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Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to burglary detail.
An elderly woman reports that a man has stolen $300 from her apartment.
She says she saw him. Your job, check it out.
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Dragnet. The document a 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 files.
From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.
It was Thursday, May 19th. It was sunny in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of burglary detail.
My partner is Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Bernard. My name is Friday.
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.
Topeka Arms.
What's that lady's name again, Joe?
Dunbatter. Martha Dunbatter.
Let's see. Yeah, here's your mailbox, number 8.
Must be upstairs.
Well, how do you figure that?
Only eight mail slots means eight apartments.
Yeah?
Stands to reason number 8 will be on the second floor, don't it?
Well, I'm supposed to.
Hey, Joe, I wonder who comes from Kansas.
What?
Well, didn't you notice the plaque out in front? Topeka Arms.
Yeah.
That's a city in Kansas. Topeka, Kansas.
Yeah, sure.
Somebody must have come from there, the owner or the builder. Why else would they give the place a name like that?
I don't know.
Well, it stands to reason, doesn't it?
I guess so.
Well, you see, you're not the only one who can do it.
Do what?
Deduce.
That's what they call it, the way it figured out, number 8's second floor deduction.
Yeah.
I was just giving you an example.
When I proved that somebody connected with the building probably lived in Kansas.
Yeah.
Right down there, 8, just like you said.
Mm-hmm.
Deduction never fails, Joe.
Who's there?
Police officers.
Oh, well, just a second. I'm coming. I'm coming.
My goodness, you certainly got back.
Oh, well, dear me, you aren't the same ones, are you?
No, ma'am, this is Frank Smith. My name's Friday.
There were two other policemen here just a little while ago.
Shame you didn't know. Could've saved yourself a trip.
That's all right, ma'am. We knew they'd be here.
They're patrol car officers. They were in the neighborhood, so they answered your call.
Oh, well, I...
All right if we come in?
Oh, I guess. Oh, yes, please do.
You're Mrs. Martha Dunbetter, is that right?
No, not exactly.
Oh?
It's Miss Dunbetter. I'm still single.
I see.
Ma'am, would you mind telling us just what happened this afternoon?
Oh, no, no, I don't mind at all. It's all quite clear.
All right, would you go ahead?
What does that young man mean?
Does he go ahead about this afternoon?
Oh, well, let's see. I fixed myself some lunch.
Then I read up the dishes.
Must've been about one o'clock by the time I finished.
All right.
Afterwards, I put on my hat and I went down to the library.
It's only a couple of blocks from here, the Grove of Cleveland branch.
Mm-hmm.
I took back my books and checked out two fresh ones.
All right, what happened next?
When I come home, there he was.
What's that?
I come home and there he was.
Who?
Well, that awful man.
Well, just where was he?
Here, in my apartment.
No, I mean which room?
Over there, the bedroom.
I see.
As soon as I come in, I heard him.
At least I heard somebody moving around.
First, I thought it was Mrs. Parker's manager.
I know she sneaks into my apartment and noses around.
Of course, she says she doesn't, but I know better.
Mm-hmm.
Well, I said to myself, I got a red-handed this time.
So I marched into the bedroom all ready to give her a piece of my mind.
Well.
Well, I was never so flabbergasted in my whole life.
He was standing in front of the dresser, going through my pocketbook.
I see.
My black bag and leather.
It's the one he was holding.
Mm-hmm.
Well, ma'am, how much money was in the bag?
Well, I'm not positive, not to the penny.
About $300.
In cash?
Yes, sir.
You see, I've been saving dimes for the past 15 years.
You mean this $300 was in dimes?
Oh, goodness gracious, no.
What I do is go through my change every night
and put all the dimes in my dime bank.
Then when it's full, I take it down to a real bank
and change the coins into bills.
A dime bank holds $25.
I see.
Well, you'd be surprised how much a person can save
that way it mounts up.
Yes, ma'am.
Do you know the denominations of the bills?
I guess they was mostly tens.
Maybe one or two bigger ones.
Mm-hmm.
Now, what did this man do next, Miss Dunn-Better?
Well, he found money.
My $300, stuffed it into his pockets.
Then he just rolled out of the apartment, big as life.
I was too dumbfounded to do anything about it.
I see.
I heard him tramp down the stairs,
and then I heard the front door slam.
When I was sure he was out of the building,
I managed to get my wits together and I dialed Central.
Central?
The operator.
And she put me in touch with the police station.
Had you ever seen this man before, Miss Dunn-Better?
No.
I'm sure I never did.
Could you tell us what he looked like?
Well, he was a tall man.
How tall?
Big as you, I'd say.
What color hair, please?
Dark.
Very dark.
Eyes?
Dark eyes, too.
Dark-confected.
Like he'd spend a lot of time outdoors.
How was he dressed?
Shirt and pants and jacket.
Light-colored jacket.
I think it was green.
Did you notice any scars?
Yes.
Come to think of it, I did.
Across his forehead.
Thin little zig-a-dig-a-zag.
How old would you say he was?
Oh, he was young.
35, maybe 40.
You know if anybody else saw him?
The other tenants?
Well, I haven't talked to him, no.
Haven't left apartments since it happened.
You live alone here, do you?
Oh, man, no, no.
My sister Bessie stays with me.
Where is she this afternoon?
Well, she went out of town for a few days
to visit her grandson and his family.
They came down from Oxnard to get her this morning.
I see.
Tomorrow's her birthday.
She'll be 80.
I expect they're going to have quiet day celebration.
Yes, ma'am.
They're all carrying on.
You'd think it was such an accomplishment.
Well, it is a pretty ripe old age, ma'am.
I don't see what's so ripe about it.
I'm nearly 79 myself.
Oh, I know, I don't look it.
Everybody thinks there's at least 10 years between us.
And Bessie is failing.
Yes, ma'am.
There's a couple more questions, Miss Dunvany.
Certainly, young man, certainly.
What time was it when you got home from the library?
2.45.
Maybe a few minutes after.
No, later than 3, though.
I see.
How'd this fellow get into the apartment?
Was the door locked?
Well, I thought it was.
I always try to remember to lock it whenever I go out,
but sometimes I do forget.
Well, I guess I did today.
You think he'd recognize the burger if you saw him again?
I'm most assured he would.
Nothing to add with my eyesight.
Well, that's fine.
I'd like to take you down to the office with us
and show you some pictures.
No.
I'm not going to go with him.
Well, if you don't go like this,
I'll have to change my dress first.
Well, I'm all right for walking around the neighborhood,
but not for going downtown.
Well, that's up to you, ma'am.
Oh, say, Miss Dunvany, while I think of it,
who came from Kansas?
Oh, I'm afraid I don't understand.
Well, the name of this apartment, you see,
is the Topeka Arms,
so I figured somebody connected with it
must have come from Kansas.
Oh.
You don't know who it was, do you?
Oh, now let me think.
Oh, yes, yes, I remember.
That was old Mr. Hendrickson's idea.
Wow, you don't say.
Yes, yes, he was the man who built this building.
Well, now, that was, oh, goodness sakes,
that was almost 35 years ago.
My hot time flies.
Yes, ma'am.
How you like that, Joe?
This Mr. Hendrickson came from Kansas.
No, I do.
Minnesota.
Minneapolis, as I recollect.
Oh.
But it was his idea just the same,
calling it Topeka Arms.
On the kind of an article he read in the newspaper
while the building was going up.
Ma'am.
Said there was more people in Southern California
who come from Kansas than any other state.
Mm-mm.
So Mr. Hendrickson figured the name Topeka
would attract a lot of tenants.
It's ridiculous nonsense.
Said so at the time,
there hasn't been a single solitary one.
Oh.
35 years.
Not a soul from Kansas has ever lived here.
4.05 p.m.,
Frank and I put in a call to the crime lab.
While Miss Dunbetter changed her dress,
we checked the other apartments
to see if anybody else had seen the burglar.
Only one tenant was in.
Mrs. J.T. Blade,
apartment six,
informed us that she'd been out marketing
at the time of the crime
and had just returned home.
4.16 p.m.,
Lee Jones and a crew from the crime lab arrived.
They began their investigation
and we drove Miss Dunbetter down to the city hall.
We checked the oddity file
and ran the suspect's description on ammo
through the stats office,
and they came up with 17 possibles.
We pulled mug shots and showed them to Miss Dunbetter.
She was unable to make an identification.
6.13 p.m.,
Lee Jones reported no useful fingerprints
or other physical evidence in the apartment.
6.46 p.m.,
we drove Miss Dunbetter home and we went off duty.
The next day, May 20th, 11.17 a.m.
I'll get it.
Burgery Friday.
Who's that?
Oh, sure. Yeah.
Wendy, come in.
I see.
Oh.
Well, I wouldn't know what he looked like.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, we'd like to.
Right. Thanks a lot.
That was Chubb Stark.
Who?
You know, Stark, the bartender over at the Yellow Camp.
Oh, yeah. What's he want?
Guy came into his place last night.
He was carrying a pretty big row.
He threw it around, bought drinks for the house.
Got kind of loaded and did some talking about
how easy he'd picked up the dough.
Just walked in again this morning.
Sound like anything to you?
Chubb says he's about six foot black hair,
so he'd look a little chubby and chubby.
I don't know what he'd say.
He'd say,
Look, the way Chubb did it,
he was the man.
I was the man.
That's why I'm doing it.
That's why I'm doing it.
You're not doing it.
You're not doing it.
You're not doing it.
You're not doing it.
You're not doing it.
You're not doing it.
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Frank and I drove out to the Yellow Cat Bar on Figuroa. Chubb Stark, the bartender,
pointed out a husky man sitting in a corner booth. We went over to talk to him.
Keep your hands on the table and stand up. Police officers, on your feet.
Okay, okay. All right, you can sit down again. Something eating you guys? What's your name?
Why? Come on, what is it? Portlong, Ralph Portlong. Where do you live? Hotel around
the corner. How long you been staying there? Since last night. How about before
that? Back East, they just got in town yesterday. Whereabouts back East? What
kind of a rust is this? Where back East? All over, Chicago, Cleveland, all over.
What kind of business you in? Unemployed. You got any money? Some. How much? Look, I
ain't no vag if that's what you're getting at. How much money you got? 100 bucks, maybe 150.
Where'd you get it? I borrowed it. Who from? Pal. In LA? Chicago. What's his name? Johnson,
Cliff Johnson. You got his address? I don't know, he moves around same as I do. How you gonna pay
him back if you don't know where he lives? We'll bump into each other. What'd you say you got in
town, Portlong? I told you, yesterday. What time? Six o'clock somewhere now. Yesterday
morning? Last night. You sure then? Yeah. How'd you come? Train? Car. You own the car? I hitched a ride.
Just where were you yesterday afternoon? Riding into LA. All afternoon. Yep. What was the driver's
name? Look, how should I know? I've been hitching for the last week. I must have rolled with 20
different guys. You don't remember the one you were with yesterday? Nope. Ever been arrested,
Portlong? Nothing serious. Well, tell us about it. Oh, drunk, that's all. Where was that? Ohio,
when I was a kid. Anything else? Yeah, I got some speeding tickets. You ever been arrested in
California? Never been in California. First trip, huh? Yep. You ain't exactly making me feel at home,
either. You know, an apartment house called it the peak of arms. Where about? Sixth in Olympic.
Where's that? In LA. Look, can't you get nothing straight? I ain't never been here before. How about
give me an answer? Why the rust? Come on, let's go. What for? We'll show you the sites. For instance?
City Hall. Frank and I took the suspect into custody for further questioning. 12 16 p.m. We ran the
name Ralph Portlong through R&I. They had nothing on him. We put out an APB with his description
stating that he was in our custody. The bulletin requested any information about the suspect and
was marked detention Chicago PD and Cleveland Police Department. 2 18 p.m. We again interviewed
Portlong. He insisted he had not arrived in Los Angeles until 6 o'clock the previous evening and
refused to say it anymore. 4 0 6 p.m. We received replies to our APB on Portlong. Chicago reported
two convictions for grand theft auto and Cleveland reported one conviction for burglary second degree.
We telephoned Miss Dunbatter and arranged for her to attend a special show up at the main jail.
6 17 p.m. The show up was completed and Frank and I took the victim back to our office.
Well ma'am you're sure it isn't the same man? My goodness gracious, I ought to know. Yes. See how
you could have made such a mistake. Well he fits your description even to the scar. But I told you
it was Ziggity Zagg. Yeah he did. This man's scar is entirely different. Yes ma'am. His hair is wrong too.
Is that right? Other man had some gray in it right across here. I thought you said he was fairly
young. But he doesn't have to be old to get gray. I've been gray ever since I had my appendix out.
I was only 34. All right. What have you taken home now? It's really a shame. Ma'am. You rested that
poor fellow. He hasn't done anything. Burgery Friday. Yep. Yeah that's right. When'd you get it?
No not yet. Will you notify him? Right. Well I guess we don't need to feel too sorry for Portlong.
What do you mean? Another answer on our APB. Yeah. You're right Miss Dunbattery. He couldn't have
been your burglar. Well I told you didn't I? He was in Needles yesterday afternoon. He hitched a ride.
Yeah. Slugged the driver. Ralph Portlong was held pending arrival of authorities from Needles.
The investigation of the apartment house burglary continued. Two more suspects were brought in for
questioning. Both men succeeded in establishing alibis for the time of the crime. Monday May 23rd
1 48 p.m. Frank and I were on our way back to the office from lunch. How was your pie? All right.
Just okay huh? I said it was all right. Lemon meringue wasn't it? Yeah. I don't know Joe you
should have had apple. Mm-hmm. I told you stick with apple you can't go wrong. The lemon was good.
You didn't finish it. I was full. Yeah well someday you'll learn. Learn what? Apple pie is always safe.
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.
No reason you should. You can switch it around some any different way. Yeah I know. Cheese,
alimoth, hot sauce. No reason to get tired of apple Joe. Sure. Hey Joe. Yeah. Call for you while
you're on. Oh. Hey she wants you to call back here's the number. Thanks. Sure. Bessie Maxson.
Who's that? I don't know.
Mrs. Maxson. There's the police department Sergeant Friday. Yes that's right.
We were the ones. I guess we can. Well is something wrong? You sure of that? All right right away.
Thank you for calling. Goodbye. Miss Dunn bet her sister she just got back from Oxnard. Yeah.
She says it never happened. What do you mean? The burglary. Says her sister made it up.
Frank and I drove out to the Topeka Arms and we went up to apartment number eight.
It was 217 when we got there. Somebody's coming again. Well what is it? Miss Maxson. That's right.
That's right. Well my name's Friday. I just spoke to you over the telephone. Oh yes yes of course.
This is Frank Smith. Oh how do you do? I do ma'am. Come right along inside. Thank you.
I just don't know what to say. I suppose it's all my fault for going out of town.
She'd never left Martha alone. Might have known she'd be up to something. Are you positively sure about this Miss Maxson?
About what? About what? That there wasn't any burglary. Oh never in a million years.
When your sister gave us all the details. Play acting. That's all it was. Play acting. She's done it all alive.
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.
Well then why'd she tell us that story? You know. Heaven got the vaguest notion. She simply won't give me any explanation.
Oh I see. If the story was true why won't she face me? Why is she hiding? Hiding?
Minnica told her I was going to call you. She locked herself in the bathroom. Is that right?
Been in there for two hours now. She simply refuses to come out. Well we'd like to talk to her if we can.
I'll try again. In fact the chore here may have some influence.
You think we're getting a run around Joe? Sounds that way doesn't it? Yeah.
Martha. Martha you come out of there this instant. Martha Dunn better do you hear me?
The policeman wants to talk to you. Now come out. The police are here. I won't.
I won't never come out. I never heard of such childishness.
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.
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.
It's scandalous. Miss Dunn better this is Sergeant Friday. Miss Dunn better will you come out so we
can talk to you? Miss Dunn better? Well it's about time. Whatever were you thinking of Martha? What
got into you? Not speaking to you Bessie. Let's go in the other room. Be easier to talk there.
Yes sir. Not speaking to me huh? Well two can play at that game and I assure you I won't be the one
who suffers. All right ladies would you like to sit down? Now Miss Dunn better can we clear this
thing up now? Your sister says there wasn't any burglary. How would she know she wasn't here was
she? I know because I know you and I know you never had three hundred dollars to your name. I did too.
Where'd you get it? Where'd you get it? None of your business. All right now how about it Miss Dunn
better? Did you have three hundred dollars? Well? Never said it was exactly three hundred.
Not to the penny. Three dollars would be more like it. There happens to be a few things you don't
know about including my savings. A likely story and you never saved a penny in your life. What
about my dime bag? I shook it the other day. I thank you to keep your hands off my property.
Savings indeed. If I didn't pay most of the expenses around here you'd starve to death.
I managed quite well before you moved in on me Bessie and I was perfectly happy living alone.
Matter of fact I preferred that arrangement. Maybe you'd like to try it again. Maybe I would.
I'm sure there'd be money ahead. Don't you hock me Bessie Maxim. You ought to see the way she eats.
Gobble, gobble, gobble. She shovels it down. Stuffing nonsense. I don't have any more appetite than a bird.
Birds don't nip the cooking Sherry. Boss had done better. How can you say such a thing? Because I
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
could name. Well Miss Dunbitter. I may have exaggerated the respect. You mean to do no harm.
I wonder if you know it's against the law to file a false police report. Against the law? There. You see
you're going to jail. I knew it would happen. I knew that sooner or later you'd disgrace all of us.
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.
Well let's see. Would you mind waiting in the other room for a couple of minutes Miss Maxim?
I most certainly would. We'd appreciate it if you would. No very well. Very well.
You'd think I was the criminal around here.
All right Miss Dunbitter tell us now will you? It's very difficult to explain.
I'll give it a try will you? You see it was all on account of her. Bessie. Go ahead. Started
when we was little girls. It's because she's older she's always lording it over me.
Mom and daddy always gave her everything first. Hand me downs it's all I got. Bessie's hand me
downs. I see. When we grew up I couldn't push myself very much. She's just the opposite.
Barely the ball. She had a pick of all the young gentlemen in town. The only time they'd take me
out was when Bessie was busy. One thing she didn't let me know that I had second choice.
The only reason she married a horace because he took a fancy to me. Well I had my pride too.
Wouldn't settle for her leftovers. That's why I stayed single. I see. The least she could have done
was name one of the little girls after me. After all I'm an oldie sister. Well Miss Dunbitter you
still haven't told us why you reported the burglary. I am telling you. Yes ma'am. On account of her
birthday. Well that was the last straw. She hasn't talked about anything else for months and months.
Of course she's 80 years old. You'd think she's the queen of Romania. A picture in the paper of
people making a fuss about her. I made up my mind that for once in my life someone was going to make
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
be sorry but I'm not. I really enjoyed myself. All those questions you asked me. Like I was somebody.
My name was in the papers too. First time it ever happened. It's strange when you come to think
about it. To live 79 years without ever seeing your name in print. Oh but that wasn't the best part.
The best part was Bessie not being able to horn in and take all the credit.
Oh I knew you'd find me out sooner or later but I didn't care. I sure had the laugh on her.
All the time she's in Oxnard being parted. I was having a little party of my own.
Yeah well you know you didn't need to put us through all this Miss Dunbedder. You're almost 80 yourself.
It's over a year away. When you're my age you can't be sure of anything. Yes ma'am.
Besides even when I'm 80 Bessie will still be ahead. How's that? She'll be going on 90.
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.
Mild and mellow. Believe me in the whole wide world no cigarette satisfies like Chesterfield.
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.
Better schools build better communities. Join and work with your fellow citizens who are actively seeking to improve educational conditions.
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.
Heard tonight were Ben Alexander Virginia Greg Jack Crouchon Helen Cleve. Script by Frank Burt music by Walter Schuman Hal Gibney speaking.
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.
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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.
Check your local TV listings for Mr. Citizen. Hear Dragnet next week same time same station.
Lux Radio Theater presents Barry Sullivan in Rope of Sand tonight on the NBC radio network.