 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Your detective sergeant, you're assigned a robbery detail. You get a teletype warning you that two hold-up men are heading for your city. You know they're armed and dangerous. Your job, be ready for them. 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 to an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, DRAGNESS is the story of your police force in action. It was two of the April 5th, it was raining in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out a robbery detail. My partner Frank Smith, the boss of Chief of Detective Pat Brown, my name's Friday. I was on my way back tomorrow night and it was 846 a.m. when I got to room 27A. Squadroom. Frank? Yeah, Joe, back here. How about it? Turn anything? Yeah, a couple of names, none of them match the descriptions. One of them I was supposed to be in. This afternoon's mail I said they were sent on a merit special. It'll be easier when we know who we're looking for. Yeah, it will. Friday? Smith? Yeah, it's coming. You got a minute? Right there. Morning. Yeah. Close the door, huh? Yeah, sure. Here. Take a look at this. What is it? About the merchant, by the way. I just talked to Leopold. Sheriff from Las Vegas. That's right. He gave me as much as he could on the merchant. Let me check our records. There's nothing on them here. It isn't likely. From what Leopold says they're fresh out from the east. You name a town? No, someplace in Georgia. They're trying to run it out. Both of them. We've got to pull a couple of gas stations and hold up over there. Anything else? Yeah, at least they think so. Well, burning their records, the boys got into town a couple of months ago. No visible means, with plenty of money. Well, hung around the places on this trip. Gambled, drank, had themselves quite a time. Yeah? The department over there started to wonder where the money was coming from, put a couple of men on them full-time. What'd they find out? Not much. The merchant said it's cozy. They were finally picked up on a drunk charge, mugged and printed. Nothing to hold them on so they were released. Yeah. Next morning they skipped town, left clean. On the way out they stopped long enough to kick in a couple of those gas station motels, you know, along the highway. Oh. It was pretty good. The victims make the identification right away? Yeah. As soon as they saw the pictures, the sheriff saw this notified baker. Highway patrol there was waiting, but they must have gotten through before the word went out. Mm-hmm. We've been able to trace them through Barstow, Victorville, on through Pair Blossom, Little Rock. They worked hard all the way. What do you mean? Three service stations, two restaurants, one motel. Anything on them here in LA? Not yet. A matter of time. We've got to get them before they... All the victims tell the same story. These two guys are off their rockers. The way it stacks up, they're well armed. The car they're driving is cold and they're on the needle. Tell it. Well, we got it. Leaphole says they kept a couple of dates with known pushers in Vegas. As far as he could tell, there wasn't anything past. That doesn't mean it didn't happen. Oh. That's the story. Get on it. Okay, Captain. I told you before, it's a matter of time until they try to put somebody around here in town for a couple of crazy gunmen high on H. Bad combination. Somebody's got to lose. Well, let's hope it's not us. Ethan Gifford Merton, WMA, 27 years, 5 feet 80 inches, 165 pounds, and his brother Grady James Merton, 24 years, 5 feet 6, 152 pounds, arrived in Los Angeles on the morning of April 5th. The first word we had at their presence was a hot shot telephone call reporting the robbery of a market on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Monroe Street. The market owners, Mr. and Mrs. Turner Dillon, had both been thrifting it. Mr. Dillon's been removed to Georgia for a few years. Mr. Dillon's been removed to Georgia to be treated in the hospital for treatment of a skull fracture. The woman had been given emergency treatment on the scene and referred to her own doctor. The description the victims gave us matched the merchant brothers. As soon as the mug shots from Las Vegas arrived, Frank and I drove out to see Mrs. Dillon. We found her in a small apartment above the store. I just talked to Dr. at the hospital. He said, Turner, be all right. Sure, I wonder the way they hit him. No reason for it. We didn't give him the money. Turner kept telling him, take the money and leave us alone. The money didn't make any difference to him. I don't think they even heard us. We'd like to look at some pictures of Mrs. Dillon and see if you can point out them, ma'am. Oh, sure. Anything to help you catch him. Here you are, ma'am. You brought him in here, do you? I hope so, yes. Well, you're right. Here they are. Thank you. Is that going to help you get him? Yes, ma'am. Did you notice that they drove a car into the Dillon? I can't tell you for sure. We didn't really see him until they were in the store. Well, there must be something wrong with men who beat somebody up like that. You know, up here, can't be a normal person. What'd they say to you? Well, they told us it was a stick-up. They said to hand over the money. The bigger one, that doesn't seem right there. He said for us to hurry up. My husband opened the cash register and he gave him what was there. The big one told him to get to the safe. Hand over that money, too. The point of the gun that has kind of pushed us back to the safe. Turner opened it. All the time we did just what they said. We weren't going to cause them any trouble. Handing them all the money, every dime. Turner kept saying, take the money, but leave it so long. He must have said it 50 times. Before I even knew what was happening, Turner was lying on the floor. He'd been hit. I got mad. I tried to get at the man myself. It didn't make any difference to him. I was a woman. They hit me, too. That's the gun? Yeah, here, out on the safe. If it didn't hit me as hard as it did, Turner. If it didn't. Did that thing hit the store? Not too good. To tell you the truth, my wife and son were taking care of my husband and paying attention to them. A couple of hoodlums. I don't know where men like it come from. There's something wrong with the way they were brought up. Yes, ma'am. It'll probably be their parents who ought to be in jail, not the boys at all. You might be right. It's not the boys fault. Well, we'll settle for them. 4.25 p.m. We received a communique from the FBI telling us that the state of Alabama for escape. The complete record on the two men was also sent. They'd been arrested a total of 26 times for everything from petty theft to kidnapping. According to the kickback, they'd escaped from a road gang while serving a sentence to possession of narcotics. We contacted the authorities in Alabama and asked them to forward all available information on the suspect. After talking with Captain Donahoe, Frank and I went over to the first street station to see Captain Walder. We asked him to supply a list of places the two brothers might turn for a narcotic contact. He gave us a list of several places in town and the names of men we could talk to. 8.16 p.m. We started to check them out. Yeah, what would it be? You seen Patsy Hayworth around? Well, why are you looking for him? Wanna talk to him? What about? Well, if we wanted you to know, we'd ask for you, wouldn't we? You guys coughed? That's right. Now where's Patsy? I don't know. Come on. We got word that he hasn't been more than three blocks away from here in the past four years. Now where is he? I told you, I don't know. You're not being smart, Mr. Hey, back room. Say, along? Yeah, as far as I know. What's he doing? Nothing different. I'm solid, sir. Oh. Yeah, you want some? You Patsy Hayworth? That's right. Sit down. I know you. I don't think so. You're in the wrong room. Police officers, we got some questions for you. I don't guarantee the answer. That's a start. Go. You heard from the Martin brothers? Who? Grady and Ethan Martin. No names. You don't know them. Red Queen and the Black King, and I could turn them over. That's the baby I've been looking for the first time today. Is that so? Yeah. First win. Too bad it didn't pay for the deck. I don't mean to kill him. All right, now come on, Hayworth. What do you know about the Martin? I told you nothing. Now, why come to me? A lot of other guys in town? They're going to need eight. The way we got it, you can steer them to it. Old friends again. All right. Get your coat. Why? Let's take a ride. For what? We can't talk here. Let's get on town. Well, it's a nice place. There's nothing wrong with right here. All right. I'll send it for me. Why? Well, information like that ought to be worth something. You know we can't do anything for you. Come on, let's go. Well, how long do you think you're going to be able to hold it? Long enough. How do you make that? Well, I'll tell you. We'll take you downtown. Process. You pass the word. You're copped out. Told us about a half a dozen people in town. Thing like that gets around. You're going to be in trouble. You'll come back with what we want to know. Well, that's kind of crummy. It almost built the blackmail. No, you called it. We didn't. You'd really do that. We would. All right. You crossed out all the roads. What do you want to know about the merchants? You know them. Madame, you had a place down the street last night. When? What is it? A bar or a hotel? A hotel. Are they there now? No, we just used the room to meet them. You know where they are? No. What do they want? You called at age. Are you doing any good? No, I told you the truth and I'm pushing it anymore. Why'd they come to you? Heard I could turn them on. What'd you tell them? Well, we said I couldn't help them. I told them I'd try and line something up. You know, I don't want any part of that action. You know, I could have a piece of it. The answer would be no. They must be shooting seven, eight caps a day. They're most of the time cooking. They're out of their skull. Yeah. You got anything that'll help box them in? I don't know. Hey, maybe the broad. What do you mean? Well, they're dragging a broad with them. A big one. It could be six, two in a stocking. You know her? I've seen her around. Where? Used to have some drinks downtown. Got too rough with some of the managers. They tied the can to her. She's been floating for a couple of months. Tied into some guy. I'll pay the bills as soon as he wises up. She drops and goes on to power. She got a land rest? No, I can't name it. Some fleabag on sip, I think. Is she a hide? I don't know. She might chip you with it. Not steady enough. She's smart, you know? How do you look? She'd do real good. One of the homiest women I ever met. Is that so? Yeah, it looks like she should be wearing a bridal. The work we get in touch with her. Well, it's hard to say since she's running with the Merton. Yeah. You might try to tend her heart. What is that? It's a dive on six. She used to show for the place. When they kicked her out, she went freelance. She still hangs around, I think. Well, how'd you leave it with the Merton? Huh? They going to contact you? I don't know. They might. Want me to call you if they do? Yeah, we'd appreciate that. Okay. You got a card? Here. Thanks. I'll give you a ring. All right, here. We'll hear from you, right? Yeah. There you are. You see? What? You should have banked the game. I lost. No, you didn't. You won. We returned to the office and ran the name and description of the woman through the record section. We came up with a package listing arrests for violation of section 647-5 of the penal code and 42-20 LAMC, soliciting drinks. She'd served two terms in the county jail and at the present time was not on parole. We got her address and drove out to see her. The landlady at the apartment house told her she was out and wasn't expected back at any certain time. Frank and I drove down to the tenor heart in a small bar on 6th Street. We found the woman sitting on one of the front stools. Hi, honey. I could buy a drink. Your name, Jane, some letter? Names. Don't mean anything here. Just friends. It's all that really counts, friends. How about it? Is that your name? Are you guys caught? That's right. You're asking me for a rank on nothing? We're not rousing. We want to talk to you. About what? Let's get outside. Be easy to talk there. I got a choice. Not much. Okay. Henry? Yeah, Jane? Save us two. I'll be right back. Okay. So? Here, we can talk in the car. Yeah. Go ahead. Get in. Okay. What's the beef? You work here, do you? You mean this place? That's right. Uh-uh. Once in a while. I come in and have a couple of drinks. That's it. Where do you live? I've been a rock top. You know, I had to pass the time of day. What do you have to do? A couple of questions. Not the power for that. What do you mean? They're not uniform. They don't send a suit out to ask about a traffic accident. What do you do with your time, Jane? Move around. Well, lay it out for me. What? When? First of the week, huh? Okay. It's that late Monday. Got up about 1.30. Not a bad night Sunday. Worked up with a real head. Tagged the bar in the corner. Had a couple of bloody marries. Went home. Changed my clothes and met a friend. You want to give us his name? Nick Gawney, father. Not for much. Nick Pfeiffer. Okay. What happened then? I was out with him until 1932. 1932? That's in the morning. Yeah. Came home. Went to bed. Flapped until about 11.32. Got a call from a couple of friends. We just got into town. Got their name? Same deal. Same deal. Couple of brothers. They met a girlfriend of mine in Las Vegas. She gave them my number. How about the names? Eastern and Grady Merckin. Okay. Met them. Had a couple of drinks and go out to the beach for lunch. Came back to town at dinner. Takes us up to last night. Have you seen them today? Nope. He couldn't call me. Said they had some kind of business to take care of this evening. After that they were going to pick me up. Where? Here. In about an hour. Got the reason for the muscle? The Merckin brothers? Might be. Got a game going. I'm not on their side. I want that clear. They pulled a boo-boo. They did it themselves. No help from me. If I'm concerned, they both got soft spots. What do you mean? The skulls. Soft. May I say what this business was? They had to take care of? No. I mentioned something about somebody who wanted money. Something like that. So they were going to collect. Didn't say where though. Not to me. They waited with a rig last night though. Didn't leave a lot of doubts. All those guns going out to collect. They weren't going to do it. Nice. We called the office and told them what had happened. Another team of men were sent out to help us cover the place. Frank and I took up our positions in the back of the bar and we waited. What's your name? One thirty. One forty-five. What do you think, John? I don't know. They decided not to show us. Hey, John got an idea this morning. Yeah. Well, I was shavin'. I always have trouble, you know. Try all the things they tell you. Let the ladders stay on two and a half minutes. Hot water, all the things you're supposed to do. I've tried them all. I finally came up with the answer. You did, huh? Yep. Well, what is it this time? New kind of razor? A razor. Yeah. I got thinking about, say, and gave him the idea. How did that work? Say, he's my wife. Well, I know that. She shaving now? Oh, you don't understand. She's not shaving. No? No. You last night, he gave herself one of those home permanents. And I got the idea from that. For the new razor. Yeah. They got those permanence things for different kinds of hair, like hair that's hard to curl, medium, easy to curl. Easy, you know. How did I know what's coming here? Well, if somebody invented a razor for tough beard, medium beard, light beard, he'd do all right. You're going to invent it, are you? Sure, I'm not going to invent it. You know how I am with those things. You've got the idea, though, that's all. I'd sure like to buy one if they had them. Tough beard. Find one right away. First date. That'd be the answer. Well, here comes ours. Looks like Grady Martin just came in, doesn't it? Yeah. Where's Brother S? Might be outside. Wait a minute before we move. In the sunlight a little bit. I'm starting to believe. Let's go. We'll take him outside. All right. All right, Martin, hold it up. He's leaving, Joe. All right, come on. Calm down. Take it easy. Leave me alone. Police officer. Take it easy. Come on, Martin. Get up. Come on. Get over there by the wall. Stand still. Look, Joe. Luger. All right. Put your hands down in the back. I mean, you shoved me around full top. You're going to be sorry about... Boy, your brother. You'll find it. You're going to find out, Mr. Now, where is he? I won't leave you, Tom. You got him, huh? That's right. You turned him on, didn't you? You talk to me, guys like you always cause me trouble. No, you cheap bum. I don't know what he can see, and you're sure going to be sorry when he hears about this. Tell him to stay away, too. He'll get you. You can't dig far enough to get away. He'll find you and pay your back. All right, that's enough. Now, let's go. You tell her. She's going to collect interest on us. She'll be sorry. Not alone. Huh? She'll have company. The other team of men remained at the bar in the event the other suspect returns. Empty your pocket. Huh? Come on. Empty your mind. Wallet. Change. Hang it. You spend mine. Let me see your arms, Martin. All right. Come on. Let me see your arms. What for? Now, there's two ways to do this. You take your choice. Okay, okay. When do you have your last pop? You got to prove it. That won't be hard. All we got to do is drop you in an ISO cell and you'll be screaming for it. Sure. You get all the money you can on that. I'll book it myself. Let me see your wallet. Nothing wrong with your reach? Thanks, Flip, on your car? Yeah. You bought it in Nevada? Yeah. What was the key for? Nothing. I just like to carry him. Stand up. Now, what happens now? You hit me? Turn around. Forgot something, didn't you, Martin? Huh? The key here. What's it for? I never saw it before. Hendricks Arms Hotel. Is that where you've been staying? I'm not going to stay any more. You want me to talk? It's got to be with the lawyer. All right. I know my rights. You can't make me say nothing more. You don't have to. Huh? We've got all we need. We had Grady Merton taken to the main jail and held to answer charges of violation of Section 211, PC. 326 a.m., Frank and I left the office and drove out to the Hendricks Arms with a large private home in the Crenshaw area that had been converted into a hotel. Frank covered the back entrance to the building and I walked up the steps. 330. Hope you've got a good reason coming around here this time of night. Police officer, can you tell me who's ready to go in 5C? What floor? Listen, mister, this is a clean place. There's no trouble. Now, that's the way I want it. That's the way I want it to be. Yeah, sir. Now, who's in room 5C? A couple of guys. What are their names? I don't know. Smith or something. White Red is the room for them. I've only seen him a couple of times. All right. Does one of them look like this picture? Well, come in here and get some light, huh? Oh. Let's take a look. Oh. Is the fellow here? That's all right. Hmm. Well, here? Yes, that's one of them. Yeah. Is he in now? Well, I wouldn't have any way of knowing that. Tenants come and go as they please. See, as long as they don't let the water run, don't have no loud parties, we don't bother. Where is the room? It's the third floor rear. Oh, OK. This hall's over the back door. Yeah, it is. Got to go through the kitchen. Say, can you tell me what this is all about? Be better if we didn't. We're going to be in shooting? I don't think so. Well, if there is, I can give you a hand. I've got a 12 gauge in the room. I used to hunt ducks. I can get it if you can. No, sir, that won't be necessary. Is he here? No, no, he isn't. Is there any back stairs? Yes, sir. Right through there. It looks like a closet, but you open another door and you can go on up. All right, sir. Do you have a key to the room? Yeah. Here. Here. How are you going with you? It might be better if you stay here. Yeah. Yeah, well, I'll get my gun and guard the front door. He won't get out. I'll guard it. This is down this way. Yeah, easy. Behind you, Joe. What are you doing? What are you guys doing here? Get up. I get to me. How'd you do it? We did. We should have killed you all the time in the world. I didn't do it. I should have killed you. Yeah, you should have. Perfect shot. I couldn't do it. No reason at all. Wouldn't have cost me any more. That's all. Yeah, sure. They never executed anybody in this state for killing a cop. Wouldn't have cost me any more. Got a bigger building. You can pay now. Come on. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On August 18th, trial was held in Department 98, Superior Court of the State of California, Society withthy. Susan, Gifford, Martin and patrimony of James Merton were tried and convicted of robbery in the first человек hic olmaz. And received. Sentence is prescribed by law. Robbery in the first degree is punishment in the state pena. For a period of calm five years. Because of the viciousness of their crime, their sentences were set to run consecutively. by the state of Alabama in the events they are paroled. You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Phans Brasher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Kerr Bellis, Virginia Gregg, Vic Rodman, Bert Holland. Script by John Robinson. Music by Walter Schumann. Hell, get 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.