1 00:00:28,399 --> 00:00:35,520 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This 2 00:00:35,759 --> 00:00:40,000 is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it 3 00:00:40,039 --> 00:00:46,679 to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, Follow us on Twitter at 4 00:00:47,039 --> 00:00:53,119 Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash 5 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:58,320 Great Detectives. Today's program is brought you in part by the financial support of 6 00:00:58,399 --> 00:01:03,840 our listeners. Support the show on a one time basis by maleing a donation 7 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:10,719 to Adam Graham peelbox one five nine one three. That's peelbox one five nine 8 00:01:11,079 --> 00:01:15,599 thirteen, Boise, Idaho eight three seven one five. You can also become 9 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:21,599 one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little ass two dollars per month by 10 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:26,599 going to Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net, and I want to welcome our 11 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:33,040 latest Patreon supporters, Laura at the Detective Sergeant level of seven dollars and fourteen 12 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:37,840 cents or more per month and Ken at the Shawmas level of four dollars or 13 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:42,400 more per month. Thank you so much for your support. It's really appreciated. 14 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:47,719 Now let's get into this week's episode of Dragnet. The original air edate 15 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:53,840 September third, nineteen forty nine, and the title is Eric Kelby and now 16 00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:07,719 here's another n MBC's Great Parade of New Jaws. Gentlemen, the story you 17 00:02:07,719 --> 00:02:13,000 are about to hear is true, only the names have been changed to protect 18 00:02:13,039 --> 00:02:29,240 the innocent. NBC brings you Dragnet and you're a detective sergeant. You're assigned 19 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:35,199 a homicide detail. A man's wife has suddenly dropped from sight. On the 20 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:39,080 surface, it appears only as a routine missing person's case. You start to 21 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:46,759 investigate, suspicion grows, there is evidence of possible foul play. Your job, 22 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:54,680 find the woman or find her murderer. Dragnet the documented trauma of an 23 00:02:54,719 --> 00:03:00,639 actual crime, investigated and solved by the men who unrelentingly stand watch on the 24 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,439 security of your home, your family, and your life. Paul, the 25 00:03:04,439 --> 00:03:07,759 next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 26 00:03:07,759 --> 00:03:10,919 travel, step by step on the side of the law through an actual case 27 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:16,599 transcribed from official police files, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. 28 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:27,520 Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was Wednesday, 29 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:31,000 September fifteenth, was warm in Los Angeles. We were working a day 30 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:36,560 watch out a homicide. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is ed Backstrand, 31 00:03:36,639 --> 00:03:38,400 chief of detectives. My name is Friday. I was on the way 32 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,840 back from lunch and it was twelve fifty six when I got the room. 33 00:03:40,879 --> 00:03:46,560 Forty two homicide. Hi Joe Boyd and Boyd Hi Ben hell I here he 34 00:03:46,639 --> 00:03:51,360 got something for us. Here's a report right here. Gardner with the name 35 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,719 Eric Kelby called in day for yesterday said his wife disappeared from their home out 36 00:03:54,759 --> 00:03:59,039 in the valley Sunday night. Says he thinks she left him. What happens 37 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,400 every day, Bargetti, Not this way, it doesn't. Walsh and I 38 00:04:01,439 --> 00:04:06,599 went out yesterday's interview. The guy story doesn't add when none of her clothes 39 00:04:06,599 --> 00:04:10,639 are missing, a number luggage. She even left her pocket but behind full 40 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,319 of money. Found out when the neighbors a missing woman as a seventeen year 41 00:04:14,319 --> 00:04:17,879 old boy by a former marriage, So what an only child mother doats on 42 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:24,040 the kid shouldn't even say goodbye to him? Und necessary Kelby impress here pretty 43 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:28,000 grounchy with Walsh and me no cooperation. Wants to find his wife, doesn't 44 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,839 he? I don't know if he does or not. There's no help. 45 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,600 I'll tell you that when I see that report him in the now here. 46 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:41,120 Yeah. Agnes Trumble Kelby, aged thirty nine. Kelby's a second husband. 47 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:45,560 The firstman died little after the boy was born. Disappeared Sunday night from her 48 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,839 home five forty six Blasco Road between seventy o'clock. What did Kelby call him 49 00:04:48,959 --> 00:04:53,519 Monday afternoon? Said he thought his wife might be spend the night with her 50 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,800 sister. He found out she wasn't called us. Did you meet the boy 51 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:01,199 while you were out there? Borghai? Another thing? Kid came riding in 52 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,160 on a bike while we were talking to one of the neighbors, trying to 53 00:05:04,199 --> 00:05:08,000 talk to him. But the old man came out hustling inside the house. 54 00:05:08,639 --> 00:05:12,920 Then he starts eating us out what to say? Told us was our job 55 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,000 to find his wife, not to go prying into a step son's affairs. 56 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,920 It's a new slant. How about her friends and relatives run here? Yeh? 57 00:05:19,319 --> 00:05:24,759 Besides her assistant, Walsh located a couple of rants. I think he's 58 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:28,000 checking me at them. I tell you, boys, this is one out 59 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:32,160 bet on. Maybe you got the names of missus Kelby's relatives. Oh yeah, 60 00:05:32,439 --> 00:05:36,399 right over here, we had a chance to talk to that boy. 61 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,160 Yeah, how does it feel to you? Ben? I don't know. 62 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:46,279 Not there's anything else funny about the guy? Yeah, uh, I don't 63 00:05:46,319 --> 00:05:50,720 know. Here's those names. Joe Kelby was upset, all right for some 64 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:55,480 reason. He didn't strike me as react the way a normal guy reacts when 65 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,600 his wife disappears. All right, hel how would you react? I get 66 00:05:59,639 --> 00:06:01,480 his war again? Oh now, listen, boys, it's no fool, 67 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,240 don't matter. This is one I'll bet on. It's a homicide, all 68 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:10,079 right? How about to copy this report? Yeah? Where do I get 69 00:06:10,079 --> 00:06:18,160 the phone? Missing person's Barghetti? Who's that? Oh? Yeah? Yeah 70 00:06:19,439 --> 00:06:28,120 about why? Oh sure, all right, sir? Four o'clock? Yeah, 71 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:32,360 goodbye? That was Kelby's step side. What do you want? I 72 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:41,959 think something's happened to his mother. In police work, missing person's detail is 73 00:06:41,959 --> 00:06:45,519 not a department separated in himself. It is organized as a part of the 74 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:49,199 homicide bureau. According to Barghetti, who took the call, the boy said 75 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,560 he suspected his stepfather and he didn't want him to know of any meeting between 76 00:06:53,639 --> 00:06:57,560 him and the police officers. He would meet the officers that afternoon at four 77 00:06:57,639 --> 00:07:01,560 pm in a restaurant on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. At 78 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,000 three point fifteen, Ben and I left the office and we drove out to 79 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:09,680 the meeting place, the dairy Land Fountain and Coffee Shop. We arrived there 80 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:14,120 at three forty five. At eight minutes to five, the Kelby boys still 81 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:19,120 had not arrived. Youngsters, not very prom Let's wait a little while longer. 82 00:07:20,279 --> 00:07:28,439 Well, yeah, thanks at for more coffee. No thanks, I 83 00:07:28,439 --> 00:07:35,439 guess the boy isn't going to show. Thinks Simpton's happened. Fifteen minutes after 84 00:07:35,439 --> 00:07:38,560 we left the coffee shop, we drove up in front of the gate of 85 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,639 the Kelby Nursery on Belasco Road. The house itself was set well back on 86 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,560 the property was covered about four acres. The entire nursery was surrounded by a 87 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:48,759 six foot steel wire fence, and it looked like almost every available foot of 88 00:07:48,759 --> 00:07:53,319 ground inside was planted with some kind of a flower or shrub. Kelby medic 89 00:07:53,319 --> 00:07:56,920 at the game. Yes, what do you men want? Police officers? 90 00:07:56,959 --> 00:07:58,920 And you, mister Kelby, Yes, what do you want? What if 91 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:00,839 y'll shut those dogs up? Well, Mina, we'd like to ask you 92 00:08:00,839 --> 00:08:03,279 a few questions. I'm busy now. Can't you come back tomorrow? Pretty 93 00:08:03,279 --> 00:08:07,680 important, mister Kelby. I think we're better top right now? A right, 94 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:13,959 we have to ran giant down you too, honey? But all right 95 00:08:13,079 --> 00:08:16,600 now, what do you want mind? If we come inside? These watchdogs 96 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:20,639 of mine are pretty vicious. We can talk here at the gate, all 97 00:08:20,759 --> 00:08:22,160 right, mister Kelby, This is Serge of Romerow. My name's Friday. 98 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:26,120 We've been assigned to look into your wife's disappearance. Oh did you find anything 99 00:08:26,199 --> 00:08:30,519 yet? Nothing definite? Maybe you can help us. Would you tell us 100 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,360 exactly what happened to not your wife disappeared? What do you mean what happened? 101 00:08:33,399 --> 00:08:37,720 Well? When did you last see her? When you first noticed she 102 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,879 was gone? You finished up Sunday night dinner about seven o'clock nine, laid 103 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:45,159 down for a nap Agnes went out on the front porch for some are, 104 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,080 woke a uple a little before eight, went outside to look for her. 105 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:50,200 She was gone. Nobody saw her leave, mister Kelby, not that I 106 00:08:50,279 --> 00:08:54,320 know of. Maybe some of our nosy neighbors. I don't know how about 107 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:58,200 your step son. Wasn't he around Sunday night Bruce No went out to a 108 00:08:58,279 --> 00:09:01,879 show other kids. When did he get back from the show? About ten 109 00:09:03,519 --> 00:09:05,960 thing? Why? Where's your step son? Now? Who are you looking 110 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,720 for? My wife and my step son both, mister Kelby? Where's your 111 00:09:09,759 --> 00:09:15,080 step son gone? I took him over to my sister's now Hambler and feeling 112 00:09:15,159 --> 00:09:18,039 bad since his mother disappeared, figured the changel do him good? Where did 113 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:22,879 you take him over your sister's Kelby this afternoon? What's that got to do 114 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:24,679 with it? We like to talk to Bruce. No. No, I 115 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:28,159 can't allow the boys to upset. I can't allow I'm graid you're gonna have 116 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,000 to allow. Listen, mister, you can get off this property right now. 117 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,519 No CoP's giving me sad. Nobody's giving you sass. Kelby. We 118 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:35,559 want to talk to your step son, that's all. You might give us 119 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:39,120 the clue to the whereabouts of your wife, and I say, you can't 120 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:41,360 see the boy. That's more. You cops couldn't find thorns in a rose 121 00:09:41,399 --> 00:09:45,960 patch. I'll get somebody else to look for Agnes. It's my business anyway, 122 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:48,960 nobody else is. It's our business too, if anything's happened to her. 123 00:09:48,279 --> 00:09:50,919 What are you talking about? You better get your coat, mister Kelby. 124 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,279 We're taking in for questions. You come through that gate, and I'm 125 00:09:54,279 --> 00:09:58,519 gonna let these dogs go accidentally. I'd hate to shoot the dogs. I 126 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:05,679 go in the house and get your coat. Harry Kelby turned and made his 127 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:09,080 way up the path and into the house. Five minutes later he came out 128 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,240 without a word to either of us. He came down the path, closed 129 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:15,679 the gate behind him, and got into our car. On the way back 130 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,080 to the headquarters, he chatted pleasantly about the weather, the nursery business, 131 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:22,200 and his dogs. When we pulled up in front of the city Hall, 132 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,000 we met the reason for his sudden change and temperament. His lawyer was waiting 133 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,639 for us at the door. We took Kelby to one of the interrogation rooms. 134 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:33,279 His lawyer tagged along. We tried to question him, but the lawyer 135 00:10:33,279 --> 00:10:37,039 objected to two out of every three questions we asked. Was hopeless and we 136 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,919 knew it, so did the lawyer. We released Kelby, but we did 137 00:10:39,919 --> 00:10:43,559 get the name and address of his sister where the step son, Bruce was 138 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,840 staying. After they left, Ben and I got back in the car and 139 00:10:46,919 --> 00:10:50,039 drove about to al Hamber to check him. The boy Margett, he had 140 00:10:50,039 --> 00:10:54,679 this in peg ride Jill for real sleeper. Yeah, I'd like to know 141 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:56,519 how the step son missed that date with us this afternoon. And if the 142 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,759 kid called us from the house, his step father could over her. It's 143 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:05,200 possible sister's house. I'll be long this bloshing. Yeah, let's see fourteen 144 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:11,320 oh a fourteen oh six had enjoyed great cottage fourteen oh two. Right, 145 00:11:16,039 --> 00:11:18,879 it's a nice looking little place in the wild, Captain. Here, it's 146 00:11:18,919 --> 00:11:26,879 a nice neighborhood. I wonder how the lock prices run out here. Somebody's 147 00:11:26,919 --> 00:11:33,559 coming, Yes, what is it? Police officers, ma'am? Are you 148 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:37,360 miss Kelby? Bertha Kelby? Yes, that's my name. Why we talked 149 00:11:37,399 --> 00:11:41,000 to your brother earlier today, Miss Kelby. He said that you brought his 150 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,799 steps on Bruce here to stay for a while. We'd like to see him 151 00:11:43,879 --> 00:11:48,039 Bruce. Yes, he was here till about one hour and a half ago. 152 00:11:48,399 --> 00:11:50,320 I went to the store and when I came back, he was gone. 153 00:11:50,639 --> 00:11:52,919 Have you any idea where he might be, Miss Kelby? Well, 154 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,840 I telephoned my brother Eric's place just before you came to the door. He's 155 00:11:54,879 --> 00:11:58,600 not there. I don't know where he might be worried about it. He 156 00:11:58,639 --> 00:12:03,840 seems so upset it's business about his mother's disappearance, you know. Would you 157 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:05,399 mind if we came in and looked around Miss Kelby? Well, no, 158 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:11,679 not at all. We went in and looked the house over from one end 159 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:13,799 to the other. It wasn't a trace of the boy. We drove back 160 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:18,039 to Kelby's nursery and satisfied ourselves the boy wasn't there. Then we came back 161 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:22,240 to al Hamburn. We kept an eye on Miss Bertha Kelby's home until midnight. 162 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:26,759 No one came or went. At five minutes past midnight, the lights 163 00:12:26,799 --> 00:12:28,039 went off in the living room and a few minutes later in the back of 164 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,960 the house. The next morning, when Ben and I checked in for work 165 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,399 as usual at eight o'clock, we met with Captain a Homicide Frank Kearney. 166 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,759 What makes you too so positive there has been any foul play in this Kelby 167 00:12:39,759 --> 00:12:43,480 thing? I just did, yeap, but not positive. It's a whole 168 00:12:43,519 --> 00:12:46,919 set up. It smells by, for instance, that lawyer. If a 169 00:12:46,919 --> 00:12:48,759 man's innocent, he doesn't need a lawyer to sit with him in the interrogation 170 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,279 room and tell him not to answer questions Number two. That kid's telephone call. 171 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,360 Maybe he doesn't get along with his stepfather. It happens, you know, 172 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,519 maybe he's trying to get back at him for something or other. Maybe 173 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:03,039 then why Kelby hiding him out? You're sure he's hiding him out? No 174 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:07,519 other way to take it? Can the Calby woman walked away from her home 175 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:09,360 Sunday night? Nobody saw her. She took nothing with her, no clothes, 176 00:13:09,399 --> 00:13:13,600 no luggage, no money. You checked with the family doctor yesterday. 177 00:13:13,919 --> 00:13:18,320 He told us missus Kelby was in perfect health. We double checked the wanderer's 178 00:13:18,399 --> 00:13:20,279 file and the repeaters file and missing persons, couldn't find her name in either 179 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:24,200 one. How about her relatives in town. I haven't had a chance to 180 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,000 talk to him yet, keV. We't check him this morning. Well, 181 00:13:26,039 --> 00:13:30,240 one thing's certain. The woman couldn't have gone very far. And checked the 182 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,240 sheriff's officer, jails, the hospitals sent out a teletype and an APB. 183 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:37,960 Every cop in the city has her description. She's been going almost four days, 184 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:39,679 but nobody's seen her. How does that add up to you? It 185 00:13:39,759 --> 00:13:43,919 doesn't? You better move on it. Check every one of missus Calby's friends 186 00:13:43,919 --> 00:13:48,600 and relatives right, then try the neighbors. As long as I've been a 187 00:13:48,639 --> 00:13:58,200 cop, neighbors have been able to tell everything about anyone. All that day, 188 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:01,360 Ben and I made the rounds. First was the Western National Bank, 189 00:14:01,399 --> 00:14:05,600 where missus Kelby maintained her account. Her saving statement showed a total balance of 190 00:14:05,639 --> 00:14:09,240 thirty one thousand, five hundred and sixty four dollars and seventeen cents. Her 191 00:14:09,279 --> 00:14:11,639 separate checking account had a balance of eight hundred and forty two dollars and seventy 192 00:14:11,639 --> 00:14:16,679 one cents. At the Farmer's Mutual, we found the record of an insurance 193 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:20,000 policy issued to Agnes Trumbull Kelby. It was a twenty pay life policy covering 194 00:14:20,039 --> 00:14:24,840 the insured and the amount of thirty thousand dollars. The beneficiary was listed as 195 00:14:24,879 --> 00:14:28,440 the insured son, Bruce Trumbull Kelby, if living upon the receipt of such 196 00:14:28,559 --> 00:14:31,840 due proof, if not the insurance husband, Eric J. Kelby. By 197 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:35,159 the time we finished checking her financial status, the odds were piling up fast. 198 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:39,080 From only casual reports, we knew that Eric Kelby was a frugal man. 199 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:43,519 If he was greedy as well, if he wanted or needed money badly 200 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,919 enough to kill, then he had all the motives necessary to murder his wife, 201 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:50,399 maybe his stepson too. Ben and I started to make the rounds of 202 00:14:50,399 --> 00:14:54,720 missus Kelby's friends and relatives. Our first stop was at the apartment of Agnes 203 00:14:54,759 --> 00:14:58,960 Kelby's sister, a talkative maiden lady in her early sixties. Agnes, Justice 204 00:14:58,039 --> 00:15:01,240 in't that kind? Oh? I'm worried sick about this? I really am? 205 00:15:01,879 --> 00:15:05,000 And Bruce supported that he must be hot sick? And Eric? What 206 00:15:05,039 --> 00:15:09,360 does Eric say about all this? He says he thinks his wife left him? 207 00:15:09,519 --> 00:15:13,399 Left him? Why that's ridiculous? How strange? Can you think of 208 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,320 any good reason why your sister would leave mister Calvin? I why know? 209 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,159 They had TIFFs, of course, small ones. Of course there was that 210 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:24,159 argument about Bruce. The two of them always seem to be arguing about Bruce. 211 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,960 How do you mean man? Oh well, raising the boy and all. 212 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:31,159 You know, last time I talked to him, they were tipping about 213 00:15:31,159 --> 00:15:33,360 whether or not Bruce should be paid for working in the nursery for Eric. 214 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:37,720 And the strangest thing, Eric seemed to be so upset about it all. 215 00:15:37,879 --> 00:15:41,960 Imagine all on account of dating the boy a few dollars for good, honest 216 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,960 work in that silly nursery. Well, you know, I'm the outspoken kind, 217 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,879 and I just told Eric, Eric I said, don't be an old, 218 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:54,120 meaning hey the boy. That was the extent of the information which Missus 219 00:15:54,159 --> 00:15:56,559 Calbery's sister had to offer. Next, we call him an aunt, Missus 220 00:15:56,639 --> 00:16:00,399 James D. Trumbull, eighty three years old. She could hardly understand our 221 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,559 questions, let alone answer them. She hadn't seen her niece Agnes in a 222 00:16:03,679 --> 00:16:07,080 year. After that, we paid a visit to one of Missus Kelby's friends, 223 00:16:07,159 --> 00:16:11,480 a Missus Lilly and humble. Well, I'm sorry, it's sergeant, 224 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,600 but I can't think of any good reason why she would leave him. Miss 225 00:16:15,799 --> 00:16:18,919 silly business about Bruce got out of hand. You know, maybe Eric is 226 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,679 just a little jealous as the boy. Next we call on Daisy McLeod, 227 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:26,559 who worked as a day maid for Missus Kelby. Officer. What mister and 228 00:16:26,559 --> 00:16:30,559 Missus Kelby thought, what they said, what they did, It's none of 229 00:16:30,559 --> 00:16:32,840 my business. I come in the morning, I do my work, I 230 00:16:32,879 --> 00:16:34,639 do it well. I'm not the nosy type, and I don't cry. 231 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,279 I take half an hour for lunch, and when i'm through, I take 232 00:16:38,279 --> 00:16:41,720 my pay, and I don't expect tips and I take the bus home. 233 00:16:41,879 --> 00:16:48,240 I'm not the picking through the keyhole kind sneaking round corners listening. But what 234 00:16:48,399 --> 00:16:52,519 I couldn't tell you about that man? Exactly what do you mean, missus 235 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:56,600 clod Oh, he's a hard man and all always arguing about the boy, 236 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:02,720 Bruce, this Bruce, that he's a nice boy. I think he's never 237 00:17:02,759 --> 00:17:07,880 done anything to me. Oh, but the argument him and her all the 238 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:12,000 time? Should the boy be paid for working? Shouldn't be? Why? 239 00:17:12,559 --> 00:17:18,400 Why not? When Ben and I finished with the list of missus Kelby's friends, 240 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:22,519 relatives, and employees, we started out on the neighbors. None of 241 00:17:22,559 --> 00:17:25,960 them saw missus Kelby after six pm the nights he disappeared. Two of the 242 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,119 neighbors said they saw the ports light burning after seven pm, but both said 243 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,720 the porch was empty. Missus Kelby was not sitting in her chair at the 244 00:17:32,759 --> 00:17:34,920 usual time after dinner. According to them, it was one of her habits. 245 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:37,200 It was ten minutes to six. For the time Ben and I got 246 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:41,680 back to the office, the light was still burning in Captain Kearney's office. 247 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:45,319 Old day, Jill, lot of money. Can I wonder what the Captain's 248 00:17:45,319 --> 00:17:52,799 hanging around? For that's fine. Now get anything pretty good? Look camp 249 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,519 good, I've got some more for you. Just walked in five minutes ago. 250 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:00,119 What do you mean, Frank? Who walked in? Bruce Kelby? 251 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:07,680 He's waiting in the next room. We went in the next room and met 252 00:18:07,759 --> 00:18:11,119 Bruce Kelby, who was small for a seventeen year old, dark haired, 253 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:15,240 and a little on the sickly side. He told us that he couldn't keep 254 00:18:15,279 --> 00:18:18,759 the day he made with us on the phone because his stepfather apparently did overhear 255 00:18:18,799 --> 00:18:22,920 the conversation and drove him directly to his sister's home in Alhambra. We asked 256 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,319 him why I was so sure that his stepfather was responsible for his mother's sudden 257 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:29,559 disappearance. For one thing, All three of us usually go to the early 258 00:18:29,599 --> 00:18:33,519 show on Sunday night, Eric, Mom and me. But last Sunday, 259 00:18:33,599 --> 00:18:36,599 Eric said he wasn't feeling good and he wanted Mom to stay home and take 260 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:38,400 care of him. Then he told me to go on ahead to the show, 261 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:41,519 so I did. What time did you get home, son, about 262 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:45,319 nine thirty eight, quarter to ten? What was your stepfather doing when you 263 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:48,640 got home? Sitting in the living room reading the paper? Do you noticed 264 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:52,599 anything unusual about the way he acted. He was nervous and jumpy more than 265 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:56,440 usual. I think anything else, yes, sir. When I came in 266 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:00,519 through the front yard, I noticed the dogs had mud all over the pause. 267 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,000 They've been out somewhere in the nursery plots, and they won't go out 268 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:07,200 in the pots unless Eric's will him. He doesn't want them to trample the 269 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:11,119 seedlings. What would you stepfather be doing that in the nursery tonight. Does 270 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:12,920 he usually do some work at night? No, sir. None of the 271 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:17,720 plots are even lighted, only the greenhouses and the paths. And the greenhouses 272 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,200 are usually graveled, aren't they, no motter on. It's my job to 273 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:25,000 see that the greenhouse paths are kept graveled. I know they're not muddy. 274 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:27,480 I fixed them the day before Saturday. What do you think it means, 275 00:19:27,519 --> 00:19:33,480 son right, I don't know. I don't want to think about it. 276 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:37,599 I just know he's done something. He's done something to her. They just 277 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,960 step father, give me any reason for keeping you away from the police officers 278 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,319 the other day, No, sir. He said people were getting nosy, 279 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:48,039 and he said it might be better for me over at Aunt Bertha's she's his 280 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:51,599 sister. Do you think your aunt Bertha might know where your mother is. 281 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,160 No, we hardly ever see her. We don't know her well at all. 282 00:19:55,519 --> 00:19:57,880 We've heard your mother and your stepfather argued about whether you should be paid 283 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:02,160 for your work in the nursery. When I started to work for him, 284 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,240 he promised he'd pay me. I was saving up to buy a thirty one 285 00:20:04,279 --> 00:20:07,440 model A. And then after a couple of months, when he didn't pay 286 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,720 me, I asked him. He told me I ought to be glad to 287 00:20:10,759 --> 00:20:14,160 work for him for nothing, and your mother argued with him over that. 288 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:18,319 Sure it was her money that bought the nursery. Anyway, how'd you get 289 00:20:18,319 --> 00:20:21,680 away from your aunt's place last night? Well, Bertha had some shopping to 290 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,079 do and she left me alone. She locked the door to my room. 291 00:20:25,519 --> 00:20:27,880 Even the screen over the window in my room was nailed down, but I 292 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:33,000 kicked it out and got away. I stayed at a friend's house last night. 293 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:37,039 Thought about where you going to stay tonight? I don't know, but 294 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,680 I'm not going home, and I'm not going back to Bertha's place either. 295 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,240 I'll get a room. How'd you like to stay at my house a few 296 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:48,359 days? Sure? Nice of you, sir. Maybe i'd better not. 297 00:20:48,599 --> 00:20:52,640 Mom might not like it. Oh, I'll take care of that. Now. 298 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:55,920 Let's hop out and get some dinner. Sure, darn nice of you, 299 00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:03,599 sir. All right, son done with me? What do you think, 300 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:14,119 Joe? He it'd be lying? Yeah, Now what Cap? Can 301 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:17,960 we bring Kilby in again? No? Not yet. He's found out by 302 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,559 now from his sister that the boy's gone. He probably figures the police station 303 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:23,400 is the first place he'd come. Wouldn't do much good pulling him in now, 304 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,839 Ben, we couldn't even question him, tend to want his lawyer be 305 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,480 waiting for us when we got back. That's the problem. How do we 306 00:21:29,519 --> 00:21:32,880 get to this Calby without his lawyer finding out? Well? What about to 307 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:36,200 hear any morning, Cap, say tomorrow about five or six am. I 308 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,920 think you'd be looking for us. Then, Yeah, that might do it. 309 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,200 We can just get by that pack of Hounsey owns without waking the whole 310 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:47,599 neighborhood. Might work if we could just question him alone. I got night, 311 00:21:47,759 --> 00:21:51,119 it wouldn't take much to make him copy all right, give it a 312 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,440 try. Get out there in the early morning and bring him in for questioning 313 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:57,039 as quietly as possible. I'll be in at six am. If you want 314 00:21:57,039 --> 00:22:00,640 me before then call me at home. All right, Frank Kelby's got a 315 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,759 smart lawyer. It's going to be plenty hard to convict him without a body 316 00:22:03,759 --> 00:22:08,440 and corroborating evidence. He's got four acres out there camp. He can hid 317 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:11,039 a lot of buddies and four acres. Well, that's what I mean. 318 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:19,160 This case isn't ending, it's just beginning. The next morning, Ben and 319 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:22,440 I met at the office about a few minutes past four am. We had 320 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,680 a cup of coffee and a doughnut at an all night restaurant, and then 321 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:29,160 we started for the Kelby place out on Belasco Road. We took four pounds 322 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:30,720 of fresh horse meat with us to keep the dogs quiet if they raised a 323 00:22:30,759 --> 00:22:34,279 fuss. It was twenty eight minutes past four when Ben pulled the car to 324 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:44,279 a stop a few hundred feet from the gate to the Kelby nursery. We 325 00:22:44,319 --> 00:22:45,599 got out of the car and made our way down the road to the gate. 326 00:22:48,519 --> 00:22:52,720 I reached in and tried the latch was padlocked where dogs started in. 327 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,640 Okay, Ben, looks like we'll let to jump the fence. Saw some 328 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,599 of that horse meat over to Oh yeah, camp here. That's it. 329 00:23:00,799 --> 00:23:03,640 Come on, let's climb. Keep an eye on those sounds. Looks like 330 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:07,279 they could chew your leg off. Yeah, here comes a third one. 331 00:23:07,279 --> 00:23:10,720 Ben's how some more meats? Y'all there, you're a boy, Go get 332 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:14,000 go, get a boy, Ben. Light's going on in the house. 333 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:18,319 Come on, let's make it fast. Who is it? Who's there? 334 00:23:18,839 --> 00:23:22,720 I'll set the dogs on you police officers. Mister Kelby, what what are 335 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,240 you doing out here this time of night? You're under the rest. He'll 336 00:23:25,319 --> 00:23:26,640 me get your coat. You cops are asking for a pack of trouble. 337 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,799 Get your coat. Who is my steps on? What have you done with 338 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,359 him? What have you done with your wife? You're gonna pay for this. 339 00:23:32,519 --> 00:23:33,920 I'll have your jobs. That's not the first time we heard that, 340 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:48,799 Kelby. Let's go. Let's burn in the captain's office. Yeah, all 341 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:52,960 right, Kelby in here, free for the smart my words, Ben, 342 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:55,720 take him in the office and stay with him. I'll see if Frank's in 343 00:23:55,799 --> 00:24:07,519 yet. All right, Yeah, come on Kelby inside, Friday, did 344 00:24:07,519 --> 00:24:11,440 you bring in Calby? He's down the interrogation room, bends with him. 345 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:15,160 Somebody saw you, don't think so? They must have Calby's lawyers sitting in 346 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:25,640 the next room. Kelby again refused to answer any questions without the advice of 347 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:29,559 his attorney. We released him that day. Captain Kearney sent out two men 348 00:24:29,599 --> 00:24:32,200 to keep an eye on the nursery and report on all of Kelby's movements. 349 00:24:32,559 --> 00:24:34,880 Shortly after seven o'clock that night, just after nightfall, we tried once again 350 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:38,480 to bring in Kelby for questioning without his lawyer's knowledge. It didn't work. 351 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:41,880 A little after we booked him, his lawyer obtained a rid of habeas corpus. 352 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:45,000 We had to release him again. The two men assigned to stake out 353 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,720 the Kelby place reported definitely that somebody was tipping the lawyer. Whenever unknown visitors 354 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:52,319 showed up at the nursery and drove off with Kelby, there was nothing we 355 00:24:52,319 --> 00:24:56,039 could do about it. The next morning, Kearney came up with a lead. 356 00:24:56,599 --> 00:24:59,920 I had a long talk with the boy last night accidentally. I think 357 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,599 he's given us a pretty good lead. Yeah, there's only one way we'll 358 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:07,599 ever get a conviction. That's by finding the body and evidence to tie Kelby 359 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:08,960 in. Yeah, that'll do it. Where do we start looking? In 360 00:25:10,039 --> 00:25:14,359 a new rose bed next to one of the greenhouses in Kelby's nursery. The 361 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:18,039 kid came up with it last night. I'll kim first. Kelby's crazy about 362 00:25:18,079 --> 00:25:22,880 saving a dollar in making one. Yeah. In the nursery trade, especially 363 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:26,640 where you have a limited area to work in like Kelby, you cultivate every 364 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:29,920 foot of ground. Every bit of soil you got is planted with something. 365 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:33,200 Kelby's not the type to waste anything. Especially, He's not the kind that 366 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:37,480 would let ground life follow when he could plant something that might bring in a 367 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:41,720 few dollars next season. Bruce tells me his stepfather has every inch of those 368 00:25:41,759 --> 00:25:45,599 four acres planted, every inch except a six by nine foot plot of ground 369 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:48,960 in that rose garden. That sounds like a long shot to me, Frank. 370 00:25:49,279 --> 00:25:52,839 The boy said he prepared that piece of ground for planting late Saturday afternoon. 371 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:56,680 His stepfather wanted it ready for Sunday morning. The plot of grounds still 372 00:25:56,759 --> 00:26:00,880 vacant. Might have planned it yesterday, Camp. When's the last time he 373 00:26:00,039 --> 00:26:03,440 checked Before I came to work this morning. I called the men on steak 374 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:07,400 out next to the nursery. They told me the plot's still empty. It's 375 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:11,599 worth a chance, Frank, when do we look it over tonight? I 376 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:15,200 don't want Kelby or his lawyer to know a thing until we find that body. 377 00:26:15,319 --> 00:26:18,000 Well, hown't going to work. We'll order up a crew from the 378 00:26:18,039 --> 00:26:21,640 crime lab. They can take probings through that plot and all around it. 379 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,440 They can tell us without any guess work how deep that ground's been worked over 380 00:26:25,519 --> 00:26:27,119 lately. When do you want to start? Be here in the office at 381 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:36,599 eight thirty tonight. If my hunches are any good, we'll find a body. 382 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:41,920 It was ten minutes past nine that night when we got to the Kelby 383 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:47,039 place Lieutenant Lee Jones and his assistants Kearnie Ben and two other men from Homicide. 384 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:48,960 The men on Steak I told us that Kelby had left about twenty minutes 385 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,839 before in a dark blue coop. Ben brought along the usual supply of horse 386 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:56,480 meat for the dog, so we didn't have any trouble there. We found 387 00:26:56,519 --> 00:26:59,440 the empty plot of ground in the rosebed next to the greenhouse, exactly as 388 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:06,440 Bruce describe with the Cerney ground has been worked over, all right, boys, 389 00:27:06,599 --> 00:27:08,079 at least four to five feet down. All right, Lee, let's 390 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:12,359 start digging. Romero take care of the dogs. Watson grab one of these 391 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:17,039 shovels, right cap Hey, you olvery said these dogs were vicious, didn't 392 00:27:17,039 --> 00:27:19,480 you. Yeah, why look at these hounds and no more vicious than laughly 393 00:27:19,559 --> 00:27:25,440 cold? Look, higginy, get that light over here with you than What 394 00:27:25,599 --> 00:27:30,160 is it? Lee? Let me see teeth, set of false teeth? 395 00:27:30,519 --> 00:27:33,359 Been in the ground long, don't think so? Judging from the shirt they're 396 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,400 in how far? I would you say? Ally? Couple of feet grounds? 397 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:41,440 Ill? Saw mee mere a minute? What is it? Buddy? 398 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:47,000 Here's a shoulder? All right? You men over here with Watson. Get 399 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,880 the dirt off the face. Romeo, you've got a picture of the cawby 400 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:53,880 woman. Yeah, cap, let's see, I hear you. Thanks, 401 00:27:55,279 --> 00:28:03,240 get the light down here, punch paid off, Frank, that's her. 402 00:28:07,319 --> 00:28:10,559 Ben and I went back to the car and notified communications to broadcast a want 403 00:28:10,559 --> 00:28:14,119 for murder on Eric Kelby. His description, together with a description of the 404 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:17,680 car and license number of the car he was driving, was rebroadcast every fifteen 405 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:19,960 minutes. Then we went back to check the house. We found the front 406 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:23,480 door on lock. We went inside and looked around. In one bedroom, 407 00:28:23,559 --> 00:28:26,960 we found clothes scattered over the bed and the floor. There was only one 408 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,200 old soup remaining in the closet. On the table next to the bed, 409 00:28:30,279 --> 00:28:34,359 we found an airline's timetable. We got to the phone and notified communications to 410 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:38,759 alert all police details at railroad stations, bus terminals and airlines, and then 411 00:28:38,799 --> 00:28:42,000 to send out an APB and the teletype. After that we checked for the 412 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:45,759 airlines. One of them told us that a man answering Kelby's description had booked 413 00:28:45,759 --> 00:28:49,400 passage for Mexico City. The plane was scheduled to take off at ten forty 414 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:53,160 that night from Burbank Airport. Ben's watched. At four minutes past ten, 415 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:56,920 we called the detail at the airport and alerted them. Then we drove over 416 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:00,880 to check in person. It was ten thirty five pm when Ben and I 417 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:04,720 took up our positions just inside Gate three, where passengers were boarding flight seventy 418 00:29:04,759 --> 00:29:08,920 two for Mexico City. He's cutting it close. Joe got about four minutes 419 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:12,559 more and meant get playing. We waited, the crowd got thicker. His 420 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:17,680 departure time came closer. At ten thirty nine, Eric Kelby came through the 421 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:19,799 main entrance, across the terminal through Gate three into a pair of hands. 422 00:29:19,799 --> 00:29:23,799 Touch gosh, I don't understand what does this mean? When found your wife's 423 00:29:23,799 --> 00:29:27,440 body killed me. But I don't know what you're talking about in the rose 424 00:29:27,519 --> 00:29:33,319 patch next to the greenhouse. Your lawyer can't help this time. Mexico City 425 00:29:33,799 --> 00:29:37,319 would have been a nice trip, expensively impleted seventy I didn't know what I 426 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:41,759 was doing. Be a nice vacation next here, Joe, Mexico City. 427 00:29:41,079 --> 00:29:45,200 I want to talk to my wife about I didn't mean that she slapped me. 428 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:47,839 We were arguing about the boy. I didn't mean it. I don't 429 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:49,759 know if you did or not Killby, but you killed her. Come on, 430 00:29:49,960 --> 00:30:04,640 you missed your plane. The story you have just heard is true, 431 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:11,039 only the names were changed to protect the innocent. Eric Kelby was tried and 432 00:30:11,119 --> 00:30:15,319 convicted of murder in the first degree. He is now awaiting execution in the 433 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:26,319 lethal gas chamber at the State Penitentiary. You have just heard the fourteenth in 434 00:30:26,359 --> 00:30:32,079 a new series of authentic cases transcribed from official silence. Technical advice for Dragnet 435 00:30:32,119 --> 00:30:34,119 comes from the office of W. A. Wharton, Acting Chief of Police, 436 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:40,680 Los Angeles Police Department. Tonight's program is dedicated to William J. Weston, 437 00:30:40,799 --> 00:30:44,640 Junior of the Washington D C. Police Department, who, on the 438 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:49,160 evening of March fourth, nineteen forty five, gave his life so that yours 439 00:30:49,200 --> 00:31:03,880 might be more secure. Dragnet came to you from Los Angeles. If you 440 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:08,519 enjoyed tonight's production of Dragnet, you'll want to listen to Richard Diamond, private 441 00:31:08,559 --> 00:31:17,480 Detective, as played by the screens romantic tough guy Dick Powell. A Pep 442 00:31:17,519 --> 00:31:19,920 Milk show usually heard at this time, has moved to a new time period 443 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:25,160 on Sunday nights. Be sure to hear Larry Douglas and Kay Arman on the 444 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:32,960 new Pep Milk Show tomorrow night on NBC. This is NBC, the National 445 00:31:33,039 --> 00:31:40,440 Broadcasting Company. Welcome back. I have to admit that I'd forgotten that Harry 446 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:45,319 Morgan played a captain in this episode. Of course, in early Dragnet, 447 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:49,759 it's odd to have a different captain because for every episode they've reported to ed 448 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:56,519 Backstrand, regardless of what division they're in. But that would ultimately change. 449 00:31:56,839 --> 00:32:00,480 Friday and his partner would continue to switch to visions from week to week, 450 00:32:00,559 --> 00:32:05,279 but the name of the captain would change as well. It's not really a 451 00:32:05,359 --> 00:32:09,640 question of realism, but how you do unrealism. I guess there could be 452 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:15,279 an argument that if you're going to have the detectives hopping around from division division, 453 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:19,400 they might as well have the same captain every week. But I guess 454 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:23,200 it was a decision that the series would compromise on reality in the name of 455 00:32:23,319 --> 00:32:28,720 telling more of the stories of the LAPDA rather than just you know, what 456 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:32,440 happened in a division like homicide, well, not leaving the public under the 457 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:37,079 impression that there's only one captain down at the station who's in charge of everything. 458 00:32:38,319 --> 00:32:45,039 Of course, we get pre Miranda ruling attempts to question our suspect without 459 00:32:45,039 --> 00:32:49,480 his lawyer present, and to be fair, I'm not certain that not having 460 00:32:49,839 --> 00:32:53,200 the lawyer would have helped as much as they thought, as this guy seemed 461 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:59,119 pretty cag and was not going to give them anything regardless of whether a lawyer 462 00:32:59,279 --> 00:33:02,519 was present. Well, it's not a bad episode, and it's interesting for 463 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:07,319 Harry Morgan playing the captain, if for no other reason. It's probably one 464 00:33:07,319 --> 00:33:13,839 of the weaker missing person cases. We had a criminal who was acting obviously 465 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:17,680 guilty and whose attempts to conceal the crime were columsy at best. Hiding a 466 00:33:17,759 --> 00:33:24,240 body in the nursery with his occupation was kind of obvious and I'm not planting 467 00:33:24,279 --> 00:33:29,000 it there. I mean, he did everything but put a big X over 468 00:33:29,039 --> 00:33:31,880 it. And while that might have been what happened in the real life case, 469 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:37,920 it doesn't necessarily make for compelling radio will. We turned out a listener 470 00:33:37,039 --> 00:33:43,519 comments and feedback, and we start with an email from Julie who writes, 471 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:50,000 Wow, what gut wrenching episodes. And this is referring to Dragnet as well 472 00:33:50,039 --> 00:33:55,119 as the first half of the Guy Fawkes episode. The whole time on the 473 00:33:55,200 --> 00:34:00,680 Dragnet episode Police Academy, I kept thinking, surely they won't let this guy 474 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:07,680 die, after all that his wife's been through enough. H they shouldn't have 475 00:34:07,759 --> 00:34:10,000 let him go in the first place. Did they get in trouble for that? 476 00:34:10,599 --> 00:34:15,440 Friday's dead pan voice makes it seems like he has no emotion, and 477 00:34:15,519 --> 00:34:20,679 we know it's not true, but man, what a sad ending. Well, 478 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:24,480 it's not stated whether they ended up getting into trouble. I shouldn't think 479 00:34:24,599 --> 00:34:30,400 so, because it's not like the guy was a civilian at the point that 480 00:34:30,519 --> 00:34:37,280 he went with them, or necessarily that they had any reason to specifically think 481 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:42,679 that there would be life threatening danger. It was just one of those unforeseen 482 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:49,960 tragedies that happened. And that's one thing I'll say for Dragnet is that they 483 00:34:50,199 --> 00:34:58,400 never glamorized the police work, nor did they minimize the risk. And it's 484 00:34:58,599 --> 00:35:06,119 really a somewhat interesting phenomena because I think when people are recruiting, you know, 485 00:35:06,199 --> 00:35:12,199 there's that stereotypical recruiter thing where you play up all the benefits, where 486 00:35:12,199 --> 00:35:17,199 you make it sound as exciting as possible, you know, the stereotypical And 487 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:21,920 I'm not saying that this is the case with all naval recruiters, but you 488 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:27,199 know, you have the stereotype of the military recruiter who sells joining the Navy 489 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:31,920 as like taking a cruise, and they never focus a whole lot on how 490 00:35:32,039 --> 00:35:37,000 hard and miserable boot camp is going to be and all the challenges you're gonna 491 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:44,880 have in military life. Dragnet is almost anti recruitment. It is telling you 492 00:35:45,079 --> 00:35:50,760 being on the police force is a dangerous and thankless job. It is full 493 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:55,840 of downsides, It's full of missed meals, aching feet, boredom, drudgery, 494 00:35:57,079 --> 00:36:01,280 and domestic challenges. And yet there were so many people who became police 495 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:07,239 officers as a result of watching and listening to Dragnet, and so many became 496 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:15,199 MS's as a result of emergency, which in like manner, portrayed all of 497 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:22,280 the challenges and difficulties that came with that job. And I think the power 498 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:29,920 of Dragnet is that it tells that story, but to the right people, 499 00:36:30,519 --> 00:36:38,559 it speaks to a deeper desire, a desire not just to collect a comfy 500 00:36:38,639 --> 00:36:45,840 paycheck, enjoy good benefits, and have a nice retirement, but a desire 501 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:52,360 to live a life where what you do actually matters and is important and is 502 00:36:52,559 --> 00:36:59,800 necessary to serve others. And that's really the great paradox of Dragnet. Regarding 503 00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:07,840 the episode the fifth of November, Julie rights, then the Sherlock Holmes episode 504 00:37:07,039 --> 00:37:12,880 so excellent and timely. But then I kept thinking of how that poor cousin 505 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:16,920 felt out for Lark with his beloved cousin going to have some fun and oops, 506 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:23,280 turned out your cousin had an elaborate plot to murder you. Anyway, 507 00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:28,320 Thanks for getting my emotions all in a tangled ball ad him. I love 508 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:31,119 your podcast. It's my favorite high five from Georgia. Well, thank you 509 00:37:31,159 --> 00:37:37,960 so much, Julie. And I think that the way that Sherlock Holmes was 510 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:42,360 written for the radio, particularly during that era, was kind of in a 511 00:37:42,519 --> 00:37:46,760 cozy mystery way, and you know, in that way, they don't want 512 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:52,440 you to think too seriously or too deeply about what's happening and what it would 513 00:37:52,519 --> 00:37:58,239 really mean if that was going on to someone in real life. I mean, 514 00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:04,159 some mysteries, if you experience them when you're in the right frame of 515 00:38:04,239 --> 00:38:07,639 mind and right mood, it's just a fun experience of watching how it gets 516 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:14,960 resolved and how the mystery unfolds. But if you experience at a time when 517 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:19,639 you think about it too seriously, that it all feels a bit more dark 518 00:38:19,679 --> 00:38:22,320 and sad. And I can definitely see where you're coming from with that, 519 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:28,360 because, yeah, poor guy Fulkinberry just having a good time. It's never 520 00:38:28,480 --> 00:38:30,760 fun to find out that a member of your family wants to murder you. 521 00:38:31,519 --> 00:38:35,960 Thanks so much for the email, Julie. And now it is time to 522 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:39,039 thank our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want to thank Peter. 523 00:38:39,239 --> 00:38:45,639 Peter has been one of our Patreon supporters since April of twenty twenty, currently 524 00:38:45,679 --> 00:38:50,119 supporting the podcast at the shamous level of four dollars or more per month. 525 00:38:50,639 --> 00:38:53,039 Thank you so much. For your support, Peter, and that will do 526 00:38:53,119 --> 00:38:58,079 it for today. If you are enjoying the podcast, please follow us using 527 00:38:58,159 --> 00:39:02,480 your favorite podcast software. Be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you 528 00:39:02,599 --> 00:39:08,440 download it from. We will be back next Saturday with another episode of Dragnet 529 00:39:08,559 --> 00:39:14,840 and tomorrow go to video theater dot Great Detectives dot net or to our YouTube 530 00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:21,159 channel at YouTube dot great Detectives dot net. The final new public domain video 531 00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:25,159 theater of the year an episode of US Marshall. But also back tomorrow we 532 00:39:25,199 --> 00:39:32,159 will have our Thanksgiving special where all right, come on, Sonny, I 533 00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:36,679 said, even host here is pretty badly under man. Cleveland woman would be 534 00:39:36,679 --> 00:39:43,960 back tomorrow. She might know something about the buy here again, Brooks, 535 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:46,880 come on, get out of the street. You want to, Kidney, 536 00:39:47,079 --> 00:39:50,679 never mind any place you tuck in the alley in this neighborhood. Angel, 537 00:39:50,679 --> 00:39:55,880 I don't want to. I don't know packing crate. You can't see he's 538 00:39:55,880 --> 00:40:00,000 gone. Now, what's happened? What's going on? Nice? Simple case? 539 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:05,239 I guess is the kid here was an eyewitness to murder. It'll be 540 00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:07,320 a simple case if he isn't murdered. I hope you'll be with us then 541 00:40:07,559 --> 00:40:14,039 in the meantime, do send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot 542 00:40:14,159 --> 00:40:17,639 net, Follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out on 543 00:40:17,719 --> 00:40:24,519 Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives From Boise, Idaho, This 544 00:40:24,679 --> 00:40:28,079 is your host, Adam graham Son and Off