Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Drag men.
You're a detective sergeant.
You're assigned a robbery detail.
We got a call that a flower shop has been held up.
Two men have been shot.
One of them killed.
Your job, check it out.
It was Tuesday, June 8th.
It was warm in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch on a robbery detail.
My name is Frank Smith.
The boss is Chief of Detective Staff Brown.
My name is Friday.
We were on our way out from the office and it was 10, 15 am and we got to the corner
of 7th Street and Bunker Hill Avenue.
The Stonem flower shop.
It was right there.
It wasn't any way for me to know what it was all about until it was too late.
Yes sir.
Just stood there.
Didn't move around.
Just stood.
Oh, you fellas want to see me?
Police officers.
This is Frank Smith.
My name is Friday.
Central?
That's right.
Robert, 216.
You answer the call?
Yeah.
I'm a fellow that shot the crook, you know.
Yes sir.
Did you get a description?
Yeah, it's out in the metro.
Send a couple of cars to help us look for the suspect.
Very good.
Anything else I can do for you?
No, not right now.
Okay, I'll get on outside then.
Right, thank you.
Good.
Nice fella.
Yes sir.
Could have used him back to home.
Sir?
Good man like that.
Could have used him.
What do you mean?
Rounded a detective agency back home.
Had a couple of men sleuthing around.
Made a good of them.
Would you tell us what happened here?
Ain't nobody done that yet?
No sir, we just got a hot shot call.
There's been a robbery and shooting.
We came right out from the office.
Hmm.
You heard about it?
No sir.
Well, don't you worry.
I'll tell you both and give you the whole story.
Oh, that's if you would.
Abner Stosser.
What's that sir?
Full name's Abner Davis Stosser.
After Jeff.
Who?
Jefferson Davis, the president.
Oh.
Don't usually use the middle name.
People out here don't seem to understand three just front and back.
Abner Stosser.
Yes sir, all right.
Now if you tell us what happened.
They shot Dan Vell.
That's the victim.
Yep.
Shot him right here.
Just above his fling.
Here.
How did it happen?
It looked like 38 automatic.
Oh yes sir, but what led up to the shooting?
Two fellas they tried to rob.
Mm hmm.
Tried it with the wrong two men.
Tell you what, they were all dead.
They were all dead.
They were all dead.
They were all dead.
They were all dead.
They were all dead.
Well, same thing every morning.
Yes sir.
We make up the deposits, take the money to the bank, you're the one who does it right
and don't have to do the walking.
This time Dan Vell wrote I was going to make a trip.
Yes sir.
I was about to leave, these two young guys come into place.
First off I figured they want to buy some flowers, you know, something like that.
Yes sir.
Dan Vell was going to take care of them.
Excuse me, I meant wait.
Yes sir, go right ahead.
a. Stone floor. Yes or. I know we can take care of
a boy that's right where do you want to say. Just let me check the book here man.
Walnut Creek yeah yeah we can do it for you know so we'll send them by wire. Well they'll be
delivered about an hour. That's right you want the long stand. Yeah well that's seven fifty it does
that's right. Yes you want to give me the charge information on that card. Yes. How do you spell
that. Yes is the number. No no so the one on the lower right. Yeah seven to six. All right is
their message. No not all I think it's real pretty yeah it's not they'll put the card and we just
wire the order they'll be very nice. Yes thank you calls again that's right bye.
That's it's
a real well not great birthday for girl named Irma what if we get back to what happened here
oh yeah well these two fellows came in and just did there with the feet kind of spread out like
it just got off a boat you know that they just looked around was there anybody else in the story
just Dan Bell and I said what the man said he only one of them talked dark when he asked me if there's
anybody in the back at work. I told him I wasn't and that's when he showed me the pistol stood
there and high cotton waving it around told me to hand over the bag of money were you carrying
it time I told you that before I was on my way to the bank Danville wrote the slip I was going to
the bank I understand now what do you say when he showed you the gun said it was a stick up
remember his exact words kind of fast for me let me see I think it was don't try anything it's
a stick up like that he said I think how the shooting start Danville said he wasn't going to
have no kid talk to him like that he reached out took a swing at the kid a real roundhouse dark
kid ducked back pull the trigger shot Danville right here spleen dropped like a rock I pulled
out my gun started shooting you always carry a gun when I'm going to the bank you never know
what's going to happen you have a permit it's against the law to carry a gun without permission
ain't it yes well then I got it after you pulled your gun what happened I shot yeah I can understand
that shot right at the dark you had it I don't often miss I hit him three times here in the chest
what was the other man doing while this is happening he pulled out a gun to and the balloon went up
bullets flying all over the place yeah then both of them took off run out of the place I followed
them got the door the dark one turned around and shoot at me again didn't move fast enough I
pulled the trigger hit him right in the middle of the chest went down like a drop duck yeah what
about the other one he started running down the street I guess about the only thing he was want
was to get away yeah took two shots at him while he was running I blazed away only had two more
bullets in the gun I give them both of them you hit him yeah at least once because I saw him jerk
it might have been both times he kept running though what you do then and come back in here see
what I could do for Danville made him as comfortable as I could and then I call the police he came
sliding up and took out after the fellow that got away the ambulance came picked up Danville and the
other guy yes I wonder if he could give us the description of the man who got away yeah yes I'll
call George Street and check on the other suspect I'm gonna do no good what you have to inquire
about him he's dead you're sure about that son I know when somebody's dead yes sir I hit that
fellow four times in the chest with a forty four I saw him drop about as much life as a sack of
corn meal he was dead yeah sure sorry what are you sorry about I say it's a real sorry that you can't
work with that other young fellow that was in here you know the one uniform he was a bright boy
this fella he couldn't even fill out application by agency would you give us the description first
line I'll make a pardon as they wouldn't even be able to fill out the first line didn't know who
Jeff Davis was I'd believe yeah and how about that description well fellow is about your height
weight in maybe a hundred and fifty round there had light hair lighter at the top and down by his
head like he was bleats in the sun and he marks the scar no nothing to stand out had a kind of
a flat face about his clothes white shirt kind of tan pants carrying a leather jacket with the fur
around the collar yeah I know what you mean both of me had those was there anything in the way they
talked an accent maybe no just North talk I can't tell the difference much of the time would you know
the man if you saw him again but I would just stand him up in front of me and I'll lay it on
point him right out when you find out I talked to hospital Joe yeah are you sure you hit one of the
suspects Mr positive and he was on the sidewalk saw him hit and die what's the matter the ambulance
only brought in one person dead man's gone. They put in a call to the hospital made arrangements
to talk to the ambulance crew they told us that they'd only picked up one person at the scene they
went on to say that there wasn't another injured party on the premises anywhere a check with the
officer answered the original call brought out the information that there hadn't been anybody on the
sidewalk when the radio card got me Frank put out a local broadcast all cars in the area and I went
back to talk to have no Stoeser I told you before that boy ain't too bright now you're sure you shot
that man look I'll go along with you and say maybe I did miss the first three times I didn't like
me but just for the sake I'll admit all right sir but I know I hit him outside I was closer to him
and I am to you ain't nobody could miss that close all right come on outside take a little
sidewalk you tell me if it's my imagination right fine I got it out Joe all the cars in the area
are looking for that one thing I'm always proud of is the way I can shoot I don't hardly ever
miss I know I didn't this time I just look at that take a look you tell me that's buddy
to yes sir it looks like it is I was standing right here right here he was there he turned around
tried to shoot me I fired at him he went down right there you can see where the big stain is
right there how did they get there what do you mean did you see a car yeah I told the other
cops about it that's it right there drove up in it and got out did you see him get out of the car
yeah I was just leaving the store and I saw him right after they come in the store yeah I don't
go touching it the cops said not to was there anybody else who saw the man on the sidewalk
you mean beside me that's right not that I know of soon as I entered my gun at the blonde fellow
I went back in the store I stayed there till the police got full of not more than three maybe four
minutes yes not more but I'm telling you he was right here lying there and he was dead crime labs
on the way out to check the car well like the suspect might have gotten up and walked away
doesn't it if he did then it's really one for the books trail of blood stains here never nothing
like this happened back home back there when you shoot somebody he's got the courtesy to stay
shot trail stops let's check over there and see if we can pick it up yeah how about nothing
and just stops that's all maybe somebody picked him up in the car yeah must be was there anybody
else parked in front of the store at the time not that I remember you can see yourself we got the
sign where it says just for the customers you're absolutely sure there was nobody else if I wasn't
out of toll this fellow yes you didn't see the man get up off the sidewalk no I wasn't no reason
for me to look at him far as I was concerned he was dead still ain't sure he wasn't well the trail
of bloodstains show that he did leave here still don't sell me better start checking the neighborhood
right you want me to help you know sir that woman is sir mr. Friday yes sir could I talk to you for
a minute all right alone excuse me Frank yeah. Mr. Friday I saw that man Paul I saw him hit
the sidewalk I know he was hurt bad he wasn't going to get up I'm sure yes sir we understand
I told him all that I just don't see how I could have made
a mistake like that that fella couldn't have gotten up he's dead yes sir we believe you but
he's not here that don't change a thing my boy how's that he's dead someplace else that's all. An
immediate search was started of all buildings in the area if the suspect had walked away from the
scene the amount of blood on the sidewalk indicated he couldn't have gotten far without help while
Frank and I talked to the shopkeepers in the vicinity a check was made of the car the thieves
had used was found to be stolen and arrangements were made to talk to the owner members of the
crime lab crew came out and checked the vehicle they were unable to turn up anything we could use
and identifying the hold up men eleven twenty eight a.m. Frank and I talked to the owner of
a small tobacco shop saw the whole thing well where were you during the shooting Mr. Collard
right out in front of look down the street and that was just like it was a cinema scope now sir
did you see the actual shooting one after first no I was in here behind the counter fixing up a
new bunch of pipes you just got it put them up on the board all of a sudden I heard this noise first
up I thought it might be a backfire then I knew yes sir the boss it was shots so I went outside to
see what was going on next thing I see these three guys come out on the sidewalk right in front of
the flower shop three of them and a couple more one of them black hair the other was kind of
blonde yeah well I'm trying to get at her I don't want to go off in this direction I see
admiration that none of you didn't point at me and I ducked inside did one of the men go by here
yes and I shot at him a couple of times must have hit him because I could see he was hurt when he
run past did you see where he went no I told you when those shots started to go by I didn't want
to wait around to see if one of them was monogrammed for me I'll laugh all right can you tell us what
direction the man took not after you went for the door must have gone around the corner well why
did you say that well because when I went back out I couldn't see him if he'd gone up the street I'd
have been able to now did you see the man out in front of the store you mean that no sir the one
he was shooting at so I got a pretty good look at him where was he you just lying there he wasn't
moving around much did you see him get up no what's all this about the other guy for what do you mean
the one and the kill why all the questions about him well sir he's gone you mean he got away yes
it looks that way I don't see how that could be I went right by him couple of feet away there was
no life in him then he left there and somebody had to carry yes sir that's the way it looks no
reason for anybody to do it the man was dead there's no reason at all well it must have been
one why not there like and I checked out the rest of the neighborhood but we failed to turn up any
information none of the shopkeepers in the vicinity had seen where the blonde holdup man had gone all
of them who had seen the man on the sidewalk were willing to testify that he was dead yet the physical
evidence at the scene indicated that he'd gotten up under his own power and walked away carrying four
bullets in his chest 240 p.m. Frank and I returned our crime began to cruise the streets in the area
315 p.m. well doesn't look like we're gonna find him well Frank he's got to be here some place
unless somebody picked him up yeah yeah fell on the bench over there you see him oh yeah waiting
for the bus he was there when we went by before take it easy when you pass him this time all right
better pull over yeah matches the description uh-huh looks like bloodstains on his shirt from here
sure does fit in good all right cover him from that side I'll go this way right Joey got
a gun Joe you all right yeah thanks to this mailbox I saw him pull a gun thought sure he got you we
didn't miss by much well we better check him yeah I hit him twice Joe easy he's dead wasn't
anything I could do it was you were him puts us in a corner yeah he was our lead to the other suspect
you are listening to dragnet the authentic story of your police force in action the corner came
out and removed the body the victim was identified as Jeffrey Burnham age 27 from his package we
found that he'd been arrested several times on charges of armed robbery and that he'd served one
term in San Quentin Abner Stossett identified him positively as one of the hold-up men Frank and I
went back to the office to do a complete check on his friends and known acquaintances in the
hope that we could turn up something to lead us to the other man the search for the dark suspect
was continued during the night without result the next morning we met with lieutenant Stoner and we
made arrangements for additional men to aid us in checking out the list that we made on Burnham's
friend 8 47 a.m. you ready yeah let's go I get it probably Friday yes sir right away yes sir bye
the victim Abner Stossett yeah says he came across something this morning what should tell us who the
missing man is we left the office and drove out to the florist shop Abner Stossett met us at the
door I don't know why I didn't think of it yesterday what's that sir remember how I told you there was
both carrying leather jackets yeah after I shot the one fell on the sidewalk I came back in here
to take care of Danville yes sir I looked around to find something to put under his head yeah wait
here man I'll get it I guess I didn't think much about it you know kind of all upset for
her to clean up this morning I found it it should give you something to work on there it is still
see the stains on where the fellow dropped it are you sure that jacket belong to the missing suspect
yeah you remember how I saw him drop it when he got shot I remember good all right sir thank
you very much we'll check it out you shouldn't be too much trouble I guess here take a look I
found this myself here laundry tag we took the jacket over to the crime lab lieutenant Lee Jones
started to check through his records for the name of the cleaner that had serviced the garment Frank
and I went back to the office and talked with officers O'Donnell and Gerber they told us that
the list of the suspects friends had been checked without result the search for the missing man had
been called off and the additional units had returned to Metro division at four thirty p.m.
we got the call from Lee Jones he gave us the name and address of the cleaner Frank and I
left the office and drove over to his shop yes sir somebody do for you softers Frank Smith my
name's Friday how you doing hope there's nothing wrong no sir we just like some information I got
it it's yours never see this before leather jacket a lot of them around about this tag here
one of yours is. My can you tell us who brought this jacket in to be cleaned the
artist say well the way we got it was to a fellow about twenty five dark hair about
a hundred fifty pounds we do a good size business hard to remember all the people come in that's
right sir but you have a many leather jacket wait a minute. I think. It might be outside but
it could be what's that how like going how like it looks like how you said I've done some work for
a minute family it might be can you tell us where we can find them I know that there's
no book I can look it up for you if you would please. Be in trouble with
a cop or did you know what for. The neighborhood got that I think I want to put my name on.
It is Norman Halleck it's a like a one or two six seven
factor ministry archer thank you very much when you tell me what it's done I think it'd be better
if we talk him about that his business anyway that's a trouble with people nowadays are all
the time pushing in on somebody else telling things they aren't sure about giving people
bad names for nothing for this one small difference here this fellow made his own name.
. We got how
a sad rest we drove back to the office we checked in and saw our nine five and he had
several arrests for robbery and one for assault with a deadly weapon pulled his mugshot drove
out to see the victim Abner Stoesitz. No that ain't him.
Women here is your sure I think so you see that again.
I was at the same here's a little shorter no it doesn't make a difference sir that's the man.
. Frank
and I drove over the address of Sacramento Street we checked with a landlady and she told
us that Norman Halleck was in his room we went upstairs.
Also yeah. Great
a like right there what you want. To put your hands up my wall.
And so. I let go what's all about let's go well you got to make
a chart right to speak to the robbery get out of your head you tell us about it with
you sure it's a bad day it always is it doesn't make any difference you take me down book me
I'll be out right away I need a little time. Just ran out of it. We
searched the suspect's room but we failed to find anything to further time in with
a robbery shooting was taken to the city hall where Frank and I talked to him in
the interrogation room about it and jacket belong to you I don't know cleaner says it does
a lot of leather jackets as you know this one's my all I know like you know come on we got
your maiden you know it I told you before this is a bad thing going to save yourself a lot
of time to cop out I'm glad to help but I can't give you anything where were you yesterday
home anybody to back that up yeah well I need to come up with
a name sure all you need you know what you have to be burned burn them you are in
a jam I know a lot of people I might not I know there's
a simple question just give us an answer with it but it like that I got to say no
stand up nothing wrong with your ears stand up. I know what to go to
a coat why I can't take it off. I see gone straight up. I
know what to do sure it up huh come on it's simple take the shirt off with your fellow
if what the third degree out you're going to freeze me to death come on move. All
right now I turn around. When you turn on
the blue light. Yeah all right you can put your clothes on and sit down like.
You stay there how like. Well.
Anything. Good for a while didn't
a sure blows it up yeah supposed to be shot four times in the chest not
a bullet wound on him anywhere. Special
show up was arranged in the suspect was shown to the victim on seeing how I can
personally was unable to give us a positive identification the suspect was detained at
the main jail while we checked out his alibi for the day of the robbery it held
several people swore that he was two miles from the scene when the shooting took place
the question them about the leather jacket he was unable to come up with an explanation as
to how it could have gotten to the scene we checked out all of the people in the building
where he lived all of his friends and associates and on June 11th he was released from custody
and sixteen am Frank and I got back to the office from the main jail. I guess better
check with
a skipper you know you've got a good excuse yeah we'll just tell him the way it happened
he has to go along with it truth and Joe it isn't logical that a man could walk around
with four bullets in his chest and we can't find him well and you tell me what we're
looking for what do you think Halleke gave us all he had I don't know at least we know
he's clean yeah where we go from here we'll go tell the skipper all right put it in
the books and keep working on it we got one thing with it huh and guys around someplace
sooner or later somebody's going to have too much to drink maybe get in a fight with
a girlfriend trust somebody too much but they're going to say something when they do
we'll hear about it we'll get to it just a matter of time one thing we got more than
he has. The story you've just heard is true the names were changed to protect the innocent
on June 11th the meeting was held in the captain's office robbery division Los Angeles
police department. The case was completely reviewed and a report
written on the results of the investigation as of this date that investigation is
continuing. Dragnet the story of your police force in action is a presentation of the
United States Armed Forces radio service.