November 12, 2025 • 24 mins
https://www.solgoodmedia.com - Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free! Dive into the captivating world of classic crime-solving with "Dragnet Radio," where each episode brings to life the thrilling police investigations from the original 1950s radio series. Join Sergeant Joe Friday and his partners as they navigate the mean streets of Los Angeles, unraveling complex cases with meticulous detail and unflinching determination. This podcast not only revisits the groundbreaking drama that set the standard for all future police procedurals but also explores the cultural impact and historical significance of one of the most influential shows of its time.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
The story you're about to hear is true. The names
have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant.
You're assigned a burglary detail. For the past month, a
hot prowl artist has been working the Silver Lake District
(00:26):
in your city.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Your job stop.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Him dragment the documented drama of an actual crime. For
(00:50):
the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles
Police Department, you will travel step by step on the
side of the law through an actual case transcribed from
official police filence, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment.
Dragnett is the story of your police force in action.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Those Tuesday, April twelfth, it was Sonny in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of burglerary detail.
My partner's Frank Smith. The boss's Captain Bernard. My name
is Friday. I was on my way back in the
business office and it was four thirty.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
One pm when I got to Room forty five Burglary.
Been reading about it in the papers.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
You knowed a lad It was here and there, not
from page stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
But it started me to thinking.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
Yes, sir oh hi Joe hi, mister Burcher is my partner,
Sergeant Friday, I do, are you, mister Bircher? Pretty good?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Pretty good?
Speaker 5 (01:37):
Except from my feet they're killing me. Oh that's just
a little joke amongst us. Mailman, Sergeant. Somebody asks us
how we feel, and we say our dogs are killing us.
It ain't necessarily the truth, but it's what folks expect
to hear, so we don't disappoint him.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Yes, sir, what was it you want to see us about,
mister Bircher?
Speaker 5 (01:53):
I was just telling your partner here, if Smith, is it?
Speaker 1 (01:55):
That's right?
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Say well, I was just telling mister Smith, my mayor
rots out in the Silver Lake District.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Uh huh?
Speaker 5 (02:00):
You know where they've been having them burglaries lately, Yes, sir, sure,
it's a shame nice part of town. Five residential, nice
people too, been delivering their mail for the past twelve years?
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Is that right?
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Get no, folks pretty well in that length of time.
How you take missus Davenport lived in the seven hundred
block on Saint George.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Please?
Speaker 5 (02:18):
Yes, men, did I give her mail last Friday? I
could tell something was wrong. She didn't even glance at
her postcards. That was the tip off, Yes, sir, told
me somebody had sneaked into her house that morning stole
twenty dollars in cash from their diamond and gatment ring.
Said she left it on the sink when she started
doing the breakfast dishes. We're in the other room to
answer the phone. That must have been when she had robbed.
M You already heard about Missus Davenport being.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Robbed, have you? Yes, sir, we talked to her last week.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
Oh, you're the fellaws come to see her about it?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
That's right? You had any luck yet? How's that catching
a fellow that robbed her? No, so're not so far.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
Well.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
I don't know whether this will help you out or not,
but I thought I ought to tell you about it anyway.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
How about what mister Richard now happened.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
Twice to my knowledge, twice in the last two week,
once just this morning. That's why I come down here.
It se who they got off work. It was Missus
Perkins on South malt when that happened to the day,
said she walked on into the her kitchen and there
it was biggest life, sir, stranger, complete stranger. She asked
him what he be doing there. He said he was
from the light company. Come to repair her electric stove.
(03:19):
Mm hm, the thing is, Missus Perkins don't have an
electric stove. Felt apologized, said he got into the wrong
house by mistake. Missus Perkins didn't think nothing about it
and just happened to mention it when I come by
the mail. I didn't think nothing about it either. I
was first, yes, sir. Then I remembered same thing happened
to mister Johnstone over on Scott Street week us ten
(03:40):
days ago, found a man from the light company standing
in her kitchen. She hadn't sent for him either. He
said they'd give them the wrong address. Now he just
don't stand the reason the light company'd be sending people
to the wrong addresses all the time. We got to
thinking about them burglaries, Missus Davenport and the ones I
read about in the papers. Wondered if there wasn't some connection.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Well, it might be.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
That's the way a hot prowl artist works. Hot prowl
daytime burgler operates when the victims.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Have to be in the house. Oh, would you give
us her addresses, mister Bircher, Huh, the two ladies you
were telling us about, You mean.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
The found of fellow from the light company in the kitchen. Yes,
Missus Perkins, she lives on South Moulton, number two oh one,
Missus Waldo Perkins, that's your.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Full name, two oh one.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
And the other lady Johnstone, missus Nellie Johnstone, she's a
widow lady. Her address is one two four seven Scott Street,
corner Scott and Brandon.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
I say, thank you, would you mind, young, it's just
what your mail root covers. Mister Bircher, huh on the
map over here? Would you come over here?
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Sure, sure? Here we are starts here m hm. Down
this street like soul. Then over here, this whole section
these streets here down here, this is where I end up.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I see that's the right area, all right.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Yeah, anything else I can do for you, No, sir,
I don't.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
I believe so. We appreciate your coming in figured out.
Speaker 5 (05:02):
I ought to help you if I could. Seeing is
how we both work for the same boss. How's that
the taxpayer?
Speaker 4 (05:14):
We checked with the utility companies and they told us
that they had made no recent repair cause in the
vicinity of the addresses that mister Bircher had given us.
Five forty six pm, Frank and I drove out to
twol one, South Maltman. It was a one story stucko
bungalow set behind a white picket fence.
Speaker 7 (05:30):
Well, it's about time you.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Where are the flowers, ma'am?
Speaker 7 (05:33):
Aren't you for mcadam's flower shop.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
No, ma'am.
Speaker 8 (05:35):
The promised me they'd have them here by five promised faithfully.
Speaker 7 (05:39):
You just can't depend on anybody. Well, what is it?
Speaker 1 (05:42):
We're police officers? Man? Please Frank Smith? My name is Friday. Oh,
for heaven's sake, you, miss Perkins.
Speaker 7 (05:47):
Well, yes, of course, who'd you think I was?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
We'd like to talk to you for a minute.
Speaker 7 (05:50):
Oh what on earth about?
Speaker 9 (05:51):
Please?
Speaker 8 (05:52):
I'm in an awful hurry. I've got sixteen people coming
for mis a.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Couple of questions. Please, it won't take us long.
Speaker 7 (05:57):
Oh all right, all right, I suppose you might as
well come in.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Thank you.
Speaker 7 (06:02):
It isn't about Waldo, ma'am.
Speaker 8 (06:04):
My husband. It isn't about him, is it not? On
top of everything else? I don't know whether I'm coming
or going. I'm just not up to a big dinner
part anymore.
Speaker 7 (06:13):
I shouldn't have tried.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
We understand you had a visitor this morning, Miss Perkins.
Visitor a man who said he'd come to fix your stove.
Speaker 7 (06:19):
Oh yes, now, how on earth? Oh that mail man.
I ought to know better than to tell him anything.
He spreads it all over town.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
You hadn't sent for an electrician, had you, Oh?
Speaker 7 (06:29):
Certainly not. If anything was wrong with my stove, I'd
send to the gas company. It's a gas range.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Well could you describe him for us?
Speaker 7 (06:35):
Please describe him?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
That's right, I don't know what you mean. Well what
do he look like? Was he tall or sharp? Well?
Speaker 8 (06:41):
I hardly even looked at him. He's just an ordinary man.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
You see. How old would you say it was?
Speaker 7 (06:46):
Isn't he's kind of foolish.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
We aren't sure yet, ma'am. Do you have any idea
of his age?
Speaker 6 (06:50):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (06:51):
Youngish, I guess about thirty.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
How was he dressed?
Speaker 7 (06:54):
I'm afraid I don't remember.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Did he have on a uniform of any kind?
Speaker 7 (06:57):
M No, no uniform suit. I think I didn't pay
much attention.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
Those scars or anything like that, not that I noticed
might have.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Well, just what did he say to you?
Speaker 7 (07:05):
Just that he'd made a mistake, that he was in
the wrong house, that's all.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Do you have any kind of an accent?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
No?
Speaker 8 (07:10):
He sounded like a plane every day American to me,
I see, you think you'd recognize him if you saw
him again?
Speaker 7 (07:15):
Oh? I don't think so.
Speaker 8 (07:16):
If it had been some other day when I wasn't
so busy, when I didn't have so much on my mind?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Did you notice where he went when he left here?
Speaker 7 (07:23):
Out the back door?
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Did you drive away?
Speaker 7 (07:25):
I really haven't any idea.
Speaker 8 (07:26):
If you're so interested in the poor man, you better
talk to Margo. Margo, missus Summersby, and my next door neighbor.
She was doing some gardening this morning.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I see, I.
Speaker 8 (07:34):
Suppose she saw him too. There's much that gets by Margo.
Speaker 7 (07:38):
She's a little on the nosey side, if you know
what I mean.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yes, ma'am, which house is hers?
Speaker 7 (07:41):
Not from there? I see Now, I've just got to
get back to my dinner. I haven't even started the
salad yet.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Just one more thing, Miss Perkins, Well what is it now?
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Is anything missing from around the house missing? Yes, ma'am,
money or anything of value?
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Why?
Speaker 7 (07:54):
No, No, of course not you sure?
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Are you?
Speaker 8 (07:57):
What on earth are you driving at? A man makes
it perfectly on this mistake. Next thing, I know, the
police are bothering me.
Speaker 7 (08:02):
You think he was a criminal or something.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
I'm sorry we troubled to you, Miss Pros.
Speaker 8 (08:05):
I just don't understand if people come here all the time,
day in and day out.
Speaker 7 (08:09):
Some of 'em had the right address, some of 'em
have the wrong ones. Spend half my life answering the doorbell.
Speaker 9 (08:13):
Yes, ma'am, what's so special about this fellow?
Speaker 1 (08:15):
He didn't ring your doorbell.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
We left Missus Perkins and went over to talk to
her next door neighbor, Missus Summersby. Missus Somersby told us
that she'd spent most of the morning in her garden
transplanting Bagonia's. She also said that she remembered seeing a
stranger at her Missus Perkins house about ten thirty am.
Speaker 10 (08:34):
I don't think he noticed me. I was down on
my hands and knees behind the hedge.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Mmm.
Speaker 10 (08:38):
I remember thinking it was kind of odd the way
he just walked in. Then I decided it's probably somebody
about the.
Speaker 9 (08:43):
Party she's given tonight. Delivery man, somebody like that.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
That's right. Did you see him leave?
Speaker 10 (08:48):
A couple of minutes later, he came back and out
headed out toward the front of the house. Do you
have a car? I suppose so you aren't sure. No,
I just assumed he did if he was a delivery man.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Mm M, could you describe him for us? Missus Summersby.
Speaker 11 (09:04):
Doesn't Missus Perkins know who he was?
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Well, she isn't sure.
Speaker 9 (09:08):
Well, she must know what he looked like.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Well, we'd like to check your description against hers if.
Speaker 7 (09:12):
It's sorry, I suppose she was a bit vague. M.
I'm not surprised.
Speaker 10 (09:17):
She doesn't have a very sharp eye. She can't see
her nose in front of her face?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Is that so?
Speaker 10 (09:21):
And the way she's been carrying on about this dinner party, well,
it's a wonder to me.
Speaker 7 (09:24):
She even remembered the man.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 10 (09:27):
You think if she could entertain sixteen people, two more
wouldn't be any extra trouble. How's that all her talk
about just having friends of her sisters? That that's who
the party's for, her sister from Cleveland.
Speaker 9 (09:38):
They're out here on a visit.
Speaker 7 (09:40):
Excuse, that's what it.
Speaker 10 (09:41):
Is to get out of invite.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
And Wrex and me.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
Well, she won't need excuses in the future.
Speaker 10 (09:46):
Our relationship will be on a somewhat different basis, yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Now, if you just tell us about the man you
saw this morning?
Speaker 7 (09:52):
Oh him, yes, ma'am.
Speaker 10 (09:55):
Well he was good size, as tall as you are,
maybe a little heavier, late twenties or early thirties. I'd
put him mm, dark hair, needed a haircut. It's nice looking,
not real handsome or anything like that, but good looking.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
M Do you remember how it was dressed?
Speaker 7 (10:11):
Coat and pants. Don't think they matched.
Speaker 10 (10:14):
Not too sporty though, I see, walked real fast, brisk,
like he was in a big hurry, yes, ma'am. Anything else, No, no,
I can't think of anything.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Has he been around this neighborhood before?
Speaker 7 (10:26):
It was a stranger to me?
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Would you recognize him if you saw him again?
Speaker 7 (10:30):
Don't see?
Speaker 8 (10:31):
Why not?
Speaker 9 (10:32):
Excuse me?
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Surely?
Speaker 5 (10:36):
Hello?
Speaker 10 (10:38):
Yes, oh that's too bad. Uh huh, Well I don't know.
Oh well I suppose you do.
Speaker 9 (10:57):
But oh h, I see.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
All right?
Speaker 9 (11:06):
Bye?
Speaker 10 (11:09):
Hm Missus Perkins, is it right? Says the Barringtons can't come.
Mister Barrington's got virus. Wants me and Rex to fill
in at the last minute.
Speaker 9 (11:25):
Well, if you're all through, sergeant, yes, ma'am, thank you.
Speaker 11 (11:28):
I better start getting ready.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
We told Missus Summersby to get in. Teck one Els
who might have seen the suspect. We were unable to
turn up another witness. Eight o six pm we drove
over to Scott Avenue and interviewed with Missus Nellie Johnstone.
Missus Johnstone stated that on Monday of the previous week,
a s her description of the suspect.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Tallied with what we already had. The next day, April thirteenth,
we checked the description in the m over the stalls.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
We took the names to R and I and pulled
their packages. Twelve o eight pm we went back to
the office.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Oh you think, Joe, Yeah, we better trying for an identification.
Who do you wanna start with?
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Doesn't matter? Ms Perkins again helped. I see right, thank you.
Looks like we won't need ms Perkins. I just brought
a lady into Georgia Street who lives out in the
Silver Light district. Yuh found a man going through a
person in the bedroom. Tried to stop him from getting away.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
He slug her.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
We drove over to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital and talked
to doctor Sebastian and told us that a Missus Violet
Castle had been brought in for treatment. He said she
had a bad bruise in her face and a slight concussion.
He also said she hadn't lost consciousness and was able
to talk to us.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
As castle.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
Yes, police officers, ma'am, okay, we'd like it to tell
us what happened, if you would.
Speaker 9 (13:10):
I told the others when they come to get me.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Yes, ma'am, we'd like to hear from you.
Speaker 12 (13:15):
Well, he was just standing there by the dresser. I
couldn't imagine where he come from.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Uh huh.
Speaker 12 (13:19):
I didn't say anything for a minute. I was too surprised.
He didn't seem to know I was in the room.
Speaker 9 (13:24):
His back was towards me.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
What was he doing?
Speaker 12 (13:27):
Well, I couldn't tell, not the first and then I
heard a little snap, you know, just to click.
Speaker 9 (13:33):
I realized he was opening my purse.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 12 (13:35):
He started fumbling at the things inside. I must have
moved or something. Anyway, he looked up, saw me in
the mirror, eyes opened up real wide, like he was scared.
I remember, thinking he's more scared than I am.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Did he say anything, No.
Speaker 12 (13:50):
Sair, not a word. I did all the talking. Told
him to put down the purse.
Speaker 9 (13:54):
Put it down, I said, tried to sound real sure
of myself.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
What happened, then dropped the pocket book.
Speaker 9 (14:00):
Turned round toward me. I don't think he had a
gun or anything.
Speaker 12 (14:05):
If he did, I didn't see it, Yes, ma'am. He
just started running toward the door. I moved over so
as I'd been in his way. Where do you think
you're going?
Speaker 7 (14:12):
I said.
Speaker 12 (14:14):
He didn't dancer, and just pushed past me. I grabbed
at his arm, and that's when he hit me. Here
where the bandage is. Se mm must have struck the
chair when I fell. The doctor tells me, I'm gonna
have a real bump. I guess everybody will be staying
Violet Castle shirt got the swell head.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Huh, that's right.
Speaker 12 (14:30):
I didn't faint, though I thought for a minute I
was going to, but I didn't. I heard him run
out of the house like I heard a wild horses away.
Palmed out of there, managed to get to my feet,
made it to the telephone in the hall, called the police.
Speaker 9 (14:44):
They sent an ambulance for me, got there real quick.
First time I ever rode an ambulance.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
All right.
Speaker 12 (14:49):
Oh, I've had my share of sickness. I've been in
hospitals and all that, but I never had an ambulance ride.
Before siren too, siren going all the way down here.
I thought I must be pretty bad if they had
to use a siren like that, But the doctor says,
it's usual who told me I'd be helping around again
in a few days. Be my whole self except for
my lump. Be awhile for a lump like that goes away.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Do you think he could identify the man who.
Speaker 9 (15:13):
Hit him as his castle identify him?
Speaker 7 (15:15):
Well?
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Yes, if we showed you some pictures, could you pick
him out right now?
Speaker 9 (15:18):
Yes, Ma'm well, I'm afraid not hh. It isn't that
I wouldn't know any understand him or his picture. I'm
not likely to forget that face.
Speaker 12 (15:26):
Well, it's too dark and hear it for me to
look at any pictures.
Speaker 9 (15:29):
Way too dark. Doctor said they had to.
Speaker 12 (15:31):
Leave the blinds down for the time being, told me
not to turn.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
The light on. I understand.
Speaker 9 (15:35):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 12 (15:36):
I can't be more help. If the doctor left strict orders.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Yes, ma'am, I'll check hard job.
Speaker 9 (15:39):
Ain't you always believe and follow them doctor's orders?
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 12 (15:44):
No use paying the doctor unless you do what he
tells you. Some of my husband always used to put
it of course, I'm not paying anything here, emma.
Speaker 7 (15:52):
Uh, that's what they told me.
Speaker 12 (15:53):
Yes, ma'am, I explained I wasn't a charity case, got
some health and accident insurance.
Speaker 9 (15:59):
I guess you'd call this an accident, wouldn't you.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Well, I'm not sure, I imagine.
Speaker 11 (16:02):
So.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
Doctor Sebastian says, we alright, turing the lights on for
a few minutes.
Speaker 9 (16:07):
Job, Okay, are you sure it's alright?
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Yes, ma'am said so.
Speaker 9 (16:10):
Well, he was so positive before dot keeping it dark
in here, Well.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
A couple of minutes probably won't make any difference, Miss Castle.
Speaker 9 (16:17):
Well, the doctor says, So that's Ooh. Sure seems bright, don't.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
It, Yes, ma'am not, I just looked through these photos.
Speaker 9 (16:26):
Yeah, I'll do my best. Oh sure is funny.
Speaker 12 (16:31):
How's that you getting here, sub quake and having pictures
all ready to show me?
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Well, we don't know that we've got his picture here.
Speaker 9 (16:37):
Well, that's what's so funny, ma'am. This is him right here.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Missus Castle positively identified one of the mug shots we
had shown her, Ralph Foster Maple.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Maple had done time for burglary.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
The three ladies we had previously interviewed also identified the
suspects picture.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Three sixteen pm.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
We went back to the office the crime lavery water
that there were no fingerprints or other physical evidence at
Missus Castle's home. Frank and I checked the phone books
and city directories for Maple's address. There was no listing.
We ran DMV for a car registration. They had nothing
under his name, but they told us that a Missus
Ralph F. Maple at three seventeen Himber Street was the
registered owner of a late model Nash Sedan. Four forty
(17:19):
eight pm, we'd drove out to interview Missus Maple. Yes,
Missus Maple, Yes, your husband in my husband.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I'm afraid you've made a mistake.
Speaker 9 (17:29):
Uh, I'm not married, not anymore?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Boy. See if you were married to Ralph Maple. Yes
for police officers. Oh, miss Frank Smith, my name's Friday.
Speaker 9 (17:39):
What's he done now?
Speaker 1 (17:40):
We'd like to get in touch with him, that's all
you might if we.
Speaker 11 (17:42):
Come in, give me a minute to send my daughter
over to the neighbors. I'd rather she didn't hear this.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
We'll have to come in.
Speaker 11 (17:48):
Oh all right, over here, it's been.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
Go out and play, will your honey? What is it
this time?
Speaker 9 (18:02):
Burglary again.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Were just trying to reach you, miss Maple. Do you
know where he lives?
Speaker 11 (18:06):
No?
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Is he still in Los Angeles?
Speaker 11 (18:08):
I suppose so he was here a couple of weeks ago.
Came by to see Joe Anne, she's our daughter. Mm
mm should've known he was up to something. H brought
his presence expensive presents. Said he had a new job.
I didn't really believe him, but I tried to.
Speaker 9 (18:23):
For Joanne's sake.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Did he say what this job was selling?
Speaker 11 (18:26):
Didn't mention the firm.
Speaker 9 (18:28):
I suppose he could be a good salesman if he'd try.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Does he have a car?
Speaker 11 (18:32):
Told me it was in the shop being repaired. Came
up in a taxi cabin. Let see, it's a great
one for taxis. Ralph is big chipper too. Somebody else's money.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
MM.
Speaker 9 (18:42):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 11 (18:43):
I guess I sound a little.
Speaker 9 (18:44):
Bitter, don't I?
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Mm?
Speaker 11 (18:45):
What was my own doing? I knew it was wild
when I married him. I thought he'd change. He did,
He got worse.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
How long you been divorced a little over.
Speaker 9 (18:54):
Two years now?
Speaker 7 (18:56):
Oh?
Speaker 11 (18:56):
I waited till he got out of prison. Thought that
was my duty, have a home ready for him to come.
Back to Yes, m'am, wouldn't hold down a job, didn't
even try well. We'd managed without him while he was
in San Quentin. I knew we could do it again.
He's supposed to support Joanne. I haven't seen a penny
in six months. Always brings her a present though. That's
(19:17):
his way of trying to get him a good side.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
You know, any of his friends who might help us
look at him.
Speaker 11 (19:22):
His friends aren't my friend, Sergeant.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Yes, ma'am, but you.
Speaker 9 (19:26):
Won't have any trouble finding him.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Well.
Speaker 11 (19:28):
He'll be here tomorrow. Oh, it's Joanne's birthday. He'll bring
her something.
Speaker 9 (19:34):
He'll be here.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Mm mm.
Speaker 9 (19:36):
I suppose he does love her in his way. Maybe
he loves me too.
Speaker 11 (19:42):
Maybe I love him. I was even thinking about us
getting back together if it was true about his new
selling job.
Speaker 9 (19:52):
I guess you never.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Learned to you and you're sure he'll be here tomorrow.
Speaker 11 (19:56):
He want miss joe Anne's birthday. Ralph's a very thought
for father. Not the kind of man who forgets birthdays
and anniversaries. I see, might forget to pay his bills,
but that's different. Yes, m it'll be quite a birthday
present for Joeanne.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
On it. What's it?
Speaker 11 (20:12):
Her father getting arrested a cain MM.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
The next day, Thursday, April fourteenth, we staked out Missus
Maple's house three thirty five pm. A taxi cab built
up and Ralph Maple got out. He was carrying a
large package.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Get the change. Thanks you my quick, Ralph Maple.
Speaker 7 (20:36):
MM.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Police officers just standstill.
Speaker 6 (20:38):
What's going on?
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Yeah, he's like Joe, uh, let's go.
Speaker 6 (20:42):
Oh wait a minute, can't you tell me what this
is all about?
Speaker 1 (20:44):
We'll let you tell us downtown.
Speaker 6 (20:45):
Well, you can't arrest a man without some reason.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Where were you yesterday? What time?
Speaker 5 (20:49):
Let's start with the morning, got up, had breakfast, went
shopping where the apartment stores, had to buy a present
from my daughter.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
This is it right here? I take you all morning?
Did it? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (20:58):
Most of it?
Speaker 1 (20:59):
I can and getting tired.
Speaker 6 (21:00):
Okay, just tell me what it is you wanna know.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
We wanna know about a lady who's in the hospital. Lady, yeah,
somebody slugged her yesterday.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
You think it was me? She does. Let's find out
if she's right. Come on there, Okay, she's right, alright,
let's go.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
I didn't mean to hit her very hard. It was
hard enough, just wanted to get her out of my way.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Alright, get it? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (21:26):
Hey, wait a minute, huh huh? What about this? What
about what my little girl's President's her birthday?
Speaker 1 (21:32):
You know what? Can I give it to her and
you stay where you are?
Speaker 6 (21:36):
What about one of you guys?
Speaker 1 (21:36):
You could take up to the door. E it's not hot.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
You can see for yourself to store a rap and see. Yeah,
I paid for it myself with whose money. At least
she can do or see that she gets it. Yeh, alright,
go ahead, hey, uh be right back.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
M sure appreciate it.
Speaker 13 (21:58):
She's just a little girl six today, wouldn't understand.
Speaker 6 (22:01):
If there wasn't a present from daddy.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (22:03):
I never missed a birthday, even when I was in
the joint.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
I saw to it that she got something. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
Wife divorced me a couple of years back. I guess
I can't blame her, Yeah, not for divorcing me. I
had it come and she shouldn't have got so custody. Though,
girl needs a father. Everybody talks about how boys need
their old man the way I see the girl needs
'em more.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
It's so sure, you know, there's a kind of help us.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
Yeah, I was on a kind of herd Joanne. That's
the only reason I'd done it. Little girls entitled are
pretty things. I couldn't afford him, not with the kind
of dough that I made. Yeah, I had to get
the money somewhere. I never stole much, just enough to
buy her a few presents. Figured if I didn't, she
turned against me, being divorced and all. I figured I
had to do more than the regular fathers. Yeah, I
shouldn't have given door a sole custody.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
He wasn't fair.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
She has me come around and visit whenever I want.
But it's sort of like saying Joanne doesn't belong to
me anymore. Judge claimed I wasn't a fit father.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
How do you like that?
Speaker 13 (22:51):
Just because a man does a little time, everybody has it.
Speaker 6 (22:52):
In for him afterward.
Speaker 13 (22:54):
Yeah, the idea is saying I'm not a fit father.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
You know something evil? HM proved him right.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
The story you have just heard is true. The names
were changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
On August sixth, trial was held in Department ninety eight,
Superior Court of the State of California in and for
the County of Los Angeles. In a moment the results
of that trial, Ralph Foster Maple was tried and convicted
(23:40):
of burglary in the first degree, assault with intent to
do great bodily harm and receive sentence as prescribed by law.
Burglary in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment for
a period of not less than five years. Assault with
intent to do great bodily harm is punishable by imprisonment
for not more than five years in the state penitentiary.
(24:11):
You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases
from official files. Technical advice comes from the Office of
Chief of Police W. H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department.
Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
The story you're about to hear is true. The names
have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant.
You're assigned a burglary detail. For the past month, a
hot prowl artist has been working the Silver Lake District
(00:26):
in your city.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Your job stop.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Him dragment the documented drama of an actual crime. For
(00:50):
the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles
Police Department, you will travel step by step on the
side of the law through an actual case transcribed from
official police filence, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment.
Dragnett is the story of your police force in action.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Those Tuesday, April twelfth, it was Sonny in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of burglerary detail.
My partner's Frank Smith. The boss's Captain Bernard. My name
is Friday. I was on my way back in the
business office and it was four thirty.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
One pm when I got to Room forty five Burglary.
Been reading about it in the papers.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
You knowed a lad It was here and there, not
from page stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
But it started me to thinking.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
Yes, sir oh hi Joe hi, mister Burcher is my partner,
Sergeant Friday, I do, are you, mister Bircher? Pretty good?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Pretty good?
Speaker 5 (01:37):
Except from my feet they're killing me. Oh that's just
a little joke amongst us. Mailman, Sergeant. Somebody asks us
how we feel, and we say our dogs are killing us.
It ain't necessarily the truth, but it's what folks expect
to hear, so we don't disappoint him.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Yes, sir, what was it you want to see us about,
mister Bircher?
Speaker 5 (01:53):
I was just telling your partner here, if Smith, is it?
Speaker 1 (01:55):
That's right?
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Say well, I was just telling mister Smith, my mayor
rots out in the Silver Lake District.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Uh huh?
Speaker 5 (02:00):
You know where they've been having them burglaries lately, Yes, sir, sure,
it's a shame nice part of town. Five residential, nice
people too, been delivering their mail for the past twelve years?
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Is that right?
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Get no, folks pretty well in that length of time.
How you take missus Davenport lived in the seven hundred
block on Saint George.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Please?
Speaker 5 (02:18):
Yes, men, did I give her mail last Friday? I
could tell something was wrong. She didn't even glance at
her postcards. That was the tip off, Yes, sir, told
me somebody had sneaked into her house that morning stole
twenty dollars in cash from their diamond and gatment ring.
Said she left it on the sink when she started
doing the breakfast dishes. We're in the other room to
answer the phone. That must have been when she had robbed.
M You already heard about Missus Davenport being.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Robbed, have you? Yes, sir, we talked to her last week.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
Oh, you're the fellaws come to see her about it?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
That's right? You had any luck yet? How's that catching
a fellow that robbed her? No, so're not so far.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
Well.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
I don't know whether this will help you out or not,
but I thought I ought to tell you about it anyway.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
How about what mister Richard now happened.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
Twice to my knowledge, twice in the last two week,
once just this morning. That's why I come down here.
It se who they got off work. It was Missus
Perkins on South malt when that happened to the day,
said she walked on into the her kitchen and there
it was biggest life, sir, stranger, complete stranger. She asked
him what he be doing there. He said he was
from the light company. Come to repair her electric stove.
(03:19):
Mm hm, the thing is, Missus Perkins don't have an
electric stove. Felt apologized, said he got into the wrong
house by mistake. Missus Perkins didn't think nothing about it
and just happened to mention it when I come by
the mail. I didn't think nothing about it either. I
was first, yes, sir. Then I remembered same thing happened
to mister Johnstone over on Scott Street week us ten
(03:40):
days ago, found a man from the light company standing
in her kitchen. She hadn't sent for him either. He
said they'd give them the wrong address. Now he just
don't stand the reason the light company'd be sending people
to the wrong addresses all the time. We got to
thinking about them burglaries, Missus Davenport and the ones I
read about in the papers. Wondered if there wasn't some connection.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Well, it might be.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
That's the way a hot prowl artist works. Hot prowl
daytime burgler operates when the victims.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Have to be in the house. Oh, would you give
us her addresses, mister Bircher, Huh, the two ladies you
were telling us about, You mean.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
The found of fellow from the light company in the kitchen. Yes,
Missus Perkins, she lives on South Moulton, number two oh one,
Missus Waldo Perkins, that's your.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Full name, two oh one.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
And the other lady Johnstone, missus Nellie Johnstone, she's a
widow lady. Her address is one two four seven Scott Street,
corner Scott and Brandon.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
I say, thank you, would you mind, young, it's just
what your mail root covers. Mister Bircher, huh on the
map over here? Would you come over here?
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Sure, sure? Here we are starts here m hm. Down
this street like soul. Then over here, this whole section
these streets here down here, this is where I end up.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I see that's the right area, all right.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Yeah, anything else I can do for you, No, sir,
I don't.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
I believe so. We appreciate your coming in figured out.
Speaker 5 (05:02):
I ought to help you if I could. Seeing is
how we both work for the same boss. How's that
the taxpayer?
Speaker 4 (05:14):
We checked with the utility companies and they told us
that they had made no recent repair cause in the
vicinity of the addresses that mister Bircher had given us.
Five forty six pm, Frank and I drove out to
twol one, South Maltman. It was a one story stucko
bungalow set behind a white picket fence.
Speaker 7 (05:30):
Well, it's about time you.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Where are the flowers, ma'am?
Speaker 7 (05:33):
Aren't you for mcadam's flower shop.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
No, ma'am.
Speaker 8 (05:35):
The promised me they'd have them here by five promised faithfully.
Speaker 7 (05:39):
You just can't depend on anybody. Well, what is it?
Speaker 1 (05:42):
We're police officers? Man? Please Frank Smith? My name is Friday. Oh,
for heaven's sake, you, miss Perkins.
Speaker 7 (05:47):
Well, yes, of course, who'd you think I was?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
We'd like to talk to you for a minute.
Speaker 7 (05:50):
Oh what on earth about?
Speaker 9 (05:51):
Please?
Speaker 8 (05:52):
I'm in an awful hurry. I've got sixteen people coming
for mis a.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Couple of questions. Please, it won't take us long.
Speaker 7 (05:57):
Oh all right, all right, I suppose you might as
well come in.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Thank you.
Speaker 7 (06:02):
It isn't about Waldo, ma'am.
Speaker 8 (06:04):
My husband. It isn't about him, is it not? On
top of everything else? I don't know whether I'm coming
or going. I'm just not up to a big dinner
part anymore.
Speaker 7 (06:13):
I shouldn't have tried.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
We understand you had a visitor this morning, Miss Perkins.
Visitor a man who said he'd come to fix your stove.
Speaker 7 (06:19):
Oh yes, now, how on earth? Oh that mail man.
I ought to know better than to tell him anything.
He spreads it all over town.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
You hadn't sent for an electrician, had you, Oh?
Speaker 7 (06:29):
Certainly not. If anything was wrong with my stove, I'd
send to the gas company. It's a gas range.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Well could you describe him for us?
Speaker 7 (06:35):
Please describe him?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
That's right, I don't know what you mean. Well what
do he look like? Was he tall or sharp? Well?
Speaker 8 (06:41):
I hardly even looked at him. He's just an ordinary man.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
You see. How old would you say it was?
Speaker 7 (06:46):
Isn't he's kind of foolish.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
We aren't sure yet, ma'am. Do you have any idea
of his age?
Speaker 6 (06:50):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (06:51):
Youngish, I guess about thirty.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
How was he dressed?
Speaker 7 (06:54):
I'm afraid I don't remember.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Did he have on a uniform of any kind?
Speaker 7 (06:57):
M No, no uniform suit. I think I didn't pay
much attention.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
Those scars or anything like that, not that I noticed
might have.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Well, just what did he say to you?
Speaker 7 (07:05):
Just that he'd made a mistake, that he was in
the wrong house, that's all.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Do you have any kind of an accent?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
No?
Speaker 8 (07:10):
He sounded like a plane every day American to me,
I see, you think you'd recognize him if you saw
him again?
Speaker 7 (07:15):
Oh? I don't think so.
Speaker 8 (07:16):
If it had been some other day when I wasn't
so busy, when I didn't have so much on my mind?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Did you notice where he went when he left here?
Speaker 7 (07:23):
Out the back door?
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Did you drive away?
Speaker 7 (07:25):
I really haven't any idea.
Speaker 8 (07:26):
If you're so interested in the poor man, you better
talk to Margo. Margo, missus Summersby, and my next door neighbor.
She was doing some gardening this morning.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I see, I.
Speaker 8 (07:34):
Suppose she saw him too. There's much that gets by Margo.
Speaker 7 (07:38):
She's a little on the nosey side, if you know
what I mean.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yes, ma'am, which house is hers?
Speaker 7 (07:41):
Not from there? I see Now, I've just got to
get back to my dinner. I haven't even started the
salad yet.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Just one more thing, Miss Perkins, Well what is it now?
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Is anything missing from around the house missing? Yes, ma'am,
money or anything of value?
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Why?
Speaker 7 (07:54):
No, No, of course not you sure?
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Are you?
Speaker 8 (07:57):
What on earth are you driving at? A man makes
it perfectly on this mistake. Next thing, I know, the
police are bothering me.
Speaker 7 (08:02):
You think he was a criminal or something.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
I'm sorry we troubled to you, Miss Pros.
Speaker 8 (08:05):
I just don't understand if people come here all the time,
day in and day out.
Speaker 7 (08:09):
Some of 'em had the right address, some of 'em
have the wrong ones. Spend half my life answering the doorbell.
Speaker 9 (08:13):
Yes, ma'am, what's so special about this fellow?
Speaker 1 (08:15):
He didn't ring your doorbell.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
We left Missus Perkins and went over to talk to
her next door neighbor, Missus Summersby. Missus Somersby told us
that she'd spent most of the morning in her garden
transplanting Bagonia's. She also said that she remembered seeing a
stranger at her Missus Perkins house about ten thirty am.
Speaker 10 (08:34):
I don't think he noticed me. I was down on
my hands and knees behind the hedge.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Mmm.
Speaker 10 (08:38):
I remember thinking it was kind of odd the way
he just walked in. Then I decided it's probably somebody
about the.
Speaker 9 (08:43):
Party she's given tonight. Delivery man, somebody like that.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
That's right. Did you see him leave?
Speaker 10 (08:48):
A couple of minutes later, he came back and out
headed out toward the front of the house. Do you
have a car? I suppose so you aren't sure. No,
I just assumed he did if he was a delivery man.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Mm M, could you describe him for us? Missus Summersby.
Speaker 11 (09:04):
Doesn't Missus Perkins know who he was?
Speaker 1 (09:06):
Well, she isn't sure.
Speaker 9 (09:08):
Well, she must know what he looked like.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Well, we'd like to check your description against hers if.
Speaker 7 (09:12):
It's sorry, I suppose she was a bit vague. M.
I'm not surprised.
Speaker 10 (09:17):
She doesn't have a very sharp eye. She can't see
her nose in front of her face?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Is that so?
Speaker 10 (09:21):
And the way she's been carrying on about this dinner party, well,
it's a wonder to me.
Speaker 7 (09:24):
She even remembered the man.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 10 (09:27):
You think if she could entertain sixteen people, two more
wouldn't be any extra trouble. How's that all her talk
about just having friends of her sisters? That that's who
the party's for, her sister from Cleveland.
Speaker 9 (09:38):
They're out here on a visit.
Speaker 7 (09:40):
Excuse, that's what it.
Speaker 10 (09:41):
Is to get out of invite.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
And Wrex and me.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
Well, she won't need excuses in the future.
Speaker 10 (09:46):
Our relationship will be on a somewhat different basis, yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Now, if you just tell us about the man you
saw this morning?
Speaker 7 (09:52):
Oh him, yes, ma'am.
Speaker 10 (09:55):
Well he was good size, as tall as you are,
maybe a little heavier, late twenties or early thirties. I'd
put him mm, dark hair, needed a haircut. It's nice looking,
not real handsome or anything like that, but good looking.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
M Do you remember how it was dressed?
Speaker 7 (10:11):
Coat and pants. Don't think they matched.
Speaker 10 (10:14):
Not too sporty though, I see, walked real fast, brisk,
like he was in a big hurry, yes, ma'am. Anything else, No, no,
I can't think of anything.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Has he been around this neighborhood before?
Speaker 7 (10:26):
It was a stranger to me?
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Would you recognize him if you saw him again?
Speaker 7 (10:30):
Don't see?
Speaker 8 (10:31):
Why not?
Speaker 9 (10:32):
Excuse me?
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Surely?
Speaker 5 (10:36):
Hello?
Speaker 10 (10:38):
Yes, oh that's too bad. Uh huh, Well I don't know.
Oh well I suppose you do.
Speaker 9 (10:57):
But oh h, I see.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
All right?
Speaker 9 (11:06):
Bye?
Speaker 10 (11:09):
Hm Missus Perkins, is it right? Says the Barringtons can't come.
Mister Barrington's got virus. Wants me and Rex to fill
in at the last minute.
Speaker 9 (11:25):
Well, if you're all through, sergeant, yes, ma'am, thank you.
Speaker 11 (11:28):
I better start getting ready.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
We told Missus Summersby to get in. Teck one Els
who might have seen the suspect. We were unable to
turn up another witness. Eight o six pm we drove
over to Scott Avenue and interviewed with Missus Nellie Johnstone.
Missus Johnstone stated that on Monday of the previous week,
a s her description of the suspect.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Tallied with what we already had. The next day, April thirteenth,
we checked the description in the m over the stalls.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
We took the names to R and I and pulled
their packages. Twelve o eight pm we went back to
the office.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Oh you think, Joe, Yeah, we better trying for an identification.
Who do you wanna start with?
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Doesn't matter? Ms Perkins again helped. I see right, thank you.
Looks like we won't need ms Perkins. I just brought
a lady into Georgia Street who lives out in the
Silver Light district. Yuh found a man going through a
person in the bedroom. Tried to stop him from getting away.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
He slug her.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
We drove over to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital and talked
to doctor Sebastian and told us that a Missus Violet
Castle had been brought in for treatment. He said she
had a bad bruise in her face and a slight concussion.
He also said she hadn't lost consciousness and was able
to talk to us.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
As castle.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
Yes, police officers, ma'am, okay, we'd like it to tell
us what happened, if you would.
Speaker 9 (13:10):
I told the others when they come to get me.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Yes, ma'am, we'd like to hear from you.
Speaker 12 (13:15):
Well, he was just standing there by the dresser. I
couldn't imagine where he come from.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Uh huh.
Speaker 12 (13:19):
I didn't say anything for a minute. I was too surprised.
He didn't seem to know I was in the room.
Speaker 9 (13:24):
His back was towards me.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
What was he doing?
Speaker 12 (13:27):
Well, I couldn't tell, not the first and then I
heard a little snap, you know, just to click.
Speaker 9 (13:33):
I realized he was opening my purse.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 12 (13:35):
He started fumbling at the things inside. I must have
moved or something. Anyway, he looked up, saw me in
the mirror, eyes opened up real wide, like he was scared.
I remember, thinking he's more scared than I am.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Did he say anything, No.
Speaker 12 (13:50):
Sair, not a word. I did all the talking. Told
him to put down the purse.
Speaker 9 (13:54):
Put it down, I said, tried to sound real sure
of myself.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
What happened, then dropped the pocket book.
Speaker 9 (14:00):
Turned round toward me. I don't think he had a
gun or anything.
Speaker 12 (14:05):
If he did, I didn't see it, Yes, ma'am. He
just started running toward the door. I moved over so
as I'd been in his way. Where do you think
you're going?
Speaker 7 (14:12):
I said.
Speaker 12 (14:14):
He didn't dancer, and just pushed past me. I grabbed
at his arm, and that's when he hit me. Here
where the bandage is. Se mm must have struck the
chair when I fell. The doctor tells me, I'm gonna
have a real bump. I guess everybody will be staying
Violet Castle shirt got the swell head.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Huh, that's right.
Speaker 12 (14:30):
I didn't faint, though I thought for a minute I
was going to, but I didn't. I heard him run
out of the house like I heard a wild horses away.
Palmed out of there, managed to get to my feet,
made it to the telephone in the hall, called the police.
Speaker 9 (14:44):
They sent an ambulance for me, got there real quick.
First time I ever rode an ambulance.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
All right.
Speaker 12 (14:49):
Oh, I've had my share of sickness. I've been in
hospitals and all that, but I never had an ambulance ride.
Before siren too, siren going all the way down here.
I thought I must be pretty bad if they had
to use a siren like that, But the doctor says,
it's usual who told me I'd be helping around again
in a few days. Be my whole self except for
my lump. Be awhile for a lump like that goes away.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Do you think he could identify the man who.
Speaker 9 (15:13):
Hit him as his castle identify him?
Speaker 7 (15:15):
Well?
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Yes, if we showed you some pictures, could you pick
him out right now?
Speaker 9 (15:18):
Yes, Ma'm well, I'm afraid not hh. It isn't that
I wouldn't know any understand him or his picture. I'm
not likely to forget that face.
Speaker 12 (15:26):
Well, it's too dark and hear it for me to
look at any pictures.
Speaker 9 (15:29):
Way too dark. Doctor said they had to.
Speaker 12 (15:31):
Leave the blinds down for the time being, told me
not to turn.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
The light on. I understand.
Speaker 9 (15:35):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 12 (15:36):
I can't be more help. If the doctor left strict orders.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Yes, ma'am, I'll check hard job.
Speaker 9 (15:39):
Ain't you always believe and follow them doctor's orders?
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 12 (15:44):
No use paying the doctor unless you do what he
tells you. Some of my husband always used to put
it of course, I'm not paying anything here, emma.
Speaker 7 (15:52):
Uh, that's what they told me.
Speaker 12 (15:53):
Yes, ma'am, I explained I wasn't a charity case, got
some health and accident insurance.
Speaker 9 (15:59):
I guess you'd call this an accident, wouldn't you.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Well, I'm not sure, I imagine.
Speaker 11 (16:02):
So.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
Doctor Sebastian says, we alright, turing the lights on for
a few minutes.
Speaker 9 (16:07):
Job, Okay, are you sure it's alright?
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Yes, ma'am said so.
Speaker 9 (16:10):
Well, he was so positive before dot keeping it dark
in here, Well.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
A couple of minutes probably won't make any difference, Miss Castle.
Speaker 9 (16:17):
Well, the doctor says, So that's Ooh. Sure seems bright, don't.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
It, Yes, ma'am not, I just looked through these photos.
Speaker 9 (16:26):
Yeah, I'll do my best. Oh sure is funny.
Speaker 12 (16:31):
How's that you getting here, sub quake and having pictures
all ready to show me?
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Well, we don't know that we've got his picture here.
Speaker 9 (16:37):
Well, that's what's so funny, ma'am. This is him right here.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Missus Castle positively identified one of the mug shots we
had shown her, Ralph Foster Maple.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Maple had done time for burglary.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
The three ladies we had previously interviewed also identified the
suspects picture.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Three sixteen pm.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
We went back to the office the crime lavery water
that there were no fingerprints or other physical evidence at
Missus Castle's home. Frank and I checked the phone books
and city directories for Maple's address. There was no listing.
We ran DMV for a car registration. They had nothing
under his name, but they told us that a Missus
Ralph F. Maple at three seventeen Himber Street was the
registered owner of a late model Nash Sedan. Four forty
(17:19):
eight pm, we'd drove out to interview Missus Maple. Yes,
Missus Maple, Yes, your husband in my husband.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I'm afraid you've made a mistake.
Speaker 9 (17:29):
Uh, I'm not married, not anymore?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Boy. See if you were married to Ralph Maple. Yes
for police officers. Oh, miss Frank Smith, my name's Friday.
Speaker 9 (17:39):
What's he done now?
Speaker 1 (17:40):
We'd like to get in touch with him, that's all
you might if we.
Speaker 11 (17:42):
Come in, give me a minute to send my daughter
over to the neighbors. I'd rather she didn't hear this.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
We'll have to come in.
Speaker 11 (17:48):
Oh all right, over here, it's been.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
Go out and play, will your honey? What is it
this time?
Speaker 9 (18:02):
Burglary again.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Were just trying to reach you, miss Maple. Do you
know where he lives?
Speaker 11 (18:06):
No?
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Is he still in Los Angeles?
Speaker 11 (18:08):
I suppose so he was here a couple of weeks ago.
Came by to see Joe Anne, she's our daughter. Mm
mm should've known he was up to something. H brought
his presence expensive presents. Said he had a new job.
I didn't really believe him, but I tried to.
Speaker 9 (18:23):
For Joanne's sake.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Did he say what this job was selling?
Speaker 11 (18:26):
Didn't mention the firm.
Speaker 9 (18:28):
I suppose he could be a good salesman if he'd try.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Does he have a car?
Speaker 11 (18:32):
Told me it was in the shop being repaired. Came
up in a taxi cabin. Let see, it's a great
one for taxis. Ralph is big chipper too. Somebody else's money.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
MM.
Speaker 9 (18:42):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 11 (18:43):
I guess I sound a little.
Speaker 9 (18:44):
Bitter, don't I?
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Mm?
Speaker 11 (18:45):
What was my own doing? I knew it was wild
when I married him. I thought he'd change. He did,
He got worse.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
How long you been divorced a little over.
Speaker 9 (18:54):
Two years now?
Speaker 7 (18:56):
Oh?
Speaker 11 (18:56):
I waited till he got out of prison. Thought that
was my duty, have a home ready for him to come.
Back to Yes, m'am, wouldn't hold down a job, didn't
even try well. We'd managed without him while he was
in San Quentin. I knew we could do it again.
He's supposed to support Joanne. I haven't seen a penny
in six months. Always brings her a present though. That's
(19:17):
his way of trying to get him a good side.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
You know, any of his friends who might help us
look at him.
Speaker 11 (19:22):
His friends aren't my friend, Sergeant.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Yes, ma'am, but you.
Speaker 9 (19:26):
Won't have any trouble finding him.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Well.
Speaker 11 (19:28):
He'll be here tomorrow. Oh, it's Joanne's birthday. He'll bring
her something.
Speaker 9 (19:34):
He'll be here.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Mm mm.
Speaker 9 (19:36):
I suppose he does love her in his way. Maybe
he loves me too.
Speaker 11 (19:42):
Maybe I love him. I was even thinking about us
getting back together if it was true about his new
selling job.
Speaker 9 (19:52):
I guess you never.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Learned to you and you're sure he'll be here tomorrow.
Speaker 11 (19:56):
He want miss joe Anne's birthday. Ralph's a very thought
for father. Not the kind of man who forgets birthdays
and anniversaries. I see, might forget to pay his bills,
but that's different. Yes, m it'll be quite a birthday
present for Joeanne.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
On it. What's it?
Speaker 11 (20:12):
Her father getting arrested a cain MM.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
The next day, Thursday, April fourteenth, we staked out Missus
Maple's house three thirty five pm. A taxi cab built
up and Ralph Maple got out. He was carrying a
large package.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Get the change. Thanks you my quick, Ralph Maple.
Speaker 7 (20:36):
MM.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Police officers just standstill.
Speaker 6 (20:38):
What's going on?
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Yeah, he's like Joe, uh, let's go.
Speaker 6 (20:42):
Oh wait a minute, can't you tell me what this
is all about?
Speaker 1 (20:44):
We'll let you tell us downtown.
Speaker 6 (20:45):
Well, you can't arrest a man without some reason.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Where were you yesterday? What time?
Speaker 5 (20:49):
Let's start with the morning, got up, had breakfast, went
shopping where the apartment stores, had to buy a present
from my daughter.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
This is it right here? I take you all morning?
Did it? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (20:58):
Most of it?
Speaker 1 (20:59):
I can and getting tired.
Speaker 6 (21:00):
Okay, just tell me what it is you wanna know.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
We wanna know about a lady who's in the hospital. Lady, yeah,
somebody slugged her yesterday.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
You think it was me? She does. Let's find out
if she's right. Come on there, Okay, she's right, alright,
let's go.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
I didn't mean to hit her very hard. It was
hard enough, just wanted to get her out of my way.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Alright, get it? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (21:26):
Hey, wait a minute, huh huh? What about this? What
about what my little girl's President's her birthday?
Speaker 1 (21:32):
You know what? Can I give it to her and
you stay where you are?
Speaker 6 (21:36):
What about one of you guys?
Speaker 1 (21:36):
You could take up to the door. E it's not hot.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
You can see for yourself to store a rap and see. Yeah,
I paid for it myself with whose money. At least
she can do or see that she gets it. Yeh, alright,
go ahead, hey, uh be right back.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
M sure appreciate it.
Speaker 13 (21:58):
She's just a little girl six today, wouldn't understand.
Speaker 6 (22:01):
If there wasn't a present from daddy.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (22:03):
I never missed a birthday, even when I was in
the joint.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
I saw to it that she got something. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
Wife divorced me a couple of years back. I guess
I can't blame her, Yeah, not for divorcing me. I
had it come and she shouldn't have got so custody. Though,
girl needs a father. Everybody talks about how boys need
their old man the way I see the girl needs
'em more.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
It's so sure, you know, there's a kind of help us.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
Yeah, I was on a kind of herd Joanne. That's
the only reason I'd done it. Little girls entitled are
pretty things. I couldn't afford him, not with the kind
of dough that I made. Yeah, I had to get
the money somewhere. I never stole much, just enough to
buy her a few presents. Figured if I didn't, she
turned against me, being divorced and all. I figured I
had to do more than the regular fathers. Yeah, I
shouldn't have given door a sole custody.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
He wasn't fair.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
She has me come around and visit whenever I want.
But it's sort of like saying Joanne doesn't belong to
me anymore. Judge claimed I wasn't a fit father.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
How do you like that?
Speaker 13 (22:51):
Just because a man does a little time, everybody has it.
Speaker 6 (22:52):
In for him afterward.
Speaker 13 (22:54):
Yeah, the idea is saying I'm not a fit father.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
You know something evil? HM proved him right.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
The story you have just heard is true. The names
were changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
On August sixth, trial was held in Department ninety eight,
Superior Court of the State of California in and for
the County of Los Angeles. In a moment the results
of that trial, Ralph Foster Maple was tried and convicted
(23:40):
of burglary in the first degree, assault with intent to
do great bodily harm and receive sentence as prescribed by law.
Burglary in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment for
a period of not less than five years. Assault with
intent to do great bodily harm is punishable by imprisonment
for not more than five years in the state penitentiary.
(24:11):
You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases
from official files. Technical advice comes from the Office of
Chief of Police W. H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department.
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