 Here's another in MBC's great parade of new shows Ladies and gentlemen the story you're about to hear is true Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent MBC brings you dragnet You're a detective sergeant You're assigned to homicide There's a mad killer at large in your city a Woman has been brutally slain the body mutilated The picture is clear The killer has a thirst for blood Your job Get him dragnet the documented drama of an actual crime Investigated and solved by the men who unrelentingly stand watch on the security of your home your family and your life For the next 30 minutes transcribed 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 files From beginning to end from crime to punishment Dragnet is the story of your police force in action It was Wednesday January 12th. It was raining in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of homicide My partner's been Romero the boss is Ed Backstrand chief of detectives. My name's Friday I was on the way back from the morgue and it was 11 23 p.m. When I got to room 42 Homicide chief wants to see you. He's in there with Romero. Thanks, Chandler. How's the wife fine? How about your mother better? Thanks? Hi, Joe. Hi, honey. Sit down. Did they post the body in in the morning? Pretty messy strangled and mutilated the guys a maniac skipper the body shows it and murder like this Anybody's a suspect the coroner looked at the body. He says the weapon was a long sharp instrument Found her in a hotel down on East 3rd Street Manager son discovered her about 730. You talked to him. It's too much for him. He passed out Manager wasn't home. We'll check with him before midnight close to it now, Joe We better get going all right the boys from the crime lab check the room They're still down there Ed. The place is a mess and get back as soon as you can we're working straight through on this thing That's a hot shot. I'll get it Lux hotel room 219 corner of South Grandin Cordova dead body possible homicide The Lux hotel room 219 corner of South Grandin Cordova dead What is it Friday? Lux hotel possible homicide busy night. Yeah, you coming in right? Let's go Six minutes later Ed back strand Ben and I pulled up in front of the Lux hotel Manager met us at the door and led the way up a narrow stairway to the second floor the room number was 219 We were prepared for the worst we got it You're right room error The guy must be a maniac Two hotels two murders the same MO Three of us made a brief inspection of the room of the Lux hotel We took a few notes in the appearance of the girls body in a brief description Apparently she'd been strangled to death first and then her body brutally mangled Ben and I went back down to the lobby The manager of mr. Ford showed us the house book the girl was registered together with a man Mr. And Mrs. Philip Grant We took the hotel register to have it checked for fingerprints and to photo stat the handwriting Ben notified the crime lab then we went back to the Roman question the manager mr. And Mrs. Philip Grant That's all I know. I never saw either one of them before tonight. When did they check in mr. Ford about three hours ago? That's right about nine maybe a little before did they register together? Yeah a little before nine They came in together. Did you let them in the room? Yes, sir. Like I always do It's a small place here. Maybe not first-class, but I treat people right What did the man look like you remember I think so kind of tall Young maybe 30 or so husky fella had a mustache. How tall would you say mr. Ford? Oh? About your height Wade must have been at least 180 seemed like a nice fella Would you know him if you saw him again? I think so People sure don't act like they look you think it was him and you think of anybody else. Well, no I never saw him before tonight either one of them. I don't know anything about it Did you notice anything in particular about them when they came in? Well, he didn't show it, but it looked like she'd been drinking a little giggling, you know And you didn't see this man grant leave the hotel. No, I didn't I must have been checking the account books back at the desk Guess he got by me. He's a back entrance to the hotel mr. Ford. No, he had to come out this way All right, how about the fire escape? I never thought of that Say I bet you cops think I'm trying to hide something. How did you happen to find the body? I don't know anything about it honest I've been running the hotel for ten years now. Everybody knows me around here. You can ask at the bank. All right, mr. Ford Now would you mind telling us how you happen to find the body? I don't want a lot of lousy newspaper publicity give the place a bad name Can you blame me the newspapers won't get your name from us All we want to know is how you happen to find the body. Well, I told you it's a small place here But I like to treat people right a couple hours after they checked in I remembered I forgot to fill the ice water pitcher in the room, so I got some and took it up The door was opened a little ways It's got a bad catch on it and the lights were on I peaked in and there she was She was Well, the guy must have been crazy You remember what time it was when you found her well just before I called the cops about half past 11 I guess all right for that's all for now When the other officers get here show them up William. Yes, sir. I sure will remember. Yes, give her Get on the phone downstairs and call the Metropolitan Division Have them send us every available man from the reserve unit We're going to patrol the area for the rest of the night. Right. She least we can do is make it hard for them Two murders in seven hours Both of them in a three-block radius same pattern. It's got to be the same guy All right, we got a description What do you think? When the reserve unit shows up have them cover this whole section of town pick up everybody who even comes close to that guy's description All right, Ed. It's got to go fast. We can't lose a minute one hour either way it might mean another body like this one Nine minutes later at four minutes past midnight the men from the crime lab showed up it started to drizzle They went over the room in detail They dusted everything in the room for fingerprints the walls the doors the fixtures in the bathroom lamps chairs everything It took samples of the girls blood and her lipstick Small pieces of flesh and human hair were found under the girls fingernails the nails were scraped carefully and the contents put An envelope marked and sealed Ed backstrand ordered pictures taken of the room and the girls body from different angles Every object in the room that could have any possible tie-in with a murder was photographed It was raining The rear of the hotel where the fire escape was overlooked a vacant lot Ben had a hunch while the lab men were at work We left the hotel and circled around into the lot for a look at the ground directly underneath the fire escape ladder Was raining hard now Must be a easier way to make 11 Mud's almost up to my knee line to watch your step See any prints. No Way to my wife sees these new shoes put it on your expense account. Oh real fun Ben get that light over here look Yeah Good set of prints Lucky that rain didn't start turning to wash them out by now. Yeah, hand me that cover from the trash can over there I'll cover them Wait a minute what? Here on the edge of the fire escape ladder Small hunk of cloth man suit. Oh looks like it might have caught himself in that sharp corner. I Got it. All right. Come on. Let's get back. Yeah out of this mud bath Yo, huh, let me have a life you catching anything hunk of wrapping paper in that trash can Stains only open it up Oh Yeah, but your knife We went back to the Lux Hotel room 219 the lab men were tearing the room apart There was 10 minutes to one. We gave the bloodstained knife and the piece of cloth We found on the fire escape to Lieutenant Lee Jones head of the crime lab We told him about the footprints just below the fire escape ladder the knife will help us sew the cloth I don't know about the footprints. You say you covered them. That's right Lee They still look from pretty good shade. Maybe we can do something if the rain hasn't broken them down too bad Bracken. Yeah, lieutenant you and Sloan get downstairs and take a look at those prints They're good enough get a torch dry them out and make a cast right? Okay, Lieutenant. Come on That's about all I can do for you now. Yeah, I think we got everything there is to get all right Jones I'll follow you back to the lab in a couple of minutes. Okay, Ed. Good luck fellas. Thanks Lee We're gonna need it. All right Friday Romero. It's your baby for the rest of the night They get anything few prints a woman's purse under the bed. I don't know if it's hers or not no identification You're gonna be at the crime lab, Ed. All night as soon as we find anything. I'll let you know Yeah Gang of cops just came in the lobby. They asked for you must be the reserve men from metropolitan Tell them we'll be right down for it. Okay You want us to handle it Ed? That's right Do just as I told you It's better mount over the whole area cover the streets the alleys the flop houses restaurants bars everything You got a description to go on find the man that fits it. Right skipper. Don't forget the guys that kill her twice over I don't think he'd hesitate on you Be careful We went down to the lobby and it back strand gave the reserve men their orders Then back strand left and Ben and I took over we picked up another half dozen men in addition to the men in the reserve unit They were deployed over an area of a dozen square blocks It was one of the toughest sections of the city with a general description of the suspect Some of them were to travel on foot summon cruiser cars a few minutes before 1 a.m. There was a steady downpour Visibility was bad at three minutes past one. The manhunt was on For the first 30 minutes Ben and I cruise the general area between East 3rd and College streets and Alameda and Figueroa No sign The rain kept on Saddles with the calls come in All units recovered license plate to the sixth column for young seven six nine. Oh 41r 788 standard Avenue at 373 41r Unit 71 at two eight one six West Las Vegas 507 what do you think Joe any hunt you I think he's still around Somewhere inside these 12 blocks I'd bet on it five All right, you're on Want to check out a couple of these bars along here getting on a closing time. It's a good idea pull over All right, let's check them for the next couple blocks, sir, right For the next six blocks until closing time Ben and I checked every bar and every informant We met along the way the questions got to be automatic Have you seen a man answering this description? tall dark about five feet 11 180 pounds well built mustache About 30 years old The answers got to be automatic too. Sorry officer. I haven't seen him. Oh can't remember him Try the place down the street. We kept on checking the bars until they closed for the night Then we started on the all-night restaurants and coffee counters We did plenty of legwork for the next hour not a trace About 2 30 the rain let up a little and then it started in heavy all over again That finishes that block. Yeah, I better get the radio on yeah Beautiful weather by the bucket full Not a smoke. Hmm. Thank you Control for unit 80k 80k your location KMA 367 that's us Joe. You want to take it? Yeah, I got it 80k to control for 80k to control for our location corner of Alameda and commercial KMA 367 Something doing maybe no, hold on a minute Control for 80k go to the crime lab 80k to control for KMA 367 crime lab. Maybe those prints paid off. Well, I hope so. Let's go And killer sure big fine weather to work in feels like I just been swimming in these clothes Yeah, I hope those guys in the crime lab have the heater on hot bath in a warm bed. Lead me on I double around Ben hit the siren. I'll get the light right hold on Yeah, watch out for those contracts are wet You're right, huh? All right, what happened? Let's have it Rita she was coming home up the street a man. He tried to grab it. He slashed her coat Look at that. I saw him as you've been under the street light. Where'd he go down that way down the alley over that venture a big man Davis Davis you there? All right, Ben go with Davis circle behind the alley see what you can find I'll call in all right. Come on, dude. Yeah Look at her face. What's wrong with her severe state of shock? It looks like get her in the house, huh? I'll call an ambulance 80k to control for 80k to control for Direct all units in the vicinity to converge on area around st John's place from Jackson to Banning Street a woman attacked by large man with knife Suspect left scene on foot possibly still an area request ambulance KMA 367 Converge on area around st. John's place Jackson to Banning Street 80k reports woman attacked by large man with knife In three minutes the area around st John's place was surrounded for the next hour the men home the neighborhood back and forth every building every storehouse in the Two-square blocks was searched from basement to attic no trace The girl Rita was hysterical. She could give us only a bare description of her attacker At 345 a.m. A detail was assigned to patrol the area and the rest of the cars and men were deployed again in the General area from Figueroa to Alameda Street and East 3rd to College Street The manhunt went on so did the rain At 3.54 Ben and I checked in at the old city jail building second floor the crime lab Chief had back strand and Lee Jones were waiting for us heard about the call. How'd he get away? I'm not sure it was him skipper. How do you mean? Well, the girl wasn't hurt bad for one thing no attempted strangling for another thing the guy stole her purse That doesn't sound like a man were after did you get a description from the girl didn't jive too well Which she gave us he's pretty hysterical and you rake the neighborhood good every corner not a sign you find anything Yeah, Jones. Yeah, fill them in will you not one print on that knife you found boys blood But not a print your killer's crazy like a fox and how about the scrapings from the girl's fingernails? They didn't help too much really do not enough to go on gonna have a fair size bit of flesh to run with the papal ridges All we found under the girl's fingernails are small bits of skin Yeah, she probably scratched the guy up some might have drawn blood We had more luck with the footprints and get an impression right out the ground with torches and cast them about size 10 Be that's finally but how about the prince only good one was a thumb real good Got her off the wall near the light switch in the bathroom you classified you yep founded And are a single fingerprint file the print belongs to a man by the name of long Robert long. You got a record ed Yeah, mr. Meener to arrest for drunkenness last October petty theft in December The mama she chose a dishonorable discharge from the United States Coast Guard in 1946 age 29 192 pounds 5 feet 10 inches dark hair dark eyes. That's close enough. We got even closer Joe Long works as a counterman at the cottage cafe down on south flower started there last week on the early morning shift But he didn't show up for work last night. Good. Where'd you get the tip the knife? You boys found didn't have any prints, but it had a brand on it We ran it down was taken from the cottage cafe Any address on this Robert long ed yeah got it from his boss rooming house in East first Landlady says he hasn't been home in two nights Now we wait Roaming house is staked out and so is the cottage cafe just in case long decides to show up for work this morning What time you got room error? Six minutes past four all right We've got every indication that Robert longs the man we're after his description fingerprints the knife footprint his size Maybe we're wrong. I don't think so. How about a motive Ed? I think Robert long likes to kill. He's thirsty for it None of the victims were criminally attacked. They were strangled bodies mutilated How about robbery? No two of the women he killed had money in their purses. He didn't touch it Well, what's next keeper back on the street figure out Alameda. He's third to College Street Keeping that around that area and work it back and forth until we're positive. He's not inside. I Think he is At ten minutes past 4 a.m. Ed Backstrand Ben and I left the crime lab and drove to the surrounded area It was still raining We passed several patrolmen from the reserve unit making the rounds They didn't look any more comfortable than we felt At Broadway and Alpine Street Ben and I got out and started patrolling on foot again Backstrand followed in the car to maintain a radio check I must have covered two dozen blocks and a half a dozen coffee counters before we got to the criterion restaurant and donut shop Few blocks up the street from the cottage cafe Hey skipper You want to take a minute for some hot coffee? I'll keep an ear on radio You two go ahead. You look drenched. Yeah, we are we bring you some back in a paper carton fine. Thanks cream no sugar All right Ed. Come on Ben Place is empty. Yeah. Yes, gentlemen. What'll it be hot coffee? Yeah, there's two of us here Can you fix up one to go sure thing? Say on that one to go cream no sugar, right? Say you fellas cops. Yeah, why no offense just wondering Here you are Thank you Copping uniform was around a couple hours ago wanted to know if I'd seen some guy who was looking for tall about a hundred ninety pounds Mistakes about 30 years old. Yeah, that's a description. He gave me he was looking for the guy So are we say that's good that other cop came in right at my busiest time a little after two when the bars closed You know, it gets pretty rushed and I didn't have much time to think so it just said no then after the cop left I remembered you saw a man answering that description tonight. Yeah, I would have told the cop But I was rushed. You know how it is no time to think and then I remembered are you sure well I'm sure all right Whoever he is. He's a lady killer. What do you mean? No offense It was a sharp-looking dame down the end of the counter and this guy breezes in and picks her up Talks to her about 20 minutes buys her a cup of coffee and they walk out together. Do you remember what she looked like? Oh, nice looking dame not beautiful. You know more on the on the cute side Ben you got that morgue shot. Oh, yeah, you're here to you. Thanks Here's a picture. That's the girl. Let's see Yeah, that's her who is she? I don't know mister down at the morgue. They call her Jane Doe number seven Just by accident we'd come across a concrete lead on the killer's method of operation The picture we showed the man on the donut shop was a shot of the strangler's first victim the night before Evidently the killer would enter a bar coffee shop or restaurant Strike up a conversation with a woman make friends with her either buy or drinks or invite her to a bar in the neighborhood and then The rest of the puzzle was still unsolved We went back to the cottage cafe and checked with the men on stakeout not a sign of them chief How are you men covering the place back stir up in front in the booth across in the cash register? Limans back with the dishwashers. I'm at the counter when's long due to report for work Dave at five about 20 minutes to go you're lucky you're inside it's wet out there you look at all right Davis We'll be around about five right chief Let's get back in the car Work to skiver who's the next two blocks, but don't go too far if long shows up for work this morning We want to be around The next 10 minutes dragged by the rain kept on Backstrand chewed nervously on a cigar At South Flower on 1st Street the sewers were clogged with street refuse the rain backed up and filled the intersection a Group of aircraft workers huddled together in a doorway on one corner waiting for the bus It's cold and damp. I Opened one of the back windows in the car to get some fresh air in Off in the distance and close by you could hear the sounds of a big city waking up slow to a rainy January morning It was eight minutes to fire attention all units Attention all units at 780 East Main a restaurant man answering description of murder suspect About 10 blocks away and who's gonna cover the men at the cottage cafe This is a blind lead it won't take as long to find out they can handle it alone if they have to hang on Look out we're skidding That was a close one Ben. Yeah This is the guy. I owe you five bucks, right? Yeah Step on it Romero, you're more blocks keeper watch this man next one to the left got it That's the joint up ahead there. I'd watch your step and don't take chances. Don't play with it right here. We go Behind you you man Right over the fence Ben Ben look out. Look out. It's not that good. Come on Joe. All right All right goes between the buildings stop or I'll shoot the next house. He ducked into the basement Right cover me. All right. Come on. He broke through the garage doors There's Davis Dave Dave he slipped through get down to the next corner ring the block Ben Ben did you follow him? All right on his tail that warehouse couple of lots over you went through the back There it is Joe. All right. Don't go in blind. Watch out All right, you haven't got a chance come on with your hands up. He's not stopping Joe. All right, let's fan out All right, Ben cover me. I'm going for the door. All right, Ben. Come on. You're clear. You spot him. He's in a good spot. Let's move He's up in the loft. Come on. Let's head for the stairs. Would you? Easy not a sign then look out that packing chance. Let's get that punk now. We got Joe All right, then we'll blast y'all they're waiting for you with Tommy guns out there. They'll cut you down Joe just got the door open. He's making a break for it. It's crazy. He's trying to shoot his way out. He asked for it Yeah, let's take a look Maybe he just didn't like women. Maybe this is him, huh? Even the scratches that go made on his face description match five feet ten 192 pounds dark hair dark eyes age 29 Robert long killer you have just heard is true Only the names were changed to protect the innocent You have just heard the 10th in a new series of authentic cases transcribed from official files Technical advice for dragnet is furnished by the Los Angeles Police Department Tonight's program is dedicated to Detective Louis A. Abbott of the Chicago Police Department Who on the afternoon of March 3rd? 1947 gave his life so that yours might be more secure Dragnet came to you from Los Angeles If you enjoyed tonight's production of dragnet you'll probably want to listen this Saturday evening to a pair of adventure shows Featuring two well-known Hollywood personalities. You'll enjoy Brian Donlevy star of dangerous assignment Also on Saturday schedule is Richard Diamond private detective as played by the screens romantic tough guy dick pole Listen to both of these exciting programs this Saturday over most of these NBC stations This is NBC the national broadcasting company