Dragnet: The Big Actor (EP1658)

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The story you are about to hear is true, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Fatima Cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, brings you dragnet.

You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to narcotics detail. A large hospital in your city is held up ten thousand dollars in high grade narcotics is stolen. The bandits escape your job.

Get them.

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Dragnet the documented drama of an actual crime. While 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. From official police fiolets from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force and action.

It was Monday, October twenty third. It was foggy in Los Angeles. We were working a day watch out on narcotics detail. My partner's Ben Ramero. The boss is Captain Kerney. My name is Friday. Was seven sixteen am when we got to Saint Christopher's Hospital the pharmacy. How you do yes, police officers, sister you'd like to see Sister Mary Benedict. I'm she mother's superior.

Senters down to so you say, do we're investigating in narcotic robbery?

Yes, there have been quite a few policemen here in the past hour. I believe it was the fingerprint men who just left such a minute. I have their card. Yes, they were from Layton Fingerprint.

Division, Stall and the boys from Layton Prince.

Yes, that's right, Sergeant Harlan Stall.

A sister were the investigating officers. A sign of the case. This is Sergeant Romero. My name is Friday. Are you a lieutenant, No, I'm a sergeant. I wonder if you could start right from the beginning for us, Just tell us what you know about the robbery.

Well after mass I went to breakfast, and then I came downstairs here to the pharmacy to open.

Up and keep the pharmacy locked overnight.

Oh, yes, always, we always assigned an intern on night duty. He has the key in case any medicines are needed during the night. He's authorized to issue what may be needed to find the doctor's request.

Who else has the key to the pharmacy? Sister?

Are they just three keys? Mother Superior keeps one at her desk, and you have one for the intern on duty, and.

I have one?

All right? Do you want to go on?

When I got down here this morning, I started to unlock the door and found it a jar. There no lights on. I snapped on the wall switch that one. That's when I saw young Jimmy Lyons.

That's the enduring.

Yes, he was unconscious on the floor. I see his head had been cut. He was bleeding profusely.

What'd you do? Then?

I call Mother Superior and she came right down. Doctor Spencer was summoned. He came in and started administering aid to intern lines there on the floor.

Was that when you find out the narcotics were missing?

No, not just at that moment. Both Mother Superior and myself were quite worried about young lions condition. It's really Mother Superior who first noticed the narcotics safe had been tampered with.

Your stories don't exactly job their assistant. How do you mean Mother Superior gives you credit for first noticing a theft.

Oh, my no, she's very charitable. But she's the first one who pointed to the safe. She's very observant.

I understand, Go ahead, please.

Upon checking the safe, we found that someone had taken our entire store of narcotics everything.

Is that the safe over there?

Yes, that's the narcotic safe. Don't touch that, mister Friday, No, no, never. Nothing is to be touched until the police have completed their investigation.

Clues or were the police?

Sister, then do you have all the clues you need?

Well, I wouldn't know, but the men from Latent Fingerprints have dusted everything here, so it's all right to touch things now.

That was mister Harland's Stall's men.

Yes, that's right. Oh, I didn't know. We understand. You have the inventory list, Yes.

I have it on my desk.

Here, thank you.

We keep a running inventory. So that's the exact amount that's missing, Yes.

Ma'am, cocaine and morphine. No, bird's eye, you big hauler looks like about ten thousand.

More.

Like to have a copy of this inventory system.

Would you take the carbon I like to keep the originals for my month to five.

That'll be fine.

Side of this intern lines nobody saw whoever it was?

No, Mother Superior and I have interrogated everyone. They made a thorough investigation on our own. I took notes. Yes, that's the way Father Brown does it.

Father Brown.

Oh, yes, he's an expert Detective Brown. You wouldn't mean Fad Brown. No, Father Brown, Father Brown. You people have your own detectives now.

Oh my No, he's not a regular detective. He's more like Mother Superior and myself.

Is that right?

Yes, he's in England. Saw some really difficult cases. He'll I'll show you see you right here The Triple Cross. Another exciting Father Brown mystery by G. K. Chesterton. Oh yes, I've all but one of the Father Brown books. Mother Superior has it. I get it after she finishes.

What's the condition of the intern.

He's resting comfortably. Doctor Spencer says, you'll be all right. He had to take nine stitches any scalp.

We'd like to talk to him.

I'm sure that'll be all right. I don't have to tell you. We all think this is a terrible thing.

Yes, sister, it is.

All those narcotics. Whoever took them all distribute them?

Will they Well, that's our guess, sister. The stuff will be sold addicts.

What makes a dope adict? How do they get started? Why do they do it?

I don't know, sister. I give you a lot of reasons.

None of them good, none of them good. And for a few moments of what tonight they have it, and tomorrow they have nothing.

That's about the size of it, sister.

Stars are setting and the caravan starts for the dawn of nothing.

The Bible, no, oh, Mark I am.

Before we left Saint Christopher's Hospital, we talked with intern James Lyons. Since he was slugged from behind, he failed to see his assailant, he could tell us nothing. The entire hospital staff was screened thoroughly. They could add nothing to what we already knew. Between six and seven o'clock that morning, ten thousand dollars worth of high grade prescription narcotics had been stolen somewhere in the city of Los Angeles was the answer. As in all narcotics cases, speed

Our job was to stop him.

Five minutes past eight am, we checked in.

With Sergeant Harlan's stall at Laking. Fingerprints detailed. Not much help, is it? That's all you got?

Huh?

The safest clean not a print on it, no prints anywhere in the room. Slugg the intern from behind, took his keys, tore a belt, boop off his trousers, opened the safe and Walt Stock couldn't have been cleaner.

Yeah, you didn't get anything on your end though.

Nothing.

Getle them, Okay, I picked one up. Oh isen junker by the name of Beb Kellogg is really staying seeing Steve, but he's coming out of him. Let's go talk to him. Check your letters, doll.

Yeah, what's the story on?

Wallace and Hunt picked him up downtown LA was sitting in the park car at Fourth and Broadway. I thought at first he was a three ninety, but they couldn't raise him. He's down this way.

What else?

Well, Wallace figured he must be geed up, so they roll up his sleeve to look for the spike marks.

They found him, find anything on him?

Yeah, there were two vials of them on the seat behind him, the side him. Description stuff. Got that list of serial numbers from the hospital.

Yeah right here, All right, let's go in Wallace.

Yeah, Kevin Friday's get lost of the serial numbers on that hospital highs hopped on. Check him against the vials he found in his car. Here, thanks, Joe, I feel him, babe.

All right?

Hell Augus is Friday and Romero Central Vision. I assume you want to tell us about it. Nothing to tell living High, aren't you. I'm not unusual, It's not the way.

I get it. You're scoring good prescription.

Stuff, birthday press? It from a friend?

Who is it?

I want to keep his friendship?

Who's your connection?

Baby?

I don't know you know that morphine we picked out of your cars? Hot?

Is it?

In all of it?

The hospital pharmacy was knocked over this morning. The numbers on those vials of yours match up.

You're in a real jam no numbers on them.

You might as well tell us where you got it.

I'm not going to be a pagan for you.

Nobody's asking me to be a fagan killog. That's hyph hard stuff. We don't get anybody else. It can go hard for you.

I'm not going to bite the hand if heeds me.

You want to stand it alone on this one, not the idea.

I didn't say that.

Well, one of us isn't going to go along and hold your hand. How about it? Who's your connection?

All right? It isn't going to be a long weight killogg.

As soon as Waters gets back with those cereal numbers, you can play hero all afternoon.

It will be on the twelfth floor of the kind of jail bab You won't have to wait long later either. And why don't you put one foot that cartro and the jordge you'll throw you throw everything he's got at you.

Two bottles of drug store stuff, robrick Y'll ten thousand dollars.

This is good, but two bottles ain't worth that much, and.

You only show a part of it. Maybe you got the rest of it at your plant. You got my plant nineteen thirty one, Essex.

Four wheel break. Your car's being checked out? Didn't find me more? Did you?

No?

I couldn't be that lucky.

You feel pretty good now, but you'll get a yin on. You won't help me. You never do. When's the last time you've helped us? Remember it is worse than mine. I helped you.

I helped you guys a lot. Don't you remember the Frank Smith plant No. Nineteen thirty three, Friday Night Last. I'll let you write tough Smeddy's plan. Smithy didn't have no giza like your fun on me. He was a big man. We turned up four kites on him for USh. You didn't sure I did right here in Kansas City, I've done your big favor that night Friday Night Last.

A different time and a different right.

Baby, you're kidding in the Saint Louis singing the steam. Yeah, don't kid me along. This is Kansas City.

How is you?

Saint Louis?

You're in Los Angeles, babe, Los Angeles, California.

Your kid and Clinid wouldn't do that to me. Who's Clenide eleventh from Baltimore, hangs out down at the Continental.

Hotel that's in Kansas City.

Yeah, Mardy Clinid, tough cup. He said to make a hut for me. Do you want me in Casey gave me a floater out of town. That's why I came here to Saint Louis.

You're in Los Angeles, babe, you got it Los Angeles.

Oh yeah, you're told me I'm wanna step outside of that. Yeah, stay with him away. That's it checks out.

Huh.

Somebody cut through the serial number stamps on the vials, but you can still make them out.

The two vials of morephemie found in Kellogg's car were from the hospital pharmasy. Thanks mommas, are all right baby? Now let's cut out the jokes. So those two vials you had came from the hospital and numbers check out.

No numbers on those laws.

You know you probably didn't even look at them.

Oh yeah, I look. No numbers on him. We found them all right, Let's see how you could read them.

I couldn't.

Why not?

Somebody scratched them all? Oh babe, you wouldn't know. Try how much he do I have to stand if I take it along?

Plenty? There was an intern slug on that job. Hurt pretty bad. They're going to tag you for assault too.

I never hurt anybody in my life.

How do we know?

I just told you we don't know you didn't pull this job. We haven't got any proof. Once more, what's the con.

Goes like this? Babe? First degree robbery five years to life, Assault with the deadly weapon one to ten, Violation of the State Narcotics Act one to fifteen. You can add I lose you up there. You can get a real young on by that time. There's no buzzing up at QUE.

I can't go that route. Where'd you get the stuff?

I'd rather be a Fagan than spend fifty years of the joint.

You convinced us? Where'd you get it?

Anybody turned Fagan before they spend fifty years at QUE. No, I can't go that rob what'd you get it?

Bag?

From some joy popper who I gave him some hundred bucks clean me company? Passing himself off as a croaker. I can spot a guy's been hitting speedballs a mile away. I knew he wasn't any croaker.

What was his name?

He was Scorne good someone?

Oh, let's cecil and Mary.

No I know where he got it?

Give us his name, bab.

He's a bit player in fiftures. Leonard Castle? Wherezy you're my Arizona on location?

How could to be on a location when you bought that stuff. Only this morning I.

Have to plane this morning. He was on his way mud Castle picture act to that right, you got it?

Run it down.

Ten am. We checked the name Leonard Castle through R and I.

We found nothing.

We looked in the phone book and got the number Garfield three seven one one, Central Casting, Central Castings Angle's police department calling.

Do you have a Leonard Castle registered with you?

Yes, we do.

Wonder if you could tell me if he's working.

I have his card right here. Yes, he's working. He's doing crime report for Schumann Caster Independent Production. They're shooting over it Sound Stages Incorporated.

They're working today.

Yes he is.

You're sure that company's not on location.

Oh, we have no location showing for that picture.

Could you give me his call police?

Surely he had a nine o'clock call today Stage three. Did you wish to see mister Castle?

Yeah, you shouldn't have any trouble locating him over there.

We'll find him.

You are listening to drag nets. Actual case history is taken from official police files.

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Ten thirty am, Central Casting gave us Leonard Castle's home address and detectives.

Long and Hunt went on immediate stakeout.

Ben and I drove out to Sound Stages Incorporated and checked in at the reception desk.

We showed them our identification.

We were issued to pass to sound stage three.

This is stage one. Stage three ought to be down there.

Yeah, very big, lay well, I was pretty small.

Watched the truck.

Ben think callog knew what he's talking about.

I'll know in a couple of minutes.

Not very usual. Joy Popper put a job like that. We all start somewhere. That's a good way to get around a movie, I say, but I'm walking.

Sure a thick fog, isn't it.

We don't have up. But when we get him, they're a real peace super whatever. You better hold it in red light. They're shooting in there. Oh yeah, I see what stage five? You know?

I couldn't tell you, oh clear, what's going.

Interesting?

Hey fella?

Yeah, what if you can tell us where we can find Leonard Castle?

Rosey call Land Castle. Will want to see him?

Okay, Lanard Castle, Lanard Castle.

I guess we can wait over here with the phone.

Huh, he'll be right here.

Thank thank you? Was he you call me here? Gentlemen?

I want to see you.

Thanks, Waddy? You want to see me?

Your name Leonard Castle? Yeah that's right, police officers. Yeah, there's someplace where we can talk.

Well, is this all right? I got to stick close. I might be in the next shot.

All right. You know a fellow the name of Babe Kellogg. Oh he says he knows you.

Oh I never heard him.

Be sure, put us on a.

Bellow, George. Hold the work, fly down, fly, have.

To hold it in at the lining up the show.

Have to move that route about a foot and a half to.

You're right, that's it. Hold it right there. Take a little harder couple of times. Ooh ooh, that's good it Actually give me your nink you think right here, camel left.

Right when Fred Conray crosses over the table, can you help me on a little?

Can you bring this one down about two points.

On the dimmer?

It's gone.

Time to get that already, the lift's Conrad, Yes, sir, take it real easy. Remember you don't know your sergeant's got a clue until he comes to you with it. Alright, you're anticipating a little bit. Okay, that's trying by watch that mic shadow. We' getting it on that wall.

Am I out? Now?

Not too much? We love it?

That's fine and clear. Already all right, we're.

Trying turn them over.

Rubbing see action?

All right?

You so's I get all the clues up the right down.

He's that broken window, that's right.

Last thing?

Books?

Yeah, they got them int.

Save good.

That's all this class hoole.

Alright, you never heard of babe Killogg.

Huh, that's right. We're were you at six? Is luck this morning? Can't you got men at your place checking? What's it all about?

Between six and seven o'clock this morning, somebody robbed the pharmacy at Saint Christopher's Hospital and slugged the intern, made off with over ten thousand dollars with a narcotics.

Yeah, we find you were in bed between six and seven? Are clear?

I was anybody to back up that alibi?

A lot of that.

I guess you'd know what time she generally get up.

Well, I don't know why she couldn't very well back yet she was still asleep. She's usually up early.

So she said you didn't know what time she got in? Well, I mean I don't usually know, but you know this morning. No, you don't know, baby Kellogg.

Simmer down, everybody, let's have it. Flat them off. What are you reading at junior Harry nine?

We'll make a little.

Hotter, A little hotter, that's it? Whoa ten plus?

Steve? That's it?

How about it?

Steve?

Anykay?

Turn him over?

Rolling action?

All right, you says, they get all the clues up your right in.

That's what I found.

Here's a broken window.

That's right, it's plastic with prince.

Yeah, we got on it, Jake, you said, plastered with prints, the line rings, plastered with fingerprints.

You gotta say the whole word.

They'll never know what you mean.

In Vancouver.

Come yeah, yeah, hold the work, keep it quiet.

That's really easy. Tough director, but he's a good one. How long you've been doing this kind of word cancer?

Oh?

Six seven years?

What pictures you've been in?

Oh?

I don't think you'd have noticed. They're mostly small parties. What kind of punts you got in this picture?

I play a cop?

What would you like to do in this picture? No? What's your ambition? You're gonna stand in pictures?

Yeah?

I'd like to like to get a few bigger parts if I could. It's pretty tough to try and set yourself to produce her. If you can't see you on the film.

Money is pretty good, No, isn't it?

All?

All the Pens's a different deal in each picture. You do you have an agent?

No?

I did have wasn't doing anything for me, so I let him go on. I represented that pretty hard to build any kind of a name without an agent, isn't it? What all the pens? If you can keep up a good front, nice car, that's all the constant time?

Do you really believe that? Do you touch you?

Well?

I don't know much about it. I'm not an actor.

You said you didn't know baby killing at all, didn't you? I don't know. You said you saw your LANDI at six flock this morning. No, I didn't see that. There's the Theodre or Milton director.

Would you like to meet it? What time you see your landy?

This parish Meltourne, Yeah, Castle. When are you gonna get to meet really? Yeah? No, I was still in the same thing.

We'll get a utel after lunch and you stay with you pretty kay?

What time did they break for lunch?

Cattle?

All this a company years that breaks around twelfth? Are it's only eleven fifteen? Maybe we can go outside until directors that he didn't need to Why you never want to believe the director? So I was a first assistant.

We could check with him, couldn't. Well, I don't like to do that. I hate ask any favorites.

Said he wasn't going to use you laugh for Lene, Well, it isn't a good policy to bother the first assistant.

It was probably better in here anyway. I didn't see any place sit on outside unless you have a car in the You have car?

No, I don't.

But you told us she had a car. No, I didn't tell you that when you said something about keeping up a good front, nice car?

Is that what you say? Oh? Oh sure, I have a cry. I don't know what I was thinking about. Yeah, I have a car.

I thought you said you had a car. Tell you this picture. I will drive you crazy. I don't know what I'm saying.

After's that maybe you made a mistake about Babe Kellog do you know? No, I'm sure about that.

I don't know any Babe Carson Kellogg or Kellogg you know, I don't know it.

Would you mind showing us your wallet?

What for? You want to see my identification? We see the wallet?

Then all right?

Yeah?

No, you hold it joking it up?

Quiet place, all right?

Say okay?

Right, see all right, nice and easy now finger prints Jake by action.

Alt you so as they get all the clues up your right in.

What I call it?

He's a broken.

Window, that's right, it's a flat fanker prints.

Yeah, we got im in.

I thought you see how much money you got in your wallet?

Canceled? No, you vote it just counted? Course, Oh there it is? What about the rest of it in there?

All right?

I didn't see all right, count it just a few hunder here counted?

All right? So well I can see four fifties right there on top. That's two hundred, isn't it?

Yeah?

Three hundred.

Four fifty. Yeah, go on.

I hadn't know I had this much. That's two hundred and fifty more, and that makes seven hundred. Didn't this morning? I thought I had.

There's two more tens in the five there. That's seven hundred and twenty five dollars. Castle, Yeah, doing pretty well in this picture. It's not all picture money, all right. You can put your wallet away.

Thanks. You didn't make this money on the picture. Where'd you get it? Play little cards?

This night?

Were they pretty late? Yeah?

Pretty late?

Weren't you tired this morning?

No?

Not even when you got up at six?

I said, I got up at six I list in castle.

You don't know what you said, but one thing sure you're lying to was you know, Babe Kellogg and your own well enough to sell him two miles a high grade morphine.

How you're wrong about it? All right?

Then you set us straight.

Kellogg says he paid your seven hundred dollars for the stuff you got over seven hundred and your wallet that's morn you need for lunch money.

Now this could be a coincidence. You set a straight where you're wrong.

What'd you get the money?

Turn it.

Right? See action all right?

You says, I get all the clues.

I'll be right in. He's a broken window.

That's right, that's a plastic.

Yeah, we got a man all right, But you get the money casting I told you I played card. Say won't do got the keys to your car?

I can't leave.

We'll get you excuse we want to look at your car?

No, no, don't do that.

All right? Then? Do you know, Babe Kellogg?

I don't know.

See action alright? You says, I get all the clues up your right end. He's a broken window. Huh, that's right, that's alastic.

Yeah, we got a man cut.

Right all.

Do you know, babe Kellogg?

Yes, yes, I know, I might know it.

You robbed that hospital. It's money.

I needed it. I needed the money. I had to have it. I owed money. They were gonna take my car.

I was broke.

What else could I do? I was sick once I stayed at Saint Christophers. I know where they kept the drugs. I know if I could get him, I could make some fast money. I didn't mean to hit the kittick. I couldn't let him see me.

He didn't have to be there, did he. He didn't have to beat her. I sold oldaid. The stuff and the rest is in the car and the cedar. I need the money of it.

I was broke, broke, better get him out of her.

Ben, Come on, Casle, that was a great meeting. My name is Melton Man, directing this picture. You the boys agent, No, sir, never heard him read better. Funny thing though, Yeah, in front of the camera he goes to the dogs.

The story you've just heard was true, only the names were changed to protect the innocent.

On January twenty eighth, trial was held in Superior Court Department ninety one, City in County of Los Angeles State of California in a moment the results of trial.

And now here is our star, Jack Webb, thank you the working detective. In reaching the solution of a crime depends on the combined efforts of many minds, in many hands, the crime lab, state and federal peace officers, and you the citizens. And so with Fatima, the combined efforts of many go into their blending and manufacture. Skilled hands working with the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos make Fatima extra Mile, best of all long cigarettes. If you're a long cigarette

Leonard Francis Castle was tried and convicted of first degree robbery and violating the State Narcotics Act. He received sentences as prescribed by law. Alfred Babe Kellogg was convicted of violating the State Narcotics Act. Both men are now serving their terms in the state penitentiary. You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police W. H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department.

Fatima Cigarettes, the best of all long cigarettes, has brought you drag Net from Los Angeles. Sarah Berner is delightful in Sarah's Private Caper. Next on NBC, this.

Is Andrew J. Graham, author There was Surface series, Oh and a Man of His Wife.

You're listening to the great Detectives of Old time Radio.

Welcome back.

Well.

In this episode we heard one of the most inaccurate things you'll hear in a drag Net episode. Of course it's a minor point, but since it revolved around the world of mysteries and detectives, I've got to call it out. And that is the reference to Father Brown. Clearly they thought it would be kind of cute to put in a father Brown reference since this was happening at a Catholic hospital. But two things. One, Father Brown was never known for carrying around a notebook. If he was known