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Chesterfield brings you Dragnet.

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Put a smile in your smoking.

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By Chesterfield. So smooth, so satisfying.

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Chesterfield.

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Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true.

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The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

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You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to burglary detail.

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An elderly woman reports that a man has stolen $300 from her apartment.

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She says she saw him. Your job, check it out.

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Put a smile in your smoking.

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Next time you buy cigarettes, stop.

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Remember this. In the whole wide world, no cigarette satisfies like Chesterfield.

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Put a smile in your smoking.

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Instantly, you'll smile your approval of Chesterfield's smoothness.

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So smooth, so satisfying.

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You want them mild, we make them mild.

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Mild and mellow, with the smooth and refreshing taste of the right combination of the world's best tobaccos.

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So next time you buy cigarettes, stop.

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Start smoking with a smile, with Chesterfield.

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Smiling all the while, with Chesterfield.

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Put a smile in your smoking, just give them a try.

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Light up a Chesterfield cigarette.

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Smiling all the while, with Chesterfield.

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They satisfy.

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Dragnet. The document a drama of an actual crime.

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For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department,

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you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files.

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From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

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It was Thursday, May 19th. It was sunny in Los Angeles.

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We were working the day watch out of burglary detail.

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My partner is Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Bernard. My name is Friday.

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We were on our way out from the office and it was 3.47 p.m. when we got to a small apartment house in the corner of Olympic and 6th.

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Topeka Arms.

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What's that lady's name again, Joe?

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Dunbatter. Martha Dunbatter.

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Let's see. Yeah, here's your mailbox, number 8.

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Must be upstairs.

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Well, how do you figure that?

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Only eight mail slots means eight apartments.

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Yeah?

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Stands to reason number 8 will be on the second floor, don't it?

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Well, I'm supposed to.

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Hey, Joe, I wonder who comes from Kansas.

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What?

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Well, didn't you notice the plaque out in front? Topeka Arms.

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Yeah.

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That's a city in Kansas. Topeka, Kansas.

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Yeah, sure.

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Somebody must have come from there, the owner or the builder. Why else would they give the place a name like that?

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I don't know.

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Well, it stands to reason, doesn't it?

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I guess so.

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Well, you see, you're not the only one who can do it.

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Do what?

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Deduce.

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That's what they call it, the way it figured out, number 8's second floor deduction.

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Yeah.

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I was just giving you an example.

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When I proved that somebody connected with the building probably lived in Kansas.

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Yeah.

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Right down there, 8, just like you said.

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Mm-hmm.

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Deduction never fails, Joe.

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Who's there?

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Police officers.

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Oh, well, just a second. I'm coming. I'm coming.

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My goodness, you certainly got back.

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Oh, well, dear me, you aren't the same ones, are you?

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No, ma'am, this is Frank Smith. My name's Friday.

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There were two other policemen here just a little while ago.

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Shame you didn't know. Could've saved yourself a trip.

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That's all right, ma'am. We knew they'd be here.

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They're patrol car officers. They were in the neighborhood, so they answered your call.

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Oh, well, I...

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All right if we come in?

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Oh, I guess. Oh, yes, please do.

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You're Mrs. Martha Dunbetter, is that right?

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No, not exactly.

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Oh?

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It's Miss Dunbetter. I'm still single.

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I see.

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Ma'am, would you mind telling us just what happened this afternoon?

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Oh, no, no, I don't mind at all. It's all quite clear.

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All right, would you go ahead?

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What does that young man mean?

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Does he go ahead about this afternoon?

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Oh, well, let's see. I fixed myself some lunch.

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Then I read up the dishes.

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Must've been about one o'clock by the time I finished.

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All right.

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Afterwards, I put on my hat and I went down to the library.

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It's only a couple of blocks from here, the Grove of Cleveland branch.

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Mm-hmm.

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I took back my books and checked out two fresh ones.

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All right, what happened next?

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When I come home, there he was.

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What's that?

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I come home and there he was.

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Who?

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Well, that awful man.

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Well, just where was he?

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Here, in my apartment.

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No, I mean which room?

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Over there, the bedroom.

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I see.

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As soon as I come in, I heard him.

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At least I heard somebody moving around.

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First, I thought it was Mrs. Parker's manager.

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I know she sneaks into my apartment and noses around.

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Of course, she says she doesn't, but I know better.

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Mm-hmm.

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Well, I said to myself, I got a red-handed this time.

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So I marched into the bedroom all ready to give her a piece of my mind.

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Well.

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Well, I was never so flabbergasted in my whole life.

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He was standing in front of the dresser, going through my pocketbook.

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I see.

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My black bag and leather.

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It's the one he was holding.

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Mm-hmm.

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Well, ma'am, how much money was in the bag?

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Well, I'm not positive, not to the penny.

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About $300.

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In cash?

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Yes, sir.

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You see, I've been saving dimes for the past 15 years.

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You mean this $300 was in dimes?

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Oh, goodness gracious, no.

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What I do is go through my change every night

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and put all the dimes in my dime bank.

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Then when it's full, I take it down to a real bank

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and change the coins into bills.

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A dime bank holds $25.

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I see.

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Well, you'd be surprised how much a person can save

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that way it mounts up.

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Yes, ma'am.

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Do you know the denominations of the bills?

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I guess they was mostly tens.

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Maybe one or two bigger ones.

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Mm-hmm.

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Now, what did this man do next, Miss Dunn-Better?

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Well, he found money.

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My $300, stuffed it into his pockets.

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Then he just rolled out of the apartment, big as life.

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I was too dumbfounded to do anything about it.

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I see.

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I heard him tramp down the stairs,

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and then I heard the front door slam.

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When I was sure he was out of the building,

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I managed to get my wits together and I dialed Central.

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Central?

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The operator.

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And she put me in touch with the police station.

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Had you ever seen this man before, Miss Dunn-Better?

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No.

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I'm sure I never did.

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Could you tell us what he looked like?

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Well, he was a tall man.

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How tall?

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Big as you, I'd say.

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What color hair, please?

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Dark.

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Very dark.

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Eyes?

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Dark eyes, too.

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Dark-confected.

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Like he'd spend a lot of time outdoors.

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How was he dressed?

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Shirt and pants and jacket.

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Light-colored jacket.

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I think it was green.

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Did you notice any scars?

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Yes.

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Come to think of it, I did.

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Across his forehead.

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Thin little zig-a-dig-a-zag.

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How old would you say he was?

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Oh, he was young.

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35, maybe 40.

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You know if anybody else saw him?

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The other tenants?

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Well, I haven't talked to him, no.

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Haven't left apartments since it happened.

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You live alone here, do you?

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Oh, man, no, no.

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My sister Bessie stays with me.

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Where is she this afternoon?

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Well, she went out of town for a few days

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to visit her grandson and his family.

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They came down from Oxnard to get her this morning.

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I see.

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Tomorrow's her birthday.

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She'll be 80.

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I expect they're going to have quiet day celebration.

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Yes, ma'am.

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They're all carrying on.

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You'd think it was such an accomplishment.

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Well, it is a pretty ripe old age, ma'am.

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I don't see what's so ripe about it.

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I'm nearly 79 myself.

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Oh, I know, I don't look it.

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Everybody thinks there's at least 10 years between us.

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And Bessie is failing.

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Yes, ma'am.

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There's a couple more questions, Miss Dunvany.

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Certainly, young man, certainly.

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What time was it when you got home from the library?

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2.45.

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Maybe a few minutes after.

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No, later than 3, though.

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I see.

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How'd this fellow get into the apartment?

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Was the door locked?

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Well, I thought it was.

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I always try to remember to lock it whenever I go out,

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but sometimes I do forget.

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Well, I guess I did today.

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You think he'd recognize the burger if you saw him again?

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I'm most assured he would.

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Nothing to add with my eyesight.

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Well, that's fine.

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I'd like to take you down to the office with us

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and show you some pictures.

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No.

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I'm not going to go with him.

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Well, if you don't go like this,

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I'll have to change my dress first.

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Well, I'm all right for walking around the neighborhood,

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but not for going downtown.

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Well, that's up to you, ma'am.

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Oh, say, Miss Dunvany, while I think of it,

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who came from Kansas?

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Oh, I'm afraid I don't understand.

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Well, the name of this apartment, you see,

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is the Topeka Arms,

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so I figured somebody connected with it

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must have come from Kansas.

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Oh.

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You don't know who it was, do you?

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Oh, now let me think.

242
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Oh, yes, yes, I remember.

243
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That was old Mr. Hendrickson's idea.

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Wow, you don't say.

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Yes, yes, he was the man who built this building.

246
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Well, now, that was, oh, goodness sakes,

247
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that was almost 35 years ago.

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My hot time flies.

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Yes, ma'am.

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How you like that, Joe?

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This Mr. Hendrickson came from Kansas.

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No, I do.

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Minnesota.

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Minneapolis, as I recollect.

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Oh.

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But it was his idea just the same,

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calling it Topeka Arms.

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On the kind of an article he read in the newspaper

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while the building was going up.

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Ma'am.

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Said there was more people in Southern California

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who come from Kansas than any other state.

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Mm-mm.

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So Mr. Hendrickson figured the name Topeka

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would attract a lot of tenants.

266
00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,000
It's ridiculous nonsense.

267
00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:19,000
Said so at the time,

268
00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,000
there hasn't been a single solitary one.

269
00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:23,000
Oh.

270
00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:24,000
35 years.

271
00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,000
Not a soul from Kansas has ever lived here.

272
00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:32,000
4.05 p.m.,

273
00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,000
Frank and I put in a call to the crime lab.

274
00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,000
While Miss Dunbetter changed her dress,

275
00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:37,000
we checked the other apartments

276
00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,000
to see if anybody else had seen the burglar.

277
00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,000
Only one tenant was in.

278
00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:41,000
Mrs. J.T. Blade,

279
00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:42,000
apartment six,

280
00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:43,000
informed us that she'd been out marketing

281
00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:44,000
at the time of the crime

282
00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,000
and had just returned home.

283
00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:46,000
4.16 p.m.,

284
00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,000
Lee Jones and a crew from the crime lab arrived.

285
00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,000
They began their investigation

286
00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,000
and we drove Miss Dunbetter down to the city hall.

287
00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,000
We checked the oddity file

288
00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:55,000
and ran the suspect's description on ammo

289
00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:56,000
through the stats office,

290
00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,000
and they came up with 17 possibles.

291
00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,000
We pulled mug shots and showed them to Miss Dunbetter.

292
00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,000
She was unable to make an identification.

293
00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:04,000
6.13 p.m.,

294
00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,000
Lee Jones reported no useful fingerprints

295
00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,000
or other physical evidence in the apartment.

296
00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:09,000
6.46 p.m.,

297
00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,000
we drove Miss Dunbetter home and we went off duty.

298
00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:15,000
The next day, May 20th, 11.17 a.m.

299
00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,000
I'll get it.

300
00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,000
Burgery Friday.

301
00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,000
Who's that?

302
00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,000
Oh, sure. Yeah.

303
00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,000
Wendy, come in.

304
00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,000
I see.

305
00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,000
Oh.

306
00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,000
Well, I wouldn't know what he looked like.

307
00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,000
Mm-hmm.

308
00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,000
Yeah, we'd like to.

309
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,000
Right. Thanks a lot.

310
00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,000
That was Chubb Stark.

311
00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,000
Who?

312
00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,000
You know, Stark, the bartender over at the Yellow Camp.

313
00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,000
Oh, yeah. What's he want?

314
00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,000
Guy came into his place last night.

315
00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,000
He was carrying a pretty big row.

316
00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,000
He threw it around, bought drinks for the house.

317
00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,000
Got kind of loaded and did some talking about

318
00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,000
how easy he'd picked up the dough.

319
00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,000
Just walked in again this morning.

320
00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,000
Sound like anything to you?

321
00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,000
Chubb says he's about six foot black hair,

322
00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,000
so he'd look a little chubby and chubby.

323
00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,000
I don't know what he'd say.

324
00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,000
He'd say,

325
00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,000
Look, the way Chubb did it,

326
00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,000
he was the man.

327
00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,000
I was the man.

328
00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,000
That's why I'm doing it.

329
00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,000
That's why I'm doing it.

330
00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,000
You're not doing it.

331
00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,000
You're not doing it.

332
00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,000
You're not doing it.

333
00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,000
You're not doing it.

334
00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,000
You're not doing it.

335
00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,000
You're not doing it.

336
00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:33,120
exclusive. This amazing quality detective electronically checks and controls the

337
00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:37,680
making of your Chesterfield, giving a uniformity and smoking quality never

338
00:12:37,680 --> 00:12:43,240
possible before. So buy Chesterfield today. For the first time you get a perfect

339
00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:49,320
smoke column from end to end. A perfect smoke column from end to end. From the

340
00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:53,980
first puff to the last puff, your Chesterfield smokes smoother. From the

341
00:12:53,980 --> 00:12:58,040
first puff to the last puff, your Chesterfield smokes cooler. From the

342
00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:03,840
first puff to the last puff, Chesterfield is best for you. Next time you buy

343
00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:12,000
cigarettes. Stop. Remember, Chesterfield is made the modern way with Accuray.

344
00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:31,000
Frank and I drove out to the Yellow Cat Bar on Figuroa. Chubb Stark, the bartender,

345
00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:36,440
pointed out a husky man sitting in a corner booth. We went over to talk to him.

346
00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:40,560
Keep your hands on the table and stand up. Police officers, on your feet.

347
00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:48,240
Okay, okay. All right, you can sit down again. Something eating you guys? What's your name?

348
00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:53,520
Why? Come on, what is it? Portlong, Ralph Portlong. Where do you live? Hotel around

349
00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:56,800
the corner. How long you been staying there? Since last night. How about before

350
00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:00,400
that? Back East, they just got in town yesterday. Whereabouts back East? What

351
00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:04,880
kind of a rust is this? Where back East? All over, Chicago, Cleveland, all over.

352
00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:09,240
What kind of business you in? Unemployed. You got any money? Some. How much? Look, I

353
00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,840
ain't no vag if that's what you're getting at. How much money you got? 100 bucks, maybe 150.

354
00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:18,400
Where'd you get it? I borrowed it. Who from? Pal. In LA? Chicago. What's his name? Johnson,

355
00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:22,920
Cliff Johnson. You got his address? I don't know, he moves around same as I do. How you gonna pay

356
00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:26,360
him back if you don't know where he lives? We'll bump into each other. What'd you say you got in

357
00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:31,240
town, Portlong? I told you, yesterday. What time? Six o'clock somewhere now. Yesterday

358
00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:37,060
morning? Last night. You sure then? Yeah. How'd you come? Train? Car. You own the car? I hitched a ride.

359
00:14:37,060 --> 00:14:44,520
Just where were you yesterday afternoon? Riding into LA. All afternoon. Yep. What was the driver's

360
00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,620
name? Look, how should I know? I've been hitching for the last week. I must have rolled with 20

361
00:14:47,620 --> 00:14:51,040
different guys. You don't remember the one you were with yesterday? Nope. Ever been arrested,

362
00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:57,480
Portlong? Nothing serious. Well, tell us about it. Oh, drunk, that's all. Where was that? Ohio,

363
00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,960
when I was a kid. Anything else? Yeah, I got some speeding tickets. You ever been arrested in

364
00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:06,480
California? Never been in California. First trip, huh? Yep. You ain't exactly making me feel at home,

365
00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:10,400
either. You know, an apartment house called it the peak of arms. Where about? Sixth in Olympic.

366
00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:17,200
Where's that? In LA. Look, can't you get nothing straight? I ain't never been here before. How about

367
00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:22,520
give me an answer? Why the rust? Come on, let's go. What for? We'll show you the sites. For instance?

368
00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:32,240
City Hall. Frank and I took the suspect into custody for further questioning. 12 16 p.m. We ran the

369
00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:36,960
name Ralph Portlong through R&I. They had nothing on him. We put out an APB with his description

370
00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:41,440
stating that he was in our custody. The bulletin requested any information about the suspect and

371
00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:46,760
was marked detention Chicago PD and Cleveland Police Department. 2 18 p.m. We again interviewed

372
00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:51,560
Portlong. He insisted he had not arrived in Los Angeles until 6 o'clock the previous evening and

373
00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:57,800
refused to say it anymore. 4 0 6 p.m. We received replies to our APB on Portlong. Chicago reported

374
00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:01,920
two convictions for grand theft auto and Cleveland reported one conviction for burglary second degree.

375
00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:06,120
We telephoned Miss Dunbatter and arranged for her to attend a special show up at the main jail.

376
00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:10,800
6 17 p.m. The show up was completed and Frank and I took the victim back to our office.

377
00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:19,480
Well ma'am you're sure it isn't the same man? My goodness gracious, I ought to know. Yes. See how

378
00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:23,360
you could have made such a mistake. Well he fits your description even to the scar. But I told you

379
00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:28,880
it was Ziggity Zagg. Yeah he did. This man's scar is entirely different. Yes ma'am. His hair is wrong too.

380
00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:33,440
Is that right? Other man had some gray in it right across here. I thought you said he was fairly

381
00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:38,680
young. But he doesn't have to be old to get gray. I've been gray ever since I had my appendix out.

382
00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:45,560
I was only 34. All right. What have you taken home now? It's really a shame. Ma'am. You rested that

383
00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:56,440
poor fellow. He hasn't done anything. Burgery Friday. Yep. Yeah that's right. When'd you get it?

384
00:16:56,440 --> 00:17:06,200
No not yet. Will you notify him? Right. Well I guess we don't need to feel too sorry for Portlong.

385
00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:10,920
What do you mean? Another answer on our APB. Yeah. You're right Miss Dunbattery. He couldn't have

386
00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:14,680
been your burglar. Well I told you didn't I? He was in Needles yesterday afternoon. He hitched a ride.

387
00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:24,440
Yeah. Slugged the driver. Ralph Portlong was held pending arrival of authorities from Needles.

388
00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:28,920
The investigation of the apartment house burglary continued. Two more suspects were brought in for

389
00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:34,360
questioning. Both men succeeded in establishing alibis for the time of the crime. Monday May 23rd

390
00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:41,160
1 48 p.m. Frank and I were on our way back to the office from lunch. How was your pie? All right.

391
00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:48,840
Just okay huh? I said it was all right. Lemon meringue wasn't it? Yeah. I don't know Joe you

392
00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:53,560
should have had apple. Mm-hmm. I told you stick with apple you can't go wrong. The lemon was good.

393
00:17:53,560 --> 00:18:00,440
You didn't finish it. I was full. Yeah well someday you'll learn. Learn what? Apple pie is always safe.

394
00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:04,840
You can't louse it up even a bad cook can. Well I get a little tired of it once in a while that's all.

395
00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:09,400
No reason you should. You can switch it around some any different way. Yeah I know. Cheese,

396
00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:15,960
alimoth, hot sauce. No reason to get tired of apple Joe. Sure. Hey Joe. Yeah. Call for you while

397
00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:22,120
you're on. Oh. Hey she wants you to call back here's the number. Thanks. Sure. Bessie Maxson.

398
00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:24,920
Who's that? I don't know.

399
00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:46,440
Mrs. Maxson. There's the police department Sergeant Friday. Yes that's right.

400
00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:56,280
We were the ones. I guess we can. Well is something wrong? You sure of that? All right right away.

401
00:18:56,280 --> 00:19:01,240
Thank you for calling. Goodbye. Miss Dunn bet her sister she just got back from Oxnard. Yeah.

402
00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:04,760
She says it never happened. What do you mean? The burglary. Says her sister made it up.

403
00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:13,240
Frank and I drove out to the Topeka Arms and we went up to apartment number eight.

404
00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:24,760
It was 217 when we got there. Somebody's coming again. Well what is it? Miss Maxson. That's right.

405
00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:29,560
That's right. Well my name's Friday. I just spoke to you over the telephone. Oh yes yes of course.

406
00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:34,600
This is Frank Smith. Oh how do you do? I do ma'am. Come right along inside. Thank you.

407
00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:39,480
I just don't know what to say. I suppose it's all my fault for going out of town.

408
00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:45,000
She'd never left Martha alone. Might have known she'd be up to something. Are you positively sure about this Miss Maxson?

409
00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:49,800
About what? About what? That there wasn't any burglary. Oh never in a million years.

410
00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:54,840
When your sister gave us all the details. Play acting. That's all it was. Play acting. She's done it all alive.

411
00:19:54,840 --> 00:20:00,600
Oh I see. You mean Miss Dunn better isn't. My sister is as sane as you are if that's what you're driving at.

412
00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:05,800
Well then why'd she tell us that story? You know. Heaven got the vaguest notion. She simply won't give me any explanation.

413
00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:13,000
Oh I see. If the story was true why won't she face me? Why is she hiding? Hiding?

414
00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,840
Minnica told her I was going to call you. She locked herself in the bathroom. Is that right?

415
00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:22,600
Been in there for two hours now. She simply refuses to come out. Well we'd like to talk to her if we can.

416
00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:27,560
I'll try again. In fact the chore here may have some influence.

417
00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,920
You think we're getting a run around Joe? Sounds that way doesn't it? Yeah.

418
00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:40,280
Martha. Martha you come out of there this instant. Martha Dunn better do you hear me?

419
00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:47,160
The policeman wants to talk to you. Now come out. The police are here. I won't.

420
00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:51,160
I won't never come out. I never heard of such childishness.

421
00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:58,680
You see I'm not able to do a thing with her. Yes ma'am. Maybe if you speak to her she'll come to her senses.

422
00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:04,520
All right. Oh sister can't on like this. I don't know how I'll ever be able to hold my head up again.

423
00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:11,160
It's scandalous. Miss Dunn better this is Sergeant Friday. Miss Dunn better will you come out so we

424
00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:23,160
can talk to you? Miss Dunn better? Well it's about time. Whatever were you thinking of Martha? What

425
00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:27,560
got into you? Not speaking to you Bessie. Let's go in the other room. Be easier to talk there.

426
00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:34,760
Yes sir. Not speaking to me huh? Well two can play at that game and I assure you I won't be the one

427
00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:41,320
who suffers. All right ladies would you like to sit down? Now Miss Dunn better can we clear this

428
00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:45,800
thing up now? Your sister says there wasn't any burglary. How would she know she wasn't here was

429
00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:51,960
she? I know because I know you and I know you never had three hundred dollars to your name. I did too.

430
00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:55,800
Where'd you get it? Where'd you get it? None of your business. All right now how about it Miss Dunn

431
00:21:55,800 --> 00:22:02,360
better? Did you have three hundred dollars? Well? Never said it was exactly three hundred.

432
00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:09,240
Not to the penny. Three dollars would be more like it. There happens to be a few things you don't

433
00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:14,440
know about including my savings. A likely story and you never saved a penny in your life. What

434
00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:19,480
about my dime bag? I shook it the other day. I thank you to keep your hands off my property.

435
00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:23,800
Savings indeed. If I didn't pay most of the expenses around here you'd starve to death.

436
00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:27,960
I managed quite well before you moved in on me Bessie and I was perfectly happy living alone.

437
00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:33,640
Matter of fact I preferred that arrangement. Maybe you'd like to try it again. Maybe I would.

438
00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:39,320
I'm sure there'd be money ahead. Don't you hock me Bessie Maxim. You ought to see the way she eats.

439
00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:44,760
Gobble, gobble, gobble. She shovels it down. Stuffing nonsense. I don't have any more appetite than a bird.

440
00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:50,360
Birds don't nip the cooking Sherry. Boss had done better. How can you say such a thing? Because I

441
00:22:50,360 --> 00:22:56,920
know it's true. I'm out of the bottle. Well whatever I do I don't fib to the police like some people I

442
00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:04,760
could name. Well Miss Dunbitter. I may have exaggerated the respect. You mean to do no harm.

443
00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:11,320
I wonder if you know it's against the law to file a false police report. Against the law? There. You see

444
00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:17,320
you're going to jail. I knew it would happen. I knew that sooner or later you'd disgrace all of us.

445
00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:25,240
Why'd you do it? You must have had a reason ma'am. I won't tell you. In front of her I won't.

446
00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,200
Well let's see. Would you mind waiting in the other room for a couple of minutes Miss Maxim?

447
00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:37,480
I most certainly would. We'd appreciate it if you would. No very well. Very well.

448
00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,280
You'd think I was the criminal around here.

449
00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:45,480
All right Miss Dunbitter tell us now will you? It's very difficult to explain.

450
00:23:46,120 --> 00:23:52,440
I'll give it a try will you? You see it was all on account of her. Bessie. Go ahead. Started

451
00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:57,240
when we was little girls. It's because she's older she's always lording it over me.

452
00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:04,120
Mom and daddy always gave her everything first. Hand me downs it's all I got. Bessie's hand me

453
00:24:04,120 --> 00:24:11,000
downs. I see. When we grew up I couldn't push myself very much. She's just the opposite.

454
00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:16,440
Barely the ball. She had a pick of all the young gentlemen in town. The only time they'd take me

455
00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:21,400
out was when Bessie was busy. One thing she didn't let me know that I had second choice.

456
00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:28,200
The only reason she married a horace because he took a fancy to me. Well I had my pride too.

457
00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:35,880
Wouldn't settle for her leftovers. That's why I stayed single. I see. The least she could have done

458
00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:40,600
was name one of the little girls after me. After all I'm an oldie sister. Well Miss Dunbitter you

459
00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:46,920
still haven't told us why you reported the burglary. I am telling you. Yes ma'am. On account of her

460
00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:53,560
birthday. Well that was the last straw. She hasn't talked about anything else for months and months.

461
00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:59,480
Of course she's 80 years old. You'd think she's the queen of Romania. A picture in the paper of

462
00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:04,920
people making a fuss about her. I made up my mind that for once in my life someone was going to make

463
00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:13,160
a fuss about me. I see. To tell you the truth I'm not a bit sorry I did it. I mean I guess I should

464
00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:21,720
be sorry but I'm not. I really enjoyed myself. All those questions you asked me. Like I was somebody.

465
00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:26,840
My name was in the papers too. First time it ever happened. It's strange when you come to think

466
00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:33,160
about it. To live 79 years without ever seeing your name in print. Oh but that wasn't the best part.

467
00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:37,960
The best part was Bessie not being able to horn in and take all the credit.

468
00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:44,600
Oh I knew you'd find me out sooner or later but I didn't care. I sure had the laugh on her.

469
00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:49,960
All the time she's in Oxnard being parted. I was having a little party of my own.

470
00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:55,080
Yeah well you know you didn't need to put us through all this Miss Dunbedder. You're almost 80 yourself.

471
00:25:55,080 --> 00:26:00,760
It's over a year away. When you're my age you can't be sure of anything. Yes ma'am.

472
00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:07,400
Besides even when I'm 80 Bessie will still be ahead. How's that? She'll be going on 90.

473
00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:35,400
The story you've just heard is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. On May 26th the hearing was held in the office of Perry Thomas, city attorney. In a moment the results of that hearing. Now here's our star Jack Webb. Thank you George Fenomen. Put a smile in your smoking. Buy Chesterfield. It's the best cigarette ever made from my money. Smooth satisfying. It's a good one.

474
00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:42,680
Mild and mellow. Believe me in the whole wide world no cigarette satisfies like Chesterfield.

475
00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:59,640
Due to the advanced age of Miss Martha Dunbedder and because of her assurances that she would never repeat her actions no charges were filed against her.

476
00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:07,640
Better schools build better communities. Join and work with your fellow citizens who are actively seeking to improve educational conditions.

477
00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:31,640
You have just heard Dragnet a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of chief of police W.H. Parker Los Angeles police department. Technical advisors Captain Jack Donahoe Sergeant Marty Wynn Sergeant Vance Brasher.

478
00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:43,640
Heard tonight were Ben Alexander Virginia Greg Jack Crouchon Helen Cleve. Script by Frank Burt music by Walter Schuman Hal Gibney speaking.

479
00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:57,640
Watch an entirely different Dragnet case history each week on your local NBC television station. Please check your newspapers for the day and time. Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles.

480
00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:11,640
This is it L&M filters it stands out from all the rest. Miracle tip much more flavor. L&M's got everything. It's the best.

481
00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:31,640
Yes L&M's got everything. The miracle tip is white pure white to give you the purest and best filter and you get a rich good tasting fully satisfying smoke from L&M's highest quality tobacco's by L&M America's best filter tip cigarette.

482
00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:45,640
It's sweeping the country. One man stands between death and 10 people on TV's new dramatic program Mr. Citizen. See Edward Binns star in the true story Terror on Jackrabbit Hill.

483
00:28:45,640 --> 00:29:05,640
Check your local TV listings for Mr. Citizen. Hear Dragnet next week same time same station.

484
00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:15,640
Lux Radio Theater presents Barry Sullivan in Rope of Sand tonight on the NBC radio network.