 This is your FBI This is your FBI the official broadcast from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Tonight the subject of our FBI file larceny its title the adopted thief in making the decision to broadcast this series as a public service Your FBI had several objectives One of the most important was to focus the spotlight of publicity on What goes on behind the scenes in the underworld? For the more thoroughly you the people are alerted to the stratagems and techniques of criminals The better able you are to recognize a crime in the making to take steps for self-protection To make the moves that help bring criminals to justice There comes a moment in many criminal acts when if the intended victim is on guard The whole plot will fall to pieces Tonight's FBI file illustrates such a case Tonight's FBI file opens in a fashionable suburb of a large Midwestern city In the living room of an attractive home a well-dressed middle-aged woman rises from a chair to answer the phone Hello I'd like to speak to Mrs. Fulton, please. This is Mrs. Fulton Mrs. Grace Fulton. Yes, I Wonder if you'd mind giving me some information. What is it? Was your maiden name Thompson? Why yes Then in 1926 You married a man named Harper What? You went to Charleston the next year to have your baby and put it up for immediate adoption Am I right? Who is this Your son my son Yes, mother If you want to see me I'm in room 719 at the hotel central Hello Hello You're the young man who called me. Yes. I'm Ralph Putnam come in Thank you. Were you telling me the truth? Are you? I'm your son. I Can't believe it, but it's true Well, you see I I was adopted by people named Putnam. They both died this year Mr. Putnam left me a letter telling me for the first time that I wasn't their own son He said they'd gotten me from the white star home in Charleston Well, I was very curious to find out who my parents were So I wrote to the home, but they wouldn't give me any information How did you manage to find out? Oh, mr. Putnam's lawyer arranged that He got a court order and had the home open their records. I Got your name came here and the rest, you know There there it's all right Come over here and sit down. I sent down for some tea. Would you like some? Yes, please. Well, you just sit there Sugar cream just plain dear You said your name is Ralph. That's right. I see you're in the army. Yes. I go overseas next week. Oh We've only just found each other The army is not very sentimental Here mother. Oh, thank you Would you sit here beside me? Surely the son I Want you to know one thing Sometime after I gave you away. I realized what a mistake I'd made But the adoption home wouldn't tell me where you were What happened to my father? He died several years after you were born His name was Harper. Yes What did he do? Well Nothing, we were very young Does the man you're married to now know anything about me or the marriage? No Would you prefer that it remain that way? Well, yes Hi. Oh, hi, Artie. Oh, sorry. I didn't know you had anyone here. It's okay. Mrs. Fulton. This is my roommate sergeant We're all Mrs. Fulton's a an old friend of the family. Oh, I'll maybe you two want to talk someone. Oh, no, that's quite all right. I Have to be getting along Often I still met you sergeant same here miss Fulton. I'll walk you to the elevator. Oh, thank you Go ahead. Thanks. I gather you didn't tell the sergeant about us. Oh, no, no outside of the lawyer. No one knows Well, here we are When will I see you again son? I'll call you tomorrow mother Meanwhile at an FBI field office about a hundred miles away special agent Jim Taylor approaches the desk of agent Leo Graham Hello, Leon. Hi Jim. I was by looking for you a couple minutes ago. I just got back from the music hall Oh, I think I've got a lead on that stolen car. I haven't had a chance to crack that file. Can you fill me in? Sure? There's not much to it yet though. Well, where does the music hall fit in well after the place closed last night the manager noticed A car in the parking lot and it was still there this morning. He called the police Mm-hmm turned out it was stolen day before yesterday near Pittsburgh The owners says he gave two soldiers a lift near the entrance to the turnpike another hitchhike job Yeah, he stopped to make a phone call. They took off and stranded him He can't give us a description of either man. All he remembers is they called each other Ralph and arty What's the lead? Examine the car and find a couple of things Book of matches from the Chelsea Motel in Pittsburgh and some empty beer bottles in the backseat Did you check the motel the motel giving the names of two soldiers who stayed overnight just before the car was stolen I sent them to Washington along with some Prince. Where'd you get Prince off the beer bottles The owner says they weren't in the car when it was stolen. Well with names and prints We might have a quick guide then no minute anything comes in. I'll pass it along Hi pal, oh hi arty sit down. Yeah What are you drinking? We said no whiskey till this was over. You can't call Mrs. Fulton when you're mulled. We have something to celebrate What do you mean? I've been doing some research Waiter Well, you have scotch to scotch and water I Got a complete background on mr. Harper Harper the man. Mrs. Fulton was married to Guess what he did for a living What? It was a bootleg Two weeks after the wedding her family got the whole thing and out. That's why she went to Charleston to have the baby That's why she put him up for adoption That's very interesting. I also got a background on mr. Fulton the guy. She's married to now He's trying to be the next mayor. He's also very rich got you in water. Oh, thanks well Let's drink to dear old mom and her nice rich husband Yeah, Leo, but I don't understand it. I didn't says those prints belong to two men named Paul Clark and Arthur Worth Well, they're not soldiers and the owner of that stolen car so the men called each other arty and Ralph Maybe around some middle name. I didn't says Paul Clark has no middle initial I guess we'd better concentrate on worth if we find him we might get both of them. We have any pictures Now they're on the way. We've got complete descriptions. How about record? Clark was arrested three years ago for car theft Worth was convicted last year for posing as a collector for a couple of charities and now they're both posing as soldiers That's it Teletype also has a note that the worst brothers in the army of Fort Andrews. That's their pitch, buddy, isn't it? That's right. They may have gone there to see him. So I've wired the Fort Andrews MP outfit covered all the local angles No, not completely Leo. Let's clean them up and then meet back here Hello, Mrs. Fulton, please speaking Hello, mother. Hello, dear. I I have some bad news. What's that? I'm leaving My orders came through this morning. What would you said you'd be here till next week? Well, the army changed its mind. Oh I I guess maybe I'd better not be writing to you Why not if mr. Fulton sees Mayo from a soldier overseas wouldn't he start asking questions? Well, I suppose he would will you write to me though surely I Had a picture taken for you. Well, I'd love it. Can I come down and see you before you go? No, no, I'm leaving the hotel as soon as I hang up. Oh But Sergeant Worth isn't going till tonight. I'll give him the picture and my overseas address Well, where can I see him? Oh, he's keeping the room the one you were in yesterday. If if you want him to He'll wait for you. Oh, yes, please dear ask him to wait. I'll be right there Just a minute. Oh, hello, Mrs. Fulton. Hello, Sergeant. Won't you come in? Thank you Has Ralph gone? Oh, yes, he left almost an hour ago. I hurried over here hoping that somehow I might still see him He felt very badly about not seeing you He said he'd leave his address. That's right. I've got it right here. Oh Thank you, and he also mentioned a picture. All right, so here I'll get it. Here you are. Oh It's wonderful I'm so glad he left this There's a real family resemblance Huh? He looks just like you. Oh You must be mistaken. I'm you're his mother Ralph told me all about it. Oh That's quite a story Thank you for the picture sergeant and the address don't go Mrs. Fulton At least not until you hear what I have to say about what? But you your husband Both your husbands So now Mrs. Fulton I'd rather not Okay, Ralph tells me that mr. Fulton wants to get to be mayor Now it seemed to me that anything in the way of bad publicity would make it a little tough on that ambition wouldn't it? What are you talking about? I also know about your first husband Ralph's father. It was quite a character's day racketeer bootlegger It wouldn't do anybody much good if people knew you were once married to him Or if they found out about the annulment or putting up your baby for adoption before it was born Where did you learn this from Ralph? He did a lot of research He's my son. He wouldn't use any of it against me, but he's gone overseas I'm not in the store now. Mrs. Fulton. I put a very high value on the merchandise You mean you want money? That's right Well, I I Have about $80 with me $80 This isn't bargain day Mrs. Fulton my price is ten thousand We will return in just a moment to tonight's exciting case from the official files of your FBI And now back to the FBI file the adopted feet dolls our senses and our thinking and The stock in trade of extortioners and their ilk is fear of exposure This thought paralyzing fear prevents their victims from facing one very obvious fact This fact is that very few blackmailers or extortionists are ever satisfied with just one payment Once these criminals have made their first move the most dangerous for them They become bolder They are sure to come back for more Finally many victims do go to the police But only after they've been bled nearly white So once again your FBI urges all members of this audience never to give in an inch to a blackmailer or an extortionist Report any attempt at intimidation to the police immediately It may mean personal embarrassment, but sooner or later. This must be faced Tonight's case might never have been in the FBI files in its present form had Mrs. Fulton acted promptly and courageously Tonight's file continues later that day at the FBI field office Leo. We might have a break in that stolen car case What have you got you remember the owner reported that the soldiers called themselves Ralph and Artie and there was no Ralph in the wreck Well, there is now I think Paul Clark's masquerading is somebody named Ralph Putnam. What'd you get that the Fort Andrews? MPs just interviewed worth's brother the brother reported to them that the two fugitives had a letter in their possession Belonging to a GI in his outfit named Ralph Putnam This letter contains some information about the Putnam boys real mother This putnam had been raised by foster parents and he got a lawyer to check his adoption records But he was shipped overseas two days before this letter came for him How'd Clark and worth get hold of the letter and that worst brother didn't know he's clean He also says they told him they were going to make a big score with the letter You see it seems Putnam's real mother is quite wealthy Clark uses the name Ralph Putnam and moves in on the mother That's it. Well, let's get there first worst brother doesn't remember the name of the lawyer who wrote the letter did he see it? Yeah, he says it was from Charleston and the lawyers first name was William But he doesn't remember the last name I told the SAC about it and he wants me to make the trip So I'll see you when I get back Well, how are you Mrs. Fulton you're early I'm anxious to get this over with oh sure I understand can I get you something to drink no, thank you You brought the money. Yes Before I give it to you. I want to know something. What's that? Was my son telling the truth when he said you were leaving for overseas tonight? Yeah, that's right. I leave in an hour. I Want you to promise you'll never ask for any more Mrs. Fulton you're doing business with a very reliable concern. I promise Here you are 10,000 yes countered if you wish I take your word Well, I assume our business is ended. Yeah, I guess it has then I'll be going oh Mrs. Fulton I Want to thank you. You're one civilian who really knows how to keep up a soldier's morale Well, hello. Hi, are they any news? Yeah, she just left. What about the money? I got it right here Where are you calling from the motel will stay there? Why the alterations weren't finished on your suit I told the store to deliver it out there. Well, let me this afternoon Okay, I'll meet you at the ferry Where we going Madison I finally look at it that lawyer. How'd you find it? Well, I went to the courthouse this morning thumb through every adoption regular. I found partners That lawyer's name was William Hughes. He gave me a copy of the letter Madison where the mother lives Yeah, her name is Mrs. George Fulton think we ought to call her I did Leo when she was out the maid had no idea when she'd be back What times are playing? Ten minutes so unless we hit bad weather we'll be in Madison by noon Yes, we're special agents of the FBI here are my credentials Please come in. Thank you. Mrs. Fulton. This is agent Graham. How do you do? How do you do? We'll get right to the point. Have you been contacted by anyone calling himself Ralph Putnam? That's our answer, I guess. Yeah, Leo will you show me Mrs. Fulton those pictures? Mm-hmm These the menu son Yes, but I I Don't understand. Well, they're not soldiers at all, ma'am This may come as a shock to you, but the young man calling himself Putnam isn't your son isn't my his name's Paul Clark How did he know about me he and that man in the other picture there intercept of the letter to your son and use that information Your boy didn't get the letter because he's on his way to Korea Gave sergeant worth $10,000 so he so he wouldn't tell my husband about Ralph. I knew I was wrong Where did you give him that money? Please Mrs. Fulton every minute may be important In his room at the hotel central. Thank you. Come on, Leo 719s the left mm-hmm see that'll be third room down How long go to the manager say we're checked on two hours, but they haven't cleaned the room yet Here it is. Yeah I'll take this side. Okay, Jim. I think in the desk Closets empty too. Let's check the wastebasket Go ahead. I'll give the dresser a quick look. All right They didn't even leave beer bottles in this place. There's not much in the basket either That thing a letter. Yeah, it's the one from the lawyer to put them any phone messages What's that it's a sales slip from Smith Brothers department store White shirts silk neckties are girls Hey, they're switching to civilian clothes. That'll make them even tougher to look maybe yes, maybe no Let's use that phone and find out Hi, just got here. Where's the money got it right here in this package a full 10,000. Yeah That's real sweet. Come on. We better make the ferry. Okay I'm not used to seeing you in civilian clothes. Did you count the dog? Yeah? Yeah, it's all there. Hey, you got change Go ahead Did you have any trouble with her? She made me promise. We'd never come back. So I promised You're pretty good at breaking promises, aren't you? Yeah. Hey, they're closing the boat gates. Let's hurry I'm afraid you'll have to miss that ferry. Who are you? We're special agents the FBI. You're both under arrest Paul clock and Arthur worth were each convicted of violations of the statutes covering interstate Transportation of a stolen motor vehicle and also illegal wearing of an army uniform each received a five-year sentence Special agents Taylor and Graham were able to find the two deserters at their motel because Taylor realized that along with white shirts silk ties and Argyle socks Clark and Walker would need new suits a Check at the clothing department of Smith Brothers store revealed that the alterations had been completed and also the address to which they were delivered and So your FBI was able to close another case After the arrests most of Mrs. Fulton's money was recovered and returned to her But not every victim is that fortunate Sometimes the loot is gone before the criminals are apprehended So remember there is only one answer to a threat of this nature call your local police immediately This has been a Jerry divine presentation Distributed by the Colas Hoffman organization