldn't believe it somebody I know it's hard to
say you just need two words what's that first and last name we got a call we don't know who it was
from person said we were looking for you and you battle up here and rousting you've got no
rousting we had to check it out what is it burglary no well I'm home free only thing I ever fell for I
learned about it you talk to Woodrum yeah what about my job you know my whole he's been there every
work night for the last four months and I told you all right you're out but somebody's on your back
nothing new I've been carrying a lot of people I guess if we'll leave it right there keep your
nose clean thanks a lot not sure I want you on my team huh but what about my job what a woodroom
say you got no trouble what do you mean he says take care of yourself yeah good work tomorrow night
we'll see you're on just. I didn't tell him everything what I talked to manager on the phone
he filmed me and you know you know the guy who called you know what about him he's an usher down
there yeah he wants to be a candy but. Frank and I left just went downtown to talk to the theater
manager in person he verified the fact that just a bit of work during the hours of the robberies
other people who work in the theater with question their statements ruled out just as our suspect
another day went by there were several strong robberies in the downtown area but none with the
same viciousness used by our suspect Saturday May 15th Frank and I got back to the office I had
your Frank Jim fine when you got there talk to skipper this afternoon had a meeting with
Chief Brown you know they drew the line said we got to come up with something we got half a minute
Metro working on it now all the streets are covered there's not much more we can do you guys got to
make a mistake all we need is a little time skipper just cut off the supply any ideas yeah I've been
going over take a look at this man. Most of the strong arms have been taking place in this area
you know we've had cars here here along here and covering the alleys in here. But suppose we put
our own men in that area on foot decoy system yeah I think we haven't tried my work some of the do
how do we set it up guy makes most of his pickups around the plaza right and we start from there each
night one of us walked around the streets try to pick the guy up other two following the car what's
the captain think of the idea and talk to him yet he can't be the possibility when do we start how
about tonight well let's go wait a minute who's going to do the walking doesn't make a lot of
a difference how about flipping a coin I've been fine. When you didn't get
a job I went I hope so. For the next two days the plan was carried out the thief didn't hit
began to wonder if he quit his operation Monday May 17 while Frank and Jim Austin followed me in
a unit one K.T.I. Actors decoy twelve forty seven AM it looked like another wasted night.
You got a much yeah. I want to hear it.
I don't like.
The.
Community I want to take.
I thought I were you don't let me go.
Get your hands against the wall come on.
Move. Back.
My door show cop. Jim yeah here you go.
I like you and down. What's
your name why don't you find out where well we want to save time.
Joe Schaefer what's your name fellow. What's your name you're not going to do any good
with him what do you mean he's deaf hearing aids broken you're not getting through it all
that's all when you tell us his name. So the two of you in this scene but I ask you
a question you got an answer what you're telling I can't hear what you said never mind. I told
you you wouldn't get through you got it wrong I will get through. You
are listening to drag me the authentic story of your police force in action.
Frank you're not going to make it the suspects of the city hall for questioning you guys
got nothing on us you're sitting on a place all right we got your made on tonight time
we get through will take you for at least ten more times you're going to stick to coffee
hasn't anybody going to let me know what's going on can't you fix it things we're going
to take in here what do you guys live big cop that's what you're going to do it the hard
way that's how you want it you get no help from me that works both ways you're whistling
anyway you may be got us for tonight that's all what's going on oh shut up be careful
what you tell them you guys work alone you got a reason I think there's anybody else
we want you to tell us you're off your rocker cop better put a button on that mouse shaper
where you've treated people doesn't give you a soft ticket make any difference how I got
it I'm going to write it all the way when you stick with that and see where you land
really off your rocker isn't anybody going to tell me what's going on I take everything
out of your pocket paper fine come on put it right there on the table.
A lot of paper there you always carry that much money yeah how much is there I don't
know some idea I may be three four hundred dollars you work for a living no where'd you
get the money from a bank what you used to take it out what a gun or a pen I didn't steal
it if that's what you're trying to build a lot of money how'd you get it my old man left
it so you don't work at all and I don't believe in it how about him no no he doesn't work
either what do you say about me he wants to know if you work huh he wants to know if you
work no none of us do Giles Dave and me have incomes none of us were shut up who's Dave
I don't know now look we're about to play in games with you you come in here like you're
twelve feet tall and try to throw your weight around what I'm going to work something you
realize that the better is going to be for you now how about it who is he you know come
up with it how much you think you'll do to get you out of here what he can not it's not
going to hold your stuff you can call it two ways easy in your know what you're going to
be. How about it. What do you want to know this day what's his full name
Santa was he with you in all the robberies yeah but about tonight stay on why he set up
all the others we figured we'd pull this from my cell where they now I don't know home I
guess where's that apartment on from that's in Hollywood yeah what's the phone number
what are you going to do just give me the phone number will you. Hollywood nine eight
eight four four. I'll dial if you just talk. You're going to use
a gadget to yell might as well know listen. When
Hollywood nine eight eight four four. When he
answers you just talk right into that thing. Hello.
Dave yeah you just yeah yeah. Pretty good coming home right away yeah I'll go out get
some beer I should be back by the time you guys get it OK Dave see you as soon as you
get home we'll have a celebration yeah sure I'll tell you what I'll give the girls
a call all right to you yes fine I want to thank. You know that I always got
a couple of girlfriends you better stop on the way home. What for you can pick up
a couple more guys. We ran David Santel's name and description through our and I
and we found that he served a term at the county jail for violation of the state
narcotics that there was no record on either Giles Schaeffer or Sydney Remmer
Remmer was taken to the main jail and Frank and I along with Jim Austin and Joe
Schaeffer drove out the sand tells apartment was a large place in the
Hollywood area while Jim Austin stayed with the suspect Frank and I checked with
a man he told us that Santella left a few minutes before we got to the point.
Before this went inside. I know you want to sit down you guys sure throw muscle or
I know we've got a long way to get you. What am I supposed to do when they come
back to sit there and keep your mouth shut. You know it's going to be pretty
interesting what's that expression on your face when the judge turns his loose
will don't make book on it. When you guys never do one on a stage work and you
always live high don't you say that. You're all set.
Now there anything else you want to throw now cause me more trouble I'll make a
hole in you big enough to walk through all right all right turn around.
Clean but you have done you don't need those I'm not going to get any trouble
let's make sure I told you not to put those on me try to muscle this cop I got
a lawyer going to be on the carpet for this time we get through it you'll have
your walk in a beat so far out you'll be lucky to get home on weekend you know
you're going to make me sick to my stomach you lean on some old man or woman
you're strong I'm a service man you got about as much guts as an underfed worm
I just save it for the court on your mouth I'll let you know when I'm through
I'm going to tell you something you remember what happened to you tonight you
put it on the wire and get it around to the rest of the two bit bums that work
the same filthy operation you tell them every time they put the arm on an old
man every time they slug a service man they're never going to know it might be
a cop and if it's not the before of us waiting in the next doorway so before you
roll that next victim you think about that when you got it all off your chest
now no I got one more thing for you you're going to jail and we're going to
drop every book we got on you there's a mirror in the car on the way in you look
at it and smile what for be happy you still got all those teeth.
The story you just heard is true the names were changed to protect the innocent
on September 14th trial was held in Department 98 Superior Court of the
state of California in and for the county of Los Angeles
Giles Herbert Schaefer David Arthur Santel and Sidney Thomas Remmler were
tried and convicted of robbery on the first degree 14 counts and received
sentence as prescribed by law robbery in the first degree is punishable by
imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not less than five years on each
count because of the viciousness shown by the suspects their sentences were
set to run consecutively.
DRAGNET is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces radio service.