1 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:34,280 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This 2 00:00:34,439 --> 00:00:37,840 is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it 3 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:44,039 to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net. Follow us on Twitter at 4 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:49,479 Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, 5 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:55,119 slash Great Detectives. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your 6 00:00:55,200 --> 00:01:00,399 favorite podcast software. Today's program is brought you part the financial support of our 7 00:01:00,439 --> 00:01:06,200 listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis by melionaire donation 8 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:11,959 to Adam Graham peel box one five nine one three. That's peel Box one 9 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:17,319 point nine thirteen, Boise, Idaho eight three seven one five. You can 10 00:01:17,439 --> 00:01:22,840 also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little last two dollars per 11 00:01:22,879 --> 00:01:26,000 month, and I want to thank Ron for becoming our latest Patreon supporter at 12 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,159 the shamous level of four dollars or more per month. Thank you so much 13 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,040 for your support. Ron. Well, now it is time for this week's 14 00:01:34,079 --> 00:01:40,400 episode of Dragenet. The original air date March ninth, nineteen fifty and the 15 00:01:40,519 --> 00:01:53,799 title is The Big Thank You. The story you are about to hear is 16 00:01:53,959 --> 00:01:59,879 true, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Gray. 17 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:15,639 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide detail. A confessed murderess is 18 00:02:15,719 --> 00:02:21,759 parole from the State Prison for Women. After seven months, the parole office 19 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:37,960 loses contact with her. Your job find her drag met the documented druma of 20 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:42,120 an actual crime. While the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los 21 00:02:42,159 --> 00:02:46,319 Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the 22 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:51,280 law through an actual case from official police files, from beginning to end, 23 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,280 from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force. In 24 00:02:55,400 --> 00:03:04,199 action. Was Thursday, March ninth, was foggy at Los Angeles. We're 25 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,360 working the day watch out a homicide detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The 26 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:12,240 boss is that Brown, Chief of detectives. My name is Friday. We're 27 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,280 on our way back from the State Building and it was two forty five pm 28 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:21,599 when we got to the City Hall room twenty ninth, handwriting analysis. I 29 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:23,039 want to have a seat, Fred, Okay, thanks, I'll see if 30 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:29,400 gun's wrong maybe in the back room. Done my done? You here? 31 00:03:30,039 --> 00:03:36,280 Yeah? Oh hi, Ben, got a quick job for you. Donky's 32 00:03:36,319 --> 00:03:38,439 pay a few minute. Thanks, so, hi, Joe didn't see you. 33 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:40,800 I like to have you meet Fred Galloway, State Parol. Fred. 34 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:46,639 This is Don Myers, our handwriting man. I got a couple of signatures 35 00:03:46,639 --> 00:03:47,560 here. I like to have you check them now if you can, I 36 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:51,039 can try. Let's see what you got. Do you want to show him? 37 00:03:51,039 --> 00:03:54,639 Fred? Yeah? These three sheets here, Don mark November, December, 38 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:59,439 January. I'd like to know if the signatures on them compare with the 39 00:03:59,479 --> 00:04:02,879 signatures on these two here. They're marked February and March. Let me see 40 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:09,560 night. Yeah, I shouldn't take long. Why don't you allays have a 41 00:04:09,599 --> 00:04:13,240 second? Yeah? Okay, how's this thing shape up? Fred? You 42 00:04:13,319 --> 00:04:15,319 figured that the Johnson woman's jumped your parole got me? I don't know what 43 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,480 to think. How long has it been since you got out of brain? 44 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:20,160 Well, let me check you out on the details. I got the dope 45 00:04:20,199 --> 00:04:26,079 right here. Annie Marie Johnson, you sent up for a life term nineteen 46 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:30,680 thirty three, murdered her husband John shot him to death, started appealing for 47 00:04:30,759 --> 00:04:33,959 parole nineteen forty. Finally won a May fourteenth last year, paroled into the 48 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:39,319 custody of missus Laura Jene Miller. Where does this Missus Laller live. Don 49 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,879 Wilmington, old friend of the Johnson woman. She fought for ten years to 50 00:04:42,879 --> 00:04:46,439 get her released from Taatchepee. Have you been in touch with missus Muller lately? 51 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,279 For only by mail? We've been sending her monthly report forms all long. 52 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:53,639 She's the person that Annie Johnson was paroled to, so the form has 53 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,399 to be filled out and signed by Missus Muller and mail back. Man. 54 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,800 Yeah, that's where you figured that something was wrong. We got the February 55 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,680 and reports back from her own time, all the usual questions answered promptly, 56 00:05:02,759 --> 00:05:06,839 and it was the signature writing didn't look like Missus Muller said down, Oh, 57 00:05:08,199 --> 00:05:12,120 you think that Johnson woman is faking the signature. Maybe tried to contact 58 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,120 the Muller house half a dozen times past couple of days. Nobody home. 59 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,959 Here you go, man, got it? Yeah, let me see he's 60 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:23,240 three here November, December, January. They were signed by the same person. 61 00:05:23,319 --> 00:05:28,560 Down signatures on the February and March reports. They're pretty bad imitations. 62 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,600 One person signed these two, another person signing these. No match at all. 63 00:05:32,759 --> 00:05:35,680 Well, then the signatures on the last two reports were forged. I'd 64 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:39,920 say, so she went up for murder. That's your department. You want 65 00:05:39,959 --> 00:05:42,480 to run it down. Sure, let's say that up to there could be 66 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:44,920 a lot of things, could be nothing. Anny Johnson ought to know. 67 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,480 Ben and I checked out of the office and drove down to Wilmington. We 68 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:55,600 located the home of mister and missus Joseph Muller on the Seaboard Drive, just 69 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,439 off ad On Hind. The street was an old fashioned two story house set 70 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,000 back on a corner lot, along with plenty of shrubbery. It was a 71 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:08,079 faded gray with lots of Victorian gingerbread hung all over it, fancy carved gables, 72 00:06:08,759 --> 00:06:13,160 carriage driveway with hitching posts, and pieces of thick colored glass setting some 73 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,480 kind of a design in the window of the front door. Out in the 74 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:25,480 harbor beyond Terminal Islands, you can hear the fog horns. They sure get 75 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:29,279 the fog out here. You know, it's pretty thick today. My aunt 76 00:06:29,399 --> 00:06:32,439 used to live just above here. Grand Avenue. Couldn't take the fog, 77 00:06:32,519 --> 00:06:38,079 so she lived out the valley. Garden could stand some taking care of. 78 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:49,680 You know, weeds are doing five. We'll try it again. What do 79 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:56,920 you think. Let's try the neighbors. Huh, you know that house across 80 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,839 the street must be somebody there. I saw a woman shaking a dust my 81 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,560 about the window when we drove a all right, kind of a bleep looking 82 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,439 spot up here on the hill, isn't it not? Many houses are, 83 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:11,480 yeah, and this fog is doing nothing for me. Chows, you're right 84 00:07:11,519 --> 00:07:19,199 down to the baron. What's the name of the mailboxer you see, miss 85 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:32,360 h Carpenter? Well, maybe she can tell us something. Are you the 86 00:07:32,519 --> 00:07:36,040 sewing machine man? No, man, we're police officers. Like to ask 87 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:41,279 you a few questions. Oh, I'm sorry if you came about my singer. 88 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,360 No, ma'am, I can't do any more work on my pleasant skirt 89 00:07:45,399 --> 00:07:48,560 and selling machines fixed, and it has to be done by Saturday. Our 90 00:07:48,639 --> 00:07:54,480 folk dancing groups having a big gambree Saturday night. We're sitting inside. Thank 91 00:07:54,519 --> 00:08:01,879 you. It's is Sergeant Romero. My name's Friday. How folks so refreshing, 92 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:05,920 isn't it very vitalizing? Yes, ma'am. Are you acquainted with mister 93 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:11,079 and missus Muller across the street miscon the Muellers. Yes, I've known them 94 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:16,279 for years and they haven't Annie Johnson living with them. Yes, one of 95 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:20,279 my very good friends. She's employed as a housemaid for the Mullers. Is 96 00:08:20,319 --> 00:08:22,920 that right? Well, I guess you could call it that. Actually, 97 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:28,959 she's more of the companion the missus Mueller. Seems poor mister Muller got sick. 98 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:35,440 What's his trouble? His mind? Poor man just lost his senses. 99 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:43,440 He's at the State hospital at Norwalk when they send him there saying Missus March 100 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:48,799 must have been last November, Yes, became violent. Do you know where 101 00:08:48,799 --> 00:08:54,080 Missus Muller is now? In Sanatarum out your Pasadena? Not well at all? 102 00:08:54,519 --> 00:08:58,360 And Annie Johnson? Is she still living at Muller's house close the street? 103 00:09:00,399 --> 00:09:03,159 She went downtown to do some shopping today. Did she say when she'd 104 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:07,440 be back? No, she didn't. But we have a meeting of our 105 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,120 book appreciation club day thirty tonight here at my house, and I certainly don't 106 00:09:11,159 --> 00:09:16,440 think she'd missed the meeting. Missus Gardener, do you happen to know the 107 00:09:16,519 --> 00:09:22,080 name of the Santa Jameer's mother's name, gir Waves, that's Madanna told me 108 00:09:22,639 --> 00:09:28,200 Garways rest home out by Pasadena. Have any of the neighbors been not the 109 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,519 visitor. Well, no, we haven't, and you said the doctor's there. 110 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:37,600 Thought it'd be better. Missus Mudia didn't have visitors. I wonder if 111 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,279 you tell us where we could find a public telephone in the neighborhood. You 112 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:43,480 can lose my phone, sergeants right back there in the hall. Fine, 113 00:09:43,519 --> 00:09:46,039 thank you, I'll call them, Joe all right, I'll have the operator 114 00:09:46,039 --> 00:09:50,120 at George. You sure you can find your way back there, Sergeant, 115 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:58,480 it's right under general person's picture. Yes, I'm drum. I was just 116 00:09:58,759 --> 00:10:03,919 thinking, can you, sergeant? Yes? Would you know anything about repairing 117 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:13,440 selling the sea? No, I'm afraid not. Love you are Missus Anna 118 00:10:13,639 --> 00:10:22,919 Johnson's chat, Sergeant is simply gorgeous. Look at that her Genie person and 119 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:28,919 the brother they wing. Sheting and live with the Muellers. Good Missus Johnson. 120 00:10:28,519 --> 00:10:31,279 Missus Muller always seems to get along fairly well together to you. I 121 00:10:31,279 --> 00:10:37,440 mean no arguments. I knows he's this person in the world to get along 122 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:43,759 with all those girls in the neighborhood. Just adore Joe talk to sanitarium, 123 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,559 Yeah, I do, but checked the name. Yeah, Missus Muller is 124 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:52,000 not there. They never heard of her. Ben and I left and interviewed 125 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:56,000 some of the other people in the neighborhood. They all had the same high 126 00:10:56,039 --> 00:11:00,159 opinion of Annie Johnson as Miss Carpenter did. They all had the impression Thatsu 127 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,399 Muller was under doctor's care at the Garaway Rest Home in Pasadena. Annie Johnson 128 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,720 told them so. We found out that Missus Muller had one other living relative 129 00:11:07,759 --> 00:11:11,480 besides her husband, a niece, Lorraine Muller. She lived out on Norwich 130 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:16,519 Drive in Beverly Hills. Five thirty PM. Then and I drove back to 131 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:20,200 the office and made a spot check of every private rest home and sanitarium listed 132 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:24,320 in the Los Angeles area. Missus Muller wasn't at any of them. We 133 00:11:24,399 --> 00:11:28,480 called the State hospital at Norwalk and they informed us that Joseph Muller was there, 134 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:31,799 having been committed the second of November the previous year. It was critically 135 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,960 ill. We put in another call to the Muller home, still no answer. 136 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:39,840 Six fifteen pm. We'd go out to Beverly Hills to the home of 137 00:11:39,879 --> 00:11:43,120 Missus Muller's niece, Lorraine. She was a tall, good looking girl with 138 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:48,639 blonde hair and a bad cough. I don't think I can help you, 139 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:54,840 sir. I moved out in my aunt's house three months ago. I haven't 140 00:11:54,879 --> 00:11:58,320 seen your since. Were you staying at the house when Annie Johnson came to 141 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,559 live there. I was raised in that house. Mother and dad died when 142 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,039 I was a baby. Uncle Joe and Aunt Laura took care of me. 143 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:07,320 They're wonderful people. Would you mind telling us why you moved? I don't 144 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:13,639 mind. Everything was fine until Annie Johnson came. I didn't get along with 145 00:12:13,799 --> 00:12:16,360 hey fot all the time. I don't know why. I just didn't like 146 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:22,879 her. When Annie moved in, she took over the whole house. Oh 147 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:26,120 what's the connection between your aunt and Missus Johnson? Any blood relationship? Okay? 148 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:30,799 Annie was the school child with Aunt Laura. When they sent her to 149 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,799 prison for killing her husband, she wrote for help, and your aunt helped 150 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,240 you. She worked for eleven years at it. I don't know how much 151 00:12:37,279 --> 00:12:41,840 money she spent lawyers, you know. Yeah, she finally got for all 152 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,559 and then she took Missus Johnson on as a housekeeper. Is that right? 153 00:12:46,399 --> 00:12:50,600 She never did any work, Jack, like she owned the house, like 154 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,679 my Aunt Minkle ordered everything they've done for when's the last time you heard from 155 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:58,000 your aunt. It was a few months ago, around Christmas time. I 156 00:12:58,039 --> 00:13:00,919 called her up to wish you were merry Christmas. We had no idea where 157 00:13:00,919 --> 00:13:03,960 missus Muller might be. Now some friends that she could be staying with me. 158 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:07,279 No, Aunt Laury has a fefferent. They all live in the neighborhood. 159 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,679 She's not in the abit of going off without telling anyway. Oh, 160 00:13:11,799 --> 00:13:18,879 never anything like that. I don't understand. Something must be wrong. Annie. 161 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:22,679 Do you think she's done something? Do you? No, she couldn't 162 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:28,080 have. She owes everything to Aunt Laura, her freedom of good home, 163 00:13:28,279 --> 00:13:31,799 nice clothes, money, everything, money I could give her. Some people 164 00:13:31,799 --> 00:13:37,559 are like that. If it's free, they never get too much. Before 165 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,600 we left Lorraine Muller's house, we got the name of her aunt's lawyer. 166 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:45,679 We had dinner at our lunch cord On Losielli, and then we go back 167 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,320 to Wilmington to the Moller house. Lights were burning in the front windows. 168 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:58,080 The fog was thick. Now, Yes, that's her singing, yeah, 169 00:13:58,399 --> 00:14:07,120 wondering that mm hm. And you see him through the curtain view. Yeah, 170 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:20,120 she didn't hear him. Let's ring it again here she comes. Yes, 171 00:14:20,639 --> 00:14:24,600 are you missus Johnson? Yes? That's right. What is this? 172 00:14:24,799 --> 00:14:28,159 Police officers are identification? Oh yes, why do't you come in? Thank 173 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:37,399 you? Mark you We'll go in the parlor. Shall all right? No? 174 00:14:39,039 --> 00:14:41,360 February and March. Yes, we think the signature is on those two 175 00:14:41,399 --> 00:14:48,039 reports are forged. Oh whose? Oh? Yes, I don't know what 176 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,879 to say. I really didn't think it was that serious. I knew the 177 00:14:50,919 --> 00:14:54,960 reports had to be set in. Did you sign missus mother's name on? 178 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,600 Well, yes, I did you see Lauren Muller's at a sanitarium now nesting 179 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,799 half. I didn't want to bother her with all this business, so I 180 00:15:01,919 --> 00:15:05,919 signed them and put them in the mail. But Fordery, I I didn't 181 00:15:05,919 --> 00:15:11,720 think it was that serious. What sanitarium is Missus Muller staying Garways, A 182 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:15,200 very nice place is near Pasadena. She's been there about two months now. 183 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,120 Have you been out to visit her yet? No, I haven't. I'm 184 00:15:18,159 --> 00:15:22,000 a little ashamed of myself. I've just been too busy keeping up the house. 185 00:15:22,039 --> 00:15:26,399 Here's lots of word. Yeahs understand, I suppose you drove missus Muller 186 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,879 to the sanitarium. As a matter of fact, I didn't you say if 187 00:15:28,879 --> 00:15:31,519 we don't have a car, so she took a taxi cab. Have you 188 00:15:31,759 --> 00:15:35,559 telephoned missus Mullark the sanitarium? There's just once the day she went in. 189 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:39,720 She's there for a good risk. I don't feel that anyone should bother, 190 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:46,159 not even myself. Does she have any other relatives besides her husband? That 191 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:50,399 is not at all for mister Muller. We had to send him away, 192 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:54,480 you know, to Warwick State Hospital. Yes, ma'am got out of hand, 193 00:15:54,879 --> 00:15:58,240 just terrible. He almost murdered poor Laura once and those were awful days. 194 00:16:00,399 --> 00:16:04,320 He's much better off where he is. It's too bad. Well that's 195 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,559 about all, Miss Johnson. Oh here, let me show you to the 196 00:16:07,559 --> 00:16:11,600 door. Thanks. You'd better contact your parole officer the first thing in the 197 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:15,639 morning and clear up this matter of the reports. I'll do that, Thank 198 00:16:15,679 --> 00:16:18,320 you. Good night, Miss Johnson, thanks again, all right, good 199 00:16:18,399 --> 00:16:33,080 night. What time you got twenty minutes after ay h light just went on 200 00:16:33,159 --> 00:16:37,360 the Annie? Yeah, what do you think you better go take a look 201 00:16:37,399 --> 00:16:41,600 around. What do you think we'll find? I don't know. There may 202 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:47,600 be a reason for some of those lies, she told us. Eight thirty 203 00:16:47,639 --> 00:16:51,039 five pm. Annie Johnson left the house and crossed the street. To miss 204 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,879 Carpenter's place in the Muller house. In a small desk in one of the 205 00:16:53,919 --> 00:16:57,440 rear bedrooms on the first floor, we found a file for missus Muller's business 206 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:02,639 papers. In the file we located three of our insurance policies. That was 207 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:06,839 one for five thousand and two for thirty five hundred. Each policy had a 208 00:17:06,839 --> 00:17:11,880 writer attacks changing the beneficiary from Joseph Marr the husband, to Annie Johnson twelve 209 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,960 thousand dollars worth insurance. Yeah, let's get them back on this floor. 210 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,960 You get the policy numbers and yeah, let's see. We'll see phone bill, 211 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:26,000 light bill. Here's one Laborville daughter right now. I paid to Tom 212 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:30,480 McCrae, George Danny Johnson. Let's go. Yeah, I want to get 213 00:17:30,519 --> 00:17:38,279 this address here, Tom McCray East Jefferson. There's a cat. Yeah, 214 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:42,799 let's go see what we can fly upstairs. H it's pretty care We went 215 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:47,799 upstairs to the second floor of the house and searched the rooms. We went 216 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,279 up another flight of stairs to the attic. For a full half hour, 217 00:17:51,319 --> 00:17:57,640 we searched through dozens of corrugated cartlans crammed with souvenirs and picture postcards. Joe 218 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:03,599 come here. Yeah, thank a, look, I have the newspaper. 219 00:18:06,759 --> 00:18:11,599 Three empty cartrigie. We got a gun and we got a suspect. Those 220 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:26,440 insurance policies could be the morning. Let's pray to god there's no victim. 221 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:32,480 You are listening to Dragnet for the step by step solution to an actual police 222 00:18:32,519 --> 00:18:44,200 case. Ten PM, an immediate stakeout was placed on the Muller residence in 223 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:48,160 case Annie Johnson made an attempt to leave during the night. Ben and I 224 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,680 took the gun that we'd found to the crime lab for analysis. The next 225 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:55,640 morning, we checked with the Mulliner's family attorney. He had no ideas to 226 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:59,440 the whereabouts of Missus Muller, but he told us that about three months ago 227 00:18:59,559 --> 00:19:03,359 she'd ordered them to draw up a new will for Under the new provisions, 228 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,720 Annie Johnson was to be the sole heir of the Muller house and property, 229 00:19:07,079 --> 00:19:11,039 plus an additional fifteen hundred dollars in bonds. Friday, March tenth, eleven 230 00:19:11,079 --> 00:19:15,680 am. While Ben check with the insurance company, I met with Captain Elliot, 231 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,440 a homicide got everything with a victim. I'm where are you're looking. 232 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,119 We'd like to shake down the Muller House again before we look anyplace else. 233 00:19:22,599 --> 00:19:25,640 Didn't have a chance to give it a throw. Going over last night, 234 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:29,519 you sold in the idea that Johnson woman looks like it. Sure it couldn't 235 00:19:29,519 --> 00:19:33,119 be a freak disappearance. Don't say nothing in my book. Annie Johnson's got 236 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:34,759 some big reasons for lying to us. I'd like to find him. Did 237 00:19:34,759 --> 00:19:37,440 you figure in doing that? But if we could pull her in and question 238 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,759 her, just to get her away from the Moller place, I'd like to 239 00:19:40,759 --> 00:19:42,759 take a detail thement out there and shake the house and top the bottom. 240 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:47,400 Checked with the insurance companies that issued Ms. Muller's policies. Yeah, we 241 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:49,160 got it right. Annie Johnson gets a door if Missus Mullt dies. So 242 00:19:49,559 --> 00:19:53,119 something else. The changes in the policies were made during the last two months 243 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:56,400 at her home. It doesn't Jim, why not? Why Annie Johnson told 244 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:00,160 us that Missus Muller's been in the sanitarium for more than two here's a gabbage, 245 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,720 Joe, what's that? Gilan seen has went out to the state hospital 246 00:20:03,759 --> 00:20:07,880 at Norwalks, talked to mister Murry. Yeah, Joseph Muller died at eight 247 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,160 o'clock last night. Death from Nashville Causes said, what's that proof? Wait 248 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:17,599 a minute. When Joseph Muller was committed to the institution, Annie Johnson figured 249 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,720 prominently in that commitment. She had a lot to do with send him away. 250 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:23,799 She didn't take any chances, did she. Annie Johnson has left with 251 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,680 the house, the bonds, and the insurance money. She had only antings. 252 00:20:26,799 --> 00:20:33,400 Yeah, but the right one. While Captain Elliott called in Annie Johnson 253 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,920 and questioned her, Ben and I, together with the detail of men from 254 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,759 Homicide and Lieutenant Lee Jones from the Crime Lab, drove out to Wilmington and 255 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,359 started a thorough search of the Muller house. We took a floor by floor, 256 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:48,119 starting with the attic. By four o'clock that afternoon we had searched the 257 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:52,039 attic and the second floor completely without finding any additional physical evidence. Five point 258 00:20:52,039 --> 00:20:56,839 thirty pm, still nothing. The fog was coming into fat night. Captain 259 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,440 Elliot called and said that Johnson woman was on her way home. The search 260 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:07,079 went on. Have you checked the seller yet, Let's give it a look. 261 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:15,279 Huh, Joe, Come on down, ladies, lesbian, we're checking 262 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:22,839 some stains we got Lee picked up this line of stains here, Joe you 263 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:26,279 run down from the top of the stairs. You faint. Let me see 264 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,599 mm hmm, shoot drops. Some fans don't see what happens. Okay, 265 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,279 let's have a look around Gil so we can find there's no latch down here. 266 00:21:34,279 --> 00:21:41,519 You'll have to use your flash. I go on. Much of anything 267 00:21:41,559 --> 00:21:47,240 is just to use the attic for the storage. Please. Yeah, wait 268 00:21:47,319 --> 00:21:49,920 a minute, put the light over this way where you go in the corner. 269 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:56,519 That's it. See something I don't know? Yeah, have a look 270 00:21:56,519 --> 00:22:02,519 here, new patch of cement looks for he knew alongside the rest. Yeah, 271 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:03,839 there's a sledge in a couple of shovels back in the garage. Get 272 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:11,519 them with you. Yeah, oh yeah, they just turned blue blood. 273 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,119 Lee Jones took some sample scrapings and went back to the crime lab and give 274 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:22,519 them a precipitate test to determine if the steins were made by human or animal 275 00:22:22,559 --> 00:22:26,640 blood. We broke away the patch of snow cement work in the cellar and 276 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,680 we began digging. Six point thirty pm, Annie Johnson came home. We 277 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:34,599 met her in the living room. Sergeant, I whether if you'd mind explaining 278 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,279 this intrusion, Well, not at all. Will you sit down. I 279 00:22:37,319 --> 00:22:41,400 believe I'm the one to over hospitality here. It's my house, is it, 280 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:44,880 Miss Johnson, Well, it's in my charge. It's my responsibility, 281 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:45,839 yes, ma'am, I dear. We'd just like to clear up a few 282 00:22:45,839 --> 00:22:48,640 things, that's all. I think the police department's taken up enough of my 283 00:22:48,759 --> 00:22:52,279 time and spent half the day at the city Hall answering silly questions. Now, 284 00:22:52,279 --> 00:22:55,559 if you don't excuse me, I have an appointment at computer shop at 285 00:22:55,599 --> 00:22:57,680 seven o'clock. Maybe a better cancelor. I don't see any reason why I 286 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:04,559 should. What is that noise coming from the cellar? Someone's down there. 287 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:08,359 They're police officers, Miss Johnson. We was searching the How searching this house 288 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:11,599 was whose permission? Maybe they didn't make it clearly of downtown. We've got 289 00:23:11,599 --> 00:23:15,839 a good reason to believe that the crime has been committed. Why missus Mauller 290 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:19,279 she's missing. I told your Captain Elliott this afternoon. Laura could have left 291 00:23:19,319 --> 00:23:23,200 the sanitarium. She might have gone east to visit some friends in Cincinnati. 292 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:27,240 I think she has some friends in Cincinnati. How could missus Muller leave the 293 00:23:27,319 --> 00:23:32,960 sanitarium? She was never there. Maybe she didn't stay at Garraway's could have 294 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:34,640 been another rest home, but she said you phoned her at Garaways. She 295 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:40,200 said you talked to her there. Who's men downstairs? They gonna dig up 296 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:44,960 the whole house. I tried this bill, missus Johnson. Would you mind 297 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:47,960 telling us what it was for? And there there's a section of the cellar 298 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:52,119 floor and never been cemented. I decided to have it done while Laura was 299 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:55,440 away. Men are digging it up, miss Johnson. Why are they digging 300 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:57,880 it up? What right have they investigation? We'll see that the cement work 301 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:02,480 is redone when we're finish. This is impossible. I forbid it. This 302 00:24:02,559 --> 00:24:06,039 house is is my responsibility. No need to worry. Everything will be left 303 00:24:06,079 --> 00:24:07,880 exactly the way it was. We'll leave the house as soon as the minter 304 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:12,359 finished. Oh well, then perhaps I can keep my appointment with a hairdresser. 305 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,480 I won't be long. She'd be back around nine. I'm sorry. 306 00:24:15,559 --> 00:24:19,680 I think you better stay. But I've told you everything I know. Did 307 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:23,920 you kill Laura? Mar Did I kill? I can't take any more this? 308 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:27,880 Why would I want to kill Laura? She's done everything for me, 309 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:30,599 She's given me a new life. You kill her? I no of course 310 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,799 I didn't kill her. No, and there's no need to be upset. 311 00:24:37,759 --> 00:24:47,400 Oh my nerves. I got to have something, glass of sherry? Yeah? 312 00:24:47,559 --> 00:24:49,440 How long is it gonna take them all? Depends? Man, there's 313 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:53,359 no reason for this. You don't know that anything's happened to Lara. I 314 00:24:53,519 --> 00:24:59,119 try. Laura's the best friend. I haven't over her. Eleven years, 315 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:02,799 that's how long she to make them let me out of prison. She's the 316 00:25:02,839 --> 00:25:06,319 only one who believed in me. Yes, she is. She's given me 317 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:11,759 everything. She wants me to have everything, everything I want. I wouldn't 318 00:25:11,799 --> 00:25:14,960 have a reason for killing her. Why my clothes, my home, here 319 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,920 are money, They're all Laura. She's given them to me. Would you 320 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:22,839 like a glass of sherry, Sergeant Pratty, No, no thanks. You 321 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:26,319 know, Laura was much older than I, Sergeant. She could have taken 322 00:25:26,319 --> 00:25:30,559 her own life. She didn't have much to live for, old and sick, 323 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:34,319 but I got everything to live for. Laura used to tell me that, 324 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:41,200 so she gave me everything. Laura was much older than I. Would 325 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:45,240 you care for a glass of sherry, Sergeant Row No, thank you. 326 00:25:45,319 --> 00:25:51,359 This whole thing is so silly. Lara's away on a trip. She's much 327 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:55,880 older than I am. You know I'm thirty eight. You wouldn't take me 328 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:57,640 for a woman thirty eight years old, wi ise Sergeant. No, ma'am. 329 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:02,359 I know I'm not really young anymore, but I'm still attractive, don't 330 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:06,279 you Anyway? A lot of men prefer the cure of women, women with 331 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:17,759 experienced the background. I know how to take care of a man. Jure. 332 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:33,119 Yeah, yeah, remember my widding. Yeah, we found her. 333 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:45,160 You didn't have anything, of course she wanted not I would. She knows, 334 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,519 I didn't mean. She's the only one who knows what I went through 335 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:53,400 years in prison. Understood me. She gave me everything, everything she did. 336 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:59,279 Ask anybody. They all know how Laura about me? Ask anybody? 337 00:27:00,079 --> 00:27:11,799 Ask her. The story you have just heard was true, only the names 338 00:27:11,839 --> 00:27:17,880 were changed to protect the innocent. On July fourteenth, trial was held in 339 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,680 superior courts City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a 340 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:34,200 moment the results of that trial, Annie Marie Johnson was tried and convicted of 341 00:27:34,279 --> 00:27:38,319 murder in the first degree. She was executed in the lethal gas chamber at 342 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:49,880 the State Penitentiary San Quentin, California. You have just heard dragnets authentic cases 343 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:55,640 from official files. Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Chief of 344 00:27:55,680 --> 00:28:03,119 Police W. A. Wharton, Los Angeles Police Department. Dragnet wishes to 345 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:07,559 thank the editors of Radio Television Life magazine. They have judged Dragnet the outstanding 346 00:28:07,599 --> 00:28:15,480 new program of the past radio season. Fatima Cigarettes the best of all Long 347 00:28:15,559 --> 00:28:22,680 Cigarettes has brought you Dragnet from Los Angeles tomorrow. Here the Ronald Coleman's charming 348 00:28:22,759 --> 00:28:37,759 series The Halls of Ivy on NBC welcome back. Well sadly, a very 349 00:28:37,839 --> 00:28:44,480 believable story. I really appreciated what they did with the music when Annie Johnson 350 00:28:44,599 --> 00:28:49,960 was talking and the basement was being torn up in lock with other dramatic elements. 351 00:28:51,079 --> 00:28:56,960 Dragnet doesn't use music other than the theme and bridges between scenes all the 352 00:28:56,079 --> 00:29:02,240 time, but when it does, it's intentional and it has an impact. 353 00:29:02,799 --> 00:29:07,079 The way you had the combination of Annie Johnson talking, the music playing, 354 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:14,960 and the digging just really emped up the suspense and really set the stage for 355 00:29:15,359 --> 00:29:21,200 a dramatic climax to the story. So absolutely well done. A very solid 356 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,559 episode of dragging It here. All right, Well, now it's time to 357 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:27,920 thank our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want to go ahead and 358 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:33,319 think Dan. Dan has been one of our Patreon supporters since March of twenty 359 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:38,960 sixteen. He's currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of seven dollars 360 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,880 and fourteen cents or more per month. Thank you so much for your support, 361 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:47,400 Dan, and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the 362 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:52,079 podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate 363 00:29:52,119 --> 00:29:57,240 and review the podcast wherever you download it. From next Tuesday, listen for 364 00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:03,000 a previously unplayed up episode of The Thin Man, and next Saturday we'll be 365 00:30:03,079 --> 00:30:07,119 back with another episode of Dragnet. But join us back here on Monday for 366 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:11,640 an episode of the Adventures of the Fall Can Wear a Big Game and the 367 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:15,599 Crook selected this room. Still is preposterous to think that one of us, 368 00:30:17,039 --> 00:30:19,119 welly, Banister, you trying to tell me that you boys all have complete 369 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:25,000 trust in one another more or less. I don't think we'd care to accuse 370 00:30:25,039 --> 00:30:30,319 each other of well severy why were you playing for cash? Well? He 371 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:36,160 is right, Banister, He's absolutely right. We didn't past each other's checks. 372 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:37,720 How can we pust each other's words? That's it? Fright, hag, 373 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:41,240 Get out of you're wearing. Your services aren't required. After all, 374 00:30:41,559 --> 00:30:45,559 I'm not going to have my friends insulted, or yourself or myself. Get 375 00:30:45,599 --> 00:30:48,400 out now just a minute? Better you keep out of this fright haag? 376 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:52,880 Well wearing? All right? All right, I'm going I see I got 377 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:56,359 a little too close for comfort? What do you mean by that? Keep 378 00:30:56,400 --> 00:31:00,960 your hands to yourself, banister, Just have the suit cleaned. What did 379 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:04,440 you guide to the layoff? Change your mind again? You know where to 380 00:31:04,519 --> 00:31:08,400 find me. So long, gentlemen, I hope you'll be with us then 381 00:31:08,559 --> 00:31:14,200 in the meantime, send your comments to Box thirteen at Greatdetectives dot net, 382 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:18,079 follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, 383 00:31:18,079 --> 00:31:25,079 Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is your 384 00:31:25,119 --> 00:31:26,240 host, Adam Graham signing off.