 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 homicide detail. For two months a depraved criminal has been at work in your city. Men and women have been robbed, brutally attacked. Your job? Get'em. If you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. Smoke extra mild Fatima. Yes, Fatima is the king-size 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 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, March 7th. It was cloudy in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of homicide. My partner's Ben Romero, the boss's third-brown chief of detectives. My name's Friday. I was on the way home from the office, and it was 2.25 a.m. when I got to Collis Avenue. Number 4656. Yeah, ma, can I wake you? A little after two. Don't worry, I'm okay. Got any cold meat in the icebox? There's some pressed ham, a few slices of bologna. Didn't you have any dinner? A couple of hamburgers and a piece of pie. I got hungry again. I had some nice beef stewed for dinner. There's some left in the icebox. I'll come down and warm it for you. No, and all I want is a sandwich, ma. You go on back to sleep. I'm working all hours for this thing. You know you'll be getting sick. You need your food, and you need your rest. Nobody cares when you're sick. You didn't have to get up, ma. All I want is a sandwich. I can fix it. I better have a bowl full of stew right here. It won't take a minute to warm it up. Nice new potatoes in it. Some of those onions you like, too. It's quite vermutous. Okay, not too much now. I'll get the melt. It's half past two in the morning. What kept you so late again? Another steakhouse, the same job. Is that a murder in Highland Park? No, ma. The bad Spanish. One that poses as a policeman. Oh, that one. We certainly ought to do something about him. Yeah, well, we're trying to. We can help find him. There was a piece in the paper about it tonight. They say it's just terrible the way he beats up people and robs them. He's badge-banded. The way he treats women ought to be ashamed. They ought to put him away. You got some more rye bread. Are you going to have tomorrow off, Joseph? Thanks. You know, the captain says we work straight through till we get the guy. I thought you were going to have tomorrow off. You ought to tell the captain you need your rest. You can't go on like this working all hours. You'll be coming down sick one of these days. 15 robberies, 15 assaults, all in two months. Somebody's got to stop them. You ready? I think so. Well, can't they warn the people? They wouldn't be getting robbed and beaten up. They were parked in those lonely places. Spooning. So silly. I'm afraid we can't do anything about that, ma. It's a public place. We've got to write the parks there well. I suppose. Let me have you plate. No, hold it. Hold it. That's fine. Another spoonful. You can't work if you don't eat. This is good stew. I'm sure it is. But you're down in the shop, right? It's nice. His stewing beef's just wonderful. Benwick late with you? Yeah, his wife's sore, too. He hasn't been home much since we started on this. Oh, my. My time's certainly changed since I was a girl. All this robbing, beating up, crazy people. Yeah. Any mail today? No, just a couple of bills. When you set the alarm, I got to check back in at 8 in the morning. 8 o'clock? Why so early? Badge band has got two more victims tonight. They're college kids. Doctor says you didn't think we should talk to them tonight, so we'll have to see them tomorrow morning at the hospital. Were they badly injured? Pretty bad. The boy took a terrible beating. The girl was attacked. Oh, my. Well, it's very good, Ma. I better get to bed. Yeah, that's where your face looks so thin. You need all the rest you can get. I get it. Who can that be? It's almost three of them. Hello. This is Norman, Don Homicide, Joe. Sorry to bother you. Yeah, Norman. What is it? Kevin wants you and Marit to meet him in Hollywood and Laura right away. What's the matter now? Got the area blocked off. I figure they got the man trapped. Victims, get out and look at the guy. Same description the badge granted. I left the house, went over and picked up Ben. We drove out to the edge of the Santa Monica mountains where Hollywood Boulevard ends and Laurel Canyon begins. We headed back into the canyon to the blockaded area. Captain Steed from Homicide was there waiting for us. Hi, Scammer. Hi, uh, Mr. Mann. Taylor, call the communications again. Have them tell the men out on the bench where to start moving in. Right, Kevin. How's it shaping up? Okay, what do you say, Joe? How's it shaping up? Well, here's a sketch of the area. It covers just about all of Laurel Canyon District. Badge Bandit got his victims near the top of this hill here. Old man in the neighborhood heard a woman scream and phoned in. How sure are we that the guy didn't get away? The man who called in said the bandit had trouble starting his car. Finally, he left it and took off into the brush. He was headed west down this road here. Captain, I just had a call from the communications. They crew from Layton, Prince, are on their way. All right. Any report from the detail up on Canyon Road? Nothing yet. I'll stand by the radio. How much area we got to cover? From the mouth of the canyon here, all the way back to Ventura Boulevard. On the west here from Lookout Mountain Avenue over to Presby Drive on the east. How much have we got to go on? Crowley talked to the victims for a minute before they took them to Georgia Street. The guys' descriptions are the same. Heavy set blonde hair, chubby face, horned rim glasses. He's on foot. There's plenty of underbrush around here to hide him. Just a minute. I want to get this call in. First, Taylor, I have communications contacts at the 2K. Tell them to hold their line station here. Yeah. We'll have the others close in from the west and the north. You two better get up on Groveland Drive. The line's pretty thin up there. Use the help. Is that the area where you've been in the car? Yeah. Check with everybody you can find the neighborhood. They may be able to help. They don't answer, find out why. We'll be making the rounds in another 10 minutes. Check with you then. All right, let's go John. I'll tell you what I told the rest of the men. This guy's in a corner and he's got a gun. There's only one way out for him. Make sure it's not you. 3.45 a.m. Ben and I drove up to Groveland Drive and joined the search. We found Ben in his car. None of the residents had any further information to give us. 4 a.m. We kept on checking. 23 hours. Long shift. I could use some sleep. Wife of mine is boiling mad. She's even mad at the kid. What's the trouble? Aunt or her sent down some flower bulbs from Oregon yesterday. Gladdy old bulb. Kid was playing with a little girl next door yesterday and they found a box of flower bulbs. I asked them if they were in a pot of water and boiled them on the stove. What did they do that for? Oh no. There's another house up ahead. We better check it. We ought to get some street lights up here. Yeah. Nice work working people up in the middle of the night. I don't like it any more than they do. We could make them believe that. Nice neighborhood up here. I wonder what the price is on these logs. It shouldn't be too high. Let's say real estate's coming down. Yeah, what is it? Police officers. Let me get the door open. What's been going on in the neighborhood tonight? Some kind of trouble? Cars racing up and down the hill? What's the trouble? Have you noticed any strangers in the neighborhood last hour? No, I just got to bed 20 minutes ago. I work out a paramount. We're shooting nights. What's all the commotion anyway? We're looking for a suspect. He's supposed to be around this area. I haven't seen anybody. I went out and looked around, but I didn't see anything. Did you check to see if your car is still in the garage? No, I left it in the driveway. No, sir, there's no car in your driveway. Sure there is. Let me show you. Hey, it's gone. Can we use your phone? Yeah, but I saw it just a few minutes ago. The car was right there in the driveway. You think that guy took my car? Yes, sir. It's a pretty good bet. You got your license number handy there. I don't remember it. I got it on a car in my wallet. Give me communication. It's a Plymouth sedan, black, two-door sedan with search detail. Law of Canyon, I got some new information for all units in the detail. Here's the license number. Thanks. Will you broadcast this information to all units in the search detail? What was the making model of your car? 46 black Plymouth, a two-door sedan. 1946 black Plymouth, two-door sedan, license number... let me see. 7X-ray 2569. This car has just been stolen from the 102-11 Groven Drive. Any identifying marks on the car? Well, I left my keys in it. No, no, sir. I mean, any special markings on the car may be a dent in one of the fenders. Yeah, George, hold on. We're getting it. The right headlight went out on me last night. I haven't had it fixed yet. The right headlight on the car is out. Notify all units in the search detail that we believe suspect is now in possession of this car. Right, thank you. Let's go. Must have happened in the last 15 minutes. I heard that noise. Now without to check, the car was there then. We'll be checking with you later. Yeah, I sure hope you find it. I don't know how I can get to work tomorrow without my car. I mean, we'll notify you. Yeah, I sure hope you find it. Thanks for your help. 2-11 Groven Drive. The right headlight is out. I don't think he could have gotten that car through the blockade yet. Better start searching the side roads. Yeah. There's one leading off to the left. Up ahead. Let's try it. There are coming down the hill toward us. You're always making timing. Yo, only one headlight on the car. It's coming right at us. Turn around quick. Get over to the inside. Ben? You all right? Ben. The ambulance was called and Ben and I were taken to Georgia Street receiving hospital. There I received emergency treatment for multiple cuts and bruises and a sprained left shoulder. Ben didn't do so well. He had a possible concussion, two broken ribs half a dozen severe cuts about the face and arms. We were then taken to the P&F ward. The next afternoon we had a visit from Captain Steed and Chief of Detective Stad Brown. Roddy, how are you feeling? Pretty good, Chief. You saw Romero across the hall. You came out better needed. Yeah, I said I hear. You resting any? Much better, no danger involved. Needs rest, that's about all. How long? You'll be here two weeks according to the doctor. What about you? Looks like you two got banged up for nothing. Oh. After he rammed your car, he ditched the black Plymouth and then we figured he hit with the underbrush. Yeah. Somehow when we were hauling you and Ben out of that wreck he slipped through the line. Any fingerprints on the car? No, none we could use. It's rotten luck, I guess it was his night, huh? We're getting more men from Metro Division to help out and we're doubling the number of decoys around the city. Police women, huh? We'll have each of them planted in a parked car and all we have to do is grab it the bait once. Yeah, if he goes for it. And then plenty of time to choose. We work the same setup every night until we reach him. It's a big operation. Might have to run it for weeks unless he quits. There's only one way a guy like that ever quits when we stop him. Saturday, March 10th, 2 p.m. I was released from the P&F ward and went home. Ben stayed on at the hospital. He had at least another 10 days to go before release. Sunday I spent at home. Monday afternoon I checked back in at the office and Captain Steed put me on decoy duty for that week along with Police Woman Dorothy River. We were assigned to cover an isolated parking area near Mulholland Drive in Beverly Glen. It was a nice view, but the duty was slow. No sign of the badge bend. Police Woman River and I waited it out from late evening to early morning from Monday through Thursday. Friday night came, same thing. We waited. How's Ben? You see him today? Yeah, he's doing fine. Be out next week. Grouchy, I guess. Sure. Want a cigarette? Sure, tell it's Friday night. There you are. Thanks. College kids are out in force. What time you got? A quarter to two. Long nights. Yeah, slow. You cold? No, you. It's chilly up here in the early morning. What's that? A car full of kids just pulling out. Are the cars gone too? Yeah. One of the only ones left. Hey, steakhouse, getting your nerves. So look, if you're cold, you can have my coat. It doesn't bother me. No, that's right, Joe. Thanks. It's a beautiful view from up here, isn't it? All the lights. Yeah. You like to dance, Joe? What? I said, do you like to dance? Once in a while, I guess. I'm not too good. Why? Well, our club's having its big annual dance two weeks from Saturday. Might get a kick out of it, it's formal. It leaves me out. I don't own a text. You could rent one. It'd be fun. I'm afraid I don't look good in a text. I never met a man who thought he did. Why don't you try it? I might be working. I mean, if you're not working. Why don't you come? Yeah, I have hopes. There's a car pulling in. See? Yeah, parked over in back of us. I can only make out one person in the car. Yeah. Looks like a man, I can't be sure. All right, come on over closer. We might as well look the part, huh? All right. He's getting out of the car. He's coming this way? Walking over to the side of the road. He's got his flashlight. He's built like the badge bandit. Short, heavy set. Yeah, he's turning around. He's got his flashlight on us. He's coming up on your side of the car. All right, take it easy. You know what to do. Come on out of that car, please. All right, hold on. Got a gun, Joe. Come on, I said out of the car, both of you. All right. All right, drop the gun. Drop it. That's him. Yeah. Thanks. I didn't think I hit him that hard. You didn't, I did. Police woman Dorothy River Knight took the suspect to Hollywood division where he was booked on suspicion of robbery and gave his name as Charles Leon Kirby, age 46. Monday, March 19th, Ben was released from the hospital and checked back in for work. A special show-up was held at which 10 of the 17 victims definitely identified Kirby as the badge bandit. The suspect had finally been apprehended. Now we started the slow process of formally charging the man and presenting our evidence against him to bring him to trial. 10 a.m. Ben and I went across the street to the sixth floor of the Hall of Justice to present our case against Kirby and to obtain a formal complaint against him. We met with deputy district attorney Broker. When did you get out of the hospital, Ben? This morning. Sure got sick of that play. Heard about your accident. That guy sure gave enough trouble, didn't he? Yeah, he's still giving us trouble. How's that? Well, the prisoner gave Kirby a pretty bad going over. Cut him up and broke his left forearm. They're moving him in an ambulance from Hollywood to the prison ward at the General Hospital. When does this happen? This is this morning. I think they're moving him downtown now. Tough one. Now, how about your reports on Kirby? Are they all in order? Here's a summary report. Ledges 10 positive identifications containing 10 counts of robbery and 10 counts of forcible rape. All right. And here are seven other crime reports. Only partial identification on these. Okay. What have you got for crime-writing evidence against him? Oh, he went through Kirby's apartment, found at least a dozen pieces of property that he took from his victims. Mostly watches and jewelry. The victims identified every piece we found. Okay, let me get the details down here. No. Excuse me a minute. Sure. Broker speaking. Yes, a minute. You were Friday. Thank you. Friday. When? Yeah, right away. Well, that does it. Once more, Kirby. He just broke out of that ambulance. 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 Mr. Richard Watts Jr., drama critic of one of New York's great newspapers. This is his actual signed statement. My working day starts when most people are going to bed. When the curtain closes on the last act, I've got a newspaper deadline to make. Working more means smoking more. And that's when Fatima quality really tells. I agree. It's wise to smoke extra-mile Fatima. And so do more and more smokers every day. Actual figures show extra-mile Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast. So enjoy extra-mile Fatima yourself. The king-size cigarette, which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos, superbly blended to make it extra-mile. You will prefer Fatima's much different, much better flavor. You will agree. It's wise to smoke extra-mile Fatima. It's wise to smoke extra-mile Fatima. The best of all long cigarettes. As soon as word of Kirby's escape came through, the information was broadcast to all points. All available cruiser cars and men were rushed to the escape area and a door-to-door canvas got underway. All of the men were given mug shots of Kirby together with his description. 11 a.m. Ben and I got back to the office. We found a message from Captain Steed to meet him in the chief of detective's office. No man in that area until further notice. Check the bus depots in the union station. Right. What's the story, chief? That's what I'm trying to find out. Where'd he make the break? Near 4th and Main couldn't have picked a better spot. The ambulance had just crossed 3rd and Main when Kirby slugged the guard. The driver was too busy dodging traffic to notice what was going on in back. That's a lousy break. Kirby jumped out of the back end of the ambulance and disappeared in the crowd, no sign of him since. That's fine. It takes us almost three months to reach the guy and he breaks away on a cheap flute like that. He doesn't have many friends in town. He's only got one we know of. Yeah. A brother. Kirby stays with him pretty often from when we could gather and the brother lives in a roomy house down on Alameda. Anybody check that yet? We've got it staked out. The brother works at a box factory in the south end of town. That's covered too. He's not going far with a broken arm. What have you got? Pawn Shop on 6th Street. It happened a few months ago. Yeah. Here's the description of the hold up, man. Stokey Bill, blonde hair, horn-rimmed glasses, chubby face. You were wrong about that broken arm. Come on. 1120 a.m. Ben and I pulled up at the East Asia Pawn Shop on 6th Street. Inside we found the proprietor Morris Brubaker lying and propped up against one of the showcases. It was an elderly man whose face and head showed the marks of a savage beating. His wounds were hemorrhaging badly and the ambulance attendants were giving him first aid. We showed him Charles Kirby's mug shot. That's the man. I wouldn't make a mistake, that's him. Was he alone, Mr. Brubaker? Yeah, by himself. He has to look at a watch and when I try to get it, he kicks me. I fell against the showcase and cut myself. He pulled me in the back room. I didn't even know me. He kept beating me. Easy, Mr. Brubaker. Let me get this conference on. How much did he get away with, do you know? I'm not sure. A blue suit, blue overcoat, wrap around, and navy blue, both. He kept hitting me. All right, sir, just take it easy. They'll have you out of here in a minute. He kept hitting me like a crazy man. This is antiseptic, Mike Stingler. Okay. What else did he take, Mr. Brubaker? Can you remember? Yes. From the cash register, he took money. How much? $13, $14, I can't be sure. When he left your store, did you see which way he was going? No, he dragged me in the back room. He locked me in. Ready to move now, Sergeant. Okay. I don't know. I saw him going through the shelves there in the back of the counter. I don't know. What'd you keep there? My account books and my gun. A box of shelves, too. You want to take a look, Ben? Yeah. My head. Yes, sir, just take it easy. It's only going to be a minute now. The account books are still there. Yeah. He got the gun. 4 p.m. Kirby, Alias the Bad's bandit was still at large. As far as we were concerned, the case was almost back to where it started from 11 weeks before. The suspect was still loose. He was well-armed. He was still free to rob, assault, or murder. We had two big advantages. Kirby's possible broken arm, which would need medical attention. And secondly, the lead to Kirby's brother. At 5.30 p.m., we had a report that the suspect was seen purchasing a ticket at a theater box office out on Hollywood Boulevard. We ran it down. It didn't pay off. At 6.15, a taxi driver thought he spotted Kirby boarding an outbound streetcar. Figaro and Pico was checked out. No results. At 7 o'clock, Ben and I got something to eat at a drive-in, and we relieved the men on stake out at the rooming house on Alameda Street where Kirby's brother was staying. 10 p.m. Midnight. No sign of Kirby. We waited. At 3 a.m., Hanson and Cummings of Homicide relieved us, and Ben drove me home. It was 3.45 when he dropped me off at Collis Avenue, number 4656. Joseph? Is that you? Yeah, ma'am. I didn't mean to wake you. What time is it? Almost four. Eight hours. You've got to get your rest, Joseph. It'll be all right, ma'am. Got something to eat in the ice box? There's a little cold meat and some cheese in the cupboard. Just one of sandwich. You're going back to sleep. I had some nice meatballs and spaghetti for dinner. I can warm some for you. I'm sandwiches working all hours. You just get sick, Joseph, and you will see nobody cares about you when you're sick. I wish you wouldn't get up my. I can fix something. Well, I'll warm up the meatballs and the spaghetti. You need something substantial. I get it. Hooray, ma'am. I hope it's not that awful. Call me, ma'am. Hello? Norman down Homicide. Yeah, Norman. Thought you liked to know they just got Kirby. Where? His brother's place about 15 minutes ago. Hanson and Cummings grabbed him. Any trouble? No. Grabbed him before he got to his gun. We just locked him up, thought you'd like to know. Yeah. Thanks, Norman. Night. Well, that wasn't Joseph. The office, ma'am. They got Kirby the badge band. Oh, did they? Well, that's nice. Maybe you'll have some time off now. Yeah. Never fails, does it? We work on a case for three months. Leave it for 30 minutes, and it's all over. Well, the food's warm. Is there anything else you want? No, no. That's fine, ma'am. You go on to bed. Well, all right, Joseph. Now, don't stay up too long. All right. Good night. Hey, ma. Yes, Joseph? Have I still got that old tuxedo around? The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. On June 27th, trial was held in Superior Court, apartment 87, 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 coast to coast, extra mild Fatima has more than doubled its smokers. Yes, more and more smokers every day are discovering that Fatima is the king-sized cigarette that is extra mild. Extra mild because it contains the finest artificial domestic tobaccos, superbly blended to make it extra mild, to give it a much different, much better flavor and aroma. Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. The best of all long cigarettes. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. Charles Leon Kirby alias the Badge Bandit was tried and convicted in Superior Court on several counts of armed robbery, rape and assault with intent to commit murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. After serving one year in the state penitentiary, he was judged insane and committed to the state mental hospital at Mendocino. After two months there, he escaped. Charles Kirby alias the Badge Bandit is still at large. 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, W.A. Wharton. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.