December 31, 2025 • 30 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
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Found off for Chesterfield.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Chesterfield First with premium quality and best for you. Chesterfield
brings you drink, ladies and gentlemen. The story you're about
to hear is true. The names have been changed to
(00:30):
protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned the
homicide detail. You get a call from a man telling
you that a woman has been badly beaten. Before you
can get the name of the victim or any other information,
(00:50):
the caller hangs up. Your job investigated. Here is Chesterfield's
record with smokers and important to you.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
No adverse effect to the nose, throat and finuses from
smoking Chesterfield.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
That's the report of a doctor who has been examining
a group of Chesterfield smokers for a full year and
two months as a part of a program supervised by
a responsible, independent research laboratory. Don't you want to try
a cigarette with a record like this? Chesterfield first with
premium quality, Chesterfield first choice of young America. And that's
(01:33):
from a survey made in two hundred and seventy four
colleges and universities. Try Chesterfield today, Chesterfield Regular or King Size.
They're much milder and best for you.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Fragments the documented drama of an actual crime for the
next thirty minutes in operation with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
If you will travel step by step on the side of.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
The law through an actual case, transcribe from official police
spiers from beginning to end, from crime to punishment.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Drag Net is the story of your police force and action.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
It was Friday, June tenth, was hot in Los Angeles.
We were working the night Watch out of homicide detail.
My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Mormon. My
name is Friday.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
I was on my way back.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
From the main jail and it was eight ten pm
when I got to room forty two homicide Franks.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah, wait a minute, I want to talk to you.
I'm not selling any place.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Oh well, I talked to Evans. I couldn't get any
more out of them. A Raymond still set for the fourteenth,
isn't it.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
They can't you settle down for a minute and stop
that taking up and down? Does a matter of something
on your mind?
Speaker 1 (02:51):
On the legs?
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Oh, something wrong with it?
Speaker 1 (02:53):
I say, just walking?
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Well, I wish you could manage to stand still from it.
And then I'm getting a little bitious following you around
the room. You know how far it is from here
to the business office?
Speaker 1 (03:06):
What do you mean? How far it's just across the hall?
Is that what you mean? Twenty five feet? No, you're wrong.
It's one two hundred and tenths of a mile, and
that's good to know.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
It's one sixth of a mile of the crime lab
including the stairs, an eighth of a mile of house cafe.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Four trips to RNI equals a quarter of a mile.
Never knew that, did you?
Speaker 4 (03:26):
No? Our grand total of the night so far as
over six miles and only half through.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
What do you think of that? Joe? Well, what's it
all through? This is a walking job we got Well
everybody knows that. I don't think.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Yeah, but I'm the only one in the department that
knows exactly how far we walk. That's fine. Any calls
come in when I was out, no, like know how
to do it?
Speaker 1 (03:45):
What's that done? Where the predominant measures miles?
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Just fastens on your Legsy at the end of the day,
you know exactly how far you walk? Yeah, it's gonna
measure everything, Joe, keep tracked and I know exactly how
far everything is.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
What for somebody might wanna know who.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
I got a homicide Friday.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah, now what's that address against? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Right now, we got one to roll on. What you
got ambulance follow up? West Lake area. Uh, woman's been beaten.
Eight fourteen pm. We left the city hall and drove
to the address we've been given. Eighty six seventy fourteen
Bria Street was a large private home that had.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Been divided into apartment.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
The house was quiet and there was no sign of
any disturbance. There was a woman sitting in a grider
on the front porch. We went up and talked to her.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Something I can do for you police officers. Man, we
got a call up. There's been some sort of trouble here.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
What kind of trouble?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
A woman had been beaten?
Speaker 6 (04:50):
All right, it must be some kind of joke, nothing
like that here.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
You sure you got the right address?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Well, we were given. Man, we got an apartment one
oh four, Yeah, the.
Speaker 7 (04:58):
Last one back on the list, rocking you live there,
Mr and mssrs.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
We'd like to see the apartment.
Speaker 7 (05:02):
Go ahead.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
Anything happened around here, I'd know about it. I'm the landlady.
Anything happened, I'd.
Speaker 7 (05:07):
Know about it.
Speaker 5 (05:07):
Go ahead, do you wanna find anything?
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Man here it is, I'll get a.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Better trying to do it out.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Yeah, nobody here. It looks like they had a pony.
I heck ther back.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
No, no one out there. Coffee on the tables called,
did you find anything? Where's that door?
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Going? Man?
Speaker 5 (05:44):
Bedroom?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Joel Stair on the bed now, yeah, really worked her over?
Uh how about her?
Speaker 4 (05:58):
See if I can find her culture now she's still alive.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (06:03):
What is it?
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Something happened to Hazel?
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Oh it's pretty bad.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Those eyes black?
Speaker 1 (06:08):
We is this missus Rockman here?
Speaker 6 (06:10):
Yeah, it's Hazel. What's wrong?
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Where is he?
Speaker 1 (06:13):
I don't know. When'd you see him last?
Speaker 6 (06:15):
How about five minutes ago? Where was that on the
front porch?
Speaker 7 (06:18):
It just walked out.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
The ambulance crew arrived and immediately removed the victim to
Georgia Street Receiving Hospital for emergency treatment. We got in
touch with Officer at Barrett of the hospital detail and
asked him to try to get a statement from the
victim if she regained consciousness. We locked the door to
the Rockman apartment to preserve any physical evidence we might need,
and then we went down and talked to the landlady,
missus Ruth Baker. We found her on the front porch.
(06:46):
We asked her what she knew about what had happened.
Speaker 7 (06:49):
I sure wish I could tell you more.
Speaker 6 (06:51):
How about Hazel?
Speaker 7 (06:51):
Is she gonna be on right?
Speaker 1 (06:52):
We don't know yet, Miss Baker, she's pretty badly beagy, m.
Speaker 6 (06:56):
Well, what do you want from me?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Some questions? We'd like to ask man.
Speaker 7 (07:01):
About what I told you?
Speaker 6 (07:02):
What I know?
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Do you know where Missus Rockman's husband was going?
Speaker 5 (07:06):
No, I don't. I don't much care anything.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Do you say anything at all when he went out?
Speaker 5 (07:11):
Not a word, just walked out in a sort of daze,
like a transport.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
He didn't say anything at all to you.
Speaker 6 (07:17):
I just got through telling you that he didn't.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Yes, ma'am, mister MSUs Rockman fight often, would you know?
Speaker 6 (07:23):
No, not any more than any married couple.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
It was Baker. Yeah, I wonder if you've ben give
us a description of mister Rockland description, Yes, ma'am, tell
us what he looks like?
Speaker 7 (07:35):
Figure he did that to his Uh huh.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
That's what we wanted to talk to him about.
Speaker 7 (07:41):
What kind of description do you want about?
Speaker 1 (07:42):
How tall of it?
Speaker 7 (07:45):
About as tall as he is?
Speaker 1 (07:47):
I'd be five ten.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Huh.
Speaker 6 (07:49):
If that's what you are, how much would.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
You say Wade wouldn't even make a guess.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
I don't know who things like that?
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Yes for him? But what would you say?
Speaker 4 (07:57):
It was medium?
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Bill or heavy?
Speaker 6 (08:01):
I'd say medium, not too heavy, not too skinny.
Speaker 5 (08:03):
Medium.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
The colors his hair black, about his eyes.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
Brown, real dark brown.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
He wear glasses?
Speaker 4 (08:15):
No?
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Was he clean shaven? What do you mean, well, you
have a mustang?
Speaker 4 (08:22):
No?
Speaker 7 (08:22):
He had one awhile ago.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
He tried to grow one, but Hazel made him take
it off. It never grew real well, little scraggly thing.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Or was he wearing when you saw him last?
Speaker 6 (08:31):
Shirt and pants?
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Would you tell us what color the shirt was?
Speaker 8 (08:36):
No?
Speaker 7 (08:36):
And I can't tell you what color the pants were either.
Speaker 6 (08:38):
It's dark out here. I didn't pay much attention when
he left, Just thought he didn't feel well, sick from
the party.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Alright, mis Bigger, May I use your phone?
Speaker 6 (08:47):
Sure?
Speaker 7 (08:47):
Help yourself.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
It's in the living room, right inside the door you left.
You can't miss it, all right, ma'am's NiFe.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
I'll call us in you right, um as Baker, Yeah,
it was mister Rockman's drink was Why do he ask that, well,
one if there might be some buy in the neighborhood
that he might have gone to.
Speaker 5 (09:04):
Maybe no, it just did much at all. Once in
a while, he and Hazel have a glass of wine
before dinner, you know, sharp in the appetite, just to
glass of wine before dinner.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
M And you haven't any idea where he might have gone,
not the slightest.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Do you have any relatives in the city.
Speaker 6 (09:22):
I can't answer that.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
You mean you don't know.
Speaker 6 (09:26):
Attat some people someplace. Most of us do.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
But I'm not the kind of person who prizes the
private lives of my tenants.
Speaker 7 (09:31):
They pay their rent.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
No, a lot of parties. I don't bother about this
party tonight.
Speaker 7 (09:36):
Yeah, what about it?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Was there any trouble, not that I knew about it.
You didn't hear anything any loud talking, any arguments? Maybe no.
Speaker 6 (09:46):
But I wasn't at the party.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Wasn't invited Hazel David for her Tony's Friend's gonna play bridge.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
I wasn't there, Yes, ma'am, could you tell us who
was there?
Speaker 5 (09:55):
Never been able to get the hang of the game.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
Don't like couns find these checkers.
Speaker 7 (09:59):
That's my game?
Speaker 6 (09:59):
You ever could im stand Bridge.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
There wasn't invited.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Well, can't you give us a list of the people
who were there? I suppose why he need it? We'd
like to talk to him.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
Well, I guess it be alright to.
Speaker 7 (10:13):
Get him to you.
Speaker 6 (10:14):
How's hey?
Speaker 7 (10:14):
Do you heard it?
Speaker 5 (10:15):
No, ma'am, sure a terrible thing.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
Not that maybe she didn't deserve it, but it's sure terrible.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Why do you say that? In as baker?
Speaker 6 (10:24):
What do you mean? Why do I say? I say
it because it's true? No other reason to say something.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yes, ma'am, what do you mean?
Speaker 6 (10:31):
Just that it was bound to happen.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
Somebody was bound to haul off and slap her mouth
shuple of these days. The way she talked, ma'am, accuse him,
always accused him, thought everybody in the world was after her.
Always tell me that you she knew about me, That
I wasn't fool anybody the words she used, and they
were supposed to be so tall.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
Well, did she have any enemies around her, anyone to
make her think that was you know?
Speaker 5 (10:52):
Well, she didn't have any right out enemies. There were
several people who didn't like her.
Speaker 6 (10:55):
They thought she was too snooty for 'em.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
I probably often sail they putting on a broadcast. Did
you check him? Yeah, that's a lot of hope. It's
all right, ma'am. I'll let your number in case they
wanna reach it. Sure, it's all right. Can you give
it the names of the people at the party of
the nightmam.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
Man. There was Lily Davis, the Harrises, and there was
something thought that wasn't Olier that I never saw before.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
I know where you can get in touch with 'em,
do you.
Speaker 8 (11:21):
Well?
Speaker 5 (11:21):
It has us leap up in two or three, and
Lily has an apartment one o five right across the Rockman.
Speaker 6 (11:26):
She ought to be able to tell you something.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
I don't know if it's gonna be the truth, but
she don't think of something to tell you, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
She's a good friend of missus Rockman's.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
You know.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Oh you bet they're taking thieves, always having little lunches
by themselves, talking.
Speaker 7 (11:38):
Seecrets, buzzing around seves.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Myself.
Speaker 7 (11:40):
I never took them at home.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
Thought she was kind of wild divorce.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
See you know all right, Miss Beggars, thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
We'll be in one o five if through any calls
appreciated it, because you know, if Mr Rockman comes in,
don't mention to 'em and we're here.
Speaker 6 (11:53):
Alright.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
That was one o five. You said, yeah, better talk
to the Stavis one of her. You know, maybe she
can tell us where Rockman is. Yeah, one oh five
heard this, Yes, miss Davis?
Speaker 7 (12:14):
Yes, is it something I can do for you?
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Yes, ma'am? What police officers?
Speaker 7 (12:18):
What is it you want with me?
Speaker 1 (12:19):
We'd like talk he ma'am.
Speaker 7 (12:20):
Oh, we'll come in, thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
I wonder if it be art if we left the
door open.
Speaker 7 (12:25):
I suppose so, any special reasons or we like.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
To keep around. They are probably across the hall. Well,
what's it about? We understand if you know the Rockman's
pretty well?
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Suppose so why the only idea where MSR.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Rockman might be?
Speaker 7 (12:36):
Oh, I don't isn't across the hall? No, ma'ami is
a m I don't know where he is. Did you
talk to Hazel? No, ma'am, Well why don't you ask curse?
She should know.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
We're wondering if you could help us out.
Speaker 7 (12:46):
M last I saw of him was when you left
their place. Uh huh kay. I wonder if your mind
if I went ahead with what I was doing, Well,
probably seems silly.
Speaker 8 (12:55):
To you.
Speaker 7 (12:55):
But it's a hobby of mine or our sculpture. Silly,
but it gives me a chance to relax.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Man, where you go out ahead?
Speaker 7 (13:04):
I don't think I got your name.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Oh, my name's Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith.
How do you do? How do you do?
Speaker 7 (13:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (13:09):
After Friday?
Speaker 7 (13:10):
Well, what's the Well, it's about herman done something wrong.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
No, it's just a routine investigation, Miss Davis. Oh, I
understand that you were at their place tonight at a party. Huh.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
Well, yes, Hazel was gonna have a couple of tables
a bridge.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Anything unusual happened while you were there?
Speaker 7 (13:24):
No, not, n you'd call a really unusual.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Who was there, ma'am?
Speaker 7 (13:28):
Oh myself? The houses Dad it upstairs.
Speaker 8 (13:31):
And Tourl Reeves and the couple were coming over after dinner,
but they called and said they couldn't make it just as.
Speaker 7 (13:36):
Well, and I just felt much like playing. Why was that?
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Well?
Speaker 7 (13:39):
Hatterel wasn't feeling very well. She and herman had a
little argument. You know how. It is kind of uncomfortable.
Excuse me, hello, yes, oh, yes.
Speaker 8 (13:53):
Tom, No, Well you've got to understand she wasn't feeling
too well.
Speaker 7 (14:02):
Just one of those things. Yeah, why no, I've got
a meeting that I wanna go to tomorrow night modern art.
Yes it it plays down on Melrose. Well, sure if
you if you want to, alright, you wanna pick me
(14:23):
up about seven?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Right, okay?
Speaker 7 (14:27):
See you? Then, by excuse me, that was Tom, the
nice boy. I just met him tonight. The rockman set
it up.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
What was the chargument that the Rockman's had? Do you
know what that was about?
Speaker 8 (14:41):
Well, that was not seeing that the little thing Hazel
hadn't been seiling. Well lately, it's often of you to
set her off.
Speaker 7 (14:47):
I guess sometimes herman doesn't realize.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
It, yes, ma'am. But what caused it to night?
Speaker 8 (14:51):
Well, you see, Hazel's been thinking that there was somebody
been following or spying on her. She told herman about
it tonight. That made him a little angry. And well
then at dinner we just sat down, Missus Harris said
that she'd seen her picture of address that Hazel.
Speaker 7 (15:05):
Had her in the morning paper.
Speaker 8 (15:06):
Well Hazel didn't understand. I guess she thought that Missus
Harris was being.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
Nasty about it.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
She got up and left the.
Speaker 7 (15:12):
Table, went into the bedroom. Yes, ma'am, herman got up
and went in.
Speaker 8 (15:15):
After came out and said that she wasn't feeling well.
Kind of sew a damper and the even so any
other couple called.
Speaker 7 (15:21):
And said that they wouldn't be able to make it.
We all decided to call it quits.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Was there any reason for missus Rockmand to feel that
there was somebody spying.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
On 'em at all?
Speaker 7 (15:28):
No, mister Friday. It was just one of those things.
She'd go along fine, feel good, and then she'd wake
up in the morning and start to think about things that.
Speaker 8 (15:35):
She'd get depressed well, and she's like that there isn't
anything can lift.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Her out of it.
Speaker 7 (15:39):
We used to talk about it. I'd try to help her.
The same thing happened to me. I know, it's just
one of those things that's sam.
Speaker 8 (15:45):
Maybe they'd had children that it'd be different, But lately
she hasn't been feeling well, and she and herman hadn't
been getting along.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
He just didn't seem to understand.
Speaker 8 (15:53):
She'd get angry and he'd work late, and the more
he worked late and stayed away from home, the more
she'd frest and get angry. It's a vicious nothing anyone
can do about it didn't pass with time.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
When Rochman went in to see his wife, did they argue, Well, they.
Speaker 7 (16:07):
Had a few words, a little loud, nothing serious. Then
he came out and said that everything was all right, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Did Rochman never get violent? Tod he's last you know?
Speaker 7 (16:15):
Oh do you mean violentce?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Do you ever hit her?
Speaker 7 (16:17):
No? I don't think so. A couple of times when
I was old there they looked like he might be
thinking of it, but I never saw it. I think
if he ever did hit or Hazel would have told me.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
They were very close.
Speaker 7 (16:27):
As I said, I tried to help her, just a
few loud words. That's all I ever knew about. Anyway.
After herman came out of the bedroom, we all decided
to leave. They saw a tom. He wanted to go on,
you know, out some place, but I was a little tired,
and I just met him tonight, so I beg Dolphin
came home.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 7 (16:43):
Can't you tell me what this is all about? Miss David? Howell,
Mister David, there's something you wanted. I wanna see the police.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
Mister Smithy office called said give it a call. That's
never ride a way.
Speaker 7 (17:03):
He's the number they gave me.
Speaker 6 (17:04):
They said, you'd know I wrote it down right now?
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Or do you wanna call you? Yeah? What if I
use your phone? Status?
Speaker 6 (17:10):
Sure? Help yourself?
Speaker 4 (17:10):
Are you?
Speaker 5 (17:21):
Isn't this the most awful thing you've heard in all
your life?
Speaker 6 (17:24):
Right?
Speaker 5 (17:25):
What about herman?
Speaker 6 (17:26):
But he did terrible? They alta to send him away
for a long time, a good long time.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Please, what are you talking about?
Speaker 5 (17:34):
All the ambulance suits or police never had a thing
like this happened before, or the excitement and what herman
did is terrible.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
That's all terrible.
Speaker 7 (17:42):
Well, somebody tell me what this is all about, all.
Speaker 8 (17:44):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Joe fran Yeah, y'all over here now?
Speaker 8 (17:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (17:52):
It sure about the night? Yeah? Well kay, out right,
I'll call him right now.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
That's it?
Speaker 8 (17:59):
Does Bye.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Joyously, eh, missus Rachmandin something else. But she wasn't beaten.
She was shocked to death.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
You are listening to dragnet, the authentic story of your
police force and action.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
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Speaker 4 (19:24):
Nine ten pm we called the crime lab and Ray
Pinker and a crew were sent out to check the
physical evidence of the scene. We contacted Ed Barrett at
the hospital, but he said the woman had not regained consciousness.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Frank and I went upstairs to talk with mister and
Missus Harris.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
They gave us substantially the same story we'd gotten from
Willie Davis. They agreed that when Rockman went into the
bedroom to see his wife, they'd heard loud voices, but
nothing else. They stated positively that as far as they knew,
there had been no shot fired while they were in
the Rockman apartment. Nine seventeen pm, we checked with the
other people in the apartment building. None of them could
report having heard a shot. From them, we got the
(20:00):
same story of missus Rockman's actions. Some of the neighbors
said that they didn't get along with her, others seemed
to understand their feelings. M nine, twenty two pm. We
checked back with Ray Pinker and the crew from the
Crime Lamb.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
We didn't spend a lot of time.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Here, right.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
The husband looked good for it. We were trying around
him up. Shooting was a real surprise. That looked like
a beating. Guess we couldn't tell.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
The boy from Georgia Street got it out of here
right away.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Yeah, keep him up with anyway. Yeah, a couple of things.
How many fellers got a figured well, all talk about
the neighbors looks like the husband there's.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Scart time and then only walked right out after it happened,
got out of broadcast on him.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
If it's turned out yet, though, I was lucking you right.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Well, I'm not sure and go along with you guys
and the husband. Well, I talked with Doc Hall. You're
not gonna be able to know for sure. They post
the body woman slapped around and all that.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Yeah, we saw I looked pretty brutal to ass.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
I mean, the black guy. You know what, Dark Hall says,
I didn't come from a beating him. He says, the
boy did it?
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Was he pretty sure about it? It looks like it
all top he approved?
Speaker 4 (20:49):
Boy?
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Did you find him again under the bed.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
We're here right side indentation on the floor here. Hevidently
fell from her hand, bounced back under the bed, an
he prints on.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
It, lit the three queen. Have you been able to
make him?
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Lifted some of the dressing table over there? Perfume bottles, mirror,
It's like they might belong to the dead woman.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Check him for sure later and you figure maybe she
did herself there where it's begin to shape up? Or
how about the shot?
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Right?
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Nobody we've talked to heard it. Here's the explanation for that.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
This pillar here, see the bullet hole here burn yeah,
die Hall says, she'd be shotting the back of the
right air. She must have held the gun in the
pillow that muffled the sound. What noise there was wouldn't
be heart very far?
Speaker 1 (21:28):
How can you be sure it was suicide?
Speaker 7 (21:29):
Right?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Just an idea?
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Now?
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Would roll a dead woman's friends run a water test
on her see if she fired the gun?
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Check for night right?
Speaker 7 (21:35):
Well?
Speaker 4 (21:35):
No for sure? How long will I say I'll be
finishing an hour, So I want you to say, well,
I get it. The bullet iner just behind the right ear,
passed behind the eyes. I've seen it a couple of
times before.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, but dk Hall said that she'd go slapped a
couple of times.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Right, yeah, said he find a couple of bruises on
her cheeks, not enough to do any damage though, surely
not enough to kill her.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
It's a Friday.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
It's a friday.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
Can you come ride over my place? Herman's on the phone,
was there, mister Zackman? He called to find out how
Hazel was? Uh huh, whom's right there?
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Hello?
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Hello, Hello, We're not there now. What'd he say?
Speaker 8 (22:17):
Well, he asked me if I knew how Hazel was.
I told him that she was dead, and then I
asked him where he was and he said us no,
h He just said for me to tell people that
he was sorry he did it, for me to tell
him that that he didn't mean it.
Speaker 7 (22:27):
He said, he didn't mean to kill Hazel.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Well, the way it looks, he didn't do it, and
you'd better find her right away.
Speaker 7 (22:32):
Well he thinks he didn't, He's gonna kill himself.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
We talked to the land Lady Ruth Baker, but she
was unable to tell us where Herman Rockman was employed.
Lily Davis told us that he was a car salesman.
He employed at a lot in the south end of town.
We asked Miss Davis to stay by our phone in
the event that Rockman called back, and to let us
know immediately if he did. We found an address book
in the desk in the living room of the apartment,
and we began to carl Rockman's friends and relevant none
(23:02):
as I haven't seen him or could tell us.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Where he was.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Nine forty five pm, it had been twenty minutes since
the husband of the dead woman had called and said
that he was going to kill himself. At nine forty
six pm, we contacted the brother in law of the
dead woman and he told us that as far as
he knew, Rockman had been employed by the Bateman Auto
Agency in Guardina. We got the number from information and
I put him the call.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Hello, is this a Bateman Auto Agency? Well, it's the
Sigeant Joe Fidrey, Los Angeles Police Department. Yes, sir, do
you have a Hermon Rockman working for you? Yes, sir,
that's right. I'll see KM Uh huh, I say when
was that?
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Yeah? Any idea where he's working now, uh huh, Yes,
so I understand, Yeah, Well have you got the number?
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Fine? Yeah, would you know.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
If they're opening this time?
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Ina I said, okay, alright, chuer, I'll hold on.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
How about says Rochman did work for him, He hasn't
seen him in a couple yes, or yeah? Uh huh
that's O three night. Yes, said thanks very much. Says
he's heard Rockman's working for a company out and watching
the boulevard now huh left him a couple of weeks ago. Hello,
(24:16):
do you have a Herman Rockman working the Hello? Hello,
somebody answered.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
As soon as I asked about Rockman, he hung up.
I think it was him.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
There's no way to tell him. We betta check on
a click.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
We got the address, you know all. It takes about
five minutes to get there. Let's go.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
We still got a check. Nine fifty pm we left
the apartment. When we drove out West Lake Avenue and
turned down to Washington Boulevard, we traveled Code three, but
because of the possibility of alarming Rockmen, we turned off
the siren six blocks from the address of the used car.
Lots nine fifty four pm.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
We got to the place.
Speaker 4 (24:52):
The lock was a dark at the rear and the
back of Atlanta cars, we could see a small shack.
I hope he here.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Yeah, no light time, doors locked. Let's try the side
of the window.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Run there right, adn't say anything, and all the windows
they set your flash mine?
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Yeah, here you go, give me how about it? He's
in there. It looks like he's out.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
Come on, I'll get it right, well a guy tell
you flash my, I'll get him out of here. You
want to get that.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Here's right? When the stock how about it? It's still alive, espec.
She has to bring yeah, stock one, stock one? Come on,
rock you're alright? Set up?
Speaker 4 (25:39):
What is it doing?
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Why did you stop me? No reason for way you
to kill yourself. I got a reason I killed. I
didn't mean to. I loved him more than anything. I
didn't mean that my head.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
That's hard.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Settle down, Settle down. She didn't kill her, Rock one.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
Nobody has to come down here, I cause you take
care very right.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
I knew it was too late to kill her. She's
dead and it's my fault.
Speaker 4 (26:08):
Oh why did you tell me?
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Why did you stop me?
Speaker 4 (26:11):
Why not take it easy with your rockmans.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Straighten yourself out of here. You didn't kill your wife, rockman, you.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Understand why we don't think you killed her.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
We think she did it herself.
Speaker 7 (26:20):
Huh oh.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Look, she wasn't well, she was sick. Sh She didn't
know what she was doing.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
She did the wrong thing, didn't.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
She Her way wasn't right. I loved it, you know
very much.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
That's so we understand.
Speaker 7 (26:44):
Doesn't really make any difference to stop me.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
No difference, sir, doesn't make any difference that you stop me.
I loved it, No difference at all.
Speaker 9 (26:57):
How was that I'd I did her?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
The story you have just heard is true. The names
were changed to protect the innocant.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
On June fifteenth, an inquest was held in the Coroner's
office in and Fall, the County of Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
In a moment the results of that inquest. Now here
is our star Jack Webbed.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
Thank you, George Samon Friends. Next Sunday, June twenty first,
Who is Father's Day? Your neighborhood dealer has a special
Chesterfield Father's Day carton on sale right now. So remember
the guy who never forgets you don't give him just
any cigarette give him Premium quality Chesterfield Regular King Side,
They're best for him.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
At the coroner's inquest, it was decided that the wound
that killed Hazel Eileen Rockman was self inflicted. The death
was listed as a suicide. Her husband, Herman George Rockman,
was not held. You have just heard Dragnet, a series
(28:27):
of authentic cases from official fires. Technical advice comes from
the Office of Chief of Police, wh partner Los Angeles
Police Departments Technical advisors Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Monty Wynn,
Sergeant Van Spracer. Third Tonight were Ben Alexander, June Whitley,
Lillian Bias. Script by John Robinson, Ben Alexander, music by
(28:48):
Walter Schumann, Hell Gibney speaking for a million laughs, Juni
and Chess Reveals, Martin Lewis show Josie are the same
NBCs and sound off. For Chesterfield, either Regular or King size,
you'll find premium quality.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Chesterfield, much mild. Chesterfield is best for you.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet, transcribed from Los Angeles.
Speaker 9 (29:22):
Have you tried new cork tipped Fatima.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
It's the smooth smoke. Here's why. New Fatima tips of perfect.
Speaker 9 (29:30):
Cork King size for longer filterings and Fatima quality for
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tips for your lips. Try new Fatima see how smooth
it is. Fatima is made by the makers of Chesterfield,
Liggard and Myers, one of tobacco's most respected names.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Tonight, It's Adventure with Barry Craig on NBC.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
The national broadcasting company Boom
Found off for Chesterfield.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Chesterfield First with premium quality and best for you. Chesterfield
brings you drink, ladies and gentlemen. The story you're about
to hear is true. The names have been changed to
(00:30):
protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned the
homicide detail. You get a call from a man telling
you that a woman has been badly beaten. Before you
can get the name of the victim or any other information,
(00:50):
the caller hangs up. Your job investigated. Here is Chesterfield's
record with smokers and important to you.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
No adverse effect to the nose, throat and finuses from
smoking Chesterfield.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
That's the report of a doctor who has been examining
a group of Chesterfield smokers for a full year and
two months as a part of a program supervised by
a responsible, independent research laboratory. Don't you want to try
a cigarette with a record like this? Chesterfield first with
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(01:33):
from a survey made in two hundred and seventy four
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They're much milder and best for you.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Fragments the documented drama of an actual crime for the
next thirty minutes in operation with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
If you will travel step by step on the side of.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
The law through an actual case, transcribe from official police
spiers from beginning to end, from crime to punishment.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Drag Net is the story of your police force and action.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
It was Friday, June tenth, was hot in Los Angeles.
We were working the night Watch out of homicide detail.
My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Mormon. My
name is Friday.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
I was on my way back.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
From the main jail and it was eight ten pm
when I got to room forty two homicide Franks.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah, wait a minute, I want to talk to you.
I'm not selling any place.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Oh well, I talked to Evans. I couldn't get any
more out of them. A Raymond still set for the fourteenth,
isn't it.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
They can't you settle down for a minute and stop
that taking up and down? Does a matter of something
on your mind?
Speaker 1 (02:51):
On the legs?
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Oh, something wrong with it?
Speaker 1 (02:53):
I say, just walking?
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Well, I wish you could manage to stand still from it.
And then I'm getting a little bitious following you around
the room. You know how far it is from here
to the business office?
Speaker 1 (03:06):
What do you mean? How far it's just across the hall?
Is that what you mean? Twenty five feet? No, you're wrong.
It's one two hundred and tenths of a mile, and
that's good to know.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
It's one sixth of a mile of the crime lab
including the stairs, an eighth of a mile of house cafe.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Four trips to RNI equals a quarter of a mile.
Never knew that, did you?
Speaker 4 (03:26):
No? Our grand total of the night so far as
over six miles and only half through.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
What do you think of that? Joe? Well, what's it
all through? This is a walking job we got Well
everybody knows that. I don't think.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Yeah, but I'm the only one in the department that
knows exactly how far we walk. That's fine. Any calls
come in when I was out, no, like know how
to do it?
Speaker 1 (03:45):
What's that done? Where the predominant measures miles?
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Just fastens on your Legsy at the end of the day,
you know exactly how far you walk? Yeah, it's gonna
measure everything, Joe, keep tracked and I know exactly how
far everything is.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
What for somebody might wanna know who.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
I got a homicide Friday.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Yeah, now what's that address against? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Right now, we got one to roll on. What you
got ambulance follow up? West Lake area. Uh, woman's been beaten.
Eight fourteen pm. We left the city hall and drove
to the address we've been given. Eighty six seventy fourteen
Bria Street was a large private home that had.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Been divided into apartment.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
The house was quiet and there was no sign of
any disturbance. There was a woman sitting in a grider
on the front porch. We went up and talked to her.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Something I can do for you police officers. Man, we
got a call up. There's been some sort of trouble here.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
What kind of trouble?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
A woman had been beaten?
Speaker 6 (04:50):
All right, it must be some kind of joke, nothing
like that here.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
You sure you got the right address?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Well, we were given. Man, we got an apartment one
oh four, Yeah, the.
Speaker 7 (04:58):
Last one back on the list, rocking you live there,
Mr and mssrs.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
We'd like to see the apartment.
Speaker 7 (05:02):
Go ahead.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
Anything happened around here, I'd know about it. I'm the landlady.
Anything happened, I'd.
Speaker 7 (05:07):
Know about it.
Speaker 5 (05:07):
Go ahead, do you wanna find anything?
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Man here it is, I'll get a.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Better trying to do it out.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Yeah, nobody here. It looks like they had a pony.
I heck ther back.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
No, no one out there. Coffee on the tables called,
did you find anything? Where's that door?
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Going? Man?
Speaker 5 (05:44):
Bedroom?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Joel Stair on the bed now, yeah, really worked her over?
Uh how about her?
Speaker 4 (05:58):
See if I can find her culture now she's still alive.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (06:03):
What is it?
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Something happened to Hazel?
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Oh it's pretty bad.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Those eyes black?
Speaker 1 (06:08):
We is this missus Rockman here?
Speaker 6 (06:10):
Yeah, it's Hazel. What's wrong?
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Where is he?
Speaker 1 (06:13):
I don't know. When'd you see him last?
Speaker 6 (06:15):
How about five minutes ago? Where was that on the
front porch?
Speaker 7 (06:18):
It just walked out.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
The ambulance crew arrived and immediately removed the victim to
Georgia Street Receiving Hospital for emergency treatment. We got in
touch with Officer at Barrett of the hospital detail and
asked him to try to get a statement from the
victim if she regained consciousness. We locked the door to
the Rockman apartment to preserve any physical evidence we might need,
and then we went down and talked to the landlady,
missus Ruth Baker. We found her on the front porch.
(06:46):
We asked her what she knew about what had happened.
Speaker 7 (06:49):
I sure wish I could tell you more.
Speaker 6 (06:51):
How about Hazel?
Speaker 7 (06:51):
Is she gonna be on right?
Speaker 1 (06:52):
We don't know yet, Miss Baker, she's pretty badly beagy, m.
Speaker 6 (06:56):
Well, what do you want from me?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Some questions? We'd like to ask man.
Speaker 7 (07:01):
About what I told you?
Speaker 6 (07:02):
What I know?
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Do you know where Missus Rockman's husband was going?
Speaker 5 (07:06):
No, I don't. I don't much care anything.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Do you say anything at all when he went out?
Speaker 5 (07:11):
Not a word, just walked out in a sort of daze,
like a transport.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
He didn't say anything at all to you.
Speaker 6 (07:17):
I just got through telling you that he didn't.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Yes, ma'am, mister MSUs Rockman fight often, would you know?
Speaker 6 (07:23):
No, not any more than any married couple.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
It was Baker. Yeah, I wonder if you've ben give
us a description of mister Rockland description, Yes, ma'am, tell
us what he looks like?
Speaker 7 (07:35):
Figure he did that to his Uh huh.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
That's what we wanted to talk to him about.
Speaker 7 (07:41):
What kind of description do you want about?
Speaker 1 (07:42):
How tall of it?
Speaker 7 (07:45):
About as tall as he is?
Speaker 1 (07:47):
I'd be five ten.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Huh.
Speaker 6 (07:49):
If that's what you are, how much would.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
You say Wade wouldn't even make a guess.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
I don't know who things like that?
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Yes for him? But what would you say?
Speaker 4 (07:57):
It was medium?
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Bill or heavy?
Speaker 6 (08:01):
I'd say medium, not too heavy, not too skinny.
Speaker 5 (08:03):
Medium.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
The colors his hair black, about his eyes.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
Brown, real dark brown.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
He wear glasses?
Speaker 4 (08:15):
No?
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Was he clean shaven? What do you mean, well, you
have a mustang?
Speaker 4 (08:22):
No?
Speaker 7 (08:22):
He had one awhile ago.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
He tried to grow one, but Hazel made him take
it off. It never grew real well, little scraggly thing.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Or was he wearing when you saw him last?
Speaker 6 (08:31):
Shirt and pants?
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Would you tell us what color the shirt was?
Speaker 8 (08:36):
No?
Speaker 7 (08:36):
And I can't tell you what color the pants were either.
Speaker 6 (08:38):
It's dark out here. I didn't pay much attention when
he left, Just thought he didn't feel well, sick from
the party.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Alright, mis Bigger, May I use your phone?
Speaker 6 (08:47):
Sure?
Speaker 7 (08:47):
Help yourself.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
It's in the living room, right inside the door you left.
You can't miss it, all right, ma'am's NiFe.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
I'll call us in you right, um as Baker, Yeah,
it was mister Rockman's drink was Why do he ask that, well,
one if there might be some buy in the neighborhood
that he might have gone to.
Speaker 5 (09:04):
Maybe no, it just did much at all. Once in
a while, he and Hazel have a glass of wine
before dinner, you know, sharp in the appetite, just to
glass of wine before dinner.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
M And you haven't any idea where he might have gone,
not the slightest.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Do you have any relatives in the city.
Speaker 6 (09:22):
I can't answer that.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
You mean you don't know.
Speaker 6 (09:26):
Attat some people someplace. Most of us do.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
But I'm not the kind of person who prizes the
private lives of my tenants.
Speaker 7 (09:31):
They pay their rent.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
No, a lot of parties. I don't bother about this
party tonight.
Speaker 7 (09:36):
Yeah, what about it?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Was there any trouble, not that I knew about it.
You didn't hear anything any loud talking, any arguments? Maybe no.
Speaker 6 (09:46):
But I wasn't at the party.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Wasn't invited Hazel David for her Tony's Friend's gonna play bridge.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
I wasn't there, Yes, ma'am, could you tell us who
was there?
Speaker 5 (09:55):
Never been able to get the hang of the game.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
Don't like couns find these checkers.
Speaker 7 (09:59):
That's my game?
Speaker 6 (09:59):
You ever could im stand Bridge.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
There wasn't invited.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Well, can't you give us a list of the people
who were there? I suppose why he need it? We'd
like to talk to him.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
Well, I guess it be alright to.
Speaker 7 (10:13):
Get him to you.
Speaker 6 (10:14):
How's hey?
Speaker 7 (10:14):
Do you heard it?
Speaker 5 (10:15):
No, ma'am, sure a terrible thing.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
Not that maybe she didn't deserve it, but it's sure terrible.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Why do you say that? In as baker?
Speaker 6 (10:24):
What do you mean? Why do I say? I say
it because it's true? No other reason to say something.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yes, ma'am, what do you mean?
Speaker 6 (10:31):
Just that it was bound to happen.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
Somebody was bound to haul off and slap her mouth
shuple of these days. The way she talked, ma'am, accuse him,
always accused him, thought everybody in the world was after her.
Always tell me that you she knew about me, That
I wasn't fool anybody the words she used, and they
were supposed to be so tall.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
Well, did she have any enemies around her, anyone to
make her think that was you know?
Speaker 5 (10:52):
Well, she didn't have any right out enemies. There were
several people who didn't like her.
Speaker 6 (10:55):
They thought she was too snooty for 'em.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
I probably often sail they putting on a broadcast. Did
you check him? Yeah, that's a lot of hope. It's
all right, ma'am. I'll let your number in case they
wanna reach it. Sure, it's all right. Can you give
it the names of the people at the party of
the nightmam.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
Man. There was Lily Davis, the Harrises, and there was
something thought that wasn't Olier that I never saw before.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
I know where you can get in touch with 'em,
do you.
Speaker 8 (11:21):
Well?
Speaker 5 (11:21):
It has us leap up in two or three, and
Lily has an apartment one o five right across the Rockman.
Speaker 6 (11:26):
She ought to be able to tell you something.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
I don't know if it's gonna be the truth, but
she don't think of something to tell you, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
She's a good friend of missus Rockman's.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
You know.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Oh you bet they're taking thieves, always having little lunches
by themselves, talking.
Speaker 7 (11:38):
Seecrets, buzzing around seves.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Myself.
Speaker 7 (11:40):
I never took them at home.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
Thought she was kind of wild divorce.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
See you know all right, Miss Beggars, thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
We'll be in one o five if through any calls
appreciated it, because you know, if Mr Rockman comes in,
don't mention to 'em and we're here.
Speaker 6 (11:53):
Alright.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
That was one o five. You said, yeah, better talk
to the Stavis one of her. You know, maybe she
can tell us where Rockman is. Yeah, one oh five
heard this, Yes, miss Davis?
Speaker 7 (12:14):
Yes, is it something I can do for you?
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Yes, ma'am? What police officers?
Speaker 7 (12:18):
What is it you want with me?
Speaker 1 (12:19):
We'd like talk he ma'am.
Speaker 7 (12:20):
Oh, we'll come in, thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
I wonder if it be art if we left the
door open.
Speaker 7 (12:25):
I suppose so, any special reasons or we like.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
To keep around. They are probably across the hall. Well,
what's it about? We understand if you know the Rockman's
pretty well?
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Suppose so why the only idea where MSR.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Rockman might be?
Speaker 7 (12:36):
Oh, I don't isn't across the hall? No, ma'ami is
a m I don't know where he is. Did you
talk to Hazel? No, ma'am, Well why don't you ask curse?
She should know.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
We're wondering if you could help us out.
Speaker 7 (12:46):
M last I saw of him was when you left
their place. Uh huh kay. I wonder if your mind
if I went ahead with what I was doing, Well,
probably seems silly.
Speaker 8 (12:55):
To you.
Speaker 7 (12:55):
But it's a hobby of mine or our sculpture. Silly,
but it gives me a chance to relax.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Man, where you go out ahead?
Speaker 7 (13:04):
I don't think I got your name.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Oh, my name's Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith.
How do you do? How do you do?
Speaker 7 (13:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (13:09):
After Friday?
Speaker 7 (13:10):
Well, what's the Well, it's about herman done something wrong.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
No, it's just a routine investigation, Miss Davis. Oh, I
understand that you were at their place tonight at a party. Huh.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
Well, yes, Hazel was gonna have a couple of tables
a bridge.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Anything unusual happened while you were there?
Speaker 7 (13:24):
No, not, n you'd call a really unusual.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Who was there, ma'am?
Speaker 7 (13:28):
Oh myself? The houses Dad it upstairs.
Speaker 8 (13:31):
And Tourl Reeves and the couple were coming over after dinner,
but they called and said they couldn't make it just as.
Speaker 7 (13:36):
Well, and I just felt much like playing. Why was that?
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Well?
Speaker 7 (13:39):
Hatterel wasn't feeling very well. She and herman had a
little argument. You know how. It is kind of uncomfortable.
Excuse me, hello, yes, oh, yes.
Speaker 8 (13:53):
Tom, No, Well you've got to understand she wasn't feeling
too well.
Speaker 7 (14:02):
Just one of those things. Yeah, why no, I've got
a meeting that I wanna go to tomorrow night modern art.
Yes it it plays down on Melrose. Well, sure if
you if you want to, alright, you wanna pick me
(14:23):
up about seven?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Right, okay?
Speaker 7 (14:27):
See you? Then, by excuse me, that was Tom, the
nice boy. I just met him tonight. The rockman set
it up.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
What was the chargument that the Rockman's had? Do you
know what that was about?
Speaker 8 (14:41):
Well, that was not seeing that the little thing Hazel
hadn't been seiling. Well lately, it's often of you to
set her off.
Speaker 7 (14:47):
I guess sometimes herman doesn't realize.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
It, yes, ma'am. But what caused it to night?
Speaker 8 (14:51):
Well, you see, Hazel's been thinking that there was somebody
been following or spying on her. She told herman about
it tonight. That made him a little angry. And well
then at dinner we just sat down, Missus Harris said
that she'd seen her picture of address that Hazel.
Speaker 7 (15:05):
Had her in the morning paper.
Speaker 8 (15:06):
Well Hazel didn't understand. I guess she thought that Missus
Harris was being.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
Nasty about it.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
She got up and left the.
Speaker 7 (15:12):
Table, went into the bedroom. Yes, ma'am, herman got up
and went in.
Speaker 8 (15:15):
After came out and said that she wasn't feeling well.
Kind of sew a damper and the even so any
other couple called.
Speaker 7 (15:21):
And said that they wouldn't be able to make it.
We all decided to call it quits.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Was there any reason for missus Rockmand to feel that
there was somebody spying.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
On 'em at all?
Speaker 7 (15:28):
No, mister Friday. It was just one of those things.
She'd go along fine, feel good, and then she'd wake
up in the morning and start to think about things that.
Speaker 8 (15:35):
She'd get depressed well, and she's like that there isn't
anything can lift.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Her out of it.
Speaker 7 (15:39):
We used to talk about it. I'd try to help her.
The same thing happened to me. I know, it's just
one of those things that's sam.
Speaker 8 (15:45):
Maybe they'd had children that it'd be different, But lately
she hasn't been feeling well, and she and herman hadn't
been getting along.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
He just didn't seem to understand.
Speaker 8 (15:53):
She'd get angry and he'd work late, and the more
he worked late and stayed away from home, the more
she'd frest and get angry. It's a vicious nothing anyone
can do about it didn't pass with time.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
When Rochman went in to see his wife, did they argue, Well, they.
Speaker 7 (16:07):
Had a few words, a little loud, nothing serious. Then
he came out and said that everything was all right, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Did Rochman never get violent? Tod he's last you know?
Speaker 7 (16:15):
Oh do you mean violentce?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Do you ever hit her?
Speaker 7 (16:17):
No? I don't think so. A couple of times when
I was old there they looked like he might be
thinking of it, but I never saw it. I think
if he ever did hit or Hazel would have told me.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
They were very close.
Speaker 7 (16:27):
As I said, I tried to help her, just a
few loud words. That's all I ever knew about. Anyway.
After herman came out of the bedroom, we all decided
to leave. They saw a tom. He wanted to go on,
you know, out some place, but I was a little tired,
and I just met him tonight, so I beg Dolphin
came home.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 7 (16:43):
Can't you tell me what this is all about? Miss David? Howell,
Mister David, there's something you wanted. I wanna see the police.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
Mister Smithy office called said give it a call. That's
never ride a way.
Speaker 7 (17:03):
He's the number they gave me.
Speaker 6 (17:04):
They said, you'd know I wrote it down right now?
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Or do you wanna call you? Yeah? What if I
use your phone? Status?
Speaker 6 (17:10):
Sure? Help yourself?
Speaker 4 (17:10):
Are you?
Speaker 5 (17:21):
Isn't this the most awful thing you've heard in all
your life?
Speaker 6 (17:24):
Right?
Speaker 5 (17:25):
What about herman?
Speaker 6 (17:26):
But he did terrible? They alta to send him away
for a long time, a good long time.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Please, what are you talking about?
Speaker 5 (17:34):
All the ambulance suits or police never had a thing
like this happened before, or the excitement and what herman
did is terrible.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
That's all terrible.
Speaker 7 (17:42):
Well, somebody tell me what this is all about, all.
Speaker 8 (17:44):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Joe fran Yeah, y'all over here now?
Speaker 8 (17:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (17:52):
It sure about the night? Yeah? Well kay, out right,
I'll call him right now.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
That's it?
Speaker 8 (17:59):
Does Bye.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Joyously, eh, missus Rachmandin something else. But she wasn't beaten.
She was shocked to death.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
You are listening to dragnet, the authentic story of your
police force and action.
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Speaker 4 (19:24):
Nine ten pm we called the crime lab and Ray
Pinker and a crew were sent out to check the
physical evidence of the scene. We contacted Ed Barrett at
the hospital, but he said the woman had not regained consciousness.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Frank and I went upstairs to talk with mister and
Missus Harris.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
They gave us substantially the same story we'd gotten from
Willie Davis. They agreed that when Rockman went into the
bedroom to see his wife, they'd heard loud voices, but
nothing else. They stated positively that as far as they knew,
there had been no shot fired while they were in
the Rockman apartment. Nine seventeen pm, we checked with the
other people in the apartment building. None of them could
report having heard a shot. From them, we got the
(20:00):
same story of missus Rockman's actions. Some of the neighbors
said that they didn't get along with her, others seemed
to understand their feelings. M nine, twenty two pm. We
checked back with Ray Pinker and the crew from the
Crime Lamb.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
We didn't spend a lot of time.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Here, right.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
The husband looked good for it. We were trying around
him up. Shooting was a real surprise. That looked like
a beating. Guess we couldn't tell.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
The boy from Georgia Street got it out of here
right away.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Yeah, keep him up with anyway. Yeah, a couple of things.
How many fellers got a figured well, all talk about
the neighbors looks like the husband there's.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Scart time and then only walked right out after it happened,
got out of broadcast on him.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
If it's turned out yet, though, I was lucking you right.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Well, I'm not sure and go along with you guys
and the husband. Well, I talked with Doc Hall. You're
not gonna be able to know for sure. They post
the body woman slapped around and all that.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Yeah, we saw I looked pretty brutal to ass.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
I mean, the black guy. You know what, Dark Hall says,
I didn't come from a beating him. He says, the
boy did it?
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Was he pretty sure about it? It looks like it
all top he approved?
Speaker 4 (20:49):
Boy?
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Did you find him again under the bed.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
We're here right side indentation on the floor here. Hevidently
fell from her hand, bounced back under the bed, an
he prints on.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
It, lit the three queen. Have you been able to
make him?
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Lifted some of the dressing table over there? Perfume bottles, mirror,
It's like they might belong to the dead woman.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Check him for sure later and you figure maybe she
did herself there where it's begin to shape up? Or
how about the shot?
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Right?
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Nobody we've talked to heard it. Here's the explanation for that.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
This pillar here, see the bullet hole here burn yeah,
die Hall says, she'd be shotting the back of the
right air. She must have held the gun in the
pillow that muffled the sound. What noise there was wouldn't
be heart very far?
Speaker 1 (21:28):
How can you be sure it was suicide?
Speaker 7 (21:29):
Right?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Just an idea?
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Now?
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Would roll a dead woman's friends run a water test
on her see if she fired the gun?
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Check for night right?
Speaker 7 (21:35):
Well?
Speaker 4 (21:35):
No for sure? How long will I say I'll be
finishing an hour, So I want you to say, well,
I get it. The bullet iner just behind the right ear,
passed behind the eyes. I've seen it a couple of
times before.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, but dk Hall said that she'd go slapped a
couple of times.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Right, yeah, said he find a couple of bruises on
her cheeks, not enough to do any damage though, surely
not enough to kill her.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
It's a Friday.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
It's a friday.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
Can you come ride over my place? Herman's on the phone,
was there, mister Zackman? He called to find out how
Hazel was? Uh huh, whom's right there?
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Hello?
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Hello, Hello, We're not there now. What'd he say?
Speaker 8 (22:17):
Well, he asked me if I knew how Hazel was.
I told him that she was dead, and then I
asked him where he was and he said us no,
h He just said for me to tell people that
he was sorry he did it, for me to tell
him that that he didn't mean it.
Speaker 7 (22:27):
He said, he didn't mean to kill Hazel.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Well, the way it looks, he didn't do it, and
you'd better find her right away.
Speaker 7 (22:32):
Well he thinks he didn't, He's gonna kill himself.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
We talked to the land Lady Ruth Baker, but she
was unable to tell us where Herman Rockman was employed.
Lily Davis told us that he was a car salesman.
He employed at a lot in the south end of town.
We asked Miss Davis to stay by our phone in
the event that Rockman called back, and to let us
know immediately if he did. We found an address book
in the desk in the living room of the apartment,
and we began to carl Rockman's friends and relevant none
(23:02):
as I haven't seen him or could tell us.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Where he was.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Nine forty five pm, it had been twenty minutes since
the husband of the dead woman had called and said
that he was going to kill himself. At nine forty
six pm, we contacted the brother in law of the
dead woman and he told us that as far as
he knew, Rockman had been employed by the Bateman Auto
Agency in Guardina. We got the number from information and
I put him the call.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Hello, is this a Bateman Auto Agency? Well, it's the
Sigeant Joe Fidrey, Los Angeles Police Department. Yes, sir, do
you have a Hermon Rockman working for you? Yes, sir,
that's right. I'll see KM Uh huh, I say when
was that?
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Yeah? Any idea where he's working now, uh huh, Yes,
so I understand, Yeah, Well have you got the number?
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Fine? Yeah, would you know.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
If they're opening this time?
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Ina I said, okay, alright, chuer, I'll hold on.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
How about says Rochman did work for him, He hasn't
seen him in a couple yes, or yeah? Uh huh
that's O three night. Yes, said thanks very much. Says
he's heard Rockman's working for a company out and watching
the boulevard now huh left him a couple of weeks ago. Hello,
(24:16):
do you have a Herman Rockman working the Hello? Hello,
somebody answered.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
As soon as I asked about Rockman, he hung up.
I think it was him.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
There's no way to tell him. We betta check on
a click.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
We got the address, you know all. It takes about
five minutes to get there. Let's go.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
We still got a check. Nine fifty pm we left
the apartment. When we drove out West Lake Avenue and
turned down to Washington Boulevard, we traveled Code three, but
because of the possibility of alarming Rockmen, we turned off
the siren six blocks from the address of the used car.
Lots nine fifty four pm.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
We got to the place.
Speaker 4 (24:52):
The lock was a dark at the rear and the
back of Atlanta cars, we could see a small shack.
I hope he here.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Yeah, no light time, doors locked. Let's try the side
of the window.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Run there right, adn't say anything, and all the windows
they set your flash mine?
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Yeah, here you go, give me how about it? He's
in there. It looks like he's out.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
Come on, I'll get it right, well a guy tell
you flash my, I'll get him out of here. You
want to get that.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Here's right? When the stock how about it? It's still alive, espec.
She has to bring yeah, stock one, stock one? Come on,
rock you're alright? Set up?
Speaker 4 (25:39):
What is it doing?
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Why did you stop me? No reason for way you
to kill yourself. I got a reason I killed. I
didn't mean to. I loved him more than anything. I
didn't mean that my head.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
That's hard.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Settle down, Settle down. She didn't kill her, Rock one.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
Nobody has to come down here, I cause you take
care very right.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
I knew it was too late to kill her. She's
dead and it's my fault.
Speaker 4 (26:08):
Oh why did you tell me?
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Why did you stop me?
Speaker 4 (26:11):
Why not take it easy with your rockmans.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Straighten yourself out of here. You didn't kill your wife, rockman, you.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Understand why we don't think you killed her.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
We think she did it herself.
Speaker 7 (26:20):
Huh oh.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Look, she wasn't well, she was sick. Sh She didn't
know what she was doing.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
She did the wrong thing, didn't.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
She Her way wasn't right. I loved it, you know
very much.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
That's so we understand.
Speaker 7 (26:44):
Doesn't really make any difference to stop me.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
No difference, sir, doesn't make any difference that you stop me.
I loved it, No difference at all.
Speaker 9 (26:57):
How was that I'd I did her?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
The story you have just heard is true. The names
were changed to protect the innocant.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
On June fifteenth, an inquest was held in the Coroner's
office in and Fall, the County of Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
In a moment the results of that inquest. Now here
is our star Jack Webbed.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
Thank you, George Samon Friends. Next Sunday, June twenty first,
Who is Father's Day? Your neighborhood dealer has a special
Chesterfield Father's Day carton on sale right now. So remember
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Speaker 3 (27:53):
At the coroner's inquest, it was decided that the wound
that killed Hazel Eileen Rockman was self inflicted. The death
was listed as a suicide. Her husband, Herman George Rockman,
was not held. You have just heard Dragnet, a series
(28:27):
of authentic cases from official fires. Technical advice comes from
the Office of Chief of Police, wh partner Los Angeles
Police Departments Technical advisors Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Monty Wynn,
Sergeant Van Spracer. Third Tonight were Ben Alexander, June Whitley,
Lillian Bias. Script by John Robinson, Ben Alexander, music by
(28:48):
Walter Schumann, Hell Gibney speaking for a million laughs, Juni
and Chess Reveals, Martin Lewis show Josie are the same
NBCs and sound off. For Chesterfield, either Regular or King size,
you'll find premium quality.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Chesterfield, much mild. Chesterfield is best for you.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet, transcribed from Los Angeles.
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Speaker 1 (30:06):
Tonight, It's Adventure with Barry Craig on NBC.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
The national broadcasting company Boom
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