1 00:00:28,519 --> 00:00:36,039 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This 2 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:41,200 is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it 3 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:47,359 to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net. Follow us on Twitter at 4 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:53,200 Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash 5 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:58,479 Great Detectives. If you're enjoying this podcast, please follow us using your favorite 6 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:03,119 podcast software. Today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support 7 00:01:03,159 --> 00:01:07,200 of our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis by 8 00:01:07,359 --> 00:01:12,079 mailing a donation to Adam Graham pillbox one five nine one three. That's peelbox 9 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:18,840 one five nine thirteen, Boise, Adaho eight three seven one five. You 10 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:23,959 can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for his little ass two dollars 11 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:29,840 per month by going to Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net. A quick note, 12 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:38,239 today's episode is actually the last new podcast of season fourteen. Of course, 13 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:44,319 we do have a Sunday on Core tomorrow and then season fifteen starts on 14 00:01:44,439 --> 00:01:47,640 Monday. Well, that said, let's go ahead and get into this week's 15 00:01:47,719 --> 00:01:53,079 episode of Dragnet. The original air day August the eleventh, nineteen forty nine, 16 00:01:53,680 --> 00:02:06,319 and this is Production ten aka Maniac Murderer. Ladies and gentlemen, The 17 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:10,800 story you're about to hear is true, only the names have been changed to 18 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:28,400 protect the innocent. NBC brings you Dragnet. You're a detective sergeant. You're 19 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:34,159 assigned to homicide. There's a mad killer at large in your city. A 20 00:02:34,199 --> 00:02:39,400 woman has been brutally slain, the body mutilated. The picture is clear. 21 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:51,199 The killer has a thirst for blood. Your job get him. Dragnet the 22 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,639 documented drama of an actual crime, investigated and solved by the men who unrelentingly 23 00:02:55,719 --> 00:03:00,840 stand watch on the security of your home, your family, and your life. 24 00:03:00,759 --> 00:03:05,680 Well the next thirty minutes, transcribed in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police 25 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,280 Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through 26 00:03:08,319 --> 00:03:14,479 an actual case from official police files, from beginning to end, from crime 27 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,919 to punishment. Drag Net is the story of your police force in action. 28 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:29,280 It was Wednesday, January twelfth. It was raining in Los Angeles. We 29 00:03:29,319 --> 00:03:32,319 were working the night watch out of homicide. My partner's Ben Romero. The 30 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:37,120 boss is ed Backstrand, Chief of Detectives. My name is Friday. I 31 00:03:37,159 --> 00:03:38,719 was on the way back from the Morgue. It was eleven twenty three pm 32 00:03:38,759 --> 00:03:45,960 when I got to Room forty two homicide. A Hi, Joe, Chief 33 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,159 wants to see her. He's in there with Romero. Thanks Janner. How's 34 00:03:49,159 --> 00:03:53,560 a wife? Bye? How about your mother? Better? Thanks? Hi? 35 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,599 Joll Hi, honey, you sit down. Did they post a buddy 36 00:03:58,159 --> 00:04:02,039 in the morning? Pretty much? See strangled and mutilated guys? A maniac 37 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:08,120 skipper. The body shows you murdered. Ax is anybody's a suspect. The 38 00:04:08,159 --> 00:04:11,360 coroner looked at the body. He says the weapon was a long sharp instrument. 39 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,960 Foundering a hotel down on East third Street. Manager son discovered her about 40 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:17,639 seven to thirty. You talked to him. It's too much for him. 41 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,720 He passed out. Manager wasn't home. We'll check with him before midnight. 42 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,519 Close. Do it now, Joe. We better get going, all right. 43 00:04:25,959 --> 00:04:28,720 The boys from the crime lab checked the room. They're still down their 44 00:04:28,759 --> 00:04:30,240 head. The place is a mess. Get back as soon as you can. 45 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:34,000 We're working straight through on this thing. That's a hot shot. I'll 46 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:40,639 get it at the Luxe Hotel Room two one nine, corner of South Grand 47 00:04:40,639 --> 00:04:46,079 and Cordova. Dead body, possible homicide, the lux Hotel, Room two 48 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:50,160 one nine, corner of South Grand and Cordova Dead. What is it Friday? 49 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:56,680 Lux Hotel, possible homicide busy nine. Yeah, you coming in right, 50 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:14,839 let's go. Six minutes later, at Backstrand, Ben and I pulled 51 00:05:14,879 --> 00:05:17,000 up in front of the Luxe Hotel. The manager met us at the door 52 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,240 and led the way up a narrow stairway to the second floor. The room 53 00:05:20,319 --> 00:05:26,160 number was two nineteen. We were prepared for the worst. We got it. 54 00:05:29,639 --> 00:05:39,120 You're right room merrow. The guy must be a maniac. Two hotels, 55 00:05:39,199 --> 00:05:43,639 two murders the same mo. Three of us made a brief inspection of 56 00:05:43,639 --> 00:05:46,000 the room at the Luxe Hotel. We took a few notes in the appearance 57 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:50,319 of the girl's body and a brief description. Apparently she'd been strangled to death 58 00:05:50,399 --> 00:05:55,560 first and then her body brutally mangled. Ben and I went back down to 59 00:05:55,600 --> 00:06:00,839 the lobby and the manager of mister Ford showed us the housebook the girl was 60 00:06:00,879 --> 00:06:04,680 registered together with a man mister and missus Philip Grant. We took the hotel 61 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:10,360 register to have it checked for finger prints and the photostat the handwriting. Ben 62 00:06:10,439 --> 00:06:13,800 notified the crime lab. Then we went back to the room and questioned the 63 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,000 manager. Mister and missus Philip Grant. That's all I know. I never 64 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,000 saw either one of'em before tonight. When did they check in, mister 65 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:23,399 Ford? About three hours ago? That's right, about nine, maybe a 66 00:06:23,399 --> 00:06:27,000 little before. Did they register together, Yeah, a little before nine. 67 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,959 They came in together. Did you let them in the room, yes, 68 00:06:30,079 --> 00:06:32,160 sir, like I always do. It's a small place here, maybe not 69 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:36,680 first class, but I treat people right. What did the man look like? 70 00:06:36,879 --> 00:06:42,519 You remember? I think so, kind of tall, young, maybe 71 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,000 thirty or so. Husky fella had a mustache. How tall would you say, 72 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,399 mister Ford? Oh about your height? Wade must have been at least 73 00:06:49,439 --> 00:06:53,279 one hundred and eighty. Seemed like a nice fellow. Would you know him 74 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:57,040 if you saw him again? I think so. People sure don't act like 75 00:06:57,079 --> 00:07:00,560 they look. You think it was him, and you think of anybody else? 76 00:07:00,959 --> 00:07:03,560 Well, no, I never saw him before tonight, either one of 77 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,759 them. I don't know anything about it. Did you notice anything in particular 78 00:07:06,759 --> 00:07:11,360 about them when they came in, Well, he didn't show it, but 79 00:07:11,439 --> 00:07:14,720 it looked like she'd been drinking a little giggling, you know, And you 80 00:07:14,759 --> 00:07:17,079 didn't see this man grant leave the hotel. No, I didn't. I 81 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,040 must have been checking the account books back of the desk. Guess he got 82 00:07:20,079 --> 00:07:24,079 buy me? Is there a back entrance to the hotel, mister Bore, 83 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,959 No, he had to come out this way. All right? About the 84 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,000 fire escape, I never thought of that, say, I bet you cops 85 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,959 think I'm trying to hide something. How did you happen to find the body? 86 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:38,160 I don't know anything about it, honest. I've been running the hotel 87 00:07:38,199 --> 00:07:41,360 for ten years now. Everybody knows me around here. You can ask at 88 00:07:41,399 --> 00:07:44,240 the bank. All right, mister Ford, Now, would you mind telling 89 00:07:44,279 --> 00:07:46,639 us how you happen to find the body? I don't want a lot of 90 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,720 lousy newspaper publicity give the place a bad name. Can you blame me? 91 00:07:49,839 --> 00:07:53,439 The newspapers won't get your name from us. All we want to know is 92 00:07:53,439 --> 00:07:56,879 how you happen to find the body? Well, I told you it's a 93 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:01,399 small place here, but I like to treat people right. Couple hours after 94 00:08:01,399 --> 00:08:03,959 they checked in, I remembered I forgot to fill the ice water pitcher in 95 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,279 the room, so I got some and took it up. The door was 96 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:11,639 opened a little ways. It's got a bad catch on it and the lights 97 00:08:11,639 --> 00:08:18,639 were on. I peeked in and there she was. She was well, 98 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,000 the guy must have been crazy. Do you remember what time it was when 99 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,800 you found her? Just before I called the cops, about half past eleven? 100 00:08:24,839 --> 00:08:28,079 I guess all right, for that's all for now, when the other 101 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,600 officers get here, show them up, William, Yes, sir, I 102 00:08:31,759 --> 00:08:35,919 sure will remember. Yesk KiB get on the phone downstairs and call the Metropolitan 103 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:41,679 Division. Have them send us every available man from the reserve unit. We're 104 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,000 going to patrol the area for the rest of the night. Right. Least 105 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:50,039 we can do is make it hard for him. Two murders and seven hours, 106 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:52,840 both of them in a three block radius, the same pattern. It's 107 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:56,039 got to be the same guy. All right, we got a description. 108 00:08:56,759 --> 00:09:00,919 What do you think when the reserve unit show up, Have them cover this 109 00:09:00,919 --> 00:09:03,519 whole section of town, pick up everybody who even comes close to that guy's 110 00:09:03,519 --> 00:09:05,679 description. All right, ed, it's got to go fast. We can't 111 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:11,440 lose a minute, one hour either way, it might mean another body like 112 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:18,600 this one. Nine minutes later, at four minutes past midnight, the men 113 00:09:18,639 --> 00:09:22,879 from the crime lab showed up. That started to drizzle. They went over 114 00:09:22,879 --> 00:09:26,399 the room in detail. They dusted everything in the room for fingerprints, the 115 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:28,480 walls, the doors, the fixtures in the bathroom, the lamps and chairs, 116 00:09:28,519 --> 00:09:33,799 everything. They took samples of the girl's blood and their lipstick. Small 117 00:09:33,799 --> 00:09:37,559 pieces of flesh and human hair were found under the girl's fingernails. The nails 118 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,840 were scraped carefully and the contents put in an envelope, marked and sealed head 119 00:09:41,919 --> 00:09:45,879 backstrand ordered pictures taken up the room and the girl's body from different angles. 120 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:48,399 Every object in the room that could have any possible tie in with the murder 121 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:54,039 was photographed. It was raining the rear of the hotel, where the fire 122 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:58,799 escape was overlooked a vacant lot. Ben had a hunch. While the lab 123 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,039 men were at work, left the hotel and circled around into the lot for 124 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:05,879 a look at the ground directly underneath the fire escape ladder. It was raining 125 00:10:05,919 --> 00:10:11,360 hard. Now must be an easier way to make a living. MUD's almost 126 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:15,320 up to my knee, lying to watch your step, see any prince, 127 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,960 No wait till my wife sees these new shoe. Put it on your expense 128 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:28,399 account. All real funny, Ben, Get that light over here. Look, 129 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:33,000 yeah, good set of brands. Lucky that rain didn't start turning to 130 00:10:33,039 --> 00:10:35,000 wash them out. But now, yeah, hand me that cover from the 131 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:39,159 trash can over there, I'll cover him. Wait a minute, what here 132 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:43,639 on the edge of the fire escape ladder? Small home could flow off? 133 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:48,159 Man suit? Oh looks like it might have caught himself in that sharp corner. 134 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:52,480 I got it all right, come on, let's get back. Yeah, 135 00:10:52,639 --> 00:10:56,440 out of this mud there? Yo, huh. Let me have a 136 00:10:56,519 --> 00:11:03,960 lie. You catch anything wrap and paper in that price can stains on it, 137 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:15,360 helping it up? Yeah, butcher knife. We went back to the 138 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,240 Luxe Hotel, Room two nineteen. The lab men were tearing the room apart. 139 00:11:18,639 --> 00:11:22,720 It was ten minutes to one. We gave the bloodstained knife and the 140 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:24,879 piece of cloth we found on the fire escape to Lieutenant Lee Jones ahead of 141 00:11:24,879 --> 00:11:28,480 the crime lab. We told him about the footprints just below the fire escape 142 00:11:28,519 --> 00:11:31,639 ladder. The knife will help us sol the cloth. I don't know about 143 00:11:31,639 --> 00:11:35,159 the footprints. You say you're covering them that Frida Ley I still looking pretty 144 00:11:35,159 --> 00:11:39,200 good, Shay. Maybe we can do something if the rain hasn't broken them 145 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:43,000 down to bad racking. Yeah, liek Tennant, you and Sloan get downstairs 146 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,759 and take a look at those prints. They're good enough. Get a torch, 147 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,279 dry them out, make a cast, right, Okay, Lieutenant, 148 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:50,840 come on, that's about all I can do for you now, Ed. 149 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,639 I think we got everything there is to get, all right, Jones, 150 00:11:52,879 --> 00:11:56,159 I'll follow you back to the lab in a couple of minutes, okay, 151 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,600 Ed, good luck for us, thankfully, we're gonna need it all right, 152 00:11:58,639 --> 00:12:01,200 Friday, roll Meryl, it's your baby for the rest of the night. 153 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:05,559 Did he get anything? Few, Prince. A woman's purse under the 154 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,600 bed. Don't know if it's hers or not. No identification. You're going 155 00:12:07,639 --> 00:12:11,639 to be at the crime lab end all night. As soon as we find 156 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:16,399 anything, I'll let you know. Yeah. Gang of cops just came in 157 00:12:16,399 --> 00:12:20,120 the lobby. They asked for you must be the reserve men for Metropolitan. 158 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,039 Tell them we'll be right down ford. Okay, you want us to handle 159 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:28,039 that, that's right, Just as I told you. Spread them out over 160 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,559 the whole area. Cover the streets, the alleys, the flop houses, 161 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:35,200 restaurants, bars, everything, you got a description to go on, find 162 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,960 the man that fits it, all right, scareful, don't forget the guys 163 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:43,000 that kill her twice over. I don't think he'd hesitate on you. Be 164 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:50,120 careful. We went down to the lobby and ed Backstrand gave the reserve men 165 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:54,360 their orders. Then Backstrand left and Ben and I took over. We picked 166 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:56,000 up another half dozen men in addition to the men in the reserve unit. 167 00:12:56,279 --> 00:13:00,879 They were deployed over an area of a dozen square blocks was one of the 168 00:13:00,879 --> 00:13:03,799 toughest sections of the city, with a general description of the suspect. Some 169 00:13:03,879 --> 00:13:07,240 of them were to travel on foot, some and cruiser cars. A few 170 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:11,080 minutes before one am, it was a steady down for visibility was bad. 171 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:18,759 At three minutes past one the manhunt was on. For the first thirty minutes, 172 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:22,679 Ben and I cruised the general area between East Third and Colleague Streets and 173 00:13:22,799 --> 00:13:28,279 Alameda and Figure on no sign. The rain kept on. He sat and 174 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:37,799 listen to the calls coming twelve A call your station, twelve a KMA three 175 00:13:37,879 --> 00:13:45,960 six seven attention all units. Recovered license plates in the sixth column four Young 176 00:13:46,399 --> 00:13:54,679 seven six nine oh forty one R seventh eight Age Standard Avenue at three seven 177 00:13:54,720 --> 00:14:07,399 to three forty one, r K sixty seven Unit seventy one at two eight 178 00:14:07,519 --> 00:14:11,759 one six West not Viennega the final seven party. What are your things? 179 00:14:11,799 --> 00:14:16,320 Joe? Any haunt you? I think he's still around somewhere inside these twelve 180 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:20,039 blocks. I'd bet on it. Five. All right, you're on. 181 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,159 I want to check out a couple of these bars along here, getting on 182 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:31,080 a closing time. It's a good idea pull over, honey, All right, 183 00:14:31,159 --> 00:14:33,360 let's check him for the next couple of blocks, sir, right, 184 00:14:37,799 --> 00:14:41,279 for the next six blocks until closing time. Ben and I checked every bar 185 00:14:41,399 --> 00:14:45,159 and every informant we met along the way. The question's got to be automatic. 186 00:14:45,799 --> 00:14:48,799 Have you seen a man answering this description? Tall, dark, about 187 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:52,519 five feet eleven, one hundred and eighty pounds, well built, mustache, 188 00:14:54,159 --> 00:14:58,559 about thirty years old. The ANSWER's got to be automatic too, Sorry, 189 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,679 officer, I haven't seen him. We all can't remember him. Try the 190 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:05,600 place down the street. We kept on checking the bars until they closed to 191 00:15:05,679 --> 00:15:09,279 the night. Then we started on the all night restlings and coffee counties. 192 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:13,639 We did plenty of lakewood for the next hour, not a trace. About 193 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,600 two thirty, the rain let up a little, and then it started in 194 00:15:16,759 --> 00:15:24,919 heavy all over again. That finishes that. Blah, Yeah, I better 195 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:33,720 get the radio room yeah, beautiful wood by the bucketful run smoke, Thank 196 00:15:33,799 --> 00:15:39,720 you. Control for eight K your location, Yeah, eighty K your location 197 00:15:41,039 --> 00:15:43,080 dam A three six that's us, Julie, want to take it, Jack, 198 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:50,039 eighty K to control four eighty K to control four our location corner of 199 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:56,799 Alameda and commercial gm A three six seven eighty K stand back something doing maybe 200 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:03,279 no hold on a minute A forty eighty K go to the crime LAMB go 201 00:16:03,559 --> 00:16:08,000 to eighty K to control four KMA three sixty seven crime lab. Maybe those 202 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:15,120 French paid off? Well, I hope, So let's go on and Kailer 203 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,000 Short picks fime Weather to work and feels like I've just been swimming in these 204 00:16:19,039 --> 00:16:22,960 clothes. Yeah, I hope those guys in the crime lab. I have 205 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:26,360 the heater on, a hot bath and a warm bed. Lead me on 206 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:33,480 tension, a unit, radio unit and four to old Saint John's play a 207 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:38,519 woman screaming and four two old Saint John's place. By double around, Ben, 208 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:45,240 hit the siren, I'll get the light right hold on, let's turn 209 00:16:45,279 --> 00:16:48,840 on the markets that right, yeah, watch out for those protracts are way 210 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:55,159 hold on Yeah, the alley up ahead to your right, huh, call 211 00:16:55,240 --> 00:17:00,559 up in the street light over there, all right, come on, let's 212 00:17:00,559 --> 00:17:06,359 go here, all right? What happened? Let's happen? Reader, She 213 00:17:06,519 --> 00:17:08,160 was coming home up the street. A man he tied, grabbing, he 214 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,640 slashed her coat, a h swam as he went under the street light. 215 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,799 Do you here down next week? Down the alley over that venture a big 216 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,160 man. Davis, Davis, you're there, yeah, Joe? All right, 217 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,480 ben go dave a circle behind the alley, see which you can find. 218 00:17:21,519 --> 00:17:23,880 I'll fall in all right, come on, always look at her face? 219 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:26,799 What's wrong with severe status shock? It looks like get her in the 220 00:17:26,839 --> 00:17:34,519 house. Huh. I'll call an ambulance. Eighty K to control four. 221 00:17:34,759 --> 00:17:41,400 Eighty K to control four and try four. Go ahead. Direct all units 222 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:47,000 in the vicinity to converge on area around Saint John's Place from Jackson to Banning 223 00:17:47,079 --> 00:17:51,200 Street. A woman attacked by large man with a knife. Suspect left scene 224 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:55,720 on foot, possibly still an area. Request ambulance GM A three sixty seven 225 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:03,240 eighty K Rogers stand by. Attention, All unit attention, All unit converge 226 00:18:03,279 --> 00:18:08,680 on area around Saint John's Place, Jackson to Benning Street. Eighty K reports 227 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:14,200 woman attacked by a large man with knife. Suspect Melody on the river. 228 00:18:15,279 --> 00:18:18,960 In three minutes, the area around Saint John's Place was surrounded. For the 229 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,880 next hour, the men hold in the neighborhood, back and forth. Every 230 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:26,440 building, every storehouse in the two square blocks was searched from the basement to 231 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:30,359 attic. No trace. The girl, Rita was hysterical. She could give 232 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:34,720 us only a bare description of her attackers. At three forty five am, 233 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,200 a detail was assigned to patrol the area, and the rest of the cars 234 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:42,599 and men were deployed again in the general area from Figaro to Alameda Street and 235 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:47,519 East Third to Colleague Street. The man hunt went on, so did the 236 00:18:47,599 --> 00:18:49,559 ring. At three point fifty four, Ben and I checked in at the 237 00:18:49,559 --> 00:18:55,119 Old City Jail building, the second floor the crime lab. She fed Backstrand 238 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:57,480 and Lee Jones were waiting for us. Heard about the call. How'd he 239 00:18:57,519 --> 00:19:00,240 get away? Not sure it was him's How do you mean? Oh, 240 00:19:00,319 --> 00:19:03,480 the girl wasn't hurt bad for one thing, No attempted strangling for another thing. 241 00:19:03,519 --> 00:19:07,000 The guy stole her purse. That doesn't sound like a man were after. 242 00:19:07,279 --> 00:19:10,039 Did you get a description from the girl? Didn't gibe too well, 243 00:19:10,039 --> 00:19:11,920 which she gave us she's pretty hysterical. And you rake the neighborhood good, 244 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,640 every corner not a sign. Do you find anything? Yeah, Jones, 245 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:19,039 goehead fill them in? Will you not one print on that knife? You 246 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,759 found boys blood but not a print? Your killers crazy like a fox? 247 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,240 How about the scraping from the girl's fingernails. They didn't help too much, 248 00:19:26,319 --> 00:19:30,559 rarely do not enough to go on. You're gonna have a fair sized bit 249 00:19:30,599 --> 00:19:33,960 of flesh to run it for pepper witches. All we found under the girl's 250 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:37,559 fingernails are small bits of skin. Yeah, she probably scratched the guy up. 251 00:19:37,559 --> 00:19:40,720 Some might have drawn blood. We had more lark with the footprints and 252 00:19:40,799 --> 00:19:45,000 get an impression right out the ground with torches and cast him outside ten b. 253 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:48,000 It's finally, But how about the prints? Only good? One was 254 00:19:48,039 --> 00:19:49,880 a thumb, real good. Got it off the wall and the light switch 255 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,799 in the bathroom. You classified, Yeah, yep, found it in our 256 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,319 single fingerprint file. The print belongs to a man by the name of Long, 257 00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:02,359 not it Long. He got a record edd Yeah, misdemeanor to arrests 258 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:07,200 for drunkenness last October, petty theft in December, the Mama Sheet chose a 259 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:11,640 dishonorable discharge from the United States Coast Guard in nineteen forty six, aged twenty 260 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,000 nine, one hundred and ninety two pounds, five feet ten inches, dark 261 00:20:15,039 --> 00:20:17,799 hair, dark eyes. That's close enough. We got even closer. Joe 262 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,119 Long works as a counterman at the Cottage Cafe on a South Flower. Started 263 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,799 there last week on the early morning shift, but he didn't show up for 264 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:30,119 work last night. Good where'd you get the tip? The knife you boys 265 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,000 found didn't have any prints, but had a brand on it. We ran 266 00:20:33,039 --> 00:20:38,759 it down and mistaken from the cottage cafe. Any address on this Robert longed, 267 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,920 Yeah, got it from his boss rooming house in East first Land. 268 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:48,960 Lady says he hasn't been home in two nights. Now, we weigh rooming 269 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:52,079 house is staked out, and so is the cottage cafe, just in case 270 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,519 Long decides to show up for work this morning. What time you got, 271 00:20:55,640 --> 00:21:00,599 Romeo? Six minutes past? For all right, We've got every medication that 272 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,160 Robert Long's the man were after his description, fingerprints, the knife, the 273 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:10,680 footprint, his size. Maybe we're wrong, I don't think so. How 274 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:14,599 about a motive, Ben, I think Robert Long likes to kill? He's 275 00:21:14,599 --> 00:21:18,440 thirsty for it. None of the victims were criminally attacked. They were strangled, 276 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:22,440 bodies mutilated. How about robbery? No. Two of the women he 277 00:21:22,519 --> 00:21:26,799 killed had money in their purses. He didn't touch it. What's next? 278 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,000 Giper back on the street? Figure out, tell me he stirred to College 279 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,359 Street. Keeping it around that area and work it back and forth until we're 280 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:44,119 positive he's not inside. I think he is. At ten minutes past four 281 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:47,119 a d Backstrand, Ben and I left the crime lab and drove to the 282 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:52,880 surrounded area. It was still raining. We passed several patrolment from the reserve 283 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:59,359 unit making the rounds. They didn't look any more comfortable than we felt that 284 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:03,039 Broadway Alpine Street. Ben and I got out and started patrolling on foot again. 285 00:22:03,759 --> 00:22:07,319 Backstrand followed him the car to maintain a radio check. It must have 286 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:11,400 covered two dozen blocks and a half a dozen coffee counters before we got to 287 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:15,319 the Criterion restaurant and donut shop a few blocks up the street from the Cottage 288 00:22:15,319 --> 00:22:19,240 Cafe. Thanks, Kip, bro you want to take a minute for some 289 00:22:19,279 --> 00:22:22,880 hot coffee, I'll keep an ear on the radio. You two go ahead. 290 00:22:23,079 --> 00:22:26,279 You look drenched. We are, will we bring you some back in 291 00:22:26,319 --> 00:22:32,599 a paper cardon cign thanks, cream no sugar? All right? Ed, 292 00:22:32,799 --> 00:22:44,119 come, I've been place is empty? Yeah yeah, sir gentlemen, we'll 293 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:45,319 it be hot coffee. Yeah, there's two of us here. Can you 294 00:22:45,319 --> 00:22:49,480 fix up one to go? Sure thing? Say that one to go? 295 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:55,960 Cream, no sugar? Right, say you fellows cops? Yeah? Why 296 00:22:56,599 --> 00:23:02,240 no offense, Just wondering here you are? Thank you? Copro uniform was 297 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:03,960 around a couple hours ago. Wanted to know if I had seen some guy 298 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:07,720 was looking for tall, about one hundred and ninety pounds, mistakes about thirty 299 00:23:07,799 --> 00:23:11,039 years old. Yeah, that's a description he gave me. He was looking 300 00:23:11,079 --> 00:23:14,920 for the guy. So are we say? That's good? That other cop 301 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:18,000 came in right at my busiest time, a little after two when the bars 302 00:23:18,039 --> 00:23:19,000 closed. You know, it gets pretty rushed, and I didn't have much 303 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,440 time to think, so I just said no. Then after the cop left, 304 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:26,359 I remembered, you saw a man answering that description tonight. Yeah. 305 00:23:27,079 --> 00:23:30,079 I would have told a cop, but I was rushed, you know how, 306 00:23:30,079 --> 00:23:32,119 it is no time to think. And then I remembered, are you 307 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,640 sure? Oh? I'm sure? All right? Whoever he is, he's 308 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:38,400 a lady killer, What do you mean, no offense? There was a 309 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:41,240 shop looking dame down the end of the counter, and this guy breezes in 310 00:23:41,279 --> 00:23:45,160 and picks her up, talks to her about twenty minutes, buys her a 311 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:47,960 cup of coffee, and they walk out together. Do you remember what she 312 00:23:48,039 --> 00:23:51,640 looked like? Oh? Nice looking dame. Not beautiful, you know, 313 00:23:51,759 --> 00:23:56,559 more on the cute side. Ben, you got that Mork shot? Oh, 314 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:02,920 yeah, they're here to thanks picture. It's the girl, let's see, 315 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,640 Yeah, that's her. Who is she? I don't know. Mister 316 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:14,079 down at the Morgue, they call her Jane Doe number seven. Just by 317 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:17,680 accident, we'd come across a concrete lead on the killer's method of operation. 318 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,279 The picture we showed the man in the donut shop was a shot of the 319 00:24:21,279 --> 00:24:26,079 strangler's first victim the night before. Evidently, the killer would enter a bar, 320 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:29,839 coffee shop, or restaurant, strike up a conversation with a woman, 321 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,200 make friends or her, either buy or drinks, or invite her to a 322 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:37,440 bar in the neighborhood, and then the rest of the puzzle was still unsolved. 323 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:41,200 We went back to the cottage cafe and checked with the men on steakhout. 324 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:44,319 Not a sign up in chief, how are you men covering the place? 325 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,319 Backster up in front, and the booth across and the cash register. 326 00:24:47,599 --> 00:24:51,000 Lineman's back with the dishwashers. I'm at the counter. When's Long due to 327 00:24:51,039 --> 00:24:55,359 report for work? Dave? At five? About twenty minutes to go. 328 00:24:55,839 --> 00:25:00,240 You're lucky you're inside. It's wet out there. You're looking a right, 329 00:25:00,279 --> 00:25:07,279 Davis. We'll be around about five, right, Chief, Let's get back 330 00:25:07,319 --> 00:25:17,519 in the car. Work giver, who's the next two blocks? But don't 331 00:25:17,519 --> 00:25:19,559 go too farve. If Long shows up for work this morning, we want 332 00:25:19,559 --> 00:25:29,119 to be around the next ten minutes. Dragged by the rain, kept on 333 00:25:30,079 --> 00:25:34,400 back strand and chewed nervously on a cigar. At South Flower and First Street, 334 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:38,400 the sewers were clogged with street refuse. The rain backed up and filled 335 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:44,680 the intersection, and a group of aircraft workers huddled together in the doorway on 336 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:49,480 one corner waiting for the bus. It's cold and damp. I opened one 337 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:53,359 of the back windows in the car to get some fresh air, and off 338 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,440 in the distance in a close by we could hear the sounds of a big 339 00:25:56,519 --> 00:26:03,240 city waking up Sloan to a rainy January morning. It was eight minutes to 340 00:26:03,319 --> 00:26:07,880 five. Attention all units. Attention all units. At seven eight oh east, 341 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:12,480 Maine, a restaurant man answering description of murders suspect. All right, 342 00:26:12,599 --> 00:26:18,759 Romeo, step on it about ten blocks away, ed, who's going to 343 00:26:18,799 --> 00:26:22,079 cover the menu at the cottage cafe. This is a blind lady. It 344 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:23,759 won't take us long to find out. They can handle it alone if they 345 00:26:23,799 --> 00:26:30,640 have to hang on. Look out, we're getting That was a close one, 346 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:34,920 Ben, Yeah, this is the guy. I owe you five bucks. 347 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:41,240 Right yeah, attention all huments. Additional information on your call to seven 348 00:26:41,319 --> 00:26:48,039 eight oh east Main officers in pursuing suspect. Suspect is on foot. Step 349 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:51,920 roy more blocks give them watch us man next one to the left. You 350 00:26:52,079 --> 00:26:56,240 got it, seven eight. I had to joint up ahead there, all 351 00:26:56,319 --> 00:26:59,039 right, watch your step and you don't take chances. Don't play with him. 352 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:07,200 Right here, he went out the bank, right out of alley. 353 00:27:07,839 --> 00:27:11,359 Come on, man, behind you, you man hustler. Circle around the 354 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:15,839 park and chuck off the alley. Man, he said, go right right 355 00:27:15,839 --> 00:27:22,880 over the fence, Ben, Ben, look out, look out. All 356 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:25,559 right, he's not that good. Come on, Joe, all right, 357 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:32,319 all right, gys between the buildings. Stop for all, show the next 358 00:27:32,319 --> 00:27:38,240 house. He ducked into the basement right, cover me, right, come 359 00:27:38,279 --> 00:27:42,880 on. He broke through the garage doors. Hear Davis, Dave, Dave. 360 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,279 He slipped through. Get down to the next corner ring the plot. 361 00:27:45,319 --> 00:27:49,799 Yeah, man, Ben, did you follow him? Right on his tail? 362 00:27:49,839 --> 00:27:52,319 That warehouse a couple of lots from him. He went through the back. 363 00:27:56,400 --> 00:28:00,359 There is Joe. I don't go in blind. Watch out all right, 364 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:02,400 you you haven't got a chance. Come out with your hands up. 365 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:06,519 He's not stopping Joe. All right, let's span out, all right, 366 00:28:06,599 --> 00:28:12,519 Ben, cover me. I'm going for the door, all right, Ben, 367 00:28:12,559 --> 00:28:22,440 come on, you're clear. You spot him carries, let's get it 368 00:28:22,559 --> 00:28:27,039 slows. He's in a good spot. Let's move. He's up in the 369 00:28:27,039 --> 00:28:33,799 locks. Come on, let's hit up the stairs. Easy spot him, 370 00:28:33,799 --> 00:28:44,519 Ben, not a sign. But look out that fucking camp kind of clothes 371 00:28:44,559 --> 00:28:48,559 doing. Joe. Yeah, let's get that punk now, Joe, there's 372 00:28:48,599 --> 00:28:53,960 nothing. All right, you we got the warehouse arounded. Come on down 373 00:28:56,839 --> 00:29:02,079 all right, then we'll flash y'all. J he's dropping down the ladder. 374 00:29:02,079 --> 00:29:04,079 He's going for the front door. They're waiting for him with thummy guns out 375 00:29:04,119 --> 00:29:11,599 there, they'll cut you down. Stop, yo, who's got the go 376 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:15,759 open? He's making a break for it. It's crazy. He's trying to 377 00:29:15,759 --> 00:29:27,799 shoot his way out. Well, he asked for it. Yeah, let's 378 00:29:27,799 --> 00:29:45,160 take a lot masked like his girlfriends. Yeah. Maybe he just didn't like 379 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:55,079 women. Maybe I had you all right? All right? This is this 380 00:29:55,200 --> 00:30:02,319 him? Huh, even the scratches that girl made on his face. Description 381 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:07,759 match five ten, one hundred and ninety two pounds, dark hair, dark 382 00:30:07,799 --> 00:30:19,359 eyes, aged twenty nine, Robert long Killer. The story you have just 383 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:30,799 heard is true, only the names were changed to protect the innocent. You 384 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:36,279 have just heard the tenth in a new series of authentic cases transcribed from official 385 00:30:36,359 --> 00:30:41,559 files. Technical advice for Dragnet is furnished by the Los Angeles Police Department. 386 00:30:42,799 --> 00:30:48,720 Tonight's program is dedicated to Detective Lewis A. Abbott of the Chicago Police Department, 387 00:30:48,599 --> 00:30:52,160 who, on the afternoon of March third, nineteen forty seven, gave 388 00:30:52,240 --> 00:31:04,240 his life so that yours might be more secure. Drag Net came to you 389 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:10,960 from Los Angeles. If you enjoyed Tonight's production of Dragnet, you'll probably want 390 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:15,200 to listen this Saturday evening to a pair of adventure shows featuring two well known 391 00:31:15,279 --> 00:31:21,640 Hollywood personalities. You'll enjoy Brian don Levy, Star of Dangerous Assignment. Also 392 00:31:21,759 --> 00:31:26,119 on Saturday schedule is Richard Diamond, Private Detective as played by the screens romantic 393 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:30,720 tough GUYE Dick Poe. Listen to both of these exciting programs this Saturday over 394 00:31:30,759 --> 00:31:41,440 most of these NBCA stations. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company, 395 00:31:42,319 --> 00:31:49,720 Welcome back. This episode is defined by its great atmosphere. Other programs are 396 00:31:49,759 --> 00:31:56,519 content to have advance happened during weather with maybe some obligatory sound effects thrown in, 397 00:31:57,119 --> 00:32:02,799 But this episode really work to pay This moody, rainy night where our 398 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:07,839 heroes have to hunt down a killer who could strike at any time in the 399 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:13,400 darkness, and they managed to do that with the facts as well as the 400 00:32:13,519 --> 00:32:21,000 narration. And it's the extra effort and attention to detail that would help Dragnet 401 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:27,359 rise above so many of its peers in the genre. Of course, we 402 00:32:27,519 --> 00:32:32,359 also heard the Dragnet premiere of Harry Morgan as the landlord at the hotel where 403 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:37,359 one of the murders happened. Morgan would make at least one other appearance during 404 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:44,039 this early run of Dragnet, and seventeen years later he'd be cast as Officer 405 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:50,680 Bill Ginnon in the Dragnet sixty six TV movie and then the nineteen sixty seven 406 00:32:50,799 --> 00:32:58,240 Dragnet TV series. Hearing Lady Jones talk about how little some of the evidence 407 00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:04,720 told them, such as the skin under the dead woman's fingers really is a 408 00:33:05,079 --> 00:33:12,759 snapshot of the state of investigative police technology in nineteen forty nine. Of course, 409 00:33:12,799 --> 00:33:16,880 today, the same evidence that Joan dismissed as telling very little could tell 410 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:22,759 modern police scientists a great deal with what we've learned about DNA. Still, 411 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:29,319 they use the evidence that they did have well and were able to process it 412 00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:34,720 quickly and use it to identify their suspect. Now it's time to thank our 413 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:38,480 Patreon supporter of the day, and I want to go ahead and thank Rick. 414 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:45,880 Rick has been one of our Patreon supporters since April of twenty twenty two, 415 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:51,000 currently supporting the program at the shamous level of four dollars or more per 416 00:33:51,079 --> 00:33:54,160 month. Thank you so much for your support, Rick, and that will 417 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:59,279 do it for today. If you're enjoying this podcast, please follow us using 418 00:33:59,359 --> 00:34:04,759 your favorite podcast software. Be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you 419 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:09,559 download us from. We'll be back next Saturday with another episode of Drag Nat. 420 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:15,920 Coming up tomorrow, we will have our Sunday Encore, and we'll also 421 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:22,639 have public Domain Video Theater featuring an episode of US Marshall join us back here 422 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:28,719 on Monday for our regular lineup to get started again with the Adventures of Sam 423 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:34,960 Spade. Where it just collapsed one night last week. There were more than 424 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:37,840 three thousand people in it at the time. Five of them were killed. 425 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:43,039 I don't know how many injured. That's too bad. How did it happen? 426 00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:50,639 It just collapsed? Another drink? No sense? Pardon me. It 427 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:57,119 was a municipal auditorium built to under the war then cost over a million dollars. 428 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:05,920 I was the architect. Yeah, I was picked by the townspeople for 429 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:09,280 the singular runner of designing the fun memorial. Well, now they have something 430 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:15,280 to remember. What'd you do? Run? Nothing? Nothing. Somebody cheated 431 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:19,280 in the building up. Somebody didn't follow my plans. I don't know who 432 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:22,480 it is. I don't know who it was, just where to place the 433 00:35:22,519 --> 00:35:28,599 blame. So you're a private investigator. I hope you'll be with us. 434 00:35:28,639 --> 00:35:32,880 Then in the meantime, do Send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives 435 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:37,880 dot net, Follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out 436 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:45,079 on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives From Boise, Idaho. 437 00:35:45,480 --> 00:35:47,400 This is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.