 Ladies and gentlemen the story you're about to hear is true. The names haven't changed to protect the innocent Dragnet is brought to you by Chesterfield made by Liget and Myers first major tobacco company to bring you a complete line of quality cigarettes Your detective sergeant you're signed a robbery detail a Supermarket in your city has been robbed the thief wore a disguise. You don't know who he is or what he looks like Your job find him Today friends you hear these three words everywhere Chesterfield's for me The Chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made Best for you because Chesterfield gives you proof of highest quality low nicotine The taste you want the mildness you want Chesterfield is best for you Because it's tested and approved by 30 years of scientific tobacco research Chesterfield is best for you because it has an established good record with smokers proven by test after test Yes friends the Chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made for the taste you want The mildness you want join the thousands now changing to Chesterfield Always say Chesterfield's for me 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 Was Wednesday August 13th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of robbery detail My partner's Frank Smith the boss of chief of detectives that brown my name is Friday I was on my way into the office that was 758 a.m. When I got to room 27a robbery Warner Frank You've been in long about ten minutes. There'll be a hot one today in it. Yeah, that's what the paper says anything in the book No How about those mugs they come in from Burton? Yeah, I put them in your box. Thank you Did you take a look at them? Hey Frank what I said, did you see the mugs? Oh, no, what's the matter? They what happened Joe, you know me You know how I feel about Faye so you got to know I didn't mean anything by it He didn't mean you certainly not survive this thing for my mind. What was what she thought I meant You know Joe sometimes I think they just don't understand me. Well, I don't understand either on this one. Oh That's right. You weren't there so I got to thinking to myself you were you know, okay That's I got thinking to myself and I got a problem. You're trying to thank your old buddy knows all about it Yeah, so I got a fed you and I'll tell you all about it right now. Yeah, you see after dinner last night We had those Swedish meatballs at Faye make so good the one meatballs Swedish ones. Oh, yeah, I know I had those out Yeah, one very good. Yeah, excellent. Well after dinner last night. We went in the living room sat down to watch the television I switched on the set and I kind of arranged the pillows and settled back a Couple of minutes later Faye comes in with a box on those big flat ones like dresses come in. Yeah, she bought a new dress Joe, that's why she fixed the meatballs. I Don't know how this is going in but up to here. I must be on Faye side. I guess yeah, well, I don't understand any of it Oh, well, I'll straighten that out. You see whenever she wants me to go along with something She's already done. She always makes Swedish meatballs. Well, I could figure that part out What was in the box? A dress Joe. She bought a dress. Oh, it was a dress. Yeah She opened up the box. She shows it to me. Tell me how she bought it on sale Every notice every time a woman buys a dress. It's always on sale No, I can't say as I ever have well believe me buddy. It always is on sale on sale I Don't want you to go through the whole day with this on your mind But if you don't get to the point every time horses sign out mom talk about well I didn't mean anything but nothing she held the dress up for me to see and all I did I just said what size is it? You know how you do Won't look at these mug shots now. No wait a minute. I want to finish asked me what I was mad about I wanted to tell you I asked her what size it dressed was she told me it was a 12 a 12 a 12 Yeah, so I just kind of casually mentioned that when we got married she wore a nine That's all I said that she wore a nine Well look at the mug shots now. No wait a minute. What do you help me with this thing? So you should be in partners if you can't help a little we'll look at the mug shots when we were married She wore a nine and she just flipped her wig Joe. She got real mad walked out of the room right out of the room. Yeah Guess she thought I meant she was getting fat. Yeah, yes, she did Hot shot, I'll get it. Let's go corner grand viewing Union. Yeah, hold up By the time we got to the supermarket a broadcast carrying the description of the suspect had been gotten out to all cars in the city A small crowd of people had gathered in front of the store and the officers from the radio unit were attempting to keep them back from the entrance An ambulance had been called and when we got there the attendants were giving emergency treatment to the day manager of the store He'd been struck on the left side of the head just above the ear by the suspect when he'd made his getaway The attendant told us that the man was suffering from a mild concussion Frank and I entered the store and talked to one of the policemen who was there He led us back to a small office in the rear of the place where we met the other two victims One was the cashier of the store Irma Watson The other was the man who had the meat concession in the store Tom Spence. We asked him to tell us what happened First thing I saw was one apartment car up in the lot guy was standing right beside door. That's right Just standing there commas could be I saw him when I opened up the place Want to go ahead well, I unlocked the door and we all came in man did to just walk right in we don't normal Let people come in for eight hardly ever But since Gerald was there we figured he could take care of the man. You mean Gerald's the man the ambulance Yeah, that's right Hold up fella give him an awful cloud on the head give him concussion Concussion to head tell you something about that too. What's that miss Watson? I don't really think Gerald's hit that hard I think he's just putting on to get sympathy now Irma that ain't right not good say things like that Maybe not but I tell you you remember remember the time he cut his finger when he was moving the cases of empty soda Yeah, well you were there had to rush him to the hospital have his hands sewn up a lot of foolishness piece of adhesive Would have taken care of it sympathy. That's what he wants Can we go on with what we're talking about what happened after he came in the store, please? Well, I went upstairs and I turned on the lights have to turn them off from up there officers up there That's where I work Turned on the lights then come down to open the safe. Is that your job to open the safe in the morning? Yeah, and she's cashier. Yes, sir. What happened then? Well, Gerald was going on back to open the delivery door. I was over in the meat section kind of straightening up Now where was the hold-up man during this time? Just kind of strolling around looking at the different displays up and down the aisle just looking Gerald opened up the back door and come back As a fellow if there's something special he's looking for the guy said he wanted to know where they tell that to Vanchovies was Gerald told him well, I went back to get some that's what Gerald thought but we know different now a lot different All right, would you go on please? Well, I was upstairs counting the receipts from yesterday getting the bank statement ready. Irma's cashier. Yeah, yeah, we know Would you go on please? Well first thing I know the man standing right behind me holding this gun pointed right at me You can just bet he liked to scared me out of my wits must have been terrible Irma It was I just turned around and there he was with this gun just about scared me to death That's when he asked you for the money did he he didn't ask he just told me to put it in a wooden box He had just put it in the box what do you say what were his exact words? Well, he just kind of walked over and said put the money in the box and don't cause no trouble This is a stick up like that. He said it. Irma did just what he said. Yes, sir I gave him the money dumped it all in the box just like he said They told me to lay down on the floor just told me to lay down and not to make any noise He would come back and kill me. I think he'd have done it too. I think he would have Irma That's why I did what he said flatten the floor did he have the box when he came in Yeah, I had it under his arm I was down behind the meat counter and all of a sudden I heard this scream That was me this way I let out a yell and Tom here heard it So Gerald we kind of looked at each other and then I grabbed a meat cleaver and started up stairs I didn't know what was wrong, but I didn't know Irma was in trouble. I appreciate that Tom And I knew you're in trouble and I came around and got the stairs come up the office and then I saw him He was just coming down. He still had the gun did he yeah have gun in the box I didn't know what was in it at that time, but I had no idea I just hefted the cleaver and started up stairs stopped when he saw me stopped right in his tracks Tom's awful brave. Yes, ma'am. So he told me to get out of his way or else he'd kill me Waves pointing that gun around kind of believed him So I backed down the stairs and him right behind me all the time he had that gun pointed at me Where was the manager all this time? You mean Gerald? Hmm. I don't know. I was upstairs. No, I saw him He was down to the cash register in front He saw this guy coming down the stairs and he ran for the phone to call the police Fell the saw him and he took off after Gerald. I thought he's gonna shoot him But he didn't just hit him give him a concussion of the head He's after sympathy. That's all one hour me. You're wrong. I've seen it. He give Gerald an awful hit right along here They're real hard Now which way the man go after he left the store, please they ran down that way down Union Uh-huh. Oh, would you describe the man for us? Well, he was about five feet He's gonna be a little better if you told us one at the time. I guess you'd never get it that way It'll be a little difficult. So you go ahead Irma Well, I told the other policeman. He was about the funniest looking little man. I ever saw real little Oh, not really. I think he just kind of hunched over. Well, he looked little but how tall was it? Oh, about five foot eight maybe nine. I guess that's about right. Tell me about the way he was dressed Oh, yeah, had on this black overcoat in the hat all pulled down over his eyes the hat I mean, what color was his hair? Do you remember? Well, what I could see if it was kind of blonde like colored Yeah, that's right. And he had a mustache. Yeah, real big look like the old-fashioned kind like people who are now a kid You know handlebar black real black. Well, he left the start. Did you notice if he got into a car? Yeah, he did I saw him run down the street and jump in one dark color. I'm not sure what kind it was I think it might have been a Hudson Lake model. I saw that I was looking up the side window upstairs And I saw the same thing. Did you tell the other officers about it? Well, I didn't and neither did you die I guess I better got out of broadcast on it. Yeah, you happen to get the license number of the car Yeah, that's where I went to work. I've got it written down right here on my apron. She Numbers ain't too plain, but you can make them out No, sir. I can't you'll have to help me there. I got it too right here. I saw him get in the car and I wrote it down Thank you having the number the car is going to make it easier to catch fell ain't it I should make it a snap just find out who owns the car and that's the man. Oh, it's not gonna be that easy I'm afraid why both numbers are different A Supplemental broadcast was got not carrying both the license numbers that the victims had gotten Frank put in a call to DMV asking him to forward all information on the numbers The crime lab crew came out and went over the place for fingerprints, but they were not able to turn up anything that we could use We continued to question the butcher in the cashier We've got a complete description of the thief the one outstanding thing that both of them agreed on was the moustache Both said that it was a direct contrast to the color of the man's hair and said that it might have been dark And with shoe polish or some kind of grease people in the vicinity were questioned But none of them were able to supply us with any new information The injured manager was removed to Georgia Street receiving hospital for emergency treatment and then referred to his own doctor Frank and I talked to him, but he only verified the story that we've gotten from the other two people in the store 1245 p.m. We returned to the city hall and asked the stats office to start a run on the MO for us The victims were asked to go through the mug books, but they were not able to identify any of the photographs Frank and I spent the rest of the day talking to the other storekeepers in the vicinity of the robbery We asked each of them if they'd seen anyone loitering in the area anyone who looks suspicious from each of them We got the same answer none of them could help us in establishing the identity of the suspect the kickback on the license number came in from Sacramento, but when we checked out the information, we were no closer to apprehending the thief The next morning Thursday, August 14th Frank and I met in the squad room Hi, Joe. Why how's my old buddy this morning? I'm all right Sound happy the problem with face straight now. Oh, yeah, sure got home last night. Everything's great. They're right Hey, we started last night What's that thing in me? We're going on a diet both gonna lose a little weight. That's nice Yeah, there's no weight anything new in the market holder. No, the stats office should finish the run for us this morning We can start checking out the possible. Yeah, it's a good thing. I wore my walking shoes. I get it robbery Friday. Yeah No, that's right. No, that's all right. We'd like to hear it. Mm-hmm Yeah, sure All right, we'll be out and see you know right away. All right. Thank you very much. Bye What do you got cash here out at the market that Irma Watson? Yeah, might have something for us. What's that? No, she says she thinks she knows who the suspect is Frank and I drove out to the market We went upstairs to the office in the rear of the store and met Irma Watson She was seated at a desk with a large ledger book opened in front of her I got to thinking it over last night after I got home about the hold-up man. Yes, ma'am Something about him the way he acted and talked made me think I knew he was that I'd seen him someplace before Uh-huh later work most of the night just thinking about it Then then all of a sudden it came to me right out of the air it came to me Yes, ma'am go ahead. Well, I knew where it was that I thought I knew him from where ma'am Right here in the store. You mean he's a customer. No, he works for us right here in the store That's where I've seen him Mustache kind of fooled me for a minute, but not for long. I remembered what's the man's name? I didn't remember that Not last night, but I came down here this morning and started through the books and came upon it got it right here. Take a look for yourself See right there That's jet Ellsworth. That's him. I'm sure of it. What's Ellsworth work here now? Well, yes, and no ma'am. Well, he does and he doesn't he still got the job But he ain't working right now got a leave of absence He's got ulcers said he wanted to get him taken care of so he had to go out of town and see a specialist get his Fixed when do you leave last week? See I got it right here last day. He worked was Wednesday August 6th That was the last day Do you have his home address? You just bet got it right here wrote all the information out for you Thank you very much. It's him. I'm sure of it. All right, miss Watson. We'll check into it Only thing I can't figure out is that mustache. What's it the mustache? I can't figure out how he could have grown it so fast takes longer than a week to get a mustache like that Doesn't it depends on what where you buy it Frank and I returned to the office to run the name jet Ellsworth through the record bureau Well Frank went through the packages checking the description. We've gotten of the suspect I went down to the stats office and picked up the list of possible that they had for us 1026 a.m. I met Frank back at the R&I counter Hi, how's it going? Looks like we got a live one. Hmm. Got a jet Ellsworth here pretty close to the description Yeah, record in the east St. Louis done big time back there nothing locally though. What do you fall for? I'm robbery You are listening to dragnet the authentic story of your police force in action meet the Tom Harman's You know Tom as Michigan's all-american football star now a top sports announcer Mrs. Harmon is the motion picture and television star at least knocks They're typical of people everywhere who were saying Chester fields for me I like regular size Chester fields have for years They're best for me at least I think so because of that Chester field quality That's the way I feel about them, too. I've always smoked Chester fields now. I go for the king size Guess I like a longer smoke. So whether you smoke regular size like Elise knocks or king size like Tom Harmon Enjoy America's most popular two-way cigarette Chester fields for me. You hear it everywhere The Chester field you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made For the taste you want the mildness you want join the thousands now changing to Chester field We sent an immediate request to the authorities in St. Louis asking that they forward all available information on their suspect jet Ellsworth 115 p.m. Frank and I drove out to the address we've been given by the cashier at the supermarket Was a one-story Redwood house in the Beverly Glen area. We rang the front doorbell Yes, we'd like to see jet Ellsworth. He's not here. Well, you know where we can reach him What's this about he in trouble again, ma'am jet in trouble again? We'd like to talk to him, please your cops or police officers Figures what's he done this time? It's just routine. We want to ask him a couple of questions. Where is he? I don't know Well, he lives here doesn't he? Yeah, I don't know where he is. I haven't seen him since day before yesterday It's packed up in the left. I don't know where he went. Well, didn't he give me any idea where he was going? None went through my purse or put money I hadn't shoved off Don't much matter to me if I never see him again. I'd probably be better off One of we could see his things. You mean what he left? Yes, ma'am. Sure. Come on in during his room I'm about to throw him up. I don't want him. I don't think you'll be back for him this time Down the hall this way. Thank you, ma'am What are you after him for? I'll be a little better if we talk to him. Sure Don't matter to me. I'm through with him Nothing but trouble with cops since we've been married. I Didn't know he had a record when I met him until after we got married. I found out it was a jailbird Right after we got married the cops started coming around asking questions How long have you been married 18 months? met him back in st. Louis It's been right after he got out of jail. I didn't know a sin I wish they did wouldn't have nothing to do with him. Give me nothing but trouble Would you know if he has any people in California? But I ever saw he never talked about him Does he drive a car jet? Yes, ma'am. No, he didn't own one Never he needed one and go to one of these rental agencies rent one This is room stuff's there on the bed. Thank you. I'll check it I'm gonna throw it all out anything there you want. Just take it with you I don't think that'll be necessary. Well, they offer still good, but you don't take off a lot Your husband got any close friends at all in town. Yeah, I've got a lot of bums. You give us their names Only one name. I know Larry Jessup him and Jed used to pal around all the time I think his job at the store took up too much pal time. That's the reason Jed quit Understand your husband had trouble with his stomach. Yeah, all sir. Was he under the care of a doctor? Uh-huh all the time taking pills and eating special things got to the point where nothing I cooked was right for the ulcer We did nothing but fight all the time miserable 18 months. I'm glad he's gone never see him again It'll be a week too soon. Can you give us the doctor's name? Yeah, some of the bills there got it in with the rest Reminds me. Can you answer me something? Oh, what's that? Am I responsible for his bills the ones he ran of himself without my help? I gotta pay him Well, man, that's not a police problem. You better check with a lawyer on there a lawyer. Yes, ma'am More expense seems like all I do is put out money for him. Oh, I'm glad he's gone. You have a picture of me You mean like a snapshot? Yes, ma'am. No, I wouldn't let nobody take pictures of him said it was bad luck Mm-hmm Yeah, I'm a stashed in me. That's insane. Oh, there's also a yeah, you know, what's on these dictograph records? Oh, those are mine. I'm a stenographer suddenly they do work at home. Those are mine. Oh just letters It's the one thing he ever did for me. What's that made that box for records real big thing took him all day to make it Just a plain simple wooden box. You thought it was a Taj Mahal only thing you ever did for me Your husband get many phone calls here. No, that's as you'd notice where I'd call once in a while I told you there was real palate You ever hear any of the conversations by any chance just on this end, you know what they were talking about Not too good. They used to get real secret, you know low voices. They were playing something though I don't know what it was that they were playing at something. Let's follow jessopy drive a car. Yeah, you know what kind? Yeah new Hudson We got the address of the suspect's friend and we drove back to the city hall We made arrangements for a stakeout to be placed on the house in addition to asking Mrs. Ellsworth to call us in the event That she heard from her husband We ran the name Lawrence Jessup through our and I and we came up with a criminal record for him It listed several arrests for burglary and auto theft According to his package. He'd never been convicted in California We sent a teletype up to George Brayden CII and Sacramento asking for further information on the man 450 p.m. Frank and I left the office and drove out to the address given us by the suspect's wife Was a large boarding house in the Hollywood Hills area. We talked to the landlady She told us Jessup wasn't in but she expected him by 6 p.m. We asked if she'd ever seen a man answering Jed Ellsworth's description She said that such a man was a frequent visitor in Jessup's room 5 p.m. Frank and I and the company of the landlady checked the room We found nothing to tie Jessup in with a robbery. We waited for him 5 58 p.m. He came up the stairs and opened the door What are you guys doing here police officers is Frank Smith? My name's Friday I still want to know what you're doing here got a couple of questions. We don't ask you Jessup go ahead I got nothing to hide ask where's Jed Ellsworth. I don't know I haven't seen him a couple of days Why understand you two are pretty good friends were friends guys off his rocker How do you mean that what I said you only got out of the can a couple of years ago right away He's doing his best get back in that right sure a couple of days ago He called said he had to see me right away and a big idea for both of us make a lot of money Yeah, well, I don't want to have to work all my life So I told him I'd listen laid out this big deal where he could knock off a supermarket told me had it all planned out It all worked out real good couldn't miss mm-hmm. I told him I didn't want no part of it I could sure use a dough. Yeah, but not take a chance on going to jail for it already got a record I had enough to do with cops to last me the rest of my life been lucky the last couple of times It didn't fall, but I don't want to press I'm punching a clock now. That's where it's gonna be I told him that they say it was gonna go ahead with the job No, I just said I was crazy not to pick up some easy money. You heard from him says there Yeah, so I'm yesterday came over in the morning told me to forget all about the market job Said he realized it was wrong asked me to drive him out to Pomona. What for do you say? Yeah, I said he'd walk down on Hazel. That's his wife. Yeah, we know Said he left her and we're going to Pomona had a job out there. You drive Yeah to a motel there and show it to if you want because he's still there I don't know as far as I know he is that's where I left him sitting out there counting his money What money he told me drew all the dough out of his and Hazel's account said she wasn't gonna get any of it Must have had about four thousand bucks. You know what bank he had the money in no, he didn't say I didn't know him and Hazel had that much of course. She works pretty hard thrifty, you know Jetta always said she was stingy a lot of money. Yeah had it in this wooden box all stacked in there real neat Hard to believe what's in but the box Jeds about the laziest guy I ever knew last one to work with his hands sure proud of it though Hmm said he made the box himself Larry Jessup Frank and I drove out to the motel in Pomona We checked with a manager, but found that the suspect had checked out that morning Fortunately the room had not been cleaned yet and we went over it on a shelf in a closet We found the wooden box that Jessup had spoken of was a duplicate of the one that we'd seen at the suspects home We told the manager we were taking it with us and asked her to notify us in the event Ellsworth returned We asked if he had a car when he left the manager told us he didn't but that he had asked for the name of some automobile rental agencies in Pomona Jessup and I went out to our car and waited for Frank to come back from the suspects room Sure looks like he pulled a robbery, huh? It seems to fit him real good doesn't Joe yeah, look at that Find another bed only black mustache We checked with the automobile rental agencies in the area none of them had seen a man answering the suspect's description We asked them to call us if such a man did come in We drove by Ellsworth's house and picked up the wooden box that he'd made for his wife's dictograph records Both of the containers were taken to the crime lab for comparison We drove to the market that had been held up all three of the victims were shown the false moustache that we'd found in a Motel all three said it was identical with the one that the holdup man had worn After his investigation Lee Jones said that the two wooden boxes were cut from the same piece of three-ply wood Paint particles on the wood maxed the nails used were made by the same machine The box we found at the motel was shown to both the butcher in the cashier They said that it was the same one that the thief had carried a Local and an APB were put out on the suspect asking that he be picked up for suspicion of robbery For the next three days the surveillance on the suspects house was maintained all of Mrs. Ellsworth's activities were observed Sunday August 17th. We got a call that the suspects wife had left the house carrying a suitcase The officers on stake out followed her to the subway terminal in downtown, Los Angeles We met them there. Mrs. Ellsworth walked down to the landing and appeared to be waiting Frank And I took over the surveillance. We waited 9 30 p.m. 10 10 15 10 18 p.m. Joe, I see looks like the description Let's let them get together Come on. Hey seizes Come on right all right hold it up police officers Come on drop the gun else worth you're not gonna get out of here He's hurt yeah, I'll get an ambulance right Now we've sent for an ambulance Why don't you call us when you heard from him? I don't know I don't know he said if I met him it give me some money so I could pay the bills what you owed He was gonna give me some money. I was gonna call you after I got the money I was gonna call. Yeah, sure you were Chance to get out from under get even he didn't care when we were together I was the one who worried about it. He never cared. He never paid a bill. Don't worry. He's gonna pay this one You've just heard is true The names were changed to protect the innocent On january 17th trial was held in department 97 superior court of the state of california in and for the county of Los angeles in a moment the results of that trial now here is our star jack web Thank you, george fenerman You know the Chesterfield you smoke today is the best cigarette ever made and best for you now That's a fact and to my way of thinking it's the very reason for you to change to Chesterfield Try them either way regular or king size if you try them I think you'll say with all of us Chesterfields for me Jed Warren Ellsworth was tried and convicted of robbery in the first degree and received sentence as prescribed by law Robbery in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of from five years to life You have just heard dragnet a series of authentic cases from official files Technical advice comes from the office of chief of police wh parker los angeles police department Technical advisors captain jack donahoe sergeant marty wins sergeant fans bracer Hurt tonight were ben alexander ralph moody june wittley Script by john robinson music by walter schuman hell give me speaking Watch an entirely different dragnet case history each week on your local nbc television station Please check your newspapers for the day and time Chesterfield has brought you dragnet transcribed from los angeles Filter tip smokers. This is it L and m filters the one filter tip cigarette with plenty of good taste Much more flavor much less nicotine and effective filtration Only the l and m filter contains the miracle product alpha cellulose the purest material for filtering cigarette smoke Yes, this is it as helen haze puts it l and m filters are just what the doctor ordered By l and m filters the distinguished monogram cigarette l and m filters america's highest quality and best filter tip cigarette Rocky fortune following john cameron swaysy and the news on the nbc radio network