July 31, 2023 • 25 mins
Dragnet, one of the most iconic old-time radio series, captivated audiences during its heyday. Originally airing from 1949 to 1957, with a revival in the 1960s, Dragnet brought a realistic and gritty portrayal of law enforcement to the airwaves. Created and produced by Jack Webb, who also starred as Sergeant Joe Friday, the show followed the investigations of the Los Angeles Police Department. Known for its distinctive rapid-fire dialogue and the infamous line "Just the facts, ma'am," Dragnet presented a no-nonsense approach to solving crimes. With its emphasis on authenticity, the series drew inspiration from actual police cases and featured real stories from the LAPD. This immersive experience, combined with Webb's impeccable delivery, made Dragnet a beloved and enduring radio program, allowing listeners to vicariously experience the challenges and triumphs of law enforcement. Check out all of the great radio programming available to one and all at www.xzbn.net
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:08):
Ladies and gentlemen. The story you'reabout to hear is true. The names
have been changed to protect the innocence. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned
to homicide details. You get acall telling you that the body of a
(00:28):
man has been found in the motelroom. There's no lead to his true
identity. Your job check it out. Drag the documented drama of an actual
crime. Well the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police
(00:51):
Department, you will travel step bystep on the side of the law to
an actual case. Transcribed from officialpolice fire, from beginning to end,
from crime to punish, drag Netsis the story of your police force in
action. It was twuzy July nineteenthfor potting, Lost Angeles. We were
(01:11):
working to night watch out a homicidedetail. My partner's Frank Smith. The
boss has got Mormon. My nameis Friday. I'm on way back in
the main jail and it was fivetwo SEGM when I got to room forty
two pmmicide. All right, howto go? He's only to make a
state when he cop to the wholething. I'm gonna save us some science.
We want to to save a lotmore if you're going with us lads
week though. Yeah, so yougot paperwork? I want to give me
(01:33):
a hand. Yeah, yeah,okay, has a family, ain't pretty
good pay? Thanks, he's gota pen of sidis. Hey, thanks
you as a pan of cider.Poke me up at two thirty this morning.
Got a pain on this side?Sure it was a pan of side
who lived? I told her tocall a doctor. She didn't think it
(01:56):
was that bad not to call adoctor, just enough to keep me awake
worrying about it morning. The wholethank's going though, whole trouble because it's
probably a hard surn want to givea couple of your pepto pals. Yeah,
that's very funny for you, HonyHomi side Friday. Yeah that's right.
(02:17):
M hm what's that? What's thataddress? Now? I will be
right out. No, no,not a mean nice goodbye work work made
of the motel out't the pult upfound a body in one of the cabins.
Yeah, I thinks it's a suicide. Ranking out at the office and
(02:46):
drove out to the address. Witha modern motel set back in the highway.
There were fourteen cabins surrounding a swimmingpool on the line. We met
with a woman who would placed thecall in the owner of the place right
over there, number eighteen, Imean of porough Sir. As I saw
him, I knew what had happened. I locked the door and told you,
(03:07):
what's the road registered as tim Rustadded phoenix allows you been with last
ten days? I'd have to techthe cords be shut a old here,
I guess to keep go ahead?She put the body at all I should
(03:28):
say, na, I've worked aroundmotels for a long time yet and so
nothing bothers me tell you though thisalmost they'd like to scared me half to
death. Definitely what it called alab aspiment from other Yeah, all right,
if I used the phone in theoffice, I'm sure you go right
ahead of time of death. Backof the comic thing like this? Anything
(03:52):
going to do the place any good? I hope it can be played down
the paper police. This is thefirst kind of trouble we've had. Suicide
assurance and the help. There wassome way to change it it is,
but that wouldn't help much either.What do you mean he's dead? Is
he? Yeah? But he hadhelp. Six or three pm, a
(04:18):
crew from the crime I have arrivedand started their investigation. Apparently the victim
had been killed with a small caliberguns. However, research of the room
failed to turn it up. Thecoroner's office was notified they can might to
check the body and go through hiseffects. Six eighteen pm, Frank and
I talked with a motel owner inhis cabin. Here's the registration cards.
You can see there where he signedit. So you're driving a card,
(04:39):
you know, a line of asaw or how to get here? You
need? When he checked him,yeah, by camp he said it.
Why it was in time now?They never mentioned it. They worked when
he checked in. Did he sayhow long is he staying? You know?
Instead it might be a week andday. A lot of visitors they
have it. I see what aphone calls? Yeah, I need you
(05:00):
have a record of them. No, usually we do. All the calls
go through the board. But heused the phone books outside the pool fool.
A couple of times. I wasout by the pool at night,
you know, so I'd be outthere and I'd see him in the booth.
A couple of times he talked forquite a while. But you haven't
got any idea of who he wascalling. No, dime called up with
it cost him a dime. Iheard the bell ring when he dropped the
(05:21):
months when we all do you gotan email? No, he paid for
his room in advanced Yeah. Thefirst time he gave him the money for
a week, and just a fewdays ago he paid for another week.
He paid. What do you meanwell by check or k oh? Guy?
What side build? I remember?I know the son us anything smaller
in the fifty poogle She seemed tohave a lot of them, just maybe
(05:43):
a couple of thousand dollars that theyalways care that kind of money with it.
Well, I wouldn't know about that. I guess he must have kept
something smaller or because everybody can changethe fifty, not everybody. You're gonna
let his people know what it.We must have some people over Phoe.
They should know about him being dead. Yeah, shouldn't feel it's my place
(06:03):
to town if you will take careof it. Okay, it's going to
be a shock. Comb guy inhis days probably got a wife and family.
Not going to do him any good. No, we're exposed. He
is in it. It didn't domuch for him from going over the place.
(06:27):
The crime lab found the room hadbeen ransacked. Although none of the
possessions of the victim had been taken, There was no money in the room
and no personal identification could be found. The place was gone over for fingerprints.
Several clean feats were lifted, butthey belonged to the dead man.
No other usable physical evidence was recovered. The coroner's office checked through the victim's
luggage. In one of the suitcases, they found an unstamped out of addressed
to a Juneous fell in Reno,Nevada. Its contents explained that the victim
(06:50):
expected to be in that setting atthe end of the month. There was
no way of establishing a relationship betweenthe two people. The corners feeled the
motel rooman Frank and I returned tothe office. We've got a radiogram to
the authorities and seen assassin for allinformation on Tom Roustad. The following morning,
Wednesday, June twentieth, we gottheir answers. There is Joe Finney,
(07:10):
yeah looks and a boy whom weget a rougher. I never heard
of him, and I hope ofgetting an identification of the victim. His
fingerprint, classification and description was sentto George Bretton up at the II tacl
(07:30):
Meadow, FBI headquarters in Washington,and of the police departments in the seven
Western States. The close check ofhis clothing revealed that Tom Rustad zoots were
Tanner made and had been made inReno. We contacted the authorities there and
asked them to check on the tailorshops from the area. We also asked
if they check out the woman Rustadhad written too. While we waited for
the answer, we contacted the cabcompanies that had serviced the area around the
motel. We asked them to goover their way build and we pulled all
(07:54):
trips from the motel and all tripsto the address. Two hours later,
we got the list and started tocheck out the drivers. Sure I remember
the guy. A couple more likehim. I could buy my own cab
something Wait, waits a big tipper, never anything less and I have to
saw about down to stand. Yougot to be a real battle. It
was gonna pick him up. Youknow the loop? Yeah? Where do
you years? They take him quitedifferent places? The restaurant shows different places.
(08:15):
Did he ever tell you what hewas doing? In time? Olways?
Talking along drive downtown? Get kindof dull? A couple of times
you route in the front seat withme, gives me the company wouldn't like
it, but that's the way hewanted to What you talk about? Who?
Weather, fishing? Lots of things, mostly about girls, though he
thought he was quite a ladies man. Well he dressed all that money,
he should have been never see anyof his friends. Listen, how come
(08:37):
here asking all these questions? Tisplace letter? And I knew that when
I got the words from the frontoffice and told me to ride with you
all the way? But what's thebeef? You have to roost that for
something? Who? That's the gates? Why? What about it? Fay?
But she wouldn't want him to findout, but the whole deal.
Probably wouldn't call them anymore. What'sthat my shift? Who? I don't
know the last time? Come bimbo? Roost that? Ever? Meet it?
(09:00):
Not swump? What that means?Why she was in the cab,
You know I'd pick them up thed drive over to her place and pick
the two of them. Downdo Restaurant. So real Beauty was a tall,
blonde, gorgeous bruce that was prettyfriendly. Whether it was the Hey,
I guess, so we talked yourlife in a line. You got her
address, Yeah, I suppose.Why are you guys routers? Canna leave
(09:20):
right back to me? Because alot of trouble. Telly's a funny guy
to talk about a lot of things. You don't like to have to ask
questions. Basically bought him. Wellthat real touch you when I talked about
where it was from. While you'rejust for a living man. That's why
it's important you don't get in introuble with him. I can use those
tips. Well, they'll count onthem anymore, they won't be coming.
(09:46):
We got the address of the womanthe driver knew was Marshall. We call
the office to check on the wires. We attempted, then no answer to
any of them. One thirty pmwe drove over to Senior woman Places,
a new apartment building on Lilshire Boulevard. On the mail box we found named
Marcia loved with and the information thatshe occupied apartments fourteen. We went up
and ring the belt. Doesn't looklike she's home. Let's check of the
(10:07):
menu, right, Sure, apretty pool in the joe. Yeah,
you know you ought to get aplace down here. It'll be great for
it would sure s a five man'spool. Get some fun. You know,
I got a lot of time tothem once in a while. I
wouldn't cause somebody group mean nice Meand Faith come over and see you didn't
(10:30):
bring the kids you back? Well, you wouldn't want to be a hug
about the pool. Would just notme things you feel a lot way.
Just forget the whole thing, andthat's what I was planning. You just
forget as a manager, Can Ihelp you want? If you get telfy
you find this love with Marcus?Yes, that's great. Stock few minutes
ago. Oh yes, hi isover with the pool see with the star
(10:52):
I hat Oh yeah, thank youvery much. Yeah with love with yes
hoo. Police offered like to aska few questions. Police, I don't
know what I could tell you havea go ahead, thought if we could
down pull up a couple of SuDS. Thank you, thank you, I
guess thank you. Frank Smith.My name is Friday. How do you
(11:18):
do? No? How do youwant to stay in your baths? You
know? A man named Ruth said, yeah, why looking to us about
him in travel? No, we'rejust checking. Oh what do you want
to know? You know where he'sfrom? Me and to hometown someplace up
No, I don't think you eversaid I do you happen to meet him?
Cocktail party? We'll tell downtown there'sa convention. My agent got me
(11:39):
a job at the hostess. I'ma model to do some more some TV
and get a lot, a lotto take what you can get them.
Tom was there, We got totalk and went out to dinner. So
I'm quite a good after there.Could he tell you what he did for
a living? No, I don'tthink so. Say it wasn't a nice
thing? Talk like one. Whatabout this convention? You know what it
worked for? Oh? And it? But he didn't never need to do
(12:01):
that. He was just fat.Told me he was sitting at the barn.
One of the guys ask him comeup and have a cup of games.
That's all. He wasn't a damnit though, nicely, do you
have any friends here in town withyou know? Yeah, I don't listen.
Wanted to ask him. He'd goalong with a nice guy. He'd
be able to answer these questions alot better than me. Well, we're
checking everybody who knew him. OhI see, no, nice guy had
a lot of time him. Lastus say for you. Yesterday we had
(12:24):
dinner took the guys. He cameby for a night cap, and then
he called a cab and went home. Did you hear from him yesterday?
No, I really expect him forit. Well, you see, he
had kind of a fight, nothingserious. I didn't figure out here from
until maybe to day. You know, we both got over them mad,
and he told what the argument wasabout. I'm all the same to you.
(12:45):
I'd rather not. It's pretty importantthat we know. Well, if
you can't do any harm. Hewas just getting too serious, that's all
too serious. Told him I hadto go out of town a modeling job
Santa barbaraud be gone a couple ofdays, and he's got real mad.
I didn't want me running around likethat anymore, real possessive. I told
he didn't have any right to tellme what to do do. We weren't
married, you know. Well,man got loud, him telling me I
(13:09):
wasn't going to san a barber,and he say he couldn't stop him.
Tony called the game, went home. What time was that, I guess
about three thirty eleven four? Nolater? All right, thank you very
much. If you could think ofanything else, we'd appreciate a call.
Maybe one of our cards as threeto one of me. Yes, kay
I can we We ought to talktoo, We ought to steam anyway.
(13:31):
I haven't heard anything, but Tommight have gone over there? Who this
photographer I was going to sign abarber with. Tom might have gone over
to see him. Can you giveus his advt Yeah, I've got an
upstairs. Did Ruth Dad know thisphotographer? Well? I never met who
knew about him? Though, That'swhy I might be able to tell you
something. Well, well, Tomthought there was something between us. It's
not a selling me. Of courseI told him it was selling. It
(13:52):
didn't make any difference though, reallyjealous possessive said him and the other fellow
were gonna tangle someday. Hope Iknow the other guy. Tom. We
got the name and address to thephotographer, and then we go back to
(14:13):
the city hall. We made acheck to r and I, but we
found no record on him. Threeor six pm. Well, looks like
we might have a lead. Hell, it turns out, don't you.
I'm a tide Friday. Yeah,yeah, Jack, Now we've been waiting
for it. Can you give ithim me on the phone. We'll pick
(14:35):
up the copy later, Okay,go ahead. M hmm, man pridy
start app r O S F EL L E. Yeah, all right
ss it comes in. Yeah,we'd appreciate a call on it, right,
(14:56):
Okay, Jack Rickett down communicating.Yeah, I got to got a
type of reno about us. Yeah, they got a record on him,
real named Thomas Roselle, that's thename on the left. Yeah, they
ran it down or they got onbeen arrested for Bunco Graham's hat money forgery.
Haven't able to make any of mistakes. And what they say a couple
of months ago, I went intoa new line. They figured that's what
he's pitching. Now, what's thatnarcotics? What about this rosell woman?
(15:18):
Sis? You know his wife huhmarried, got three kids her up there
in a smartial woman here and heflung a real line. They come up
with anymore possible motive maybe, Yeah. When Roselle left town, they got
a rumble he was coming down hereon business at twelve ounces of heroin to
Petal. We put in the callthe Narcotics Division and talked to Captain Water.
(15:50):
He told us they didn't have anythingon Roselle, but they had heard
about a new supply of high gradeheroin being moved into town. We told
him what we found and then wego about to talk to the photographers of
Victim's drill. The mentioned I'm sorryso as I haven't got any idea what
you're talking about it? Are youthinking of Ruth, Dad or ult?
Sure? I didn't say I hadn't, but I didn't have any to do
with killing. I did know itwas dead. It's all over the afternoon
(16:11):
paper. Do you boys read yourown publicity? What are you doing Ruth?
YEA n four last Monday? Yeah, I guess so really Tuesday morning?
What? Well? What four fifteen? Yeah? I said, A
fourth fifteen. I remember because hewoke me up. I looked at the
clock. What do you want?Oh? I had some while I had
either or something going between me andMarsha. Was it? Well, I
(16:33):
don't see if there's any year business, but it doesn't matter to me,
So I'll tell you no, thatwasn't He's a model, I'm a photographer.
She worked for him. That theyhad a twenty five bucks an Hour's
all I was. Yeah, Iain't gonna tell you. Wouldn't it be
nice? But it just didn't happen. I don't believe in romance around the
office. Didn't do anything with causetrubble. What happened when ruth Dad came
in. All made a lot ofaccusations. I told him they went through,
(16:53):
said he had a filthy mind,telling the gas. Did he go
now? I tried a little muscle. I builded him a couple of times
in that interday, bored him adrink to show him were any hard feelings,
and a couple more. Picked itaround a while and he left.
We're talking about looking my best friends. Then we on my back. We're
talking to everybody who knew him.When he crossed my name off the list,
(17:15):
I built it in. That's all. He shooting him broke. He
called a cab from here when heleft. No, I was going to
and he decided to walk. Didyou see him leave? Certainly? I
locked the door after him, watchedhim walk outside in the window there.
Must have changed his mind about thecab. Bro cab might change his mind.
As I said, he didn't takeone. I said he didn't call
(17:36):
on the curse have picked him up. They drove off. He didn't get
the number of the cab. Looka guy woke me up at four o'clock
in the morning, came in here. I wanted to start of beef.
I finally got rid of it.I'm a nine to six boy. I
haven't got time to stand around windowsand get cab numbers for you cops.
I went back to sleep, allright, that's when anything comes up to
give it the call away? Yeah, sure, take this carway, look
(17:59):
on, sorry if I found itoff, just so, I don't want
to get mixed up in If youcan understand that, I can't sure so
hard feelings. I know. I'llbe honest with you. I didn't like
Ruce said, I didn't like himan inch, but I didn't hate him.
I don't know if it's killing somebodydid We're contacting the cab company again,
(18:26):
asked them to check the way billsfrom Nessler's address take him up with
one trip on Tuesday morning. Sothis batcher gave us the driver's name and
told us where we could find him. Yeah, I remember the guy looked
like he had a beef with somebody, you know, a real cut up.
Where did you take him? Thinkit was a hotel downtown, remember
the name. I dropped him offat the corner of Margot. He went
into a hoteler, you know,the Rolling Arms I think it was.
(18:48):
Yeah, yeah, that's the place. All right, thanks a lot.
I'm glad to help Bob. Hey, this felt like he had the same
one. It was killed yesterday.That's right. You've seen a lot of
him newspapers, television, a lotof him always that way doing. We
mean, after you dead, you'refamous. When it's too late to enjoy
it. Frank and I drove downto the Roll of Arms hotel. We
(19:14):
talked where the clerk who had beenon duty Tuesday morning. He remember the
man answering the victims subscription and toldus even inquired about a guest named Wallace
all name. Because of Rude Stad'sinsistence, the clerk had put through a
call to all I and the guestssaid the lapper victim come upstairs. He
went on to say that about thirtyminutes later, both men had left the
hotel together nine forty pm. Wewent up to Wallace. All leave room
here it is John, Yeah,yeah, Wallace, Holy trank. Police
(19:44):
officers like talking. Tres running theFranks Smith running Friday, right, that's
all right, like a drink,I'm just gonna fix yourself. One snow
thing I always like a drink offor a dinner. Sharper's up to your
lap time? Yeah mind if welook around? No, go ahead,
there anything special? I have ahelp? No, that's all right,
(20:06):
all right? Text? Have youbetter something that this is all about?
You know a man named Tom,Ruth, Dad or Roselle? Why you
know him? Yeah? I meanit. I'm just playing Joe. I
don't know what's closing? And whatabout Ruth? Dad? When's your stay
last? I don't know. Afew days ago? What upen it down
for? Monday? Yeah? Monday, that's the last time you're home.
(20:32):
Yeah. We had a couple ofdrinks in the bar at the corner.
I haven't seen them since. Wegot two people who say you did all
right? Yeah, they're gonna talkto them. Leave me alone. Have
you ever been arrested? Why haveyou? Yeah? What be? I
don't think I'm gonna answer that.You don't have to. We'll find out.
(20:52):
Mi Michael. Where you from?All around? Yam a city,
Briscoe, Vegas, Casey, allaround? How about Reno? Yeah,
I too. We met Ruth said, look good, what do you guys
back? You got the answer tothat? When I saved some time I
got a lot of tally. Well, let's be honest with each other.
(21:15):
Huh, go ahead, Why don'tyou guys lay out what you've got and
I'll tell you a close here andthey kind of silly women. Fine,
like playing checkers with yourself. NothingI can do that. I'm about the
closet. But if you make apinch, I got no choice. If
you're wrong, all owned city hall. I don't think we are. And
be my guest. All right,you're under the rest, all right for
(21:36):
sufficient to murder, I'll type thecloset, say their trouble. I killed
them. A third to the closetturned up a driver's license and other identification
for Thomas Roselle, and also founda twenty five deliber gun, twenty seven
(21:57):
hundred dollars in cash, and thequantity of hair. So I think was
taking the city hall for questions therunt his name for an Iron, found
that he had several arrest in thestate of California for violence and of the
states narcotics. At twelve sixteen am, we got the full story. We
were in business up now it weknow, Yeah, we made a lucky
buy, came down here to sellit. I gave him some connections where
he could dump it and down here. A couple of days he sent a
(22:18):
wire and telling me the merchandise wasn'tmoving. I knew it was a lot
right away. I knew it's goodstuff like that. It had to be
a market fool, and I gotthe words, what do you mean?
A friend of mine he called,tell me about Tom and this Marsha doll
how they were running around. Yeah, this guy told me Tom was going
great with the apes, that hedropped about seven ground of it already.
As soon as I heard that,I got out my horse made it down
here. Couldn't find out where hewas staying, didn't have a trace.
(22:41):
What about the hotel? So Ididn't know about that. As fun as
I knew he was supposed to behere, and that's the way we arranged
it. I sent out word Iwanted to see him, for him to
get in touch right away. Hedid try to give me the same line
about how he couldn't sell it wasn'tthe market for it. I told him
we'd better call the whole deal lost. Just give me the stuff back.
We called the whole deal lost ortook some and then we had a first
flight. That's the littletel Yeah,I do get that my car. What
(23:03):
happened then? Oh? When Isaw how much he had left, I
told him he was lying. Icalled him a dirty seep and we had
a fight. Nice shot, lankYou willing to give us a statement?
Sure? Why not? I gotnot his wife now him, I guess
though, that's too bad. Iknow she's a really nice kid. He's
(23:25):
really in love at that time.I guess she could a pretty high all
in love. I don't knowing her, she would a nice kid like that,
and he's run around with another boodboy. He was a real bum
the way she loved him and doinga thing like that. There, Once
you take another look, what didyou do the work? The story you've
(23:48):
just heard is true. The nameswere jaying to exactly. On November nineteenth,
trial was held in Department ninety nine, Superior Court of the State of
California in and Paul, the countryof low thaneless in a moment. The
results of that trial, Wallace HamiltonOlney was tried and convicted of murder in
(24:11):
the second degree and received sentence asprescribed by law. Murder in the second
degree is punishable by imprisonment for aperiod of from five years to lights in
the state tent of century. Youhave just heard drag Met a series of
(24:41):
authentic cases from official files. Technicaladvice comes from the Office of Chief of
Police W. H. Parker,Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisers, Captain
Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn,Sergeant Vans Fraser. Third Tonight where Ben
Alexander, Dick, Perron, HelenCleve, Lillian Bios, Stacy Harris,
scripts by John Robinson, music byWalter Schumann, Hell Kidney speaking. Watch
(25:07):
an entirely different drag Net case istoryeach week on your local NBC television session.
Please check your newspapers for the dayand time Chesterfield has brought you drag
Net transcribed from Los Angeles
Ladies and gentlemen. The story you'reabout to hear is true. The names
have been changed to protect the innocence. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned
to homicide details. You get acall telling you that the body of a
(00:28):
man has been found in the motelroom. There's no lead to his true
identity. Your job check it out. Drag the documented drama of an actual
crime. Well the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police
(00:51):
Department, you will travel step bystep on the side of the law to
an actual case. Transcribed from officialpolice fire, from beginning to end,
from crime to punish, drag Netsis the story of your police force in
action. It was twuzy July nineteenthfor potting, Lost Angeles. We were
(01:11):
working to night watch out a homicidedetail. My partner's Frank Smith. The
boss has got Mormon. My nameis Friday. I'm on way back in
the main jail and it was fivetwo SEGM when I got to room forty
two pmmicide. All right, howto go? He's only to make a
state when he cop to the wholething. I'm gonna save us some science.
We want to to save a lotmore if you're going with us lads
week though. Yeah, so yougot paperwork? I want to give me
(01:33):
a hand. Yeah, yeah,okay, has a family, ain't pretty
good pay? Thanks, he's gota pen of sidis. Hey, thanks
you as a pan of cider.Poke me up at two thirty this morning.
Got a pain on this side?Sure it was a pan of side
who lived? I told her tocall a doctor. She didn't think it
(01:56):
was that bad not to call adoctor, just enough to keep me awake
worrying about it morning. The wholethank's going though, whole trouble because it's
probably a hard surn want to givea couple of your pepto pals. Yeah,
that's very funny for you, HonyHomi side Friday. Yeah that's right.
(02:17):
M hm what's that? What's thataddress? Now? I will be
right out. No, no,not a mean nice goodbye work work made
of the motel out't the pult upfound a body in one of the cabins.
Yeah, I thinks it's a suicide. Ranking out at the office and
(02:46):
drove out to the address. Witha modern motel set back in the highway.
There were fourteen cabins surrounding a swimmingpool on the line. We met
with a woman who would placed thecall in the owner of the place right
over there, number eighteen, Imean of porough Sir. As I saw
him, I knew what had happened. I locked the door and told you,
(03:07):
what's the road registered as tim Rustadded phoenix allows you been with last
ten days? I'd have to techthe cords be shut a old here,
I guess to keep go ahead?She put the body at all I should
(03:28):
say, na, I've worked aroundmotels for a long time yet and so
nothing bothers me tell you though thisalmost they'd like to scared me half to
death. Definitely what it called alab aspiment from other Yeah, all right,
if I used the phone in theoffice, I'm sure you go right
ahead of time of death. Backof the comic thing like this? Anything
(03:52):
going to do the place any good? I hope it can be played down
the paper police. This is thefirst kind of trouble we've had. Suicide
assurance and the help. There wassome way to change it it is,
but that wouldn't help much either.What do you mean he's dead? Is
he? Yeah? But he hadhelp. Six or three pm, a
(04:18):
crew from the crime I have arrivedand started their investigation. Apparently the victim
had been killed with a small caliberguns. However, research of the room
failed to turn it up. Thecoroner's office was notified they can might to
check the body and go through hiseffects. Six eighteen pm, Frank and
I talked with a motel owner inhis cabin. Here's the registration cards.
You can see there where he signedit. So you're driving a card,
(04:39):
you know, a line of asaw or how to get here? You
need? When he checked him,yeah, by camp he said it.
Why it was in time now?They never mentioned it. They worked when
he checked in. Did he sayhow long is he staying? You know?
Instead it might be a week andday. A lot of visitors they
have it. I see what aphone calls? Yeah, I need you
(05:00):
have a record of them. No, usually we do. All the calls
go through the board. But heused the phone books outside the pool fool.
A couple of times. I wasout by the pool at night,
you know, so I'd be outthere and I'd see him in the booth.
A couple of times he talked forquite a while. But you haven't
got any idea of who he wascalling. No, dime called up with
it cost him a dime. Iheard the bell ring when he dropped the
(05:21):
months when we all do you gotan email? No, he paid for
his room in advanced Yeah. Thefirst time he gave him the money for
a week, and just a fewdays ago he paid for another week.
He paid. What do you meanwell by check or k oh? Guy?
What side build? I remember?I know the son us anything smaller
in the fifty poogle She seemed tohave a lot of them, just maybe
(05:43):
a couple of thousand dollars that theyalways care that kind of money with it.
Well, I wouldn't know about that. I guess he must have kept
something smaller or because everybody can changethe fifty, not everybody. You're gonna
let his people know what it.We must have some people over Phoe.
They should know about him being dead. Yeah, shouldn't feel it's my place
(06:03):
to town if you will take careof it. Okay, it's going to
be a shock. Comb guy inhis days probably got a wife and family.
Not going to do him any good. No, we're exposed. He
is in it. It didn't domuch for him from going over the place.
(06:27):
The crime lab found the room hadbeen ransacked. Although none of the
possessions of the victim had been taken, There was no money in the room
and no personal identification could be found. The place was gone over for fingerprints.
Several clean feats were lifted, butthey belonged to the dead man.
No other usable physical evidence was recovered. The coroner's office checked through the victim's
luggage. In one of the suitcases, they found an unstamped out of addressed
to a Juneous fell in Reno,Nevada. Its contents explained that the victim
(06:50):
expected to be in that setting atthe end of the month. There was
no way of establishing a relationship betweenthe two people. The corners feeled the
motel rooman Frank and I returned tothe office. We've got a radiogram to
the authorities and seen assassin for allinformation on Tom Roustad. The following morning,
Wednesday, June twentieth, we gottheir answers. There is Joe Finney,
(07:10):
yeah looks and a boy whom weget a rougher. I never heard
of him, and I hope ofgetting an identification of the victim. His
fingerprint, classification and description was sentto George Bretton up at the II tacl
(07:30):
Meadow, FBI headquarters in Washington,and of the police departments in the seven
Western States. The close check ofhis clothing revealed that Tom Rustad zoots were
Tanner made and had been made inReno. We contacted the authorities there and
asked them to check on the tailorshops from the area. We also asked
if they check out the woman Rustadhad written too. While we waited for
the answer, we contacted the cabcompanies that had serviced the area around the
motel. We asked them to goover their way build and we pulled all
(07:54):
trips from the motel and all tripsto the address. Two hours later,
we got the list and started tocheck out the drivers. Sure I remember
the guy. A couple more likehim. I could buy my own cab
something Wait, waits a big tipper, never anything less and I have to
saw about down to stand. Yougot to be a real battle. It
was gonna pick him up. Youknow the loop? Yeah? Where do
you years? They take him quitedifferent places? The restaurant shows different places.
(08:15):
Did he ever tell you what hewas doing? In time? Olways?
Talking along drive downtown? Get kindof dull? A couple of times
you route in the front seat withme, gives me the company wouldn't like
it, but that's the way hewanted to What you talk about? Who?
Weather, fishing? Lots of things, mostly about girls, though he
thought he was quite a ladies man. Well he dressed all that money,
he should have been never see anyof his friends. Listen, how come
(08:37):
here asking all these questions? Tisplace letter? And I knew that when
I got the words from the frontoffice and told me to ride with you
all the way? But what's thebeef? You have to roost that for
something? Who? That's the gates? Why? What about it? Fay?
But she wouldn't want him to findout, but the whole deal.
Probably wouldn't call them anymore. What'sthat my shift? Who? I don't
know the last time? Come bimbo? Roost that? Ever? Meet it?
(09:00):
Not swump? What that means?Why she was in the cab,
You know I'd pick them up thed drive over to her place and pick
the two of them. Downdo Restaurant. So real Beauty was a tall,
blonde, gorgeous bruce that was prettyfriendly. Whether it was the Hey,
I guess, so we talked yourlife in a line. You got her
address, Yeah, I suppose.Why are you guys routers? Canna leave
(09:20):
right back to me? Because alot of trouble. Telly's a funny guy
to talk about a lot of things. You don't like to have to ask
questions. Basically bought him. Wellthat real touch you when I talked about
where it was from. While you'rejust for a living man. That's why
it's important you don't get in introuble with him. I can use those
tips. Well, they'll count onthem anymore, they won't be coming.
(09:46):
We got the address of the womanthe driver knew was Marshall. We call
the office to check on the wires. We attempted, then no answer to
any of them. One thirty pmwe drove over to Senior woman Places,
a new apartment building on Lilshire Boulevard. On the mail box we found named
Marcia loved with and the information thatshe occupied apartments fourteen. We went up
and ring the belt. Doesn't looklike she's home. Let's check of the
(10:07):
menu, right, Sure, apretty pool in the joe. Yeah,
you know you ought to get aplace down here. It'll be great for
it would sure s a five man'spool. Get some fun. You know,
I got a lot of time tothem once in a while. I
wouldn't cause somebody group mean nice Meand Faith come over and see you didn't
(10:30):
bring the kids you back? Well, you wouldn't want to be a hug
about the pool. Would just notme things you feel a lot way.
Just forget the whole thing, andthat's what I was planning. You just
forget as a manager, Can Ihelp you want? If you get telfy
you find this love with Marcus?Yes, that's great. Stock few minutes
ago. Oh yes, hi isover with the pool see with the star
(10:52):
I hat Oh yeah, thank youvery much. Yeah with love with yes
hoo. Police offered like to aska few questions. Police, I don't
know what I could tell you havea go ahead, thought if we could
down pull up a couple of SuDS. Thank you, thank you, I
guess thank you. Frank Smith.My name is Friday. How do you
(11:18):
do? No? How do youwant to stay in your baths? You
know? A man named Ruth said, yeah, why looking to us about
him in travel? No, we'rejust checking. Oh what do you want
to know? You know where he'sfrom? Me and to hometown someplace up
No, I don't think you eversaid I do you happen to meet him?
Cocktail party? We'll tell downtown there'sa convention. My agent got me
(11:39):
a job at the hostess. I'ma model to do some more some TV
and get a lot, a lotto take what you can get them.
Tom was there, We got totalk and went out to dinner. So
I'm quite a good after there.Could he tell you what he did for
a living? No, I don'tthink so. Say it wasn't a nice
thing? Talk like one. Whatabout this convention? You know what it
worked for? Oh? And it? But he didn't never need to do
(12:01):
that. He was just fat.Told me he was sitting at the barn.
One of the guys ask him comeup and have a cup of games.
That's all. He wasn't a damnit though, nicely, do you
have any friends here in town withyou know? Yeah, I don't listen.
Wanted to ask him. He'd goalong with a nice guy. He'd
be able to answer these questions alot better than me. Well, we're
checking everybody who knew him. OhI see, no, nice guy had
a lot of time him. Lastus say for you. Yesterday we had
(12:24):
dinner took the guys. He cameby for a night cap, and then
he called a cab and went home. Did you hear from him yesterday?
No, I really expect him forit. Well, you see, he
had kind of a fight, nothingserious. I didn't figure out here from
until maybe to day. You know, we both got over them mad,
and he told what the argument wasabout. I'm all the same to you.
(12:45):
I'd rather not. It's pretty importantthat we know. Well, if
you can't do any harm. Hewas just getting too serious, that's all
too serious. Told him I hadto go out of town a modeling job
Santa barbaraud be gone a couple ofdays, and he's got real mad.
I didn't want me running around likethat anymore, real possessive. I told
he didn't have any right to tellme what to do do. We weren't
married, you know. Well,man got loud, him telling me I
(13:09):
wasn't going to san a barber,and he say he couldn't stop him.
Tony called the game, went home. What time was that, I guess
about three thirty eleven four? Nolater? All right, thank you very
much. If you could think ofanything else, we'd appreciate a call.
Maybe one of our cards as threeto one of me. Yes, kay
I can we We ought to talktoo, We ought to steam anyway.
(13:31):
I haven't heard anything, but Tommight have gone over there? Who this
photographer I was going to sign abarber with. Tom might have gone over
to see him. Can you giveus his advt Yeah, I've got an
upstairs. Did Ruth Dad know thisphotographer? Well? I never met who
knew about him? Though, That'swhy I might be able to tell you
something. Well, well, Tomthought there was something between us. It's
not a selling me. Of courseI told him it was selling. It
(13:52):
didn't make any difference though, reallyjealous possessive said him and the other fellow
were gonna tangle someday. Hope Iknow the other guy. Tom. We
got the name and address to thephotographer, and then we go back to
(14:13):
the city hall. We made acheck to r and I, but we
found no record on him. Threeor six pm. Well, looks like
we might have a lead. Hell, it turns out, don't you.
I'm a tide Friday. Yeah,yeah, Jack, Now we've been waiting
for it. Can you give ithim me on the phone. We'll pick
(14:35):
up the copy later, Okay,go ahead. M hmm, man pridy
start app r O S F EL L E. Yeah, all right
ss it comes in. Yeah,we'd appreciate a call on it, right,
(14:56):
Okay, Jack Rickett down communicating.Yeah, I got to got a
type of reno about us. Yeah, they got a record on him,
real named Thomas Roselle, that's thename on the left. Yeah, they
ran it down or they got onbeen arrested for Bunco Graham's hat money forgery.
Haven't able to make any of mistakes. And what they say a couple
of months ago, I went intoa new line. They figured that's what
he's pitching. Now, what's thatnarcotics? What about this rosell woman?
(15:18):
Sis? You know his wife huhmarried, got three kids her up there
in a smartial woman here and heflung a real line. They come up
with anymore possible motive maybe, Yeah. When Roselle left town, they got
a rumble he was coming down hereon business at twelve ounces of heroin to
Petal. We put in the callthe Narcotics Division and talked to Captain Water.
(15:50):
He told us they didn't have anythingon Roselle, but they had heard
about a new supply of high gradeheroin being moved into town. We told
him what we found and then wego about to talk to the photographers of
Victim's drill. The mentioned I'm sorryso as I haven't got any idea what
you're talking about it? Are youthinking of Ruth, Dad or ult?
Sure? I didn't say I hadn't, but I didn't have any to do
with killing. I did know itwas dead. It's all over the afternoon
(16:11):
paper. Do you boys read yourown publicity? What are you doing Ruth?
YEA n four last Monday? Yeah, I guess so really Tuesday morning?
What? Well? What four fifteen? Yeah? I said, A
fourth fifteen. I remember because hewoke me up. I looked at the
clock. What do you want?Oh? I had some while I had
either or something going between me andMarsha. Was it? Well, I
(16:33):
don't see if there's any year business, but it doesn't matter to me,
So I'll tell you no, thatwasn't He's a model, I'm a photographer.
She worked for him. That theyhad a twenty five bucks an Hour's
all I was. Yeah, Iain't gonna tell you. Wouldn't it be
nice? But it just didn't happen. I don't believe in romance around the
office. Didn't do anything with causetrubble. What happened when ruth Dad came
in. All made a lot ofaccusations. I told him they went through,
(16:53):
said he had a filthy mind,telling the gas. Did he go
now? I tried a little muscle. I builded him a couple of times
in that interday, bored him adrink to show him were any hard feelings,
and a couple more. Picked itaround a while and he left.
We're talking about looking my best friends. Then we on my back. We're
talking to everybody who knew him.When he crossed my name off the list,
(17:15):
I built it in. That's all. He shooting him broke. He
called a cab from here when heleft. No, I was going to
and he decided to walk. Didyou see him leave? Certainly? I
locked the door after him, watchedhim walk outside in the window there.
Must have changed his mind about thecab. Bro cab might change his mind.
As I said, he didn't takeone. I said he didn't call
(17:36):
on the curse have picked him up. They drove off. He didn't get
the number of the cab. Looka guy woke me up at four o'clock
in the morning, came in here. I wanted to start of beef.
I finally got rid of it.I'm a nine to six boy. I
haven't got time to stand around windowsand get cab numbers for you cops.
I went back to sleep, allright, that's when anything comes up to
give it the call away? Yeah, sure, take this carway, look
(17:59):
on, sorry if I found itoff, just so, I don't want
to get mixed up in If youcan understand that, I can't sure so
hard feelings. I know. I'llbe honest with you. I didn't like
Ruce said, I didn't like himan inch, but I didn't hate him.
I don't know if it's killing somebodydid We're contacting the cab company again,
(18:26):
asked them to check the way billsfrom Nessler's address take him up with
one trip on Tuesday morning. Sothis batcher gave us the driver's name and
told us where we could find him. Yeah, I remember the guy looked
like he had a beef with somebody, you know, a real cut up.
Where did you take him? Thinkit was a hotel downtown, remember
the name. I dropped him offat the corner of Margot. He went
into a hoteler, you know,the Rolling Arms I think it was.
(18:48):
Yeah, yeah, that's the place. All right, thanks a lot.
I'm glad to help Bob. Hey, this felt like he had the same
one. It was killed yesterday.That's right. You've seen a lot of
him newspapers, television, a lotof him always that way doing. We
mean, after you dead, you'refamous. When it's too late to enjoy
it. Frank and I drove downto the Roll of Arms hotel. We
(19:14):
talked where the clerk who had beenon duty Tuesday morning. He remember the
man answering the victims subscription and toldus even inquired about a guest named Wallace
all name. Because of Rude Stad'sinsistence, the clerk had put through a
call to all I and the guestssaid the lapper victim come upstairs. He
went on to say that about thirtyminutes later, both men had left the
hotel together nine forty pm. Wewent up to Wallace. All leave room
here it is John, Yeah,yeah, Wallace, Holy trank. Police
(19:44):
officers like talking. Tres running theFranks Smith running Friday, right, that's
all right, like a drink,I'm just gonna fix yourself. One snow
thing I always like a drink offor a dinner. Sharper's up to your
lap time? Yeah mind if welook around? No, go ahead,
there anything special? I have ahelp? No, that's all right,
(20:06):
all right? Text? Have youbetter something that this is all about?
You know a man named Tom,Ruth, Dad or Roselle? Why you
know him? Yeah? I meanit. I'm just playing Joe. I
don't know what's closing? And whatabout Ruth? Dad? When's your stay
last? I don't know. Afew days ago? What upen it down
for? Monday? Yeah? Monday, that's the last time you're home.
(20:32):
Yeah. We had a couple ofdrinks in the bar at the corner.
I haven't seen them since. Wegot two people who say you did all
right? Yeah, they're gonna talkto them. Leave me alone. Have
you ever been arrested? Why haveyou? Yeah? What be? I
don't think I'm gonna answer that.You don't have to. We'll find out.
(20:52):
Mi Michael. Where you from?All around? Yam a city,
Briscoe, Vegas, Casey, allaround? How about Reno? Yeah,
I too. We met Ruth said, look good, what do you guys
back? You got the answer tothat? When I saved some time I
got a lot of tally. Well, let's be honest with each other.
(21:15):
Huh, go ahead, Why don'tyou guys lay out what you've got and
I'll tell you a close here andthey kind of silly women. Fine,
like playing checkers with yourself. NothingI can do that. I'm about the
closet. But if you make apinch, I got no choice. If
you're wrong, all owned city hall. I don't think we are. And
be my guest. All right,you're under the rest, all right for
(21:36):
sufficient to murder, I'll type thecloset, say their trouble. I killed
them. A third to the closetturned up a driver's license and other identification
for Thomas Roselle, and also founda twenty five deliber gun, twenty seven
(21:57):
hundred dollars in cash, and thequantity of hair. So I think was
taking the city hall for questions therunt his name for an Iron, found
that he had several arrest in thestate of California for violence and of the
states narcotics. At twelve sixteen am, we got the full story. We
were in business up now it weknow, Yeah, we made a lucky
buy, came down here to sellit. I gave him some connections where
he could dump it and down here. A couple of days he sent a
(22:18):
wire and telling me the merchandise wasn'tmoving. I knew it was a lot
right away. I knew it's goodstuff like that. It had to be
a market fool, and I gotthe words, what do you mean?
A friend of mine he called,tell me about Tom and this Marsha doll
how they were running around. Yeah, this guy told me Tom was going
great with the apes, that hedropped about seven ground of it already.
As soon as I heard that,I got out my horse made it down
here. Couldn't find out where hewas staying, didn't have a trace.
(22:41):
What about the hotel? So Ididn't know about that. As fun as
I knew he was supposed to behere, and that's the way we arranged
it. I sent out word Iwanted to see him, for him to
get in touch right away. Hedid try to give me the same line
about how he couldn't sell it wasn'tthe market for it. I told him
we'd better call the whole deal lost. Just give me the stuff back.
We called the whole deal lost ortook some and then we had a first
flight. That's the littletel Yeah,I do get that my car. What
(23:03):
happened then? Oh? When Isaw how much he had left, I
told him he was lying. Icalled him a dirty seep and we had
a fight. Nice shot, lankYou willing to give us a statement?
Sure? Why not? I gotnot his wife now him, I guess
though, that's too bad. Iknow she's a really nice kid. He's
(23:25):
really in love at that time.I guess she could a pretty high all
in love. I don't knowing her, she would a nice kid like that,
and he's run around with another boodboy. He was a real bum
the way she loved him and doinga thing like that. There, Once
you take another look, what didyou do the work? The story you've
(23:48):
just heard is true. The nameswere jaying to exactly. On November nineteenth,
trial was held in Department ninety nine, Superior Court of the State of
California in and Paul, the countryof low thaneless in a moment. The
results of that trial, Wallace HamiltonOlney was tried and convicted of murder in
(24:11):
the second degree and received sentence asprescribed by law. Murder in the second
degree is punishable by imprisonment for aperiod of from five years to lights in
the state tent of century. Youhave just heard drag Met a series of
(24:41):
authentic cases from official files. Technicaladvice comes from the Office of Chief of
Police W. H. Parker,Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisers, Captain
Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn,Sergeant Vans Fraser. Third Tonight where Ben
Alexander, Dick, Perron, HelenCleve, Lillian Bios, Stacy Harris,
scripts by John Robinson, music byWalter Schumann, Hell Kidney speaking. Watch
(25:07):
an entirely different drag Net case istoryeach week on your local NBC television session.
Please check your newspapers for the dayand time Chesterfield has brought you drag
Net transcribed from Los Angeles
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