August 6, 2025 • 26 mins
Dragnet - Old Time Radio Show - 249 The Big Watch
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/good-old-radio-vintage-old-time-radio-shows--2778176/support.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/good-old-radio-vintage-old-time-radio-shows--2778176/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Ladies and gentlemen. The story you were about to hear
is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocence.
Drag Nets. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to robbery details.
(00:28):
You've been looking for a suspect and a market robbery
for three weeks. Finally an informant calls you with information.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Your job.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Check it out.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
It was Tuesday, February seventeenth, which is cold in Los Angeles.
We were working to day watch out a robbery detail.
My partner's Frank Smith.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
The boss's TVT take his bad round. My name's Friddy.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
We're on our way out from the office and it
were ten fifty six by the time we parked. Our
time got to forty two to seventy eight. Win Ona
the Balameese room.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Ahi, Joe, Frank.
Speaker 6 (01:00):
Man, I'm walking around about all I can expect.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
It's down.
Speaker 7 (01:05):
Get you anything, No, I just made a fresh pot of
coffee and back.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Like the top.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
Yeah, I might go for one, how about you?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Frank? Sure, I'll get it. Hey, you both take a black,
don't you? That's right? Yeah? Man?
Speaker 5 (01:17):
What was it you want to talk to us about?
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Why?
Speaker 5 (01:20):
I say, what was it? You wanted to see us
about I've just a.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Minute, I'll be right with you. Hey, you want to
take one of these cups?
Speaker 5 (01:26):
Yeah, let me give you a hand there?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
All right, there you go, Thank Thanks? What do you
got for us?
Speaker 5 (01:32):
Dan?
Speaker 7 (01:33):
I read in a paper a couple of weeks ago
where he had a stick up at that big market
out in the valley.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Fief made it was close to seven thousand dollars. You
got anything on it? Or what did the guy look like?
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Well?
Speaker 4 (01:42):
The description we got was twenty eight to thirty five,
eight five ten, one hundred and forty.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Five pounds, dark hair, dark.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
Eyes, wearing a leather jacket and denim pants. Was all
in the paper.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Vans it might fit then, all except the clothes.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Huh. I've been a.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Bohunk hanging around here the last couple of.
Speaker 7 (01:57):
Weeks, got a roller and make a horse, pretty sick
parties that. I've seen him around here for a year.
He never had two dimes to rub together. All of
a sudden he turns up loaded popping for drinks all
over the place, loaded down with expensive watches, good clothes,
everything that goes with money.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
What's his name?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
You know?
Speaker 7 (02:12):
I don't know the whole thing.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Been calling them nick That's all I know.
Speaker 8 (02:14):
He matches the description pretty close and all accept the
clothes rags she's caring now are the best.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Don't look like they come from playing racks.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
They come up with any kind of a story about
the money. No.
Speaker 7 (02:24):
I kind of hinted at it a couple of times,
you know, in a joking sort of way.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I didn't want to be too nosy.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 7 (02:29):
All he says is that he met the locksmiths the Fort.
Knox passes it off as a big joke. Says he
found the easy way to live.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
It might be our man. Do you have any close friend?
Speaker 7 (02:37):
No, Joey plays a kind of solo. He dated Magic
a couple of times.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Who's mad. She's a waitress.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Here comes in about six, she works.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
The tables and back. Did he tell you anything about
the hat?
Speaker 7 (02:46):
No, I asked her, But she says they had dinner,
took in a couple of clubs, and he took her home,
laid it straight all evening. Kind of worried matched for
a couple of days after figures she was kind of
slipping a little. He didn't say anything to her. No, No,
kind of a tip off. Played it real straight, like
I said, do you have a job, Well, not so
as you'd notice, doesn't seem to have any working hours.
Used to walk in here at all hours. Got any
other friends, No close ones. He'd buy drinks for anybody
(03:08):
that was around when he was popping, But he never
came in with nobody.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
He never left with anybody. She never round lately, No,
not for a couple of days. Got any idea where
he live.
Speaker 7 (03:16):
No, I don't think he patched down here in the neighborhood.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
How about a car?
Speaker 5 (03:19):
No go?
Speaker 7 (03:19):
All the time I saw me, road cabs took him
here and left in him.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Well, last time he left, you see where he was going.
Speaker 7 (03:24):
No, just shoved off, said he might not be around
for a.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Couple of days.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
And I have a hot cup of Irish coffee waiting.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
For him when he got back.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
What's Irish cough?
Speaker 7 (03:31):
Oh it's a new drink. I got it from a
friend of mine up in San Francisco. And a cup
of coffee Irish whiskey top with a Joel the whipped cream.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Drank him all the time.
Speaker 7 (03:39):
Yeah, Yeah, he's got the whole place on him. You
come in some night we got more coffee cups than.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
The bar than glasses. Didn't give you any idea where
he was going.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Unless he threw it.
Speaker 7 (03:47):
I didn't hear it anybody around the place. He might
have talked to well, I can't give you no names.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Might talk to Madge.
Speaker 7 (03:53):
I don't think she'll come up with anything, but you
can try.
Speaker 5 (03:55):
The time you say she came in six.
Speaker 7 (03:57):
That's when she's supposed to check in once in a while.
She's late, but she's supposed to have her apron on
about six.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Okay, Van, thanks for the call. We'll be back now.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
This Nick comes in, give us the ringway.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Sure, if he's in town, he'll be back now.
Speaker 7 (04:09):
Sure, he's all the time telling me we got the
best Irish coffee in town.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
That's all he drinks.
Speaker 7 (04:13):
Thought figures will be here to get them right away.
I see him.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
I'll give you a call, thanks, man.
Speaker 7 (04:17):
Sure up, it's the guy you're after. Yeah, so do
we seven? Geez a lot of money. You can buy
an awful lot.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
With that, and we better take it easy.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Yeah, better not hit that Irish coffee too hard.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Three weeks previously.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
On Monday, January nineteenth, at nine.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Forty am, a masked man had walked into a supermarket
at the corner of Wall Canyon Boulevard and Camarillo.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Street and held up the store for a total of.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Seven thousand, three hundred and sixty seven dollars. The alarm
had gone out immediately, but the hold up man succeeded
in getting.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Out of the area.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
All routine procedure had been followed, but it resulted in
no information to put us any closer to the thief.
Local broadcasts and ATV's has been gotten. The description of
the thief had been taken and checked through the stat's office.
All leads had been followed up without result. The phone
call from the bartender appeared to be our first break
in the case. Frank and I went back to the
city hall and checked the name Nick and the description
(05:13):
through the moniker file and R and I there.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Were only four possibles turned over to her.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
We showed the mug shots to the bartender, but he
couldn't give us some identification. We got the home address
of Madge, the cocktail waitress, and we went out to
see her, but Landleady told us that she wasn't home
and that when the girl had left she said.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
She'd go straight to work.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
We waited for her at the bar, but after talking
to her, we had no additional information to work with.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
The following morning, we began to canvas the neighborhood.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
We talked to shopkeepers and stalled in several clothing stores.
We found clerks who thought they remembered the man, but
they were unable to give us any information on him.
Late that afternoon, we talked to a jeweler. We asked
if he had a customer who might fit the description
of the suspect.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Yes, sir, seems to me I remember a man like that.
Speaker 5 (05:55):
What can you tell us about it?
Speaker 6 (05:56):
Mister Hobbs, Now much bought quite a bit of merchandise.
What did you wanna know?
Speaker 5 (06:01):
Could you give us his name?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I'm afraid not.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
How about receipts or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
No, so it's a case sale. There's no reason to
take his name.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Uh huh.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Can you give us any information on him at all?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Maybe if you could tell me what this is all about,
I could help you out.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Well, it's a police matter, mister Bob.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
You mist understand the sergeant.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
I wanna do what I can, but it's rather difficult
without knowing exactly what did you're after?
Speaker 5 (06:21):
Well, we wanna find 'em.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Man.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Any information you have that'll help us do that'll be appreciated.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Ray, there's nothing I can do for you.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Well, how about the things he bought?
Speaker 2 (06:28):
You want to complete list?
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
How much do you buy it?
Speaker 7 (06:31):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
I have to look it up?
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Just a minute, I see, keep a record of your sales?
Do you?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And I have to for tax purposes?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Just a minute?
Speaker 6 (06:38):
Uh huh mmm not certain of the date? Take a
minute to sign uh it sho, take your time? See yeah, yeah,
here it is. But a gold tie bar set, a cuff,
(06:58):
flanks and the wristwatch.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Can you give us a description of the goods?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Playing? Gold tie bar?
Speaker 6 (07:03):
Square ends, couplanks were playing sort of square design, no
relief work.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
How about the watch?
Speaker 2 (07:09):
So Paddick Philippe solid gold.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Anything about the watch that would make it easier to identify? No,
he got a record of the case? A movement number?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
You want that it might help? Yeah? I ain't got it?
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Point I find How do you pay for this merchandise
in cash? Yes, sir, But what about the denominations of
the bills? Would you remember what they were?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Mmm?
Speaker 6 (07:26):
I'm sorry, sergeant, I can't help you. There was a
while ago, and I don't remember.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Is there anything at all about the man that might
help us identify him? An accent?
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Maybe way walk way dress.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
No, he was well dressed conservative.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
We'll accept the tie that was rather a jarring. He
had on a dark flannel suit, button down collar, black shoes.
Everything went together except the tie. He was bright red.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
What about his speech?
Speaker 5 (07:51):
Was there anything there?
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Not that I remember?
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Nothing else about him? No, sir, Well all right, mister Hobbson,
will leave one of our cards with you.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
If you think of anything else, we'd appreciate a.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Call mm hm, ask for humans to pretty well.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
He didn't, or Frank Smith here.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
H if I think of anything, if you'll get.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
The numbers on the watch for us, Cliff, Oh.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yeah, I almost forgotten.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Say there is something, yeah, I see.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
When he bought the new watch, he was wearing one,
uh huh. Asked me if i'd give him anything for it,
wanted to trade it in.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
I told him it wasn't worth anything to me. Suggested
that he try to sell it to a second hand store. Yeah,
he said he's seen the last of hawk shops.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
He said, if I didn't wanna buy the watch. He'd
make me a gift of it.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Well, did you take it?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
He left it there? He still have it?
Speaker 6 (08:32):
I think it's still in the back. I got a
box the old parts his watch might be in there.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
I wonder if you'd mind checking its Yeah, it's a minute.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Let's see if I can find it. Huh what do
you think?
Speaker 5 (08:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
It might be something I would do for a break. Yeah,
he's gonna tag the office after this. Yeah, I guess
so you gonna go home for dinner?
Speaker 2 (08:51):
No, not tonight.
Speaker 9 (08:52):
He's got the girls from the Bridge Club coming over.
I thought i'd go buy Alan Lumbs, get some shrimp
and lobster.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Do you wanna go with me? Where Alan Lumbs? Oh?
Speaker 5 (08:59):
Yeah, good lunster.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
P Sure, I'll do way And here it is?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Watch is in here?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Now somepots?
Speaker 5 (09:06):
What kind of a watch is?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
It's a mm off brand? Should be here someplace?
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Let this one here broken? Huh?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Let me see?
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Oh yeah? Why oh nothing special? Kind a nice looking
thought of it? Work. We might be able to make
a deal.
Speaker 6 (09:21):
If I sawd you that one, I'd be in jail tomorrows. Sure, uh,
oh wait a minute, here here it is?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
This is it? Yes?
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Sir, Well, now, is there anything about the watch that
it'd make it possible to tell.
Speaker 5 (09:33):
Where it was bought?
Speaker 6 (09:34):
No, it's a cheap brand. Most of the drug stores
in town carried them.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
Huh, what if you might if we take it with us,
we'll give you a receipt.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
It won't be necessary.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I try to appreciate it, mister house, if we'd better give.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
You a receipt, alright and get the book. Oh, I
just thought of something.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
It might not work, but worth a try, Yeah, sir,
what's that just a minute? Yeah he did, sir, Yeah,
the watch repaired at one time or another.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
You see here, let me see.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
I don't believe I see what you mean.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Well, here see the initials there and the numbers.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
It's r J one O five six sevens.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
And yeah, that's the initials of a watcher family worked
on the watch.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
That should make it.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Pretty simple, ton't Yeah, sure it will help. Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Simple.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Oh, they have to find our Jang. That's the name
of the man who had work number one O.
Speaker 6 (10:23):
Five sixty seven. He should be able to give you
the name of the man you're looking for. Oh it's simple.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yes, it's not quite that easy, but it's a place
to start. We left the jeweler and we went back
to the office. We checked the phone book for a
watch repairman with the possible initials of r J.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
Frank got on one phone and I got on another.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
There's a long chance that the watch had been bought
and serviced in Los Angeles.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
We went through the watch repair.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Companies where the initials we were looking for, and then
we started at the top of the list of jewelry concerns.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
I think that's right. Say thank you all the information
we can. Yes, sir, thanks a lot. Good bye.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
No, I wouldn't be able to tell you anymore now
bye bye.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
I got nothing.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Well, we better get on her. We're gonna have to
wait until tomorrow five twenty. Most of the places closed
a few minutes, so let's stay with it.
Speaker 8 (11:16):
Yeah, it's getting so I can't see the numbers on
this dial anymore.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Oh, this is Sergeant Friday, Los Angeles Police to fin.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Yes, this officer Frank sman.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
No, there's nothing else. We have a watch repairman.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Who uses one.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
If you can give your information, well that's our kay.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Yes, sir, do you have a watch repairman? I use
the initials r J. No, sir, no one, look and
James m hm, and we'd.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Like nothing at all, Yes, ma'am, all right, see thanks,
I'll wait bye, thank you.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
I'll hang on. Nothing here.
Speaker 9 (11:52):
I know.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
Maybe we got a dead end.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Yeah, she's gone to look here I see m M
what's that?
Speaker 5 (12:03):
Hello?
Speaker 4 (12:03):
This is sa Hey, hold Joe, I got one minute.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Hold on, Yeah, that's right, just Frank Smith. Hang on
a minute. I got one just Frank Smith. Robbery detail.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
Uh huh.
Speaker 9 (12:15):
Can you tell me who who gave you the work number?
Speaker 3 (12:19):
No?
Speaker 8 (12:19):
Can you tell me who you gave the work number?
One O five six seven too, that's right, one O
five six seven, yes, or I'll hang on.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
You got a guy now, he's checking it. Look good.
Well it might be place down on fifth West fifth.
Speaker 8 (12:35):
Let's go from Yeah, hello, sir, Yeah that's right, five
six seven.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
No, it's nothing important. Well I may call you.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Have an ad one. Thank you very w you remember
him at all? Mm hmm, well thanks very much. We
get in touch with you.
Speaker 8 (12:53):
Well, according to this guy, the watch is brought in
by Mike Langley.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Well maybe we know who we're looking for.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Now. Well, there's another problem. You know, there's no address
on Langley.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
We checked the name of Langley through our and I,
but without any description to work with, it was a
little chance that we'd find anything. We checked the description
on the arrest reports against that of our suspect, and
we ruled out all the possibles that we came up with.
We checked the name in the phone book, but we
found no listing. We checked the city directory without result.
Six fifteen PM, we got in touch with the utility
companies and asked them to check their records. They told
(13:32):
us they'd call us back by the next morning with
the information. Wednesday, February eighteenth, nine twelve am, Frank and
I were in the squad room.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
I got it.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Robbery.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Friday, Yes that's right, okay, yeah, go ahead, twenty six
forty seven. Gilbert, that's g is in George il b
e Ert.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Yeah okay. Well how long have they had that service?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Huh, all right, you bet you thanks very Friday, Yes, right,
thanks very much.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
They came up with it.
Speaker 5 (14:09):
Huh yeah, it looks real good here.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
Service started on Friday, January sixteenth, Yeah, two days before
the robbery.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
Nine fifty two am. We made another check at R
and I and then we.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Left the office.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
We drove out the Hollywood Freeway, turned off at Vermont
and drove over to Gilbert. Twenty six forty seven was
the last unit in the Spanish style court. Frank covered
the back of the place and I went up and
rang the doorbell. The door was opened by a woman
in her late twenties. She identified herself as missus Pearl Langley.
We asked about her husband. She told us he was
at work. Frank and I got the address and drove
(14:46):
over to the place. Mike Langley was a fry cook
and a small restaurant on Spring Street. We took him
back into the manager's office and we talked to him.
He matched the description of the suspect.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
Very close.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
You're way off face.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Well, maybe you can tell us where you were on Saturday,
January seventh.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Huh, for sure.
Speaker 10 (15:01):
I was home helping Pearl. We just moved in a
new place the day before. I was giving her a
hand getting things straightened out.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
What about Sunday the eighteenth, I.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Worked here, It's the only job I've got. What about
Monday the nineteenth, same day, you were here? That's right.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
What time do you come to work?
Speaker 10 (15:15):
I get in about six thirty line things up in
the kitchen. We open at seven thirty.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
You're pretty sure where you were on the nineteenth positive?
Any special reason you're so sure? What do you mean?
Speaker 5 (15:23):
Well, any reason you'd remember you were working on that day?
Speaker 10 (15:26):
Nothing besides I have missed the day since I took
the job.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
When was that about a year and a half ago.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
You'd have to check with the bus he'd have a
record of what days you were here.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Huh.
Speaker 10 (15:35):
That old skim Flynny's got a note it every minute
I was in the kitchen. Probably tell you how many
eggs I fried since I've been cooking for him.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
You want to check on that, Frank.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Yeah, I want you to look at something here, Langley.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
Can you tell me if you know who it belongs to?
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Sure? What do you got right here? It's a cheap watch?
It isn't mine.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
You ever seen it?
Speaker 3 (15:55):
I don't think so.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
You've been arrested, well, he asked that, have you? No,
never been in trouble with the police.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Not in California? Where Texas?
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Ware in Texas?
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Gallous?
Speaker 5 (16:06):
What was the beat?
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Drunk driving? And nailed me on the boulevard? What'd you draw?
Pay to find it? Ten days?
Speaker 5 (16:12):
That's the only trouble you've ever had with the police.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
That's it. You're sure about this? Watch?
Speaker 5 (16:15):
Yeah, I never saw it before.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Job. Now be right back, Langley, I'd appreciate it if you
could step it up. The bus. You're gonna start docking
me if I'm off much more. How what do you got?
I checked with the owner.
Speaker 5 (16:30):
It looks like we're far out on this thing.
Speaker 9 (16:32):
Langley was working all day the nineteenth.
Speaker 11 (16:44):
You are listening to Dragnet the authentic story of your
police force election.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Detective the authorities in Galveston and talked with officers Rex
Torrean and Reuben Gooseman. They told us that Mike Langley
had been arrested for drunk driving. They went on to
say that he lived in the Beach City for several
years and that until his arrest, he had never been
in trouble. We brought him down to the city hall
and we talked to him further. The victims of the
hold up were asked to a special show up, but
although they said Langley looked quite a bit like the
(17:20):
stick up man, they couldn't give us a positive identification.
It was released from custody on Thursday, February nineteenth. We
got a call from him asking us to come out
to his home. Frank and I left the office and
drove to the Gilbert Street address. We met Langley and
his wife.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
You met my wife, Pearl, didn't you? Yes? Yeah, we
met yesterday.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
And what do you want to see us about?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Langley? Sit up?
Speaker 12 (17:40):
Can I get you anything?
Speaker 5 (17:42):
No?
Speaker 3 (17:43):
No, thank you, man.
Speaker 10 (17:44):
I hate to bring you guys out here, but I
want to get this thing cleared up.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Yes, sure we do too.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
You got that watch with you, yes, sir? Yeah, sure
you are. Oh.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Thanks.
Speaker 10 (17:55):
I got to thinking about it last night, about why
you think it was mine? Yes, sir, I didn't make
much of an impression on me at the time, but
I remembered it.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Yeah, I figured out how you got my name one.
Speaker 10 (18:05):
Yeah, sir, I did take the watch him to be fixed.
It isn't mine, but I did have it fixed.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
Who does it? Belonging to?
Speaker 3 (18:11):
My cousin, Herbert Langley?
Speaker 10 (18:12):
He got in some trouble and when he was at
Quent and he sent the watch out to me to
have it fixed.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I guess I must have forgotten all about it. You
know where he is now?
Speaker 12 (18:19):
He was staying here with us all ago. Man, the
guy here the day after we moved in the house.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
That'd be Sunday. Yeah, I remember, because.
Speaker 12 (18:26):
Mike and we were trying to get the place straightened out,
and Herb didn't do anything but set around in guzzled beer,
didn't look to hand to help.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
See here now means stand here? Yes? No, he moved
out about a week.
Speaker 5 (18:36):
Can you tell you where he was going?
Speaker 12 (18:37):
No?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
He said he was tired of being a fifth wheel
and left him and pro didn't you along too good?
We sure didn't.
Speaker 12 (18:43):
One thing I don't go is a man. It doesn't
work right around the house all day or else done
at some bar drinking all day.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
Do you know what he was in jail for?
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Herb kept Thomas was a bad beef. They didn't have
anything to do with it before.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
What was a charge in robbery?
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Where was that? Up north? Was the Sandra fell? A
real bum? I wish you wouldn't say that, Pearl.
Speaker 12 (19:03):
Why not?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
It's true? You just didn't understand him, No, and I.
Speaker 12 (19:06):
Didn't want to.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
I don't like him.
Speaker 12 (19:08):
I never did, all the time, laying around giving orders,
wanted to be waited on and foot, always asking for
something him in that lousy coffee. That was the end
when he started asking for that Irish coffee.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
What do you mean coffee?
Speaker 12 (19:21):
Irish whiskey and whipped cream? Something he heard about some point.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
Do you know where he is now?
Speaker 7 (19:27):
No?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
How about you see? Well, I haven't got the address.
Speaker 10 (19:30):
But he did say something about going back to see mother.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Where would that be Texas? He wasn't sure. He just
said he was thinking about it through.
Speaker 5 (19:36):
Did he say when he was coming back?
Speaker 2 (19:37):
No?
Speaker 10 (19:38):
Him and Pearl had a bee before he left. Now
backed the bag said he'd never be back.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
We got a complete description of Herbert Langley and a
snapshot of him. Frank and I went back to the
office and put in a call to Fred Galloway in
the Adult Authority office. He contacted Sacramento. Hadn't got Langley's
prison number. We checked the coming out mug books and
got a good picture of the suspect. This was shown
to the victims and they identified him positively as the
hold up man. A local and an APB were gotten
(20:10):
out on him, and a radiogram was sent to the
authorities in Galveston, Texas, asking them to check on the suspect.
We got a list of his known friends and other relatives.
These were interviewed, but they were unable to give us
any further leads on Langley's whereabouts.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
A week went by.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
On Friday, February twenty seventh, Frank and I got back
into the office from the main jail.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I think he's telling the truth.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
Yeah, well for years.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
It's the first time he hasn't had an honest job
in the last six years.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
Or checked the book.
Speaker 8 (20:37):
Huh yeah, Robbery Stewart.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Yeah, just a minute, Joel Chake.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
One, thanks to one one this Friday, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Uh huh, well, no, we won't hear it from us.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
How long ago was that?
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (21:02):
All right, now we'll check it out. Thanks for calling us,
right bye.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Nothing in the book?
Speaker 5 (21:08):
Was Pearl Langley on the phone. Yeah, he just got
a message from the suspect.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Yeah, he's in town.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Frank and I, along with Stuart, Creezy, Stromwell and Stoner,
checked out of the office and went over to the
bar on Wenona Street. Missus Langley had told me on
the phone that her brother and Laud sent a telegram
to the house asking that her husband meet him there
after work. When we got to the place, the suspect
wasn't there. Stuart and Creasey covered the front of the bar,
well Stromwall and Stoner staked out on the alley at
the back of the place. Frank and I went inside
(21:40):
and talked to the bartender, Van Gordon.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Hi, Joe, Frank, Van, how's it going.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
You've seen the fella Nick that you told us about?
Speaker 2 (21:46):
No, not since I talked to you.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
If you'd been in, I was sure given you a call.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
Why we got wordies in town?
Speaker 3 (21:50):
It's supposed show up here? How heavy is he?
Speaker 5 (21:52):
And we don't know for sure?
Speaker 3 (21:53):
You found out who he is yet? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (21:55):
We made him for a Herbert Langley. You got him
for the market joff victim, says the man.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Yeah, but when'd you say it was going to be here?
Speaker 5 (22:01):
Oh the way we got it sometime this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Say you're gonna take him here? Didn't try? We'll do
me a favorite.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Will you try to?
Speaker 3 (22:08):
What's that?
Speaker 7 (22:09):
Well, if there's a beef where you try and steer
him outside before it gets sped out.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
I don't want the place broken now.
Speaker 5 (22:13):
I would do what we can.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
We get you anything while you're waiting. How about some coffee? Yeah,
I think there's some left. I don't know how good
it is as long as it's hot and black. So
I'll get a couple of cups.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
You want to drink it here at the bar, No,
we'll take it one of the boots.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Okay, Hey, you'll remember. Huh what's that.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
I'll try to steer him outside.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Yeah, man, Frank and I sat down on the booth
and we waited. Two thirty pm. Three no sign of Langley.
Three point thirty several people came in and sat out
at the bar. The bartender tried to get him out
of the place as soon as he could in the
event there was any trouble. We didn't want anyone to
get hurt. Four o'clock, four point fifteen.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Hi, man, how's it going?
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Pretty good? Nick?
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Where you've been?
Speaker 7 (22:57):
Oh, I'll take a couple of weeks out of town
and had some business to do.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Uh huh how to be Irish coffee?
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, put some whipped cream on it this time.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Sure? Sure, what's going yea? You ever been up through
Washington Van?
Speaker 2 (23:11):
No, you try to make the trips sometimes. Sure, beautiful,
you have something.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
You want her? Blankly?
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Who's asking?
Speaker 5 (23:19):
Police? Officers are under arrest? They're right, stand up?
Speaker 3 (23:23):
What's the charge?
Speaker 5 (23:24):
Robery?
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Stand still?
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Get him outside.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
I'll steer him.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Here, all right, Come on.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Come on, get up.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
What a copy?
Speaker 3 (23:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Oh, look at this place. Just look at it. It's
gonna take me a couple of weeks to.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Open it up again.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
Oh, sorry about it, Van.
Speaker 7 (23:50):
Oh, this isn't gonna do much good where the place
is smashed up.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Who's gonna pay for it?
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Who's gonna make it right?
Speaker 5 (23:54):
I wouldn't know.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
See, I asked you to steer him outside.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
I asked you to steer him outside.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
Well, he didn't give us much choice.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
This is the way you wanted it. Nice to say,
But who's going to pay for it?
Speaker 5 (24:03):
I wouldn't do.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
Much good if I told you, huh, he's got another bill.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
To pay first. The story you've just heard is true.
The names were changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 11 (24:19):
On July thirteenth, trial was held in Department ninety two,
Superior Court of the State of California in and for
the County of Los Angeles. Herbert Colby Langley was tried
and convicted of robbery in the first degree, one count
(24:40):
and received sentence as prescribed by law. Robbery in the
first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary
for a period of not less than five years.
Speaker 7 (24:52):
You have just heard Dragnet, the authentic story of your
police force in action.
Speaker 6 (24:57):
And starring Jack Webb, a presentation of the United States
Armed Forces Radio Service
Speaker 3 (26:00):
As the
Ladies and gentlemen. The story you were about to hear
is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocence.
Drag Nets. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to robbery details.
(00:28):
You've been looking for a suspect and a market robbery
for three weeks. Finally an informant calls you with information.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Your job.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Check it out.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
It was Tuesday, February seventeenth, which is cold in Los Angeles.
We were working to day watch out a robbery detail.
My partner's Frank Smith.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
The boss's TVT take his bad round. My name's Friddy.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
We're on our way out from the office and it
were ten fifty six by the time we parked. Our
time got to forty two to seventy eight. Win Ona
the Balameese room.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Ahi, Joe, Frank.
Speaker 6 (01:00):
Man, I'm walking around about all I can expect.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
It's down.
Speaker 7 (01:05):
Get you anything, No, I just made a fresh pot of
coffee and back.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Like the top.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
Yeah, I might go for one, how about you?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Frank? Sure, I'll get it. Hey, you both take a black,
don't you? That's right? Yeah? Man?
Speaker 5 (01:17):
What was it you want to talk to us about?
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Why?
Speaker 5 (01:20):
I say, what was it? You wanted to see us
about I've just a.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Minute, I'll be right with you. Hey, you want to
take one of these cups?
Speaker 5 (01:26):
Yeah, let me give you a hand there?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
All right, there you go, Thank Thanks? What do you
got for us?
Speaker 5 (01:32):
Dan?
Speaker 7 (01:33):
I read in a paper a couple of weeks ago
where he had a stick up at that big market
out in the valley.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Fief made it was close to seven thousand dollars. You
got anything on it? Or what did the guy look like?
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Well?
Speaker 4 (01:42):
The description we got was twenty eight to thirty five,
eight five ten, one hundred and forty.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Five pounds, dark hair, dark.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
Eyes, wearing a leather jacket and denim pants. Was all
in the paper.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Vans it might fit then, all except the clothes.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Huh. I've been a.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Bohunk hanging around here the last couple of.
Speaker 7 (01:57):
Weeks, got a roller and make a horse, pretty sick
parties that. I've seen him around here for a year.
He never had two dimes to rub together. All of
a sudden he turns up loaded popping for drinks all
over the place, loaded down with expensive watches, good clothes,
everything that goes with money.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
What's his name?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
You know?
Speaker 7 (02:12):
I don't know the whole thing.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Been calling them nick That's all I know.
Speaker 8 (02:14):
He matches the description pretty close and all accept the
clothes rags she's caring now are the best.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Don't look like they come from playing racks.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
They come up with any kind of a story about
the money. No.
Speaker 7 (02:24):
I kind of hinted at it a couple of times,
you know, in a joking sort of way.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I didn't want to be too nosy.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 7 (02:29):
All he says is that he met the locksmiths the Fort.
Knox passes it off as a big joke. Says he
found the easy way to live.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
It might be our man. Do you have any close friend?
Speaker 7 (02:37):
No, Joey plays a kind of solo. He dated Magic
a couple of times.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Who's mad. She's a waitress.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Here comes in about six, she works.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
The tables and back. Did he tell you anything about
the hat?
Speaker 7 (02:46):
No, I asked her, But she says they had dinner,
took in a couple of clubs, and he took her home,
laid it straight all evening. Kind of worried matched for
a couple of days after figures she was kind of
slipping a little. He didn't say anything to her. No, No,
kind of a tip off. Played it real straight, like
I said, do you have a job, Well, not so
as you'd notice, doesn't seem to have any working hours.
Used to walk in here at all hours. Got any
other friends, No close ones. He'd buy drinks for anybody
(03:08):
that was around when he was popping, But he never
came in with nobody.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
He never left with anybody. She never round lately, No,
not for a couple of days. Got any idea where
he live.
Speaker 7 (03:16):
No, I don't think he patched down here in the neighborhood.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
How about a car?
Speaker 5 (03:19):
No go?
Speaker 7 (03:19):
All the time I saw me, road cabs took him
here and left in him.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Well, last time he left, you see where he was going.
Speaker 7 (03:24):
No, just shoved off, said he might not be around
for a.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Couple of days.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
And I have a hot cup of Irish coffee waiting.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
For him when he got back.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
What's Irish cough?
Speaker 7 (03:31):
Oh it's a new drink. I got it from a
friend of mine up in San Francisco. And a cup
of coffee Irish whiskey top with a Joel the whipped cream.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Drank him all the time.
Speaker 7 (03:39):
Yeah, Yeah, he's got the whole place on him. You
come in some night we got more coffee cups than.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
The bar than glasses. Didn't give you any idea where
he was going.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Unless he threw it.
Speaker 7 (03:47):
I didn't hear it anybody around the place. He might
have talked to well, I can't give you no names.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Might talk to Madge.
Speaker 7 (03:53):
I don't think she'll come up with anything, but you
can try.
Speaker 5 (03:55):
The time you say she came in six.
Speaker 7 (03:57):
That's when she's supposed to check in once in a while.
She's late, but she's supposed to have her apron on
about six.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Okay, Van, thanks for the call. We'll be back now.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
This Nick comes in, give us the ringway.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Sure, if he's in town, he'll be back now.
Speaker 7 (04:09):
Sure, he's all the time telling me we got the
best Irish coffee in town.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
That's all he drinks.
Speaker 7 (04:13):
Thought figures will be here to get them right away.
I see him.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
I'll give you a call, thanks, man.
Speaker 7 (04:17):
Sure up, it's the guy you're after. Yeah, so do
we seven? Geez a lot of money. You can buy
an awful lot.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
With that, and we better take it easy.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Yeah, better not hit that Irish coffee too hard.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Three weeks previously.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
On Monday, January nineteenth, at nine.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Forty am, a masked man had walked into a supermarket
at the corner of Wall Canyon Boulevard and Camarillo.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Street and held up the store for a total of.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Seven thousand, three hundred and sixty seven dollars. The alarm
had gone out immediately, but the hold up man succeeded
in getting.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Out of the area.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
All routine procedure had been followed, but it resulted in
no information to put us any closer to the thief.
Local broadcasts and ATV's has been gotten. The description of
the thief had been taken and checked through the stat's office.
All leads had been followed up without result. The phone
call from the bartender appeared to be our first break
in the case. Frank and I went back to the
city hall and checked the name Nick and the description
(05:13):
through the moniker file and R and I there.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Were only four possibles turned over to her.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
We showed the mug shots to the bartender, but he
couldn't give us some identification. We got the home address
of Madge, the cocktail waitress, and we went out to
see her, but Landleady told us that she wasn't home
and that when the girl had left she said.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
She'd go straight to work.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
We waited for her at the bar, but after talking
to her, we had no additional information to work with.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
The following morning, we began to canvas the neighborhood.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
We talked to shopkeepers and stalled in several clothing stores.
We found clerks who thought they remembered the man, but
they were unable to give us any information on him.
Late that afternoon, we talked to a jeweler. We asked
if he had a customer who might fit the description
of the suspect.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Yes, sir, seems to me I remember a man like that.
Speaker 5 (05:55):
What can you tell us about it?
Speaker 6 (05:56):
Mister Hobbs, Now much bought quite a bit of merchandise.
What did you wanna know?
Speaker 5 (06:01):
Could you give us his name?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I'm afraid not.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
How about receipts or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
No, so it's a case sale. There's no reason to
take his name.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Uh huh.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Can you give us any information on him at all?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Maybe if you could tell me what this is all about,
I could help you out.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Well, it's a police matter, mister Bob.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
You mist understand the sergeant.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
I wanna do what I can, but it's rather difficult
without knowing exactly what did you're after?
Speaker 5 (06:21):
Well, we wanna find 'em.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Man.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Any information you have that'll help us do that'll be appreciated.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Ray, there's nothing I can do for you.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Well, how about the things he bought?
Speaker 2 (06:28):
You want to complete list?
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
How much do you buy it?
Speaker 7 (06:31):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
I have to look it up?
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Just a minute, I see, keep a record of your sales?
Do you?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And I have to for tax purposes?
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Just a minute?
Speaker 6 (06:38):
Uh huh mmm not certain of the date? Take a
minute to sign uh it sho, take your time? See yeah, yeah,
here it is. But a gold tie bar set, a cuff,
(06:58):
flanks and the wristwatch.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Can you give us a description of the goods?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Playing? Gold tie bar?
Speaker 6 (07:03):
Square ends, couplanks were playing sort of square design, no
relief work.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
How about the watch?
Speaker 2 (07:09):
So Paddick Philippe solid gold.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Anything about the watch that would make it easier to identify? No,
he got a record of the case? A movement number?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
You want that it might help? Yeah? I ain't got it?
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Point I find How do you pay for this merchandise
in cash? Yes, sir, But what about the denominations of
the bills? Would you remember what they were?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Mmm?
Speaker 6 (07:26):
I'm sorry, sergeant, I can't help you. There was a
while ago, and I don't remember.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Is there anything at all about the man that might
help us identify him? An accent?
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Maybe way walk way dress.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
No, he was well dressed conservative.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
We'll accept the tie that was rather a jarring. He
had on a dark flannel suit, button down collar, black shoes.
Everything went together except the tie. He was bright red.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
What about his speech?
Speaker 5 (07:51):
Was there anything there?
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Not that I remember?
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Nothing else about him? No, sir, Well all right, mister Hobbson,
will leave one of our cards with you.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
If you think of anything else, we'd appreciate a.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Call mm hm, ask for humans to pretty well.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
He didn't, or Frank Smith here.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
H if I think of anything, if you'll get.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
The numbers on the watch for us, Cliff, Oh.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yeah, I almost forgotten.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Say there is something, yeah, I see.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
When he bought the new watch, he was wearing one,
uh huh. Asked me if i'd give him anything for it,
wanted to trade it in.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
I told him it wasn't worth anything to me. Suggested
that he try to sell it to a second hand store. Yeah,
he said he's seen the last of hawk shops.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
He said, if I didn't wanna buy the watch. He'd
make me a gift of it.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Well, did you take it?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
He left it there? He still have it?
Speaker 6 (08:32):
I think it's still in the back. I got a
box the old parts his watch might be in there.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
I wonder if you'd mind checking its Yeah, it's a minute.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Let's see if I can find it. Huh what do
you think?
Speaker 5 (08:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
It might be something I would do for a break. Yeah,
he's gonna tag the office after this. Yeah, I guess
so you gonna go home for dinner?
Speaker 2 (08:51):
No, not tonight.
Speaker 9 (08:52):
He's got the girls from the Bridge Club coming over.
I thought i'd go buy Alan Lumbs, get some shrimp
and lobster.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Do you wanna go with me? Where Alan Lumbs? Oh?
Speaker 5 (08:59):
Yeah, good lunster.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
P Sure, I'll do way And here it is?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Watch is in here?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Now somepots?
Speaker 5 (09:06):
What kind of a watch is?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
It's a mm off brand? Should be here someplace?
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Let this one here broken? Huh?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Let me see?
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Oh yeah? Why oh nothing special? Kind a nice looking
thought of it? Work. We might be able to make
a deal.
Speaker 6 (09:21):
If I sawd you that one, I'd be in jail tomorrows. Sure, uh,
oh wait a minute, here here it is?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
This is it? Yes?
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Sir, Well, now, is there anything about the watch that
it'd make it possible to tell.
Speaker 5 (09:33):
Where it was bought?
Speaker 6 (09:34):
No, it's a cheap brand. Most of the drug stores
in town carried them.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
Huh, what if you might if we take it with us,
we'll give you a receipt.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
It won't be necessary.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I try to appreciate it, mister house, if we'd better give.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
You a receipt, alright and get the book. Oh, I
just thought of something.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
It might not work, but worth a try, Yeah, sir,
what's that just a minute? Yeah he did, sir, Yeah,
the watch repaired at one time or another.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
You see here, let me see.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
I don't believe I see what you mean.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Well, here see the initials there and the numbers.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
It's r J one O five six sevens.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
And yeah, that's the initials of a watcher family worked
on the watch.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
That should make it.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Pretty simple, ton't Yeah, sure it will help. Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Simple.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Oh, they have to find our Jang. That's the name
of the man who had work number one O.
Speaker 6 (10:23):
Five sixty seven. He should be able to give you
the name of the man you're looking for. Oh it's simple.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yes, it's not quite that easy, but it's a place
to start. We left the jeweler and we went back
to the office. We checked the phone book for a
watch repairman with the possible initials of r J.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
Frank got on one phone and I got on another.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
There's a long chance that the watch had been bought
and serviced in Los Angeles.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
We went through the watch repair.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Companies where the initials we were looking for, and then
we started at the top of the list of jewelry concerns.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
I think that's right. Say thank you all the information
we can. Yes, sir, thanks a lot. Good bye.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
No, I wouldn't be able to tell you anymore now
bye bye.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
I got nothing.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Well, we better get on her. We're gonna have to
wait until tomorrow five twenty. Most of the places closed
a few minutes, so let's stay with it.
Speaker 8 (11:16):
Yeah, it's getting so I can't see the numbers on
this dial anymore.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Oh, this is Sergeant Friday, Los Angeles Police to fin.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Yes, this officer Frank sman.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
No, there's nothing else. We have a watch repairman.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Who uses one.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
If you can give your information, well that's our kay.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Yes, sir, do you have a watch repairman? I use
the initials r J. No, sir, no one, look and
James m hm, and we'd.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Like nothing at all, Yes, ma'am, all right, see thanks,
I'll wait bye, thank you.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
I'll hang on. Nothing here.
Speaker 9 (11:52):
I know.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
Maybe we got a dead end.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Yeah, she's gone to look here I see m M
what's that?
Speaker 5 (12:03):
Hello?
Speaker 4 (12:03):
This is sa Hey, hold Joe, I got one minute.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Hold on, Yeah, that's right, just Frank Smith. Hang on
a minute. I got one just Frank Smith. Robbery detail.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
Uh huh.
Speaker 9 (12:15):
Can you tell me who who gave you the work number?
Speaker 3 (12:19):
No?
Speaker 8 (12:19):
Can you tell me who you gave the work number?
One O five six seven too, that's right, one O
five six seven, yes, or I'll hang on.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
You got a guy now, he's checking it. Look good.
Well it might be place down on fifth West fifth.
Speaker 8 (12:35):
Let's go from Yeah, hello, sir, Yeah that's right, five
six seven.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
No, it's nothing important. Well I may call you.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Have an ad one. Thank you very w you remember
him at all? Mm hmm, well thanks very much. We
get in touch with you.
Speaker 8 (12:53):
Well, according to this guy, the watch is brought in
by Mike Langley.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Well maybe we know who we're looking for.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Now. Well, there's another problem. You know, there's no address
on Langley.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
We checked the name of Langley through our and I,
but without any description to work with, it was a
little chance that we'd find anything. We checked the description
on the arrest reports against that of our suspect, and
we ruled out all the possibles that we came up with.
We checked the name in the phone book, but we
found no listing. We checked the city directory without result.
Six fifteen PM, we got in touch with the utility
companies and asked them to check their records. They told
(13:32):
us they'd call us back by the next morning with
the information. Wednesday, February eighteenth, nine twelve am, Frank and
I were in the squad room.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
I got it.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Robbery.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Friday, Yes that's right, okay, yeah, go ahead, twenty six
forty seven. Gilbert, that's g is in George il b
e Ert.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Yeah okay. Well how long have they had that service?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Huh, all right, you bet you thanks very Friday, Yes, right,
thanks very much.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
They came up with it.
Speaker 5 (14:09):
Huh yeah, it looks real good here.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
Service started on Friday, January sixteenth, Yeah, two days before
the robbery.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
Nine fifty two am. We made another check at R
and I and then we.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Left the office.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
We drove out the Hollywood Freeway, turned off at Vermont
and drove over to Gilbert. Twenty six forty seven was
the last unit in the Spanish style court. Frank covered
the back of the place and I went up and
rang the doorbell. The door was opened by a woman
in her late twenties. She identified herself as missus Pearl Langley.
We asked about her husband. She told us he was
at work. Frank and I got the address and drove
(14:46):
over to the place. Mike Langley was a fry cook
and a small restaurant on Spring Street. We took him
back into the manager's office and we talked to him.
He matched the description of the suspect.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
Very close.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
You're way off face.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Well, maybe you can tell us where you were on Saturday,
January seventh.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Huh, for sure.
Speaker 10 (15:01):
I was home helping Pearl. We just moved in a
new place the day before. I was giving her a
hand getting things straightened out.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
What about Sunday the eighteenth, I.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Worked here, It's the only job I've got. What about
Monday the nineteenth, same day, you were here? That's right.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
What time do you come to work?
Speaker 10 (15:15):
I get in about six thirty line things up in
the kitchen. We open at seven thirty.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
You're pretty sure where you were on the nineteenth positive?
Any special reason you're so sure? What do you mean?
Speaker 5 (15:23):
Well, any reason you'd remember you were working on that day?
Speaker 10 (15:26):
Nothing besides I have missed the day since I took
the job.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
When was that about a year and a half ago.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
You'd have to check with the bus he'd have a
record of what days you were here.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Huh.
Speaker 10 (15:35):
That old skim Flynny's got a note it every minute
I was in the kitchen. Probably tell you how many
eggs I fried since I've been cooking for him.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
You want to check on that, Frank.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Yeah, I want you to look at something here, Langley.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
Can you tell me if you know who it belongs to?
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Sure? What do you got right here? It's a cheap watch?
It isn't mine.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
You ever seen it?
Speaker 3 (15:55):
I don't think so.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
You've been arrested, well, he asked that, have you? No,
never been in trouble with the police.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Not in California? Where Texas?
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Ware in Texas?
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Gallous?
Speaker 5 (16:06):
What was the beat?
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Drunk driving? And nailed me on the boulevard? What'd you draw?
Pay to find it? Ten days?
Speaker 5 (16:12):
That's the only trouble you've ever had with the police.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
That's it. You're sure about this? Watch?
Speaker 5 (16:15):
Yeah, I never saw it before.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Job. Now be right back, Langley, I'd appreciate it if you
could step it up. The bus. You're gonna start docking
me if I'm off much more. How what do you got?
I checked with the owner.
Speaker 5 (16:30):
It looks like we're far out on this thing.
Speaker 9 (16:32):
Langley was working all day the nineteenth.
Speaker 11 (16:44):
You are listening to Dragnet the authentic story of your
police force election.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Detective the authorities in Galveston and talked with officers Rex
Torrean and Reuben Gooseman. They told us that Mike Langley
had been arrested for drunk driving. They went on to
say that he lived in the Beach City for several
years and that until his arrest, he had never been
in trouble. We brought him down to the city hall
and we talked to him further. The victims of the
hold up were asked to a special show up, but
although they said Langley looked quite a bit like the
(17:20):
stick up man, they couldn't give us a positive identification.
It was released from custody on Thursday, February nineteenth. We
got a call from him asking us to come out
to his home. Frank and I left the office and
drove to the Gilbert Street address. We met Langley and
his wife.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
You met my wife, Pearl, didn't you? Yes? Yeah, we
met yesterday.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
And what do you want to see us about?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Langley? Sit up?
Speaker 12 (17:40):
Can I get you anything?
Speaker 5 (17:42):
No?
Speaker 3 (17:43):
No, thank you, man.
Speaker 10 (17:44):
I hate to bring you guys out here, but I
want to get this thing cleared up.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Yes, sure we do too.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
You got that watch with you, yes, sir? Yeah, sure
you are. Oh.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Thanks.
Speaker 10 (17:55):
I got to thinking about it last night, about why
you think it was mine? Yes, sir, I didn't make
much of an impression on me at the time, but
I remembered it.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Yeah, I figured out how you got my name one.
Speaker 10 (18:05):
Yeah, sir, I did take the watch him to be fixed.
It isn't mine, but I did have it fixed.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
Who does it? Belonging to?
Speaker 3 (18:11):
My cousin, Herbert Langley?
Speaker 10 (18:12):
He got in some trouble and when he was at
Quent and he sent the watch out to me to
have it fixed.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I guess I must have forgotten all about it. You
know where he is now?
Speaker 12 (18:19):
He was staying here with us all ago. Man, the
guy here the day after we moved in the house.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
That'd be Sunday. Yeah, I remember, because.
Speaker 12 (18:26):
Mike and we were trying to get the place straightened out,
and Herb didn't do anything but set around in guzzled beer,
didn't look to hand to help.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
See here now means stand here? Yes? No, he moved
out about a week.
Speaker 5 (18:36):
Can you tell you where he was going?
Speaker 12 (18:37):
No?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
He said he was tired of being a fifth wheel
and left him and pro didn't you along too good?
We sure didn't.
Speaker 12 (18:43):
One thing I don't go is a man. It doesn't
work right around the house all day or else done
at some bar drinking all day.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
Do you know what he was in jail for?
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Herb kept Thomas was a bad beef. They didn't have
anything to do with it before.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
What was a charge in robbery?
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Where was that? Up north? Was the Sandra fell? A
real bum? I wish you wouldn't say that, Pearl.
Speaker 12 (19:03):
Why not?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
It's true? You just didn't understand him, No, and I.
Speaker 12 (19:06):
Didn't want to.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
I don't like him.
Speaker 12 (19:08):
I never did, all the time, laying around giving orders,
wanted to be waited on and foot, always asking for
something him in that lousy coffee. That was the end
when he started asking for that Irish coffee.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
What do you mean coffee?
Speaker 12 (19:21):
Irish whiskey and whipped cream? Something he heard about some point.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
Do you know where he is now?
Speaker 7 (19:27):
No?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
How about you see? Well, I haven't got the address.
Speaker 10 (19:30):
But he did say something about going back to see mother.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Where would that be Texas? He wasn't sure. He just
said he was thinking about it through.
Speaker 5 (19:36):
Did he say when he was coming back?
Speaker 2 (19:37):
No?
Speaker 10 (19:38):
Him and Pearl had a bee before he left. Now
backed the bag said he'd never be back.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
We got a complete description of Herbert Langley and a
snapshot of him. Frank and I went back to the
office and put in a call to Fred Galloway in
the Adult Authority office. He contacted Sacramento. Hadn't got Langley's
prison number. We checked the coming out mug books and
got a good picture of the suspect. This was shown
to the victims and they identified him positively as the
hold up man. A local and an APB were gotten
(20:10):
out on him, and a radiogram was sent to the
authorities in Galveston, Texas, asking them to check on the suspect.
We got a list of his known friends and other relatives.
These were interviewed, but they were unable to give us
any further leads on Langley's whereabouts.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
A week went by.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
On Friday, February twenty seventh, Frank and I got back
into the office from the main jail.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I think he's telling the truth.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
Yeah, well for years.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
It's the first time he hasn't had an honest job
in the last six years.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
Or checked the book.
Speaker 8 (20:37):
Huh yeah, Robbery Stewart.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Yeah, just a minute, Joel Chake.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
One, thanks to one one this Friday, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Uh huh, well, no, we won't hear it from us.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
How long ago was that?
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (21:02):
All right, now we'll check it out. Thanks for calling us,
right bye.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Nothing in the book?
Speaker 5 (21:08):
Was Pearl Langley on the phone. Yeah, he just got
a message from the suspect.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Yeah, he's in town.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Frank and I, along with Stuart, Creezy, Stromwell and Stoner,
checked out of the office and went over to the
bar on Wenona Street. Missus Langley had told me on
the phone that her brother and Laud sent a telegram
to the house asking that her husband meet him there
after work. When we got to the place, the suspect
wasn't there. Stuart and Creasey covered the front of the bar,
well Stromwall and Stoner staked out on the alley at
the back of the place. Frank and I went inside
(21:40):
and talked to the bartender, Van Gordon.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Hi, Joe, Frank, Van, how's it going.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
You've seen the fella Nick that you told us about?
Speaker 2 (21:46):
No, not since I talked to you.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
If you'd been in, I was sure given you a call.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
Why we got wordies in town?
Speaker 3 (21:50):
It's supposed show up here? How heavy is he?
Speaker 5 (21:52):
And we don't know for sure?
Speaker 3 (21:53):
You found out who he is yet? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (21:55):
We made him for a Herbert Langley. You got him
for the market joff victim, says the man.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Yeah, but when'd you say it was going to be here?
Speaker 5 (22:01):
Oh the way we got it sometime this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Say you're gonna take him here? Didn't try? We'll do
me a favorite.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Will you try to?
Speaker 3 (22:08):
What's that?
Speaker 7 (22:09):
Well, if there's a beef where you try and steer
him outside before it gets sped out.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
I don't want the place broken now.
Speaker 5 (22:13):
I would do what we can.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
We get you anything while you're waiting. How about some coffee? Yeah,
I think there's some left. I don't know how good
it is as long as it's hot and black. So
I'll get a couple of cups.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
You want to drink it here at the bar, No,
we'll take it one of the boots.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Okay, Hey, you'll remember. Huh what's that.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
I'll try to steer him outside.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Yeah, man, Frank and I sat down on the booth
and we waited. Two thirty pm. Three no sign of Langley.
Three point thirty several people came in and sat out
at the bar. The bartender tried to get him out
of the place as soon as he could in the
event there was any trouble. We didn't want anyone to
get hurt. Four o'clock, four point fifteen.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Hi, man, how's it going?
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Pretty good? Nick?
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Where you've been?
Speaker 7 (22:57):
Oh, I'll take a couple of weeks out of town
and had some business to do.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Uh huh how to be Irish coffee?
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, put some whipped cream on it this time.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Sure? Sure, what's going yea? You ever been up through
Washington Van?
Speaker 2 (23:11):
No, you try to make the trips sometimes. Sure, beautiful,
you have something.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
You want her? Blankly?
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Who's asking?
Speaker 5 (23:19):
Police? Officers are under arrest? They're right, stand up?
Speaker 3 (23:23):
What's the charge?
Speaker 5 (23:24):
Robery?
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Stand still?
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Get him outside.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
I'll steer him.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Here, all right, Come on.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Come on, get up.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
What a copy?
Speaker 3 (23:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Oh, look at this place. Just look at it. It's
gonna take me a couple of weeks to.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Open it up again.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
Oh, sorry about it, Van.
Speaker 7 (23:50):
Oh, this isn't gonna do much good where the place
is smashed up.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Who's gonna pay for it?
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Who's gonna make it right?
Speaker 5 (23:54):
I wouldn't know.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
See, I asked you to steer him outside.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
I asked you to steer him outside.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
Well, he didn't give us much choice.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
This is the way you wanted it. Nice to say,
But who's going to pay for it?
Speaker 5 (24:03):
I wouldn't do.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
Much good if I told you, huh, he's got another bill.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
To pay first. The story you've just heard is true.
The names were changed to protect the innocent.
Speaker 11 (24:19):
On July thirteenth, trial was held in Department ninety two,
Superior Court of the State of California in and for
the County of Los Angeles. Herbert Colby Langley was tried
and convicted of robbery in the first degree, one count
(24:40):
and received sentence as prescribed by law. Robbery in the
first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary
for a period of not less than five years.
Speaker 7 (24:52):
You have just heard Dragnet, the authentic story of your
police force in action.
Speaker 6 (24:57):
And starring Jack Webb, a presentation of the United States
Armed Forces Radio Service
Speaker 3 (26:00):
As the
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.