The documentary drama of an actual crime.
For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will
travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official
police violence.
From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force
in action.
It was Wednesday, February 10th.
It was cold in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out a juvenile detail.
My partner is Frank Smith.
The boss is Captain Powers.
My name is Friday.
I was on my way into the office and it was 8.01 a.m. when I got to Georgia Street juvenile
squad room.
Hi Frank.
Well?
Well, what do you think?
About what?
Ruth, what do you think?
Oh, she's nice, sure.
Was that all you got to say?
Well, what do you want me to say?
Did you like her?
She's a nice girl, yeah.
You got another date with her?
No, I thought I'd call her sometime.
You said you'd call her?
Did you say when?
No, I just said sometimes.
Sometimes.
I don't say he's not gonna like it.
Why?
He's just not, Joe.
He's not sure we had it this time.
Well, I'm not sure he's gonna like it.
He's not gonna like it.
Why?
He's just not, Joe.
I'm not sure we had it this time.
Look, Frank.
I think it's real nice of you and Fay to be concerned.
I don't think that I don't appreciate it.
But when you asked me over last night, I figured we're just gonna have dinner and sit around
and talk.
I, I didn't know anything about this girl gonna be there.
Don't you think you should have told me?
Let me know.
Joe, you like girls, don't you?
Well, of course I like girls.
Well...
We couldn't have done that, you know, it'd have lopsed the whole thing up if we'd told
you ahead of time we would just wanted you to meet her.
the full effect bang like that I got the full effect we tried to set it all up
for you she is pretty don't you think yeah I guess blue eyes red hair I think
she's real pretty cool you know saying me had a whole evening planned right from
the time you two met I kind of got that idea what do you mean well you're about
as subtle as a water buffalo now you tell me where we were obvious go ahead and
tell me well all right first off the music that album or records are yours
there what's it called love music or whatever it was mood for lovers yeah I
bought them special yeah and the flowers on the table we gotta have flowers you
gotta have something for the center of the table you must have gone a long way
for those orange blossoms you had to have those well he's not gonna like it
well I'm very sorry about that Frank no we're just trying to show you the
advantage of getting married now I appreciate you and fate trying but let me
do it my way any mail this morning huh any mail yeah
put a note in your book
tickets for the police show you got us all tickets huh yeah so do you here's
your book
you're not mad are you Joe no man it's just that all the time people are trying
to be helpful you well I can't I'd say it behind her back
I'd say I hate to say it behind her back but it was phase I did I didn't have any
partner yeah phase I did they think you sure you're not sorry no I told you man
sure I'm sure Frank yeah Oh Ruth what look it wasn't the fact that she was
a redhead wasn't right yeah
yeah skipper says run this down thank you
what he got take a look at this dear sir I have some information for you about a
big dope ring it's important I talked to you I'll meet you at the streetcar stop
at 7th and Broadway on the east side after 3 45 p.m. tomorrow afternoon Wednesday
that's today yeah read the rest of it I can't tell you my name now but I'll be
wearing a green skirt and a plaid sweater I'll be standing right by the
streetcar stop what do you think I don't know no signature you got to hang the
envelope well postmarked LA addressed the juvenile division no way of telling
where it came from I think it's from a crank one place we can find out yeah
7th and Broadway
the fact that the note had been addressed to juvenile division instead of
narcotics detail indicated that the person who wrote it had some knowledge
of the workings of the police department it also led us to believe that the
writer was a juvenile we checked again with Captain Powers on the letter and
was decided that we'd make the meet that afternoon Frank and I spent the rest of
the morning going over reports on a case that we just finished and at 3 15 p.m.
we left the office Frank stopped the car at 8th and Broadway for a traffic signal
and I got out and walked the remaining block there was no one at the streetcar
stop dressed in a green skirt and a plaid sweater while Frank circled the
block I waited 3 40 p.m. still no sign at 3 52 a woman of about 23 got off the
streetcar waited on the corner she's wearing a dark green suit with a plaid
blouse I waited for some indication that she might be the person we were waiting
for but she gave me finally she turned walked across the street and disappeared
into the crowd 4 o'clock 4 15 still no sign of a letter writer 4 30 quarter to
5 Frank pulled into a loading zone near the corner and I went over to talk to
him what do you think a lot of notice an hour late now uh-huh
I know it must have been from a crank yeah I guess so come on get in we better
go back to the office now hey wait a minute Joe what right there across the
street oh yeah matches the description must be her well she's looking this way
I'll check it she looked about 15 brown hair and a thin young face she was
carrying an armful of school books she paused in the corner and watched me I
walked up to her and told her I was a police officer she nodded and then walked
out to the safety zone and climbed onto a waiting streetcar I followed her she
walked to the back of the car and took a seat I sat down next to her I could see
Frank following us in our car we rode three blocks before she spoke I'm sorry I
was late sorry I usually try to be on time maybe even a little early that's the
way it should be don't you think what was it you want to talk about miss I got
hung up at school couldn't get away when I thought I would yeah that's the reason
we you said something in the note about a narcotics ring how much am I gonna
get involved in this what do you mean how deep am I gonna get I don't want any
trouble myself we're doing this to help somebody but I don't want to get mixed up
in it myself maybe you better tell me what it's all about first huh we can
decide the rest of it later it's what it has to be well you called us remember
yeah I guess so what's your name Edna your last name that isn't gonna help any
you don't need it how old are you 15 all right what about this dope ring I want to
tell you about it a friend of mine has been pretty deep I think she's hooked bad
I want to help her what's your friend's name you have to have that well we're
not gonna be able to do very much without it are we Katherine I can't give
you your last name I can't how does she this Dean all right now what makes you
think she's using narcotics I just know that's all that's a pretty serious
charge you must have some reason for saying it got a reason I've got good
reason you think I'd go to the cops if I didn't have you think that what kind of
narcotics do you think she's using heroin you know that for sure do you yeah
I've seen her take a fix where hmm where'd she take the fix I've seen her do
it in her room at home place near school up at Lewis apartment Lewis Lewis
Conklin he got Katherine hooked he's the one I want to see you get oh see well I
don't know I think around 2021 where'd you meet him down at Balboa last summer
Katherine and me went down for a week we met them then Lewis and Vince you know
this Vince's last name I think it's be oh be al guess so now these two boys are
they supplying Katherine with a heroin yeah they got it for how'd you happen to
meet him first day we were down at Balboa we went down to the beach we saw him then
we didn't talk to him right off not the first day the next day they came over to
where we were then lay down on the beach they had a portable radio and they were
playing it loud they were playing it real yeah well Lewis asked us if they
had the radio on too loud and we said no then we got to talking all right go
ahead we found out that they knew a lot of the kids that go to our school so we
talked about them we talked and listened to the radio
or either your or Katherine's parents with you no Katherine's father's got a
friend who lives at Balboa all the time we were staying with her all right go
ahead after we knew him a week one night they suggested that we go for a ride
down the coast for San Diego yeah they'd never given us any trouble so
Katherine and he talked it over and decided to go they'd never gotten fresh
or anything so we thought be all right mm-hmm we drove down the beach and then
we stopped boys had some beer in the car we drank some of it just a little you
didn't think it would hurt just a little all right I guess we drank more than we
thought because we both got a little drunk first time I ever got drunk all I
wanted to do was go home and go to sleep that's all I wanted to do I didn't feel
good I remember that I didn't feel good go ahead I got out of the car and I
walked around for a while after I walked I felt better and I went back to the
car Katherine and the two boys were smoking I could smell it when I got in
the car real sweet sick me marijuana yeah Vince asked me if I wanted some told
him I didn't they all laughed again said I was just a little kid called me
chicken so I did you smoked the marijuana did yeah but not very much got
sick again I threw the stick away that made Vince sore because I hadn't smoked
very much he got out of the car and saw what was left of the cigarette and put
in a box he had then he got in the car and the three of them all drank some more
of a beer and smoked the rest of the marijuana they were all laughing and
yelling after was smoking too yes she was having a great time laughing it up
seems like everything that happened was just about the funniest thing she ever
heard they were all laughing and telling me what a square I was finally I
couldn't stand it anymore so I said if they wouldn't take me home I'd walk what
they say to that told me to go ahead said I was a drag anyway and they'd be
glad to get rid of me you left them yeah I tried to get Katherine to go with me
she said she was having too good a time she wasn't leaving she told me to go home
and to expect her when she walked in yeah so I left got out of the car and
walked up the highway it's gonna catch a ride back to town pretty scared but I
wanted to get back I didn't feel very good I waited for the car but the ones
that went by wouldn't stop then Vincent Lewis and Katherine came by they told me
to get into the car and we drove home had to wait out in front with Katherine
until she sobered up said she was too drunk to go into the house what time to
get home oh it's been three or 330 you see
Vincent Lewis again well I didn't but Katherine did every night we were there
she went out with him I didn't want to have anything more to do with him she
told me if I said anything to the people we were staying with she caused me a lot
of trouble I like Katherine she's my best friend I didn't want to see her get
into any trouble thought when we left Balboa she quit seeing the father that's
what I thought she stopped seeing him did she know when school started again
she was still going with Lewis I'd see her around the school but she wouldn't
have anything to do with me said I was a cube talking all the time about how she
didn't know they grew corners like me anymore how'd you find out she was on
heroin one day I saw her take a pop she was at her house and I came over to talk
to her she was pretty sick and she went into a room I went in after to see if I
could help and I thought taking a fix to that I didn't see much of her I guess she
didn't want me around knowing she was hooked when was all this about two months
ago I've seen her a couple of times since she looks real bad her parents know
anything about the narcotics I don't know there's just her father I don't
think he cares much he does he's not doing anything about it I'm just telling
me all this so you'll get Lewis and Vince they're the ones that started her
they're seeing that she gets the age you know where we can find him yeah Lewis
has a little apartment over in the Westlake area you know the address no
but I can show you where it is all right I just want to see you get them get them
good mm-hmm with my best friend now she won't have anything to do with me nothing
I'll maybe we can straighten it out what do you want to do now well first we've
got to get off the streetcar end of the line
Edna and I got off the streetcar and Frank picked us up we stopped at a
drugstore and put in a call to the office requesting that a policewoman be
sent out to take the girl into custody ten minutes later officer Irene Gardner
arrived and the four of us drove over to the Westlake area the young girl pointed
out the building where she told us that Vince Beale and Lewis Conklin live she
gave us a description of the two suspects and finally after Miss Gardner
talked to her she also gave us the full name of her friend Katherine Pilgrim we
checked at the building and found the two suspects occupied apartment 4g Frank
and I talked to the manager of the place but she told us that the pair weren't in
and she didn't know when they'd be back we returned to the car and told officer
gardener to take Edna George Street juvenile and holder until we could get
there after that Frank called the office and ran the names Vincent Beale and
Lewis Conklin through our night they both had misdemeanor records in
California and Beale had served time in the county jail for possession of
narcotics we called Captain Powers and told him what had happened and then we
returned to the apartment and set up a surveillance at 725 p.m. we heard
someone coming down the hall
don't worry about a thing honey it's all gonna be all right I know I'll make a
call get you fixed up just come on hold it right there police officers hey what
are you doing in here you got no right to break in like this what's this all
about I gotta go vent I got hold of that miss Pilgrim how do you know who I am
what are you gonna do don't say anything Kathy don't tell him nothing turn around
Bill what for will you shove me around here turn around I'll take them you
won't find nothing cop I'm clean call it nothing where's Conklin you got a
figured so good you tell me better watch that mouth kid it's gonna get you into
trouble you tell me all about it cop I got no problem what are you taking this
in on what's the charge violation of the Narcotics Act and contributing yeah you
didn't find anything on me you didn't find anything in the pad you've been on
the spike cop and you know it now why don't you run along and I'll forget all
about you being all right let's go where you taking downtown to jail
juvenile hall you're gonna call my father that's right well he won't tell you
anything you won't tell you a word your mouth shut why I got nothing to hide I'm
not a hype yes my father let me see your arms deal huh your sleeves roll them up
come on quick here would you get those marks you tell me let me see your arms
miss Pilgrim not gonna prove anything not a thing you see him go ahead honey if
you don't go along with him they bring out the rubber hose somebody messed with
you a long time ago come on miss Pilgrim let me see your arms
all right here how about a jump take a look yeah fresh needle marks
we called Narcotics Division and asked them to come out and go over the room in
an attempt to find a trace of narcotics we put in a call to the office and Irene
Gardner came out and took the Pilgrim girl into custody the stakeout was set
up on the apartment to apprehend the other suspect Louis Conklin Frank and I
took Vince Beale to the office and questioned him for over an hour but he
failed to come up with his source of supply for the heroin it was turned over
to officers from narcotics detail and booked in at the main jail and suspicion
of violation of the state narcotic act of felony a call had been put into the
father of Katherine Pilgrim and at 937 p.m. he arrived at the office Friday and
Smith where I am Friday what can I do for you I'm Robert Pilgrim I want my
daughter she's downstairs right now a doctor's taking care of her what for
well she's pretty sick mr. Pilgrim sick what's the matter you've got no right to
give her any kind of medication without my approval we couldn't reach you how
hard did you try we called your home and your place of business we got no answer
our doctor thought it was best to give the girl something right away what's
wrong with it what are you doing to it your daughter's a narcotic addict mr.
Pilgrim that is a lie and you get her up here right now you hear me you get on
that phone and have a brush this office right now I'm taking a home but we can't
do that who are you to tell me what's gonna happen I pay your salary officer
don't forget if you don't get on that phone and have my daughter brought up
here right now I'll make some calls and you'll be pounding the beat out in the
tullys I've got a lot of friends in this town and you've got a daughter who's
hooked bad has she told you that no sir but all the tests point that way she's
got needle marks all up and down her arm well you better get out and find a lawyer
fast because I'm gonna pull that tin badge right off you that's how you bet
it is how do I get a line down I'm
hello Jack this is Bob Pilgrim I'm down at the police station yeah yeah Kathy's
here the cop says she's a hop-hat I want you to tell him here you talk to him yes
sir who am I speaking with mm-hmm yes sir yes sir well we did find hypodermic
marks I think all right sir we'll be checking with you now you'll get my
daughter I'll ever sent right up want to come out the hall Frank yeah who'd he
call the family doctor we might not have a case here what's the matter well the
doctor says he's been treating the girl for the past six months yeah been giving
her hypodermic injection
with the doctor's statement there was nothing we could do but release the girl
to her father pending further investigation the parents of the
teenager who had written us the first letter came to the office and she was
released to them at 1140 p.m. that night we got word that the other suspect had
returned to the apartment and been taken into custody it was identified as Lewis
Conklin age 23 he was taken to the main jail and booked on the same charges as
Vincent Beale their apartment was gone over but no trace of narcotics was found
the question both suspects again but they failed to cooperate with us Frank
and I checked out of the office and went home the following morning we drove out
to see the doctor who had told me he was treating a pilgrim girl he said the
girl was underweight and highly nervous and that he had been giving her vitamin
injection went on to say that he'd stopped treating her five months previous
at her father's request and that he had not seen the girl since then
February 11th 1024 a.m. we checked the car belonging to Vincent Beale in the
trunk we found an expensive leather jacket it looked too expensive to be
worn by a man who had the reputation of never holding a job we took the jacket
over to the crime lab and had it checked from a cleaning tag we got the name of
a cleaner who'd service the jacket we contacted him and he remembered the
jacket as having been among several stolen from his store with this
information we went back to the main jail and had the Conklin boy brought
from his cell he told us that the jacket belonged to Vincent Beale he was brought
into the interview room that's leather jacket belong to you Vince no I never
saw it before Conklin says it's yours I don't know maybe it is what difference
does it make take a look we want to know yeah yeah what'd you get it where do you
think I bought it you know someplace you can get these without buying them yeah
the same place you picked this one up what's that supposed to mean you know a
man named Ted Hartman who had a heartman never heard of him he knows you maybe
he's got a better memory than me said you used to work for him that right yeah
how about it maybe I did I had a lot of jobs the cleaner says you worked for him
a couple of weeks last December that's a long time ago says this jacket was
stolen from him where do I think he thinks you stole it he's crazy he's sure
enough to make a complaint they'll laugh him out of court Conklin says it's yours
I told you I bought it Conklin wants no part of a burglary rap
what can't I tell you maybe we ought to get your side of it huh what'd he tell
you I got a right to know look he's gonna make a beef like that on me I got
a right to know what he said he wants no part of it he lays it all on you he's no
good I don't figure for a guy I could trust he did all right on the deal Luke
kept us both going what do you mean I thought he told you all about it we want
to hear it from you a lot of times stories get all mixed up now we want to
get it right now we knocked the place but it was both of us Lou was in on it
all the way go ahead when we scratch him for H we had a real bad we needed some
way out I thought about the cleaning place think we could score good we did
all right took care of three of us for a long time you can't let him the Pilgrim
girl that it that's it what were you shooting me and Luke kept it down the
Pilgrim kids she built up fast she was juicing five caps a day I should have
listened to Lou he kept telling me to drop her leave her alone
there wasn't anything between us it just for laughs and then all of a sudden she
was hooked bad we had to do something he stole her jacket so we could keep her
supplied five caps a day that's a lot of H I tried to break it down I tried to
cut her habit I did what I could you can see that catch I did everything I could
how much was that 523 p.m. Frank and I along with policewoman Irene Gardner drove
out to the Pilgrim residence we went up to the front porch and rang the bell
yeah what do you want like to see your daughter you get out of here you get
out of here right now I've had enough of this shoving around from you it's about
time you learned your place might be better if we came in anything you got to
say to me you can say here I don't want any cops in my house you want to get
your daughter what for we'll have to take her down to juvenile hall you guys just
don't give up do you you want me to call my doctor again we talked to him this
afternoon and you know the story now get out of here you want to get your
daughter look I've got a gun inside if you're still here when I come back I'm
gonna you listen to me mister you've been acting like a big man long enough
you can play the part of the outraged parent with your family but don't try
it with us I'm not gonna have you talk to me like that not much you can do
about it we got the boys been supplying your daughter with narcotics it's pretty
clear that this home isn't the place for she's a good girl we didn't say she
wasn't and why don't you leave her alone you know better than that do you boys
some good downtown I got a lot of friends you're gonna need them all right
you want to make a case out of this I'll fight you in every court in the country
before I let you take my daughter away from me now you just try it your
daughter's a drug addict she's sick she's got to be straightened out she
needs help who are you to set yourself up as the jury you got a fine girl in there
she got all the breaks except somebody who thinks enough of her to stand by her
there's anything she wants she doesn't have what about the things she needed
you let her run all over the town by herself she gets in trouble and you
won't take the time to care for it what about those two men who got her started
what are you gonna do with them they're guilty that hadn't been for those two
this never would have happened they'll be taken care of you lay the blame any
place you want mr. but if you're honest you'll keep it what's gonna happen to
her should be given medical attention we'll do what we can I can afford to
take care of her I've got the money I'll hire the best people I wanted to have the
best yeah she's mine I'm her father I've got the right to take care of her yes sir
that's right hmm why didn't you
Vincent Norman Beale and Louis Sheldon Conklin were tried and convicted of one
count of burglary and additional charges of violation of the state
Narcotic Act of felony and contributing to the delinquency of a minor they
received sentences as prescribed by law burglary is punishable by imprisonment
for a period of not less than five years in the state prison
Katherine Noreen Pilgrim had a hearing in juvenile court and was made a ward of
that court you have just heard dragnet the authentic story of your police
force in action and starring Jack Webb a presentation of the United States Armed
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