 The Equitable Life Assurance Society presents this is your FBI This is your FBI The official broadcast from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation presented as a public service by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and the Equitable Society's representative in your community Tonight while you're listening to this program your telephone may ring Yes, this is the Radio Checking Bureau. Is your radio turned on? Why yes is what program are you listening to please? It's this is your FBI just starting Do you know who sponsors that program? Sure? I do. It's my good friends the Equitable Life Assurance Society Just last Wednesday my equitable representative told me about a special life insurance plan for men on the way up Believe me. That's a great idea Naturally, I know that this is your FBI is sponsored by the Equitable Society and in 15 minutes I'll give you full information about the Equitable Society's plan for men and women on the way up Tonight's FBI file the Henpeck thief Crime as a business Is in the midst of a great boom at the moment With more than five thousand major crimes being committed in the United States every day But do not labor under the delusion that those are five thousand successful crimes The prison population of the country is larger today than it has ever been and it continues to grow Even those engaged in a life of crime who have not yet been caught do not live the life of ease that popular fiction would have you believe For the criminal in choosing his career of crime has automatically sacrificed many of the comforts which you law abiding citizens take for granted The night file opens in a small apartment located in the residential section of San Francisco One of the occupants of the flat Phyllis West is just answering the front door Hello Phyllis Oh, hello Mom, come on in Thanks I was doing some shopping in the neighborhood. I said I'd drop by and see you Yeah, I'm glad you did Where's that husband of yours? Right He's here Where? In the bedroom Still sleeping Well, yes Phyllis, do you know what time it is? It's two o'clock in the afternoon and he's still pounding the pillar Phyllis He didn't get home until very late Was he working? No Any sign of him getting a job? He told me he'd got some things lined up Oh, he's been handing you that for a month Phyllis, I'm going to have a talk with him. After all, you're my daughter and I won't stand by Hey Phyllis, have you seen my... Oh, hello Mrs. Bartow Good morning Phyllis, have you seen that new striped tie? Yes, it's in the whole closet. I'll get it Just a minute Let him get it himself Huh? She's not doing any more waiting on you What is it? Sit down Sit down, I said Okay Now, I'm going to have a talk with you Please, mother You keep out of this Young man, when my daughter married you, it was against my better judgment But I agreed to the match because she believed you had a very bright future Well, you've been married three years now, and what's happened? Well, I've been doing things, Mrs. Bartow You've barely made enough to live on I just haven't got the brain Oh, stop 16-year-old kids are stealing better than you are No, that ain't so Look at the papers Every day they say crime waves are getting bigger and bigger That's just publicity Well, whatever it is, you're not cashing in on it I'll lay you off, will you? Why, when my husband was alive, he stole better in depression years than you could with a boom on All right, I've heard enough of this Hell, where are you going? I'm getting out of here I haven't finished with you, young man Oh, yes, you have Bartender Hey, Bartender Hello, Alan Oh, hello, Duke Sit down Thanks Hey, where's that bartender? He's busy Loading in some ice I need some whiskey, Duke You seem to be doing okay now, Alan Oh, I'm just getting started, boy What are you celebrating? I'm just saying a celebration It's a wake What's wrong? Everything Can't be that bad Duke, I've just been thinking about something Want to hear? Sure, why not? Years ago, way, way back when I was a kid I lived with my uncle That son of a kind and my mother and father were dead My uncle was a nice enough guy Strictly a nine to five character You know, legit Yeah I guess I'd still be with him But it wasn't for one thing What's that? He had a stupid wife And a mean mother-in-law I figured, well, there you are That's what happens to legit So I ran away and became a thief I see Figured I'd get action You know, high-living, all that stuff I've been a thief for over 10 years And what have I got to show for him? Stupid wife, mean mother-in-law You do need a drink That's where I'll buy you one of these As soon as the bartender gets back Look, Duke Duke, do you happen to know my mother-in-law? Oh, yes What a nag, huh? I remember her when her husband was alive She is a forceful woman All the time she's asked me to do something big Gotta have me to be a star or something See, I make gout all right Duke, I crack as good as safe as any guy in the business Just haven't got the brakes Well, I'm glad I ran into you Why? You may be just the man I'm looking for What do you mean? I'm gonna job-lend up It's a real big job One that would actually make your mother-in-law proud of you No kidding, Duke What's the setup? Let's get a drink at the bar Then we'll go someplace private and talk Two days later at the local FBI field office Special Agent Taylor is just completing the phone concentration Oh, Sheriff, I guess I have all the details now Yes, I'll be up there in half an hour Right, bye Morning, Jim Oh, morning, Elliot If you're not busy, we could go over that Wilton fire Well, not right now, Elliot, I've got to run up the street What for? Well, Sheriff up in Canton just called They had a bank robbery at their last night Really? What's the story? The thieves gained entry through a skylight on the roof Uh-huh They cut the alarm wires, then blew the vault How much did they get? That's the, um, $18,640 Wow Any leads, Jim? Well, Sheriff said there were a few clues, but the bandits themselves made a clean getaway Oh I'm going up there now Can I do anything for you here at this end? Nothing that I know of now I'll be in touch with you later Mom, gee, I'm glad you're here Soon as I got your message, I ran right over Well, what's wrong? It's Al Well? I'm worried about him What did he do now? He didn't come home all night Oh, is that all? Mother, he's never done this before I hope he makes it a habit permanently Mother, you shouldn't say those things I love Al I know Have you tried to locate him? How? Call saloons, fool rooms, bookmakers Oh, he wouldn't be at any of those places How do you know? He wasn't when he called When did he call? Last night, about midnight Said he was going to do a real big job When that we'd both be very proud of That'll limit him That eliminates pool rooms and bookmakers Huh? Just call the saloons He must be drinking Oh, he was very serious Look, I've heard his routines before This time, he's not getting away with it I'm waiting here until he gets home Hi, Jim Oh, hello, Alire Why don't you get back? Just a few minutes ago How'd you make out up there? Well, I didn't come up with anything definite on the identity of the bank robbers But I did get a couple of fairly good leads What are they? It appears that two men did the job How'd you arrive at that? Well, I didn't come up with anything definite on the identity of the bank robbers But I did get a couple of fairly good leads How'd you arrive at that? Well, as you know, the bank was entered through a skylight on the roof Yes They used the ladder to get onto the roof and were still propped against the rear wall of the bank Oh The ground was pretty soggy back there and at the base of the ladder there were two distinct sets of footprints Did you take an impression of them? Yes, casted there on my desk Oh, yes I also measured the strides The laboratory should be able to give us the approximate weight and height of the men What else did you get? Well, apparently only one of the men climbed the ladder There was only one set of muddy footprints on the roof The other man acted as a lookout? Evidently This first man broke the skylight glass to gain entry Oh, I found this piece of material that could have been torn from his coat It was caught on a broken glass Any fingerprints, Jim? Yes, I picked up several distinct prints on the skylight They're in that envelope there What'd you get inside the bank? Well, a cracksman muffled the safe before he blew it open but that won't do much help to it Why not? He used army blankets and they're on sale now to the general public so they'd be pretty difficult to trace Well, Jim, that looks as if you've got everything but the bandits themselves I'm hoping the laboratory will fill that in for us Phyllis, will you stop that crying? I can't help it Look, nothing's happened to him He'll be home No, he won't, Mommy I'm not sure of it now Al's left me Oh, don't be ridiculous I know he has He just got fed up with you picking on him the way he used to Now just a minute, Phyllis You've been very mean to him, Mommy He's a very sensitive fellow Look, for the last time Al, is that you? Yeah, honey There, you see, what did I tell you? Oh, Al, I'm so glad to see you What's the matter, baby? I've been worried to death about you Look, I told you I was going out on a job Now, let's have the real story What do you mean? Where you've really been I took a bank last night You what? It's done a bank job, not off 18,000 I don't believe it No? Take a look this morning's paper right here Front page Oh, let me see Baby, right here, you see Daring up state bank robbers Let me look First national bank of Tandem was robbed last night of over 18,000 dollars Daring bandits gained entry through skylight Daring bandits, that's it Oh, Al, that's wonderful Well, what have you got the same, Mrs. Bartow? I'm done That should sort of make you change your mind about me now, huh? Of course, doesn't it, mommy Wella? You were all the time at me to do something big Is that big enough for you? Yes, I guess it is Okay Baby, I'm hungry Oh, you're messy How about fixing me some food? I'd like a little attention around here Mrs. Bartow Yes, sir Get out in the kitchen, give your daughter a hand Oh, yes, of course I would Wait a minute Well? You say you got 18,000 dollars for the job That's right Where is it? I'm getting it tomorrow You're what? Well, the guy I'd done the job with took it back to his hotel See, some of it was in securities He's taking them to a fence I don't believe it I'll call his hotel and prove it Hello? Would you get me the central hotel? Who is this guy you've done the job with? Duke Shelton Duke Shelton Yes, sir Duke Shel... oh, you stupid... You let him take all the money? Yeah, why? He's the biggest double-crosser in the business Oh, you're crazy Duke Shelton is awesome Of all the people Hello, Mrs. Shelton Mother, how do you know about this, Mr. Shelton? He pulled the same deal on your father years ago Hello? Huh? Are you sure? Oh, what is it? He checked out Tonight's FBI file will be reopened in just a moment Now, a special message to men and women who are on the way up The people who are going to open their doors to good news like this soon Hey, Mary, I gotta raise a big one We're going places If you're that kind of person bound and determined to get ahead then be sure to investigate the Equitable Society's special life insurance plan for men and women on the way up a plan for people of all ages who expect to be earning more money three years from now You mean that the Equitable Society takes my chances of future success into consideration? It certainly does The Equitable Society's plan on the way up has these three advantages First, it gives you and your family needed protection right now Second, this Equitable Plan provides for readjustments in the future Five years from now when you're making more money you can make up your mind whether you want more protection or bigger cash values or you may decide to work out a retirement program Third, this Equitable Plan is flexible at all times can expand or contract as you see fit That sounds like a smart plan to me Where do I find out about it? There's nothing easier Ask your Equitable Society representative for full information on the Equitable Plan for men and women on the way up phone him as soon as possible or send a postcard care to this station to the Equitable Society That's E-Q-U-I-T-A-B-L-E The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States And now back to the FBI file The Henpecht Thief There are many widespread misconceptions about the criminal population of the country a population numbering close to six million people Some of those misconceptions are that all criminals are stupid people who have had no educational advantages Another is that there is a criminal type who can be recognized and is distinguishable from the honest, law-abiding citizen And perhaps the most widespread incorrect notion is that they are loyal to each other The Bromide words it there is honor among thieves As can be seen from tonight's case from the files of your FBI nothing could be further from the truth No criminal has any loyalty to another criminal for one basic reason His mind is incapable of understanding the rudiments of loyalty Above the mythical coat of arms of every criminal is a motto which reads It's every man for himself The night file continues at the San Francisco field office of the FBI Special Agent Jim Taylor is seated at his desk Say Jim, any report from the laboratory on that bank robbery? Yes, I should say there is What'd you get? First of all, one of the bandits has been identified His name is Al West Did they get that from the fingerprints? That's right What's his record? Two arrests were safe-cracking Well, they were local jobs didn't come under our jurisdiction Any idea where to find him? Well, police headquarters gave me an address for him I checked and found he'd lived there until a year ago but he moved and that's where the trail ends I see We've got a trace out on him now, though What about the second man? Well, the only identification we have on him is the one that the laboratory reconstructed How? We're judging by the depth of his footprint the length of his stride He was a big man, six feet one or two weight over 250 pounds That doesn't suggest anyone I know of all of him We're checking on a... Oh, excuse me Special Agent Taylor Oh, yes, Sergeant You did? Well, let me have it, please 920 Oak Street Got it Thanks a lot, Sergeant Bye Well, that's a break What, Jim? That was Sergeant Myers at police headquarters He picked up our western suspicion about a month ago If he's living then at 920 Oak Street I'd better get right over there What? Want me to fix you some coffee? No A sandwich, maybe? I don't want nothing I wish you wouldn't act this way Oh, baby, I feel awful I figured at last I'd done something big Something even your mother would be proud of She's really got me nailed now She understands, I'm sure she does Then why didn't she let me go over to Duke Shelton's hotel? Why did she have to go? She's handled these things before, Al She knows better what to do Well, I could find out where he's gone as good as she could Well, maybe Look, are you rooting against me too? Of course not Well, then why do you... Was that you, Mom? Yeah How'd you make out? Well, I had to spread a little dough around But I finally got a line on where Shelton's gone Who from? Guy at the transportation desk I slipped him 20 bucks and he told me that Duke had bought a plane ticket to Los Angeles Look, that's a break Los Angeles, that's a big place That don't tell us much If we could find out one thing, it could tell us plenty What's that? Is there a racetrack open down there? Yeah, sure That's all we need to know Why? I know Duke Shelton Every time he's ever made a score he's fed it right back to the horses Well, I don't say he'll do it this time Young man Once a horse player always a horse player We're flying to Los Angeles Oh, straight apartments What number are you calling? Now, you got their own number Oh, excuse me Yes? I'm looking for Mr. Al West He's not in When is he expected back? Not for some time He went out of town I'm a special agent of the FBI Hmm? They're my credentials Oh, I see Now, do you know where Al West is going? No, sir He left about two hours ago His wife and his mother-in-law were with him They said they were going out of town indefinitely I wonder if I can see their apartment I have a warrant here Oh, sure thing Excuse me, let me get this call first Certainly Oak Street Apartments Just a minute This is a call from Mrs. Bartel She's West's mother-in-law Oh, find out who it is Yeah Who's calling, please? I see Hold it The transportation desk at the central hotel Let me talk to them, will you? Okay, wait a second Yeah, thanks Hello? Well, she's not in me I'll take the message What's your name, please? I see I'm a special agent of the FBI I wonder if you'd wait at the hotel for me I want to get all the details Well, Elliot, over here Oh, fine Pop in Right Oh, what's this all about? Well, I'll try to give you the complete story I went over to West's apartment He'd left town with his wife and mother-in-law I see While I was there, a call came in from the transportation man at the central hotel He had a message for Mrs. Bartel That's the mother-in-law It was intriguing enough for me to go over to the hotel and question him What'd you get? Well, the mother-in-law had been over there earlier She'd given him money to learn where one of the guests of the hotel had gone Who was the guest? A man named Shelton From his description, I'm certain that it was an old-time thief called Duke Shelton Yeah, I've heard of him And he's a big man about six feet two, weighs around 250 pounds The other bank robber Appears that way It also appears there's been a double-cross of some kind How's that? Well, the woman was pretty mad about Shelton checking out Said she hadn't defined it Where'd he gone? To Los Angeles How come the transportation man called her back? Or he'd gotten some additional information that Shelton was going to stay at the El Cerida Hotel in Los Angeles Where are you going now? Back to the office to pick up Shelton's record Then we're flying down there Melissa, I'm over here Any sign of Duke Shelton? No, did you? No You know what he looks like, don't you? Yeah, a big, tall, fat man Kind of old That's it Where's Al? I don't know, I thought he was... Oh, there he is, over there Where? Right there, talking to that fellow in the check coat A tout Huh? He's talking to a tout and he's still got my change from the plane tickets Let's get over there quick No, Mom, don't go picking him We're here to find Shelton, not to play horses Hey, Al Yes, Mrs. Barton Come here What's the matter? Did you find him? No Who were you talking to? A nice guy Do you know him? No, but he's got something real good in the next race Oh, you're not only stupid, you're a square Young man, you stay with me How'd you make out, Jim? I just spoke to the desk clerk Yes He said that Shelton came here to the El Cerrito about one o'clock but he didn't like the room they showed him so he decided not to check in What about Wes? Did he show up? No, no, but I didn't expect he would All he and his family knew about Shelton was that he had come to Los Angeles They didn't get the information that he was on his way to this hotel Did the clerk have any idea where Shelton went? Yes, he hired a car to go to the racetrack Let's see, it's after four o'clock now We could just about make it before the last race Yes It'll be like looking for a needle in a haystack, but let's go I just went to the $100 ticket seller and shot him Duke Shelton's picture Did he recognize him? Yes, he's been betting with him all day How about this race? He bet number seven, that's a horse called Best Girl Just about close time I know This is the last race He won't have much chance to look for him The only break we can get is if Best Girl wins and Shelton goes back to the payoff window They're off On Best Girl That was some racer I'm not interested Oh, come on, Timberline Hey, what are you rooting for? Get out there, Timberline Did you bet on him? Come on, Timberline Timberline Timberline I like that Best Girl winners I asked you, did you bet on that Timberline? Yeah, oh, I'm gonna murder that bum in the jet coat That was my money Oh, shut up What? I mean Huh? That man over there going under the stairs Is that him? Yeah, he's sure that's Shelton Come on Oh, I gotta hand it to you, Mrs. Bartow You had the right idea I knew he'd come here Hey, look Look, he's going to the $100 cashier window He's had a winner, he must still have the dope Yeah, let's nail him right now Okay Oh, hello there, Duke Right? Duke, you remember my mother-in-law? What are you doing here? I've come to collect I've come to collect, too, Shelton For you A special agent of the FBI Mother They're getting out of here There we are, all of you Hey, what is this? Well, finding you here, too, West, I'd say we've hit the daily double Duke Shelton received a 15-year sentence An Al West five years for their robbery of the Canton Bank Thus, your FBI was able to close another file and write the word convicted upon the face of it The fact that these criminals were caught is not the important thing to you unless you happen to own a bank But the thing that is important to you is the manner in which they were caught The manner in which your FBI pursued to the logical conclusion, every clue until they came to the telephone message from the porter at the hotel Or is that devotion to detail that makes your FBI the organization it is? The organization that acts to protect you, the American people against the army of six million criminals In just a moment, we will tell you about next week's exciting case from the files of your FBI If you're what President Tomasai Parkinson of the Equitable Society describes as a man with faith in his own future in the future of America then you'll surely want to learn more about the Equitable Society plan for men on the way up Exactly how much will this plan cost me? The Equitable Man has the answer How much protection does it give me right now? Your Equitable Representative can work that out in two minutes Does this plan offer me desirable options? You bet it does Your Equitable Man will be glad to give you further facts and figures on the Equitable Society's plan Men and women on the way up Find him in the phone book under Equitable Society or send a postcard care of this station to the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States Next week, we will bring you another colorful story from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation The Used Baby Racket The incidents used in tonight's Equitable Life Assurance Society's broadcast were adapted from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation However, all names used are fictitious and any similarity thereof to the names of persons living or dead is accidental Tonight the music was composed and conducted by Frederick Steiner Your narrator was Dean Carlton This is your FBI is a Jerry Divine production This is Milton Cross speaking for the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and the Equitable Society's representative in your community and in finding you to tune in again next week at this same time when the Equitable Life Assurance Society will bring you another thrilling story from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation The Used Baby Racket on This Is Your FBI This is ABC, the American Broadcasting Company