December 17, 2025 • 25 mins
Step into the world of classic crime with "The Dragnet Collection." Featuring iconic radio episodes from the golden age of detective drama, this collection brings you the methodical investigations, sharp dialogue, and thrilling cases of Sergeant Joe Friday and his team. If you love true crime, classic noir, or vintage radio, this is a must-listen!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Dragnet.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're
a detective sergeant. You're assigned the burglary details. During the
last two weeks, there have been a series of burglaries
(00:27):
in the Valley division. You haven't got to lead your job.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Find one.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Drag met The document a drama of an actual crime.
For the next thirty 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.
Speaker 5 (01:01):
It was Wednesday, September ninth. Was hot in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out a burgery division.
My partners Frank Smith, the boss's captain Bernard.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
My name is Friday.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
We're on our way out to a recently completed housing
project in the Valley. It was ten thirteen am when
we got to the corner of Moore Parking Victory Mayflower Homes.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
There's them right here.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Huh yeah, two twenty four. I guess I haven't sold
them all yet five hundred bucks down.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Not so bad. Pretty nice houses? Are you thinking to
get in a new place?
Speaker 5 (01:30):
I was thinking, can'ts are shooting up? We could use
a little more room. Just what they always wanted house
nobody else has lived in someday maybe Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Yes, sir, we're police officers. It's Frank Smith. My name
is Friday.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
Oh how do you do?
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Alright?
Speaker 5 (01:46):
Somebody reported a burglery at this address, so you saym brighton, Yes.
Speaker 7 (01:49):
That's me.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Would you show us where he broke in place?
Speaker 8 (01:51):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (01:51):
Yes, sir, it's in the front bedroom, just this fronta
that's it. Yeah, just off the hall here, m m
m yeah, this win to hear. You can see where
he Jimmy did.
Speaker 9 (02:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (02:03):
I was careful not to touch it. You know, fingerprints,
it's good.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Can he gives a list of the things he took?
Speaker 6 (02:07):
Nose, they're not for certain. We were just getting moved
in and we don't know for sure what's gone. A
couple of silver trays and a pair of candle sticks
there missing any cash, all about twenty twenty five dollars.
When I changed to go out to dinner last night,
I left it to my trousers. They were in the
other bedroom in the back of a chair. Pretty dumb
place to leave money.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Your family lived here with you, my wife.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
I see, we've only been married a couple of weeks.
Things he stole they were wedding presents.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
That's too bad.
Speaker 6 (02:31):
Sure, as a heck of a way to start out
being married. I mean, we wanted a house in the
first place. Well, it's their own fault. What he means
Sally's parents insisted on giving it to us the down
payment park. Sally will never be able to manage a
big place like this. She's just a couple of years
younger than I am, just a kid. Apartments what we
ought to have no point in arguing within laws, though,
(02:52):
I found that out. Proud of them.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Yeah, any idea? What time the ruggery took place?
Speaker 6 (02:56):
Yes, sir, between six and ten? Last night must have
been then between six and ten we went over to
Sally's folks for dinner. Our refrigerate hasn't been delivered yet.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I see.
Speaker 6 (03:06):
The reason I'm so sure about the time is I
wanted to find out how long it would take to
drive there. I told Sally wouldn't be more than fifteen minutes.
First time she's ever been away from home. She kind
of likes to feel that her folks are handy.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
I understand.
Speaker 6 (03:19):
Hollywood Hills, that's where they lived, off of Mullholland. Took
us fourteen minutes, left here six o'clock exactly. News was
just coming on the radio. Got there six fourteen. I'm
not so sure when we got home, but it was
right around ten o'clock.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
That's close enough, Chris.
Speaker 6 (03:33):
I didn't know about the burglary.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Then.
Speaker 6 (03:35):
When we got home, we just went straight to bed,
didn't come in here.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
We used the back bedroom.
Speaker 6 (03:39):
Yeah, it wasn't until this morning when I started looking
at my pants for cash.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Is it possibly broke in while you were asleep?
Speaker 6 (03:46):
Well I might have slept through it, but not Sally.
Least little thing wakes her up.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
She'd have heard.
Speaker 6 (03:51):
Must have happened while we were out.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
Have you noticed anybody's suspicious hanging around the last couple
of days.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
No, sir.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
Of course, we're brand new in the neighborhood. Most of
the houses aren't even sold yet. We wouldn't know who
was suspicious and who wasn't.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Be alright.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
If we talk to your wife, she couldn't tell you anything.
Speaker 7 (04:05):
I have here now over to mother's.
Speaker 6 (04:07):
This kind of thing, well, it kind of truer, you know,
you know how it is just a kid.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, we understand.
Speaker 6 (04:13):
We should have been me that found out about the bird.
The bird, Well, didn't I tell you? I meant to
no hind this thing parakeet. Somebody gave it to Sally
when she was a girl. Taught her how to talk.
Talk real good too. Why should a burglar do a
thing like that?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Would he do? Turn it loose?
Speaker 6 (04:29):
No, sir, he killed it.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
We talked to Missus Brighton at her parents' home. She
was unable to add anything to what her husband had
told us. One fifteen pm, the crime lab reported that
there were no useful fingerprints on the Brighton window. Pictures
were taken to the Jimmy marks. There was no other
physical evidence. September eleventh, two more burglaries took place in
a new housing track near Supervilla Boulevard.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
The burglary had followed the same mo used on the
Brighton house.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
One victim also told us that three pet canaries had
been killed. The other victim had no pets. By the
end of the following week, four more burglaries have occurred
in new housing developments. In each case where the home
contained pets birds, the bird was killed, other pets were
not disturbed. Circulars describing the stolen articles were sent to
all pawn shops in the city. September twenty first, eight
oh five am.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
We checked in for work. Oh yeah, no matter, you're
still asleep. Yeah, I didn't get a wink last night.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
They was at me all night.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Huh, small and fault. Joe Never should have.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
Told her about all those new houses going up nowadays.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
It was a big mistake. Well, I let you told
me you were considering a new house. Yeah, I changed
my mind. We got enough people staying.
Speaker 7 (05:38):
With us as it is.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Fay's relatives, brother in law, Arman, you know.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
Oh him, huh, yeah, he's down here as long as
he has to sleep on the living room couch. He'll
take off after a day or give him a real bed,
and he'd stay with us.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
For the rest of his life.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
I get it, burglery Freddy, Yes, or when it happened,
I see just a minutely, I go ahead, that's two
fourteen south.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Yes, sure, I've got it right.
Speaker 5 (06:07):
Well we got another one. Yeah, pet shop over near
Lankers and Boulevard A shot. Uh huh, what doesn't sound
like our boy might be if they sell birds. We
left the office and drove out to the Bigs Pet
Shop on a side street in North Hollywood nine oh
seven am.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
We interviewed Jasper Big, the owner of the store.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
He told us that during the night, the back door
had been forced open, seventeen dollars was missing from the
cash register.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Money ain't important, you understand, not that anybody.
Speaker 7 (06:38):
Likes being wrong.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yes, so we understand the sides just happened before.
Speaker 10 (06:41):
That's why I keep this shine up here on the
register tells.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Me how to open it.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
I see a couple of years ago.
Speaker 10 (06:46):
Fuller broke get wrecked the machine trying to get it open.
That cash register's worth a whole lot more in any
thing I keep in it.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Shut up over the hold of you.
Speaker 7 (06:57):
They ain't much racket in here.
Speaker 10 (06:58):
A person can't even think where was Oh yeah about
the money? Now, like I said, it don't matter the
seventeen dollars.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Yes, birds is different.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
They do matter, sir, well.
Speaker 10 (07:08):
He killed all of them.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Ever, the last one I see.
Speaker 10 (07:11):
Parakeets, canaries, parrots, parakeechs and canaries. Now they don't matter.
I can replace them. Insurance will take care of it anyway.
Them parts is another story. It's a different story entirely.
Two of them was on consignment worth over one hundred
dollars apiece, one hundred dollars that. You never figured birds
around that high.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
Did you?
Speaker 10 (07:28):
Well, they do parrots anyway, some of them and wants
more of my insurance. Don't cover birds on consignment.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
How do you like that?
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Huh? Check what the fellers over the policy.
Speaker 10 (07:37):
Right after call the police says birds on consimon aren't covered.
Speaker 7 (07:40):
Loophole.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
That's what it is. Loophole, yes, said, Probably somebody wanting to.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Buy them parrots.
Speaker 10 (07:45):
Be just my luck big spet shop. Who oh yeah, yeah,
they're still here.
Speaker 6 (07:53):
Just a minute, it's for you.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
That's Friday.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Yeah, okay, give me that address, all right, I got
it as soon as we can.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Right, forgot another tracked off riverside drive. Same routine when
thing's different.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Yeah, some lady saw him. We ended our interview with
mister Biggs, and we drove out to the address of
a missus Nellie Diver, who had just reported a burglary.
Missus Diver told us her house had been entered shortly
after she left to do her marketing. She discovered she'd
forgotten her grocery list, and she came back for it.
When she returned, the burglar was in the dining room.
He had entered through a side window. Them all appeared
(08:36):
to be the same as in the other recent burglary.
Speaker 11 (08:38):
It was saw such a surprise look on a man's
face in my life. He just stood there like he
was frozen solid for a minute or more, and then
he let out through the back door like at he slipped.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Uh huh. How long were you gone from the house man?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Five to ten minutes.
Speaker 11 (08:50):
As soon as I remembered about my list, I started back.
I don't know why I'm getting so forgetful. Old age
must be catching up with me.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Well, it's a good thing he did forgett the diver mm.
Speaker 11 (09:00):
So he didn't get time to steal anything. Nothing around
here worth stealing. You know how he happened to pick
Me'd be different if I lived up in bel Air
or one of those estates.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
One of us who we think it is. He's satisfied
with smart owns.
Speaker 11 (09:12):
You mean he's pulled this kind of stump before.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Yes, you don't say. Do you think you'd recognize the
man if you saw him again.
Speaker 11 (09:18):
I beg your pardon the man.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Who broke in here. You said you got a good
look at him, Oh.
Speaker 11 (09:21):
Real good to They're in the dining room for a
four minutes maybe more.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Then you'd recognize him, wuld you?
Speaker 11 (09:26):
I don't see why not? This isn't the first time
we met up, you understand?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
How's that somehem?
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Once before?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
When was that last week?
Speaker 11 (09:33):
Sometime? I'm not certain when here Thursday, middle of the
week and through there?
Speaker 1 (09:38):
You sure it was the same man?
Speaker 11 (09:39):
He looked the same, came right up to my door.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
What do you want?
Speaker 11 (09:43):
I'm not certain of that either. I've been racking my
brain trying to remember the many fellas around here last week,
two or three milkman trying to sign me up, a
couple of people wanting me to take newspapers, three or
four asking about dry cleaning, somebody selling rugs, and half
my time running to the door h to help me.
I can't remember which one he was get no true fate?
Speaker 5 (10:05):
Do you think he was just pretending to be a
door to door salesman of some kind or other.
Speaker 11 (10:08):
Seems to me they were all trying to sell something.
That's what always happens when you settle in a new location.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Ma'am, What if you'd mind coming downtown with us for
a little while.
Speaker 11 (10:16):
No, no, I wouldn't mind, But for it, we'd I
show you some photographs.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
If you can pick the man out for us right now?
Speaker 7 (10:21):
If you could, yes, you.
Speaker 11 (10:22):
Just give me a minute to get my hat and
change Henry's water n Mike Canary out in the kitchen.
Haven't you notice the way he's been?
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Oh, it's funny, ma'am.
Speaker 11 (10:31):
He's usually singing up a blue streak this time of day.
Speaker 5 (10:38):
They went into the kitchen with Missus Diver and we
found the dead bird. She agreed to accompany us downtown
eleven o five am. We pulled the mugshots of burglars
who matched the description that she'd given us, and we
showed them to Missus Diver. She identified one of the
photographs Stanley A. Bushing Bushing at doune time in the
state penitentiary as a cat burger. From his five tens.
We learned his acquaintances and the places he was known
to frequent. Thirty six pm, we located Bushing in a
(11:01):
bar on North Maine.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Stand Bushing.
Speaker 6 (11:05):
Yeah, police officers, you don't say I want to talk
to you bushing be my guess.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Come on, let's go.
Speaker 7 (11:10):
What's the matter with right here? John? Don't get noisy
until later on? Why not right here?
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Where were you last night?
Speaker 7 (11:15):
What time?
Speaker 1 (11:15):
All night? And this morning? Eight o'clock this morning?
Speaker 7 (11:18):
Why do you want to know?
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I come on, let's go.
Speaker 7 (11:20):
Well, give me a chance to finish my beer? Will you? Look?
You boys?
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Want to know where I was last night?
Speaker 7 (11:26):
All right, I'll tell you. I just want to know why.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
That's all you've been out the valley lately? Well, come on,
how about it?
Speaker 7 (11:32):
Oh that's why after me?
Speaker 3 (11:33):
How you think I've been pulling those houseprows?
Speaker 1 (11:35):
What do you know about them?
Speaker 7 (11:36):
What I read in the papers?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
You know more than that I do. There was another
one this morning.
Speaker 7 (11:40):
That's news to me.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
That's so. Yeah.
Speaker 7 (11:41):
I haven't bought a paper yet today.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Lady sawya, huh right after you broke in me.
Speaker 7 (11:44):
Huh?
Speaker 1 (11:45):
She says it to you. Well, she needs glasses, we
don't think so.
Speaker 7 (11:47):
Look, you'll never make it stick.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
I'm gonna try, fella.
Speaker 7 (11:49):
I'm clean, not even.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
On parole no more.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
It won't be parole this time. It won't be anything. Oh,
come on bush and quit stall. Don't get yourself and
not broad take it easy. You'll live longer. Suppose I
got an alibi. We'll try it for size night in
this morning, go on, I was with friends. We got
a lady who says different. I got a lot of friends.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Yeah, we know your friends. We'll settle for the lady.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Ten thirty last night till nine o'clock this morning with
him every minute where you ain't gonna like it?
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Where were yet?
Speaker 7 (12:10):
You're gonna look pretty full?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
A lot of tabit Bushing drunk tank, Lincoln Heights jail.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
We verified Bushing's alibi with a booking sergeant of Lincoln Heights,
and we learned that he was in the clear as
far as the previous night was concerned. Five or six pm,
we interviewed missus Diver again. She wavered in her identification
of Bushing's photo, and she said she couldn't tell us anymore.
Tele types of the suspect's description was set out. The
next day, Tuesday, September twenty second, we had a meeting
with a skipper.
Speaker 7 (12:41):
Captain Bernard Well, where do we stand?
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Just about where we did when it started.
Speaker 7 (12:45):
It's not good, is it?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
No? It's not. We thought we had him yesterday, skipper,
but it didn't pan out.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
We got a description.
Speaker 5 (12:50):
Well, if she's no better at describing him than she
is an identification, it doesn't mean much.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
We figured he pretends to be a salesman of some kind.
Speaker 12 (12:56):
Now he cases the houses. As far as we can
tell you, he left more that. You know, These guy's
got to be stopped. It didn't just the burglary. It
seems half of the people in La keep pet birds.
Speaker 7 (13:06):
I don't know.
Speaker 12 (13:06):
My kids have a couple of canarreas themselves. You got
attached to them like you're doing anything else, you know,
you bloys. Seen the mail on this thing, grocer letters
from all over, not just in town here, all over
people are raising caine, my own kids asking me when
we're going to catch them.
Speaker 7 (13:20):
You can't wait any longer for a break. We've got
to make one.
Speaker 12 (13:22):
But you got any ideas, And I don't know, you've
just been working housing projects except for that one pet store.
Speaker 9 (13:28):
You know.
Speaker 12 (13:28):
Well, let's forget the store and see if we got
a pattern out of the houses.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
Well, they are all new places, folks have just moved in,
and tracks one or two in each development and he
moves on. So far he stayed in the Valley division
out there, and.
Speaker 12 (13:39):
Why they're building up out that way? He won't run
out of target. You know they opened any new projects
last week or so. Yeah, a couple he tapped him.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Yet No, we alerted the owners, told him to want
anybody who moves in probably won't do much good.
Speaker 7 (13:50):
Now, Mike, if you two moved.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
In Wednesday, September twenty third, we drove out to a
new track just off Coldwater.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Canyon Boulevard, was called white Man Or Homes.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
We found the tracked office near the main entrance and
we went inside.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Gentlemen, what can I do for you? You interested in
owning a new home?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Or police office? Sir, missus Frank Smith, My name is
Friday Police. That's right, sir.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Oh, I don't think I have any parking tickets?
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Late think we're from burgery.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Ooh about the birdman, I suppose okay, yeah, that's what
they call him in the papers, you know, the birdman.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Yes, it's about him.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
He hasn't been around here.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Well, no, for're not as far as we know.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Wow, that's a relief. Not that this makes much difference.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
You're in charge of this project.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Sir, my name's simple or as simple. I've got a
card right here in the death. That's all right, missus. Simple,
I own white Man at home. I see huh, Yes,
I should say me in the bank. We own it together. Yes,
it's all going to belong to the bank. Tho all
the way things are going it open there the week now,
(14:56):
I haven't sold a single house, haven't even had a
decent offer or what the troubles say? Now you know
what's the trouble just as well as I do. Bird man,
that's the trouble, folks. Just I'm gonna move into any
new developments under the car sent me a second or
last week the police department. I'm supposed to warn anybody
(15:17):
who buys from me, put them on their God, yes,
don't need any warning. It's scared off as it is
three months ago. Out did you have sold out by now?
Seems to be you full as a dog again. I'm
not telling you your business, mind you, but it seems
to me you usually have picked him up before this.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yes, said, maybe you can help us.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
How's that?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Well? To shigne out in front said the two of
your houses or furnish? Is that right? Oh?
Speaker 3 (15:42):
That's just for display. Western's department store. Did it figures
it's a good advertising, Yes it was. I don't sell
them furnished, just for display.
Speaker 5 (15:51):
We'd like to use one of them for a few days.
Use one, yes, yeah, I'm afraid they don't follow you. Well,
you've got a soul signce you can put up in
the front yard, haven't you. I guess so I won't
see that nothing's disturbed. If anybody asks you, tell them
that a new couple moves in.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Oh, I get you decoys huh yes, or something like that. Well,
I don't know. Department store might not go for the idea. Well,
we'll clear it with him. Well, it's all right with him,
thank you. How long are you supposed to pay?
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Okay, we catch them, and your guess is as good
as ours. If it works at all.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
It better work. Pressures building up. You fellows don't know
what it's like being under pressure. Oh, the bank a
lot of money on this project. Figured i'd have at
least hamp a dozen houses sober now least towma doesn't
interest to be paid is the principle, And they here.
The bank expects it on time. You can't blame them.
For that. You don't know what it's like having the
(16:52):
pressure turned on.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
We get a little every once in a while.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Oh wow, that's different. Your boss rides you and tells
you to get all the You won't have to worry.
He can't fire you cops, a civil search pressure from
your boss.
Speaker 7 (17:07):
Oh that's different.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
It's not coming from him.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Well, where is it coming from?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Guy who kills birds?
Speaker 5 (17:17):
We telephoned the Wesley Department store and we talked to
the manager. He gave us permission to use the house
that they decorated. At a neighborhood pet store, we purchased
a cage in two canaries. It was eleven thirty am
when we got back to White Manor Homes. Mister Simple
was putting up a soul sign in front.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Of one of the houses.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
That she got there. Oh there is huh, yes, sir, Well,
here's the keys if you want to lock up doors
open now?
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Want me to spread the word?
Speaker 1 (17:50):
What's that say?
Speaker 3 (17:51):
And I've sold this plaice.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
We'd appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Okay, I'll see that he gets wrong.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Thank you.
Speaker 9 (18:03):
Man?
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Some layout? Huh yeah, very nice? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (18:07):
Right?
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Do you know anything about taking care of bird? I
don't think as much, do it?
Speaker 7 (18:11):
Just water and see you?
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Huh, hey, Joe in a love that chout?
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (18:16):
Why amos eight feet long? And then she's just about
if they ever see this place, I'm dead? Would you
tell her only we were on a job. I certainly
didn't go into detail. Wonder what it would cost it
takes a joint up like this. How much it would
cost more than we make?
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Yeah, yeah, I probably.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
Wouldn't be very comfortable anyway. I like having your own
stuff you're used to, you.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Know, Hey boy, every tay up the store? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (18:43):
Any kind of cuide too.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
You know, Joe Faye might like a couple of birds,
a good company for when the kids went to school.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Oh maybe you can have those.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
I never thought of that. If he doesn't get.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
Him first, No one came by the house that afternoon.
Noon of that evening, at six pm, Frank went home.
I stayed through the night. Thursday, September twenty fourth, nine
to fifteen am, we had our first visitor. Frank waited
in the bedroom while I talked to her. She was
a young lady who said that she represented the.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Local Chamber of Commerce, who told me her job was
to welcome newcomers to the neighborhood.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
She gave me some maps in the book of q Ponds,
which could be exchanged for free introductory gifts at various
stores in the vicinity. During the rest of the day,
we had four more callers, two newspaper agents, the representative
from a dry king the establishment, and a charity worker.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
As far as we could tell, they were all genuinely
fond of birds.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
Four forty five pm, a small old truck pulled up
in front.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Look coming up the wall pretty close to his diver's
description on it. Yeah, told me to get out of
here now I'm better for him. She's one of us.
Speaker 6 (19:41):
Hut right, okay, lady of the house in I'm shopping.
Oh wow, come back, and.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
What's it about?
Speaker 7 (19:52):
All right? To talk to her?
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Why I like to take over your yardm I'm a guardner, mister,
Oh well, I'm the one to see about that point.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
Not ask a man for a gardening job. He says,
he'll do it himself weekends and after work. Don't understand
how much work it will be. Wife knows better and
knows her husband too. She's the one hires me.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Well, maybe I'm different. It's a pretty big yard.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Fine, I'm spending my weekends on the back, and I
don't blame you one inside for a minute.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Yeah sure?
Speaker 1 (20:19):
How much would you charge for a yard this side?
Speaker 3 (20:23):
I'm gonna handle watering.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Too, No, I guess we can take care of the water.
Speaker 6 (20:26):
Well, I'll come once a week then, mold alawn, look
after your flowers?
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Do weaving?
Speaker 7 (20:30):
Planning?
Speaker 6 (20:30):
Well, we're pretty well landscaped now where you want some
of your own plans? Could use a couple more roses
alongside there.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
It's possible it's a medical.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
I'm just looking around, small place you got here?
Speaker 1 (20:46):
How much for the yard work?
Speaker 7 (20:47):
Twenty five months? Gonna see big yard?
Speaker 9 (20:49):
Said?
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Tell yourself you'd only be here a couple hours a week,
you know, I'll twenty five is the best I can do?
Speaker 7 (20:56):
You think it?
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Where I got your ship?
Speaker 8 (20:57):
Now?
Speaker 7 (20:57):
How about twenty simons?
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Not worth me more than that? Doing this for twenty
You know that up to you?
Speaker 3 (21:02):
And got any other jobs? This snake of the woods.
I have to drive all the way out here.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
How'd you happen to find a stad? I say, how'd
you happen to find a stead?
Speaker 6 (21:10):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (21:11):
I heard about this project.
Speaker 6 (21:12):
I thought tomorrow might be sold by now cause you're
the only people moved in.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Huh yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Thought probably will be before.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
Well, if I pick up any other customers in the project,
I might come down twenty five or now ready can't Well,
you're thinking it over.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
I drove back there, so somebody here most of the time.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Most of the time I drive back. Oh, shut up,
What is why I wasn't talking to you?
Speaker 7 (21:33):
Oh yeah, that's crazy. What's wrong with them?
Speaker 1 (21:36):
A better nuisance? They're always screeching to get on somebody's nerves.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
I guess you don't like breads.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Well, I could do without these.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Why don't you get rid of them?
Speaker 7 (21:45):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (21:45):
My wife, the blowers stay. Ah yeah, pride and enjoy.
You know if he talks to them all the time, baby.
Speaker 7 (21:49):
Talking about it, just like my old lady.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Your wife keepers two day.
Speaker 6 (21:57):
Oh you know when I was a kid, cage is
all over the place, I said, fifteen twenty birds.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Oh, I guess I'm lucky we only get these.
Speaker 7 (22:04):
Yeah, you're lucky, you're.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
I had a dog one, Yeah, Rusty, that was his name.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
It is a mutt.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Only dog ever had.
Speaker 6 (22:10):
Killed one of her canaries.
Speaker 7 (22:11):
That wasn't his fault.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Bug got loose. He didn't know no better, just playing with.
Speaker 7 (22:16):
It to mean to kill it.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Sure, if you get rid of Rusty.
Speaker 6 (22:19):
My mom did send him away. I don't know, want
have to note.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
That's too bad.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
I never had another dog after that. He wouldn't let
me just word, just led away at night. Listened to
him sing. That's what she called it, and.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
It sound like singing to me. Wouldn't cover him over.
That was cool to cover him over half night long.
Speaker 6 (22:39):
I had to listen to him, Like you said, gets
on a fellow's nerves.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Yeah, I stink downstairs, sick one of their cages. I
didn't go quiet, killed them all. My mom's worried.
Speaker 9 (22:51):
Well.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
I couldn't stay after that, ran away from home.
Speaker 6 (22:54):
I wish I could have stayed. Wish I could have
seen her face. Next morning, he's up for Rusty. Yeah,
still keep paring them, keep killing them over folks, put
them in a cage, them up, Feel sorry for them afterwards.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Don't make sense.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
I don't feel sorry for something just because it's locked up.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
You might.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
The story you've just heard is true. The names were
changed to protect the innocence.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
On November twelfth, the hearing was held in Department ninety
eight Superior Court, State of California, in and Paul the
County of Los Angeles. Philip James Porch was examined by
six psychiatrists appointed by the court and found to be
mentally incompetent. He was committed to the State Mental Hospital
(23:49):
at Mendocino for an indefinite period of time.
Speaker 12 (23:52):
Dragnette is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces
Radio Service.
Speaker 8 (24:00):
That's that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's.
Speaker 9 (24:24):
As, that's that's, that's, that's.
Speaker 13 (24:37):
That's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
The st.
Speaker 9 (25:00):
SPER
Dragnet.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're
a detective sergeant. You're assigned the burglary details. During the
last two weeks, there have been a series of burglaries
(00:27):
in the Valley division. You haven't got to lead your job.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Find one.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Drag met The document a drama of an actual crime.
For the next thirty 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.
Speaker 5 (01:01):
It was Wednesday, September ninth. Was hot in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out a burgery division.
My partners Frank Smith, the boss's captain Bernard.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
My name is Friday.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
We're on our way out to a recently completed housing
project in the Valley. It was ten thirteen am when
we got to the corner of Moore Parking Victory Mayflower Homes.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
There's them right here.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Huh yeah, two twenty four. I guess I haven't sold
them all yet five hundred bucks down.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Not so bad. Pretty nice houses? Are you thinking to
get in a new place?
Speaker 5 (01:30):
I was thinking, can'ts are shooting up? We could use
a little more room. Just what they always wanted house
nobody else has lived in someday maybe Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Yes, sir, we're police officers. It's Frank Smith. My name
is Friday.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
Oh how do you do?
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Alright?
Speaker 5 (01:46):
Somebody reported a burglery at this address, so you saym brighton, Yes.
Speaker 7 (01:49):
That's me.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Would you show us where he broke in place?
Speaker 8 (01:51):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (01:51):
Yes, sir, it's in the front bedroom, just this fronta
that's it. Yeah, just off the hall here, m m
m yeah, this win to hear. You can see where
he Jimmy did.
Speaker 9 (02:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (02:03):
I was careful not to touch it. You know, fingerprints,
it's good.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Can he gives a list of the things he took?
Speaker 6 (02:07):
Nose, they're not for certain. We were just getting moved
in and we don't know for sure what's gone. A
couple of silver trays and a pair of candle sticks
there missing any cash, all about twenty twenty five dollars.
When I changed to go out to dinner last night,
I left it to my trousers. They were in the
other bedroom in the back of a chair. Pretty dumb
place to leave money.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Your family lived here with you, my wife.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
I see, we've only been married a couple of weeks.
Things he stole they were wedding presents.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
That's too bad.
Speaker 6 (02:31):
Sure, as a heck of a way to start out
being married. I mean, we wanted a house in the
first place. Well, it's their own fault. What he means
Sally's parents insisted on giving it to us the down
payment park. Sally will never be able to manage a
big place like this. She's just a couple of years
younger than I am, just a kid. Apartments what we
ought to have no point in arguing within laws, though,
(02:52):
I found that out. Proud of them.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Yeah, any idea? What time the ruggery took place?
Speaker 6 (02:56):
Yes, sir, between six and ten? Last night must have
been then between six and ten we went over to
Sally's folks for dinner. Our refrigerate hasn't been delivered yet.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I see.
Speaker 6 (03:06):
The reason I'm so sure about the time is I
wanted to find out how long it would take to
drive there. I told Sally wouldn't be more than fifteen minutes.
First time she's ever been away from home. She kind
of likes to feel that her folks are handy.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
I understand.
Speaker 6 (03:19):
Hollywood Hills, that's where they lived, off of Mullholland. Took
us fourteen minutes, left here six o'clock exactly. News was
just coming on the radio. Got there six fourteen. I'm
not so sure when we got home, but it was
right around ten o'clock.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
That's close enough, Chris.
Speaker 6 (03:33):
I didn't know about the burglary.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Then.
Speaker 6 (03:35):
When we got home, we just went straight to bed,
didn't come in here.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
We used the back bedroom.
Speaker 6 (03:39):
Yeah, it wasn't until this morning when I started looking
at my pants for cash.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Is it possibly broke in while you were asleep?
Speaker 6 (03:46):
Well I might have slept through it, but not Sally.
Least little thing wakes her up.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
She'd have heard.
Speaker 6 (03:51):
Must have happened while we were out.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
Have you noticed anybody's suspicious hanging around the last couple
of days.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
No, sir.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
Of course, we're brand new in the neighborhood. Most of
the houses aren't even sold yet. We wouldn't know who
was suspicious and who wasn't.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Be alright.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
If we talk to your wife, she couldn't tell you anything.
Speaker 7 (04:05):
I have here now over to mother's.
Speaker 6 (04:07):
This kind of thing, well, it kind of truer, you know,
you know how it is just a kid.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, we understand.
Speaker 6 (04:13):
We should have been me that found out about the bird.
The bird, Well, didn't I tell you? I meant to
no hind this thing parakeet. Somebody gave it to Sally
when she was a girl. Taught her how to talk.
Talk real good too. Why should a burglar do a
thing like that?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Would he do? Turn it loose?
Speaker 6 (04:29):
No, sir, he killed it.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
We talked to Missus Brighton at her parents' home. She
was unable to add anything to what her husband had
told us. One fifteen pm, the crime lab reported that
there were no useful fingerprints on the Brighton window. Pictures
were taken to the Jimmy marks. There was no other
physical evidence. September eleventh, two more burglaries took place in
a new housing track near Supervilla Boulevard.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
The burglary had followed the same mo used on the
Brighton house.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
One victim also told us that three pet canaries had
been killed. The other victim had no pets. By the
end of the following week, four more burglaries have occurred
in new housing developments. In each case where the home
contained pets birds, the bird was killed, other pets were
not disturbed. Circulars describing the stolen articles were sent to
all pawn shops in the city. September twenty first, eight
oh five am.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
We checked in for work. Oh yeah, no matter, you're
still asleep. Yeah, I didn't get a wink last night.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
They was at me all night.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Huh, small and fault. Joe Never should have.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
Told her about all those new houses going up nowadays.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
It was a big mistake. Well, I let you told
me you were considering a new house. Yeah, I changed
my mind. We got enough people staying.
Speaker 7 (05:38):
With us as it is.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Fay's relatives, brother in law, Arman, you know.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
Oh him, huh, yeah, he's down here as long as
he has to sleep on the living room couch. He'll
take off after a day or give him a real bed,
and he'd stay with us.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
For the rest of his life.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
I get it, burglery Freddy, Yes, or when it happened,
I see just a minutely, I go ahead, that's two
fourteen south.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Yes, sure, I've got it right.
Speaker 5 (06:07):
Well we got another one. Yeah, pet shop over near
Lankers and Boulevard A shot. Uh huh, what doesn't sound
like our boy might be if they sell birds. We
left the office and drove out to the Bigs Pet
Shop on a side street in North Hollywood nine oh
seven am.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
We interviewed Jasper Big, the owner of the store.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
He told us that during the night, the back door
had been forced open, seventeen dollars was missing from the
cash register.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Money ain't important, you understand, not that anybody.
Speaker 7 (06:38):
Likes being wrong.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yes, so we understand the sides just happened before.
Speaker 10 (06:41):
That's why I keep this shine up here on the
register tells.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Me how to open it.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
I see a couple of years ago.
Speaker 10 (06:46):
Fuller broke get wrecked the machine trying to get it open.
That cash register's worth a whole lot more in any
thing I keep in it.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Shut up over the hold of you.
Speaker 7 (06:57):
They ain't much racket in here.
Speaker 10 (06:58):
A person can't even think where was Oh yeah about
the money? Now, like I said, it don't matter the
seventeen dollars.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Yes, birds is different.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
They do matter, sir, well.
Speaker 10 (07:08):
He killed all of them.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Ever, the last one I see.
Speaker 10 (07:11):
Parakeets, canaries, parrots, parakeechs and canaries. Now they don't matter.
I can replace them. Insurance will take care of it anyway.
Them parts is another story. It's a different story entirely.
Two of them was on consignment worth over one hundred
dollars apiece, one hundred dollars that. You never figured birds
around that high.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
Did you?
Speaker 10 (07:28):
Well, they do parrots anyway, some of them and wants
more of my insurance. Don't cover birds on consignment.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
How do you like that?
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Huh? Check what the fellers over the policy.
Speaker 10 (07:37):
Right after call the police says birds on consimon aren't covered.
Speaker 7 (07:40):
Loophole.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
That's what it is. Loophole, yes, said, Probably somebody wanting to.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Buy them parrots.
Speaker 10 (07:45):
Be just my luck big spet shop. Who oh yeah, yeah,
they're still here.
Speaker 6 (07:53):
Just a minute, it's for you.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
That's Friday.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Yeah, okay, give me that address, all right, I got
it as soon as we can.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Right, forgot another tracked off riverside drive. Same routine when
thing's different.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Yeah, some lady saw him. We ended our interview with
mister Biggs, and we drove out to the address of
a missus Nellie Diver, who had just reported a burglary.
Missus Diver told us her house had been entered shortly
after she left to do her marketing. She discovered she'd
forgotten her grocery list, and she came back for it.
When she returned, the burglar was in the dining room.
He had entered through a side window. Them all appeared
(08:36):
to be the same as in the other recent burglary.
Speaker 11 (08:38):
It was saw such a surprise look on a man's
face in my life. He just stood there like he
was frozen solid for a minute or more, and then
he let out through the back door like at he slipped.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Uh huh. How long were you gone from the house man?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Five to ten minutes.
Speaker 11 (08:50):
As soon as I remembered about my list, I started back.
I don't know why I'm getting so forgetful. Old age
must be catching up with me.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Well, it's a good thing he did forgett the diver mm.
Speaker 11 (09:00):
So he didn't get time to steal anything. Nothing around
here worth stealing. You know how he happened to pick
Me'd be different if I lived up in bel Air
or one of those estates.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
One of us who we think it is. He's satisfied
with smart owns.
Speaker 11 (09:12):
You mean he's pulled this kind of stump before.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Yes, you don't say. Do you think you'd recognize the
man if you saw him again.
Speaker 11 (09:18):
I beg your pardon the man.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Who broke in here. You said you got a good
look at him, Oh.
Speaker 11 (09:21):
Real good to They're in the dining room for a
four minutes maybe more.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Then you'd recognize him, wuld you?
Speaker 11 (09:26):
I don't see why not? This isn't the first time
we met up, you understand?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
How's that somehem?
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Once before?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
When was that last week?
Speaker 11 (09:33):
Sometime? I'm not certain when here Thursday, middle of the
week and through there?
Speaker 1 (09:38):
You sure it was the same man?
Speaker 11 (09:39):
He looked the same, came right up to my door.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
What do you want?
Speaker 11 (09:43):
I'm not certain of that either. I've been racking my
brain trying to remember the many fellas around here last week,
two or three milkman trying to sign me up, a
couple of people wanting me to take newspapers, three or
four asking about dry cleaning, somebody selling rugs, and half
my time running to the door h to help me.
I can't remember which one he was get no true fate?
Speaker 5 (10:05):
Do you think he was just pretending to be a
door to door salesman of some kind or other.
Speaker 11 (10:08):
Seems to me they were all trying to sell something.
That's what always happens when you settle in a new location.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Ma'am, What if you'd mind coming downtown with us for
a little while.
Speaker 11 (10:16):
No, no, I wouldn't mind, But for it, we'd I
show you some photographs.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
If you can pick the man out for us right now?
Speaker 7 (10:21):
If you could, yes, you.
Speaker 11 (10:22):
Just give me a minute to get my hat and
change Henry's water n Mike Canary out in the kitchen.
Haven't you notice the way he's been?
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Oh, it's funny, ma'am.
Speaker 11 (10:31):
He's usually singing up a blue streak this time of day.
Speaker 5 (10:38):
They went into the kitchen with Missus Diver and we
found the dead bird. She agreed to accompany us downtown
eleven o five am. We pulled the mugshots of burglars
who matched the description that she'd given us, and we
showed them to Missus Diver. She identified one of the
photographs Stanley A. Bushing Bushing at doune time in the
state penitentiary as a cat burger. From his five tens.
We learned his acquaintances and the places he was known
to frequent. Thirty six pm, we located Bushing in a
(11:01):
bar on North Maine.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Stand Bushing.
Speaker 6 (11:05):
Yeah, police officers, you don't say I want to talk
to you bushing be my guess.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Come on, let's go.
Speaker 7 (11:10):
What's the matter with right here? John? Don't get noisy
until later on? Why not right here?
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Where were you last night?
Speaker 7 (11:15):
What time?
Speaker 1 (11:15):
All night? And this morning? Eight o'clock this morning?
Speaker 7 (11:18):
Why do you want to know?
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I come on, let's go.
Speaker 7 (11:20):
Well, give me a chance to finish my beer? Will you? Look?
You boys?
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Want to know where I was last night?
Speaker 7 (11:26):
All right, I'll tell you. I just want to know why.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
That's all you've been out the valley lately? Well, come on,
how about it?
Speaker 7 (11:32):
Oh that's why after me?
Speaker 3 (11:33):
How you think I've been pulling those houseprows?
Speaker 1 (11:35):
What do you know about them?
Speaker 7 (11:36):
What I read in the papers?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
You know more than that I do. There was another
one this morning.
Speaker 7 (11:40):
That's news to me.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
That's so. Yeah.
Speaker 7 (11:41):
I haven't bought a paper yet today.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Lady sawya, huh right after you broke in me.
Speaker 7 (11:44):
Huh?
Speaker 1 (11:45):
She says it to you. Well, she needs glasses, we
don't think so.
Speaker 7 (11:47):
Look, you'll never make it stick.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
I'm gonna try, fella.
Speaker 7 (11:49):
I'm clean, not even.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
On parole no more.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
It won't be parole this time. It won't be anything. Oh,
come on bush and quit stall. Don't get yourself and
not broad take it easy. You'll live longer. Suppose I
got an alibi. We'll try it for size night in
this morning, go on, I was with friends. We got
a lady who says different. I got a lot of friends.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Yeah, we know your friends. We'll settle for the lady.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Ten thirty last night till nine o'clock this morning with
him every minute where you ain't gonna like it?
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Where were yet?
Speaker 7 (12:10):
You're gonna look pretty full?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
A lot of tabit Bushing drunk tank, Lincoln Heights jail.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
We verified Bushing's alibi with a booking sergeant of Lincoln Heights,
and we learned that he was in the clear as
far as the previous night was concerned. Five or six pm,
we interviewed missus Diver again. She wavered in her identification
of Bushing's photo, and she said she couldn't tell us anymore.
Tele types of the suspect's description was set out. The
next day, Tuesday, September twenty second, we had a meeting
with a skipper.
Speaker 7 (12:41):
Captain Bernard Well, where do we stand?
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Just about where we did when it started.
Speaker 7 (12:45):
It's not good, is it?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
No? It's not. We thought we had him yesterday, skipper,
but it didn't pan out.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
We got a description.
Speaker 5 (12:50):
Well, if she's no better at describing him than she
is an identification, it doesn't mean much.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
We figured he pretends to be a salesman of some kind.
Speaker 12 (12:56):
Now he cases the houses. As far as we can
tell you, he left more that. You know, These guy's
got to be stopped. It didn't just the burglary. It
seems half of the people in La keep pet birds.
Speaker 7 (13:06):
I don't know.
Speaker 12 (13:06):
My kids have a couple of canarreas themselves. You got
attached to them like you're doing anything else, you know,
you bloys. Seen the mail on this thing, grocer letters
from all over, not just in town here, all over
people are raising caine, my own kids asking me when
we're going to catch them.
Speaker 7 (13:20):
You can't wait any longer for a break. We've got
to make one.
Speaker 12 (13:22):
But you got any ideas, And I don't know, you've
just been working housing projects except for that one pet store.
Speaker 9 (13:28):
You know.
Speaker 12 (13:28):
Well, let's forget the store and see if we got
a pattern out of the houses.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
Well, they are all new places, folks have just moved in,
and tracks one or two in each development and he
moves on. So far he stayed in the Valley division
out there, and.
Speaker 12 (13:39):
Why they're building up out that way? He won't run
out of target. You know they opened any new projects
last week or so. Yeah, a couple he tapped him.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Yet No, we alerted the owners, told him to want
anybody who moves in probably won't do much good.
Speaker 7 (13:50):
Now, Mike, if you two moved.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
In Wednesday, September twenty third, we drove out to a
new track just off Coldwater.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Canyon Boulevard, was called white Man Or Homes.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
We found the tracked office near the main entrance and
we went inside.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Gentlemen, what can I do for you? You interested in
owning a new home?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Or police office? Sir, missus Frank Smith, My name is
Friday Police. That's right, sir.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Oh, I don't think I have any parking tickets?
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Late think we're from burgery.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Ooh about the birdman, I suppose okay, yeah, that's what
they call him in the papers, you know, the birdman.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Yes, it's about him.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
He hasn't been around here.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Well, no, for're not as far as we know.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Wow, that's a relief. Not that this makes much difference.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
You're in charge of this project.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Sir, my name's simple or as simple. I've got a
card right here in the death. That's all right, missus. Simple,
I own white Man at home. I see huh, Yes,
I should say me in the bank. We own it together. Yes,
it's all going to belong to the bank. Tho all
the way things are going it open there the week now,
(14:56):
I haven't sold a single house, haven't even had a
decent offer or what the troubles say? Now you know
what's the trouble just as well as I do. Bird man,
that's the trouble, folks. Just I'm gonna move into any
new developments under the car sent me a second or
last week the police department. I'm supposed to warn anybody
(15:17):
who buys from me, put them on their God, yes,
don't need any warning. It's scared off as it is
three months ago. Out did you have sold out by now?
Seems to be you full as a dog again. I'm
not telling you your business, mind you, but it seems
to me you usually have picked him up before this.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yes, said, maybe you can help us.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
How's that?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Well? To shigne out in front said the two of
your houses or furnish? Is that right? Oh?
Speaker 3 (15:42):
That's just for display. Western's department store. Did it figures
it's a good advertising, Yes it was. I don't sell
them furnished, just for display.
Speaker 5 (15:51):
We'd like to use one of them for a few days.
Use one, yes, yeah, I'm afraid they don't follow you. Well,
you've got a soul signce you can put up in
the front yard, haven't you. I guess so I won't
see that nothing's disturbed. If anybody asks you, tell them
that a new couple moves in.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Oh, I get you decoys huh yes, or something like that. Well,
I don't know. Department store might not go for the idea. Well,
we'll clear it with him. Well, it's all right with him,
thank you. How long are you supposed to pay?
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Okay, we catch them, and your guess is as good
as ours. If it works at all.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
It better work. Pressures building up. You fellows don't know
what it's like being under pressure. Oh, the bank a
lot of money on this project. Figured i'd have at
least hamp a dozen houses sober now least towma doesn't
interest to be paid is the principle, And they here.
The bank expects it on time. You can't blame them.
For that. You don't know what it's like having the
(16:52):
pressure turned on.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
We get a little every once in a while.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Oh wow, that's different. Your boss rides you and tells
you to get all the You won't have to worry.
He can't fire you cops, a civil search pressure from
your boss.
Speaker 7 (17:07):
Oh that's different.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
It's not coming from him.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Well, where is it coming from?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Guy who kills birds?
Speaker 5 (17:17):
We telephoned the Wesley Department store and we talked to
the manager. He gave us permission to use the house
that they decorated. At a neighborhood pet store, we purchased
a cage in two canaries. It was eleven thirty am
when we got back to White Manor Homes. Mister Simple
was putting up a soul sign in front.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Of one of the houses.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
That she got there. Oh there is huh, yes, sir, Well,
here's the keys if you want to lock up doors
open now?
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Want me to spread the word?
Speaker 1 (17:50):
What's that say?
Speaker 3 (17:51):
And I've sold this plaice.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
We'd appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Okay, I'll see that he gets wrong.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Thank you.
Speaker 9 (18:03):
Man?
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Some layout? Huh yeah, very nice? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (18:07):
Right?
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Do you know anything about taking care of bird? I
don't think as much, do it?
Speaker 7 (18:11):
Just water and see you?
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Huh, hey, Joe in a love that chout?
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (18:16):
Why amos eight feet long? And then she's just about
if they ever see this place, I'm dead? Would you
tell her only we were on a job. I certainly
didn't go into detail. Wonder what it would cost it
takes a joint up like this. How much it would
cost more than we make?
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Yeah, yeah, I probably.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
Wouldn't be very comfortable anyway. I like having your own
stuff you're used to, you.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Know, Hey boy, every tay up the store? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (18:43):
Any kind of cuide too.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
You know, Joe Faye might like a couple of birds,
a good company for when the kids went to school.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Oh maybe you can have those.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
I never thought of that. If he doesn't get.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
Him first, No one came by the house that afternoon.
Noon of that evening, at six pm, Frank went home.
I stayed through the night. Thursday, September twenty fourth, nine
to fifteen am, we had our first visitor. Frank waited
in the bedroom while I talked to her. She was
a young lady who said that she represented the.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Local Chamber of Commerce, who told me her job was
to welcome newcomers to the neighborhood.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
She gave me some maps in the book of q Ponds,
which could be exchanged for free introductory gifts at various
stores in the vicinity. During the rest of the day,
we had four more callers, two newspaper agents, the representative
from a dry king the establishment, and a charity worker.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
As far as we could tell, they were all genuinely
fond of birds.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
Four forty five pm, a small old truck pulled up
in front.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Look coming up the wall pretty close to his diver's
description on it. Yeah, told me to get out of
here now I'm better for him. She's one of us.
Speaker 6 (19:41):
Hut right, okay, lady of the house in I'm shopping.
Oh wow, come back, and.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
What's it about?
Speaker 7 (19:52):
All right? To talk to her?
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Why I like to take over your yardm I'm a guardner, mister,
Oh well, I'm the one to see about that point.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
Not ask a man for a gardening job. He says,
he'll do it himself weekends and after work. Don't understand
how much work it will be. Wife knows better and
knows her husband too. She's the one hires me.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Well, maybe I'm different. It's a pretty big yard.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Fine, I'm spending my weekends on the back, and I
don't blame you one inside for a minute.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Yeah sure?
Speaker 1 (20:19):
How much would you charge for a yard this side?
Speaker 3 (20:23):
I'm gonna handle watering.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Too, No, I guess we can take care of the water.
Speaker 6 (20:26):
Well, I'll come once a week then, mold alawn, look
after your flowers?
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Do weaving?
Speaker 7 (20:30):
Planning?
Speaker 6 (20:30):
Well, we're pretty well landscaped now where you want some
of your own plans? Could use a couple more roses
alongside there.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
It's possible it's a medical.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
I'm just looking around, small place you got here?
Speaker 1 (20:46):
How much for the yard work?
Speaker 7 (20:47):
Twenty five months? Gonna see big yard?
Speaker 9 (20:49):
Said?
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Tell yourself you'd only be here a couple hours a week,
you know, I'll twenty five is the best I can do?
Speaker 7 (20:56):
You think it?
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Where I got your ship?
Speaker 8 (20:57):
Now?
Speaker 7 (20:57):
How about twenty simons?
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Not worth me more than that? Doing this for twenty
You know that up to you?
Speaker 3 (21:02):
And got any other jobs? This snake of the woods.
I have to drive all the way out here.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
How'd you happen to find a stad? I say, how'd
you happen to find a stead?
Speaker 6 (21:10):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (21:11):
I heard about this project.
Speaker 6 (21:12):
I thought tomorrow might be sold by now cause you're
the only people moved in.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Huh yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Thought probably will be before.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
Well, if I pick up any other customers in the project,
I might come down twenty five or now ready can't Well,
you're thinking it over.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
I drove back there, so somebody here most of the time.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Most of the time I drive back. Oh, shut up,
What is why I wasn't talking to you?
Speaker 7 (21:33):
Oh yeah, that's crazy. What's wrong with them?
Speaker 1 (21:36):
A better nuisance? They're always screeching to get on somebody's nerves.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
I guess you don't like breads.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Well, I could do without these.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Why don't you get rid of them?
Speaker 7 (21:45):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (21:45):
My wife, the blowers stay. Ah yeah, pride and enjoy.
You know if he talks to them all the time, baby.
Speaker 7 (21:49):
Talking about it, just like my old lady.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Your wife keepers two day.
Speaker 6 (21:57):
Oh you know when I was a kid, cage is
all over the place, I said, fifteen twenty birds.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Oh, I guess I'm lucky we only get these.
Speaker 7 (22:04):
Yeah, you're lucky, you're.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
I had a dog one, Yeah, Rusty, that was his name.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
It is a mutt.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Only dog ever had.
Speaker 6 (22:10):
Killed one of her canaries.
Speaker 7 (22:11):
That wasn't his fault.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Bug got loose. He didn't know no better, just playing with.
Speaker 7 (22:16):
It to mean to kill it.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Sure, if you get rid of Rusty.
Speaker 6 (22:19):
My mom did send him away. I don't know, want
have to note.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
That's too bad.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
I never had another dog after that. He wouldn't let
me just word, just led away at night. Listened to
him sing. That's what she called it, and.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
It sound like singing to me. Wouldn't cover him over.
That was cool to cover him over half night long.
Speaker 6 (22:39):
I had to listen to him, Like you said, gets
on a fellow's nerves.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Yeah, I stink downstairs, sick one of their cages. I
didn't go quiet, killed them all. My mom's worried.
Speaker 9 (22:51):
Well.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
I couldn't stay after that, ran away from home.
Speaker 6 (22:54):
I wish I could have stayed. Wish I could have
seen her face. Next morning, he's up for Rusty. Yeah,
still keep paring them, keep killing them over folks, put
them in a cage, them up, Feel sorry for them afterwards.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Don't make sense.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
I don't feel sorry for something just because it's locked up.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
You might.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
The story you've just heard is true. The names were
changed to protect the innocence.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
On November twelfth, the hearing was held in Department ninety
eight Superior Court, State of California, in and Paul the
County of Los Angeles. Philip James Porch was examined by
six psychiatrists appointed by the court and found to be
mentally incompetent. He was committed to the State Mental Hospital
(23:49):
at Mendocino for an indefinite period of time.
Speaker 12 (23:52):
Dragnette is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces
Radio Service.
Speaker 8 (24:00):
That's that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's.
Speaker 9 (24:24):
As, that's that's, that's, that's.
Speaker 13 (24:37):
That's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
The st.
Speaker 9 (25:00):
SPER
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.