Ladies and gentlemen, we suggest that you pay particular attention to an important announcement, which will be given at the end of tonight's program. The story you're about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, brings you Dragnet. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to personnel division. A resident of your city files a report of robbery and assault. A suspect, a rookie police officer. Your job, arresting. If you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. Smoke extra mild Fatima. Yes, Fatima is the king size cigarette, which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos, superbly blended to make it extra mild. You give Fatima a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. That's why Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast. Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. Best of all, long cigarettes. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, transcribed in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was Wednesday, April 9th. It was foggy in Los Angeles. We were working a day watch out of personnel. My partner's Ben Romero, the boss's deputy chief home and commander of BIA. My name's Friday. We're on the way over from the city hall and it was 525 p.m. when we got to central division. The assembly room. See him, Joe? Yeah, that looks like him over there. Hi, are you Russell Clark? Yeah, that's right. Friday and Romero personnel. All right. Lieutenant Drummond over at BIA. He'd like to talk to you. All right, when'd you want to see me? Right now. Okay. We're not going to cap. Okay, let's go. What do they want to see me about, you know? Drummond will tell you. Okay. How long you been on the job, Clark? About two and a half months. How do you like it? Oh, I like it fine. Wife doesn't think much of it. She want me to stay at my old job. What was that? Selling insurance. I like to have me home. Doesn't like to be alone, especially now. Yeah? She's expecting a couple of months. You know how they get. Yeah, that's gross, yeah. Hey, I put in a request for day work. You think that's why personnel wants to see me? I don't know. I don't think so. Why, would you like to get that day watch? Yeah. Is that the way you fill us in? I did, yeah. You started in traffic, didn't you, Ben? Yeah, I had nine months, Alan. Go ahead, Clark. No, thanks. I'm going to go. Okay. I'll see you later. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. See you later, sir. Yeah, thanks. I have to be on the job at six. Think it's going to take very long? I don't know. Bye, Friday. Bye. Right in. We're just waiting. Personnel, Coleman. Lieutenant. Yeah? Come in. This is Officer Clark, Lieutenant Drummond. How did you say? Oh, hey, Clark. Sit down. Thanks. Couple of questions for you. Yes, sir. You're on special duty at the Olympic Games. What's wrong? Uh, uh, I don't know. I'm out of here. I've had it with this guy. Okay? You were on special duty at the Olympic auditorium last night, they're right. Yes, sir, for the fights. Anything unusual happen out there last night? Well, it wasn't very important, Lieutenant. After the fights, a drunk fell down the stairs on the way out of the auditorium, broke his arm. I took him to Georgia Street and they took care of the arm and I drove him home. He was pretty drunk. Why didn't you book the man? I didn't think it was necessary. How long you been with the department, Clark? Two and a half months, sir. Didn't you know he should have been booked for violation of 41-27A LAMC? Well, the man was in pretty bad shape, Lieutenant, broken arm. I guess I didn't think the law was that strict. Law is there for a purpose. You decided to forget it, now you're in a mess, right up to your neck. I don't understand. You remember the name of that drunk who took care of last night? Yes, sir, his name was Stacy, lives out in West LA. What's the matter with him? That drunk, Mr. Stacy, wants to file a complaint against you. What for? He claims you took him back to the auditorium, beat him up, broke his arm and robbed him of $128. He's crazy, he's lying, I didn't do that. You got his word against yours, Clark. Fact seemed to favor him. But I can prove it. There was at least a couple of dozen people around. There was a doctor, he can tell you. Maybe you better take it from the beginning, Clark. Exactly how did it happen? I was right after the fight, so I was on duty in the lobby and I saw a bunch of people crawling around the foot of the stairs. I went over to see what the trouble was and they were looking at this man lying on the pavement. It was Stacy, a doctor was examining him. This doctor, did he identify himself? Yeah. I asked for his identification, he showed it to me, gave me a card. He was a doctor, all right? Yeah, go ahead. Well, he told me that he had seen Stacy fall down the stairs coming out of the auditorium. Said that Stacy had broken his left arm. What did you do then? Well, the doc said it would be okay to move him, so I helped him into my car and took him down to Georgia Street. He was so drunk he could hardly stand up. The attendants at Georgia Street took care of his arm. They can tell you all about this. Maybe, but they can't help you out as witnesses. You could have beaten up Stacy, robbed him, then taken him to Georgia Street. But I didn't, Lieutenant. Lieutenant, this Stacy's lying. What did you do when you left Georgia Street? Well, I drove into Central and told them what happened. I told the watch commander I was going to drive this Stacy home and he warned me about it. I guess I should have known better, but well, I swear to you this Stacy's lying. You should have known better. Where did you go after you left Central? I drove him home. On the way, he said he was hungry, so I stopped. I bought him a sandwich and some black coffee. He kept telling me what a nag his wife was. Said he was afraid to go home. Go on. Well, when I got him to his place, his wife started chewing me out. I just said good night and left. That's it, huh? That's it. So help me. That's exactly what happened. Now, how about the doctor at the auditorium, the one who saw Stacy fall? Did you get his name and address? Well, no, no, Lieutenant. I didn't. I didn't think it was necessary. How about the crowd that was standing around? Did you spot anybody you know? No, no, no, I didn't. Just a bunch of people coming out of the fights. Then you haven't got anyone to corroborate your story. But all those people saw it. There must have been a couple of dozen of them. What are their names? I don't know. All I know is I didn't beat him up and I didn't take his money. I told you, this Stacy's lying. You could be lying. We got no proof either way. I'm not lying, Lieutenant. I didn't do it. We might believe you, Clark, but it doesn't make any difference. If this man files a 211 against you, it's got to be settled in court. But I didn't do it. I tell you, I swear I didn't. Just a minute. Mike, send in Mr. and Mrs. Stacy, will you? You can hear the story the way we get it from Stacy and his wife. I'd like to hear it. I don't know why he's doing this. Tell me. I helped him all I could. Look, Jerry, there he is. That's the one. Yeah, that's him, Chief. Now, wait a minute, Mr. Stacy. What's this all about? Hold it, Clark. Mr. Stacy, would you repeat the same story you told us this morning, please? You know what I told you, Chief. You had the stenographer take it all down. It's the same thing. I'd like to have you repeat it in front of Officer Clark here. He's entitled to know what you're charging him with. A man like that's entitled to nothing. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Look, lady, your husband's lying. Don't call my husband a liar. You're not a policeman. You're a hoodlum. All right, wait a minute. I'd like to know what this city's coming to. Cops going around beating up private citizens. Who do we trust if we can't trust a policeman? Just a minute, please. No, no, Captain. You should have seen my husband when that officer brought him home last night. Arm all bandaged, his face all cut up. He was hurt so bad he could hardly stand up. He was too drunk to stand up, lady. Don't you get fresh with me. All right, that's enough. This cop got hold of me as I was coming out of the fights. Took me in back to the auditorium. Told me if I didn't hand over my wallet, he'd book me on a drunk charge. Were you drunk, Stacy? I was not. Had a couple of beers, that's all. When I wouldn't give him my money, he beat me up, broke my arm, and took my wallet. How do men like you ever get on the police force? He figured he'd cover up, so he took me and had my arm fixed at the emergency hospital, then he drove me home. Threatened me all the way. He said, you tell anybody about this and I'll get you. That's just what he said. I don't get it, Stacy. You know that story's a pack of lies. Why are you doing this to me? It's the truth. And I'm going to press charges and get my money back. $128. What have you done with it? We can take care of the questioning, Mrs. Stacy. I don't see you doing it. Make him tell. Where's our money? I haven't got it. Don't talk back to me. Mr. Stacy, you and your wife want to file a crime report at this time. We want to press charges. Romero? Yeah? Take Mr. and Mrs. Stacy down to the record bureau and have them make out a report for 211 and himself. All right. Get them out of the way, please. Now, listen. We're going to get action if we have to take this to the district attorney. We're not afraid of the publicity. We'll go to the newspaper if we don't get action. Yes, ma'am. What's it, Clark? They're lying. I can't prove it, but they're lying. You can see the position it puts us in. If you're innocent, we'll do all we can. If you're guilty, we'll see you get everything that's coming to you. But they're lying. You know that. It's not up to us. The court's going to have to decide. That's it. That's it. No, there's no other way, Clark. We got 4,500 men in the department. We don't claim they're all saints. Once in a while, a bad cop comes along, he pulls a caper, and all of us get a black eye. This book of rules is the only protection we got against that. By failing to enforce the law, you violated your duties as a police officer. That's yourself in a real mess, Clark. Like anybody else, you get a fair trial. That means I'm dropped from the force. Those people have filed a crime report. You draw a suspension pending the outcome of the case. After that, if you're cleared, there'll be a hearing before the Board of Rights. Right through right now, you'll be booked for robbery and assault and held in county jail. The case will be presented to the district attorney tomorrow. What can I do? I'll have to have your badge. On the desk. Your gun. ID card. On the desk. Hang on. All right, Joe, that's it. Okay. Take him. Take him. 6 p.m. Ben returned to the office, and together we took rookie police officer Russell Clark across the street to the Hall of Justice. At the county jail booking desk on the 12th floor, he was booked on suspicion of 211 P.C. and assault with intent to do great bodily harm. He was lodged in the cell block. Investigating charges against a police officer involves exactly the same procedure as cases where private citizens are concerned. Prove the suspect innocent or guilty. That's the job. If Clark was innocent, it looked like there was only one way of proving. That was somehow to find the unnamed doctor who was supposed to have seen Stacy fall down the auditorium stairs and then examined him afterward. If Clark was guilty, we had to find proof that his story about Stacy falling down the stairs was a lie. Besides that, we had to find evidence that he beat up Stacy at the rear of the auditorium that night, and then he robbed him of $128. Thursday, April 10th, Ben and I checked in for work at 7.45 a.m. and found a message from the jailer on the phone board. Clark wanted to see us right away. We met with him in the county jail interview room. How are you doing? Not too bad. Don't let it sour you, huh? Sergeant, you really think I rolled that character? Come on, tell me the truth. We checked you out. Good family. You got a fine Army record. No, we don't think you did it. I just can't understand why you picked me out. I tried to help him all I could, then he walks in the next day with a framed story like that. You got any idea why Stacy would pull something like this on you? I don't know. I'm worried, Sergeant, believe me. I can't afford to sit here missing my pay. We live pretty close to the budget with a baby coming. I'm worried about the wife. I just don't know what to do. Are you sure you told us everything about this that you remember? Well, that's the one reason I wanted to see you. I didn't sleep much last night. I kept trying to remember the name of that doctor. Yeah? I remember once he did mention his name, and then when I asked for his identification, he showed me one of his cards. Any idea what his name was? Well, I'm not sure, but as I remembered, it was some kind of a Swedish or Norwegian name, something like Johnson, Tolleson, you know, something with a sun on the end of it. It's on that card. That doesn't narrow it down too much. Where is the card? Well, I think I put his card in one of the pockets of my other uniform shirt. That's why I called you. I wonder if you could check that for me. It's at home. Sure. Where do you live? Out on Norwich Road, 411. It's right near the Coliseum. 411? Yeah. All right, we'll check it out for you. Just ask the wife, will you? Card should be in one of the pockets. Yeah, if you put it there. Ben and I left the interview room at the county jail and drove out to the home of Officer Clark on Norwich Road. We introduced ourselves to his wife and told her what we were after. Her eyes were red and looked like she'd been crying. She asked about her husband. We told her he was all right. They're making a terrible mistake. Sergeant Russ never did anything crooked in his life. He didn't do it. I know he didn't. We'll do everything we can to straighten it out, Mrs. Clark. The court will have the final say. I knew Russ shouldn't have left his insurance job. I just knew it all was trouble. How about that shirt your husband told us about, the one he wore that night at the auditorium? Oh, yes, his other uniform shirt. Can we see it, please? Yes, certainly. It's right this way, back in bedroom. What's so important about the shirt, Sergeant? Your husband told us that there might be a card in one of the pockets. It might help clear up things. Well, it should be hanging up here in the closet. I always like to keep Russ's shirts on handers. He keeps them much nicer looking. What's the matter? This morning I sent it to the cleaners. Clark's wife, Ben and I drove down to a dry cleaning shop a few blocks away where Mrs. Clark had left the shirt. The counter girl there told us that the truck had already been by that morning and picked up the day's cleaning. It was a store rule to check all garments for contents. She had found nothing. We got the address of the main plant, the Great Northern Dry Cleaners, a place down on Factory Street. Ten fifteen a.m. We checked in at the main plant and explained to the manager what we were after. We gave him the tag number of her cleaning. Mrs. Clark gave him the description of the shirt. We waited in the manager's office while he made a search for the dark blue wool police shirt. How about this one, lady? It's the only blue wool shirt picked up at your cleaners this morning. Yes, that's Russell's shirt. That pocket flap there amended it. I'll check the pockets for you. I had to pull it out of the tank. It's all wet. Anything? Not in this pocket. Try the other one. Yeah? Look for yourself. Nothing. You are listening to Dragnet, the case history of a police investigation presented in the public interest by Fatima cigarettes. If you smoke a long cigarette, it will be in your interest to listen to a typical case history of a Fatima smoker. It's the case of Northwest Airline stewardess Jean Madsen. This is her actual signed statement. There's one thing I really look forward to after a long flight, a good mild smoke. That's why I prefer the new king-size Fatima. It's milder than any other long cigarette I've tried. Yes, I agree. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. And so do more and more smokers every day. Actual figures show extra mild Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast. So enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. The king-size cigarette, which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos, superbly blended to make it extra mild. You will prefer Fatima's much different, much better flavor. You will agree. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. The best of all long cigarettes. Thursday, April 10th. Shortly after noon, the daily newspapers were on the streets and the head on one of the top front page stories read, Rookie Cop Slugs Rob Citizen. Ben and I went back to the county jail and told Clark that we'd failed to find the card. He could give us no other lead that might help in clearing the case. During the next two days that followed, Ben and I ran down every possible lead, no matter how remote it was. We made a thorough check on Mr. and Mrs. Stacey. We double-checked back on Clark's record. For one full day, we did nothing but phone doctors in and around the city of Los Angeles. From a list of hundreds, we came across three doctors who had been present at the fights in Olympic Auditorium on the night Stacey claimed he was beaten up and robbed by Officer Clark. None of the three had seen a man tumble down the stairway leading from the balcony to the lobby. None of them had seen any accident or had been called on to help anyone professionally. Monday, April 14th, we met with Lieutenant Ralph Drummond. No go, huh? That's got us, Ralph. We can't figure. It's almost a fact, Stacey's line. Clark, what about him? Well, there's still nothing to show that he didn't do it. He had the opportunity, maybe he had a motive. He needs money, you know. Who doesn't? How much you get on Stacey? He and his wife run a secondhand furniture store in South Flower. It's a small business. Stacey's quite a gambler. He bets on the fights. Yeah? We checked around with some of the gang down at the auditorium. Stacey's well known down there. He laid some pretty heavy bets the night he claims Clark rolled him. How much? You got the dope there, Ben. How's it figure out? Well, he lost over $75 in small amounts. Add to that the fact that he was doing some partying. That might have count for the $128 this measure. Stacey blew the roll, was afraid to tell his wife, so he cooked up the story against Clark. Yeah, sure. Maybe that could have been the way it happened. What do you got on the other side? Not much, Ralph. Couldn't dig up anything against Clark. I don't know, he doesn't seem like the type to pull something like that. Maybe not. Still can't prove he didn't do it. How about the papers? You been plugging for witnesses? Yeah. Here's the ad. Had it running in personals for four days now. Oh, thanks. All those, oh man, falling on stairway, auditorium, please call Michigan 521-175. No, he's on, sir. No? All the possible doctors in town have been checked out, too. How about the local medical magazines? Got an ad in there, Ralph? Nothing's happened. Well, one thing is sure, something's gotta happen. Newspapers are scorching the kid in the department along with him. Victim without a trial makes good reading in the tabloids. There's one thing I can't understand. If Clark's leveling and there was a doctor at the fights, it might have looked at Stacy. Then where's the doctor? We've had this thing noised all around town. Well, give it a little more time. He might turn up. I kinda like the Stacy angle. What do you mean? Well, suppose we get him in here. Think we could break him down into questioning? No, I doubt that. We can't even get close to him. That wife of his and that lawyer, they're with him all the time. He's afraid to talk to us. Hmm. Maybe if we pass the word to his wife he'd been gambling, how far could we go on that? Well, she might believe it, she might not. You've seen what she's like. Yeah. I got an idea he sold her on a story and she's tagging along to get the $128 back. Well, it gives me an idea, Joe. One thing we might have missed. Yeah, what's that? We found out that Stacy did a little partying before he went to the fights at the auditorium that night, didn't we? Yeah, go ahead. We checked out a couple of the bars he was drinking at, but we figure he must have parted away at least $50 out of that $128. Mm-hmm. He didn't spend that much at the bars. Oh, well, sure. He probably hid a few other places, too. That's what I mean. That's still a lot of money to drink up alone. You figure a woman? Maybe. You got any reason to think Stacy plays around? Just one. Yeah? His wife. Monday, 1 p.m. Ben and I started a canvas of bars and small nightclubs in the general area around the Olympic auditorium. We started with those where Stacy was a regular customer. We failed to turn up any leads. Either the bartenders refused to tell us or they had no knowledge of Stacy's running around with other women. We kept at it. Another day passed. Two days. Nothing. One of the newspapers started a campaign against the brutality of police officers. On Thursday, we got a tip from a bartender at a place out on Washington Street, the Brown Cow. He told us that he thought he saw a man answering Stacy's description in his bar a few nights before with a flashy blonde in their late 20s. He said he didn't know Stacy too well, but he knew the girl and he knew the hotel where she stayed. Her name was Sandra Gay, an acrobatic specialty dancer at the Cheat Nightclub. We checked out her hotel, but she wasn't in. We left word for her to get in touch with us and then we picked up a hamburger and some potato salad for lunch and checked back in at the office. How you doing, Coleman? Not as good as you two. How you mean? Can't you smell the perfume? Hmm? It's off a blonde named Sandra Gay. She's waiting in the next room. Won't talk to anybody but you. Thanks. Come on, Ben. Didn't waste much time, did you? Perfume. Pure strong. Your name, Sandra Gay? Yeah, it's nice. You're the cellist been looking for me? Drop by your hotel. We'd like to ask you a few questions. Sure, that's all right. This is my partner, Sergeant Romero. My name's Friday. I know. Hello. Romero. Kind of cute for a cop. What can I help you with? Do you know anybody by the name of Gerald Stacy, Miss Gay? Gerald, yeah, I hate that name. Do you know any man who calls himself that? No. I think that's a terrible name for a man, Gerald. The man we have in mind is pretty short, stocky-billed, dark-haired, and he wears steel-rimmed glasses. Yeah, where does he hang out? A place out in Washington, the Brown Cow. Supposed to have been seen with you. Gerald Stacy. Oh, yeah, I think I know him. He's in the furniture business and runs a place near the Brown Cow. That's right. You know him? The old pops. Sure, I know him. We get together once in a while. He's a kick. Pretty big spender? Oh, he's got it, yeah. Last time we went out, he was fine. He can kick it around when he wants to. Old pops. When's the last time you were out with him, Miss Gay? Maybe a week, two weeks ago. The Tuesday night, I think, yeah. Tuesday the 8th? Is that about right? Yeah, it must have been. Why was it all about? Did you spend most of the evening with him? No, I had to get back to the club to do my act. He went under the fights over at Linton. I get it. Personnel, Friday. Is this Sergeant Friday? Yes, that's right. This is Dr. Samuelson talking, Sergeant. I've been out of town. I just got back this morning. I saw the ad in the paper. Yes, sir. I was at the fights that night, Sergeant. What is it you want to know? Would you mind telling us, Doctor, did you see a man fall down one of the stairways to the lobby? Certainly. I was the one who examined him. 5 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Stacy were called to Lieutenant Drummond's office. Arrangements were made to have Officer Russell Clark brought over from his cell in County Jail. At 5.15, Ben and I checked into the Lieutenant's office. Stacy and his wife were already there. I'm certainly proud of our police department, Chief. No whitewashing this time. You gave that fellow exactly what he had coming. Thanks. You're sure you didn't make a mistake? I'm sure, Chief. That's the right man. You got him. Jerry, don't make mistakes on things like this, Inspector. How about our money, the $120, 80? Did he tell you where he hid it? No, he hasn't. We're bringing Officer Clark in from County Jail. Figure we tried to crack him. That's right. Make him tell what he did with our money. Joe, will you have Officer Clark brought in? By the way. All right. There he is. Where's our money? What have you done with it? Just a minute, please. Stacy, are you sure Officer Clark here is the man who beat you up and robbed you? Of course he is. He dragged me behind the auditorium and almost beat me to death. Broke my arm. Took all my money. $128? Where is it? I haven't got your money. Joe, bring the doctor in. Aye, sir. In here, Doc. All right. Mr. Stacy, you're a liar. This officer didn't break your arm. I saw you fall down a flight of stairs at that auditorium and break your own arm. I examined it. Jerry, who is this man? What about it, Stacy? He doesn't know what he's talking about. I never saw him before in my life. No, but I've seen you, Stacy. You were drunk. I saw you fall down those stairs. You're crazy. Joe, send Miss Gay in. Aye. All right, Miss Gay. Okay. Thanks. Here is some perfume. You recognize any of these people, Miss Gay? Hello, Pops. I don't know you. Don't you remember the perfume you give it to me? Who is this woman? Just a friend, honey. All right, Stacy. Now let's have it straight. It was all a mistake. I don't want to make trouble for anybody. It wasn't this cop's fault. I don't want to make any trouble. What about this woman? It was all a mistake. Believe me. You took that money, Gerald. You spent it on her. Now wait a minute. Causing all this trouble squandering our money. After all I did for you, you're no good. This time I'm through. All right, Clark. Let's go. Okay. Well, that's it. I don't know how to thank you, fellas. And the doctor's the best friend you've got. Yeah. I better call the wife she want to know. Friday, phone message for you here. Oh, thank you. From your wife, Clark. Yeah? She found that doctor's card. The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On September 2nd, trial was held in Municipal Court, Division 7, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. It's amazing how many long cigarette smokers are changing to extra mild Fatima. Here is the actual report. From coast to coast, extra mild Fatima has more than doubled its smokers. Yes, more and more smokers every day are discovering that Fatima is the king-size cigarette that is extra mild. Extra mild because it contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos, superbly blended to make it extra mild, to give it a much different, much better flavor and aroma. Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. Best of all, long cigarettes. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. Gerald Stacy was tried on charges of filing a false crime report. He was convicted under Section 5250, LAMC, and served his term as prescribed by law. Officer Russell Clark was returned to duty with full back pay. Ladies and gentlemen, in response to thousands of letters asking us to broadcast Dragnet at an earlier hour, so that the entire family might hear it, we wish to announce that summer scheduling enables us to fulfill these requests. Beginning next Thursday, June 8th, Fatima cigarettes will bring you Dragnet one half hour earlier over most of these stations. Consult your local newspaper for exact time. You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.A. Wharton, Los Angeles Police Department. Fatima cigarettes, best of all, long cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet Transcribed from Los Angeles. Hear your favorite Jack Birch tomorrow on NBC.