WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:04.000 Chesterfield brings you Dragnet. 00:05.000 --> 00:08.000 Put a smile in your smoking. 00:08.000 --> 00:13.000 By Chesterfield. So smooth, so satisfying. 00:13.000 --> 00:15.000 Chesterfield. 00:22.000 --> 00:26.000 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. 00:26.000 --> 00:30.000 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:36.000 --> 00:40.000 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to burglary detail. 00:40.000 --> 00:45.000 An elderly woman reports that a man has stolen $300 from her apartment. 00:45.000 --> 00:49.000 She says she saw him. Your job, check it out. 00:49.000 --> 00:52.000 Put a smile in your smoking. 00:52.000 --> 00:55.000 Next time you buy cigarettes, stop. 00:55.000 --> 01:01.000 Remember this. In the whole wide world, no cigarette satisfies like Chesterfield. 01:01.000 --> 01:04.000 Put a smile in your smoking. 01:04.000 --> 01:09.000 Instantly, you'll smile your approval of Chesterfield's smoothness. 01:09.000 --> 01:11.000 So smooth, so satisfying. 01:11.000 --> 01:14.000 You want them mild, we make them mild. 01:14.000 --> 01:21.000 Mild and mellow, with the smooth and refreshing taste of the right combination of the world's best tobaccos. 01:21.000 --> 01:25.000 So next time you buy cigarettes, stop. 01:25.000 --> 01:29.000 Start smoking with a smile, with Chesterfield. 01:29.000 --> 01:33.000 Smiling all the while, with Chesterfield. 01:33.000 --> 01:37.000 Put a smile in your smoking, just give them a try. 01:37.000 --> 01:40.000 Light up a Chesterfield cigarette. 01:40.000 --> 01:44.000 Smiling all the while, with Chesterfield. 01:44.000 --> 01:47.000 They satisfy. 01:53.000 --> 01:56.000 Dragnet. The document a drama of an actual crime. 01:56.000 --> 02:00.000 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, 02:00.000 --> 02:06.000 you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. 02:06.000 --> 02:13.000 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 02:17.000 --> 02:20.000 It was Thursday, May 19th. It was sunny in Los Angeles. 02:20.000 --> 02:22.000 We were working the day watch out of burglary detail. 02:22.000 --> 02:26.000 My partner is Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Bernard. My name is Friday. 02:26.000 --> 02:31.000 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. 02:31.000 --> 02:36.000 Topeka Arms. 02:36.000 --> 02:38.000 What's that lady's name again, Joe? 02:38.000 --> 02:41.000 Dunbatter. Martha Dunbatter. 02:41.000 --> 02:45.000 Let's see. Yeah, here's your mailbox, number 8. 02:45.000 --> 02:47.000 Must be upstairs. 02:47.000 --> 02:48.000 Well, how do you figure that? 02:48.000 --> 02:50.000 Only eight mail slots means eight apartments. 02:50.000 --> 02:51.000 Yeah? 02:51.000 --> 02:53.000 Stands to reason number 8 will be on the second floor, don't it? 02:53.000 --> 02:58.000 Well, I'm supposed to. 02:58.000 --> 03:01.000 Hey, Joe, I wonder who comes from Kansas. 03:01.000 --> 03:02.000 What? 03:02.000 --> 03:04.000 Well, didn't you notice the plaque out in front? Topeka Arms. 03:04.000 --> 03:05.000 Yeah. 03:05.000 --> 03:07.000 That's a city in Kansas. Topeka, Kansas. 03:07.000 --> 03:08.000 Yeah, sure. 03:08.000 --> 03:13.000 Somebody must have come from there, the owner or the builder. Why else would they give the place a name like that? 03:13.000 --> 03:14.000 I don't know. 03:14.000 --> 03:15.000 Well, it stands to reason, doesn't it? 03:15.000 --> 03:16.000 I guess so. 03:16.000 --> 03:19.000 Well, you see, you're not the only one who can do it. 03:19.000 --> 03:20.000 Do what? 03:20.000 --> 03:21.000 Deduce. 03:21.000 --> 03:24.000 That's what they call it, the way it figured out, number 8's second floor deduction. 03:24.000 --> 03:25.000 Yeah. 03:25.000 --> 03:27.000 I was just giving you an example. 03:27.000 --> 03:30.000 When I proved that somebody connected with the building probably lived in Kansas. 03:30.000 --> 03:31.000 Yeah. 03:31.000 --> 03:33.000 Right down there, 8, just like you said. 03:33.000 --> 03:34.000 Mm-hmm. 03:34.000 --> 03:36.000 Deduction never fails, Joe. 03:40.000 --> 03:41.000 Who's there? 03:41.000 --> 03:42.000 Police officers. 03:42.000 --> 03:46.000 Oh, well, just a second. I'm coming. I'm coming. 03:46.000 --> 03:49.000 My goodness, you certainly got back. 03:49.000 --> 03:52.000 Oh, well, dear me, you aren't the same ones, are you? 03:52.000 --> 03:54.000 No, ma'am, this is Frank Smith. My name's Friday. 03:54.000 --> 03:57.000 There were two other policemen here just a little while ago. 03:57.000 --> 04:00.000 Shame you didn't know. Could've saved yourself a trip. 04:00.000 --> 04:02.000 That's all right, ma'am. We knew they'd be here. 04:02.000 --> 04:05.000 They're patrol car officers. They were in the neighborhood, so they answered your call. 04:05.000 --> 04:06.000 Oh, well, I... 04:06.000 --> 04:07.000 All right if we come in? 04:07.000 --> 04:10.000 Oh, I guess. Oh, yes, please do. 04:11.000 --> 04:13.000 You're Mrs. Martha Dunbetter, is that right? 04:13.000 --> 04:15.000 No, not exactly. 04:15.000 --> 04:16.000 Oh? 04:16.000 --> 04:19.000 It's Miss Dunbetter. I'm still single. 04:19.000 --> 04:20.000 I see. 04:20.000 --> 04:22.000 Ma'am, would you mind telling us just what happened this afternoon? 04:22.000 --> 04:26.000 Oh, no, no, I don't mind at all. It's all quite clear. 04:26.000 --> 04:28.000 All right, would you go ahead? 04:28.000 --> 04:30.000 What does that young man mean? 04:30.000 --> 04:32.000 Does he go ahead about this afternoon? 04:32.000 --> 04:36.000 Oh, well, let's see. I fixed myself some lunch. 04:36.000 --> 04:38.000 Then I read up the dishes. 04:38.000 --> 04:42.000 Must've been about one o'clock by the time I finished. 04:42.000 --> 04:43.000 All right. 04:43.000 --> 04:46.000 Afterwards, I put on my hat and I went down to the library. 04:46.000 --> 04:50.000 It's only a couple of blocks from here, the Grove of Cleveland branch. 04:50.000 --> 04:51.000 Mm-hmm. 04:51.000 --> 04:54.000 I took back my books and checked out two fresh ones. 04:54.000 --> 04:56.000 All right, what happened next? 04:56.000 --> 04:58.000 When I come home, there he was. 04:58.000 --> 04:59.000 What's that? 04:59.000 --> 05:01.000 I come home and there he was. 05:01.000 --> 05:02.000 Who? 05:02.000 --> 05:04.000 Well, that awful man. 05:04.000 --> 05:05.000 Well, just where was he? 05:05.000 --> 05:07.000 Here, in my apartment. 05:07.000 --> 05:08.000 No, I mean which room? 05:08.000 --> 05:09.000 Over there, the bedroom. 05:09.000 --> 05:10.000 I see. 05:10.000 --> 05:12.000 As soon as I come in, I heard him. 05:12.000 --> 05:14.000 At least I heard somebody moving around. 05:14.000 --> 05:17.000 First, I thought it was Mrs. Parker's manager. 05:17.000 --> 05:20.000 I know she sneaks into my apartment and noses around. 05:20.000 --> 05:24.000 Of course, she says she doesn't, but I know better. 05:24.000 --> 05:25.000 Mm-hmm. 05:25.000 --> 05:29.000 Well, I said to myself, I got a red-handed this time. 05:29.000 --> 05:33.000 So I marched into the bedroom all ready to give her a piece of my mind. 05:33.000 --> 05:34.000 Well. 05:34.000 --> 05:37.000 Well, I was never so flabbergasted in my whole life. 05:37.000 --> 05:41.000 He was standing in front of the dresser, going through my pocketbook. 05:41.000 --> 05:42.000 I see. 05:42.000 --> 05:43.000 My black bag and leather. 05:43.000 --> 05:44.000 It's the one he was holding. 05:44.000 --> 05:45.000 Mm-hmm. 05:45.000 --> 05:47.000 Well, ma'am, how much money was in the bag? 05:47.000 --> 05:50.000 Well, I'm not positive, not to the penny. 05:50.000 --> 05:52.000 About $300. 05:52.000 --> 05:53.000 In cash? 05:53.000 --> 05:54.000 Yes, sir. 05:54.000 --> 05:58.000 You see, I've been saving dimes for the past 15 years. 05:58.000 --> 06:01.000 You mean this $300 was in dimes? 06:01.000 --> 06:03.000 Oh, goodness gracious, no. 06:03.000 --> 06:05.000 What I do is go through my change every night 06:05.000 --> 06:08.000 and put all the dimes in my dime bank. 06:08.000 --> 06:10.000 Then when it's full, I take it down to a real bank 06:10.000 --> 06:12.000 and change the coins into bills. 06:12.000 --> 06:14.000 A dime bank holds $25. 06:14.000 --> 06:15.000 I see. 06:15.000 --> 06:17.000 Well, you'd be surprised how much a person can save 06:17.000 --> 06:19.000 that way it mounts up. 06:19.000 --> 06:20.000 Yes, ma'am. 06:20.000 --> 06:22.000 Do you know the denominations of the bills? 06:22.000 --> 06:25.000 I guess they was mostly tens. 06:25.000 --> 06:27.000 Maybe one or two bigger ones. 06:27.000 --> 06:28.000 Mm-hmm. 06:28.000 --> 06:30.000 Now, what did this man do next, Miss Dunn-Better? 06:30.000 --> 06:32.000 Well, he found money. 06:32.000 --> 06:35.000 My $300, stuffed it into his pockets. 06:35.000 --> 06:39.000 Then he just rolled out of the apartment, big as life. 06:39.000 --> 06:42.000 I was too dumbfounded to do anything about it. 06:42.000 --> 06:43.000 I see. 06:43.000 --> 06:46.000 I heard him tramp down the stairs, 06:46.000 --> 06:48.000 and then I heard the front door slam. 06:48.000 --> 06:50.000 When I was sure he was out of the building, 06:50.000 --> 06:52.000 I managed to get my wits together and I dialed Central. 06:52.000 --> 06:53.000 Central? 06:53.000 --> 06:54.000 The operator. 06:54.000 --> 06:56.000 And she put me in touch with the police station. 06:56.000 --> 06:58.000 Had you ever seen this man before, Miss Dunn-Better? 06:58.000 --> 06:59.000 No. 06:59.000 --> 07:01.000 I'm sure I never did. 07:01.000 --> 07:03.000 Could you tell us what he looked like? 07:03.000 --> 07:06.000 Well, he was a tall man. 07:06.000 --> 07:07.000 How tall? 07:07.000 --> 07:09.000 Big as you, I'd say. 07:09.000 --> 07:10.000 What color hair, please? 07:10.000 --> 07:11.000 Dark. 07:11.000 --> 07:13.000 Very dark. 07:13.000 --> 07:14.000 Eyes? 07:14.000 --> 07:15.000 Dark eyes, too. 07:15.000 --> 07:16.000 Dark-confected. 07:16.000 --> 07:19.000 Like he'd spend a lot of time outdoors. 07:19.000 --> 07:20.000 How was he dressed? 07:20.000 --> 07:22.000 Shirt and pants and jacket. 07:22.000 --> 07:24.000 Light-colored jacket. 07:24.000 --> 07:25.000 I think it was green. 07:25.000 --> 07:27.000 Did you notice any scars? 07:27.000 --> 07:29.000 Yes. 07:29.000 --> 07:31.000 Come to think of it, I did. 07:31.000 --> 07:33.000 Across his forehead. 07:33.000 --> 07:35.000 Thin little zig-a-dig-a-zag. 07:35.000 --> 07:37.000 How old would you say he was? 07:37.000 --> 07:40.000 Oh, he was young. 07:40.000 --> 07:42.000 35, maybe 40. 07:42.000 --> 07:44.000 You know if anybody else saw him? 07:44.000 --> 07:45.000 The other tenants? 07:45.000 --> 07:47.000 Well, I haven't talked to him, no. 07:47.000 --> 07:49.000 Haven't left apartments since it happened. 07:49.000 --> 07:50.000 You live alone here, do you? 07:50.000 --> 07:52.000 Oh, man, no, no. 07:52.000 --> 07:54.000 My sister Bessie stays with me. 07:54.000 --> 07:55.000 Where is she this afternoon? 07:55.000 --> 07:57.000 Well, she went out of town for a few days 07:57.000 --> 08:00.000 to visit her grandson and his family. 08:00.000 --> 08:02.000 They came down from Oxnard to get her this morning. 08:02.000 --> 08:03.000 I see. 08:03.000 --> 08:05.000 Tomorrow's her birthday. 08:05.000 --> 08:07.000 She'll be 80. 08:07.000 --> 08:09.000 I expect they're going to have quiet day celebration. 08:09.000 --> 08:10.000 Yes, ma'am. 08:10.000 --> 08:12.000 They're all carrying on. 08:12.000 --> 08:14.000 You'd think it was such an accomplishment. 08:14.000 --> 08:16.000 Well, it is a pretty ripe old age, ma'am. 08:16.000 --> 08:19.000 I don't see what's so ripe about it. 08:19.000 --> 08:21.000 I'm nearly 79 myself. 08:21.000 --> 08:23.000 Oh, I know, I don't look it. 08:23.000 --> 08:27.000 Everybody thinks there's at least 10 years between us. 08:27.000 --> 08:29.000 And Bessie is failing. 08:29.000 --> 08:30.000 Yes, ma'am. 08:30.000 --> 08:32.000 There's a couple more questions, Miss Dunvany. 08:32.000 --> 08:34.000 Certainly, young man, certainly. 08:34.000 --> 08:36.000 What time was it when you got home from the library? 08:36.000 --> 08:38.000 2.45. 08:38.000 --> 08:40.000 Maybe a few minutes after. 08:40.000 --> 08:42.000 No, later than 3, though. 08:42.000 --> 08:43.000 I see. 08:43.000 --> 08:44.000 How'd this fellow get into the apartment? 08:44.000 --> 08:46.000 Was the door locked? 08:46.000 --> 08:48.000 Well, I thought it was. 08:48.000 --> 08:50.000 I always try to remember to lock it whenever I go out, 08:50.000 --> 08:52.000 but sometimes I do forget. 08:52.000 --> 08:54.000 Well, I guess I did today. 08:54.000 --> 08:57.000 You think he'd recognize the burger if you saw him again? 08:57.000 --> 08:59.000 I'm most assured he would. 08:59.000 --> 09:02.000 Nothing to add with my eyesight. 09:02.000 --> 09:03.000 Well, that's fine. 09:03.000 --> 09:05.000 I'd like to take you down to the office with us 09:05.000 --> 09:06.000 and show you some pictures. 09:06.000 --> 09:07.000 No. 09:07.000 --> 09:08.000 I'm not going to go with him. 09:08.000 --> 09:10.000 Well, if you don't go like this, 09:10.000 --> 09:12.000 I'll have to change my dress first. 09:12.000 --> 09:14.000 Well, I'm all right for walking around the neighborhood, 09:14.000 --> 09:15.000 but not for going downtown. 09:15.000 --> 09:16.000 Well, that's up to you, ma'am. 09:16.000 --> 09:18.000 Oh, say, Miss Dunvany, while I think of it, 09:18.000 --> 09:20.000 who came from Kansas? 09:20.000 --> 09:23.000 Oh, I'm afraid I don't understand. 09:23.000 --> 09:25.000 Well, the name of this apartment, you see, 09:25.000 --> 09:26.000 is the Topeka Arms, 09:26.000 --> 09:28.000 so I figured somebody connected with it 09:28.000 --> 09:29.000 must have come from Kansas. 09:29.000 --> 09:30.000 Oh. 09:30.000 --> 09:32.000 You don't know who it was, do you? 09:32.000 --> 09:35.000 Oh, now let me think. 09:35.000 --> 09:36.000 Oh, yes, yes, I remember. 09:36.000 --> 09:38.000 That was old Mr. Hendrickson's idea. 09:38.000 --> 09:40.000 Wow, you don't say. 09:40.000 --> 09:43.000 Yes, yes, he was the man who built this building. 09:43.000 --> 09:46.000 Well, now, that was, oh, goodness sakes, 09:46.000 --> 09:49.000 that was almost 35 years ago. 09:49.000 --> 09:51.000 My hot time flies. 09:51.000 --> 09:52.000 Yes, ma'am. 09:52.000 --> 09:53.000 How you like that, Joe? 09:53.000 --> 09:55.000 This Mr. Hendrickson came from Kansas. 09:55.000 --> 09:56.000 No, I do. 09:56.000 --> 09:57.000 Minnesota. 09:57.000 --> 09:59.000 Minneapolis, as I recollect. 09:59.000 --> 10:00.000 Oh. 10:00.000 --> 10:02.000 But it was his idea just the same, 10:02.000 --> 10:03.000 calling it Topeka Arms. 10:03.000 --> 10:05.000 On the kind of an article he read in the newspaper 10:05.000 --> 10:07.000 while the building was going up. 10:07.000 --> 10:08.000 Ma'am. 10:08.000 --> 10:10.000 Said there was more people in Southern California 10:10.000 --> 10:12.000 who come from Kansas than any other state. 10:12.000 --> 10:13.000 Mm-mm. 10:13.000 --> 10:15.000 So Mr. Hendrickson figured the name Topeka 10:15.000 --> 10:16.000 would attract a lot of tenants. 10:16.000 --> 10:18.000 It's ridiculous nonsense. 10:18.000 --> 10:19.000 Said so at the time, 10:19.000 --> 10:22.000 there hasn't been a single solitary one. 10:22.000 --> 10:23.000 Oh. 10:23.000 --> 10:24.000 35 years. 10:24.000 --> 10:27.000 Not a soul from Kansas has ever lived here. 10:27.000 --> 10:32.000 4.05 p.m., 10:32.000 --> 10:34.000 Frank and I put in a call to the crime lab. 10:34.000 --> 10:36.000 While Miss Dunbetter changed her dress, 10:36.000 --> 10:37.000 we checked the other apartments 10:37.000 --> 10:39.000 to see if anybody else had seen the burglar. 10:39.000 --> 10:40.000 Only one tenant was in. 10:40.000 --> 10:41.000 Mrs. J.T. Blade, 10:41.000 --> 10:42.000 apartment six, 10:42.000 --> 10:43.000 informed us that she'd been out marketing 10:43.000 --> 10:44.000 at the time of the crime 10:44.000 --> 10:45.000 and had just returned home. 10:45.000 --> 10:46.000 4.16 p.m., 10:46.000 --> 10:49.000 Lee Jones and a crew from the crime lab arrived. 10:49.000 --> 10:50.000 They began their investigation 10:50.000 --> 10:52.000 and we drove Miss Dunbetter down to the city hall. 10:52.000 --> 10:54.000 We checked the oddity file 10:54.000 --> 10:55.000 and ran the suspect's description on ammo 10:55.000 --> 10:56.000 through the stats office, 10:56.000 --> 10:58.000 and they came up with 17 possibles. 10:58.000 --> 11:01.000 We pulled mug shots and showed them to Miss Dunbetter. 11:01.000 --> 11:03.000 She was unable to make an identification. 11:03.000 --> 11:04.000 6.13 p.m., 11:04.000 --> 11:06.000 Lee Jones reported no useful fingerprints 11:06.000 --> 11:08.000 or other physical evidence in the apartment. 11:08.000 --> 11:09.000 6.46 p.m., 11:09.000 --> 11:12.000 we drove Miss Dunbetter home and we went off duty. 11:12.000 --> 11:15.000 The next day, May 20th, 11.17 a.m. 11:15.000 --> 11:17.000 I'll get it. 11:17.000 --> 11:19.000 Burgery Friday. 11:19.000 --> 11:21.000 Who's that? 11:21.000 --> 11:23.000 Oh, sure. Yeah. 11:23.000 --> 11:25.000 Wendy, come in. 11:25.000 --> 11:27.000 I see. 11:27.000 --> 11:29.000 Oh. 11:29.000 --> 11:31.000 Well, I wouldn't know what he looked like. 11:31.000 --> 11:33.000 Mm-hmm. 11:33.000 --> 11:35.000 Yeah, we'd like to. 11:35.000 --> 11:37.000 Right. Thanks a lot. 11:37.000 --> 11:39.000 That was Chubb Stark. 11:39.000 --> 11:41.000 Who? 11:39.000 --> 11:41.000 You know, Stark, the bartender over at the Yellow Camp. 11:41.000 --> 11:43.000 Oh, yeah. What's he want? 11:43.000 --> 11:45.000 Guy came into his place last night. 11:45.000 --> 11:47.000 He was carrying a pretty big row. 11:47.000 --> 11:49.000 He threw it around, bought drinks for the house. 11:49.000 --> 11:51.000 Got kind of loaded and did some talking about 11:51.000 --> 11:53.000 how easy he'd picked up the dough. 11:53.000 --> 11:55.000 Just walked in again this morning. 11:55.000 --> 11:57.000 Sound like anything to you? 11:57.000 --> 11:59.000 Chubb says he's about six foot black hair, 11:59.000 --> 12:01.000 so he'd look a little chubby and chubby. 12:01.000 --> 12:03.000 I don't know what he'd say. 12:03.000 --> 12:05.000 He'd say, 12:05.000 --> 12:07.000 Look, the way Chubb did it, 12:07.000 --> 12:09.000 he was the man. 12:09.000 --> 12:11.000 I was the man. 12:11.000 --> 12:13.000 That's why I'm doing it. 12:13.000 --> 12:15.000 That's why I'm doing it. 12:15.000 --> 12:17.000 You're not doing it. 12:17.000 --> 12:19.000 You're not doing it. 12:19.000 --> 12:21.000 You're not doing it. 12:21.000 --> 12:23.000 You're not doing it. 12:23.000 --> 12:25.000 You're not doing it. 12:25.000 --> 12:27.000 You're not doing it. 12:27.000 --> 12:33.120 exclusive. This amazing quality detective electronically checks and controls the 12:33.120 --> 12:37.680 making of your Chesterfield, giving a uniformity and smoking quality never 12:37.680 --> 12:43.240 possible before. So buy Chesterfield today. For the first time you get a perfect 12:43.240 --> 12:49.320 smoke column from end to end. A perfect smoke column from end to end. From the 12:49.320 --> 12:53.980 first puff to the last puff, your Chesterfield smokes smoother. From the 12:53.980 --> 12:58.040 first puff to the last puff, your Chesterfield smokes cooler. From the 12:58.040 --> 13:03.840 first puff to the last puff, Chesterfield is best for you. Next time you buy 13:03.840 --> 13:12.000 cigarettes. Stop. Remember, Chesterfield is made the modern way with Accuray. 13:12.000 --> 13:31.000 Frank and I drove out to the Yellow Cat Bar on Figuroa. Chubb Stark, the bartender, 13:31.000 --> 13:36.440 pointed out a husky man sitting in a corner booth. We went over to talk to him. 13:36.440 --> 13:40.560 Keep your hands on the table and stand up. Police officers, on your feet. 13:40.560 --> 13:48.240 Okay, okay. All right, you can sit down again. Something eating you guys? What's your name? 13:48.240 --> 13:53.520 Why? Come on, what is it? Portlong, Ralph Portlong. Where do you live? Hotel around 13:53.520 --> 13:56.800 the corner. How long you been staying there? Since last night. How about before 13:56.800 --> 14:00.400 that? Back East, they just got in town yesterday. Whereabouts back East? What 14:00.400 --> 14:04.880 kind of a rust is this? Where back East? All over, Chicago, Cleveland, all over. 14:04.880 --> 14:09.240 What kind of business you in? Unemployed. You got any money? Some. How much? Look, I 14:09.240 --> 14:12.840 ain't no vag if that's what you're getting at. How much money you got? 100 bucks, maybe 150. 14:12.840 --> 14:18.400 Where'd you get it? I borrowed it. Who from? Pal. In LA? Chicago. What's his name? Johnson, 14:18.400 --> 14:22.920 Cliff Johnson. You got his address? I don't know, he moves around same as I do. How you gonna pay 14:22.920 --> 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 14:26.360 --> 14:31.240 town, Portlong? I told you, yesterday. What time? Six o'clock somewhere now. Yesterday 14:31.240 --> 14:37.060 morning? Last night. You sure then? Yeah. How'd you come? Train? Car. You own the car? I hitched a ride. 14:37.060 --> 14:44.520 Just where were you yesterday afternoon? Riding into LA. All afternoon. Yep. What was the driver's 14:44.520 --> 14:47.620 name? Look, how should I know? I've been hitching for the last week. I must have rolled with 20 14:47.620 --> 14:51.040 different guys. You don't remember the one you were with yesterday? Nope. Ever been arrested, 14:51.040 --> 14:57.480 Portlong? Nothing serious. Well, tell us about it. Oh, drunk, that's all. Where was that? Ohio, 14:57.480 --> 15:00.960 when I was a kid. Anything else? Yeah, I got some speeding tickets. You ever been arrested in 15:00.960 --> 15:06.480 California? Never been in California. First trip, huh? Yep. You ain't exactly making me feel at home, 15:06.480 --> 15:10.400 either. You know, an apartment house called it the peak of arms. Where about? Sixth in Olympic. 15:10.400 --> 15:17.200 Where's that? In LA. Look, can't you get nothing straight? I ain't never been here before. How about 15:17.200 --> 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? 15:22.520 --> 15:32.240 City Hall. Frank and I took the suspect into custody for further questioning. 12 16 p.m. We ran the 15:32.240 --> 15:36.960 name Ralph Portlong through R&I. They had nothing on him. We put out an APB with his description 15:36.960 --> 15:41.440 stating that he was in our custody. The bulletin requested any information about the suspect and 15:41.440 --> 15:46.760 was marked detention Chicago PD and Cleveland Police Department. 2 18 p.m. We again interviewed 15:46.760 --> 15:51.560 Portlong. He insisted he had not arrived in Los Angeles until 6 o'clock the previous evening and 15:51.560 --> 15:57.800 refused to say it anymore. 4 0 6 p.m. We received replies to our APB on Portlong. Chicago reported 15:57.800 --> 16:01.920 two convictions for grand theft auto and Cleveland reported one conviction for burglary second degree. 16:01.920 --> 16:06.120 We telephoned Miss Dunbatter and arranged for her to attend a special show up at the main jail. 16:06.120 --> 16:10.800 6 17 p.m. The show up was completed and Frank and I took the victim back to our office. 16:10.800 --> 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 16:19.480 --> 16:23.360 you could have made such a mistake. Well he fits your description even to the scar. But I told you 16:23.360 --> 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. 16:28.880 --> 16:33.440 Is that right? Other man had some gray in it right across here. I thought you said he was fairly 16:33.440 --> 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. 16:38.680 --> 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 16:45.560 --> 16:56.440 poor fellow. He hasn't done anything. Burgery Friday. Yep. Yeah that's right. When'd you get it? 16:56.440 --> 17:06.200 No not yet. Will you notify him? Right. Well I guess we don't need to feel too sorry for Portlong. 17:06.200 --> 17:10.920 What do you mean? Another answer on our APB. Yeah. You're right Miss Dunbattery. He couldn't have 17:10.920 --> 17:14.680 been your burglar. Well I told you didn't I? He was in Needles yesterday afternoon. He hitched a ride. 17:14.680 --> 17:24.440 Yeah. Slugged the driver. Ralph Portlong was held pending arrival of authorities from Needles. 17:24.440 --> 17:28.920 The investigation of the apartment house burglary continued. Two more suspects were brought in for 17:28.920 --> 17:34.360 questioning. Both men succeeded in establishing alibis for the time of the crime. Monday May 23rd 17:34.360 --> 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. 17:41.880 --> 17:48.840 Just okay huh? I said it was all right. Lemon meringue wasn't it? Yeah. I don't know Joe you 17:48.840 --> 17:53.560 should have had apple. Mm-hmm. I told you stick with apple you can't go wrong. The lemon was good. 17:53.560 --> 18:00.440 You didn't finish it. I was full. Yeah well someday you'll learn. Learn what? Apple pie is always safe. 18:00.440 --> 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. 18:04.840 --> 18:09.400 No reason you should. You can switch it around some any different way. Yeah I know. Cheese, 18:09.400 --> 18:15.960 alimoth, hot sauce. No reason to get tired of apple Joe. Sure. Hey Joe. Yeah. Call for you while 18:15.960 --> 18:22.120 you're on. Oh. Hey she wants you to call back here's the number. Thanks. Sure. Bessie Maxson. 18:22.120 --> 18:24.920 Who's that? I don't know. 18:40.520 --> 18:46.440 Mrs. Maxson. There's the police department Sergeant Friday. Yes that's right. 18:46.440 --> 18:56.280 We were the ones. I guess we can. Well is something wrong? You sure of that? All right right away. 18:56.280 --> 19:01.240 Thank you for calling. Goodbye. Miss Dunn bet her sister she just got back from Oxnard. Yeah. 19:01.240 --> 19:04.760 She says it never happened. What do you mean? The burglary. Says her sister made it up. 19:09.880 --> 19:13.240 Frank and I drove out to the Topeka Arms and we went up to apartment number eight. 19:13.240 --> 19:24.760 It was 217 when we got there. Somebody's coming again. Well what is it? Miss Maxson. That's right. 19:24.760 --> 19:29.560 That's right. Well my name's Friday. I just spoke to you over the telephone. Oh yes yes of course. 19:29.560 --> 19:34.600 This is Frank Smith. Oh how do you do? I do ma'am. Come right along inside. Thank you. 19:34.600 --> 19:39.480 I just don't know what to say. I suppose it's all my fault for going out of town. 19:39.480 --> 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? 19:45.000 --> 19:49.800 About what? About what? That there wasn't any burglary. Oh never in a million years. 19:49.800 --> 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. 19:54.840 --> 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. 20:00.600 --> 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. 20:05.800 --> 20:13.000 Oh I see. If the story was true why won't she face me? Why is she hiding? Hiding? 20:13.000 --> 20:16.840 Minnica told her I was going to call you. She locked herself in the bathroom. Is that right? 20:16.840 --> 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. 20:23.640 --> 20:27.560 I'll try again. In fact the chore here may have some influence. 20:29.640 --> 20:32.920 You think we're getting a run around Joe? Sounds that way doesn't it? Yeah. 20:32.920 --> 20:40.280 Martha. Martha you come out of there this instant. Martha Dunn better do you hear me? 20:41.400 --> 20:47.160 The policeman wants to talk to you. Now come out. The police are here. I won't. 20:48.120 --> 20:51.160 I won't never come out. I never heard of such childishness. 20:53.240 --> 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. 20:58.680 --> 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. 21:04.520 --> 21:11.160 It's scandalous. Miss Dunn better this is Sergeant Friday. Miss Dunn better will you come out so we 21:11.160 --> 21:23.160 can talk to you? Miss Dunn better? Well it's about time. Whatever were you thinking of Martha? What 21:23.160 --> 21:27.560 got into you? Not speaking to you Bessie. Let's go in the other room. Be easier to talk there. 21:27.560 --> 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 21:34.760 --> 21:41.320 who suffers. All right ladies would you like to sit down? Now Miss Dunn better can we clear this 21:41.320 --> 21:45.800 thing up now? Your sister says there wasn't any burglary. How would she know she wasn't here was 21:45.800 --> 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. 21:51.960 --> 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 21:55.800 --> 22:02.360 better? Did you have three hundred dollars? Well? Never said it was exactly three hundred. 22:03.240 --> 22:09.240 Not to the penny. Three dollars would be more like it. There happens to be a few things you don't 22:09.240 --> 22:14.440 know about including my savings. A likely story and you never saved a penny in your life. What 22:14.440 --> 22:19.480 about my dime bag? I shook it the other day. I thank you to keep your hands off my property. 22:19.480 --> 22:23.800 Savings indeed. If I didn't pay most of the expenses around here you'd starve to death. 22:23.800 --> 22:27.960 I managed quite well before you moved in on me Bessie and I was perfectly happy living alone. 22:28.840 --> 22:33.640 Matter of fact I preferred that arrangement. Maybe you'd like to try it again. Maybe I would. 22:34.200 --> 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. 22:39.320 --> 22:44.760 Gobble, gobble, gobble. She shovels it down. Stuffing nonsense. I don't have any more appetite than a bird. 22:44.760 --> 22:50.360 Birds don't nip the cooking Sherry. Boss had done better. How can you say such a thing? Because I 22:50.360 --> 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 22:56.920 --> 23:04.760 could name. Well Miss Dunbitter. I may have exaggerated the respect. You mean to do no harm. 23:05.560 --> 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 23:11.960 --> 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. 23:17.320 --> 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. 23:26.840 --> 23:30.200 Well let's see. Would you mind waiting in the other room for a couple of minutes Miss Maxim? 23:30.760 --> 23:37.480 I most certainly would. We'd appreciate it if you would. No very well. Very well. 23:38.200 --> 23:40.280 You'd think I was the criminal around here. 23:40.280 --> 23:45.480 All right Miss Dunbitter tell us now will you? It's very difficult to explain. 23:46.120 --> 23:52.440 I'll give it a try will you? You see it was all on account of her. Bessie. Go ahead. Started 23:52.440 --> 23:57.240 when we was little girls. It's because she's older she's always lording it over me. 23:57.960 --> 24:04.120 Mom and daddy always gave her everything first. Hand me downs it's all I got. Bessie's hand me 24:04.120 --> 24:11.000 downs. I see. When we grew up I couldn't push myself very much. She's just the opposite. 24:11.000 --> 24:16.440 Barely the ball. She had a pick of all the young gentlemen in town. The only time they'd take me 24:16.440 --> 24:21.400 out was when Bessie was busy. One thing she didn't let me know that I had second choice. 24:22.200 --> 24:28.200 The only reason she married a horace because he took a fancy to me. Well I had my pride too. 24:28.200 --> 24:35.880 Wouldn't settle for her leftovers. That's why I stayed single. I see. The least she could have done 24:35.880 --> 24:40.600 was name one of the little girls after me. After all I'm an oldie sister. Well Miss Dunbitter you 24:40.600 --> 24:46.920 still haven't told us why you reported the burglary. I am telling you. Yes ma'am. On account of her 24:46.920 --> 24:53.560 birthday. Well that was the last straw. She hasn't talked about anything else for months and months. 24:53.560 --> 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 24:59.480 --> 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 25:04.920 --> 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 25:13.160 --> 25:21.720 be sorry but I'm not. I really enjoyed myself. All those questions you asked me. Like I was somebody. 25:21.720 --> 25:26.840 My name was in the papers too. First time it ever happened. It's strange when you come to think 25:26.840 --> 25:33.160 about it. To live 79 years without ever seeing your name in print. Oh but that wasn't the best part. 25:33.160 --> 25:37.960 The best part was Bessie not being able to horn in and take all the credit. 25:38.760 --> 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. 25:45.320 --> 25:49.960 All the time she's in Oxnard being parted. I was having a little party of my own. 25:49.960 --> 25:55.080 Yeah well you know you didn't need to put us through all this Miss Dunbedder. You're almost 80 yourself. 25:55.080 --> 26:00.760 It's over a year away. When you're my age you can't be sure of anything. Yes ma'am. 26:01.240 --> 26:07.400 Besides even when I'm 80 Bessie will still be ahead. How's that? She'll be going on 90. 26:07.400 --> 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. 26:37.640 --> 26:42.680 Mild and mellow. Believe me in the whole wide world no cigarette satisfies like Chesterfield. 26:51.720 --> 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. 26:59.640 --> 27:07.640 Better schools build better communities. Join and work with your fellow citizens who are actively seeking to improve educational conditions. 27:07.640 --> 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. 27:31.640 --> 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. 27:45.640 --> 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. 27:57.640 --> 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. 28:11.640 --> 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. 28:31.640 --> 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. 28:45.640 --> 29:05.640 Check your local TV listings for Mr. Citizen. Hear Dragnet next week same time same station. 29:05.640 --> 29:15.640 Lux Radio Theater presents Barry Sullivan in Rope of Sand tonight on the NBC radio network.