 Here's another in NBC's great parade of new shows The story you are about to hear is true only the names have been changed to protect the innocent NBC brings you dragnet Detective sergeant You're assigned to homicide bureau a police officer has been shot mortally wounded One of the suspects has been apprehended The other is still at large Your job find 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 in cooperation with the Los Angeles police department You will travel step-by-step on the side of the laws you 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 Thursday, November 16th was foggy in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of homicide My partner's been Romero the boss is Ed Backstrand stupid detectives. My name is Friday It was 1158 a.m. We got to the Georgia Street receiving hospital second floor room 5 treatment room How's they missed our guide to the lungs been three times going fast his wife with them they bring him down now Can we talk to make it fast? Come on you this way easy John John is Friday in Romero. They want to talk to you minute Doc Doc it burns my chest Burning up nurse. Yes, doctor. Are the hypodermic. Yes, doctor I All right, fellas don't take too long John. It's Joe Friday. Can you tell us how it happened? Joe Joe how'd it happen boy? Can you tell me? Can't figure it Joe Why do you do it? We got to find out now how did it happen? I don't know I Was directing traffic? East Broadway and first Street great Cooper pulled up for the stop Great Coupe how many men in the car how many John do Great Coupe pulled up for the stop and the pedestrian pedestrian lane Went over gonna ask him to back up Back up out of Lane just gonna ask him. Yeah, John and then what driver Dark hair eyes dark went over gonna gonna ask him back up pointed a gun No reason pointed a gun at me. All right easy John take it easy. No reason Joe. No reason you're fired. Hurryed up Joe Yeah, no, what about the other man in the car? Did you see him? Can you describe him? Joe Joe did you get him great Coupe driver? Guy with him. We've got the driver Johnny's upstairs. The other one got away. We got to find him. You got to help us my wife Somebody send for Dora. She's on her way. She'll be here in a minute Can you tell us the other man in the car? What did he look like? What did he look like don't press him Joe great Coupe the driver part of gun Dark hair. Yeah, I know the other man. John. We got the driver. What did the other man look like? Send for Dora Come on Ben Thanks, dog. Okay, going back John got any kids to always pick up family man This thing's got a phony ring to it Ben. You don't just pull a gun and shoot a man Not if you're saying you don't here's the stairs the guy we got as a scene as they come and how do we explain it? All I know is that hoodshot John Bemis, and I want to know why Might be a lead in that car. He was driving maybe come on here. We are Phone message for you Friday came in a few moments ago. Thanks Davis from our and I they got a mink take a look No make or warrants on James vickers great Let's talk to him. Come on Minor wound Joe bullet penetrated the fleshy part of his hand didn't touch the bone But this guy had an arm wound to just a neck then that officer you shot vickers. He's dying is he The family guy got a wife two kids has he why did you shoot him vickers ask him? We did and you know the reason said there wasn't any reason That's right. Look. We're gonna make you on this because you know that don't you I don't know anything Why'd you shoot him shut up? I just showed him Joe Yeah Davis yeah, stay with him doc get us an empty slip on this guy. What do you we'll be back in a minute? Come on Easy Joe oh easy nothing I've seen so many good cops like Bemis cut down by punks like that vickers getting mad won't help come on down the stairs Back to see Bemis. Why just put a record? I want to see if the doc thinks it's okay for us to bring vickers down I like to have Bemis definitely identify him as the guy who shot him We've got three good witnesses an identification for Bemis will clench it want to see vickers get everything he's earned when he goes to court They went fast Joe yeah Not his wife. Yeah She make it in time. No Did he say anything that it helped? Yeah, it's mine. He said a prayer 2625 Auto records Crowley Joe Friday Vince. What about a make on that car used in the beam of shooting this morning? Yeah, Joe been trying to get a hold of you. Where are you now? Georgia Street 2nd floor? What about the make car was reported stolen yesterday afternoon registered to Harold simpers 716 Everett Street Report said the car was taken from a parking lot at Grand and Wabash. Okay Vince. Thanks What about the guns they found in the car Lee Jones still has him over the crime lab. He's running him through no word yet. No You may cop the impound report on the car Joe. Yeah recovery port. They're still dusting for print Empty slip ready doc. Yeah, right here, man Medical card history. I'm T slip. You ready vickers. Yeah, all right. Put out your wrist Put the cuffs on him Ben. Watch his hands You're saving me for the hot lights. All right, let's go You're in jail now looks like a hospice bars on the windows aren't all right. Come on. Give me a smoke Here Okay Like what do I get if I open up? No deal My talk make it attractive. Who was the other guy in the car? It's right. I always give rise and why do you run when we chase you? Maybe he was scared. You're part of a gang Maybe who was the other guy? What's it worth? Oh come on because you're wasting our time Where are we going? My hand hurts. I want to call my own doctor You hear me that car pulled his gun first. I can prove it. Yeah down the stairs easy, huh? Where we going? I said where we're going. All right. What's it worth if I talk? I could tell you all about it Let's make a deal. You'll tell us anyhow Think so all right to you out the door Wait a minute Cigarettes out All right, Ben light it. Yeah, nice to you guys Thanks He's crossing the street No, he's running for that car Like all of Dr. Joe. No, he wouldn't be interested the guy's dead James Vickers murder suspect address unknown died almost instantly at 1 13 p.m. November 16th while attempting to escape his body was taken to the county morgue where it was posted All the personal effects found on the body were listed by the coroner and a receipt for them given to our office At 8 35 the next morning Ben and I met with chief detective Zed back strand those four guns They found in the car Vickers was driving. They're all us army property. Where were they stolen from skipper? I don't know each one of the guns is stamped us army. That's all that makes it easy The coroner find anything on the body nothing to tell us why Vickers decided to kill a traffic Oh, what did be miss say before he died? He was on traffic duty yesterday morning down at East Broadway in the first at 1035 a great coop pulled up for a Stop sign Vickers was driving Bima started over to tell him to back up out of the pedestrian zone Vickers pulled a gun and shot him How'd they catch Vickers chased him three miles before he piled into a lumber truck the guy with him got away fine Check door and I no maker warrants on Vickers kickbacks not in on his fingerprint. All right. What's your guess Friday? I don't have one Ed Vickers could have been hopped up. Doc Stanley over Georgia Street said no he checked Wait a minute back strand Yeah, hold on for you friday. Thanks Friday talking. Yeah. Yeah, good be right over Lee We're in business ed crime lab just found Vickers address There it is Joe. Thanks Lee. Let's see Silver dollar hotel received a mr. James Vickers six dollars and fifty cents room 345 where'd you find it thing none of the front seat in with the tools anything else not a thing How about prints to kind of smudged hope we can run a make with them No prints on those four guns Lee smeared not enough to classify This is it Ben. It's all we got come on. Let's see if we can make it pay off We located the silver dollar hotel on East Grand between 16th Street and Pico Was an old-type frame building with a brightly colored neon sign jutting out over the sidewalk just above the dark entrance The manager's name was Luther Gage. We showed him a picture of James Vickers He definitely identified him as one of his former tenants He told us that Vickers had stayed at the hotel one week in room 345 and that he had checked out two days ago Was Vickers staying here alone, Mr. Gay? Yes alone quiet man. Did he have any visitors? Maybe wouldn't know paid his bills spent most of his time away from the hotel good tenant Did Vickers have any friends here in the hotel? Maybe fell in the room next to mr. Vickers He still lives here two of them used to be kind of thick and we look at that room Vickers stayed in mr. Gage let's see Yes, it's still vacant. All right this way This man Vickers was friendly with what's his name gay Night Raymond night room 343 seen his room now. No went out about eight this morning. Here's the elevator How well would you say night and Vickers knew each other couldn't say good tenants both of them pay their bills They go out together seem to know each other well wouldn't know I don't pry look this case involves murder mr. Gage we told you that we'd appreciate your cooperation Cooperation don't pay the rent sergeant third floor this way Here 345 open it up Looks pretty clean you all my rooms are clean. He didn't mean it that way mr. Gage Wonder if you'd show us night's room now. That's next door in it Hmm, I don't know about this poking into other people's rooms not regular neither's murder come on Let's go this mr. Knight have this room to himself sure ask questions Don't you know night has a friend staying with him about two weeks now not in much see in now don't think so Boy watch it Drop that you Ben He's out cold. Look what you've done to the room. I thought you said night wasn't in he isn't this is his friend great friends 45 automatic in his hand 38 snub nose in the bureau another 45 look in his bag. I don't pry he pays his bills good tenant Yeah, can I get outside on this phone? Mmm. Yes all outside calls are 10 cents. Yeah here Have to keep the books straight sure you do Who's gonna pay for the damage ask mr. Knight's friend here well say why worry he pays his bills good tenant I Called it back strand and he sent out a special detail to stake out the hotel and bring in Raymond night if and when he returned Ben and I drove to the Georgia Street receiving hospital where Doc Stanley patched up the cut on Ben Scalp and treated Raymond night's friend for simple cuts and bruises From papers found in his wallet and in the hotel room. He was identified as Frank Ganon 98 96 Wasatch Street, Kansas City, Missouri When we got to headquarters we had Ganon taken to the interrogation room where we questioned him briefly He told us that he was a self-employed watch salesman that he was in the city on a business trip He admitted friendship with night, but not with figures We booked him at the Coddy jail for assault with intent to commit murder The three guns found on the hotel room were turned over to the crime lab. We reported back to the office Show my head pounding like man that Ganon's a mean. Yeah, it's a nasty crack. I got some aspirin in my desk night help Hi boys rough day. I don't get much rough or any message for you on the desk I'm gonna eat What is Joe Jones got a make on those prints he lifted off the car. Let's see Yeah, something else to know and James Baker wanted 10 1443 desertion US Army That could account for those stolen army guns. Yeah, what about to make on those princely found? Let's take a look Vance Taylor's good solid record for burglaries to armed robberies to assaults. Wait a minute. Here's the mama sheet One so-and-so age 36 Alias John feels Harold Grant Tom Bissell Joe Hey, yeah, Alias Raymond Knight The other man who rode in the car with James Vickers the morning he shot down traffic officer famous finally had been identified Vance Taylor Alias Raymond Knight Well, that still didn't explain the unprovoked murder It didn't explain the four guns found in the car the three guns found in the hotel room An assortment of arms like that could mean something big, but we didn't know what Ganon's sudden willingness to shoot it out in the hotel room meant something too. We didn't know what We had Ganon brought back to the interrogation room Hi again Have a seat Everything all right. Oh, but you're worried. No, we're not worried Ganon. You want to be I'll make me laugh You're tied in with Raymond Knight. That's enough for us. You send me up for it. We're gonna try big talk How long'd you know Vickers? I didn't funny His prints are all over one of those guns we found in your room I'm not worrying when you better start Ganon Vickers and Knight killed a man if you run with him your hands are dirty, too I room with Knight. That's all Knight didn't come back to the hotel. Where is he? We're not that close to share your guns and your friends. That's close enough for us I don't know Vickers. You mean you didn't know it. I said I don't know we got Vickers Ganon. He's dead Good story. Okay. Come on. Get out of the more Yeah, this way Joe Cold today, isn't it? Yeah, it's damp. Yeah, sign this one. No, what is always never seen the corpse before no I'm not in this take me back. I don't want to look you're gonna close your eye. Take me back. I don't want to look Yeah, we have fellas Slam 45 this way again. I get sick. I don't want to look throw back the sheet friend Take a good look again and no, he's nice friend. I'm not in it who is in it. I don't know I Take me out. I'm sick. All right friend. Thanks. Okay, buddy Interrogation room Friday Joe on stake out at the Silver Donner Hotel. No sign of Raymond Knight. Keep you posted. Okay, Dave. Thanks How long does this go on I can call a lawyer, you know, and you better call one right away Ganon They just picked up night at the hotel. He's incriminated you you're a liar. Sure like we're about Vickers We'll prove it again and the officers are on their way in now They're gonna put night in the next room you can listen to him Look, I came here to sell watches. I ain't in this. Yeah, and you and Vickers a night We're planning a job a big one. We know that you want a way to get on the witness stand to tell your story It's all right with us. Yeah, didn't take too long to break this one Mojo Yeah, thanks, yeah What are you gonna do nothing just kill a little time they bring in night you haven't got night I Haven't one raptor me at Joe want to check me out. Okay, open them up Give them a good shuffle, huh? You're gonna have some time on your hands again. I want to learn new card game. No Suit yourself It's a good game for two better with three There were a lot of coins. Yeah You got two decks there First off this game is quite a bit like gin rummy. Yeah There are eight of every suit for jokers jokers count 50 points. Mm-hmm Red threes count a hundred points each if you get a black three you can freeze the deck. I see I shouldn't say deck in this game They call it the pack pack. What's a pack? That's the discard pile same as in gin. You get a red three you can freeze. No, it's a black three What happens when you freeze nobody can pick it up. Oh, I see. All right. Let's do a lot of dummy hand here Fine game Gannon sure you won't change your mind We don't want to play Joe All right now I'm too handed you deal out 15 cards thing How many can play as many as six? I think I've only played up to four you play partners with four. Yeah, that's right Okay, gotcha cards. I guess 15 15 right now now what I do well, I guess you better let your hand open that'll be the easiest way to show you Okay, I'll spread them all out over there Well, you don't have a great hand there. You got a couple of black threes you can use those. Yeah, that's fine They kind of hundred a piece. Oh, no, no, those are red threes black threes don't count anything. Oh red three That's right. Do you remember what black threes are for you can use them to freeze the pile pack That's right the pack. Well, you know what I mean All right now look you see I got a joker here jokers are wild. Do you remember how much they count? They're wild hundred points. No red threes are worth a hundred jokers count 50. You don't explain it very good I don't understand how simple can it be Ganon's not even playing you get it. Don't you Ganon? Okay, red threes count a hundred jokers count 50 black threes you can fit the you can freeze the pile of the pack Yeah, good now. Hold on to that with it now black threes freeze the pack But that's not the only card that can do it. No no Deuces can do the same thing you see the only difference is if you use a deuce Which is also wild you have to have a natural pair in order to pick up the pack now with a black three It's a new it until I knew it wouldn't work. We're sour right from the start. Vickers killed the cop. I'm not in it. I prefer I'm driving. I'm taking no raps Johnny this denographer All right, Ganon too late. You haven't got time 20 after one are gonna do it to what payroll brazier company messenger leaves at 120 he's got the payroll 30 grand they're gonna get him. What does the messenger leave 120 you're too late. I'm not in it. Where does he leave 120 leaves the Bank, I think no maybe the company. Where's the company third and spring? They're gonna get him Where's the bank the messenger goes to up the block second national third and hill where they're gonna get the messenger by the alley Clay Street, I'm not in and check it get out of communications haven't put out a call to block up the area give them the details Johnny yeah, Joe stay with this guy. Okay, Davis Davis Olympia Give me your payroll division. This is a police department emergency. What's that sir your payroll division? It's an emergency Mr. Hopkins is a sergeant Friday police department We've had a tip your payroll messenger is going to be held up today. Has he left your building yet the messenger? Yeah Oh my he left early today went out the door about 10 minutes ago. Thanks Second national Second national Friday with all the excitement you break that guy explain in a minute. I had no time Good afternoon second national. Give me the manager on duty. Please emergency one moment, please Come on. Come on. I'm sorry, sir. The line is busy. Would you get away? Give me the chief teller? Thank you What is this sergeant Friday police department emergency call has the payroll messenger from the brazier company left the bank yet? Well, I wouldn't know sergeant. Just a moment. I'll have your call sweet Yeah operator Beatrice would you give this call to miss Chalmers? It's important. Thank you, mr. Waters Miss Chalmers. Good afternoon. Miss Chalmers. What's a metaphor? Are you sick? Yeah? I'm sick Miss Chalmers is a sergeant Friday police department as a payroll messenger from the brazier company left the bank yet Why yes, not more than two or three minutes and he had to payroll with him Thanks got a tip on a payroll stick. Thank you. Come on. Yeah, let's go Let's hustle it down the stairs Communications get the story you got it on there now. Where's this brazier company third and spring about five blocks from here Come on. Here's the garage get the radio on Fourth treat up ahead Ben might meet him at this end of play out what you can do without hey Hey, look coming out of the alley now guy with the police you You want to check I don't think it's any use Yeah Well, let's go Wonder why he tried so hard you know I Don't know Ben some people are like that you can blow the whistle all you want. They never know when to stop Only the names were changed to protect the innocent Frank Gannon the only surviving member of the holdup gang was tried and convicted of the crime of assault with intent to commit murder He is now serving out his sentence at the state penitentiary You have just heard the 16th in a new series of authentic cases from official files Technical advice for drag net comes from the office of acting chief of police. W. A. Wharton, Los Angeles Police Department Tonight's program is dedicated to Private Richard H. Taylor of the Washington, D. C. Police Department Who on the evening of December 13th? 1946 gave his life so that yours might be more secure Drag net came to you from Los Angeles Phil Harris likes a great deal about the South we like a great deal about Phil Harris For instance, we like his beautiful blonde wife Alice Faye In fact, we like the Phil Harris Alice Faye show and it just happens that it returns to the NBC air tomorrow Why don't you take our advice and listen to one of the funniest shows around anywhere? That's the Phil Harris Alice Faye show tomorrow on most of these same NBC stations You're tuned for the stars on NBC