 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 is representative in your community Since the Equitable Life Assurance Society was founded 90 years ago. This country has changed in many ways But in one respect it is still the same. In those early days people always spoke of America as the land of opportunity Well, it still is the land of opportunity just as much as ever In just a few minutes in tonight's middle commercial the Equitable Society will have a special message for listeners who agree with this philosophy We will describe a special life insurance plan for men and women on the way up Offered by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States Tonight's FBI file the baby rental racket The Federal Bureau of Investigation has just completed its annual survey into the field of crime This study covers the period from January 1st to the end of December 1948 It contains more statistics than we could bring you if we read you nothing else for the entire time allotted to the program Let us give you two facts gathered from this current report the first is The Federal Bureau of Investigation received and analyzed more fingerprints of persons arrested during the year just past Than in any other year since the FBI was created That means that the crime wave which showed some sign of letting up is now in the process of engulfing us and will Unless strong measures are taken and taken immediately The other fact we bring you is from the crime report Arrest records reflect that one out of every 20 persons in the United States has been arrested and fingerprinted Which means that the fingerprint arrest file now contains the names of an army of people an army totaling more than seven million Tonight's file opens in an amusement park located on the ox skirts of a large eastern city It is early evening a young woman approaches one of the concessions on the midway Miss yeah does Gloria Butler work here. Uh-huh. What could I see her sure go right through that door? Oh, thanks Feet off the ground in a chair. What kind of a job is that? Who's the kid now? That's just the age you finished. I'll meet you as soon as you get off. Okay, where next door at the beer garden What do you want mrs. Einstein to meet my husband Fred? This is Gloria. It's a genuine pleasure Nice to meet you. You're married to George Bucking George and quite a while Fred Gloria hasn't got much time How much do you make at the concession? 35 a week and a new bathing suit every month. How would you like to make a hundred a week? 100 uh-huh That'd be great. All you got to do is lend us your kid Junior yeah, you see we've got a list of people who want to adopt a baby You want me to sell explains the whole thing? We take junior to them and they adopt them on approval for that. They pay us four hundred dollars Then we tell them if they decide they want to keep their baby after they've had it a week It'll cost them another four hundred. Uh-huh when we go back after the week is up though We tell them that the price is four thousand not four hundred and we get the kid back Oh, that'll never work. It's been working for two years We did but he outgrew the part. Huh? Well, he got big and ugly and nobody wanted him. Oh What do you say Gloria? How's the deal sound to you? Hey, but I'm just wondering about what Whether all that easy money is gonna hurt my career. What you mean dodging baseball look you just go along with us, honey We'll have you playing third base for the Giants Special agent Jim Taylor is finishing his practice round when local policeman Earl Dawson approaches No, I had no audience Well, you're going over on the line or you want to share this tiger with me. I'll use this one. Okay I'm glad you're here Saves me a trip up to your office. Oh What'd you want up there? Oh, I've been investigating a local racket. I want some help. What kind of a racket? It's a new one on me. It's the adoption by approval giving. I don't think I've run into that one Well, the swindlers find a family that wants to adopt a baby Well, there are plenty of laws and they actually deliver a baby to the family and say they'll take care of the necessary Adoption papers all that of course is done after the family makes it on payments. What happens then? Well after the people get to like the child the swindlers come and ask for a tremendous second payment That's even worse than the old black market racket. Hey, you need some bullets, sir. Oh I Suppose they pick families who couldn't possibly pay the second installment so they'll be sure of getting the baby back That's exactly what they do Jim You got any lead at all on who's working this racket? Oh, yeah, yeah, I've got a complete description from one of the victims I'm a half a dozen of them. No descriptions. We've gotten are all so similar. They must be right Here they are. Oh, fine. Thanks I'll tell you I'll have I didn't check on this and see if we have anything on it Well, I've had to stop a couple of complainants from coming up to your office about this man to press kidnapping charges We have no jurisdiction there. That's what I told him. Well, I think I'll get in some practice, Jim Okay, oh on as soon as I get any answer from my dad I'll get in touch with it The kids who I've asked you a million times You wouldn't have so much trouble if you didn't try to feed it with one hand and read the racing form of the other Don't change the subject. I've asked you not to leave me with the kid. I don't like kids I hear take them Where have you been? To see Gloria. She's sent for me. Why she says she'd like to see junior what for I don't know Well, did you tell her we're taking good care of them? Sure. After all, he's worth more healthy. That's what I said Well, you better dress the kid up real cute. I made an appointment for this afternoon another customer Well, Gloria's gonna call me later. I'd like to tell her about what about seeing the kid. Oh Tell her to come up here next Friday. We'll have it backed by then Okay Look What well the kid spilled some milk on the name of a horse in the second race Well, maybe I should hook him up with everything in the first and then bet some time. Oh fine Look, maybe the kid knows Blanket just let's worry about his health not as handicapping, but if he stays healthy he'll win us more money than citation Grab a chair guy. You know those pictures you got for me from Washington on Fred Hamilton. Yeah, they were the right ones Well, the last victim of family named Jackson identified him as the one who tried to swindle them Oh, oh, I heard I learned that we've been looking for Hamilton ourselves for violation of the national stolen property act Well, that brings you in it too. Yeah No, have you spoken to the latest victims? I spoke to mr. Jackson. His wife wasn't up to being interviewed That's understandable Hamilton gave mr. Jackson a check to cash after the first payment the check which was on an out-of-state bank was returned Unpaid well, that's another count against him Jim. Can I get a complete file in Hamilton? Sure sure We haven't got it here in the office Washington consented a lot. Oh Earl I'd like to have you do me a favor sure name it I'd like a list of the previous victims after I've interviewed them then we can go to work Where you been working Gloria's here. Oh, hi Gloria. Hi. She just told me she's been up to see her husband. Oh, how is he fine? She told him about our little business. He liked it, huh? Well, no George says I should stick to my own profession. You mean he doesn't want you to work with us He says juniors too young to be working. Gloria. Did you tell him how good we were doing? Yeah, but he don't care But you can't quit now Gloria. We're just starting to get a little look it means something, but he ain't well You go right back. Oh, I think George is right Huh he's entitled not to have his own kid working if he doesn't want to but if George wants to call it off It's off. I'm glad you ain't mad about mad. Why should I be mad? You've got a right to quit if you want to I'll look Gloria you go on home And I'll get junior and bring them out to your house tonight. I'll run along. Well, goodbye Fred Goodbye on your top here We just to start get this thing to going and and you get big-hearted and tell her we'll give her the kid back Oh, relax. How can I I'll explain the whole thing? Okay start explaining Had to get rid of her why we got trouble with the kid What happened? Oh, I went out to see mr.. And mrs. Mason. I know I know you said you were going well like I always do I said the second payment on the baby wasn't four hundred, but four thousand yeah Well, Mrs. Mason started a cry and mr.. Make it a stop to the point. Where is junior? Mr.. Mason gave me four G's and really bought them We will reopen tonight's FBI file in just a moment now a special message to a very special kind of person Last Tuesday was as you remember the last day for filing your income tax return Perhaps as you sat at your desk filling out your form this thought occurred to you two or three years from now I'm going to be paying a tax on a far bigger income than this. I know I'm going to get ahead I know I'm on the way up if a thought like that entered your head if you really have faith in your future success Then you're the man we'd like to talk to Here at the equitable society we have a life insurance plan that really speaks your language It was designed for someone like you for the man or woman on the way up You'll understand why when you consider its three important features first Immediate protection the moment you sign the contract you enjoy the peace of mind That comes from knowing that your wife and children have the protection they need Second the 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 in other words your life insurance keeps in step with your income Third advantage the equitable plan is flexible at all time It can expand or contract as you see fit and offers you many desirable options Which your equitable society representative will be glad to explain to you So why not get in touch with him phone him and ask for full details on the equitable plan for people on the way up Or send a postcard care of this station to the equitable society. That's eq ui Ta BLE the equitable life assurance society of the United States And now back to the FBI file the baby rental racket Criminals who can bring themselves to perpetrate the crime and acted in tonight's case from the files of your FBI Must be shabby people It would however be a mistake to assume that their clothing would necessarily be shabby or that they would have any External sign that they were anything but decent law-abiding citizens It is unfortunate that criminals even those with long records do not necessarily show any result of their previous acts One notorious swindler who had spent as much time in jail as out Was able to pose as a doctor and to convince legitimate doctors that he was a bone surgeon of the first water Many an ex-racketeer who grew up during the prohibition era is now a Sophisticated easy-to-meet person who might deceive you into believing he was harmless and had put his criminal days behind him No, there isn't any way to recognize the lawbreaker For that reason it is impossible to tell you any way to avoid contact with them Except for the obvious and the best way if you receive any offer any Proposition which on the face of it promises to bring you something a little more quickly than you expected Whether that be a baby or anything else Examine the offer very carefully After doing that if you have the slightest suspicion pick up your phone and call your local police Let's file continues at the local FBI field office. Sorry. I kept you waiting Jim. Oh, that's all right, Earl I waited around down at headquarters until the last possible minute hoping we'd get some word on that Fred Hamilton alarm We didn't get anything on it up here either all the SAC wants us to distribute pictures of Hamilton to the newspapers You want to have the copies made or shall I? Well, you've got the originals. Why don't you have them made okay? Doesn't flush him out. I don't know what will oh by the way two more complaints came in just before I left headquarters Oh, my family named King and one named Leonard Hello, yeah, Bill What's that? She is fine. Hold on to her. We'll be right down. It's along That was Bill Jordan down at headquarters. Oh, what did he want they've just had a visitor down there The mother of the baby Fred Hamilton was using and she's ready to talk. Come on. Let's get out there Yes, dear put down the racing form honey I blew a bet in the sixth race and I'm trying to figure out the woman with the new kid is on our way up from the lobby Well, what do you want me to do dress formal? This is a new town with new suckers. We're gonna have to nail her kid Okay, I'll get it. Mrs. Drew and that's right. Oh, please come in. Thanks Fred This is Mrs. Drew. Oh, how do you do Mrs. Drew? How do you do my wife tells me that she discussed this deal with you on the telephone? Yes, she told me I was going to get $50 a week for lending you my baby. That's right But she didn't tell me why you want Tommy. Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Drew I thought I did explain that. No, you didn't I do need this money very badly, but I Well, I don't want to do anything. That's wrong. Mrs. Drew Did you ever hear of Jackie Cougan? Of course and Margaret O'Brien. Yes, and Freddie Bartholomew the English boy. That's right You think they were big stars? Well, they were nothing compared to what your baby is going to be I'm going to produce a picture called baby star and your child is going to have the lead in it How did you happen to pick my baby? I have talent scouts all over the world And don't worry about the starting salary in a few years your baby will be making a lot more than 50 a week Oh, really? Mrs. Drew, how does 6,000 a week sound to you? $6,000? Certainly. Gable gets it. No reason your son shouldn't. What do you say, Mrs. Drew? Well, I guess there's nothing I can do but accept your offer That's the whole story, Mrs. Butler. That's right, Mr. Taylor. You've left out nothing between the time Mrs. Hamilton approached you at the amusement park where you were working and right now. Oh, no, sir You haven't told me yet how you found out that you had been swindled Well, I went to their apartment and there was no answer So I went back the next day and there still wasn't well when I couldn't even call them on the telephone I figured there must be something wrong. I see So I went to the people in the next apartment and they said they saw Fred and Sue move out And that's when you decided to go to the police. Yes, sir Well, the local police and the FBI are making every effort to locate your baby Mrs. Butler But frankly you don't deserve to have the child. I didn't know what I was doing after what you've told me That's a little hard to believe Don't thank me thank the men in the 17th precinct they found it. Where was he with the family name Mason up in Hawthorne Avenue That's right. They were on the list. What list is that? Well, Fred used to get the names of the people he sold the baby to off a list he had Have you any idea where he got that list? No, sir Could you give you any help Jim? Well, some one thing we know now is what Mrs. Hamilton looks like Mrs. Partly here gave me a complete description on her that might come in handy Oh, why don't you go out and interview the people who bought this baby the last time all right, Jim Meanwhile, I'll go over to the Hamilton's old apartment and see if I can find out there where they've gone. I Hope you had better luck than I did Jim couldn't the Mason's give you anything girl. No, but not now. Oh, how come? Well, they both pretty well along in years Terrible shock to them. Yeah. Yeah, I suppose so. Did you get anything at the apartment? I spoke to the same neighbor who told Mrs. Butler they saw the Hamilton's move out they told me an express man picked up the Hamilton trunk They shouldn't be too tough to trace then Jim a life check to the express company I found the trunk had been shipped to Centerville with instructions that it was to be held at the station until the Hamilton's picked it up Maybe we can get them when they come to get it. It's too late for that. Oh, I called the railroad station in Centerville It's already been claimed too bad and the apartment they lived in had already been rented So there was no point in trying to find any clues there that might tell us where they went Legend Taylor speaking Yes, that's right You have good She was when what was her job there? Yes, yes, that's a big help. Thanks very much. Goodbye. Oh, that was your identity section I gave them Mrs. Hamilton's description. They checked on her. She has a record She was arrested for stealing $2,000 from the Henderson Street adoption home What was a woman like that doing at the adoption home? She was employed there as a clerk in the bookkeeper's office, and I've got a feeling that the money's not all she stole All right, Earl. Let's get out to the adoption home Wait, let's take a look at the list. Yeah, I know this is the right street, but I forget the number I'll have it in a minute. Quiet, baby Here it is 7-eleven elm drive Will you do something to make this kid stop crying? Some child a wonderful mother the place here You take the kid. Come on This is quite a joint the Andersons have I'm sorry. I didn't ask for more dough probably could have got a G easy on the language. You're supposed to be the baby's nurse Okay, get that scratch sheet out of the kid's blankets. Oh Is this the Anderson residence? Yes, that's right. We've brought the baby. Yes, so I see. May we come in? No, huh? I'm a special agent of the FBI. You're both under arrest. What? What do something, Fred? He will, Mrs. Hamilton. The first thing he'll do is return that baby wherever it belongs Then we'll all go down to headquarters together And we're turned over to local authorities and both were sentenced to long terms in a penitentiary Special agent Taylor's theory was that Mrs. Hamilton had stolen not only money from the Anderson Street adoption home But also a list of prospective foster parents Records at the home revealed a list containing the names of every one of the previous victims Since those victims had successively been named Jackson King Leonard and Mason it became obvious that the Hamilton's worked the list in alphabetical order For that reason special agent Taylor stationed himself at the home of mr. And mrs. Anderson when he arrived in Centerville With what results you have already witnessed In tonight's case your FBI cooperated with a local law enforcement agency on what was almost entirely a local violation Such cooperation is the general rule and not the exception But for the most part it is the local police who give their aid to a special agent Who helped him close a file on a criminal who has violated a federal statute? For that cooperation the Federal Bureau of Investigation takes this opportunity Publicly to thank the local police throughout the nation for the help they have given special agents and which Even as you hear this they are continuing to give We will tell you about next week's exciting case from the files of your FBI But right now I want to tell you an interesting fact every insurance man knows It's this the type of life insurance you buy shows the type of man You are and the type of life insurance that appeals most strongly to men who are earmarked for future success Is the equitable society's plan for men and women on the way up? By purchasing a plan like this you make a promise to yourself that you are going to get ahead So don't delay Call your equitable representative soon and get the inside story of this unique plan That's geared for you men and women who have faith in yourselves or tonight Right care of this station to the equitable life insurance society of the United States Next week we will dramatize another case from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation a Story concerning one of the nation's prevalent law enforcement problems its subject Joe old theft its title the vanishing blonde The incidents used in tonight's equitable life insurance societies broadcast are 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 the author was Jerry D. Lewis Your narrator was William Woodson and special agent Taylor was played by Stacy Harris Others in the cast were Alice backers Joan Banks Colleen Collins Whitfield Connor Jerry Hausner and Leon the dude This is your FBI is a Jerry divine production This is Larry Keating speaking for the equitable life insurance society of the United States and the equitable society's representative in your community and Inviting you to tune in again next week at this same time when the equitable life insurance society Will bring you another thrilling story from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation The vanishing blonde on this is your FBI This is ABC the American broadcasting company