November 7, 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!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
The story you are about to hear is true. The
names have been changed to protect the innocence. You're a
detective sergeant. You're assigned a burglary detail. A woman closing
as a housemaid has been stealing cash and other valuables
(00:29):
from homes in your city. Your job stopper.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Straight the documented drama of an actual crime. For the
next thirty minutes, in cooperation.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
With the Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Police Department, you will travel step by step on the
side of the law.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
An actual case.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Transcribe from official police violence, from beginning to end, from
crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police
force and action.
Speaker 5 (01:14):
It was Tuesday, October eleventh, was cloudy in Los Angeles.
We were working to day watch out of burglery detail.
My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Bernard. My
name is Frank. We're on our way back from lunch
and it was one seventeen PM when we got the
room forty five burglary.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Hey Smith, huh, your wife Paul while Yo wants you
to call her back.
Speaker 6 (01:33):
Oh, thanks, that's funny. I like Fay to call in
the middle of the day.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Kids are all right.
Speaker 6 (01:39):
When I left this morning, when what she wants?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Why don't you call her and find out.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
You're not married?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Joe, You don't understand. Sometimes a guy wants a minute
to think things over sory, to prepare himself if he's done.
Speaker 6 (01:50):
Something he shouldn't.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Well have you about what done something you shouldn't, of
course not? Then be my guess. Okay, thanks? Well, I
don't know himploy you too. That's mighty nice.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
It's funny.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
I know the kids are all right smart, Hi honey. Yeah,
and they just tell me or i'd want to find
something wrong. Oh, I want to happen?
Speaker 6 (02:30):
Nice if you know who she reported? Why not? Oh yeah,
I wasn't telling. I guess we could. Yeah, sure, that's affinitely, yeah, Joseph,
(02:51):
I'll be about seven thirty agains all right, any thanks
for telling me. If anything comes up, I'll Calldy got
by nice old lady like then. But I don't think
you ever met her. Joe names missus.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Vesper doesn't used to live next story to us when
I was a kid, known me since since I can remember.
Speaker 6 (03:14):
She's alone now. Fake calls her up every once in
a while. See she's all right? Who called her?
Speaker 4 (03:19):
This morning, as Vesper says, she had some money stolen,
some jewelry happened yesterday. Didn't she report it?
Speaker 6 (03:25):
Fate doesn't seem to think, so wants me to talk
to her.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Well let's go.
Speaker 6 (03:31):
Well and Joan, you got to promise me something. You
got to give me your word right here. I don't
want you to kid me afterwards about the way she
treats me.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Miss Desper. Yeah, I told you she's known me all
my life. Well, sometimes she acts like I'm still a
little boy, you know. So you won't rid me about anything,
anything at all. But what are you getting there?
Speaker 6 (03:53):
Well, she doesn't think I ought to be on the
forest for one thing, I might as well tell you
about it. I don't she will. She always played James,
I should have taken up.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Something else, like what?
Speaker 6 (04:02):
Oh, you know the crazy ideas people get, especially about kids.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
Well, miss Vesper thinks, I. Well, see, when.
Speaker 6 (04:09):
I was a lot younger, really young, tenney twelve, I
used to sort of memorize things, little pieces and poems,
memorize things, poems and little pieces, and I'd go next
door and recite them for her.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Yeah, you say she's known you all her life? Yeah,
practically it'll be true if we don't get out there once.
She got a real kick out of them poems. And
I wasn't much good, but she was prejudiced.
Speaker 6 (04:31):
Because she liked me, you know else.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
I want to go, Yeah, but I just want to
explain this that she thinks I should have kept at
it made up my career reciting poems. No, not exactly
reciting Joe. I didn't just recite him. You wrote them too, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
Frank and I left the office and drove out to
the home of missus Sarah Vesper. She lived in a
small bungalow and Lost Palmer Street in the Miracle Mile district.
It was two o seven pm when we got there.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Why for goodness sake, Frank Smith, where on earth did you.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
Come from afternoons?
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Vesper?
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Missus Vesper? What's gotten into you? Frank? You've never called
me that before in your whole life.
Speaker 6 (05:16):
Ah man an Sarah?
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Well, now that's more like it. Who's this? You got
here with you?
Speaker 6 (05:22):
And that's my partner? Sorry?
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Friday?
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Oh please, you work for Frank?
Speaker 6 (05:27):
Do your young man and Sarah?
Speaker 4 (05:30):
We work together?
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Oh you don't say, well, I expect that keeps you
from getting lonesome, don't it? My goodness, Now, don't just
stand there, Come on inside, both of you. Thank you
very much, Well, sir, this isn't the done this coincidence,
ma'am you're coming to visit me today? Oh, sit right down,
Sit right down after you, boss, Thanks, believe it or not.
(05:57):
I was talking to your wife only this morning. Then
the next thing I know.
Speaker 6 (06:01):
Here you are, yes, man, Faith only. Oh, what's the matter?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I just remember, that's why you're here, ain't it on
account of what I said to Faith? Yes? I should
never have mentioned it to her. I don't know what's
the matter with me. I must be losing my mind
as something. I just keep forgetting that you're a policeman.
Oh well you oughtn't to have been one in the
first place. Now if you're just taking my advice, Anthory,
(06:29):
Oh now, don't misunderstand me, please, I'm not criticizing the police.
We certainly couldn't get along without him, and I'd be
the first to say so. But some people have a
talent for one thing, and some people are talented in
a different directions. Isn't that right, mister Friday? Yes, ma'am,
you take Frank here. You had a real talent for
(06:50):
making up verses, even when he was just a little tight.
I'll bet you didn't know that, did you.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
Well, I heard a little something about him.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
A real talent, That's what it was. Why I remember
some of his poems to my dying day, the rind
and everything answer one about the rainbow that was one
of his very best. Did he ever do it for you,
mister Friday?
Speaker 4 (07:19):
No, No, I don't think he did.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Oh it gave you such a beautiful picture, just like
an artist that painted it only with words, You know
what I mean?
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Well, I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
I go ahead, Frank, say it from mister Friday.
Speaker 6 (07:35):
Please answer now.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
I know he'd like to hear it, wouldn't you, mister Friday?
All right, Frank, the one about the rainbow.
Speaker 6 (07:44):
I don't remember it.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Answer now, you're just being modest.
Speaker 6 (07:47):
Yes, Joe, Oh really, I don't answer.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
I don't remember not a word, honest.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Seems funny. I'd forget a thing like that. I mean,
when you made it up yourself.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Well, it's been a long time.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
It hasn't been any longer for you than it has
for me. And I can still remember it just as
clear as the first time I heard it? What rainbow?
Rainbow up so high? That's how it begun, mister Friday.
Rainbow rainbow up so high, blue and red and yellow
(08:24):
and brown like an arch across the sky. Won't you
ever tumble down? Where did it go from there? Frank?
The next verse? What was it?
Speaker 6 (08:42):
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but we haven't got much time.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Oh well, anyway, that gives you an idea of Frank's talent.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Yes man, what sure does Oftmut? And Sarah?
Speaker 6 (08:54):
Would you just tell us about the things that were
stolen from you?
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Well?
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I suppose she should have gotten in touch with the police,
Yes man, we should have. Well, I didn't see where
that would help matters none, just like closing the barn
door after the horse had been stolen. And besides, he
didn't want to hurt Barbara's feelings.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
Barbara my niece.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
You remember Barbara, Frank, Oh, sure, you played out in
the backyard with her the whole summer. She was visiting me.
Kind of a scrawny girl. Of course, she's filled out now.
You just wouldn't recognize her, has two children of her own,
nice home out in Westwood.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Yes man, what's your niece got to do with all?
This miss Vesper.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Oh, she's the one who sent her, ma'am the Keenan woman.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Did you know your niece was sending this woman over.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
No? No, I guess it was supposed to be kind
of a surprise. Oh anyway, she just come up to
the door yesterday morning, oh long, about nine point thirty now,
said she was ready to go to work. First. I
didn't know what she was getting at the explained about
Barbara hiring her to give me a hand. Of course,
(10:04):
I don't need nobody little place like this, no trouble
at all. But I didn't want to hurt Barbara's feeling,
so I told her to come on in and figured
maybe she could help out some of the heavy work,
you know, turning the mattresses and moving furniture.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Sure, what was the woman's name? Answer?
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Margaret. That's what she told me, Margaret.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Do you know her last name?
Speaker 1 (10:26):
No? No, don't think she even mentioned it. All right,
what happened next, Well, we did the cleaning, not that
she was much of a housekeeper, practically had to go
over the whole place after she left.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
But how long she stayed them?
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Path day? That's what she said. Barbara hired her for
must have been about oh then after one when she went,
didn't even give me a full four hours, insisted on
my fixedness some lunch too. I tell you that woman
sure had her share a goal my sandwiches at the
same time she was robbing me. Wonder she did and
(11:00):
that's for carfare?
Speaker 4 (11:01):
Well? Just what was it?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
She stole my cash money, cleaned out every pocketbook in
the dresser, found the bills I had hit under the
dresser's scarf too.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
Yes, man, how soon did you find out that these things.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Were going a little while after she left, when I
went to straighten up the mess she'd made.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
And you still haven't talked to your niece about all this.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I told you I didn't want to get her all upset.
M I suppose she will think it's funny I haven't
called a sinker.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
What if you'd mind calling her?
Speaker 1 (11:27):
No, you mean right now, yes, ma'am? And do I
have to.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
Well, we'd like to get this cleaning woman's name and address.
You don't have to say why you're calling aunt Sarah.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
She's bound to know something's wrong. Barbara's no fool.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
Well, if you won't talk to her, we will. We
can find out where she lives.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Huh, I guess I was wrong about you. Frank Smith, ma'am. Yes,
you're turned into a policeman after all. M looking the gift,
tossing the teeth, that's what it is. Bob is gonna
think you don't appreciate all she's done. You wait there,
I'll be right back, all right, Go ahead and say it.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Hmm, go on, get it over with.
Speaker 6 (12:08):
Ride me about the poem. That's why you're smirking.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
I robbed you did that and just sit there with
that silly smirk on your face. I suppose you never
made up any poems when you were a kid. I
bet blue and red and brown like an arn chip
in the sky. When would you tumble down?
Speaker 6 (12:28):
Is that it?
Speaker 4 (12:30):
Of course I wasn't a real talented poet.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Yeah. What are you staring at that?
Speaker 4 (12:36):
Oh? Nothing? You know? I want to stop it, will you? No?
I just noticing you need a haircut, don't you.
Speaker 6 (12:41):
I'm gonna get one this week.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
You're not letting it grow along? Man? Why would I?
Speaker 6 (12:47):
Johns will help me if we ever get out of here.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Slipped out. I won't say another word, I promised, or
look either. I don't even look.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, the stranger.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Did you get a hold of your niece, Miss Vesper?
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Oh, yes, yes, huh. I talked to her, but I
don't understand it. Simply don't understand it. I clean woman,
What about her? Bob didn't have anything to do with it. Oh,
she's never even heard of her.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Frank and I continued to talk to the victim.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
Missus Vesper told us that the suspect was WFA, about
forty years old, five feet three or four, weighing approximately
one hundred and forty pounds.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Said she was wearing a house dress and a light
gray coat.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
She also gave us a detailed description of the jewelry
that had been stolen. Frank telephoned missus Vesper's niece, and
she said she was not acquainted with anyone who answered
the suspect's description. Five seventeen pm, the crime lab reported
they had found no.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Physical evidence at the Vesper residence.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
Three days later, October fourteenth, we received a theft report
from a woman living near Wiltshire in Western The suspect
of gain entrance by saying that a neighborhood centered to clean.
The description tallied with what we already had. During the
next two weeks, nine more thefts were reported. In each case,
the suspect had used the same m and the description
indicated that the crimes had all been the work of
the same woman. Each of the thefts took place within
(14:07):
a few blocks of Wiltshire Boulevard, in the area between
vermondern Fairfax. In one instance, the suspect had been seen
departing on the Wiltshire Bus. Police officers taked out buses
and bus stops. Lists of the stolen property were sent
to all pawn shops in the city. Two women were
brought in for questioning that the victims were unable to
give positive identification. Employment agencies for domestic workers were contacted.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Newspaper want ads were checked. No leads developed.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Saturday, October twenty ninth, two to seventeen pm, I get.
Speaker 6 (14:37):
It, Burgery Friday.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
Who oh yeah, yeah, Corky but that yeah, thanks if
you can. Okay, Kirky Levitt.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Woman's in his pawn shop trying to unload a diamond clip.
Kirky says, it's on our list. We left the office
(15:20):
and drove down to Kirky Levet's pawn shop on South Maine.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Over the phone, Kirki.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Had said he would stall a woman as long as
he could. It was two twenty eight pm when we
got to his place.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
The woman was still there.
Speaker 7 (15:32):
You make up your mind, buster, give me some doll
on the thing and hand it back.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
I'll take it someplace else.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Let's have a look at it.
Speaker 6 (15:37):
Carky sure, Hey, what is it? Police officers?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Huh, let's go take your hands off me or all,
let's go. Thanks Kirky, yeah, thanks a lot. I suppose
you let me in on it. What's the beef?
Speaker 4 (15:49):
We're talking over at the officer about what this clip?
Speaker 7 (15:52):
I mean, it's hot?
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Is that what you're getting at?
Speaker 4 (15:53):
What you tell us?
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Wouldn't you know it? Lucky reader? She walked into it
this time.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
It looks like it.
Speaker 7 (16:01):
Your clan's got your minds all later.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
You think I still left him, don't you?
Speaker 4 (16:05):
Somebody did. Two forty two pm we contacted Control one
and notified them we were bringing in a female suspect.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
They took down our mileage in location and made a
note of the time.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Eight minutes later we pulled into the city hall and
we again checked with Control one. Baba suspect was being
searched by a policewoman. We talked to one of the victims.
The victim positively identified the diamond.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Clipper is belonging to her. Three forty one pm. We
interrogated the suspect in the squad room.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
All right, all right, you want a cigarette? Yeah, all right,
I suppose you tell us about it. Come on, Rita,
let's get it over with.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
I's betty to tell you.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Guys know all the answers, We know some of them.
Your name's Rita Baines.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
You fall them three times forgery, grand theft, burglary. You
made two trips to the Hatchet, being.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
One to Corona, so you looked up my record.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Let's talk about this diamond cliff.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Huh, okay, pretty in it?
Speaker 4 (17:03):
What'd you get at, Rita?
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Didn't I steal it? Isn't that why you brought me
up here? That's a difference.
Speaker 8 (17:10):
You wouldn't believe me no matter what I told you.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Why don't you try the truth?
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Okay? It was a gift.
Speaker 6 (17:16):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
The lady gave it to me.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
Was she?
Speaker 7 (17:19):
I don't know, never saw her before in my life. Sure,
I was riding the bus yesterday afternoon. She was sitting
next to it, had that pen on, asking me.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
If I liked it? You bet, I said, sure, the
girls that I could.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Have it just handed it right over, just like that.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Yeah, what'd she look like, Rita?
Speaker 8 (17:34):
I don't know, forty and be forty five along the
happy stud and you've never seen her before first time?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
You know.
Speaker 7 (17:41):
When I was a little girl, my folks always told
me not.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
To take things from change.
Speaker 6 (17:44):
Sure they did.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Yeah, I guess they were right.
Speaker 6 (17:49):
All right, reader? What do you do for living?
Speaker 8 (17:51):
Wait?
Speaker 6 (17:52):
Table where borrowed on peakle?
Speaker 4 (17:54):
You work days or.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
Nights, nights mostly don't o't move four o'clock every.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Morning's freezing law against it.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Do any housework?
Speaker 7 (18:01):
Straighten up my room once in a while.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
You ever do housework for somebody else, like a cleaning woman.
Speaker 7 (18:06):
I ain't that hard up for a job, even with
a record.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
All right, let's talk about this pen some more.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
You didn't believe me did.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
Pretty hard to swallowing this. Yeah, lady a blons who
says worth over one hundred dollars.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Palmbroker didn't think so.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
People don't go around giving a one hundred dollar clips,
not do they? What'd you get it?
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Same on the bus? Ask me if I liked it?
Speaker 8 (18:25):
I said, yes, she gave it me Yeah, you.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Guys don't mind if I stick to that storry. Dad,
you're seeing his how's the truth?
Speaker 6 (18:31):
Which bus were you riding?
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Well, where'd your friend get off?
Speaker 7 (18:34):
She wasn't.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Did you get off?
Speaker 1 (18:35):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (18:37):
I got off first.
Speaker 7 (18:39):
You know, if it was somebody else telling you.
Speaker 8 (18:40):
This, she might go along with it.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Yeah, sure we would, but not me.
Speaker 7 (18:45):
Not beat the thing, you cops give a gall of
record from then on.
Speaker 8 (18:48):
She might as well be dead.
Speaker 7 (18:49):
Sure, anytime there's trouble pick her up. She probably did it.
She tells you did it, and she's probably lying.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
You know, you got one thing wrong, right, I all
don't know.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
It's happened to me often enough. I'm the gal with
a record.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
Yeah, but we didn't give it a yet.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
Frank and I continued to question the suspect, but she
refused to change her story. Eight forty two pm a
special show up was held for several of the burglary victims,
none of them identified Rita Baines.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
Nine oh six pm. She was released from custody and
we went back to the office.
Speaker 6 (19:19):
Well, she didn't take clip, she knows who did. Maybe
that's the reason, Joe.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
Nobody's gonna go to all the trouble of stealing and
stuff and then give it away. Burgary Friday. Yes, ma'am,
what's that I see?
Speaker 1 (19:37):
M h.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
Yes, we would. What's your address? All right? Thank you
very much, just a few minutes, goodbye. Well, here we
go again, another burglary, another piece of free jewelry. Frank
(20:00):
and I'd roll out to one address on South Ridgley Drive,
nine thirty two pm. We talked to missus Lucy Heflin.
She showed us a pearl choker that had been given
to her by a woman she met at the bus
stop earlier in the evening.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
I didn't want to take it. I told her so,
but she wouldn't listen. And then afterwards, when I got
home and thought about it, well, I started wondering if
maybe there was some reason why she was so anxious
to get rid of those pearls. So I called you.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
That's where was it you saw this woman, Miss Heflin.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Corner Wilshire and Barstow. That's where I was waiting for
my bus. I take the Wheelshair Express home. She was
on a low call, I see, and when it pulled
up she got out. I guess she must have turned
her ankle or something. Anyway, she'd dropped her pocket book. Well,
I helped her pick up her things, and that's when
she gave me this joker. I see that she didn't
have any use for herself and for me to keep it,
try to give it back that you wouldn't wait. I
(20:42):
tried to follow her, but just then my bus came along,
and I knew there wouldn't be another one for maybe
an hour. They don't run very regular after eight o'clock. Anyway,
I figured I could always return the choker if that
seemed like the best thing.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Oh are you going to do that? Miss Heflin, Do
you know the woman? Oh?
Speaker 1 (20:56):
No, no, But I watched her from the bus. We
had to wait for the light to change, so I'd
go into a building, apartment house. I suppose that's where
she lives.
Speaker 5 (21:09):
Ms Heplin told us that the woman had entered an
apartment house on Barstow Street, two doors from the Wiltshire Corner,
so we asked her to describe the suspect, and her description.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
Talent with what we already had. Ten fifteen pm, we
drove over to.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
The Barstow Avenue address and talked to the manager of
the apartment He told us that a woman answering the
suspect's description lived on the second floor Apartment seven.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
He said that her name was Edna Landy.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Frank and I went upstairs to talk to her.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Somebody's coming, yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
Ms Landy, Yes, police officers. Oh, I got to come
downtown with Ms.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Landy.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
All right, I'll get my coach.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
Never mind, I'll get it for you. Send the closet
over there, Okay, I'll walk around while i'm Yeah, you
won't find anything, that's all.
Speaker 8 (22:04):
I gave the last of it away just to see me.
Lady I met at the bus stop. Gave the last
piece to her nicely. She was very kind to me,
helped me when I dropped my purse. I'm glad I
had something nice.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
For girl choker, That's what it was.
Speaker 6 (22:21):
Yeah, clean Joe, right, I.
Speaker 8 (22:24):
Said, you wouldn't find anything.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
Why'd you do it? Miss Landy? Why'd you steal those things?
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Oh? I wasn't stealing.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Oh you weren't personal.
Speaker 8 (22:35):
You're just teaching them a lesson. Yeah, they needed it,
needed it bad. I would trust anybody. Always say you're
stealing from them, But.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Who you're talking about, miss Landy.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
People had hired me to work for them, do their cleaning.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
These people didn't hire you.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
They're all the same folks out here, back east and
all the same. Where's back east Cargo Cargo Illinois.
Speaker 8 (22:58):
Doesn't matter how much you do, how hard you try,
sooner or later something's missing.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
I say you took it.
Speaker 8 (23:06):
For him ten years, doesn't matter least a little thing
gets lost. To say you're a thief nicely made up
my mind.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Shown.
Speaker 8 (23:12):
As long as they're gonna blame me anyway, might as
well do something to deserve it.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Good lesson. That's what they need.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
All right, let's go.
Speaker 8 (23:21):
I'm an honest woman. I've always been honest. Sure, I
never took that money from missus Dresser.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
She was wrong to say. I did.
Speaker 8 (23:28):
Never took nothing that didn't belong.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
To me until you came out here.
Speaker 8 (23:32):
That's different.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Even then, I wasn't taken from myself. I gave all
the jewelry away. It wasn't from me.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
I was more than jewelry is landing a lot of
money missing too.
Speaker 8 (23:41):
I didn't keep it, Oh, send it off, every penny,
send it to charity. Different charity is all over. I
wouldn't keep something that wasn't mine. Nicely, maybe next time
they'll be a little more careful. Who they say is
a thief doesn't like to chuse somebody when she hasn't
done it. Just because you're the cleaning woman, that doesn't
mean you're not honest. Well I showed them it doesn't
(24:01):
know if I really wanted to be a crook, how
easy it was. I mustn't think I was doing anything wrong. No,
just trying to make them understand that's all. Cleaning woman's
like everybody else. You've got feelings too, and pride like
everybody else. Maybe now they'll see where they made their mistake.
They better I won't stand for being called a liar
(24:23):
and a seat not anymore. Folks better treat me a
whole lot different from here on in.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Well, that's right, Miss Landy. What they will.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
The story you've just heard is true.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
The names were changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
On December fourteenth, the hearing was held in Department ninety
six Superior Court at the State of California in and Paul,
the County of Los Angeles. In a moment the results
of that hearing, Edna Foster Landy was examined by three
(25:05):
psychiatrists appointed by the court and was found to be
mentally incompetent. She was committed to a state medical hospital
for an indefinite.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
Period of treatment.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
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.
Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
The story you are about to hear is true. The
names have been changed to protect the innocence. You're a
detective sergeant. You're assigned a burglary detail. A woman closing
as a housemaid has been stealing cash and other valuables
(00:29):
from homes in your city. Your job stopper.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Straight the documented drama of an actual crime. For the
next thirty minutes, in cooperation.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
With the Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Police Department, you will travel step by step on the
side of the law.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
An actual case.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Transcribe from official police violence, from beginning to end, from
crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police
force and action.
Speaker 5 (01:14):
It was Tuesday, October eleventh, was cloudy in Los Angeles.
We were working to day watch out of burglery detail.
My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Bernard. My
name is Frank. We're on our way back from lunch
and it was one seventeen PM when we got the
room forty five burglary.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Hey Smith, huh, your wife Paul while Yo wants you
to call her back.
Speaker 6 (01:33):
Oh, thanks, that's funny. I like Fay to call in
the middle of the day.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Kids are all right.
Speaker 6 (01:39):
When I left this morning, when what she wants?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Why don't you call her and find out.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
You're not married?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Joe, You don't understand. Sometimes a guy wants a minute
to think things over sory, to prepare himself if he's done.
Speaker 6 (01:50):
Something he shouldn't.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Well have you about what done something you shouldn't, of
course not? Then be my guess. Okay, thanks? Well, I
don't know himploy you too. That's mighty nice.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
It's funny.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
I know the kids are all right smart, Hi honey. Yeah,
and they just tell me or i'd want to find
something wrong. Oh, I want to happen?
Speaker 6 (02:30):
Nice if you know who she reported? Why not? Oh yeah,
I wasn't telling. I guess we could. Yeah, sure, that's affinitely, yeah, Joseph,
(02:51):
I'll be about seven thirty agains all right, any thanks
for telling me. If anything comes up, I'll Calldy got
by nice old lady like then. But I don't think
you ever met her. Joe names missus.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Vesper doesn't used to live next story to us when
I was a kid, known me since since I can remember.
Speaker 6 (03:14):
She's alone now. Fake calls her up every once in
a while. See she's all right? Who called her?
Speaker 4 (03:19):
This morning, as Vesper says, she had some money stolen,
some jewelry happened yesterday. Didn't she report it?
Speaker 6 (03:25):
Fate doesn't seem to think, so wants me to talk
to her.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Well let's go.
Speaker 6 (03:31):
Well and Joan, you got to promise me something. You
got to give me your word right here. I don't
want you to kid me afterwards about the way she
treats me.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Miss Desper. Yeah, I told you she's known me all
my life. Well, sometimes she acts like I'm still a
little boy, you know. So you won't rid me about anything,
anything at all. But what are you getting there?
Speaker 6 (03:53):
Well, she doesn't think I ought to be on the
forest for one thing, I might as well tell you
about it. I don't she will. She always played James,
I should have taken up.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Something else, like what?
Speaker 6 (04:02):
Oh, you know the crazy ideas people get, especially about kids.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
Well, miss Vesper thinks, I. Well, see, when.
Speaker 6 (04:09):
I was a lot younger, really young, tenney twelve, I
used to sort of memorize things, little pieces and poems,
memorize things, poems and little pieces, and I'd go next
door and recite them for her.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Yeah, you say she's known you all her life? Yeah,
practically it'll be true if we don't get out there once.
She got a real kick out of them poems. And
I wasn't much good, but she was prejudiced.
Speaker 6 (04:31):
Because she liked me, you know else.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
I want to go, Yeah, but I just want to
explain this that she thinks I should have kept at
it made up my career reciting poems. No, not exactly
reciting Joe. I didn't just recite him. You wrote them too, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
Frank and I left the office and drove out to
the home of missus Sarah Vesper. She lived in a
small bungalow and Lost Palmer Street in the Miracle Mile district.
It was two o seven pm when we got there.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Why for goodness sake, Frank Smith, where on earth did you.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
Come from afternoons?
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Vesper?
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Missus Vesper? What's gotten into you? Frank? You've never called
me that before in your whole life.
Speaker 6 (05:16):
Ah man an Sarah?
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Well, now that's more like it. Who's this? You got
here with you?
Speaker 6 (05:22):
And that's my partner? Sorry?
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Friday?
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Oh please, you work for Frank?
Speaker 6 (05:27):
Do your young man and Sarah?
Speaker 4 (05:30):
We work together?
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Oh you don't say, well, I expect that keeps you
from getting lonesome, don't it? My goodness, Now, don't just
stand there, Come on inside, both of you. Thank you
very much, Well, sir, this isn't the done this coincidence,
ma'am you're coming to visit me today? Oh, sit right down,
Sit right down after you, boss, Thanks, believe it or not.
(05:57):
I was talking to your wife only this morning. Then
the next thing I know.
Speaker 6 (06:01):
Here you are, yes, man, Faith only. Oh, what's the matter?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I just remember, that's why you're here, ain't it on
account of what I said to Faith? Yes? I should
never have mentioned it to her. I don't know what's
the matter with me. I must be losing my mind
as something. I just keep forgetting that you're a policeman.
Oh well you oughtn't to have been one in the
first place. Now if you're just taking my advice, Anthory,
(06:29):
Oh now, don't misunderstand me, please, I'm not criticizing the police.
We certainly couldn't get along without him, and I'd be
the first to say so. But some people have a
talent for one thing, and some people are talented in
a different directions. Isn't that right, mister Friday? Yes, ma'am,
you take Frank here. You had a real talent for
(06:50):
making up verses, even when he was just a little tight.
I'll bet you didn't know that, did you.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
Well, I heard a little something about him.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
A real talent, That's what it was. Why I remember
some of his poems to my dying day, the rind
and everything answer one about the rainbow that was one
of his very best. Did he ever do it for you,
mister Friday?
Speaker 4 (07:19):
No, No, I don't think he did.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Oh it gave you such a beautiful picture, just like
an artist that painted it only with words, You know
what I mean?
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Well, I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
I go ahead, Frank, say it from mister Friday.
Speaker 6 (07:35):
Please answer now.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
I know he'd like to hear it, wouldn't you, mister Friday?
All right, Frank, the one about the rainbow.
Speaker 6 (07:44):
I don't remember it.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Answer now, you're just being modest.
Speaker 6 (07:47):
Yes, Joe, Oh really, I don't answer.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
I don't remember not a word, honest.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Seems funny. I'd forget a thing like that. I mean,
when you made it up yourself.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Well, it's been a long time.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
It hasn't been any longer for you than it has
for me. And I can still remember it just as
clear as the first time I heard it? What rainbow?
Rainbow up so high? That's how it begun, mister Friday.
Rainbow rainbow up so high, blue and red and yellow
(08:24):
and brown like an arch across the sky. Won't you
ever tumble down? Where did it go from there? Frank?
The next verse? What was it?
Speaker 6 (08:42):
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but we haven't got much time.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Oh well, anyway, that gives you an idea of Frank's talent.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Yes man, what sure does Oftmut? And Sarah?
Speaker 6 (08:54):
Would you just tell us about the things that were
stolen from you?
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Well?
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I suppose she should have gotten in touch with the police,
Yes man, we should have. Well, I didn't see where
that would help matters none, just like closing the barn
door after the horse had been stolen. And besides, he
didn't want to hurt Barbara's feelings.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
Barbara my niece.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
You remember Barbara, Frank, Oh, sure, you played out in
the backyard with her the whole summer. She was visiting me.
Kind of a scrawny girl. Of course, she's filled out now.
You just wouldn't recognize her, has two children of her own,
nice home out in Westwood.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Yes man, what's your niece got to do with all?
This miss Vesper.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Oh, she's the one who sent her, ma'am the Keenan woman.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Did you know your niece was sending this woman over.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
No? No, I guess it was supposed to be kind
of a surprise. Oh anyway, she just come up to
the door yesterday morning, oh long, about nine point thirty now,
said she was ready to go to work. First. I
didn't know what she was getting at the explained about
Barbara hiring her to give me a hand. Of course,
(10:04):
I don't need nobody little place like this, no trouble
at all. But I didn't want to hurt Barbara's feeling,
so I told her to come on in and figured
maybe she could help out some of the heavy work,
you know, turning the mattresses and moving furniture.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Sure, what was the woman's name? Answer?
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Margaret. That's what she told me, Margaret.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Do you know her last name?
Speaker 1 (10:26):
No? No, don't think she even mentioned it. All right,
what happened next, Well, we did the cleaning, not that
she was much of a housekeeper, practically had to go
over the whole place after she left.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
But how long she stayed them?
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Path day? That's what she said. Barbara hired her for
must have been about oh then after one when she went,
didn't even give me a full four hours, insisted on
my fixedness some lunch too. I tell you that woman
sure had her share a goal my sandwiches at the
same time she was robbing me. Wonder she did and
(11:00):
that's for carfare?
Speaker 4 (11:01):
Well? Just what was it?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
She stole my cash money, cleaned out every pocketbook in
the dresser, found the bills I had hit under the
dresser's scarf too.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
Yes, man, how soon did you find out that these things.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Were going a little while after she left, when I
went to straighten up the mess she'd made.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
And you still haven't talked to your niece about all this.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I told you I didn't want to get her all upset.
M I suppose she will think it's funny I haven't
called a sinker.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
What if you'd mind calling her?
Speaker 1 (11:27):
No, you mean right now, yes, ma'am? And do I
have to.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
Well, we'd like to get this cleaning woman's name and address.
You don't have to say why you're calling aunt Sarah.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
She's bound to know something's wrong. Barbara's no fool.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
Well, if you won't talk to her, we will. We
can find out where she lives.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Huh, I guess I was wrong about you. Frank Smith, ma'am. Yes,
you're turned into a policeman after all. M looking the gift,
tossing the teeth, that's what it is. Bob is gonna
think you don't appreciate all she's done. You wait there,
I'll be right back, all right, Go ahead and say it.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Hmm, go on, get it over with.
Speaker 6 (12:08):
Ride me about the poem. That's why you're smirking.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
I robbed you did that and just sit there with
that silly smirk on your face. I suppose you never
made up any poems when you were a kid. I
bet blue and red and brown like an arn chip
in the sky. When would you tumble down?
Speaker 6 (12:28):
Is that it?
Speaker 4 (12:30):
Of course I wasn't a real talented poet.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Yeah. What are you staring at that?
Speaker 4 (12:36):
Oh? Nothing? You know? I want to stop it, will you? No?
I just noticing you need a haircut, don't you.
Speaker 6 (12:41):
I'm gonna get one this week.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
You're not letting it grow along? Man? Why would I?
Speaker 6 (12:47):
Johns will help me if we ever get out of here.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Slipped out. I won't say another word, I promised, or
look either. I don't even look.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, the stranger.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Did you get a hold of your niece, Miss Vesper?
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Oh, yes, yes, huh. I talked to her, but I
don't understand it. Simply don't understand it. I clean woman,
What about her? Bob didn't have anything to do with it. Oh,
she's never even heard of her.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Frank and I continued to talk to the victim.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
Missus Vesper told us that the suspect was WFA, about
forty years old, five feet three or four, weighing approximately
one hundred and forty pounds.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Said she was wearing a house dress and a light
gray coat.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
She also gave us a detailed description of the jewelry
that had been stolen. Frank telephoned missus Vesper's niece, and
she said she was not acquainted with anyone who answered
the suspect's description. Five seventeen pm, the crime lab reported
they had found no.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Physical evidence at the Vesper residence.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
Three days later, October fourteenth, we received a theft report
from a woman living near Wiltshire in Western The suspect
of gain entrance by saying that a neighborhood centered to clean.
The description tallied with what we already had. During the
next two weeks, nine more thefts were reported. In each case,
the suspect had used the same m and the description
indicated that the crimes had all been the work of
the same woman. Each of the thefts took place within
(14:07):
a few blocks of Wiltshire Boulevard, in the area between
vermondern Fairfax. In one instance, the suspect had been seen
departing on the Wiltshire Bus. Police officers taked out buses
and bus stops. Lists of the stolen property were sent
to all pawn shops in the city. Two women were
brought in for questioning that the victims were unable to
give positive identification. Employment agencies for domestic workers were contacted.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Newspaper want ads were checked. No leads developed.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Saturday, October twenty ninth, two to seventeen pm, I get.
Speaker 6 (14:37):
It, Burgery Friday.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
Who oh yeah, yeah, Corky but that yeah, thanks if
you can. Okay, Kirky Levitt.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Woman's in his pawn shop trying to unload a diamond clip.
Kirky says, it's on our list. We left the office
(15:20):
and drove down to Kirky Levet's pawn shop on South Maine.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Over the phone, Kirki.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Had said he would stall a woman as long as
he could. It was two twenty eight pm when we
got to his place.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
The woman was still there.
Speaker 7 (15:32):
You make up your mind, buster, give me some doll
on the thing and hand it back.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
I'll take it someplace else.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Let's have a look at it.
Speaker 6 (15:37):
Carky sure, Hey, what is it? Police officers?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Huh, let's go take your hands off me or all,
let's go. Thanks Kirky, yeah, thanks a lot. I suppose
you let me in on it. What's the beef?
Speaker 4 (15:49):
We're talking over at the officer about what this clip?
Speaker 7 (15:52):
I mean, it's hot?
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Is that what you're getting at?
Speaker 4 (15:53):
What you tell us?
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Wouldn't you know it? Lucky reader? She walked into it
this time.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
It looks like it.
Speaker 7 (16:01):
Your clan's got your minds all later.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
You think I still left him, don't you?
Speaker 4 (16:05):
Somebody did. Two forty two pm we contacted Control one
and notified them we were bringing in a female suspect.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
They took down our mileage in location and made a
note of the time.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Eight minutes later we pulled into the city hall and
we again checked with Control one. Baba suspect was being
searched by a policewoman. We talked to one of the victims.
The victim positively identified the diamond.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Clipper is belonging to her. Three forty one pm. We
interrogated the suspect in the squad room.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
All right, all right, you want a cigarette? Yeah, all right,
I suppose you tell us about it. Come on, Rita,
let's get it over with.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
I's betty to tell you.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Guys know all the answers, We know some of them.
Your name's Rita Baines.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
You fall them three times forgery, grand theft, burglary. You
made two trips to the Hatchet, being.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
One to Corona, so you looked up my record.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Let's talk about this diamond cliff.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Huh, okay, pretty in it?
Speaker 4 (17:03):
What'd you get at, Rita?
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Didn't I steal it? Isn't that why you brought me
up here? That's a difference.
Speaker 8 (17:10):
You wouldn't believe me no matter what I told you.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Why don't you try the truth?
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Okay? It was a gift.
Speaker 6 (17:16):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
The lady gave it to me.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
Was she?
Speaker 7 (17:19):
I don't know, never saw her before in my life. Sure,
I was riding the bus yesterday afternoon. She was sitting
next to it, had that pen on, asking me.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
If I liked it? You bet, I said, sure, the
girls that I could.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Have it just handed it right over, just like that.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Yeah, what'd she look like, Rita?
Speaker 8 (17:34):
I don't know, forty and be forty five along the
happy stud and you've never seen her before first time?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
You know.
Speaker 7 (17:41):
When I was a little girl, my folks always told
me not.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
To take things from change.
Speaker 6 (17:44):
Sure they did.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Yeah, I guess they were right.
Speaker 6 (17:49):
All right, reader? What do you do for living?
Speaker 8 (17:51):
Wait?
Speaker 6 (17:52):
Table where borrowed on peakle?
Speaker 4 (17:54):
You work days or.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
Nights, nights mostly don't o't move four o'clock every.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Morning's freezing law against it.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Do any housework?
Speaker 7 (18:01):
Straighten up my room once in a while.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
You ever do housework for somebody else, like a cleaning woman.
Speaker 7 (18:06):
I ain't that hard up for a job, even with
a record.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
All right, let's talk about this pen some more.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
You didn't believe me did.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
Pretty hard to swallowing this. Yeah, lady a blons who
says worth over one hundred dollars.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Palmbroker didn't think so.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
People don't go around giving a one hundred dollar clips,
not do they? What'd you get it?
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Same on the bus? Ask me if I liked it?
Speaker 8 (18:25):
I said, yes, she gave it me Yeah, you.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Guys don't mind if I stick to that storry. Dad,
you're seeing his how's the truth?
Speaker 6 (18:31):
Which bus were you riding?
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Well, where'd your friend get off?
Speaker 7 (18:34):
She wasn't.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Did you get off?
Speaker 1 (18:35):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (18:37):
I got off first.
Speaker 7 (18:39):
You know, if it was somebody else telling you.
Speaker 8 (18:40):
This, she might go along with it.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Yeah, sure we would, but not me.
Speaker 7 (18:45):
Not beat the thing, you cops give a gall of
record from then on.
Speaker 8 (18:48):
She might as well be dead.
Speaker 7 (18:49):
Sure, anytime there's trouble pick her up. She probably did it.
She tells you did it, and she's probably lying.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
You know, you got one thing wrong, right, I all
don't know.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
It's happened to me often enough. I'm the gal with
a record.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
Yeah, but we didn't give it a yet.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
Frank and I continued to question the suspect, but she
refused to change her story. Eight forty two pm a
special show up was held for several of the burglary victims,
none of them identified Rita Baines.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
Nine oh six pm. She was released from custody and
we went back to the office.
Speaker 6 (19:19):
Well, she didn't take clip, she knows who did. Maybe
that's the reason, Joe.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
Nobody's gonna go to all the trouble of stealing and
stuff and then give it away. Burgary Friday. Yes, ma'am,
what's that I see?
Speaker 1 (19:37):
M h.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
Yes, we would. What's your address? All right? Thank you
very much, just a few minutes, goodbye. Well, here we
go again, another burglary, another piece of free jewelry. Frank
(20:00):
and I'd roll out to one address on South Ridgley Drive,
nine thirty two pm. We talked to missus Lucy Heflin.
She showed us a pearl choker that had been given
to her by a woman she met at the bus
stop earlier in the evening.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
I didn't want to take it. I told her so,
but she wouldn't listen. And then afterwards, when I got
home and thought about it, well, I started wondering if
maybe there was some reason why she was so anxious
to get rid of those pearls. So I called you.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
That's where was it you saw this woman, Miss Heflin.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Corner Wilshire and Barstow. That's where I was waiting for
my bus. I take the Wheelshair Express home. She was
on a low call, I see, and when it pulled
up she got out. I guess she must have turned
her ankle or something. Anyway, she'd dropped her pocket book. Well,
I helped her pick up her things, and that's when
she gave me this joker. I see that she didn't
have any use for herself and for me to keep it,
try to give it back that you wouldn't wait. I
(20:42):
tried to follow her, but just then my bus came along,
and I knew there wouldn't be another one for maybe
an hour. They don't run very regular after eight o'clock. Anyway,
I figured I could always return the choker if that
seemed like the best thing.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Oh are you going to do that? Miss Heflin, Do
you know the woman? Oh?
Speaker 1 (20:56):
No, no, But I watched her from the bus. We
had to wait for the light to change, so I'd
go into a building, apartment house. I suppose that's where
she lives.
Speaker 5 (21:09):
Ms Heplin told us that the woman had entered an
apartment house on Barstow Street, two doors from the Wiltshire Corner,
so we asked her to describe the suspect, and her description.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
Talent with what we already had. Ten fifteen pm, we
drove over to.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
The Barstow Avenue address and talked to the manager of
the apartment He told us that a woman answering the
suspect's description lived on the second floor Apartment seven.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
He said that her name was Edna Landy.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Frank and I went upstairs to talk to her.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Somebody's coming, yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
Ms Landy, Yes, police officers. Oh, I got to come
downtown with Ms.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Landy.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
All right, I'll get my coach.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
Never mind, I'll get it for you. Send the closet
over there, Okay, I'll walk around while i'm Yeah, you
won't find anything, that's all.
Speaker 8 (22:04):
I gave the last of it away just to see me.
Lady I met at the bus stop. Gave the last
piece to her nicely. She was very kind to me,
helped me when I dropped my purse. I'm glad I
had something nice.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
For girl choker, That's what it was.
Speaker 6 (22:21):
Yeah, clean Joe, right, I.
Speaker 8 (22:24):
Said, you wouldn't find anything.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
Why'd you do it? Miss Landy? Why'd you steal those things?
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Oh? I wasn't stealing.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Oh you weren't personal.
Speaker 8 (22:35):
You're just teaching them a lesson. Yeah, they needed it,
needed it bad. I would trust anybody. Always say you're
stealing from them, But.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Who you're talking about, miss Landy.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
People had hired me to work for them, do their cleaning.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
These people didn't hire you.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
They're all the same folks out here, back east and
all the same. Where's back east Cargo Cargo Illinois.
Speaker 8 (22:58):
Doesn't matter how much you do, how hard you try,
sooner or later something's missing.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
I say you took it.
Speaker 8 (23:06):
For him ten years, doesn't matter least a little thing
gets lost. To say you're a thief nicely made up
my mind.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Shown.
Speaker 8 (23:12):
As long as they're gonna blame me anyway, might as
well do something to deserve it.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Good lesson. That's what they need.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
All right, let's go.
Speaker 8 (23:21):
I'm an honest woman. I've always been honest. Sure, I
never took that money from missus Dresser.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
She was wrong to say. I did.
Speaker 8 (23:28):
Never took nothing that didn't belong.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
To me until you came out here.
Speaker 8 (23:32):
That's different.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Even then, I wasn't taken from myself. I gave all
the jewelry away. It wasn't from me.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
I was more than jewelry is landing a lot of
money missing too.
Speaker 8 (23:41):
I didn't keep it, Oh, send it off, every penny,
send it to charity. Different charity is all over. I
wouldn't keep something that wasn't mine. Nicely, maybe next time
they'll be a little more careful. Who they say is
a thief doesn't like to chuse somebody when she hasn't
done it. Just because you're the cleaning woman, that doesn't
mean you're not honest. Well I showed them it doesn't
(24:01):
know if I really wanted to be a crook, how
easy it was. I mustn't think I was doing anything wrong. No,
just trying to make them understand that's all. Cleaning woman's
like everybody else. You've got feelings too, and pride like
everybody else. Maybe now they'll see where they made their mistake.
They better I won't stand for being called a liar
(24:23):
and a seat not anymore. Folks better treat me a
whole lot different from here on in.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Well, that's right, Miss Landy. What they will.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
The story you've just heard is true.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
The names were changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
On December fourteenth, the hearing was held in Department ninety
six Superior Court at the State of California in and Paul,
the County of Los Angeles. In a moment the results
of that hearing, Edna Foster Landy was examined by three
(25:05):
psychiatrists appointed by the court and was found to be
mentally incompetent. She was committed to a state medical hospital
for an indefinite.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
Period of treatment.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
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.
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