December 21, 2025 • 25 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
The story you were about to hear is true. The
names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a
detective sergeant. You're assigned a robbery detail. A watch salesman
tells you where sample case has been stolen.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
He says he knows the man who didn't.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Your job find them.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Dragnet the document a drama of an actual crime. For
the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles
Police Department, you will travel step by step on the
side of the law through an actual case, transcribed from
official police filence, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment.
Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
It was Tuesday, October fourth, was cool in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of robbery detail.
My partner's Frank Smith. The boss a Chieve, Detective stad Brown.
My name is Friday. We're on our way into the office.
It was seven forty six am when we got the room.
Twenty seven eight robbery.
Speaker 6 (01:19):
I'll check the book, all right, anything for us, No,
stay Dick to Faye.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
The movies last night.
Speaker 6 (01:28):
Well, yeah, during good double Bill, mystery and a comedy.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Sure had me fool. Huh. The mystery had me fool.
Speaker 6 (01:34):
I never can figure out who done it.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
It was this rich society girl.
Speaker 6 (01:39):
He lived in the panthhouse, top floor, real modern kind
of glass.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
The only found her lying outside on the riff garden
part and the doors were all locked and the police
had to break them down to get.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
In as soon as they got in.
Speaker 6 (01:50):
Yes, sir, i'd like the report of robberies this right place. Yes, sir,
you want to sit down?
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Oh? Thanks? My name is Liggins Russell Wiggins just fell it.
Please it's l I G G I N sligoans its
Frank Smith. My name is Friday. I'm pleased to meet you.
I suppose to tell us what happened, mister Wiggans be.
Speaker 6 (02:12):
Okay, smoke, sure, go ahead, you fellas careful cigarette?
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Yeah, thank you? Here I have a light right, thanks,
thank you. Well, it was my own fault to begin with.
It just wasn't using my head. Company ought to fire me.
I wouldn't blame them if they did. What company is?
I sent in a watch company up in Seattle. I
(02:38):
see it's a new outfit.
Speaker 6 (02:39):
They important movements from Japan and put them in cases
over here in wholesalem. You know, I'm one of their
head salesmen. I came down for the Jewelis convention. The
convention ended yesterday, and I was supposed to leave for
home this morning nine o'clock plane.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
I guess I have to take a later flight now.
Speaker 6 (02:54):
Yes, oh, I have all had dumb stunts practically handed
in my sample case on a silver platter, one hundred
why our best stuff, a lot of them in jeweled cases.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Company wanted to make a good impression, you know.
Speaker 6 (03:05):
Or the robbery take placements, pluggings in front of the
hotel for all intents and purposes at ise a greystone.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
That's where I've been stopped. I see, Do you have
any idea who robbed it?
Speaker 7 (03:13):
The best idea in the world. Spent a couple of hours.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
With him last night. You see what happened is this?
Speaker 6 (03:19):
Like I said, the convention was over yesterday, and I
wound up about five o'clock in the afternoon, and.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Well, I had the whole evening I had it made
nothing to do. Go ahead.
Speaker 6 (03:27):
I had dinner there at the hotel, a couple of drinks,
you know, stole too early to go to bed, so
I thought I looked the town over, you know, stopped
by Persihing Square and listen to those characters spouting off
and along. About ten o'clock I headed back to at
the Greystone, passed the bar and decided go in for nightcap.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Do you remember the name of the bar? I'm afraid
It's just.
Speaker 6 (03:45):
A couple of blocks from the hotel. Had a nice
little combo and there played pretty good music. So I
sat out for a while. Yeah, I guess I had
too much to drink. Well, I wasn't drunk or anything
like that, but had my share must have been a
little higher. I wouldn't started talking to a couple of
strangers the way I did, and they were sitting next
to me, These two fellows. We got the chatting, you know,
(04:06):
it's about music. At first they seen them be enjoying it.
One thing led to another, and they bought me a
drink and I had to pay them.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Back, of course. Yes, Sir asked me what line I
was in.
Speaker 7 (04:15):
I told him my sould watches, said I was in town.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
For the jewelry convention.
Speaker 7 (04:18):
They took a real big said that's why they were
here too, claiming they had a.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Jewely stir in salt Lake City. I mentioned the names.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
Oh sure, they introduced themselves, but it didn't sink in
and not their last names anyhow, Uh George and Paul.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah, that's all I can remember. What happened.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Then, Well, they started complaining about the quality of the
watches they've been shown, said they hadn't seen anything worth buying. Well,
so I asked them if they'd looked at my samples
and they said they didn't think so I offered to
make an appointment to show all my stuff. Figured I
could stay over an extra day on a chance of
making a good sale, and they said that wouldn't be
necessary for.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Me, you know, to stay over. Said they could meet
me this morning before I left for the airport. And
did you set up an appointment?
Speaker 6 (04:55):
Yes, sir, I told them I have to be earlier
if I was still going to catch them playing, and
that was fine with them.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
The earlier the better.
Speaker 6 (05:00):
Agreed to meet me at seven am. They even offered
to drive me to the airport. Couldn't ask for anything
more in that, could I?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Well?
Speaker 6 (05:08):
Anyway, I come downstairs about a quarter to seven and
checked out, and they were supposed to pick me up
in front of the hotel. Yeah, what about five or
seven they come by. I hopped in the car and
we drove off. We hadn't gone more in a mile
or soon, and they pulled over and part quiet street.
How much traffic. I asked him why they were stopping there.
I figured I was showing them my watches out at
the airport. They said they want to look at him.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Now. What was that again?
Speaker 7 (05:29):
They said that they want to look at.
Speaker 6 (05:30):
Him right now, you know, in the car the watches. Yeah,
go ahead, And it struck me as kind of funny.
I didn't see where it would make any difference. And
I opened up the case and they just sort of
glanced inside. And then one of the fellows, the one
named George, he took out a gun start to shoving
me through the door, and I tried to argue with him.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
I wasn't getting.
Speaker 6 (05:46):
Anywhere though, told a gun, huh yeah, and he, you know,
kind of pushed me with it, and finally I asked
him to please at least give me my suitcase. I
said it wouldn't be worth anything to them, but I
needed it, and they tossed it out on the street
beside me and drove off.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
See what about your wallet? Did they take your wallet too.
Oh no, no, just a sample case.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
I guess they were in a hurry, didn't want to
spend a lot of time there in the street and
broad daylight or some I see.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
As soon as they left, they started looking around for
a cabin, had to walk a couple of blocks for.
Speaker 7 (06:14):
A found one, and the then I got him to
bring me right here.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
What kind of a car did they drive? You know,
the fellas that robbed me? That's right, said Dan. I
think it was black a Ford. Did you get the license? No?
Speaker 6 (06:28):
I didn't even think of try on that until after
they were out of side.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
And now, can you describe these men forest plays? Well? Sure? Uh?
Speaker 6 (06:35):
Well, they were about forty medium sized. Uh Georgie had
black hair, and the other fella he had sort of
sandy hair, you know, I see and he mix discars,
I don't think so. How are they dressed?
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (06:48):
Suits a conservative blue or kind of gray maybe, I'm
not sure.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Were they wearing the same clothes this morning? Well?
Speaker 6 (06:56):
No, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
They had on top coach today. I see you said
they're names were George and Paul. Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 6 (07:02):
Anything else that might help us identify them?
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Gosh, I'm afraid not. Do you have a list of
serial numbers from your watches? Yes, maybe we see it. Yeah,
it's in my wallet. Yeah just a minute.
Speaker 6 (07:17):
Here you go, Thanks very much. I'll get out of
circular Joe. Okay, is there anything else you want from me?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Yes, sir, we'd like to have you show us the
bar where you met these man. Well, no, sir, I'm
not sure. I can a lot of bars in the neighborhood.
And I didn't pay too much attention. You said they
had a combo there. Yeah, well I don't make it easier.
Speaker 6 (07:34):
Well, sure do my best, Yes, sir, I have to
get my airline ticket change too. We'd appreciate it if
you stay over a couple of days. Oh, in case
we turn them up, we'll need you to identify them.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Well, there isn't much chance for that, is there. What
I mean?
Speaker 6 (07:45):
Well, the descriptions that gave you could be anybody you know. Besides,
the company will want me back on the job, that is,
if they don't fire me for this.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
But you know you want the only thing I want back. Huh.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
I don't want those watches too, Frank, And I checked
the m O and the descriptions Russell Lliggans had given
us with the Stats Office, they came up with eleven possibles.
We took the names to R and I and pulled
the packages. Liiggans was unable to identify any of the
mug shots. Ten thirteen am, we cruised the vicinity of
the Greystone Hotel looking for the bar where Liggans had
(08:17):
first met the suspects. He told us the Green Hat
Cafe on sixth Streets seemed familiar, but he wasn't certain.
We left him in the car and we went inside
and interview the bartender.
Speaker 6 (08:26):
Look, you boys know me. I run a nice clean place.
Don't even cut the liquor. I ain't caused you no trouble.
Why don't you lay off?
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Just a couple of questions for you? Saying, sure, a
couple of questions.
Speaker 6 (08:34):
The next thing I know, I'm testifying in court and
you got something you ought to testify about.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
No, no, of course not. I'm just talkable. Didn't talk
to us. Huh, okay, what do you want? You're on
the job here last night, yeah, all evening, all evening.
Speaker 6 (08:46):
I got a little combo working in the joint. Now
they cost money, there's nothing left over for extra bartenders.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
You see they fell out in the car. We're i'll
over here, Sam leanoversea out there.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Yeah yeah, I see.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Take a good look at him, all right, I look good.
He ever been in your place like when last night
Barr was real crowded last night? Music helps the business.
He might have been here well, yes or no? Sam? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (09:12):
Yeah, he was here alone. Yeah, he came in alone.
He took that stool over there, had a few drinks
and left.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
He talked to anybody.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
They talked to me.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
What do you say?
Speaker 6 (09:21):
He liked the music? That's about who else? He talked
to a girl sitting next to him. Was she well,
I don't know her name. She comes in once in
a while, kind of nice looking.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
There were a couple of men in here too, weren't
they same? Well?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
There were a lot of guys why.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Well dressed, middle aged, could be they talked to him too.
Did they fell in your car? Same guy? Yeah? Well,
if they did, I didn't see him. I had quite
a conversation. I didn't hear it. Music's pretty loud. Who
were they, Sam?
Speaker 6 (09:45):
Look, I don't ask for a driver's license unless the
guy looks like he's understand Sam, Who are they he's
conning you that friend of yours out there. Yeah, and
stew that's where he sat. The girl was next to
him the whole evening. Well, he couldn't have talked to
nobody else.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
We took Liggans into the Green Hat Cafe and he
said he was certain that that was where he had
met the two men known as George and Paul.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Sam Huppole, the owner of the bar, was equally certain
that Liggins was mistaken.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Ten forty eight am, Frank and I drove Liggins over
to the Greystone Hotel while he went inside to reregister.
We talked with the cab drivers who were stationed at
the stand next to the main hotel entrance.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
One of them told us he.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
Had been parked there from about six thirty until seven
fifteen am that morning.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Well, I was never gonna give me a fare when
it starts like that the whole day shot.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Do you mean now been sitting here for the last
twenty five minutes? Uh? Huh? Did you see a man
come on the hotel about five minutes of seven. I
was watching those doors, real anxious if he came out.
I saw him, same fellow. We just let on, oh
you remember him?
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Sure?
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Did you notice the carry drove off in you kidding?
What do you mean this hack of mine? Huh? He
was my first fear at this am. You picked him
up here, It's right, It wasn't five or seven though,
closer to seven thirty. Where'd you take him? City Hall?
We went into the hotel and talked to the desk clerks.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
He told us that Lincolns had been assigned the same
room he had previously occupied four seventeen. He also told
us that he was almost positive Ligans had not carried
the sample case when he.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Checked out that morning.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
We talked to the bell hop who had brought down
Ligand's baggage. He said Ligands had only one suitcase. Eleven
thirteen am. Frank and I went up the room four seventeen.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
A man, Yes, sir, yes, it's very kind of you.
Speaker 8 (11:28):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
I'd be with you as soon as they get off
the phone. It's okay, yes, sir.
Speaker 7 (11:33):
Well, uh there too, I guess if that's alright? No, no, no,
they didn't take my money.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Uh. Thanks, I can manage. Uh. Oh, just one thing,
would you ask one of the girls to call my
wife and explain to la. Oh, thank you very much.
Sir bye.
Speaker 6 (11:52):
Well, I was just talking the bus in Seattle said
it's all right for me to stick around a few days.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Good. Now you really think you can find those guys
that fast? Well we may not have to look for him.
What do you mean we went checking your story? Leggings, Yeah,
leaks like a sieve, lousy bartender. How are you taking
his word against mine? We got more than the bartender.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
Oh, the cab driver says he picked you up here
at seven twenty and drove you down the city hall.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Well he's crazy. You can have it in person. He
must have picked up somebody who looks like me, that's all.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
We talked to the bell hop who brought down your luggies.
There wasn't any sample case.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
I carried it myself.
Speaker 6 (12:25):
I wasn't gonna let a bell hop handle something as
valuable as that. He just didn't notice it, that's all.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Desk CRT didn't notice it either.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
Well, I stood in front of his desk when I
paid up.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
That's why, what do you guys want from me? Just
tell us what happened to the sample case. I've told
you the whole story was one thing you left on.
What's that the truth?
Speaker 5 (13:03):
We continued to question Russell Wiggins in his hotel room.
He insisted that he's been telling us the truth. We
confronted him with a cab driver, the desk clerk, the
bell hop. He refused to change his story. One o
five pm we drove Ligands down to the city Hall
for further interrogation.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
How much of the watches work the wholesaler retail both ways?
Speaker 6 (13:20):
About four thousand wholesale, maybe ten retail.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
A lot of money? Well, sure, the boss upset. Well,
he wasn't very happy about it. He's insured in me.
Speaker 8 (13:32):
Loo.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Come on, yeah, I guess so, don't you know? Yeah,
he's insured, he said so with a phony. He told
me not to worry. M you didn't know about the
insurance before? What if I did? Maybe we better talk
to your boss. What's his number? Fun fellow, what's his number? Well?
What are you gonna tell him that you've been handing
as a line about being robbed? Well, you think I
(13:54):
robbed myself? Is that what you're getting at? What else
can we think?
Speaker 8 (13:57):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (13:57):
You're crazy?
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Where are the watches? Somebody stole him? Yeah? George and
Paul look okay it wasn't. George and Paul go ahead.
Speaker 7 (14:07):
I made it up, the whole thing about them, you know,
the Fellas.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
I had to tell you something, Sure you did. Well,
you want the truth, don't you. Well you're getting it.
At least you can do is try to believe it.
You make a ton of hard to buy.
Speaker 6 (14:19):
But I went into that bar last night just like
I told you, and the bartender was right. I didn't
talk to anybody except the girl sitting beside me.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (14:27):
Well, she said she came in because she liked the
music and I was feeling kind of lonesome. I don't
know anybody in La, so we started to talk. Said
her name was Barbara. Didn't give me her last name
because she was married and she wanted to keep things
on her first name, Basis, and that was all right
with me.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
I told her to call me Russ.
Speaker 6 (14:45):
She said her husband worked nights one of the aircraft plans,
and I told her about my job that I sold watches.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
She kind of laughed when I told her, but it
was a big.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
Coincidence, maybe in a watch eld and she was planned
to buy a watch, told me the one she had
was ready to give up the go I see, and
then she showed it to me. On her wrist, a
real cheap kind and just a piece of junker.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (15:07):
Well, she asked me if maybe I could get her
a new one wholesale, and I said I might be
able to arrange it. And I suggested she'd come up
to my room and look at the samples I had there. Yeah,
now I wasn't up to anything. I figured we'd have
a couple of drinks, but that was all sure, And
then she kind of hesitated, said it wouldn't look very good,
and finally she agreed. We went over the hotel and
I had a bottle in my room and I fixed
us a drink, and then I showed her the watches
(15:29):
and she picked out the one she liked, but she
didn't have any money with her, not enough to pay
for it anyway, and.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
I told her she could have it for free, you know,
as a present. It wasn't an expensive model, and.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
I was going to pay the company back out of
my own pocket. So she took off her old watch
and she put it in her purse and she put
the new one on.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
I go ahead, and then she.
Speaker 6 (15:46):
Said we ought to have a couple more drinks in
order to kind of celebrate the present. She offered to
fix her. Well, maybe she put something in mine, or
maybe they were just strong.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
I don't know. Anyway, I don't remember much after that.
When you do pass out, yeah, I guess. So.
Speaker 6 (16:01):
Next thing I knew, it was morning, about six thirty,
and I'd fallen asleep on the bed with all my
clothes on.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Yeah, that must be why you didn't take my wallet?
All right? What happened then? But I didn't think anything
was wrong.
Speaker 6 (16:12):
I couldn't remember when Barbara left. But I've blacked out
before when i've had a little too much. So I
took a shower and I got dressed. It was while
I was dressing I noticed the sample case was gone.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
I looked everywhere for it. You figure she took it?
Now who else could? Maybe? Boy, you guys are pretty
hard to convince.
Speaker 5 (16:28):
All right, Yo, why didn't you tell us about Barbara
when you first came in here when I was thinking
of my job?
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (16:33):
Boy, it's just promoted me a couple of months ago.
I'm doing pretty good at making fair money?
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Is that so?
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:37):
If you ever found out to let some dame roll.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
Me in a hotel room, well I'd be out of
my ear all right, And that's not all.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
I got a wife, Helen, that's her name.
Speaker 6 (16:49):
You guys married, he is, Well, then maybe he'll understand.
We've only been married a couple of years.
Speaker 7 (16:55):
And Helen doesn't like the idea of me being on
the road half the time.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
She's suspicious enough as it is. Yeah, so I did
some quick thinking come up with the story I gave
you this morning.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
You know about George and Paul. Well, it really wasn't
my own idea. Exactly.
Speaker 6 (17:07):
What I mean is that I was talking to a
salesman at the convention the other day, you know, one
of the real old timers. He told me how some
guys had robbed me once when he was just starting out,
and that's where I got the idea, sort of switched
it around to fit what happened to me. Well, I
didn't see where I was doing any harm. I never
thought you'd be able to get the watches back anyhow.
You didn't make it any easier for us.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Well maybe not, but you don't know, Helen.
Speaker 6 (17:28):
She leave me surest fate if this ever gets out,
you know, I didn't mean it cause you any trouble
to see them make any difference what I told you
as long.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
As the watches were gone. Oh it makes a difference, Yeah,
if we want to find out who took them.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
Three point fifteen pm we went back to the Greystone
Hotel and talked to the manager. He gave us the
home telephone number of the elevator boy who had been
on duty.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
The previous night.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
They called the boy and he told us he remembered
taking a passenger who resembled Russell Wiggans up to the
third floor sometime after two am.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
In the morning.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
He also remembered that Ligganns had been accompanied by a
young lady. He did not remember bringing the lady down,
but he suggested that she might have used the stairs.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
We called the crime lab and they went over Liggann's room.
Speaker 5 (18:10):
They found no useful fingerprints or other physical evidence.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Five fifteen pm we went back to the office.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
Liggins gave us a description of the girl known to
him as Barbara, who showed him some mug shots, but
he was unable to identify any of the women. Seven
eighteen pm, Frank and I again interviewed the bartender at
the Green Hat Cafe.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Well, what did I tell you?
Speaker 6 (18:28):
Just a couple of questions, that's all. Next thing I
know you guys have moved in for the wedding.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Ah, it's saying I'll take it easy. Have I got
any choice? Do you remember the girl Liggins was talking
to in here last night? So it's a girl now
I thought it was too good? Oh come on, Sam,
you mentioned her yourself. I never figured you fellas believed
anything I told you. We want to know who she is.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
Just a girl, that's all. She comes in once in
a while. She got a name, never introduced herself.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
She lived in the neighborhood. I don't know.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
But who does look this Liggins is a character. He's
already taken you for one ride today. No't Why don't
you get off?
Speaker 1 (19:00):
But I can get in touch with her, Sam, get
in touch. You gotta help. Well, how can I help you?
I don't know her name, I don't know her address. Well,
maybe you can find out. I busted my crystal ball
just the other day. We'll send in a couple of
uniforms to watch your joint for a few days. Mm hm,
you got any objections?
Speaker 6 (19:16):
Well, sure, cops make me nervous, like the customer is
nervous too.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Maybe you get the wrong kind of customers.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
What are you gonna do all right, talk to Jeanette. Jeannette, Yeah,
the waitress. He's in the back room meeting your child.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
She know the girl we're looking for.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
Yeah, they're real, buddy, buddy, spent half their time chinning together.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Never get any work out of Jeanette once the other
one comes in. All right, Sam, thank you. You know
there's something been worrying me. What's that?
Speaker 6 (19:40):
Whatever you guys show up, I make up my mind.
You're not gonna get any answers from me. I'm not
even gonna give you the time of day.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
And then what happens? I end up telling you everything
you want to know. Maybe you just like is Sam? Yeah,
that's what's been worrying me.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
Frank and I walk back into the kitchen of the
Green Hat Cafe and we interviewed the waitress, Janette Grover.
She told us that her friend's name was Barbara Hooper.
She also told us that she had no idea where
Barbara lived.
Speaker 9 (20:08):
Used to have a room.
Speaker 8 (20:09):
Around Western, but she moved when she got married.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
How long ago was that?
Speaker 9 (20:13):
Three weeks? O don't know, Let's see it's longer.
Speaker 10 (20:17):
Oh.
Speaker 8 (20:17):
They went to Vegas on a Sunday, be four weeks
next Sunday.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Mmm, you're sure you don't have her address?
Speaker 8 (20:24):
Huh Oh, she gave it to me once, but I
didn't take it down.
Speaker 9 (20:26):
It wouldn't have no use for it. How's that I
don't get along with Tom?
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Tom?
Speaker 8 (20:31):
Now that's Barbara's husband, Tom Kernan.
Speaker 9 (20:35):
Oh, say that's right. I guess I made a mistake, ma'am.
When you asked me what her last name was, I
I said it was Hooper. I should have said Kernan. Now, yes, ma'am,
I don't know why she ever married him.
Speaker 8 (20:46):
A good looking girl like Barbara, she sure coulda done better.
Speaker 9 (20:49):
M m clamp. That's all he is. Well, I told
her what she's letting herself in for.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Mm.
Speaker 8 (20:56):
But he's got a record as long as I right, Arm,
I've seen him come and go. When you work in
a place like this, you can spot a rotten apple
a mile off. Never figured he'd get into trouble this fast, though,
What do you want with it?
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Just like you get in touch with her, that's all man.
Speaker 9 (21:12):
I know better than that about cops. They wanna get
in touch. They mean business. You mind me giving you
a piece of advice?
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Not at all.
Speaker 9 (21:21):
I don't blame her whatever it is. He's to blame
whatever she's done. You check into it, and you see,
Gal gets married to a wrong guide, lasts up her
whole life.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Not her fault except for one thing. Yeah, she married him.
M went back to the office and ran the name
Thomas Kernan through the record bureau. They came up with
a package.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
Cernan had served time for burglary and was now an
active parole. We checked with Fat Galloway at adult Parole.
He told us that cerning's last known address was an
apartment on Western Avenue.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
We drove out there. It's down here.
Speaker 11 (22:02):
Yeah, they hear it is huh el say wait a minute, alright,
al what do you want?
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Come on? Open up? Okay, okay, keep your hat on.
H police officer, stand still, always moving and it's clean.
Speaker 11 (22:29):
Joall what's your wife out out where?
Speaker 1 (22:32):
I don't know. She wasn't here when I came home.
We'll look around, be my guest.
Speaker 10 (22:37):
I always knew you guys, wrote us ex cons. That
ain't no surprise, But he didn't know you started picking
on our wives too.
Speaker 7 (22:42):
You know she's a nice kid.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
It's studying on her. You stay on my back.
Speaker 10 (22:47):
I ain't used to it, but let her alone.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Yet, Yeah, I found this case in the closet, and
watch your still and say most of 'em anyway, all right?
Speaker 10 (22:56):
The heck sat you didn't know about this cour it's
not Yeah, sure guy, I ever saw him before your
wife did m.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
How so will she be back? I don't know. We'll
wait up to you never saw those watches before in
my life. I'm telling you the truth. You bet you are.
Speaker 10 (23:13):
Even if Barbara did take and I don't make meet
yearly anything, no stupid broad and she started making with
a question.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
She'll spill a whole bead, but you don't anything about it?
Speaker 7 (23:22):
Maybe I knew she was looking for a setup.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
What does that prove?
Speaker 10 (23:25):
Some setup guy with a suitcase full of watches? Dizzy
dame didn't even know they had serial numbers on him?
Speaker 1 (23:30):
What a brain? First job she ever pulled? She gets
picked up.
Speaker 10 (23:33):
Time I was her age, I pulled half a dozen.
You cops hadn't even tumbled once. You're real bright, and
then see you say, won't learn, try to teach you
the ropes gets picked.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Up on her first job. Well you should have expected them.
Why what do you mean? Look who taught her?
Speaker 2 (23:56):
The story you have just heard is true. The names
were changed protect the innocent.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
On February, second trial was held in Department ninety seven,
Superior Court of the State of California in and for
the County of Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
In a moment the results of.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
That trial, Thomas carew Ernan was returned to the adult
authority for violation of parole. Violation of parole is punishable
by the term not served. Barbara Jane Kernan was found
guilty of grand theft one count. Grand theft is punishable
(24:32):
by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than
one year or in the state prison for not less
than one nor more than ten years.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
You have just heard.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
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 (00:05):
The story you were about to hear is true. The
names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a
detective sergeant. You're assigned a robbery detail. A watch salesman
tells you where sample case has been stolen.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
He says he knows the man who didn't.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Your job find them.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Dragnet the document a drama of an actual crime. For
the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles
Police Department, you will travel step by step on the
side of the law through an actual case, transcribed from
official police filence, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment.
Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
It was Tuesday, October fourth, was cool in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of robbery detail.
My partner's Frank Smith. The boss a Chieve, Detective stad Brown.
My name is Friday. We're on our way into the office.
It was seven forty six am when we got the room.
Twenty seven eight robbery.
Speaker 6 (01:19):
I'll check the book, all right, anything for us, No,
stay Dick to Faye.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
The movies last night.
Speaker 6 (01:28):
Well, yeah, during good double Bill, mystery and a comedy.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Sure had me fool. Huh. The mystery had me fool.
Speaker 6 (01:34):
I never can figure out who done it.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
It was this rich society girl.
Speaker 6 (01:39):
He lived in the panthhouse, top floor, real modern kind
of glass.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
The only found her lying outside on the riff garden
part and the doors were all locked and the police
had to break them down to get.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
In as soon as they got in.
Speaker 6 (01:50):
Yes, sir, i'd like the report of robberies this right place. Yes, sir,
you want to sit down?
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Oh? Thanks? My name is Liggins Russell Wiggins just fell it.
Please it's l I G G I N sligoans its
Frank Smith. My name is Friday. I'm pleased to meet you.
I suppose to tell us what happened, mister Wiggans be.
Speaker 6 (02:12):
Okay, smoke, sure, go ahead, you fellas careful cigarette?
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Yeah, thank you? Here I have a light right, thanks,
thank you. Well, it was my own fault to begin with.
It just wasn't using my head. Company ought to fire me.
I wouldn't blame them if they did. What company is?
I sent in a watch company up in Seattle. I
(02:38):
see it's a new outfit.
Speaker 6 (02:39):
They important movements from Japan and put them in cases
over here in wholesalem. You know, I'm one of their
head salesmen. I came down for the Jewelis convention. The
convention ended yesterday, and I was supposed to leave for
home this morning nine o'clock plane.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
I guess I have to take a later flight now.
Speaker 6 (02:54):
Yes, oh, I have all had dumb stunts practically handed
in my sample case on a silver platter, one hundred
why our best stuff, a lot of them in jeweled cases.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Company wanted to make a good impression, you know.
Speaker 6 (03:05):
Or the robbery take placements, pluggings in front of the
hotel for all intents and purposes at ise a greystone.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
That's where I've been stopped. I see, Do you have
any idea who robbed it?
Speaker 7 (03:13):
The best idea in the world. Spent a couple of hours.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
With him last night. You see what happened is this?
Speaker 6 (03:19):
Like I said, the convention was over yesterday, and I
wound up about five o'clock in the afternoon, and.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Well, I had the whole evening I had it made
nothing to do. Go ahead.
Speaker 6 (03:27):
I had dinner there at the hotel, a couple of drinks,
you know, stole too early to go to bed, so
I thought I looked the town over, you know, stopped
by Persihing Square and listen to those characters spouting off
and along. About ten o'clock I headed back to at
the Greystone, passed the bar and decided go in for nightcap.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Do you remember the name of the bar? I'm afraid
It's just.
Speaker 6 (03:45):
A couple of blocks from the hotel. Had a nice
little combo and there played pretty good music. So I
sat out for a while. Yeah, I guess I had
too much to drink. Well, I wasn't drunk or anything
like that, but had my share must have been a
little higher. I wouldn't started talking to a couple of
strangers the way I did, and they were sitting next
to me, These two fellows. We got the chatting, you know,
(04:06):
it's about music. At first they seen them be enjoying it.
One thing led to another, and they bought me a
drink and I had to pay them.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Back, of course. Yes, Sir asked me what line I
was in.
Speaker 7 (04:15):
I told him my sould watches, said I was in town.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
For the jewelry convention.
Speaker 7 (04:18):
They took a real big said that's why they were
here too, claiming they had a.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Jewely stir in salt Lake City. I mentioned the names.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
Oh sure, they introduced themselves, but it didn't sink in
and not their last names anyhow, Uh George and Paul.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah, that's all I can remember. What happened.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Then, Well, they started complaining about the quality of the
watches they've been shown, said they hadn't seen anything worth buying. Well,
so I asked them if they'd looked at my samples
and they said they didn't think so I offered to
make an appointment to show all my stuff. Figured I
could stay over an extra day on a chance of
making a good sale, and they said that wouldn't be
necessary for.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Me, you know, to stay over. Said they could meet
me this morning before I left for the airport. And
did you set up an appointment?
Speaker 6 (04:55):
Yes, sir, I told them I have to be earlier
if I was still going to catch them playing, and
that was fine with them.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
The earlier the better.
Speaker 6 (05:00):
Agreed to meet me at seven am. They even offered
to drive me to the airport. Couldn't ask for anything
more in that, could I?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Well?
Speaker 6 (05:08):
Anyway, I come downstairs about a quarter to seven and
checked out, and they were supposed to pick me up
in front of the hotel. Yeah, what about five or
seven they come by. I hopped in the car and
we drove off. We hadn't gone more in a mile
or soon, and they pulled over and part quiet street.
How much traffic. I asked him why they were stopping there.
I figured I was showing them my watches out at
the airport. They said they want to look at him.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Now. What was that again?
Speaker 7 (05:29):
They said that they want to look at.
Speaker 6 (05:30):
Him right now, you know, in the car the watches. Yeah,
go ahead, And it struck me as kind of funny.
I didn't see where it would make any difference. And
I opened up the case and they just sort of
glanced inside. And then one of the fellows, the one
named George, he took out a gun start to shoving
me through the door, and I tried to argue with him.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
I wasn't getting.
Speaker 6 (05:46):
Anywhere though, told a gun, huh yeah, and he, you know,
kind of pushed me with it, and finally I asked
him to please at least give me my suitcase. I
said it wouldn't be worth anything to them, but I
needed it, and they tossed it out on the street
beside me and drove off.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
See what about your wallet? Did they take your wallet too.
Oh no, no, just a sample case.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
I guess they were in a hurry, didn't want to
spend a lot of time there in the street and
broad daylight or some I see.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
As soon as they left, they started looking around for
a cabin, had to walk a couple of blocks for.
Speaker 7 (06:14):
A found one, and the then I got him to
bring me right here.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
What kind of a car did they drive? You know,
the fellas that robbed me? That's right, said Dan. I
think it was black a Ford. Did you get the license? No?
Speaker 6 (06:28):
I didn't even think of try on that until after
they were out of side.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
And now, can you describe these men forest plays? Well? Sure? Uh?
Speaker 6 (06:35):
Well, they were about forty medium sized. Uh Georgie had
black hair, and the other fella he had sort of
sandy hair, you know, I see and he mix discars,
I don't think so. How are they dressed?
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (06:48):
Suits a conservative blue or kind of gray maybe, I'm
not sure.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Were they wearing the same clothes this morning? Well?
Speaker 6 (06:56):
No, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
They had on top coach today. I see you said
they're names were George and Paul. Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 6 (07:02):
Anything else that might help us identify them?
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Gosh, I'm afraid not. Do you have a list of
serial numbers from your watches? Yes, maybe we see it. Yeah,
it's in my wallet. Yeah just a minute.
Speaker 6 (07:17):
Here you go, Thanks very much. I'll get out of
circular Joe. Okay, is there anything else you want from me?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Yes, sir, we'd like to have you show us the
bar where you met these man. Well, no, sir, I'm
not sure. I can a lot of bars in the neighborhood.
And I didn't pay too much attention. You said they
had a combo there. Yeah, well I don't make it easier.
Speaker 6 (07:34):
Well, sure do my best, Yes, sir, I have to
get my airline ticket change too. We'd appreciate it if
you stay over a couple of days. Oh, in case
we turn them up, we'll need you to identify them.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Well, there isn't much chance for that, is there. What
I mean?
Speaker 6 (07:45):
Well, the descriptions that gave you could be anybody you know. Besides,
the company will want me back on the job, that is,
if they don't fire me for this.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
But you know you want the only thing I want back. Huh.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
I don't want those watches too, Frank, And I checked
the m O and the descriptions Russell Lliggans had given
us with the Stats Office, they came up with eleven possibles.
We took the names to R and I and pulled
the packages. Liiggans was unable to identify any of the
mug shots. Ten thirteen am, we cruised the vicinity of
the Greystone Hotel looking for the bar where Liggans had
(08:17):
first met the suspects. He told us the Green Hat
Cafe on sixth Streets seemed familiar, but he wasn't certain.
We left him in the car and we went inside
and interview the bartender.
Speaker 6 (08:26):
Look, you boys know me. I run a nice clean place.
Don't even cut the liquor. I ain't caused you no trouble.
Why don't you lay off?
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Just a couple of questions for you? Saying, sure, a
couple of questions.
Speaker 6 (08:34):
The next thing I know, I'm testifying in court and
you got something you ought to testify about.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
No, no, of course not. I'm just talkable. Didn't talk
to us. Huh, okay, what do you want? You're on
the job here last night, yeah, all evening, all evening.
Speaker 6 (08:46):
I got a little combo working in the joint. Now
they cost money, there's nothing left over for extra bartenders.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
You see they fell out in the car. We're i'll
over here, Sam leanoversea out there.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Yeah yeah, I see.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Take a good look at him, all right, I look good.
He ever been in your place like when last night
Barr was real crowded last night? Music helps the business.
He might have been here well, yes or no? Sam? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (09:12):
Yeah, he was here alone. Yeah, he came in alone.
He took that stool over there, had a few drinks
and left.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
He talked to anybody.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
They talked to me.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
What do you say?
Speaker 6 (09:21):
He liked the music? That's about who else? He talked
to a girl sitting next to him. Was she well,
I don't know her name. She comes in once in
a while, kind of nice looking.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
There were a couple of men in here too, weren't
they same? Well?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
There were a lot of guys why.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Well dressed, middle aged, could be they talked to him too.
Did they fell in your car? Same guy? Yeah? Well,
if they did, I didn't see him. I had quite
a conversation. I didn't hear it. Music's pretty loud. Who
were they, Sam?
Speaker 6 (09:45):
Look, I don't ask for a driver's license unless the
guy looks like he's understand Sam, Who are they he's
conning you that friend of yours out there. Yeah, and
stew that's where he sat. The girl was next to
him the whole evening. Well, he couldn't have talked to
nobody else.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
We took Liggans into the Green Hat Cafe and he
said he was certain that that was where he had
met the two men known as George and Paul.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Sam Huppole, the owner of the bar, was equally certain
that Liggins was mistaken.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Ten forty eight am, Frank and I drove Liggins over
to the Greystone Hotel while he went inside to reregister.
We talked with the cab drivers who were stationed at
the stand next to the main hotel entrance.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
One of them told us he.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
Had been parked there from about six thirty until seven
fifteen am that morning.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Well, I was never gonna give me a fare when
it starts like that the whole day shot.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Do you mean now been sitting here for the last
twenty five minutes? Uh? Huh? Did you see a man
come on the hotel about five minutes of seven. I
was watching those doors, real anxious if he came out.
I saw him, same fellow. We just let on, oh
you remember him?
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Sure?
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Did you notice the carry drove off in you kidding?
What do you mean this hack of mine? Huh? He
was my first fear at this am. You picked him
up here, It's right, It wasn't five or seven though,
closer to seven thirty. Where'd you take him? City Hall?
We went into the hotel and talked to the desk clerks.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
He told us that Lincolns had been assigned the same
room he had previously occupied four seventeen. He also told
us that he was almost positive Ligans had not carried
the sample case when he.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Checked out that morning.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
We talked to the bell hop who had brought down
Ligand's baggage. He said Ligands had only one suitcase. Eleven
thirteen am. Frank and I went up the room four seventeen.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
A man, Yes, sir, yes, it's very kind of you.
Speaker 8 (11:28):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
I'd be with you as soon as they get off
the phone. It's okay, yes, sir.
Speaker 7 (11:33):
Well, uh there too, I guess if that's alright? No, no, no,
they didn't take my money.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Uh. Thanks, I can manage. Uh. Oh, just one thing,
would you ask one of the girls to call my
wife and explain to la. Oh, thank you very much.
Sir bye.
Speaker 6 (11:52):
Well, I was just talking the bus in Seattle said
it's all right for me to stick around a few days.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Good. Now you really think you can find those guys
that fast? Well we may not have to look for him.
What do you mean we went checking your story? Leggings, Yeah,
leaks like a sieve, lousy bartender. How are you taking
his word against mine? We got more than the bartender.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
Oh, the cab driver says he picked you up here
at seven twenty and drove you down the city hall.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Well he's crazy. You can have it in person. He
must have picked up somebody who looks like me, that's all.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
We talked to the bell hop who brought down your luggies.
There wasn't any sample case.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
I carried it myself.
Speaker 6 (12:25):
I wasn't gonna let a bell hop handle something as
valuable as that. He just didn't notice it, that's all.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Desk CRT didn't notice it either.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
Well, I stood in front of his desk when I
paid up.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
That's why, what do you guys want from me? Just
tell us what happened to the sample case. I've told
you the whole story was one thing you left on.
What's that the truth?
Speaker 5 (13:03):
We continued to question Russell Wiggins in his hotel room.
He insisted that he's been telling us the truth. We
confronted him with a cab driver, the desk clerk, the
bell hop. He refused to change his story. One o
five pm we drove Ligands down to the city Hall
for further interrogation.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
How much of the watches work the wholesaler retail both ways?
Speaker 6 (13:20):
About four thousand wholesale, maybe ten retail.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
A lot of money? Well, sure, the boss upset. Well,
he wasn't very happy about it. He's insured in me.
Speaker 8 (13:32):
Loo.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Come on, yeah, I guess so, don't you know? Yeah,
he's insured, he said so with a phony. He told
me not to worry. M you didn't know about the
insurance before? What if I did? Maybe we better talk
to your boss. What's his number? Fun fellow, what's his number? Well?
What are you gonna tell him that you've been handing
as a line about being robbed? Well, you think I
(13:54):
robbed myself? Is that what you're getting at? What else
can we think?
Speaker 8 (13:57):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (13:57):
You're crazy?
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Where are the watches? Somebody stole him? Yeah? George and
Paul look okay it wasn't. George and Paul go ahead.
Speaker 7 (14:07):
I made it up, the whole thing about them, you know,
the Fellas.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
I had to tell you something, Sure you did. Well,
you want the truth, don't you. Well you're getting it.
At least you can do is try to believe it.
You make a ton of hard to buy.
Speaker 6 (14:19):
But I went into that bar last night just like
I told you, and the bartender was right. I didn't
talk to anybody except the girl sitting beside me.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (14:27):
Well, she said she came in because she liked the
music and I was feeling kind of lonesome. I don't
know anybody in La, so we started to talk. Said
her name was Barbara. Didn't give me her last name
because she was married and she wanted to keep things
on her first name, Basis, and that was all right
with me.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
I told her to call me Russ.
Speaker 6 (14:45):
She said her husband worked nights one of the aircraft plans,
and I told her about my job that I sold watches.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
She kind of laughed when I told her, but it
was a big.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
Coincidence, maybe in a watch eld and she was planned
to buy a watch, told me the one she had
was ready to give up the go I see, and
then she showed it to me. On her wrist, a
real cheap kind and just a piece of junker.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (15:07):
Well, she asked me if maybe I could get her
a new one wholesale, and I said I might be
able to arrange it. And I suggested she'd come up
to my room and look at the samples I had there. Yeah,
now I wasn't up to anything. I figured we'd have
a couple of drinks, but that was all sure, And
then she kind of hesitated, said it wouldn't look very good,
and finally she agreed. We went over the hotel and
I had a bottle in my room and I fixed
us a drink, and then I showed her the watches
(15:29):
and she picked out the one she liked, but she
didn't have any money with her, not enough to pay
for it anyway, and.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
I told her she could have it for free, you know,
as a present. It wasn't an expensive model, and.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
I was going to pay the company back out of
my own pocket. So she took off her old watch
and she put it in her purse and she put
the new one on.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
I go ahead, and then she.
Speaker 6 (15:46):
Said we ought to have a couple more drinks in
order to kind of celebrate the present. She offered to
fix her. Well, maybe she put something in mine, or
maybe they were just strong.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
I don't know. Anyway, I don't remember much after that.
When you do pass out, yeah, I guess. So.
Speaker 6 (16:01):
Next thing I knew, it was morning, about six thirty,
and I'd fallen asleep on the bed with all my
clothes on.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Yeah, that must be why you didn't take my wallet?
All right? What happened then? But I didn't think anything
was wrong.
Speaker 6 (16:12):
I couldn't remember when Barbara left. But I've blacked out
before when i've had a little too much. So I
took a shower and I got dressed. It was while
I was dressing I noticed the sample case was gone.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
I looked everywhere for it. You figure she took it?
Now who else could? Maybe? Boy, you guys are pretty
hard to convince.
Speaker 5 (16:28):
All right, Yo, why didn't you tell us about Barbara
when you first came in here when I was thinking
of my job?
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (16:33):
Boy, it's just promoted me a couple of months ago.
I'm doing pretty good at making fair money?
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Is that so?
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:37):
If you ever found out to let some dame roll.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
Me in a hotel room, well I'd be out of
my ear all right, And that's not all.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
I got a wife, Helen, that's her name.
Speaker 6 (16:49):
You guys married, he is, Well, then maybe he'll understand.
We've only been married a couple of years.
Speaker 7 (16:55):
And Helen doesn't like the idea of me being on
the road half the time.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
She's suspicious enough as it is. Yeah, so I did
some quick thinking come up with the story I gave
you this morning.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
You know about George and Paul. Well, it really wasn't
my own idea. Exactly.
Speaker 6 (17:07):
What I mean is that I was talking to a
salesman at the convention the other day, you know, one
of the real old timers. He told me how some
guys had robbed me once when he was just starting out,
and that's where I got the idea, sort of switched
it around to fit what happened to me. Well, I
didn't see where I was doing any harm. I never
thought you'd be able to get the watches back anyhow.
You didn't make it any easier for us.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Well maybe not, but you don't know, Helen.
Speaker 6 (17:28):
She leave me surest fate if this ever gets out,
you know, I didn't mean it cause you any trouble
to see them make any difference what I told you
as long.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
As the watches were gone. Oh it makes a difference, Yeah,
if we want to find out who took them.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
Three point fifteen pm we went back to the Greystone
Hotel and talked to the manager. He gave us the
home telephone number of the elevator boy who had been
on duty.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
The previous night.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
They called the boy and he told us he remembered
taking a passenger who resembled Russell Wiggans up to the
third floor sometime after two am.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
In the morning.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
He also remembered that Ligganns had been accompanied by a
young lady. He did not remember bringing the lady down,
but he suggested that she might have used the stairs.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
We called the crime lab and they went over Liggann's room.
Speaker 5 (18:10):
They found no useful fingerprints or other physical evidence.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Five fifteen pm we went back to the office.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
Liggins gave us a description of the girl known to
him as Barbara, who showed him some mug shots, but
he was unable to identify any of the women. Seven
eighteen pm, Frank and I again interviewed the bartender at
the Green Hat Cafe.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Well, what did I tell you?
Speaker 6 (18:28):
Just a couple of questions, that's all. Next thing I
know you guys have moved in for the wedding.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Ah, it's saying I'll take it easy. Have I got
any choice? Do you remember the girl Liggins was talking
to in here last night? So it's a girl now
I thought it was too good? Oh come on, Sam,
you mentioned her yourself. I never figured you fellas believed
anything I told you. We want to know who she is.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
Just a girl, that's all. She comes in once in
a while. She got a name, never introduced herself.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
She lived in the neighborhood. I don't know.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
But who does look this Liggins is a character. He's
already taken you for one ride today. No't Why don't
you get off?
Speaker 1 (19:00):
But I can get in touch with her, Sam, get
in touch. You gotta help. Well, how can I help you?
I don't know her name, I don't know her address. Well,
maybe you can find out. I busted my crystal ball
just the other day. We'll send in a couple of
uniforms to watch your joint for a few days. Mm hm,
you got any objections?
Speaker 6 (19:16):
Well, sure, cops make me nervous, like the customer is
nervous too.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Maybe you get the wrong kind of customers.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
What are you gonna do all right, talk to Jeanette. Jeannette, Yeah,
the waitress. He's in the back room meeting your child.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
She know the girl we're looking for.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
Yeah, they're real, buddy, buddy, spent half their time chinning together.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Never get any work out of Jeanette once the other
one comes in. All right, Sam, thank you. You know
there's something been worrying me. What's that?
Speaker 6 (19:40):
Whatever you guys show up, I make up my mind.
You're not gonna get any answers from me. I'm not
even gonna give you the time of day.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
And then what happens? I end up telling you everything
you want to know. Maybe you just like is Sam? Yeah,
that's what's been worrying me.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
Frank and I walk back into the kitchen of the
Green Hat Cafe and we interviewed the waitress, Janette Grover.
She told us that her friend's name was Barbara Hooper.
She also told us that she had no idea where
Barbara lived.
Speaker 9 (20:08):
Used to have a room.
Speaker 8 (20:09):
Around Western, but she moved when she got married.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
How long ago was that?
Speaker 9 (20:13):
Three weeks? O don't know, Let's see it's longer.
Speaker 10 (20:17):
Oh.
Speaker 8 (20:17):
They went to Vegas on a Sunday, be four weeks
next Sunday.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Mmm, you're sure you don't have her address?
Speaker 8 (20:24):
Huh Oh, she gave it to me once, but I
didn't take it down.
Speaker 9 (20:26):
It wouldn't have no use for it. How's that I
don't get along with Tom?
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Tom?
Speaker 8 (20:31):
Now that's Barbara's husband, Tom Kernan.
Speaker 9 (20:35):
Oh, say that's right. I guess I made a mistake, ma'am.
When you asked me what her last name was, I
I said it was Hooper. I should have said Kernan. Now, yes, ma'am,
I don't know why she ever married him.
Speaker 8 (20:46):
A good looking girl like Barbara, she sure coulda done better.
Speaker 9 (20:49):
M m clamp. That's all he is. Well, I told
her what she's letting herself in for.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Mm.
Speaker 8 (20:56):
But he's got a record as long as I right, Arm,
I've seen him come and go. When you work in
a place like this, you can spot a rotten apple
a mile off. Never figured he'd get into trouble this fast, though,
What do you want with it?
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Just like you get in touch with her, that's all man.
Speaker 9 (21:12):
I know better than that about cops. They wanna get
in touch. They mean business. You mind me giving you
a piece of advice?
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Not at all.
Speaker 9 (21:21):
I don't blame her whatever it is. He's to blame
whatever she's done. You check into it, and you see,
Gal gets married to a wrong guide, lasts up her
whole life.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Not her fault except for one thing. Yeah, she married him.
M went back to the office and ran the name
Thomas Kernan through the record bureau. They came up with
a package.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
Cernan had served time for burglary and was now an
active parole. We checked with Fat Galloway at adult Parole.
He told us that cerning's last known address was an
apartment on Western Avenue.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
We drove out there. It's down here.
Speaker 11 (22:02):
Yeah, they hear it is huh el say wait a minute, alright,
al what do you want?
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Come on? Open up? Okay, okay, keep your hat on.
H police officer, stand still, always moving and it's clean.
Speaker 11 (22:29):
Joall what's your wife out out where?
Speaker 1 (22:32):
I don't know. She wasn't here when I came home.
We'll look around, be my guest.
Speaker 10 (22:37):
I always knew you guys, wrote us ex cons. That
ain't no surprise, But he didn't know you started picking
on our wives too.
Speaker 7 (22:42):
You know she's a nice kid.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
It's studying on her. You stay on my back.
Speaker 10 (22:47):
I ain't used to it, but let her alone.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Yet, Yeah, I found this case in the closet, and
watch your still and say most of 'em anyway, all right?
Speaker 10 (22:56):
The heck sat you didn't know about this cour it's
not Yeah, sure guy, I ever saw him before your
wife did m.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
How so will she be back? I don't know. We'll
wait up to you never saw those watches before in
my life. I'm telling you the truth. You bet you are.
Speaker 10 (23:13):
Even if Barbara did take and I don't make meet
yearly anything, no stupid broad and she started making with
a question.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
She'll spill a whole bead, but you don't anything about it?
Speaker 7 (23:22):
Maybe I knew she was looking for a setup.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
What does that prove?
Speaker 10 (23:25):
Some setup guy with a suitcase full of watches? Dizzy
dame didn't even know they had serial numbers on him?
Speaker 1 (23:30):
What a brain? First job she ever pulled? She gets
picked up.
Speaker 10 (23:33):
Time I was her age, I pulled half a dozen.
You cops hadn't even tumbled once. You're real bright, and
then see you say, won't learn, try to teach you
the ropes gets picked.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Up on her first job. Well you should have expected them.
Why what do you mean? Look who taught her?
Speaker 2 (23:56):
The story you have just heard is true. The names
were changed protect the innocent.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
On February, second trial was held in Department ninety seven,
Superior Court of the State of California in and for
the County of Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
In a moment the results of.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
That trial, Thomas carew Ernan was returned to the adult
authority for violation of parole. Violation of parole is punishable
by the term not served. Barbara Jane Kernan was found
guilty of grand theft one count. Grand theft is punishable
(24:32):
by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than
one year or in the state prison for not less
than one nor more than ten years.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
You have just heard.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
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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