September 12, 2025 • 29 mins
Dragnet - Old Time Radio Show - 272 The Big Locker
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/good-old-radio-vintage-old-time-radio-shows--2778176/support.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/good-old-radio-vintage-old-time-radio-shows--2778176/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Ladies and gentlemen. The story you are about to hear
is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Drag net brought to you by Chesterfield. This is the
best Chesterfield and the time to change today.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a burglary detail. A
man walks into a pawn shop and wants to sell
a ring. Indications are that the ring is stolen. Your
job find out.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
This is the best Chesterfield and the time to change today.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
In choosing your cigarette, be sure to remember this. You
will like Chesterfield best because only Chesterfield has the right
combination of the world's best tobaccos.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Tobaccos that are.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Highest in quality, low in nicotine, best for you.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
All of us smoke for relaxation, for comfort, for satisfaction,
and in the whole wide world, no cigarette satisfies like
a Chesterfield.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Get a carton of Chesterfields today, Chesterfield Regular Chesterfield King Size,
both at the same price in most places.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
In Regular are King size.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
You can get them either way. The best smoke ever
made is the Chesterfield you buy today.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Smokers coast to coaster are changing. It's the sense to do.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Here's all you have to say to get the one that's.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
Best for you.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Chester feels for me, Chester feels for me.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
You just say it's Chester feels for me.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
This is the best Chesterfield and the time to change today.
Dragnet the documented drama of an actual crime. Well the
next thirty minutes. In cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department,
you will travel step by step on the side of
(02:14):
the law through an actual case transcribed from official police violence,
from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is
the story of your police force in action.
Speaker 6 (02:28):
It was Tuesday, June seventeenth. It was warm in Los Angeles.
We were working the day Watch out of Burgery. My
partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Bernard. My name
was Friday. We were assisting another team in checking out
pawn shops and it was nine twenty seven am when
we got to five point fifty two South Main Street,
Civical owned company.
Speaker 7 (02:46):
Hi Joe, right, he Miami?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
What is it? Business?
Speaker 8 (02:50):
A player?
Speaker 2 (02:50):
A little of both?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Let check the Bible, Kenharb, Sure thing, I'll get it
for you.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Where's your partner?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Set the day off, go and get some sunshine. You
picked a good day for it. Hey, Joe, Thank you, Herbert.
These all the tickets for yesterday. Yeah, it was kind
of slow money. Do you find anything? I don't know
what we want? Okay, thanks her Oh it's okay. You
(03:17):
know what, Jo? Anytime we can help you.
Speaker 9 (03:18):
Fellows, Yeah, said Joe.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
While we're here, I'd like to look at the guitar.
What it's not for me? You know me better than that.
The only piece I know is it ain't gonna rain
no more? What's wrong with how dry I am? It's funny.
What have you gotten a good guitar? Herb, I'll come
on down here. I'll show you some goodbyes.
Speaker 10 (03:34):
One of my neighbors asked me to check if I
had a chance. Wants to buy his kid one What.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Do you got? You say much you want to spend? No?
Speaker 10 (03:41):
But I don't guess he wants to lay out too much.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
How about that one hanging up there, the one with
the knobs on it? Oh, that's an electric? What's with
the knobs for volume?
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
How much you know?
Speaker 11 (03:53):
That one?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Let you have for thirty dollars? I don't think you'll
go that much. You got something cheaper? The kid can
make his own volley him. That's nice looking, though, don't
you show? Yeah, here's a good one.
Speaker 12 (04:04):
Is Spanish?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
That the regular kind? That's right? How much is it
twelve dollars? Oh? That sounds more like his speed? Can
I see it?
Speaker 9 (04:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
It isn't tuned, but goad and strum it. Uh huh?
What should I be listening for? Oh?
Speaker 7 (04:24):
Yeah, that's nice.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Oh excuse me for something? I can help you with her?
How does it sound to you, Joe? Do you want
to step in the back? I don't know. I'm with you.
What are we listening for here? You know? Oh? Yeah?
His neighbor told me is pretty lucky. How's that?
Speaker 13 (04:39):
Well?
Speaker 10 (04:40):
His kid's been watching those singing cowboys on TV, so
now he wants to be one with a guitar. The
sky next door says he's glad his kid hasn't got
all wrapped up in space shows. Says they couldn't afford
a spaceship.
Speaker 6 (04:52):
I'm gonna guess there're too many second spaceships for sale,
are they?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
You only think he's trying to push your hot ring?
I turned it down. Let's go all right?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Hey, you fellow, hold it up, give me me.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
That's right, Police officers, what's the matter let's go over
the doorway.
Speaker 8 (05:09):
Not over here?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Well, why am I move my hands over your head?
Come on, turn around? All right, he's clean. See your identification,
like what you got a driver's license?
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Get it out all right? Yeah, take it.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Out of the wallet.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Yeah, I give it a me, James Bedder, it's your
true name.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah. You live at this address twelve oh one soft
Ratten Street.
Speaker 9 (05:34):
Yeah here you are.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
What are you doing in that shop?
Speaker 8 (05:39):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Waiting to sell a ring? Let's see it all right? Yeah,
the ring belong to you.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
I wanna wait here, Frank, I'll check herb all right,
or you want to comne in a minute.
Speaker 7 (05:52):
Sure.
Speaker 6 (05:54):
Let's take a look. Here sat the man who tried
to set you the ring down there?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yeah all right, I look at this. It's just the ring.
Mm hm it's an Emerald, real good stone. Why'd you
turn it down?
Speaker 14 (06:05):
I thought there was something wrong, like I said, you know, well,
he wanted to sell it for twenty dollars, you know,
rings worth close to one thousand.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
We took James Better to the office for questioning. Frank
checked with R and I and found that he had
a previous record. He'd been picked up on suspicion of
burglary and had served one term for auto theft. The
ring was examined and found to be genuine. Better maintained
the ring belonged to him. After an hour of interrogation,
he began to change his story.
Speaker 9 (06:31):
All Right, I didn't know what it was worth.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
You mean the ring wasn't yours? Then?
Speaker 9 (06:34):
Yeah, if i'd known it was worth that much, I wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Have tried to sell it so cheap.
Speaker 14 (06:37):
But where'd you get it? I found it where MacArthur Park?
When last night I go over there all the time.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Did you do anything about trying to find out who
lost the ring?
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 14 (06:45):
I checked in the papers and the lost and found
I guess I looked in all of them.
Speaker 9 (06:49):
I didn't see any ads though for a green ring.
Speaker 7 (06:51):
Uh.
Speaker 14 (06:51):
Well, I looked at the ring real close and didn't
seem like a good stone. So I decided maybe it
wasn't worth anything advertising.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
No, but it was worth trying to sell, wasn't it.
Speaker 14 (06:57):
Well, like I said, I ain't working, a few bucks
would come in hand.
Speaker 9 (07:00):
Yeah, sure, you don't believe me, do you?
Speaker 6 (07:02):
Well, you haven't given us much reason to have. You
started out a line, why should we think different now.
Speaker 14 (07:06):
Yeah, I guess I told you it's mine. I was
afraid maybe you think I stole it.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
But I told you the truth.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Now you have, I can prove it.
Speaker 9 (07:11):
You take me out there, You take me.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
That part right now? What'll prove? Oh? ShW you just
where I picked it up. Well, if we wait until Sunday,
the trip won't be wasted, will it. We can listen to.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
Band concert too. We continued to question James better, but
we were unable to change his story. He was booked
in on suspicion a violation of Section four fifty nine PC,
and held for investigation. We made a check of his residence,
his friends, and the places he was known to frequent.
We could find nothing to hold him on. He came
(07:39):
up on the overtime sheet and he was released. The
ring was booked his found property Friday, June twentieth, Why
job all right?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
You check the book? Yeah? Nothing in.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Letter for you?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Thank you? Right, listen to this. You did me a
favor and now I'm going to do you one.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
Go to the Greyhound bus depot rental locker number one
oh three.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Yeah that all.
Speaker 10 (08:09):
Take a look at it here, hm, I've written no greeting,
no signature.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yeah, what do you think? Let's check it out.
Speaker 6 (08:23):
Frank and I took the letter over to Layton Prince,
and then we drove over the sixth of Los Angeles
Street the Greyhound bus depot. We went to the office
of Ralph Thomas, the regional manager. We told him about
the letter, and in his company we went to check
on locker number one oh three.
Speaker 11 (08:38):
Well, the locker's empty. Now we'll have to see if
anything has been removed from it recently. I want to
come with me, gentlemen. We'll take the elevator at the basement.
Speaker 8 (08:44):
Right.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
How are the lockers checked, mister Thomas? The ten cents
pace for twenty four hours. All lockers have checked at midnime.
Speaker 11 (08:51):
I see, when the time limits up, the articles are
removed and the new.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Locks put on the locker. I see. Of course, as
long as the fees paid, we don't bother it.
Speaker 11 (09:02):
All the things removed, the ticketed and held for ninety days.
I see, we hold them here at the depot for
thirty days and then remove him to a warehouse. You'd
be surprised at how fast they accumulate.
Speaker 10 (09:13):
Yes, here we are, you mean, all these things here
have been left in lockers.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
People checked them, didn't come back for him. That's right.
We get quite a variety of things.
Speaker 14 (09:27):
Of course, not all of them are of much venue.
Speaker 11 (09:29):
For instance, sometimes a person will go out buy a
new shirt, change it in the station, check the old woman.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Forget about it.
Speaker 10 (09:35):
Look at that Joe got stuff yellow poodle dog up there?
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Over there half a radio.
Speaker 10 (09:41):
That's not much good unless you know the guy with
the other half of flat iron.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Sure a lot of stuff. Yeah. What about locker World three?
Speaker 11 (09:49):
Well, I see now, if there was anything taken from
it should be right over here.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Hey, there's some nice looking luggage.
Speaker 10 (09:57):
You don't see how a guy would forget something like that.
Speaker 7 (10:00):
Here we are.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
He feels like a small box that's from number one
oh three. That's what the ticket says. See what about
the date that this was removed?
Speaker 11 (10:11):
Well, let's see midnight June seventeenth.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
It was three days ago. Yeah, okay, if we open it,
not at all. Here you are.
Speaker 10 (10:24):
Here, you give me the favorite Jose.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Yeah, looks like a Christmas card box. Yeah, take a look, Frank,
was it a Sergeant Friday jewelry?
Speaker 6 (10:38):
We signed a release form for the jewelry and then
we went back to the office.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
The check of pawn shop records was made and we found.
Speaker 6 (10:44):
That all the pieces had been reported stolen in a
recent burglary. Layton Prince had called to say no Prince
were found. The owner, Missus Carlton Hendrix, was notified and
she came down of the office eleven o seven am.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
Are you and mister Friday the gentleman that I talked
to on the phone.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yes, man, it's my partner Franks. Oh, how do you
do mister how do you do?
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Smith?
Speaker 13 (11:01):
Oh that's a nice, uncomplicated name, if you don't mind
my saying so, mister Smith, I think you look like
a very confident officer. And you, mister Priddy, you look
well as though you might be more.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
Complicated, but very efficient.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
It's very nice, thank you.
Speaker 13 (11:16):
You see, that's one of my hobbies, reading character from faces.
My friends say that I'm most always right. Oh, when
you called, I was so thrilled. You can understand what
it means to recover possessions that you've given up for lost.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Yes, ma'am, Will you like to check the pieces now?
Speaker 13 (11:29):
Yes, you know I had to call off a bridge
party this afternoon. But then there are the others, and
this will be such an experience to tell them about.
Speaker 6 (11:36):
Yes, ma'am, Now if you just look at these pieces
and tell us that they're yours.
Speaker 13 (11:39):
Oh all right, mister Raddy, whenever you're ready.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Yes, ma'am. Well, this is the box they were found
in here way, it's.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
A Christmas card box?
Speaker 7 (11:46):
How cover of them?
Speaker 5 (11:47):
I must remember that, you know, tell my friends.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
May do that? Frank, would you have me that newspaper? Plason?
Oh yeah, thank you, thank you. I just spread these
on the table here and you'll see them better.
Speaker 5 (12:00):
Marries would just die.
Speaker 7 (12:01):
If we saw this.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
That's your husband?
Speaker 5 (12:03):
Oh gracious no, I don't have one.
Speaker 13 (12:05):
I mean at present, I'm divorced, you see, but we're
still very good friends.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
I meant Maurice the.
Speaker 13 (12:10):
Jeweler, just the way mister Fridy spread my duels on
the newspaper.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
You see, when.
Speaker 13 (12:14):
Maurice showed me these things, he had them all displayed
on a wonderful piece of velvet.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
And you recognize these pieces being yours, Miss Hendricks.
Speaker 5 (12:22):
Oh yes, well.
Speaker 13 (12:23):
There's my wedding ring and my gold charm bracelet.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
Have you looked at that? Clothes?
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Gentlemen?
Speaker 5 (12:28):
No, oh, you should hit here.
Speaker 13 (12:30):
Now look, now you see all those things have a
special meaning.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
My husband gave them to me.
Speaker 13 (12:35):
The little stop and go light, Oh that was silly.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
I was just learning to drive.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Yeah, it was a good thing.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
We had insurance. Oh a little wheelbarrow the first.
Speaker 13 (12:43):
Time we went to the races, and I want so
much funny he said, I'd need this to carry it in.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
Well, then I guess we can report that the jewels
have been identifying for the owner.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Huh you see little child mister Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
It's got a number on it. But my husband didn't
give me this.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
He didn't.
Speaker 13 (13:00):
Oh no, it was all innocent enough. But poor Carlton,
that was my husband, got furious. I even called him
with a magnifying glass one day, trying to read the number.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
The dear jealous men. Huh is everything out of the box,
mister Friday.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yes, ma'am, it's all right there in the paper.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Why, well, I don't see my ring.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
You mean this one right here?
Speaker 7 (13:18):
No?
Speaker 13 (13:18):
No, no, no, that's not it. It was an emerald
and a platinum setting.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Well, we checked the burglary report. I don't remember seeing
any listening for that, Miss Hendrick.
Speaker 13 (13:27):
Well, yes, I know at the time I made the report,
I haven't missed it. These drinks were stolen from my
jewelry box. I thought the emerald was in the safety
deposit box.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I see. But why didn't you make a report when
you discovered that it was gone? Oh?
Speaker 13 (13:37):
Well, it happened at a bad time. I've made plans
to go to Reno.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
For a vacation.
Speaker 13 (13:42):
You know what a lovely place that is. Well, I
thought that the rest of the things were recovered, the
ring would be too.
Speaker 7 (13:47):
Well.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
Nevertheless, you should have taken the time to report it.
Speaker 13 (13:49):
Man, Yes, I know, but at the time I was
more concerned with my plans for this trip. And you
ever been to Reno? Oh you should go sometime. It's
really wonderful. I'm going back this winter for the winter sports.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
You gentlemen's Keith No, ma'am, miss Hendricks.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
How much was your ring valued for?
Speaker 13 (14:05):
Well, I'm not quite sure, but I think Carton paid
something like a thousand dollars for it.
Speaker 6 (14:10):
Well, three days ago we recovered an emerald ring that
was supposed to have been found.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
It may possibly be yours.
Speaker 13 (14:15):
Heah, you see, nothing to worry about. I just knew
when I saw you too. Man, that everything was going
to be all right.
Speaker 5 (14:21):
My friends are right. I can't read character.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
We'll have to go over to the property department to
identify the ring.
Speaker 13 (14:25):
Miss Hendricks, Oh good good, that would be another experience.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
I'm going to have to get in touch with Cotton now.
I'll need another charm for my bracelets.
Speaker 13 (14:34):
And I know now just what I want, something that
symbolizes this occasion, and especially you two offices, and you
guess what it'll be.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
I can't gi you, Frank, no, Jock can't.
Speaker 13 (14:45):
Two little gold bloodhounds.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
We took Miss Hendrix over to the Property department in
the Central Jail. We signed out for the ring and
she identified it as being hers. All the jewelry was
booked as evidence. We went to the District Attorney's office
and got a warrant for the arrest of James Feedder.
We got out a local and APV on the suspect.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Frank and I.
Speaker 6 (15:09):
Checked his residence, but we were told the suspect had moved
several days previously. The landlady had no forwarding address. She
couldn't tell us about any visitors or any malee received.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
She was unable to tell us if he drove a car.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
We rechecked his own associates and friends. Several leads were obtained,
but none of them turned up anything. Five days went
by Thursday, June twenty fifth.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Morning, Frank, I know you been here long, about five minutes.
I just couldn't hit the lights this morning. What's new?
Speaker 6 (15:35):
Well, we got a call from modelf that yeah, they
picked up a man early this morning trying.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
To steal a car. Somebody we want. I think so,
James Fetter.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your
police force election.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
All of us smoke for relaxation, or comfort or Saturday faction,
and in the whole wide world, no cigarette satisfies like
a Chesterfield. You smoke with the greatest possible pleasure when
your cigarette is Chesterfield only.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Chesterfield gives you the right combination of the world's best tobaccos,
tobaccos that are highest in quality, low in nicotine, best
for you.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Get a carton of Chesterfields Chesterfield Regular Chesterfield King Signs
both at the same price in most places. It's America's
most popular two way cigarette.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
This is the.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Best Chesterfield and the time to change today.
Speaker 6 (16:48):
Before Frank and I checked out of the office, We
contacted all of the f detail and told them we
wanted to talk to Federick.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
We drove over to the main jail. The suspect was
brought to the interview room.
Speaker 9 (16:56):
How you guys are looking for us?
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Right?
Speaker 9 (16:58):
I couldn't commended, but idn' think it was so you
do it the hard way.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Huh?
Speaker 9 (17:01):
This a bad beef. I guess you figure them all
that way.
Speaker 14 (17:04):
No, not always. You take a chance, you get caught.
It's bad, but you ain't getting credit for something you
didn't do it. So, yeah, what do you want to
see me?
Speaker 7 (17:10):
Bob?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
You don't know.
Speaker 9 (17:11):
No, just as some of the boys said, you were
asking for.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Me, thought maybe you'd like tell us more about where
you find that ring?
Speaker 9 (17:16):
Was that again?
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
That again?
Speaker 9 (17:17):
You got my story? Now what more do you want?
Speaker 3 (17:19):
We got an alibi? Now we like the truth I found,
Sure you did.
Speaker 14 (17:22):
I don't know where I fit in what you're trying
to build, but I want no part.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Of It's not that simple, all right? You tell me
that ring wasn't lost, It was stolen, and you know it.
Speaker 9 (17:29):
You figure on your pigeon, is that it? Let's try
it for size?
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Not this time?
Speaker 9 (17:32):
You can leave it with somebody else.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Might take a little time, but we're going to make
you on it.
Speaker 9 (17:35):
No, not from where I sit.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
You need a better story and you got right now.
Speaker 9 (17:38):
Well not until you can prove I didn't find it.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
We got the other stuff you took.
Speaker 9 (17:42):
Oh, come on, now you're really reaching.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
No, I don't think so. You did as a favor,
but that doesn't put us on your side.
Speaker 9 (17:46):
Look, maybe you better fill me in.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
We got your letter you did.
Speaker 14 (17:49):
Yeah, that's great. Now tell me what I said. I'll
do even better. Here you read it. That's the letter
I wrote. That's right, I get it. Now.
Speaker 9 (18:01):
You found some stuff down at the Greyhound depot.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
You called it.
Speaker 9 (18:04):
Well, i'll give you something else. Yeah, I didn't write
that letter. I don't know who did, but it wasn't me.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
The ring you had has been identified by the owner.
A lot of other stuff we recovered.
Speaker 9 (18:12):
Look, i'll tell you something.
Speaker 14 (18:13):
It's like I said, you take your chances, but I
ain't gonna front for this deal. Yeah, looks like someone
was trying to nail me in, but I don't want it.
Speaker 9 (18:18):
You said I did your favorite. I didn't.
Speaker 14 (18:20):
But I'm gonna know why don't you? I got that
ring from a girl. I know, what's her name, Jill Mason.
Go ahead, Well, I ran in.
Speaker 9 (18:25):
To her the other night. I told her I could
use a couple of bucks.
Speaker 14 (18:27):
She's owed me fifteen for a long time. She said
she didn't have any cash, but she gave me the ring.
I didn't know what it was worth, that's the truth.
I don't think she did either.
Speaker 9 (18:34):
She's carrying a pretty fair paggage at the time. Go ahead,
and she told me she got the ring from a boyfriend.
That's all I knew about her.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Why did you give us the story about the park?
Speaker 9 (18:42):
Well, I figured maybe keep her out of trouble. Long
as you had the ring, I thought.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
That was enough. What's this girl mean to you? You mean?
Speaker 9 (18:47):
How well do I know her?
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (18:49):
I talked to her, that's all.
Speaker 14 (18:50):
But the only reason I give this to you is
I don't want to pay somebody else's bill.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
She ever done any big time?
Speaker 9 (18:54):
I don't know. I never had any serious talks with her.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
No one tells where she lives.
Speaker 9 (18:57):
Yeah, you know, I don't understand that letter. Maybe you
still think I wrote it, but I didn't.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
We only got your word for that.
Speaker 9 (19:03):
No, it doesn't make sense. I'd send a letter ifight
taking the stuff and wanted to keep it, and.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
You might have why you made a lot of other mistakes.
After further questioning, the suspect gave us a description of
Jill Mason in her address.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Frank and I went back.
Speaker 6 (19:19):
To the office and checked her name through R and I,
but we found no previous record for anybody answering her description.
We drove over to nine four to three Wright Street
and we found the apartment house Federer had told us about.
Jill Mason's name was listed on a mailbox near the
front entrance. We went up to the third floor, apartment
three sixteen. We rang a bell and the door was
opened by a woman of about thirty five years of age.
Her face showed signs of having recently been bruised.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Yeah, what is it, Jill Mason? That's right, police officers
like to talk to you.
Speaker 7 (19:44):
Oh well, I was just going to the beauty part.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
I am like, no, we'd appreciate it. If you can wait,
ma'am all right, or if we come in I guess so,
thank you live alone here? Yep? All right? If we
look around, go ahead, right.
Speaker 7 (20:00):
Yeah, look what's this all about? I don't think I
like it. That's slob. Whitey put you up to this. Whitey,
the bartender of the one stop that ches, will make
a fuss over a couple of ten cent glasses I
broke last night.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
I haven't talked to him. It's okay, Joe, and that's.
Speaker 7 (20:14):
Surprised me if they had im telling me I wasn't
an old lady. His shins are gonna be sore for
a couple of days.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
You know a person named James Better, that's her last name. Better,
f E D E R.
Speaker 7 (20:27):
You say to me, can you tell us that please?
Speaker 3 (20:30):
You know?
Speaker 7 (20:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (20:32):
Say?
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Is this gonna take long to make a difference.
Speaker 7 (20:35):
I'd like to call and cancel my appointment.
Speaker 12 (20:38):
Thanks, Hi, Jelen, Joe Mason, gonna have to cancel my appointment.
Speaker 7 (20:54):
Okay, I'll call you. Yeah, sorry, Ernie, Yeah, goodbye. No
sense keeping her waiting. I didn't have to ask if
you'd be here long, and it wasn't about last night.
I knew.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Mind.
Speaker 7 (21:07):
If I sit on ahead, I could lie to you.
But if you talked to Fetter, it'd only be wasted breath.
I beat as it is more than one way.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Could you give Feder a ring?
Speaker 7 (21:18):
That's what kicked the whole business off. Yeah, you see
my face look too bad now, but you should have
seen it. A week ago. I had had a gun.
I think I had shot him. No, he didn't have
anything to do with it. I mean Steve Remsen, guy
that gave me the ring when I gave the Fetterer
for the money I owed him. I was pretty stupid
about it, but that wasn't any reason for me to.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Take the beaten Where did this get the ring?
Speaker 7 (21:41):
Did you get my letter? So I got even with him?
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Did you know the ring was stolen when you gave
it to Fetter?
Speaker 7 (21:45):
No, Steve just gave it to me. He didn't say
anything about where he got it or how much it
was worth. Nothing. Just before I saw Feder had a
fight with Steve, got a little loaded, and Feeder asked
me for the money I gave him a ring.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Remsen told you it was stolen.
Speaker 7 (21:59):
Did he wait if you'd found out what I'd done
with that? He got real sore, said I Feeder tried
to pawn the ring, then'd find out about the other stuff.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Uh huh, said.
Speaker 7 (22:07):
He couldn't go back to the bus station for it.
Cops might pick him up.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I see we were up here.
Speaker 7 (22:11):
He was drinking, got madder all the time, and final
he worked me over and I got in touch with
me after you let him go. Told me what had happened.
I didn't let on that I knew about the ring,
but that's when I figured how to get even with Steve.
I mailed you the letter.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Know where Remsen is now?
Speaker 7 (22:27):
No, you'll probably call the day. I haven't seen him
since he beat up on me, but he'll call trying
to make up. I told him we were through. I
can get him up here for you.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Do you know where he lives?
Speaker 7 (22:37):
No, he's moved.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Can you give us the address?
Speaker 7 (22:40):
Sure, but don't you believe me. I wouldn't lie to you,
not after what he'd done to me. I want to
get even with him, that's all. I don't know why
you don't buy it. Will yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:49):
If he shows up.
Speaker 6 (22:54):
We called the office and another team of men was
sent out to check the address Joe Mason had given
us for Steve Remsen.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
We had the name check through R and I, but
without result.
Speaker 6 (23:02):
Frank went out and moved the car away from the
building in case Remsen might show up. We went back
to the apartment and waited for him to call. Ten
hours went by. She received several calls, but none of
them from Remsen. Manuel Pinia, one of the detectives checking
Remsen's address, called and said that they'd foundly moved away
on June eighteenth. He said they'd make a follow up
investigation eleven thirty pm.
Speaker 7 (23:21):
What if he doesn't call me? He said, he might know,
but it's never at any particular time. I just said
he'd been calling. Maybe he won't.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
What happens, then we'll wait and see. Remember, hold it
a week in here?
Speaker 9 (23:32):
No?
Speaker 7 (23:34):
Well? Oh hi, uh, I don't know if I can
make it. Well, I know i'd like to, but I'll
have to call you. Uh huh sure, sure, honey, thanks
for calling. Bye. Good friend wanted me to go bowling
to morowney m h you heard what I told her.
I guess it's better not to try to plan anything.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Huh.
Speaker 7 (23:56):
Yeah, it's a front door buzzer. Someone's calling him down below.
Door is locked at ten?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
All right, answer it and hold the receivers a week
in here. You still don't trust that's not the point. Ah,
it's him get him up here?
Speaker 7 (24:11):
What's that state? Uh huh. I know, honey, I guess
I was wrong too.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Uh huh.
Speaker 7 (24:18):
Come on, Harry, honey there, I'll open the front door
for him. He'll be right up.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Frank you when unlocked this door? Yeah, carry gun?
Speaker 12 (24:34):
I know he's got one.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
We'll see.
Speaker 6 (24:38):
Yeah, alright, doll, police officers, get your hands out.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
What's going on over your head? Hold it right there? Right?
Speaker 2 (24:47):
What is this jail?
Speaker 3 (24:49):
All right? And he's clean. Get your hands behind your back.
Come on, you heard him.
Speaker 7 (24:53):
There's a police officers, honey.
Speaker 14 (24:56):
Hold it right there, the cops. I should have finished
what I started with you. If you tried, you wouldn't
have got your laylet. If you'd use your head, we
wouldn't be in.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
This mess now with a knudhead like you. Oh yeah,
I'm not stop at both of it.
Speaker 14 (25:08):
Sure, it's just that you guys never come close. If
it wasn't for this dumb broad, you tell us, and
it all worked out, things were going just the way
I planned, all right. Sure i'd be sitting pretty except
for her.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Yeah, sure, you would have, dumb broad. The biggest mistakes, No,
there was one other. What the first time she talked
to you?
Speaker 1 (25:30):
The story you've just heard is true. The names were
changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
On October fifth, trial was held in Department ninety eight,
Superior Court of the State of California in and for
the County of Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
In a moment the results of that trial. Now here
is our star.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
Jack Webb.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Thank you, George Fennerman.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
You know, any king size cigarette can give you more length,
but only Chesterfield gives you premium quality tobacco to go
along with it. That's the big difference in king size cigarettes.
For my money, Chesterfield has the quality you want, but
don't take my word for it. See for yourself, king
size Chesterfield or Regular. I think you'll find their best
for you.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Steve Lynn Remsen was tried and convicted on one count
of burglary and the second degree and received sentence as
prescribed by law. Burglary in the second degree is punishable
by imprisonment for a period of not more than one
year in the county jail, or by imprisonment in the
state penitentiary for a period of not less than one
or more than fifteen years. You have just heard Dragnet,
(26:47):
a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice
comes from the Office of Chief of Police W. H. Parker,
Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant
Marty Winn, Sergeant Fans Bracher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander,
Herb Ellis, Harry Bartel, Georgia Ellis. Script by John Robinson,
(27:09):
Earl Schlad, music by Walter Schumann. Hell give me speaking.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Watch an entirely different drag Net case history each week
on your local NBC television station. Please check your newspapers
for the day and time Chesterfiel has brought you Dragnet
Transcribed from Los Angeles.
Speaker 10 (27:30):
This is it Ellen M.
Speaker 15 (27:32):
Filters, This is it night Man.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Much more flavor, Ellen M Filters, much less nicotine Latin.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
Remember it's the filter that counts, and no filter compares
with L and m's miracle tip or quality or effectiveness.
You get much more flavor, much less nicotine by L
and M. King's highs or regular, both at the same
low price.
Speaker 15 (28:06):
L and M Light and mild. Now tw NBC Election
Headquarters in New York.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
This is Merrill Muller.
Speaker 8 (28:23):
Here are the latest returns in the surprising election in
which voter apathy disappeared during the last two days of
the campaign. Millions of voters unexpectedly turned out to vote
in freezing weather in the West and rainy mixed weather
with snow along the East Coast. As of this time,
the Republicans have elected one member to the Senate. She's
Margaret Chase Smith in Maine. Last month, the Democrats have
elected eleven Senators, all shoe in in the South. In
(28:46):
other Senate contests, Republicans are leading in five races, the
Democrats in seven. In the House, the Republicans have elected
ten members, the Democrats have elected one hundred and twenty,
mostly in the South. In other contests, Republicans are leading
in twenty five House districts, Democrats lead in ten. On
net Gain, we'll be back on the air at ten
pm Eastern Standard Time with a full all night round
(29:07):
up across the nation. Keep tuned to your NBC station
for the later election news. Here's a late bullition on
the Democratic governor contest in New York. The Democratic state
chairman says that April Harriman is ahead, and the Democrats
claim Harriman will win New York by three hundred thousand.
This is Meryl Mullory at NBC election headquarters.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
This is the NBC Radio network
Ladies and gentlemen. The story you are about to hear
is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Drag net brought to you by Chesterfield. This is the
best Chesterfield and the time to change today.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a burglary detail. A
man walks into a pawn shop and wants to sell
a ring. Indications are that the ring is stolen. Your
job find out.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
This is the best Chesterfield and the time to change today.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
In choosing your cigarette, be sure to remember this. You
will like Chesterfield best because only Chesterfield has the right
combination of the world's best tobaccos.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Tobaccos that are.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Highest in quality, low in nicotine, best for you.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
All of us smoke for relaxation, for comfort, for satisfaction,
and in the whole wide world, no cigarette satisfies like
a Chesterfield.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Get a carton of Chesterfields today, Chesterfield Regular Chesterfield King Size,
both at the same price in most places.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
In Regular are King size.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
You can get them either way. The best smoke ever
made is the Chesterfield you buy today.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Smokers coast to coaster are changing. It's the sense to do.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Here's all you have to say to get the one that's.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
Best for you.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Chester feels for me, Chester feels for me.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
You just say it's Chester feels for me.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
This is the best Chesterfield and the time to change today.
Dragnet the documented drama of an actual crime. Well the
next thirty minutes. In cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department,
you will travel step by step on the side of
(02:14):
the law through an actual case transcribed from official police violence,
from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is
the story of your police force in action.
Speaker 6 (02:28):
It was Tuesday, June seventeenth. It was warm in Los Angeles.
We were working the day Watch out of Burgery. My
partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Bernard. My name
was Friday. We were assisting another team in checking out
pawn shops and it was nine twenty seven am when
we got to five point fifty two South Main Street,
Civical owned company.
Speaker 7 (02:46):
Hi Joe, right, he Miami?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
What is it? Business?
Speaker 8 (02:50):
A player?
Speaker 2 (02:50):
A little of both?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Let check the Bible, Kenharb, Sure thing, I'll get it
for you.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Where's your partner?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Set the day off, go and get some sunshine. You
picked a good day for it. Hey, Joe, Thank you, Herbert.
These all the tickets for yesterday. Yeah, it was kind
of slow money. Do you find anything? I don't know
what we want? Okay, thanks her Oh it's okay. You
(03:17):
know what, Jo? Anytime we can help you.
Speaker 9 (03:18):
Fellows, Yeah, said Joe.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
While we're here, I'd like to look at the guitar.
What it's not for me? You know me better than that.
The only piece I know is it ain't gonna rain
no more? What's wrong with how dry I am? It's funny.
What have you gotten a good guitar? Herb, I'll come
on down here. I'll show you some goodbyes.
Speaker 10 (03:34):
One of my neighbors asked me to check if I
had a chance. Wants to buy his kid one What.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Do you got? You say much you want to spend? No?
Speaker 10 (03:41):
But I don't guess he wants to lay out too much.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
How about that one hanging up there, the one with
the knobs on it? Oh, that's an electric? What's with
the knobs for volume?
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
How much you know?
Speaker 11 (03:53):
That one?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Let you have for thirty dollars? I don't think you'll
go that much. You got something cheaper? The kid can
make his own volley him. That's nice looking, though, don't
you show? Yeah, here's a good one.
Speaker 12 (04:04):
Is Spanish?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
That the regular kind? That's right? How much is it
twelve dollars? Oh? That sounds more like his speed? Can
I see it?
Speaker 9 (04:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
It isn't tuned, but goad and strum it. Uh huh?
What should I be listening for? Oh?
Speaker 7 (04:24):
Yeah, that's nice.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Oh excuse me for something? I can help you with her?
How does it sound to you, Joe? Do you want
to step in the back? I don't know. I'm with you.
What are we listening for here? You know? Oh? Yeah?
His neighbor told me is pretty lucky. How's that?
Speaker 13 (04:39):
Well?
Speaker 10 (04:40):
His kid's been watching those singing cowboys on TV, so
now he wants to be one with a guitar. The
sky next door says he's glad his kid hasn't got
all wrapped up in space shows. Says they couldn't afford
a spaceship.
Speaker 6 (04:52):
I'm gonna guess there're too many second spaceships for sale,
are they?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
You only think he's trying to push your hot ring?
I turned it down. Let's go all right?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Hey, you fellow, hold it up, give me me.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
That's right, Police officers, what's the matter let's go over
the doorway.
Speaker 8 (05:09):
Not over here?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Well, why am I move my hands over your head?
Come on, turn around? All right, he's clean. See your identification,
like what you got a driver's license?
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Get it out all right? Yeah, take it.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Out of the wallet.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Yeah, I give it a me, James Bedder, it's your
true name.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah. You live at this address twelve oh one soft
Ratten Street.
Speaker 9 (05:34):
Yeah here you are.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
What are you doing in that shop?
Speaker 8 (05:39):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Waiting to sell a ring? Let's see it all right? Yeah,
the ring belong to you.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
I wanna wait here, Frank, I'll check herb all right,
or you want to comne in a minute.
Speaker 7 (05:52):
Sure.
Speaker 6 (05:54):
Let's take a look. Here sat the man who tried
to set you the ring down there?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yeah all right, I look at this. It's just the ring.
Mm hm it's an Emerald, real good stone. Why'd you
turn it down?
Speaker 14 (06:05):
I thought there was something wrong, like I said, you know, well,
he wanted to sell it for twenty dollars, you know,
rings worth close to one thousand.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
We took James Better to the office for questioning. Frank
checked with R and I and found that he had
a previous record. He'd been picked up on suspicion of
burglary and had served one term for auto theft. The
ring was examined and found to be genuine. Better maintained
the ring belonged to him. After an hour of interrogation,
he began to change his story.
Speaker 9 (06:31):
All Right, I didn't know what it was worth.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
You mean the ring wasn't yours? Then?
Speaker 9 (06:34):
Yeah, if i'd known it was worth that much, I wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Have tried to sell it so cheap.
Speaker 14 (06:37):
But where'd you get it? I found it where MacArthur Park?
When last night I go over there all the time.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Did you do anything about trying to find out who
lost the ring?
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 14 (06:45):
I checked in the papers and the lost and found
I guess I looked in all of them.
Speaker 9 (06:49):
I didn't see any ads though for a green ring.
Speaker 7 (06:51):
Uh.
Speaker 14 (06:51):
Well, I looked at the ring real close and didn't
seem like a good stone. So I decided maybe it
wasn't worth anything advertising.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
No, but it was worth trying to sell, wasn't it.
Speaker 14 (06:57):
Well, like I said, I ain't working, a few bucks
would come in hand.
Speaker 9 (07:00):
Yeah, sure, you don't believe me, do you?
Speaker 6 (07:02):
Well, you haven't given us much reason to have. You
started out a line, why should we think different now.
Speaker 14 (07:06):
Yeah, I guess I told you it's mine. I was
afraid maybe you think I stole it.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
But I told you the truth.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Now you have, I can prove it.
Speaker 9 (07:11):
You take me out there, You take me.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
That part right now? What'll prove? Oh? ShW you just
where I picked it up. Well, if we wait until Sunday,
the trip won't be wasted, will it. We can listen to.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
Band concert too. We continued to question James better, but
we were unable to change his story. He was booked
in on suspicion a violation of Section four fifty nine PC,
and held for investigation. We made a check of his residence,
his friends, and the places he was known to frequent.
We could find nothing to hold him on. He came
(07:39):
up on the overtime sheet and he was released. The
ring was booked his found property Friday, June twentieth, Why
job all right?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
You check the book? Yeah? Nothing in.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Letter for you?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Thank you? Right, listen to this. You did me a
favor and now I'm going to do you one.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
Go to the Greyhound bus depot rental locker number one
oh three.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Yeah that all.
Speaker 10 (08:09):
Take a look at it here, hm, I've written no greeting,
no signature.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yeah, what do you think? Let's check it out.
Speaker 6 (08:23):
Frank and I took the letter over to Layton Prince,
and then we drove over the sixth of Los Angeles
Street the Greyhound bus depot. We went to the office
of Ralph Thomas, the regional manager. We told him about
the letter, and in his company we went to check
on locker number one oh three.
Speaker 11 (08:38):
Well, the locker's empty. Now we'll have to see if
anything has been removed from it recently. I want to
come with me, gentlemen. We'll take the elevator at the basement.
Speaker 8 (08:44):
Right.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
How are the lockers checked, mister Thomas? The ten cents
pace for twenty four hours. All lockers have checked at midnime.
Speaker 11 (08:51):
I see, when the time limits up, the articles are
removed and the new.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Locks put on the locker. I see. Of course, as
long as the fees paid, we don't bother it.
Speaker 11 (09:02):
All the things removed, the ticketed and held for ninety days.
I see, we hold them here at the depot for
thirty days and then remove him to a warehouse. You'd
be surprised at how fast they accumulate.
Speaker 10 (09:13):
Yes, here we are, you mean, all these things here
have been left in lockers.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
People checked them, didn't come back for him. That's right.
We get quite a variety of things.
Speaker 14 (09:27):
Of course, not all of them are of much venue.
Speaker 11 (09:29):
For instance, sometimes a person will go out buy a
new shirt, change it in the station, check the old woman.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Forget about it.
Speaker 10 (09:35):
Look at that Joe got stuff yellow poodle dog up there?
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Over there half a radio.
Speaker 10 (09:41):
That's not much good unless you know the guy with
the other half of flat iron.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Sure a lot of stuff. Yeah. What about locker World three?
Speaker 11 (09:49):
Well, I see now, if there was anything taken from
it should be right over here.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Hey, there's some nice looking luggage.
Speaker 10 (09:57):
You don't see how a guy would forget something like that.
Speaker 7 (10:00):
Here we are.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
He feels like a small box that's from number one
oh three. That's what the ticket says. See what about
the date that this was removed?
Speaker 11 (10:11):
Well, let's see midnight June seventeenth.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
It was three days ago. Yeah, okay, if we open it,
not at all. Here you are.
Speaker 10 (10:24):
Here, you give me the favorite Jose.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Yeah, looks like a Christmas card box. Yeah, take a look, Frank,
was it a Sergeant Friday jewelry?
Speaker 6 (10:38):
We signed a release form for the jewelry and then
we went back to the office.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
The check of pawn shop records was made and we found.
Speaker 6 (10:44):
That all the pieces had been reported stolen in a
recent burglary. Layton Prince had called to say no Prince
were found. The owner, Missus Carlton Hendrix, was notified and
she came down of the office eleven o seven am.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
Are you and mister Friday the gentleman that I talked
to on the phone.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yes, man, it's my partner Franks. Oh, how do you
do mister how do you do?
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Smith?
Speaker 13 (11:01):
Oh that's a nice, uncomplicated name, if you don't mind
my saying so, mister Smith, I think you look like
a very confident officer. And you, mister Priddy, you look
well as though you might be more.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
Complicated, but very efficient.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
It's very nice, thank you.
Speaker 13 (11:16):
You see, that's one of my hobbies, reading character from faces.
My friends say that I'm most always right. Oh, when
you called, I was so thrilled. You can understand what
it means to recover possessions that you've given up for lost.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Yes, ma'am, Will you like to check the pieces now?
Speaker 13 (11:29):
Yes, you know I had to call off a bridge
party this afternoon. But then there are the others, and
this will be such an experience to tell them about.
Speaker 6 (11:36):
Yes, ma'am, Now if you just look at these pieces
and tell us that they're yours.
Speaker 13 (11:39):
Oh all right, mister Raddy, whenever you're ready.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Yes, ma'am. Well, this is the box they were found
in here way, it's.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
A Christmas card box?
Speaker 7 (11:46):
How cover of them?
Speaker 5 (11:47):
I must remember that, you know, tell my friends.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
May do that? Frank, would you have me that newspaper? Plason?
Oh yeah, thank you, thank you. I just spread these
on the table here and you'll see them better.
Speaker 5 (12:00):
Marries would just die.
Speaker 7 (12:01):
If we saw this.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
That's your husband?
Speaker 5 (12:03):
Oh gracious no, I don't have one.
Speaker 13 (12:05):
I mean at present, I'm divorced, you see, but we're
still very good friends.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
I meant Maurice the.
Speaker 13 (12:10):
Jeweler, just the way mister Fridy spread my duels on
the newspaper.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
You see, when.
Speaker 13 (12:14):
Maurice showed me these things, he had them all displayed
on a wonderful piece of velvet.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
And you recognize these pieces being yours, Miss Hendricks.
Speaker 5 (12:22):
Oh yes, well.
Speaker 13 (12:23):
There's my wedding ring and my gold charm bracelet.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
Have you looked at that? Clothes?
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Gentlemen?
Speaker 5 (12:28):
No, oh, you should hit here.
Speaker 13 (12:30):
Now look, now you see all those things have a
special meaning.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
My husband gave them to me.
Speaker 13 (12:35):
The little stop and go light, Oh that was silly.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
I was just learning to drive.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Yeah, it was a good thing.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
We had insurance. Oh a little wheelbarrow the first.
Speaker 13 (12:43):
Time we went to the races, and I want so
much funny he said, I'd need this to carry it in.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
Well, then I guess we can report that the jewels
have been identifying for the owner.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Huh you see little child mister Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
It's got a number on it. But my husband didn't
give me this.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
He didn't.
Speaker 13 (13:00):
Oh no, it was all innocent enough. But poor Carlton,
that was my husband, got furious. I even called him
with a magnifying glass one day, trying to read the number.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
The dear jealous men. Huh is everything out of the box,
mister Friday.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yes, ma'am, it's all right there in the paper.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Why, well, I don't see my ring.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
You mean this one right here?
Speaker 7 (13:18):
No?
Speaker 13 (13:18):
No, no, no, that's not it. It was an emerald
and a platinum setting.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Well, we checked the burglary report. I don't remember seeing
any listening for that, Miss Hendrick.
Speaker 13 (13:27):
Well, yes, I know at the time I made the report,
I haven't missed it. These drinks were stolen from my
jewelry box. I thought the emerald was in the safety
deposit box.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I see. But why didn't you make a report when
you discovered that it was gone? Oh?
Speaker 13 (13:37):
Well, it happened at a bad time. I've made plans
to go to Reno.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
For a vacation.
Speaker 13 (13:42):
You know what a lovely place that is. Well, I
thought that the rest of the things were recovered, the
ring would be too.
Speaker 7 (13:47):
Well.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
Nevertheless, you should have taken the time to report it.
Speaker 13 (13:49):
Man, Yes, I know, but at the time I was
more concerned with my plans for this trip. And you
ever been to Reno? Oh you should go sometime. It's
really wonderful. I'm going back this winter for the winter sports.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
You gentlemen's Keith No, ma'am, miss Hendricks.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
How much was your ring valued for?
Speaker 13 (14:05):
Well, I'm not quite sure, but I think Carton paid
something like a thousand dollars for it.
Speaker 6 (14:10):
Well, three days ago we recovered an emerald ring that
was supposed to have been found.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
It may possibly be yours.
Speaker 13 (14:15):
Heah, you see, nothing to worry about. I just knew
when I saw you too. Man, that everything was going
to be all right.
Speaker 5 (14:21):
My friends are right. I can't read character.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
We'll have to go over to the property department to
identify the ring.
Speaker 13 (14:25):
Miss Hendricks, Oh good good, that would be another experience.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
I'm going to have to get in touch with Cotton now.
I'll need another charm for my bracelets.
Speaker 13 (14:34):
And I know now just what I want, something that
symbolizes this occasion, and especially you two offices, and you
guess what it'll be.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
I can't gi you, Frank, no, Jock can't.
Speaker 13 (14:45):
Two little gold bloodhounds.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
We took Miss Hendrix over to the Property department in
the Central Jail. We signed out for the ring and
she identified it as being hers. All the jewelry was
booked as evidence. We went to the District Attorney's office
and got a warrant for the arrest of James Feedder.
We got out a local and APV on the suspect.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Frank and I.
Speaker 6 (15:09):
Checked his residence, but we were told the suspect had moved
several days previously. The landlady had no forwarding address. She
couldn't tell us about any visitors or any malee received.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
She was unable to tell us if he drove a car.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
We rechecked his own associates and friends. Several leads were obtained,
but none of them turned up anything. Five days went
by Thursday, June twenty fifth.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Morning, Frank, I know you been here long, about five minutes.
I just couldn't hit the lights this morning. What's new?
Speaker 6 (15:35):
Well, we got a call from modelf that yeah, they
picked up a man early this morning trying.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
To steal a car. Somebody we want. I think so,
James Fetter.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your
police force election.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
All of us smoke for relaxation, or comfort or Saturday faction,
and in the whole wide world, no cigarette satisfies like
a Chesterfield. You smoke with the greatest possible pleasure when
your cigarette is Chesterfield only.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Chesterfield gives you the right combination of the world's best tobaccos,
tobaccos that are highest in quality, low in nicotine, best
for you.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Get a carton of Chesterfields Chesterfield Regular Chesterfield King Signs
both at the same price in most places. It's America's
most popular two way cigarette.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
This is the.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Best Chesterfield and the time to change today.
Speaker 6 (16:48):
Before Frank and I checked out of the office, We
contacted all of the f detail and told them we
wanted to talk to Federick.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
We drove over to the main jail. The suspect was
brought to the interview room.
Speaker 9 (16:56):
How you guys are looking for us?
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Right?
Speaker 9 (16:58):
I couldn't commended, but idn' think it was so you
do it the hard way.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Huh?
Speaker 9 (17:01):
This a bad beef. I guess you figure them all
that way.
Speaker 14 (17:04):
No, not always. You take a chance, you get caught.
It's bad, but you ain't getting credit for something you
didn't do it. So, yeah, what do you want to
see me?
Speaker 7 (17:10):
Bob?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
You don't know.
Speaker 9 (17:11):
No, just as some of the boys said, you were
asking for.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Me, thought maybe you'd like tell us more about where
you find that ring?
Speaker 9 (17:16):
Was that again?
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
That again?
Speaker 9 (17:17):
You got my story? Now what more do you want?
Speaker 3 (17:19):
We got an alibi? Now we like the truth I found,
Sure you did.
Speaker 14 (17:22):
I don't know where I fit in what you're trying
to build, but I want no part.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Of It's not that simple, all right? You tell me
that ring wasn't lost, It was stolen, and you know it.
Speaker 9 (17:29):
You figure on your pigeon, is that it? Let's try
it for size?
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Not this time?
Speaker 9 (17:32):
You can leave it with somebody else.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Might take a little time, but we're going to make
you on it.
Speaker 9 (17:35):
No, not from where I sit.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
You need a better story and you got right now.
Speaker 9 (17:38):
Well not until you can prove I didn't find it.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
We got the other stuff you took.
Speaker 9 (17:42):
Oh, come on, now you're really reaching.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
No, I don't think so. You did as a favor,
but that doesn't put us on your side.
Speaker 9 (17:46):
Look, maybe you better fill me in.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
We got your letter you did.
Speaker 14 (17:49):
Yeah, that's great. Now tell me what I said. I'll
do even better. Here you read it. That's the letter
I wrote. That's right, I get it. Now.
Speaker 9 (18:01):
You found some stuff down at the Greyhound depot.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
You called it.
Speaker 9 (18:04):
Well, i'll give you something else. Yeah, I didn't write
that letter. I don't know who did, but it wasn't me.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
The ring you had has been identified by the owner.
A lot of other stuff we recovered.
Speaker 9 (18:12):
Look, i'll tell you something.
Speaker 14 (18:13):
It's like I said, you take your chances, but I
ain't gonna front for this deal. Yeah, looks like someone
was trying to nail me in, but I don't want it.
Speaker 9 (18:18):
You said I did your favorite. I didn't.
Speaker 14 (18:20):
But I'm gonna know why don't you? I got that
ring from a girl. I know, what's her name, Jill Mason.
Go ahead, Well, I ran in.
Speaker 9 (18:25):
To her the other night. I told her I could
use a couple of bucks.
Speaker 14 (18:27):
She's owed me fifteen for a long time. She said
she didn't have any cash, but she gave me the ring.
I didn't know what it was worth, that's the truth.
I don't think she did either.
Speaker 9 (18:34):
She's carrying a pretty fair paggage at the time. Go ahead,
and she told me she got the ring from a boyfriend.
That's all I knew about her.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Why did you give us the story about the park?
Speaker 9 (18:42):
Well, I figured maybe keep her out of trouble. Long
as you had the ring, I thought.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
That was enough. What's this girl mean to you? You mean?
Speaker 9 (18:47):
How well do I know her?
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (18:49):
I talked to her, that's all.
Speaker 14 (18:50):
But the only reason I give this to you is
I don't want to pay somebody else's bill.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
She ever done any big time?
Speaker 9 (18:54):
I don't know. I never had any serious talks with her.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
No one tells where she lives.
Speaker 9 (18:57):
Yeah, you know, I don't understand that letter. Maybe you
still think I wrote it, but I didn't.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
We only got your word for that.
Speaker 9 (19:03):
No, it doesn't make sense. I'd send a letter ifight
taking the stuff and wanted to keep it, and.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
You might have why you made a lot of other mistakes.
After further questioning, the suspect gave us a description of
Jill Mason in her address.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Frank and I went back.
Speaker 6 (19:19):
To the office and checked her name through R and I,
but we found no previous record for anybody answering her description.
We drove over to nine four to three Wright Street
and we found the apartment house Federer had told us about.
Jill Mason's name was listed on a mailbox near the
front entrance. We went up to the third floor, apartment
three sixteen. We rang a bell and the door was
opened by a woman of about thirty five years of age.
Her face showed signs of having recently been bruised.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Yeah, what is it, Jill Mason? That's right, police officers
like to talk to you.
Speaker 7 (19:44):
Oh well, I was just going to the beauty part.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
I am like, no, we'd appreciate it. If you can wait,
ma'am all right, or if we come in I guess so,
thank you live alone here? Yep? All right? If we
look around, go ahead, right.
Speaker 7 (20:00):
Yeah, look what's this all about? I don't think I
like it. That's slob. Whitey put you up to this. Whitey,
the bartender of the one stop that ches, will make
a fuss over a couple of ten cent glasses I
broke last night.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
I haven't talked to him. It's okay, Joe, and that's.
Speaker 7 (20:14):
Surprised me if they had im telling me I wasn't
an old lady. His shins are gonna be sore for
a couple of days.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
You know a person named James Better, that's her last name. Better,
f E D E R.
Speaker 7 (20:27):
You say to me, can you tell us that please?
Speaker 3 (20:30):
You know?
Speaker 7 (20:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (20:32):
Say?
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Is this gonna take long to make a difference.
Speaker 7 (20:35):
I'd like to call and cancel my appointment.
Speaker 12 (20:38):
Thanks, Hi, Jelen, Joe Mason, gonna have to cancel my appointment.
Speaker 7 (20:54):
Okay, I'll call you. Yeah, sorry, Ernie, Yeah, goodbye. No
sense keeping her waiting. I didn't have to ask if
you'd be here long, and it wasn't about last night.
I knew.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Mind.
Speaker 7 (21:07):
If I sit on ahead, I could lie to you.
But if you talked to Fetter, it'd only be wasted breath.
I beat as it is more than one way.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Could you give Feder a ring?
Speaker 7 (21:18):
That's what kicked the whole business off. Yeah, you see
my face look too bad now, but you should have
seen it. A week ago. I had had a gun.
I think I had shot him. No, he didn't have
anything to do with it. I mean Steve Remsen, guy
that gave me the ring when I gave the Fetterer
for the money I owed him. I was pretty stupid
about it, but that wasn't any reason for me to.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Take the beaten Where did this get the ring?
Speaker 7 (21:41):
Did you get my letter? So I got even with him?
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Did you know the ring was stolen when you gave
it to Fetter?
Speaker 7 (21:45):
No, Steve just gave it to me. He didn't say
anything about where he got it or how much it
was worth. Nothing. Just before I saw Feder had a
fight with Steve, got a little loaded, and Feeder asked
me for the money I gave him a ring.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Remsen told you it was stolen.
Speaker 7 (21:59):
Did he wait if you'd found out what I'd done
with that? He got real sore, said I Feeder tried
to pawn the ring, then'd find out about the other stuff.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Uh huh, said.
Speaker 7 (22:07):
He couldn't go back to the bus station for it.
Cops might pick him up.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I see we were up here.
Speaker 7 (22:11):
He was drinking, got madder all the time, and final
he worked me over and I got in touch with
me after you let him go. Told me what had happened.
I didn't let on that I knew about the ring,
but that's when I figured how to get even with Steve.
I mailed you the letter.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Know where Remsen is now?
Speaker 7 (22:27):
No, you'll probably call the day. I haven't seen him
since he beat up on me, but he'll call trying
to make up. I told him we were through. I
can get him up here for you.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Do you know where he lives?
Speaker 7 (22:37):
No, he's moved.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Can you give us the address?
Speaker 7 (22:40):
Sure, but don't you believe me. I wouldn't lie to you,
not after what he'd done to me. I want to
get even with him, that's all. I don't know why
you don't buy it. Will yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:49):
If he shows up.
Speaker 6 (22:54):
We called the office and another team of men was
sent out to check the address Joe Mason had given
us for Steve Remsen.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
We had the name check through R and I, but
without result.
Speaker 6 (23:02):
Frank went out and moved the car away from the
building in case Remsen might show up. We went back
to the apartment and waited for him to call. Ten
hours went by. She received several calls, but none of
them from Remsen. Manuel Pinia, one of the detectives checking
Remsen's address, called and said that they'd foundly moved away
on June eighteenth. He said they'd make a follow up
investigation eleven thirty pm.
Speaker 7 (23:21):
What if he doesn't call me? He said, he might know,
but it's never at any particular time. I just said
he'd been calling. Maybe he won't.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
What happens, then we'll wait and see. Remember, hold it
a week in here?
Speaker 9 (23:32):
No?
Speaker 7 (23:34):
Well? Oh hi, uh, I don't know if I can
make it. Well, I know i'd like to, but I'll
have to call you. Uh huh sure, sure, honey, thanks
for calling. Bye. Good friend wanted me to go bowling
to morowney m h you heard what I told her.
I guess it's better not to try to plan anything.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Huh.
Speaker 7 (23:56):
Yeah, it's a front door buzzer. Someone's calling him down below.
Door is locked at ten?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
All right, answer it and hold the receivers a week
in here. You still don't trust that's not the point. Ah,
it's him get him up here?
Speaker 7 (24:11):
What's that state? Uh huh. I know, honey, I guess
I was wrong too.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Uh huh.
Speaker 7 (24:18):
Come on, Harry, honey there, I'll open the front door
for him. He'll be right up.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Frank you when unlocked this door? Yeah, carry gun?
Speaker 12 (24:34):
I know he's got one.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
We'll see.
Speaker 6 (24:38):
Yeah, alright, doll, police officers, get your hands out.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
What's going on over your head? Hold it right there? Right?
Speaker 2 (24:47):
What is this jail?
Speaker 3 (24:49):
All right? And he's clean. Get your hands behind your back.
Come on, you heard him.
Speaker 7 (24:53):
There's a police officers, honey.
Speaker 14 (24:56):
Hold it right there, the cops. I should have finished
what I started with you. If you tried, you wouldn't
have got your laylet. If you'd use your head, we
wouldn't be in.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
This mess now with a knudhead like you. Oh yeah,
I'm not stop at both of it.
Speaker 14 (25:08):
Sure, it's just that you guys never come close. If
it wasn't for this dumb broad, you tell us, and
it all worked out, things were going just the way
I planned, all right. Sure i'd be sitting pretty except
for her.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Yeah, sure, you would have, dumb broad. The biggest mistakes, No,
there was one other. What the first time she talked
to you?
Speaker 1 (25:30):
The story you've just heard is true. The names were
changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
On October fifth, trial was held in Department ninety eight,
Superior Court of the State of California in and for
the County of Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
In a moment the results of that trial. Now here
is our star.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
Jack Webb.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Thank you, George Fennerman.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
You know, any king size cigarette can give you more length,
but only Chesterfield gives you premium quality tobacco to go
along with it. That's the big difference in king size cigarettes.
For my money, Chesterfield has the quality you want, but
don't take my word for it. See for yourself, king
size Chesterfield or Regular. I think you'll find their best
for you.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Steve Lynn Remsen was tried and convicted on one count
of burglary and the second degree and received sentence as
prescribed by law. Burglary in the second degree is punishable
by imprisonment for a period of not more than one
year in the county jail, or by imprisonment in the
state penitentiary for a period of not less than one
or more than fifteen years. You have just heard Dragnet,
(26:47):
a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice
comes from the Office of Chief of Police W. H. Parker,
Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant
Marty Winn, Sergeant Fans Bracher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander,
Herb Ellis, Harry Bartel, Georgia Ellis. Script by John Robinson,
(27:09):
Earl Schlad, music by Walter Schumann. Hell give me speaking.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Watch an entirely different drag Net case history each week
on your local NBC television station. Please check your newspapers
for the day and time Chesterfiel has brought you Dragnet
Transcribed from Los Angeles.
Speaker 10 (27:30):
This is it Ellen M.
Speaker 15 (27:32):
Filters, This is it night Man.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Much more flavor, Ellen M Filters, much less nicotine Latin.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
Remember it's the filter that counts, and no filter compares
with L and m's miracle tip or quality or effectiveness.
You get much more flavor, much less nicotine by L
and M. King's highs or regular, both at the same
low price.
Speaker 15 (28:06):
L and M Light and mild. Now tw NBC Election
Headquarters in New York.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
This is Merrill Muller.
Speaker 8 (28:23):
Here are the latest returns in the surprising election in
which voter apathy disappeared during the last two days of
the campaign. Millions of voters unexpectedly turned out to vote
in freezing weather in the West and rainy mixed weather
with snow along the East Coast. As of this time,
the Republicans have elected one member to the Senate. She's
Margaret Chase Smith in Maine. Last month, the Democrats have
elected eleven Senators, all shoe in in the South. In
(28:46):
other Senate contests, Republicans are leading in five races, the
Democrats in seven. In the House, the Republicans have elected
ten members, the Democrats have elected one hundred and twenty,
mostly in the South. In other contests, Republicans are leading
in twenty five House districts, Democrats lead in ten. On
net Gain, we'll be back on the air at ten
pm Eastern Standard Time with a full all night round
(29:07):
up across the nation. Keep tuned to your NBC station
for the later election news. Here's a late bullition on
the Democratic governor contest in New York. The Democratic state
chairman says that April Harriman is ahead, and the Democrats
claim Harriman will win New York by three hundred thousand.
This is Meryl Mullory at NBC election headquarters.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
This is the NBC Radio network
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.