November 15, 2025 • 29 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 (00:07):
The story you are about to hear is true, only
the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
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Speaker 3 (01:21):
It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Dragnet the documented drama of an actual crime. For the
next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department,
you will travel step by step on the side of
the law through an actual case. Transcribed from official police
violence from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet
is the story of your police force in action?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Was Tuos the April fourth, it was warmer, Los Angeles.
We're working in Nagua. Shout a homicide detail. My partner's
Ben Romero.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
The boss' is Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives. My name
is Friday.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
It was ten minutes past six pm when I got
to the basement of the city hall.
Speaker 6 (02:10):
Carpool over here at Joe.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
Hi, Sad Brown will be down in a minute, happen.
We'll follow us out later. Okay, no contact yet, No,
they're still waiting. You take care of the local broadcasts
already going out. They'll put the descriptions on the air
every hour.
Speaker 7 (02:33):
How's luck to you? Now?
Speaker 5 (02:34):
I don't know. There's nothing more we can do to
make a contact. Oh there's Thatad Brown. Now you wanna
squeeze over them? Ah?
Speaker 6 (02:40):
Yeah, sure, Hi, Chief, Hi, let's go.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
Might as well take Beverly Beaulevart. I bet, I mean
it's as fast as any you go up to address there, Friday.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Yeah, it's six seventeen Paris Avenues out by Echo Parker
who's covering the house now, rawsll Pokelly or staked out
in a private verage across the street from the house.
Donahuan we wiseman around the inside the Castle place.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
A smoke.
Speaker 7 (03:04):
Mm, thanks, I'd mean one one, Joe.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
You know, if you got the story from the maide
of the Kestle's house, that right and check it out. Yeah,
I'm pretty sure she's telling it straight. If anything, something's wrong,
I don't think she's got a hand in it.
Speaker 8 (03:23):
Hey are a bit o Huh.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
You got to call about three this afternoon, m two
minutes after we went right out and talked from Maine.
Speaker 8 (03:30):
How'd she tell her?
Speaker 4 (03:31):
I said she was fixing dinner about two this afternoon
when the doorbell rang. She answered it, and a young
man in the gray suit asked for Missus Kestle by name.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
He told him made it was an emergency. H well,
my maid said.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Missus Castle came to the door, and the man identified
himself as a police officer, told Missus Kessel her husband
had been hurting an accident and she was to come
right away.
Speaker 8 (03:49):
Man show his identification.
Speaker 5 (03:50):
Maid said no, he said, Missus Kessele just took it
for grund. He was a tough Yeah, go ahead, Missus
Castle got.
Speaker 8 (03:56):
Her coat and left.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
With him man.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
About an hour later, her husband, Professor Castle, got home.
He wasn't hurt, He hadn't been in an accident. He
hadn't seen his wife son.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
As he heard it from the maid, what had happened,
He got on the phone, called, uh, what's the background.
The husband is Professor Kessel. He's supposed to have quite
a name.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
He's a professor of philosophy out at Simmons College, at
a small school out in.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
Near Glendale, Oh. Devout man, president of one of the
local synagogues.
Speaker 8 (04:19):
Sure about the maid story, huh.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Sure as we can be. She gave us a good
description of the man who picked up in his castle.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
I got it right here. Yeah, yeah, white male American,
twenty five to thirty years old, six people in seventy
to eighty pounds, great suit grade at boone shoes. But
the car he used late monos evlet, dark blue, white
side was that's on the maid to gus, he didn't
notice the last He bet her cut over the Westlake.
That'll take us past the deach other on.
Speaker 8 (04:46):
This Professor Kessel, see, you've been told what to do.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
Yeah, he's been briefed. We've had a couple of men
with him since this thing broke, taking it pretty hard.
Speaker 8 (04:53):
How old a man is he?
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Oh there's late thirties, wouldn't.
Speaker 7 (04:57):
You say so, Ben, pretty close to forty nine? N
squa two kids.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
In the family, just about school age boy and a girl.
Speaker 7 (05:03):
And it's the next one not to be very sad.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Innue.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Yeah, there's a big grayhouse down next year for a
white trimp.
Speaker 8 (05:11):
Do 'em part too close to the house.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
I start to do it right here, don I say? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:16):
What time?
Speaker 7 (05:17):
You got a fifteen most guard?
Speaker 5 (05:21):
Where's the garage or men are covering from? Can you
see beyond that light pole there the white stucco place
or uh? Next one years to cancel on. Doesn't look
very rich. Neither did the Kessels.
Speaker 6 (05:32):
I don't think they got much money.
Speaker 8 (05:44):
Hi, donnah come in, but the husband. Yeah, I just
got a phone call a couple of minutes ago. I
listened on the extension. Who called tried to trace at
the guard wouldn't stay in the line on what'd you say?
Tell the cops to stay away?
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Said at twice.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Tell the cops to stay away, said, if they don't
kill her.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
The Kessel house had already been placed under strict surveillance,
and the victim's husband instructed not to contact the abductors
without knowledge of the police. To the working detective, there's
only one rule to go by when the job of
solving an.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
Abduction is put in his hands.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Find the victim as fast as possible, get the victim
to safety, then go after the criminal.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
It's not an easy job.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
The responsibility isn't the light, and the outcome isn't always successful.
If you press too hard, the abductor gets brightened and
kills the victim. If you don't press hard enough, the
criminal has more time to work for his payoff and
than escape. Somewhere between the two was the right answer,
if we had to find it. Six thirty pm, special
details of men were ordered out to the bus depots,
(06:55):
the railroad terminals, in the airports. Roadblocks were set up
at all main arteries leading into out of the city.
Every branch post office in Los Angeles was covered to
watch for possible ransom. That it's addressed to Professor Kessel.
Six forty pm we met in the Kessel's living room.
Speaker 8 (07:10):
Gee Wiseman.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
Professor Kessel be down in a minute, says he's sorry
to keep you waiting and feeling him better for little phone.
Speaker 8 (07:16):
Call about his wife shook him up a bit.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
How about those people came in a few minutes ago?
Were they relatives I have? Doesn't of them? They're waiting
back in the kitchen. They know about was dis castle.
They didn't they'd been invited to dinner. They didn't know
anything was wrong un till they got here. Kessel lastmus
stay for the meal. Wants to keep up appearances for
the sake of his kids. Doesn't want them to worry
about their mother. The dinner that important to him. Tonight's
the start of the pesa, when the Jewish religion passover.
Speaker 8 (07:41):
It's one of the big holidays.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
When they started off with his dinner, tonight's that.
Speaker 6 (07:46):
The weak Yeah, big dinner.
Speaker 7 (07:48):
They called him saviors. Tonight they have the first savor.
Speaker 8 (07:50):
Good. Sorry to keep you waiting.
Speaker 7 (07:53):
How are you please shuit down.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
We don't like to intrude on your privacy, Professor Kessel,
but I think you can see it's necessary.
Speaker 7 (07:59):
Yes, of course, I'm very grateful. There's anything at.
Speaker 5 (08:03):
All I can do to help.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Do you have any ideas who might be responsible for
abducting your wife?
Speaker 7 (08:08):
That's what has me so confused.
Speaker 9 (08:10):
How do you mean, Well, I'm sure I have people
who don't like me, who don't like us, But someone
who would take my wife who says they'll kill her.
Speaker 7 (08:19):
No, I don't know who it could be.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
How about the voice and the telephone, Professor, did you
recognize it at all?
Speaker 9 (08:26):
No, it didn't sound like anyone I knew. He talked
so fast I could hardly understand the man.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Do you think the person who took your wife has
some other motive besides holding her for ransom?
Speaker 7 (08:36):
I can't understand that either.
Speaker 9 (08:38):
If it's money they want, why go after a teacher's
why fifteen.
Speaker 7 (08:41):
Hundred dollars in the bank, that's all.
Speaker 6 (08:42):
I have that in this house.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
How about your immediate family, Professor, Well, my wife, Ruth.
People have quite a bit.
Speaker 9 (08:51):
I guess you would call them rich, but it's their money,
not mine.
Speaker 10 (08:57):
I can't understand why anyone would do it, poor Ruth.
Speaker 11 (09:02):
Anything happened, shoulder, Ulbert, But alright, but sorry, that's alright,
we understand.
Speaker 7 (09:14):
Yes, Bertha, come in, would you please, gentleman?
Speaker 6 (09:18):
This is my sister Bertha. She's here with her husband.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
For the sator.
Speaker 7 (09:22):
How are you mm Elbert to flay sometimes it's.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Time to start to kick.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Oh, yes, alright, Bertha, you tell everyone to come to
the table up writing.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
The officers will have the first with it.
Speaker 10 (09:34):
Yes, birthday, you please set the places.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Say, we don't mean to intrude here.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
We can wait outside while you have your dinner.
Speaker 9 (09:43):
Oh no, please, I'd be honest to have you sit
at the table with us. No one in the house
should be without food tonight, for sator, for passover.
Speaker 8 (09:51):
It's the law.
Speaker 7 (09:52):
How's that saying? Oh, excuse me, the Hebrew law.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
Would you come this way please?
Speaker 5 (10:01):
He turned and let us down the hallway into the
dining room. A long white cloth covered the table.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
In the center was a brightly polyshed brass candelabra holding
four lighted tapers. There were a few platters of food
already set out, and at the head of the table,
where Professor Kessel.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
Stood and opened the prayer book in order not to
add to the alarm.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
And there's two small children in the absence of their mother.
Professor Kessel introduced us as friends from Simmons College.
Speaker 9 (10:26):
Uh, this is mister Brown, mister Friday, mister Wiseman, mister Romero.
Speaker 7 (10:31):
What do you do, of course? Now sit down, please
sit down. M Yeah, so smell's good.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
Yeah yeah, if you got.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
Enough room there, Joe, I'll time see how does it work, wiseman.
Should we join in the prayers?
Speaker 7 (10:47):
Not unless you speak Hebrew?
Speaker 12 (10:49):
Oh if I thought any hello hanomelall by a pre
I'll go and.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
Any hin alarm, I.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Sure me call arm.
Speaker 7 (11:03):
But I'm a mono.
Speaker 8 (11:04):
McCall law shine because he shown no but mis my song.
Speaker 13 (11:08):
La aniello haino my.
Speaker 12 (11:13):
Car, my game was my nameless sins I am haga twice.
Speaker 8 (11:18):
The man here says, yeah, all right.
Speaker 13 (11:32):
Franny tunky, this is lazy to just got a call
from the mark.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
Yeah, you're brought on the body a few minutes ago.
Speaker 13 (11:38):
They checked the description.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
Yeah, I think it's missus Kestle. I went back into
the dining room and told Chief Brown about the car.
He told Professor Kessel.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
He said he'd finished as quickly as possible so as
not to align the children, and then go with us
to the more to check the identity of the body.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
The prayers continued, along with the dinner.
Speaker 8 (12:00):
A lot more on your day.
Speaker 12 (12:01):
Follow son albaro demit's right called DIGNA vehicle called a
shotahfo shon a dis rival a shot off de shoon
a barber and a fire.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
John.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Yes, Papa man.
Speaker 7 (12:24):
Is don A Halala Nicole.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Hallay los Sabaha Halley los A o' clean harmde to
masore Hala Laha said.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Hello, Maso, sure you.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
Cold, Papa?
Speaker 6 (12:53):
It wasn't wise man.
Speaker 7 (12:54):
What was the boy's name? It's part of the ceremony.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
During the meal, he's supposed to ask his father certain
questions about the past us over and then the father
answers him. I guess it was too much for Kessel.
Speaker 7 (13:03):
F Brookie mun Would the boy ask him?
Speaker 6 (13:06):
Why is this night different from any other night?
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Seven thirty pm Sergeants Wiseman and donnah hosted on duty
at the house while Chief Brown, Ben and I drove
Professor Kessel to the County morg On the way. We
called in and checked with Captain Steed of Homicide. He
told us there's been no reports on missus Kessel. Seven
forty three pm, Ben and I took Kessel to the
basement of the Hall of Justice, County morg.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
This way, Professor, Oh, yes, you sure you feel up
to it?
Speaker 7 (13:46):
Thank you?
Speaker 8 (13:47):
I'll be all right.
Speaker 7 (13:49):
Cold in here, yes, sir, I thought, it's back here.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
Okay, chie, this is Professor Kessel Archie I do this way.
Speaker 7 (14:01):
Chained to a number five.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
I called over as soon as they brought it in.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Yeah, thank you. Found the body of their Avenue nineteen
the river bed crossing the auto cam.
Speaker 7 (14:08):
No identify kay, no, here we are all right.
Speaker 10 (14:19):
Professor, God, God, professor, No, it's not my wife.
Speaker 7 (14:49):
It seemed as if both the.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
Victim and whoever had taken her advanced completely.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
At eleven thirty Captain Steve Ben and I went across
the street for a cup of coffee in the Friday
Egg Sandwich.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
We got back to the the office of ten minutes
to midnight, still no word. At two am, then and
I drove back to the Kestle house to re leave
Donna own Wiseman. We stood our watch in the living room.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
In the bedroom directly above we could hear Professor Kessel
pacing the floor most of the night. At five am,
Captain Steve called. He told us a letter addressed to
the Professor who has.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
Been reported at the Arcade Post office.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
As soon as the outside of the anvelope had been
photographed and checked for Prince, it would be brought out.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
For Professor Kessel to open.
Speaker 7 (15:32):
Fun. Yeah, okay, chief, good morning, Hiley.
Speaker 6 (15:40):
Hi Joe.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
In here? Did you lift anything off the envelope?
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Lely nothing we can use No, I'd have him all
up in the letter.
Speaker 7 (15:50):
Good morning.
Speaker 6 (15:51):
You brought the letter.
Speaker 8 (15:52):
It's right here, Professor Kessel, I would like you to
stand by what we opened it. This is Lieutenant jonesmart
crime left. You'll check the note for finger.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
Oh, yes, ah, I can get you a letter open.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
I think this one over here.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
Yeah, that's all right. I could use my pocket and
I think you wanna grab one corner of the paper banner,
just the tip of the corner.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
He was just thinking that, okay, and.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
Then have to open up and pin down these corners.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
Yeah, what is it?
Speaker 7 (16:24):
Friend?
Speaker 5 (16:26):
In the words you put together with small printed letters,
it all seem to be the same kind of typeface
letters will probably clip from.
Speaker 7 (16:34):
A book then paste it together to form these words.
Speaker 6 (16:37):
Who sent it?
Speaker 7 (16:37):
What does it say?
Speaker 5 (16:39):
Uh? Can I thanksing? You wanna see your wife alive?
Have thirty thousand small bills? Tonight tell police I kill her?
Instructions following mail no signatien thirty thousand.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
I haven't got the money.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
I can't get it, you'll kill her.
Speaker 7 (17:00):
Mister Kessel is still a chance.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
But what can I do?
Speaker 11 (17:04):
I haven't got that much money, he says, Look.
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Killer, what can we do?
Speaker 5 (17:08):
What we been doing? Yes?
Speaker 2 (17:11):
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Speaker 5 (18:34):
Wednesday, seven am. With the aid of an iodine fume,
gun Lee Jones checked the extortion letter.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
From Missus Kessel's abductor for fingerprints and other marks of identification.
Speaker 5 (18:43):
He found nothing.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
The piece of paper on which the cutout printed letters
had been pasted was of a common variety sold in
most stationary and five and ten cents stars. Jones photographed
both sides of the envelope in the letter eleven am,
Stone on word. None of the special details had anything
to report. At one forty five pm, another letter was
(19:05):
delivered to the house.
Speaker 5 (19:06):
The envelope was open and the letter removed carefully and
pinned down at the corners.
Speaker 7 (19:10):
But together the name is the lasting.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
Yeah tonight, eleven o'clock. Come alone your car, Tell the police,
I kill her.
Speaker 7 (19:21):
Is there more right?
Speaker 5 (19:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Drive corner Lake Shore, Charter Street, wrap money, brown paper,
small bills, Come alone your car, put package by fireplug,
then leave.
Speaker 5 (19:35):
Tell police and I kill her. No signature.
Speaker 6 (19:39):
I hasn't got the money, Waite.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
Sure and charter.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
That shouldn't be too hard for us to catch. Sounds
pretty much like an amateur makes a touch if.
Speaker 7 (19:47):
He's green, a little scary easy.
Speaker 5 (19:49):
He's scared to make kill her.
Speaker 7 (19:50):
Not if we reach him, how can I get the money?
Speaker 5 (19:54):
You won't need any If a dummy package's made up.
There will be a single dollar bill inside to get
newspapers cut the side.
Speaker 8 (20:00):
That's currency. That's what she will deliver.
Speaker 9 (20:03):
But when he gets the package, when he finds out
it's not the money, what's he going to think?
Speaker 5 (20:06):
We'll explain it to him.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Starting at ten o'clock that night, more than a dozen
cars from the Detective Bureau circle the area around Lakeside
Avenue in Charter Street, keeping a distance ranging.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
From three quarters to a four mile away so as
not to scare off the abductor.
Speaker 6 (20:24):
Some of the cars were parked.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
In service stations, some in private driveways. The neighborhood was
located in the heart of a new veterans housing project.
For a full five blocks in either direction, there were
no buildings of any kind where we could keep an
eye on the package of fake ransom money. The owner
of one of the completed houses nearest the spot on
Charter Street was contacted, and he agreed to let us
use his home.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
As a lookout point for the steakhout.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
That night nine pm, Ben and I took up our
positions on the roof of the lookout house. We were
equipped with two pair of knife binoculars and the walkie talking.
Speaker 7 (20:59):
I could think of a few other places I'd rather
spend the nine.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
How well can you see that intersection from here?
Speaker 7 (21:07):
Comes in fine? With these binoculars. The guy shows we
ought to see him.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
Yeah, I better check with the captain again. What time
you got nine twenty five? Where's the skipper puck private
driveway in your charter?
Speaker 6 (21:20):
And Heyworths.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Friday to one oh five k, Friday to one oh
five k, come in, go ahead. Got a clear view
of the intersection, nothing yet outside of cramp legs.
Speaker 7 (21:36):
You're reading me?
Speaker 13 (21:37):
Okay, got your old fine over.
Speaker 5 (21:43):
Roger standing by pure lucky. My kid can't see me now.
Why you'd never understand? Why should his father be sitting
on top of somebody's.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
Roof late at night? He'd never get in.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
We waited. Ten o'clock came ten thirty, exactly eleven pm.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
As we watched through our night binoculars, we saw Professor
Kessel drive up to the designated location five blocks away,
placed the fake package of ransom money by the fire
hydrant near the intersection, and then drive away. Eleven thirty.
We waited midnight, two am, nothing happened. The package was
still lying for the fire hydrant, undisturbed. Captain Steed checked
(22:23):
with us periodically on the walkie talking. At three thirty am,
we were still waiting. At a few minutes past six am,
Professor Kessel was directed to return to the intersection, pick
up the package, and drive back to his home. His
wife's subductor had failed to show. Maybe the suspect had
sensed the trap.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Maybe he had no idea of showing up in the
first place. Maybe Missus Kessel was dead. We didn't know.
Ten am Thursday, no further contact from the abductor.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
A special detail from Homicide, including Ben and I were
ordered on a door to door canvas of the general
area around Lakeside Avenue in Charter Street. After seven hours
of bringing doorbells and asking questions, we came across from
mister Harold Olander, one of the longtime residents of the.
Speaker 5 (23:03):
Silver Lake area. We showed him the general description of
Missus Kessel's subductor.
Speaker 8 (23:08):
Yeah, that could be Thompson.
Speaker 7 (23:10):
I don't know for sure.
Speaker 6 (23:11):
Though where did you see this tom flist under?
Speaker 3 (23:14):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (23:14):
I saw him lots of times.
Speaker 8 (23:15):
He wrenched that cottage of mine down the street.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
There, you see the light one just this Thompson have
a car Thompson, Yeah, yeah, new one.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
I wonder if you could describe it Chevrolet, nice looking
blue color.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
I think could be.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
You know, is Thompson in the house now, mister Orlander?
Speaker 7 (23:32):
Nope, So I'm drive away over this morning.
Speaker 8 (23:35):
I can show you the house.
Speaker 7 (23:37):
If it's official police business, it is.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
Come on, then, I got the key right here. Cottage
just down the block there.
Speaker 7 (23:45):
See the win I mean the white one.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
Yes.
Speaker 7 (23:48):
How long has Thomson been in the house to reach tomorrow?
Speaker 5 (23:51):
You noticed anything unusual about him? Mm?
Speaker 8 (23:54):
Some special comes and goes at odd hours. But then
a lot of people do. I don't fried just out right.
Speaker 7 (24:02):
Here, cause you usually keep all the blinds drawn. Yeah,
now that you mention it, a lot of people do.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
I just.
Speaker 6 (24:16):
I wanna check back in the kitchen bend. Yeah, huh,
look at the living room in sergeant. Yeah, I'm a.
Speaker 7 (24:25):
Stick a finisher. That's funny.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
You sure you didn't see anybody else in this house
besides Thompson?
Speaker 8 (24:32):
No, No, he's the only one looks like it.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
Jill HM found this woman's first step in one of
the kitchen cabinets.
Speaker 7 (24:38):
This sales slip was in the.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
Perth and see miss Albert Kessel through a phone here,
mister Landers.
Speaker 8 (24:44):
Uh out in the hall, right.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
You just still connect it? Yeah, Jill, I'll check back
in the bedroom.
Speaker 7 (24:54):
Play your phone it right then?
Speaker 5 (24:56):
No, you better stay with me, mister Orlander, if you're
well alright, City Hall homicide, homicide. Do you any idea
where this Thompson is now?
Speaker 7 (25:08):
Mastrol? No, he comes and goes.
Speaker 6 (25:11):
I don't like the prize.
Speaker 8 (25:15):
Homicides.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
This Friday skipper, we got one for you.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
I've got one for you.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Hmm.
Speaker 8 (25:20):
Missus Kessel, she's been fopped.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Missus Kessel was unharmed. She had no idea where she
had been or why she had been suddenly released.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
All additional information which she could furnish on the suspect
was immediately relayed to the entire state in a APB.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
Two hours later, at a.
Speaker 4 (25:36):
Neighborhood durais Thompson patri and I we got his license number.
We ran it through DMV and found the car was
registered in the name of Charles Patrell one oh one one,
five Green Oak Drive, seven pm.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
Yeah, police officers, George Control.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Yes, come in please. I knew you'd find him. I
kept talking, but I knew you'd find you.
Speaker 7 (26:13):
Give him suffer. I'm his wife.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
I talked to him.
Speaker 7 (26:18):
There won't be any trouble. No trouble, Whorzy. You got
to understand, he didn't know what he was doing.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
We needed money.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
He didn't know what he was doing. I'll have to
search the house, ma'am, Joy to.
Speaker 7 (26:44):
Get your hands behind your head.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
I don't have a gun, all right, Ben, behind your back.
Speaker 13 (26:53):
You didn't know what you were doing too.
Speaker 7 (26:56):
We needed the money. I thought it'd work. What I
do wrong?
Speaker 5 (26:59):
Come?
Speaker 7 (27:00):
Should the work have planned? All that?
Speaker 6 (27:03):
Where do I make a mistake?
Speaker 5 (27:05):
When you thought of it?
Speaker 1 (27:13):
The story you've just heard was true, only the names
were changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
On August, second trial was held in Superior Court, Department
eighty sixth, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California.
In a moment the results of that trial.
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It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.
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Speaker 2 (28:20):
Charles Catrill was tried and convicted of kidnapping and received
the sentences prescribed by law. He is now serving his
term in the state penitentiary. You have just heard Dragnet,
a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice
for Dragnet comes from the Office of Chief of Police W. A. Wharton,
(28:42):
Los Angeles Police Department.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Fatima Cigarettes, the best of all long cigarettes, has brought
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Speaker 7 (28:52):
Transcribed from Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Next here Sarah Berner in Sarah's Private Paper on NBC
The story you are about to hear is true, only
the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, brings you drag Net.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide detail. A
woman has disappeared, taken from her home by a man
posing as a police officer. Your job find her. If
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(00:53):
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(01:15):
of all long cigarettes. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Dragnet the documented drama of an actual crime. For the
next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department,
you will travel step by step on the side of
the law through an actual case. Transcribed from official police
violence from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet
is the story of your police force in action?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Was Tuos the April fourth, it was warmer, Los Angeles.
We're working in Nagua. Shout a homicide detail. My partner's
Ben Romero.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
The boss' is Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives. My name
is Friday.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
It was ten minutes past six pm when I got
to the basement of the city hall.
Speaker 6 (02:10):
Carpool over here at Joe.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
Hi, Sad Brown will be down in a minute, happen.
We'll follow us out later. Okay, no contact yet, No,
they're still waiting. You take care of the local broadcasts
already going out. They'll put the descriptions on the air
every hour.
Speaker 7 (02:33):
How's luck to you? Now?
Speaker 5 (02:34):
I don't know. There's nothing more we can do to
make a contact. Oh there's Thatad Brown. Now you wanna
squeeze over them? Ah?
Speaker 6 (02:40):
Yeah, sure, Hi, Chief, Hi, let's go.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
Might as well take Beverly Beaulevart. I bet, I mean
it's as fast as any you go up to address there, Friday.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Yeah, it's six seventeen Paris Avenues out by Echo Parker
who's covering the house now, rawsll Pokelly or staked out
in a private verage across the street from the house.
Donahuan we wiseman around the inside the Castle place.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
A smoke.
Speaker 7 (03:04):
Mm, thanks, I'd mean one one, Joe.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
You know, if you got the story from the maide
of the Kestle's house, that right and check it out. Yeah,
I'm pretty sure she's telling it straight. If anything, something's wrong,
I don't think she's got a hand in it.
Speaker 8 (03:23):
Hey are a bit o Huh.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
You got to call about three this afternoon, m two
minutes after we went right out and talked from Maine.
Speaker 8 (03:30):
How'd she tell her?
Speaker 4 (03:31):
I said she was fixing dinner about two this afternoon
when the doorbell rang. She answered it, and a young
man in the gray suit asked for Missus Kestle by name.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
He told him made it was an emergency. H well,
my maid said.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Missus Castle came to the door, and the man identified
himself as a police officer, told Missus Kessel her husband
had been hurting an accident and she was to come
right away.
Speaker 8 (03:49):
Man show his identification.
Speaker 5 (03:50):
Maid said no, he said, Missus Kessele just took it
for grund. He was a tough Yeah, go ahead, Missus
Castle got.
Speaker 8 (03:56):
Her coat and left.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
With him man.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
About an hour later, her husband, Professor Castle, got home.
He wasn't hurt, He hadn't been in an accident. He
hadn't seen his wife son.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
As he heard it from the maid, what had happened,
He got on the phone, called, uh, what's the background.
The husband is Professor Kessel. He's supposed to have quite
a name.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
He's a professor of philosophy out at Simmons College, at
a small school out in.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
Near Glendale, Oh. Devout man, president of one of the
local synagogues.
Speaker 8 (04:19):
Sure about the maid story, huh.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Sure as we can be. She gave us a good
description of the man who picked up in his castle.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
I got it right here. Yeah, yeah, white male American,
twenty five to thirty years old, six people in seventy
to eighty pounds, great suit grade at boone shoes. But
the car he used late monos evlet, dark blue, white
side was that's on the maid to gus, he didn't
notice the last He bet her cut over the Westlake.
That'll take us past the deach other on.
Speaker 8 (04:46):
This Professor Kessel, see, you've been told what to do.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
Yeah, he's been briefed. We've had a couple of men
with him since this thing broke, taking it pretty hard.
Speaker 8 (04:53):
How old a man is he?
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Oh there's late thirties, wouldn't.
Speaker 7 (04:57):
You say so, Ben, pretty close to forty nine? N
squa two kids.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
In the family, just about school age boy and a girl.
Speaker 7 (05:03):
And it's the next one not to be very sad.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Innue.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Yeah, there's a big grayhouse down next year for a
white trimp.
Speaker 8 (05:11):
Do 'em part too close to the house.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
I start to do it right here, don I say? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:16):
What time?
Speaker 7 (05:17):
You got a fifteen most guard?
Speaker 5 (05:21):
Where's the garage or men are covering from? Can you
see beyond that light pole there the white stucco place
or uh? Next one years to cancel on. Doesn't look
very rich. Neither did the Kessels.
Speaker 6 (05:32):
I don't think they got much money.
Speaker 8 (05:44):
Hi, donnah come in, but the husband. Yeah, I just
got a phone call a couple of minutes ago. I
listened on the extension. Who called tried to trace at
the guard wouldn't stay in the line on what'd you say?
Tell the cops to stay away?
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Said at twice.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Tell the cops to stay away, said, if they don't
kill her.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
The Kessel house had already been placed under strict surveillance,
and the victim's husband instructed not to contact the abductors
without knowledge of the police. To the working detective, there's
only one rule to go by when the job of
solving an.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
Abduction is put in his hands.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Find the victim as fast as possible, get the victim
to safety, then go after the criminal.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
It's not an easy job.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
The responsibility isn't the light, and the outcome isn't always successful.
If you press too hard, the abductor gets brightened and
kills the victim. If you don't press hard enough, the
criminal has more time to work for his payoff and
than escape. Somewhere between the two was the right answer,
if we had to find it. Six thirty pm, special
details of men were ordered out to the bus depots,
(06:55):
the railroad terminals, in the airports. Roadblocks were set up
at all main arteries leading into out of the city.
Every branch post office in Los Angeles was covered to
watch for possible ransom. That it's addressed to Professor Kessel.
Six forty pm we met in the Kessel's living room.
Speaker 8 (07:10):
Gee Wiseman.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
Professor Kessel be down in a minute, says he's sorry
to keep you waiting and feeling him better for little phone.
Speaker 8 (07:16):
Call about his wife shook him up a bit.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
How about those people came in a few minutes ago?
Were they relatives I have? Doesn't of them? They're waiting
back in the kitchen. They know about was dis castle.
They didn't they'd been invited to dinner. They didn't know
anything was wrong un till they got here. Kessel lastmus
stay for the meal. Wants to keep up appearances for
the sake of his kids. Doesn't want them to worry
about their mother. The dinner that important to him. Tonight's
the start of the pesa, when the Jewish religion passover.
Speaker 8 (07:41):
It's one of the big holidays.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
When they started off with his dinner, tonight's that.
Speaker 6 (07:46):
The weak Yeah, big dinner.
Speaker 7 (07:48):
They called him saviors. Tonight they have the first savor.
Speaker 8 (07:50):
Good. Sorry to keep you waiting.
Speaker 7 (07:53):
How are you please shuit down.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
We don't like to intrude on your privacy, Professor Kessel,
but I think you can see it's necessary.
Speaker 7 (07:59):
Yes, of course, I'm very grateful. There's anything at.
Speaker 5 (08:03):
All I can do to help.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Do you have any ideas who might be responsible for
abducting your wife?
Speaker 7 (08:08):
That's what has me so confused.
Speaker 9 (08:10):
How do you mean, Well, I'm sure I have people
who don't like me, who don't like us, But someone
who would take my wife who says they'll kill her.
Speaker 7 (08:19):
No, I don't know who it could be.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
How about the voice and the telephone, Professor, did you
recognize it at all?
Speaker 9 (08:26):
No, it didn't sound like anyone I knew. He talked
so fast I could hardly understand the man.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Do you think the person who took your wife has
some other motive besides holding her for ransom?
Speaker 7 (08:36):
I can't understand that either.
Speaker 9 (08:38):
If it's money they want, why go after a teacher's
why fifteen.
Speaker 7 (08:41):
Hundred dollars in the bank, that's all.
Speaker 6 (08:42):
I have that in this house.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
How about your immediate family, Professor, Well, my wife, Ruth.
People have quite a bit.
Speaker 9 (08:51):
I guess you would call them rich, but it's their money,
not mine.
Speaker 10 (08:57):
I can't understand why anyone would do it, poor Ruth.
Speaker 11 (09:02):
Anything happened, shoulder, Ulbert, But alright, but sorry, that's alright,
we understand.
Speaker 7 (09:14):
Yes, Bertha, come in, would you please, gentleman?
Speaker 6 (09:18):
This is my sister Bertha. She's here with her husband.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
For the sator.
Speaker 7 (09:22):
How are you mm Elbert to flay sometimes it's.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Time to start to kick.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Oh, yes, alright, Bertha, you tell everyone to come to
the table up writing.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
The officers will have the first with it.
Speaker 10 (09:34):
Yes, birthday, you please set the places.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Say, we don't mean to intrude here.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
We can wait outside while you have your dinner.
Speaker 9 (09:43):
Oh no, please, I'd be honest to have you sit
at the table with us. No one in the house
should be without food tonight, for sator, for passover.
Speaker 8 (09:51):
It's the law.
Speaker 7 (09:52):
How's that saying? Oh, excuse me, the Hebrew law.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
Would you come this way please?
Speaker 5 (10:01):
He turned and let us down the hallway into the
dining room. A long white cloth covered the table.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
In the center was a brightly polyshed brass candelabra holding
four lighted tapers. There were a few platters of food
already set out, and at the head of the table,
where Professor Kessel.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
Stood and opened the prayer book in order not to
add to the alarm.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
And there's two small children in the absence of their mother.
Professor Kessel introduced us as friends from Simmons College.
Speaker 9 (10:26):
Uh, this is mister Brown, mister Friday, mister Wiseman, mister Romero.
Speaker 7 (10:31):
What do you do, of course? Now sit down, please
sit down. M Yeah, so smell's good.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
Yeah yeah, if you got.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
Enough room there, Joe, I'll time see how does it work, wiseman.
Should we join in the prayers?
Speaker 7 (10:47):
Not unless you speak Hebrew?
Speaker 12 (10:49):
Oh if I thought any hello hanomelall by a pre
I'll go and.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
Any hin alarm, I.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Sure me call arm.
Speaker 7 (11:03):
But I'm a mono.
Speaker 8 (11:04):
McCall law shine because he shown no but mis my song.
Speaker 13 (11:08):
La aniello haino my.
Speaker 12 (11:13):
Car, my game was my nameless sins I am haga twice.
Speaker 8 (11:18):
The man here says, yeah, all right.
Speaker 13 (11:32):
Franny tunky, this is lazy to just got a call
from the mark.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
Yeah, you're brought on the body a few minutes ago.
Speaker 13 (11:38):
They checked the description.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
Yeah, I think it's missus Kestle. I went back into
the dining room and told Chief Brown about the car.
He told Professor Kessel.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
He said he'd finished as quickly as possible so as
not to align the children, and then go with us
to the more to check the identity of the body.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
The prayers continued, along with the dinner.
Speaker 8 (12:00):
A lot more on your day.
Speaker 12 (12:01):
Follow son albaro demit's right called DIGNA vehicle called a
shotahfo shon a dis rival a shot off de shoon
a barber and a fire.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
John.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Yes, Papa man.
Speaker 7 (12:24):
Is don A Halala Nicole.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Hallay los Sabaha Halley los A o' clean harmde to
masore Hala Laha said.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Hello, Maso, sure you.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
Cold, Papa?
Speaker 6 (12:53):
It wasn't wise man.
Speaker 7 (12:54):
What was the boy's name? It's part of the ceremony.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
During the meal, he's supposed to ask his father certain
questions about the past us over and then the father
answers him. I guess it was too much for Kessel.
Speaker 7 (13:03):
F Brookie mun Would the boy ask him?
Speaker 6 (13:06):
Why is this night different from any other night?
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Seven thirty pm Sergeants Wiseman and donnah hosted on duty
at the house while Chief Brown, Ben and I drove
Professor Kessel to the County morg On the way. We
called in and checked with Captain Steed of Homicide. He
told us there's been no reports on missus Kessel. Seven
forty three pm, Ben and I took Kessel to the
basement of the Hall of Justice, County morg.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
This way, Professor, Oh, yes, you sure you feel up
to it?
Speaker 7 (13:46):
Thank you?
Speaker 8 (13:47):
I'll be all right.
Speaker 7 (13:49):
Cold in here, yes, sir, I thought, it's back here.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
Okay, chie, this is Professor Kessel Archie I do this way.
Speaker 7 (14:01):
Chained to a number five.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
I called over as soon as they brought it in.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Yeah, thank you. Found the body of their Avenue nineteen
the river bed crossing the auto cam.
Speaker 7 (14:08):
No identify kay, no, here we are all right.
Speaker 10 (14:19):
Professor, God, God, professor, No, it's not my wife.
Speaker 7 (14:49):
It seemed as if both the.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
Victim and whoever had taken her advanced completely.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
At eleven thirty Captain Steve Ben and I went across
the street for a cup of coffee in the Friday
Egg Sandwich.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
We got back to the the office of ten minutes
to midnight, still no word. At two am, then and
I drove back to the Kestle house to re leave
Donna own Wiseman. We stood our watch in the living room.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
In the bedroom directly above we could hear Professor Kessel
pacing the floor most of the night. At five am,
Captain Steve called. He told us a letter addressed to
the Professor who has.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
Been reported at the Arcade Post office.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
As soon as the outside of the anvelope had been
photographed and checked for Prince, it would be brought out.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
For Professor Kessel to open.
Speaker 7 (15:32):
Fun. Yeah, okay, chief, good morning, Hiley.
Speaker 6 (15:40):
Hi Joe.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
In here? Did you lift anything off the envelope?
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Lely nothing we can use No, I'd have him all
up in the letter.
Speaker 7 (15:50):
Good morning.
Speaker 6 (15:51):
You brought the letter.
Speaker 8 (15:52):
It's right here, Professor Kessel, I would like you to
stand by what we opened it. This is Lieutenant jonesmart
crime left. You'll check the note for finger.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
Oh, yes, ah, I can get you a letter open.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
I think this one over here.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
Yeah, that's all right. I could use my pocket and
I think you wanna grab one corner of the paper banner,
just the tip of the corner.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
He was just thinking that, okay, and.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
Then have to open up and pin down these corners.
Speaker 6 (16:23):
Yeah, what is it?
Speaker 7 (16:24):
Friend?
Speaker 5 (16:26):
In the words you put together with small printed letters,
it all seem to be the same kind of typeface
letters will probably clip from.
Speaker 7 (16:34):
A book then paste it together to form these words.
Speaker 6 (16:37):
Who sent it?
Speaker 7 (16:37):
What does it say?
Speaker 5 (16:39):
Uh? Can I thanksing? You wanna see your wife alive?
Have thirty thousand small bills? Tonight tell police I kill her?
Instructions following mail no signatien thirty thousand.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
I haven't got the money.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
I can't get it, you'll kill her.
Speaker 7 (17:00):
Mister Kessel is still a chance.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
But what can I do?
Speaker 11 (17:04):
I haven't got that much money, he says, Look.
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Killer, what can we do?
Speaker 5 (17:08):
What we been doing? Yes?
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Wait, you are listening to dragnet, the case history of
a police investigation presented in the public interest by Fatima Cigarettes.
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Speaker 1 (18:00):
So enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself, the King size cigarette,
which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos, superbly blended
to make it extra mild.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
You will prefer Fatima's much different, much better flavor and aroma.
You will agree it's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Best of all long cigarette.
Speaker 5 (18:34):
Wednesday, seven am. With the aid of an iodine fume,
gun Lee Jones checked the extortion letter.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
From Missus Kessel's abductor for fingerprints and other marks of identification.
Speaker 5 (18:43):
He found nothing.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
The piece of paper on which the cutout printed letters
had been pasted was of a common variety sold in
most stationary and five and ten cents stars. Jones photographed
both sides of the envelope in the letter eleven am,
Stone on word. None of the special details had anything
to report. At one forty five pm, another letter was
(19:05):
delivered to the house.
Speaker 5 (19:06):
The envelope was open and the letter removed carefully and
pinned down at the corners.
Speaker 7 (19:10):
But together the name is the lasting.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
Yeah tonight, eleven o'clock. Come alone your car, Tell the police,
I kill her.
Speaker 7 (19:21):
Is there more right?
Speaker 5 (19:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Drive corner Lake Shore, Charter Street, wrap money, brown paper,
small bills, Come alone your car, put package by fireplug,
then leave.
Speaker 5 (19:35):
Tell police and I kill her. No signature.
Speaker 6 (19:39):
I hasn't got the money, Waite.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
Sure and charter.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
That shouldn't be too hard for us to catch. Sounds
pretty much like an amateur makes a touch if.
Speaker 7 (19:47):
He's green, a little scary easy.
Speaker 5 (19:49):
He's scared to make kill her.
Speaker 7 (19:50):
Not if we reach him, how can I get the money?
Speaker 5 (19:54):
You won't need any If a dummy package's made up.
There will be a single dollar bill inside to get
newspapers cut the side.
Speaker 8 (20:00):
That's currency. That's what she will deliver.
Speaker 9 (20:03):
But when he gets the package, when he finds out
it's not the money, what's he going to think?
Speaker 5 (20:06):
We'll explain it to him.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Starting at ten o'clock that night, more than a dozen
cars from the Detective Bureau circle the area around Lakeside
Avenue in Charter Street, keeping a distance ranging.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
From three quarters to a four mile away so as
not to scare off the abductor.
Speaker 6 (20:24):
Some of the cars were parked.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
In service stations, some in private driveways. The neighborhood was
located in the heart of a new veterans housing project.
For a full five blocks in either direction, there were
no buildings of any kind where we could keep an
eye on the package of fake ransom money. The owner
of one of the completed houses nearest the spot on
Charter Street was contacted, and he agreed to let us
use his home.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
As a lookout point for the steakhout.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
That night nine pm, Ben and I took up our
positions on the roof of the lookout house. We were
equipped with two pair of knife binoculars and the walkie talking.
Speaker 7 (20:59):
I could think of a few other places I'd rather
spend the nine.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
How well can you see that intersection from here?
Speaker 7 (21:07):
Comes in fine? With these binoculars. The guy shows we
ought to see him.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
Yeah, I better check with the captain again. What time
you got nine twenty five? Where's the skipper puck private
driveway in your charter?
Speaker 6 (21:20):
And Heyworths.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Friday to one oh five k, Friday to one oh
five k, come in, go ahead. Got a clear view
of the intersection, nothing yet outside of cramp legs.
Speaker 7 (21:36):
You're reading me?
Speaker 13 (21:37):
Okay, got your old fine over.
Speaker 5 (21:43):
Roger standing by pure lucky. My kid can't see me now.
Why you'd never understand? Why should his father be sitting
on top of somebody's.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
Roof late at night? He'd never get in.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
We waited. Ten o'clock came ten thirty, exactly eleven pm.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
As we watched through our night binoculars, we saw Professor
Kessel drive up to the designated location five blocks away,
placed the fake package of ransom money by the fire
hydrant near the intersection, and then drive away. Eleven thirty.
We waited midnight, two am, nothing happened. The package was
still lying for the fire hydrant, undisturbed. Captain Steed checked
(22:23):
with us periodically on the walkie talking. At three thirty am,
we were still waiting. At a few minutes past six am,
Professor Kessel was directed to return to the intersection, pick
up the package, and drive back to his home. His
wife's subductor had failed to show. Maybe the suspect had
sensed the trap.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Maybe he had no idea of showing up in the
first place. Maybe Missus Kessel was dead. We didn't know.
Ten am Thursday, no further contact from the abductor.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
A special detail from Homicide, including Ben and I were
ordered on a door to door canvas of the general
area around Lakeside Avenue in Charter Street. After seven hours
of bringing doorbells and asking questions, we came across from
mister Harold Olander, one of the longtime residents of the.
Speaker 5 (23:03):
Silver Lake area. We showed him the general description of
Missus Kessel's subductor.
Speaker 8 (23:08):
Yeah, that could be Thompson.
Speaker 7 (23:10):
I don't know for sure.
Speaker 6 (23:11):
Though where did you see this tom flist under?
Speaker 3 (23:14):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (23:14):
I saw him lots of times.
Speaker 8 (23:15):
He wrenched that cottage of mine down the street.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
There, you see the light one just this Thompson have
a car Thompson, Yeah, yeah, new one.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
I wonder if you could describe it Chevrolet, nice looking
blue color.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
I think could be.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
You know, is Thompson in the house now, mister Orlander?
Speaker 7 (23:32):
Nope, So I'm drive away over this morning.
Speaker 8 (23:35):
I can show you the house.
Speaker 7 (23:37):
If it's official police business, it is.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
Come on, then, I got the key right here. Cottage
just down the block there.
Speaker 7 (23:45):
See the win I mean the white one.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
Yes.
Speaker 7 (23:48):
How long has Thomson been in the house to reach tomorrow?
Speaker 5 (23:51):
You noticed anything unusual about him? Mm?
Speaker 8 (23:54):
Some special comes and goes at odd hours. But then
a lot of people do. I don't fried just out right.
Speaker 7 (24:02):
Here, cause you usually keep all the blinds drawn. Yeah,
now that you mention it, a lot of people do.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
I just.
Speaker 6 (24:16):
I wanna check back in the kitchen bend. Yeah, huh,
look at the living room in sergeant. Yeah, I'm a.
Speaker 7 (24:25):
Stick a finisher. That's funny.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
You sure you didn't see anybody else in this house
besides Thompson?
Speaker 8 (24:32):
No, No, he's the only one looks like it.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
Jill HM found this woman's first step in one of
the kitchen cabinets.
Speaker 7 (24:38):
This sales slip was in the.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
Perth and see miss Albert Kessel through a phone here,
mister Landers.
Speaker 8 (24:44):
Uh out in the hall, right.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
You just still connect it? Yeah, Jill, I'll check back
in the bedroom.
Speaker 7 (24:54):
Play your phone it right then?
Speaker 5 (24:56):
No, you better stay with me, mister Orlander, if you're
well alright, City Hall homicide, homicide. Do you any idea
where this Thompson is now?
Speaker 7 (25:08):
Mastrol? No, he comes and goes.
Speaker 6 (25:11):
I don't like the prize.
Speaker 8 (25:15):
Homicides.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
This Friday skipper, we got one for you.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
I've got one for you.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Hmm.
Speaker 8 (25:20):
Missus Kessel, she's been fopped.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Missus Kessel was unharmed. She had no idea where she
had been or why she had been suddenly released.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
All additional information which she could furnish on the suspect
was immediately relayed to the entire state in a APB.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
Two hours later, at a.
Speaker 4 (25:36):
Neighborhood durais Thompson patri and I we got his license number.
We ran it through DMV and found the car was
registered in the name of Charles Patrell one oh one one,
five Green Oak Drive, seven pm.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
Yeah, police officers, George Control.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Yes, come in please. I knew you'd find him. I
kept talking, but I knew you'd find you.
Speaker 7 (26:13):
Give him suffer. I'm his wife.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
I talked to him.
Speaker 7 (26:18):
There won't be any trouble. No trouble, Whorzy. You got
to understand, he didn't know what he was doing.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
We needed money.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
He didn't know what he was doing. I'll have to
search the house, ma'am, Joy to.
Speaker 7 (26:44):
Get your hands behind your head.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
I don't have a gun, all right, Ben, behind your back.
Speaker 13 (26:53):
You didn't know what you were doing too.
Speaker 7 (26:56):
We needed the money. I thought it'd work. What I
do wrong?
Speaker 5 (26:59):
Come?
Speaker 7 (27:00):
Should the work have planned? All that?
Speaker 6 (27:03):
Where do I make a mistake?
Speaker 5 (27:05):
When you thought of it?
Speaker 1 (27:13):
The story you've just heard was true, only the names
were changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
On August, second trial was held in Superior Court, Department
eighty sixth, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California.
In a moment the results of that trial.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
It's amazing how many long cigarette smokers are changing to
extra mild fatima.
Speaker 7 (27:32):
Here is the actual report.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
From coast to coast extra mild Fatima.
Speaker 7 (27:37):
Has more than doubled its smokers.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Yes, more and more smokers every day. Our discovering that
Fatima is the king size cigarette that is extra mild.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Extra mild because it contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos,
superbly blended to make it extra mild, to give it
a much different, much better flavor and aroma.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Enjoy Extra mile Fatima yourself, best of all long cigarettes.
Speaker 7 (28:04):
It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Charles Catrill was tried and convicted of kidnapping and received
the sentences prescribed by law. He is now serving his
term in the state penitentiary. You have just heard Dragnet,
a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice
for Dragnet comes from the Office of Chief of Police W. A. Wharton,
(28:42):
Los Angeles Police Department.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Fatima Cigarettes, the best of all long cigarettes, has brought
you Dragnet.
Speaker 7 (28:52):
Transcribed from Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Next here Sarah Berner in Sarah's Private Paper on NBC
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