 Ladies and gentlemen One year ago tonight through the facilities of your local national broadcasting company station We were privileged to enjoy your attention at the premiere broadcast of a new series of authentic documented dramas entitled dragnet This evening on the occasion of our first anniversary as weekly guests in your home The cast technicians and producers of dragnet wish to state publicly that our indebtedness is enormous For the degree of success which dragnet has achieved during the past year Our first and greatest obligation is to you our weekly listeners For your support for your many kind letters of encouragement criticism and appraisal If dragnet is a proven success, then you have made it so Behind the scenes we have many more people to thank our engineers our sound technicians our cast To the radio editors and columnists across the nation also a sincere. Thank you for your judgment of our efforts Additionally claims and our thanks are held by the Los Angeles Police Department For the national broadcasting company and the Liggetten Meyers tobacco company makers of Fatima cigarettes to all of these and To you our gratitude Here at the starting point of dragnet's second year of broadcasting Our wish is two-fold First that we may enjoy your continued support Secondly that we may deserve that support Thank you. The story you are about to hear is true Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent Fatima cigarettes best of all long cigarettes brings you dragnet You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to robbery detail Scores of long women have been beaten and robbed The victims have been unable to identify the criminals your job Get them If you want a long cigarette smoke the best of all long cigarettes smoke extra mild Fatima Yes Fatima is the king-sized cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos Superbly blended to make it extra mild to give Fatima a much different much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette That's why Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself best of all long cigarettes. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima 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 Monday, July 1st was mild in Los Angeles. You're working the night watch out a robbery detail My partner's been Romero the boss is Ed Walker captain of robbery. My name is Friday It was 9 27 p.m. When I left the phone booth at the Sunset Drive in and got to our car 80k Anything new Captain Walker's wife had her baby boy eight pounds. Oh, that's well. She alright. Yeah, so does the captain Look at the uniform on the waitress them. I mean I sure dress them up. Don't they good evening. Hi Daisy Oh, hello didn't recognize you. What do you have the usual? No, I think I'll have something else besides a hamburger this time. Here's a man. You take a choice. Thank you Okay, I'm hungry. Maybe I'll take a meal Five shrimps good. What is that? Right there. Oh, yeah, 95 cents. What's all this stuff? I've been reading in the paper What's that a couple of guys going around snatching purses and beating up women paper says it's happened seven times in the last two weeks Roast beef 90 cents roast beef is good, too Don't you know who's been doing it? No, not yet. What do you get with these limbered onions? Same as with everything else soup potatoes and coffee 85 cents. I could just take the purse Probably they have to beat up the women. We don't know Headlines staring me in the face every time I open a paper. I'm getting afraid to walk home at night Do you get coffee and dessert with the Salisbury steak? Yeah 65 cents Roger on your call. Hey, do you guys know what I've been talking about? Yeah, Daisy, you know, I'll take the Salisbury steak Yeah, so lie Hamburger special long too. Well done on mine, please burn. Okay. Be a couple of minutes. Thanks All units in the vicinity of 1016 North McCat and that's us get it for ps and slugging All units in the vicinity of 1016 North McCat and 484 ps 3 Let her know we're going okay No, we're leaving we'll be back You know, I've been wondering what's a hamburger and Salisbury steak. What's the difference price? The police officer the lowest thief and most cowardly is the purse snatcher who prays on women For more than a month lone women throughout the western section of the city have been robbed and beaten The descriptions were confused and varied because the attacks took place at night 1006 p.m. We got to the location on North McCatton where the woman was lying on the sidewalks She's been badly beaten about the face and neck and her jaw had been broken officers read and she'll have unit 61f. We're already there Any witnesses officer? Yeah, this man the sweater here saw it happen says the victim's name Swanson is mr. Khan How do you do this is Sergeant Romero my name's Friday. I wonder if we could talk to you, please Yeah, certainly you want to come into the house right over here be all right That officer there says that you saw it happen. That's right. I was watching television. I heard this scream outside I looked out and saw these two men beating around can you describe it the light It wasn't real good. They're about as tall as you two but they had slighter bills. How old were they? Could you see that I say they were young maybe 18 19? I saw them knock her down. It was terrible They hit her and then they kicked her they picked up the person and then ran down that way Yes, but not right away I ran out and and saw them get in the car across the street They drove right past me then they turned east there on remain can you describe the car for I got the license number for you The last three numbers were 552 just three numbers. Yeah Can you describe the car what kind was it? No, I don't know it was no, I think it was black Maybe a sedan. What was it a large car or small all kind of medium? Do you notice the back of it? Yeah, that's why I saw the license plate No, I mean did you notice anything about the car? Maybe a dent on the fender or a sticker on the window. I didn't look at the window Did the car have a spotlight or a radio antenna? I guess I didn't see any I was trying to look at the license plates Did you notice anything unusual about the car any identifying marks at all? No, no, I didn't notice How about the make of the car? Do you see what kind of one? No, the last three numbers on the license plate were 552 California license plate. Yes, it was that should be enough here. Do you think you'll catch them tonight? Do you know how many plates end in 552? Well, Ben called in a general description of the car and the two attackers I talked to the other bystanders I found out that the victim's name was Mrs. Frida K. Swanson a widow. She had a Roman 103 North McHaddon, none of the neighbors had seen the robbery or the beating take place 1128 p.m. Ben and I arrived at Hollywood receiving hospital interview Mrs. Swanson But she was unable to talk or to identify her attackers She wrote on a piece of paper that she'd been slugged from behind She never got a good look at the man Besides a broken jaw. She was suffering from a fractured wrist a broken nose and bruises about the face and body Tuesday July 2nd the getaway car used in the attack on the previous night was found abandoned on Hollywood Boulevard And proved to be a stolen car License number six young four five five two the victim's empty purse was found inside routine investigation developed No leads we met with Captain Walker Because the last four attacks had taken place within a six-block radius We set up a plan of decoys in an attempt to trap the two purse snatchers Four police women from juvenile bureau and a special detail from Metropolitan Division were signed Tuesday 4 p.m. The special detail was ordered to the squad room for briefing Well, hi, Dorothy, hi to tuxedo back in Moss balls. Yeah, how are your feet my feet nothing to matter with them You're a good dancer. Yeah, but I could use some lessons. Oh, you don't need lessons Joe. You need practice Okay, let's get started I don't have to tell you the risks involved in an operation like this I want all of you to know where everybody will be at any given time by all of you I mean the police women and also the men will be in the squad cars anybody misses anything stop me We don't have much of a description of the men we're after they're two of them both about 18 years old Usually they wear sneakers slacks and sport coats They've been in different kinds of cars all of them stolen they keep each car for a few days and ditch it Hold on the map Now here's the area here Residential 90% of the dwellings have garages so for cars parked down the street. It might be unusual Each of you will be given a list of cars stolen in the last 48 hours still outstanding I want you to check all parked cars against the hot sheet. Oh First hold up your purses, please Young lady that purse is too small. I'm afraid. Let's make it look worthwhile. Yes, sir. All right First you won't be carrying your guns in your purse You wear a shoulder holster before you leave sergeant Friday will pass out some mark bills. I want you to carry Okay now police woman short You'll board a westbound street car at Western and Santa Monica Boulevard at At 9.03 p.m. No worry about these schedules the street car will be there Get off at Las Palmas at 913 walk south to Willoughby Turn east on Willoughby to Hudson and north one block to Romain you go west and Romain to Cahuenga Then retrace your steps to the starting point and you're through got it You'll be covered by unit 81 K captain. Yeah, how fast or slow should we walk? No, I'd say a pretty good pace. No woman likes to be alone on the streets at night. So it'd be natural. Yes, sir Police woman ball. Yes You'll board an eastbound bus at Lebray and Melrose at 935 p.m. You get off at Wilcox and Melrose at 945 walk north on Wilcox to wearing Turn west on wearing for two blocks and north on Cherokee Follow Cherokee for two blocks Turn east on Romain Follow Romain to Cole and turn north on Cole When you get to Santa Monica Boulevard retrace your steps to your starting point you'll be covered by unit 87 K Well the cars be cruising or will I be parked both Friday and Romero be cruising all the time I'll get to the others when I finish with these instructions Of course if you see any police car give no recognition. Yes captain. Yeah, you said the two suspects wear sneakers That's right. They'll be pretty hard to hear them come up behind you. I'd say so. Did any of the victims here? They had they wouldn't be victims 9 p.m. The decoy plan went into effect. We waited Tuesday night passed nothing happened Wednesday night nothing Thursday July 4th the decoy plan was enlarged to include a larger area, but everything was quiet Friday July 5th captain Walker decided that the new plan covering an area from La Brea to Vine Street and from Sunset to Beverly would be kept in operation 1045 p.m. Ben and I cruise the exposed area We've been thinking about moving to a new place. Yeah only trouble is we don't know what's gonna happen You mean if rent control goes off. Yeah, we don't know if rents will go up or down I'm gonna what to do even tossed a coin to decide that's about as good a way as any Coin came up tails four times in a row. Yeah wife changed your mind on each toss. No decision Not a police woman down there. Yeah Nancy sure you've got her out there South on Hudson East on Melrose then up Wilcox to Sunset all units will it be and Hudson Let's roll on it The drove to willow Saw a woman sitting on the grass with a few people around She was a young woman about 25 her clothes had been torn and there was a red weld on her right cheekbone She's trying to get to her feet as we came up. I'll be an ambulance here in a few minutes, miss Can you tell us how it happened my cheek swelling? Did you see who attacked? Yes? I did I can tell you about them. Look here. I ripped off one of their pockets these cards fell out Driver's license George Landon. Here's the piece of cloth. I tore off his pocket. I'll take that man Thank you. You want to stay with her? See if I can get a make on this license. You're okay. Oh, would you give me your name, please? 80k to control one eight okay to control one Check suspect for making warrants George Landon male white age 18 five feet nine inches 155 pounds blue eyes black hair Address 27 22 and a half Arthur Avenue KMA 367 Yes, I saw it white side wall tires of the club Tried to see the license plate. I couldn't make it out. What color was it? I don't know God green. I think I'm so mad. I could boil. Can you describe the man? Well, you got the driver's license It's all there. Well, that's just for one of them. You said there were two men I don't know I grabbed one of their coats and the other one hit me I'm so mad about as I tried to scream and nothing had come out. I understand All right, you're the 63f. We got the call. That's fine. This is the victim Mr. Curtis if you'll handle the report and see that she gets home. We got a lead to check out here. Okay. Thank you What's your call back? You better get it. Come on. Run with you 80k to control one go ahead Suspicion of robbery and one arrest GTA no wants at this time. Most recent address on suspect 27 22 and one half Arthur Avenue Roger Been in trouble before felonine mr. Mayor. Yeah, I mean rest matches. Maybe this cloth does you are listening to Dragnet the case history of a police investigation presented in the public interest by Fatima cigarettes If you smoke a long cigarette It will be in your interest to listen to a typical case history of a Fatima smoker It's the case of beautiful aviatrix babbeck with one of the few women who holds a commercial instructors rating for single-engine Land and sea aircraft. This is her actual sign statement I've been smoking long cigarettes for quite some time Recently a friend told me about a really mild king-size cigarette for team. I'm very glad I tried them Fatima's are a lot milder than any of the others have smoked and have a much better flavor I agree It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima and so do more and more smokers every day Actual figures show extra mild Fatima is more than doubled its smokers coast to coast So enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself the king-size cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic Tobacco's superbly blended to make it extra mild you will prefer Fatima's much different much better flavor You will agree. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima the best of all long cigarettes Friday 11 p.m. Ben and I drove to 27 22 and a half Arthur Avenue Was a small house at the rear of a lot on the east end of town Alongside the front house. There was a narrow passageway leading to the house in the back with a small lawn between the two There was no alley and anybody leaving from the front or back door had to go through the narrow passage As we approached the house a light was on in the front room and through the window We could see a middle-aged woman reading a magazine. We rang the bell Yes, police officers. There's George Landon live here. Well. Yes. He does. I miss aunt Miss Landon What do you want? Can we come in? Oh, yes. Won't you sit down? Thank you, ma'am Is George Landon at home now? No, he isn't but I think he'll be home soon. He never stays out late He isn't in any trouble. Is he you know where he is with his friends? I suppose He's a popular boy He really should be home soon. Where's he been miss Landon? I don't know He goes out at night, you know with his friends. Who are they? Well, I really don't know You see, it's difficult to keep track of a young boy. Mm-hmm. He's a big boy. He's full of vitality He has to find things to do. Yes, ma'am. He lives here with me I'm his aunt. I'm not married. So I take care of him. His parents died when he was a baby I see. Is George work or does he go to school? Oh, he's finished school You aren't here about that automobile that was stolen a year ago. Are you? No, ma'am He had some trouble then but I'm sure he didn't do it Since then he's been very good He hasn't missed the day's work and he goes to church with me anytime I ask him Where does he spend his evenings, do you know? Well, I told you with his friends a Young man has to use up his energy. I Don't try to hold him too tightly good boy like him. Can we look at his room? Oh, yes It's right here. All right. I'll show you how needy keeps it There in that night. Yes, ma'am I'm not trying to defend him. I'm only telling you about him. He keeps this room cleaned up himself He smokes a little but I've never smelled a drop of liquor on his breath. He's a very good boy Yes, ma'am He even reads a lot. You can see his books over here. Yes, ma'am You mind if we look around a little? No, no, that's all right Should be home soon He's probably at a movie Do you want to wait for him? No, I won't be necessary He's always home by midnight I'll tell him you were here. Oh That must be George now George. Yeah, these men would like to talk to you They're police officers All right, take it easy young fellow. Oh, let go hold him turn him around. Yeah Stand still young fall It's no gun. What do you guys think you're doing? I Didn't do anything. I was just out for a ride this year nephew. Yes coats torn Joe pocket ripped off This year driver's license here George Yeah, I lost it when Last week it was found tonight So what how'd you tear your coat? Getting out of the car the other night There's a piece of cloth the girl who was attacked tonight gave it to us. It matches the tear there in your coat What have you done George? Tell her I didn't want to do it. I didn't want to do it any time he talked me into it Who talks you into it made me do it He's got a gun and he stole the cars he made all the plans who made all the plans Tommy Oh, we never did anything he said hang out at the drugstore until that time a year ago What's his last name? He said that it'll always be held against me and I better go along with him Tommy who decker was he with you tonight? Yeah, he's the one that hit her when she grabbed hold of me. He's the one that always hit him I never wanted him to do it. Mm-hmm. Where's the stuff you took out of that purse? Tommy's gonna hide it where? Back of where he works. Where's that garage someplace. I don't know where he just started working there Where does he live place on West 6th? I never been there. What does this decker look like? Well, he's the same age I am but about an inch taller and must be 15 pounds heavier He's got dark hair. How's he dressed? Just like me sneakers and brown slacks and a tan sport coat better call the office, babe Yeah, can I use your telephone, ma'am? Oh, it's in the hall behind the door. Hey You said Decker's got a gun. Yeah Officer Will you tell me the truth? I'll try ma'am George and this Tommy Decker the two men the papers have been writing about I'm afraid so the ones have been robbing the women. Yes, ma'am and beating them up. Yeah, I didn't mean it I didn't know what I was doing. I raised you George. I didn't either 1142 p.m. We checked into the office with the 18 year old suspect George Landon While Ben and a police denographer took down the statement I went down to our nine pulled the package on the other suspect Thomas Decker His mama sheet showed a petition had been filed on 459 PC and 488 PC They also showed three different recent addresses for Decker One on West 6th Street one on South Mariposa and a third on North Catalina Two units were dispatched to the first two addresses Then I went to the address on North Catalina a rooming house We learned from Decker's landlady that he was working as an apprentice mechanic on the swing shift to the large garage on South Flower Street 1251 a.m. Then I arrived at the garage I beg your pardon. Yes, police officer. Does Thomas Decker work here? Thank you You a Thomas Decker. Yeah, police officers like talk to you watch a joke He's gone in the locker room and that car back, but the door I'd cover me behind your head I'll get the gun 18 years old What's it prove? I don't know Sometimes you kind of wonder if it's true. What's that? There's no such thing as a bad boy They've been changed to protect the innocent on November 1st trial was held in superior court Department 82 city and county of Los Angeles state of California in a moment the results of that trial It's amazing how many long cigarette smokers are changing to extra mild Fatima. Here is the actual report from cost Yes, more and more smokers every day are discovering that Fatima is the king-size cigarette That is extra mild extra mild because it contains the finest Turkish and domestic Tobacco's Superbly blended to make it extra mild to give it a much different much better flavor and aroma enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself Best of all long cigarettes. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima Here in George London were tried and convicted on five counts of Grand Theft person five counts of Grand Theft auto and Five counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm They were sentenced to the state penitentiary for a term as prescribed by law and are now serving their sentence Ladies and gentlemen chief of police WA Wharton speaking from his office in City Hall, Los Angeles, California As chief of police of the city of Los Angeles I wish to extend my heartiest congratulation to the program dragnet on the occasion of its first anniversary The overwhelming success of this program has indicated by the hundreds of Commendatory letters telegrams and personal comments I feel has been due to the splendid job of portraying police officers and their work the American public by its enthusiastic acceptance of dragnet as Indicated a desire for factual police programs The Los Angeles Police Department is proud to contribute to the constructive entertainment of both adults and children through this medium May I extend my best wishes? To the national broadcasting company the sponsor the actors the writer and the producer of dragnet And I trust there will be many more years of continued success for this program You have just heard dragnet a series of authentic cases from official files Technical advice for dragnet comes from the office of chief of police WA Wharton, Los Angeles Police Department Fatima cigarettes best of all long cigarettes has brought you dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles Next a great new show Sarah's private caper on NBC