 Chesterfield brings you dragnet. Put a smile in your smoking. Buy Chesterfield. So smooth. So satisfying. Chesterfield. Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a burglary detail. An elderly woman reports that a man has stolen $300 from her apartment. She says she saw him. Your job? Check it out. Put a smile in your smoking. Next time you buy cigarettes, stop. Remember this. In the whole wide world, no cigarette satisfies like Chesterfield. Put a smile in your smoking. Instantly, you'll smile your approval of Chesterfield's smoothness. So smooth. So satisfying. You want them mild. We make them mild. Mild and mellow with the smooth and refreshing taste of the right combination of the world's best tobaccos. So next time you buy cigarettes. Stop. Start smoking with a smile with Chesterfield. Smiling all the while with Chesterfield. Put a smile in your smoking. Just give them a try. Light up a Chesterfield. They satisfy. The documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was Thursday, May 19th. It was sunny in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out a burglary detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Bernard. My name's Freddie. Run our way out from the office, and it was 3.47 p.m. when we got to a small apartment house on the corner of Olympic and 6th. To peak arms. What's that lady's name again, Joe? Dunbetter. Martha Dunbetter. Yeah. Here's your mailbox, number eight. Must be upstairs. Well, how do you figure that? Only eight mail slots means eight apartments. The reason number eight will be on the second floor, don't it? Oh, well, I suppose so. Hey, Joe, um, I wonder who comes from Kansas. What? Well, didn't you notice the plaque out in front? The peak of arms. Yeah. That's a city in Kansas. The peak of Kansas. Yeah, sure. Well, somebody must have come from there. The owner of the builder. Why else would they give the place a name like that? I don't know. Well, stands to reason, doesn't it? I guess so. Well, you see, you're not the only one that can do it. I figured out number eight's the second floor, deduction. Yeah. I was just giving you an example. When I proved that somebody connected with the building probably lived in Kansas. Yeah. Right down there. Eight, just like you said. Mm-hmm. Reduction never fails, Joe. Who's there? Police officers. Oh, well, just a second. I'm coming. I'm coming. My goodness, you certainly got back. Oh, dear me, you aren't the same ones, are you? No, ma'am. This is Frank Smith. My name's Friday. My brother policeman here just a little while ago. Shame you didn't know who saved your self-trick. That's all right, ma'am. We knew they'd be here. They're patrol car officers. They were in the neighborhood, so they answered your call. Oh, well, I... You all right if we come in? Oh, my, yes. Oh, yes, please do. Your Mrs. Martha Dunnbetter, is that right? No, not exactly. Oh? It's Miss Dunnbetter. I'm still single. I see. Well, ma'am, would you mind telling us just what happened this afternoon? Oh, no, no, I don't mind at all. It's still quite clear. All right, would you go ahead? What was that, young man? As you go ahead about this afternoon. Oh, well, let's see. Fixed myself some lunch. Then I read up the dishes. Must have been about one o'clock by the time I finished. All right. Afterwards, I put on my hat and I went down to the library. It's only a couple of blocks from here. The Grover Cleveland branch. I took back my books and checked out two fresh ones. All right. What happened next? Well, I come home, and there it was. What's that? I come home, and there he was. Who? Well, that awful man. Well, just where was he? Here, in my apartment. No, I mean, which room? Over there, the bedroom. I see. As soon as I come in, I heard him. At least I heard somebody moving around. First, I thought it was Mrs. Parker's manager. I know she sneaks into my apartment and noses around. Of course, she says she doesn't, but I know better. Mm-hmm. Well, I said to myself, I got a red-handed this time, so I marched into the bedroom all ready to give her a piece of my mind. Well. Well, I was never so flabbergasted in my whole life. He was standing in front of the dresser, going through my pocketbook. I see. My black bag and leather. So when I was holding. Mm-hmm. Well, ma'am, how much money was in the bag? Well, I'm not positive. Not to the penny. About $300. And cash? Yes, sir. You see, I've been saving dimes for the past 15 years. Well, you mean this $300 was in dimes? Oh, goodness gracious, no. Oh. What I do is go through my change every night and put all the dimes in my dime bank. And when it's full, I take it down to a real bank and change the coins and the bills. A dime bank holds $25. I see. Well, you'd be surprised how much a person can save that way it mounts up. Yes, ma'am. Do you know the denominations of the bills? I guess they were mostly tans. Maybe one or two bigger ones. Mm-hmm. Now, what did this man do next, Miss Dunbetter? Well, he found money. My $300 stuffed it into his pockets. Then he just strolled out of the apartment, biggest life. I was too dumbfounded to do anything about it. I see. I would even tramp down the stairs. And then I heard the front door slam. When I was sure he was out of the building, I managed to get my wits together in a dialed center. Central? The operator. And she put me in touch with police station. Had you ever seen this man before, Miss Dunbetter? No. I'm sure I never did. Could you tell us what he looked like? Well, he's a tall man. How tall? Big as you, I'd say. What color hair, please? Dark. Very dark. Eyes. Dark eyes, too. Dark complexed. Like he'd spend a lot of time outdoors. How was he dressed? Shirt and pants and a jacket. Light-colored jacket. I think it was green. Did you notice any scars? Yes. Come to think of it. I did. The crossy's forehead. Thin little ziggity-zaggy. How old would you say he was? Oh, he's young. 35, maybe 40. You know if anybody else saw him, the other tenants? Well, I haven't talked to him. I haven't left the apartment since it happened. You live alone here, do you? Oh, man, no, no. My sister Bessie stays with me. Where is she this afternoon? She went out of town for a few days to visit her grandson and his family. They came down from Oxnard to get her this morning. I see. Tomorrow's her birthday. She'll be 80. I suspect they're going to have quieter celebration. Yes, ma'am. They're all carrying on. You'd think it was such an accomplishment. Well, there's a pretty ripe old age, ma'am. I don't see what's to ripe about it. It's all I'm near the 79 myself. Oh, I know I don't look it. Everybody thinks there's at least 10 years between us. And Bessie is failing. Yes, ma'am. There's a couple more questions, Miss Dunbar. Certainly, young man, certainly. What time was it when you got home from the library? 2.45. Maybe a few minutes after. No later than 3, though. I see. I'll just have to get into the apartment. Was the door locked? Well, I thought it was. Always tried to remember to lock it whenever I go out, but sometimes I do forget. Well, I guess I did today. You think he'd recognize the burglar if you saw him again? Um, most assuredly would. Nothing without it with my eyesight. Well, that's fine. I'd like to take you down to the office with us and show you some pictures. No? Just to see if you can identify him. Well, I couldn't go like this. I'll have to change my dress first. Well, I'm all right for walking around the neighborhood, but not for going downtown. Well, that's a few, ma'am. Well, say Miss Dunbar better while I think of it. Who came from Kansas? Oh, I'm afraid I don't understand. Well, the name of this apartment, you see, is the Topeka Arms, so I figured somebody connected with it must have come from Kansas. Oh. You don't know who it was, do you? Well, I didn't think. Oh, yes, yes, I remember. That was old Mr. Hendrickson's idea. Oh, well, you don't say. Yes, yes, he was the man who built this building. Well, now that was, uh, oh, goodness' sakes. That was almost 35 years ago. My hot damn flies. Yes, ma'am. How do you like that, Joe, that Mr. Hendrickson came from Kansas? No, I do. Minnesota. Minneapolis, as I recollect. Oh. But it was his idea just the same, calling it the peak arms. Kind of an article he read in the newspaper while the building was going up. Ma'am. Said there was more people in Southern California come from Kansas than other states. Mm-hmm. So Mr. Hendrickson figured the name Topeka would attract a lot of tenants. It's ridiculous nonsense. Said so at the time there hasn't been a single solitary one. Oh. 35 years. Not so from Kansas as ever lived here. 4.05 p.m., Frank and I put in a call to the crime lab. While Ms. Dunn better changed her dress, we checked the other apartments to see if anybody else had seen the burger. Only one tenant was in. Mrs. J.T. Blay, Department 6, informed us that she'd been out marketing at the time of the crime and had just returned home. 4.16 p.m., Lee Jones and a crew from the crime lab arrived. They began their investigation and we drove Ms. Dunn better down to the city hall. We checked the oddity file and ran the suspect's description on M.O. through the stats office and they came up with 17 possibilities. We pulled mug shots and showed them to Ms. Dunn better. She was unable to make an identification. 6.13 p.m., Lee Jones reported no useful fingerprints or other physical evidence in the apartment. 6.46 p.m., we drove Ms. Dunn better home and we went off duty. The next day, May 20th, 11.17 a.m. I'll get it. Burgary Friday. Who's that? Oh, sure. Yeah. Wendy, come in. I see. Oh? Well, I wouldn't know what he looked like. Mm-hmm. Yeah, we'd like to. Right. Thanks a lot. That was Chubb Stark. Who? You know, Stark, the bartender over at the Yellow Can. Oh, yeah. What's he want? The guy came into his place last night. He was carrying a pretty big roll. He threw it around, bought drinks for the house. Yeah. Got kind of loaded and did some talking about how easy he'd picked up the dough. Just walked in again this morning. Huh. Sound like anything to you? Chubb says he's about six foot black hair. Yeah. Scar on his forehead. Put a smile in your smoking. Next time you buy cigarettes. Stop. Remember this. It's today's biggest cigarette news. Chesterfield is made the modern way. With Accuray. The Accuray controller is the greatest improvement in cigarette making in years. And it's a Chesterfield exclusive. This amazing quality detective electronically checks and controls the making of your Chesterfield. Giving a uniformity and smoking quality never possible before. So buy Chesterfield today. For the first time you get a perfect smoke column from end to end. A perfect smoke column from end to end. From the first puff to the last puff. Your Chesterfield smokes smoother. From the first puff to the last puff your Chesterfield smokes cooler. From the first puff to the last puff Chesterfield is best for you. Next time you buy cigarettes. Stop. Remember. Chesterfield is made the modern way. With Accuray. Put a smile in your smoking. Just give them a try. Light up a Chesterfield. They satisfy. Mike and I drove out to the yellow cat bar on Figure A. Chubb Stark, the bartender, pointed out a husky man sitting in a corner booth. We went over to talk to him. Keep your hands on the table and stand up. Police officers on your feet. Okay, okay. All right, you can sit down again. What's up, Neaton, you guys? What's your name? Why? Come on, what is it? Port Long, Ralph Port Long. Where do you live? Hotel around the corner. How long have you been staying here? Since last night. How about before that? Back East. They just got in town yesterday. Where abouts Back East? What kind of a rust is this? Where, Back East? All over. Chicago, Cleveland, all over. What kind of business you in? Unemployed. You got any money? Some. How much? A bag if that's what you're getting. How much money you got? 100 bucks, maybe 150. Where'd you get it? I borrowed it. Who from? Powell. In LA? Chicago. What's his name? Johnson, Cliff Johnson. You got his address? I don't know. He moves around, same as I do. How you gonna pay him back if you don't know where he lives? We'll bump into each other. What'd you say you got in town, Port Long? I told you yesterday. What time? 6 o'clock somewhere in there. Yesterday morning? Last night. You sure of that? Yeah. How'd you come and train? Car. You own the car? I hitched a ride. All afternoon? Riding into LA. All afternoon? Yep. What was the driver's name? Look, how should I know? I've been hitching for the last week. I must have rode with 20 different guys. You don't remember the one you were with yesterday? Nope. Ever been arrested, Port Long? Nothing serious. Well, tell us about it. Well, drunk, that's all. Where was that? Ohio when I was a kid. Anything else? Yeah, I got some speeding tickets. You ever been arrested in California? Never been in California. First trip, huh? Yep. You ain't exactly making me feel at home, either. In the apartment house, call it the peak of arms. Where about? Sixth in the Olympic. Where is that? In LA. Look, can't you get nothing straight? I've never been here before. How about giving me an answer? Why the roust? Come on, let's go. What for? We'll show you the sights. For instance? City Hall. Frank and I took the suspect into custody for further questioning. 12.16 p.m., we ran the name Ralph Port Long through R and I. They had nothing on him. We put out an APB with his description stating that he was in our custody. The bulletin requested any information about the suspect and was marked attention to Chicago PD and Cleveland Police Department. 2.18 p.m., we again interviewed Port Long. He insisted he had not arrived in Los Angeles until six o'clock the previous evening and refused to say anything more. 4.06 p.m., we received replies to our APB on Port Long. Chicago reported two convictions for Grand Theft Auto, and Cleveland reported one conviction for burglary second degree. We telephoned Miss Dunn better and arranged for her to attend a special show up at the main jail. 6.17 p.m., the show up was completed and Frank and I took the victim back to our office. Well, ma'am, you're sure it isn't the same man, huh? My goodness gracious, I ought to know. Yes. Let's see how you could have made such a mistake. Well, he fits your description even to the scar. But I told you it was Zickety's that guy. Yeah, you did. This man's scar is entirely different. Yes, ma'am. His hair is wrong, too. Is that right? The other man had some gray in it right across here. I thought you said he was fairly young. But he doesn't have to be old to get gray. I've been gray ever since I had my appendix out. I was only 34. All right. Well, have you taken home now? It's really a shame. Ma'am? You rested that poor fellow. He hasn't done anything. Burgary Friday. Yep. Yeah, that's right. When did you get it? No, not yet. Were you notifying him? Right. Well, I guess we don't need to feel too sorry for Port Lawn. Who are you mean? Another answer on our APB. Yeah. You were right, Miss Dunn. Better he couldn't have been your burger. Well, I told you, didn't I? He was in Needles yesterday afternoon. He hitched a ride. Yeah. Slugged the driver. Ralph Port Lawn was held pending arrival of authorities from Needles. The investigation of the apartment house, Burgary, continued. Two more suspects were brought in for questioning. Both men succeeded in establishing alibis for the time of the crime. Monday, May 23rd, 148 p.m. Frank and I were on our way back to the office from lunch. How was your pie? All right. Just okay, huh? I said it was all right. Lemon meringue, wouldn't it? Yeah. I don't know, Joe, you should have had apple. I told you, stick with apple. You can't go wrong. The lemon was good. You didn't finish it. That was full. Yeah. Well, someday you'll learn. Learn what? Apple pie is always safe. You can't loss it up. Even a bad cook can't. Well, I get a little tired of it once in a while. That's all. No reason you should. I'll switch it around some many different ways. Yeah, I know. Cheese, malamote, hot sauce. No reason to get tired of apple, Joe. Sure. Hey, Joe. Yeah? I'll call for you while you're out. Oh? I just want you to call back. Here's the number. Thank you. Sure. Bessie Maxson. Who's that? I don't know. Mrs. Maxson? This is the police department, Sergeant Friday. Yes, that's right. We were the ones. I guess we can. A little something wrong? You sure of that? All right, right away. Thank you for calling. Goodbye. Miss Dunn better sister. She just got back from Oxnard. Yeah? She says it never happened. What do you mean? The burglary. Says her sister made it up. Frank and I drove out to the Topeka arms and we went up to apartment number 8. It was 2.17 when we got there. Somebody's coming again. Well, what is it? Mrs. Maxson. That's right. That's right. My name's Friday. It's a telephone. Oh, yes. Yes, of course. This is Frank Smith. Oh, how do you do? I do, ma'am. Come right along inside. Thank you. I just don't know what to say. I suppose it's all my fault for going out of town. I should never have left Martha alone. Might have known she'd be up to something. Are you positively sure about this, Miss Maxson? About what? About what? That there wasn't any burglary. Oh, never in a million years. Well, your sister gave us all the details. Play acting. That's all it was. Play acting. She's done it all her life. Oh, I see. She's done better, isn't she? My sister is as sane as you are if that's what you're driving at. Well, why'd she tell us that story, you know? Haven't got the biggest notion. She simply won't give me any explanation. Oh, I see. If the story was true, why won't she face me? Why is she hiding? Hiding? A minute I told her I was going to call you. She locked herself in the bathroom. Is that right? Been in there for two hours now. She simply refuses to come out. Well, we'd like to talk to her if we can. Yeah, I'll try again. Back to church here may have some influence. I think we're getting a run around, Joe. Sounds that way, doesn't it? Yeah. Martha? Martha, you come out of there this instant. Martha, done better. Do you hear me? The policeman want to talk to you. Now, come out. The police are here. I won't. I won't. You never come out. I never heard of such childishness. You see, I'm not able to do a thing with her. Yes, ma'am. Maybe if you speak to her, she'll come to her senses. All right. Oh, sister, carrying on like this. I don't know how I'll ever be able to hold my head up again. It's scandalous. Miss Dunn better, this is Sergeant Friday. Miss Dunn better, will you come out so we can talk to you? Miss Dunn better? Well, it's about time. Whatever you're thinking of, Martha, what got into you? I'm not speaking to you, Bessie. Let's go into the other room. It'll be easier to talk there. Not speaking to me, huh? Well, two can play at that game. When I assure you, I won't be the one who suffers. All right, ladies, would you like to sit down? Now, Miss Dunn better, can we clear this thing up now? Your sister says there wasn't any burden. How would she know she wasn't here, was she? I know because I know you. And I know you never had $300 to your name. I did, too. Where'd you get it? Where'd you get it? None of your business. All right. Now, how about it, Miss Dunn better? $300. Well? You never said it was exactly $300. Not to the penny. $3 would be more like it. There happens to be a few things you don't know about, including my savings. A likely story. You never saved a penny in your life. What about my diamonds? I shook it the other day. I thank you to keep your hands off my property. Savings, indeed. If I didn't pay most of the expenses around here, you'd starve to death. I managed quite well before you moved in on me, Bessie. And I was perfectly happy living alone. As a matter of fact, I preferred that arrangement. But maybe you'd like to try it again. Maybe I would. I'm sure I'd be money ahead. Ha! Don't you hap me, Bessie Maxim. Not to see the way she eats. Gobble, gobble, gobble. She shovels it down. Stuff and nonsense. I don't have any more appetite than a bird. Bird? Don't nip the cooking, Sherry. Martha done better. How can you say such a thing? Because I know it's true. I'm off to the bottle. Well, whatever I do, I don't fib to the police like some people I could name. Well, I must done better. I may exaggerate the respect. Mm-hmm. You need to do no harm. I wonder if you know it's against the law to file a false police report. Against the law? There. You see? You're going to jail. I knew it would happen. I knew that sooner or later you'd disgrace all of us. Why'd you do it? You must have had a reason, ma'am. I won't dare you. Not in front of her, I won't. Oh. Well, let's see. Would you mind waiting in the other room for a couple of minutes, Miss Maxon? I most certainly would. We'd appreciate it if you would. No, very well. Very well. You think I was the criminal around here? All right, Miss Dunbetter. Tell us now, will you? It's very difficult to explain. Well, give it a try, will you? You see, it was all unkind of her. Bessie. Go ahead. I started when we was little girls. It's because she's older. She's always lured in and over me. Mom and Daddy always gave her everything first. Hand me down, that's all I got. Bessie's hand me down. I see. When we grew up, I couldn't push myself very much. She's just the opposite. Della the ball. She had a pick of all the young gentlemen in town. The only time they'd take me out was when Bessie was busy. I don't think she didn't let me know that I had second choice. The only reason she married a Horace is because it took her fancy to me. Well, I had my pride, too. Wouldn't settle for her leftovers. That's why I stayed single. I see. Bessie could have done was name one of her little girls after me. After all, I'm her older sister. Miss Dunbetter, you still haven't told us why you reported the burglary. I'm telling you. Yes, ma'am. It was all a kind of her birthday. Well, that was the last straw. She hasn't talked about anything else for months and months. It's because she's 80 years old. You'd think she's a queen of Romania. A picture and a paper of people making a fuss about her. I made up my mind that for once in my life someone was going to make a fuss about me. I see. I'll tell you the truth. I'm not a good surfer. I did it. I mean, I guess I should be sorry. But I'm not. I really enjoyed myself. And all those questions you asked me, like I was somebody. My name was in the papers, too. First time it ever happened. It was strange when you come to think about it to live 79 years without ever seeing your name in print. But that wasn't the best part. Ma'am. The best part was Bessie not being able to horn in and take all the credit. Why did you find me out sooner or later? But I didn't care. I sure had to laugh on her. All the time she's an ox now. I'd be imparted. I was having a little party with my own. Yeah. Now, you know you didn't need to put us through all this, Miss Dunbetter. You're almost 80 yourself. It's over a year away. When you're my age, you can't be sure of anything. Yes, ma'am. Besides, even when I'm 80, Bessie will still be ahead. How's that? She'll be going on, aren't she? The story you've just heard is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. On May 26th, the hearing was held in the office of Perry Thomas, city attorney. In a moment, the results of that hearing. Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. Thank you, George Phenomenon. Put a smile in your smoking. Buy Chesterfield. It's the best cigarette ever made from my money. Smooth, satisfying, mild and mellow. Believe me, in the whole wide world, no cigarette satisfies like Chesterfield. Due to the advanced age of Miss Martha Dunbetter and because of her assurances that she would never repeat her actions, no charges were filed against her. Better schools build better communities. Join and work with your fellow citizens or actively seeking to improve educational conditions. 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. Technical advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Frans Brasher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Virginia Greg, Jack Krushen, Helen Cleave. Script by Frank Burtz. Music by Walter Schumann. Hell, give me speaking. Watch an entirely different Dragnet case history each week on your local NBC television station. Please check your newspapers for the day and time. Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles. This is it. L&M filters. It stands out from all the rest. Miracle tip. Much more flavor. L&M's got everything. It's the best. Yes, L&M's got everything. The miracle tip is white. Pure white to give you the purest and best filter. And you get a rich, good tasting, fully satisfying smoke from L&M's highest quality tobacco. By L&M, America's best filter tip cigarette. It's sweeping the country. One man stands between death and 10 people on TV's new dramatic program, Mr. Citizen. See Edward Binn, star in the true story, Terror on Jack Rabbit Hill. Check your local TV listings for Mr. Citizen. Here, Dragnet, next week, same time, same station. Lux Radio Theater presents Barry Sullivan and Rope of Sand tonight on the NBC Radio Network.