WEBVTT 1 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:34.280 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. 2 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:38.719 This is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, 3 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:43.200 email it to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, 4 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:48.200 follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and become one 5 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:53.840 of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com slash Radio Detectives. 6 00:00:54.399 --> 00:00:58.600 Before we get started, I do want to The program 7 00:00:58.679 --> 00:01:00.799 is brought to you in part by the financial support 8 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:03.479 of our listeners, and you can support the show on 9 00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:07.680 a one time basis at support dot Great Detectives dot net. 10 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:11.159 And you can become a monthly supporter of the program 11 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:14.680 at Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net. And we have 12 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:19.000 a variety of donation levels, including the Detective Sergeant level, 13 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:22.480 which is a donation of seven dollars and fourteen cents 14 00:01:22.840 --> 00:01:27.200 or more month. Full list of details at Patreon dot 15 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:31.200 Great Detectives dot net. Also over at Great Detectives dot net. 16 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:36.439 This weekend, I review the Neural Wolf novella collection Black Orchids. 17 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:42.120 This is a re edited piece that I had done 18 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:45.400 several years back, and for those who didn't read it 19 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:47.280 the first time, I'll be sure and check it out. 20 00:01:47.959 --> 00:01:52.400 All right, Well, now it's time for today's episode of Dragnet. 21 00:01:52.439 --> 00:01:56.480 The original aired eight October fifth of nineteen fifty and 22 00:01:56.519 --> 00:01:59.439 the title is The Big thirty eight. 23 00:02:07.239 --> 00:02:10.439 The story you are about to hear is true, only 24 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:12.759 the names have been changed to protect the innocent. 25 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:17.560 Drag Met. 26 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:27.800 You're a detective sergeant here assigned to robbery detail. A 27 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:30.800 store clerk has been murdered, shot to death in a robbery. 28 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:34.479 The hold up man is described as tall, well dressed. 29 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:39.879 He escapes in a taxicab. Your job, get. 30 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:53.639 Him drag Met the documented drama of an actual crime. 31 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:56.560 For the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los 32 00:02:56.599 --> 00:02:59.439 Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on 33 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:01.479 the side of the law, through an actual case, from 34 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:06.039 official police violence, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. 35 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:09.080 Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 36 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:15.159 It was Friday, August seventeenth. It was hot in Los Angeles. 37 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:17.360 We were working the NiFe Watch out of robbery detail. 38 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:20.280 My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Walker. My 39 00:03:20.360 --> 00:03:23.080 name is Friday. Was eight thirty five pm when we 40 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:24.680 got to the Church of Saint Damien. 41 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:26.120 The vest of you. 42 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:34.439 That must be her playing the organ. Yeah, I don't 43 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:36.680 see any stairs. I wonder how you get up there 44 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:37.199 to the loft. 45 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:40.120 Looks like that might be the sect and no one there. 46 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:41.199 Let's ask her. 47 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:48.280 Excuse me, sir, we're looking for an Ernestine Matthews. Understands 48 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:49.360 she's the organist here. 49 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:49.759 At the church. 50 00:03:49.800 --> 00:03:51.680 Oh that's her playing up there now, fighting over a 51 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:52.680 few pieces for Sunday. 52 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:54.080 Could you tell us how to get up to the 53 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:54.800 choir officer? 54 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:57.360 Surely through that door over there, follow the stairway straight up, 55 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:08.759 cad miss thank you? Sure has been a long time. 56 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:13.080 What's that climbing stairs to acquire a lot? Saying a 57 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:15.560 lot in church? When I was a kid, the boys brano? 58 00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:16.399 All right? 59 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:19.600 Can finally throw me out a boy's cheane? 60 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.680 Yes? Did you want? Are you missus? Ernestine Matthews? Yes? 61 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:28.120 Did you come about the new flow books? 62 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:28.399 No? 63 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:30.519 Ma'am? Police officers, Oh, can I help you? 64 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:33.600 It's about your husband. Was Matthews burt? 65 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:34.199 What about him? 66 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:35.160 Has brit done something? 67 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:36.120 He was hurt? 68 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:36.519 Ma'am. 69 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:39.240 I don't understand Bert's working at store? 70 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:40.839 What do you mean he was hurt? I was a 71 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:42.079 hold of dear. 72 00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:42.839 God, my husband. 73 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:45.959 Was he hurt? Bad? Where is he? 74 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:47.560 I've got to go to him. Is he in pain? 75 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:51.480 No, ma'am, what are you trying to say? God, tell 76 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:52.920 me the truth? Which hospital is he in? 77 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:55.639 It took him to Georgia Street. They helped him all they. 78 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:59.600 Could, Not trying to tell me the BRIT's dead. Not 79 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:00.639 trying to tell me that are you? 80 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:02.240 I'm sorry man. 81 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:10.319 In the past sixteen days, seven armed robberies had been committed, 82 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:13.399 apparently with the same man. The suspect was described by 83 00:05:13.480 --> 00:05:15.920 victims as tall, heavily built, and very nervous. 84 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:16.680 He was armed. 85 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:20.240 It's cold logic that every suspect who was armed in 86 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:22.879 the commission of a robbery is a potential killer. It's 87 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:26.120 a fact that's been proved one hundred times over. The 88 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:28.920 man we were after had proven it again. We'd used 89 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:31.399 every means at our disposal to identify him through the 90 00:05:31.399 --> 00:05:35.199 Stats Office, the Record Bureau, latent fingerprints, through informants and witnesses. 91 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:37.959 We'd gotten not an APB on him containing his description 92 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:41.920 and his method of operation. We'd maintained stakeouts. We hadn't 93 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:45.399 reached him in time. Early that evening at downtown grocery 94 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:47.600 store had been held up. One of the clerks, thirty 95 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:50.079 one year old Bert Matthews failed to empty the cash 96 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:52.279 register quickly enough, and the band had shot him three 97 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:53.240 times through the chest. 98 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:55.360 He died almost. 99 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:58.079 Instantly in the hold up man escape was only one witness, 100 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:00.480 another clerk who had been on duty in the store 101 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:02.040 with Matthews at the time of the hold up. His 102 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:04.800 name was Jess Tallman. He was brought to the city hall, 103 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:07.920 where we questioned him further. Did you see Bird's wife? 104 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:08.759 Does you know? 105 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:09.160 Yeah? 106 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:11.160 We dropped off at the church on the way and 107 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:12.720 drover to his sister's place. 108 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:14.920 Still can't get it through my head. One minute I 109 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:16.839 was talking to brit the next minute he was dead. 110 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:18.680 It's kind of hard to take, you know. 111 00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:21.600 I'd like to go over that description of the hold 112 00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:24.399 up man. You were pretty upset out there at the story. 113 00:06:24.439 --> 00:06:26.480 Do you feel up to it now? Yeah, I'm okay, 114 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:28.360 All right now. You just take it easy, tell us 115 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:30.319 everything you remember, and take all the time you need. 116 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:33.279 Well, I know he was a big guy, over six 117 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:35.800 foot anyway, I'm sure that he had a good build too. 118 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:37.079 Wasn't skinny? 119 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:39.360 How about his face? Yes, you get a good look 120 00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:42.040 at it, yeah I did. It was thin and he 121 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:44.480 kept working it around you know, twitching like guy who's 122 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:45.199 bloody nervous. 123 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:47.639 Can you tell us anything else about it? 124 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:50.959 He was young, about twenty one, I'd say, had dark 125 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:51.680 color eyes. 126 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:54.720 That's about all I'd swear to sergeant. He had a 127 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:55.639 hat on, I know that. 128 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:58.199 How about the rest of his clothing. 129 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:01.120 I wouldn't be sure about it. Have been a great 130 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:03.800 blue coat, I don't know. I wouldn't want to give 131 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:04.439 you a bump stare. 132 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:05.720 Did you get a look at the gun? 133 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:08.199 I couldn't miss that. It was a big one. It 134 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:11.600 wasn't shine. He was kind of dark, blue collar. I 135 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:13.279 can see the guy now walking in the store and 136 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:14.160 pointing it at Burt. 137 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:17.160 What time was that again, Jess? When the bandit showed up. 138 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:20.160 Just about seven thirty. Bert was behind the counter. I 139 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:22.240 was in the back stacking the shelves. The guy just 140 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:24.000 walked in, point of the gun, said give. 141 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:24.360 Me the dough. 142 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:27.879 I heard him say that. Bert was kind of surprised. 143 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:30.519 He just stood there for a minute and the guy said, 144 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:32.519 hurry up, give me the doll. Bert said, okay, you 145 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:34.800 can have everything, and he reached to get the door 146 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:35.759 from the cash register. 147 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:38.600 That's when the guy did it. He hit Bert right 148 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:39.120 in my chest. 149 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:39.959 What happened? Then? 150 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:43.319 Bert moaned a little fell down on the floor. I 151 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:43.839 got some mad. 152 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:45.759 I started running for the guy, but he swung around 153 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:47.519 at me with a gun and said stay where you are. 154 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:49.800 Yeah, I didn't want to get killed. 155 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:50.439 I stopped. 156 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:52.680 You can't blame me for that, can you? 157 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:54.279 Did you follow the man when he left? 158 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:56.120 Well, you see, he backed out of the store, and 159 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:57.920 when he got to the sidewalk, he jammed the gun 160 00:07:57.959 --> 00:08:00.800 in his pocket ran down the street. I ran out 161 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:03.199 after him. So I'm jumping a taxi cab and take off. 162 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:04.399 Did you get the CAB's number? 163 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:06.439 Well, it was too far away for that, at least 164 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:09.600 halfway down the block. I know somebody else must have 165 00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:10.399 been driving it, though. 166 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:12.079 How do you know that the CAB's. 167 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:13.720 Already moving when the hold up guy jumped in and 168 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:14.759 got in the front seat. 169 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:16.439 How do you know it was the front seat and 170 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:17.399 not the back The. 171 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:20.160 Way those cab doors open, you know, front doors swing 172 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:22.279 out to the left, back when swing out to the right. 173 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:24.920 That ties in. Joe used the same memo, I was 174 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:27.839 the hold ups last week. Yeah you got anything else 175 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:28.160 to add? 176 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:29.560 Yes? And you think we ought to know? 177 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:32.799 It's about the size of it. Sergeant, you don't think 178 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:33.559 I'm yellow, do you? 179 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:35.000 Well? What do you mean? 180 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:35.559 I mean? 181 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:37.480 Because I stopped when he pointed the gun at me. 182 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:39.279 I guess I should have grabbed him. But that gun 183 00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:42.039 looked as big as a cannon. Let's face it, I'm 184 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:42.879 not that much of a hair. 185 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:48.919 I'll put in with you. Yes, neither am I. 186 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:51.480 Along with the team of men from Homicide Detail, we 187 00:08:51.559 --> 00:08:54.639 continued our investigation of the hold up and killing. Ballistics 188 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:56.840 reported that the slug's taken from the body of Burt 189 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:59.480 Matthews had possibly been fired from a thirty eight caliber 190 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:03.279 Colt Revere. The slugs were in good condition for identification. 191 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:06.679 All the possible suspects picked from the mud books by 192 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.799 the victims had been checked out. All of them had 193 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:11.759 been cleared. Fingerprints left with the bandit at the scene 194 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:13.240 of his latest crime were checked out. 195 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:16.600 No mate. We tried to check the taxi cab used 196 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:19.519 in the escape. We got nowhere. The morning after the 197 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:21.200 Matthew was killing, we got a call. 198 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:24.039 From Sheriff's Homicide who went across the street and checked 199 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:25.159 with Inspector Bowers. 200 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:28.720 Either one of you remember that case. About six months ago, 201 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:29.960 the Harry Solomon killing. 202 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:33.559 Oh yeah, inspect here. It's pretty vague right now. Your 203 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:34.840 men handled it at Connecky. 204 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:37.080 Yeah, let me lay it out fair. It's just possible. 205 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:38.840 It might tie in with that killing you fell as 206 00:09:38.840 --> 00:09:39.480 had last night. 207 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:40.440 And what's the angle. 208 00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:43.720 Harry Solomon was a taxi cab driver. The night of 209 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:46.080 February twenty sixth somebody saw him pick up a fair 210 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.399 at Sunset and Highland about ten thirty pm. 211 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:49.679 That's the last time. 212 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:50.320 He was seen alive. 213 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:51.480 Yeah, I think I remember. 214 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:54.120 The next morning, we found Solomon's body in a ditch 215 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:56.720 out in the valley, two thirty eight slugs in his head, 216 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:59.440 found his cab a few yards up the road, abandoned. 217 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:01.960 I used a thirty eighth same kind of gun used 218 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:02.799 on last night's job. 219 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:07.519 There's something else that ties him, yeah. A description of 220 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:10.120 the passenger Salomon picked up at Sunset and Hyland the 221 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:11.000 night he was murdered. 222 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:13.120 The last fairy ever handled. 223 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:18.279 White male American over six feet tall, heavy bill age 224 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:20.960 twenty twenty one, dark eyes, had a dark suit on 225 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:21.840 the half. 226 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:23.720 Matches up all the way down the line. 227 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:25.840 You had a robbery motor figured on the Solomon killing, 228 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:26.200 didn't you. 229 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:28.879 That's right, except for a five dollar bill hidden in 230 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:30.799 as well. That Solomon didn't have a penny of his 231 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:33.720 receipts for the night might have been another reason behind 232 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:34.120 the killing. 233 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:34.600 Besides that. 234 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:38.200 Yeah, it's just barely possible. Solomon might have known the 235 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:39.120 hold up man. 236 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:39.919 The guy who killed it. 237 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:40.720 How do you figure it? 238 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:43.799 Solomon had been a cabby for fourteen years before he 239 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:47.720 was murdered from this hold up man's moo, using cabs 240 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:50.799 for a getaway car. It's possible he might have been 241 00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:52.279 a cab driver at some time or other. 242 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:54.000 I mean, if the kell had got in a cab 243 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:57.840 and thought Solomon recognized him was suspicious. 244 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:59.799 That right could have been reason enough for him to 245 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:02.480 kill ill Solomon. I know there's a lot of kods 246 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:04.360 and ifs and maybees in it that I thought you 247 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:05.080 might be interested. 248 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:07.679 I would check it out first thing. How are your 249 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:09.080 men coming on the Solomon face? Rod? 250 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:09.960 This is pretty slow. 251 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:12.919 We'll keep you posted on anything new for if we 252 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:13.440 can help. 253 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:23.279 We know, right bye, two sets of thirty eight slugs? 254 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:24.080 What do you think? 255 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:25.480 Let's ask the crime LAMB. 256 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:31.440 We put in a request to RUSS Camp and Ballistics 257 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:33.759 to check the thirty eight slugs found in taxi driver 258 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:36.120 Solomon's body against those found in the body. 259 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:37.480 Of grocery clerk Burt Matthews. 260 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:40.840 Then we contacted the special agent at the taxi camp company. 261 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:43.320 We asked him for pictures of all their drivers employed 262 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:45.840 by the company during the past year who were six 263 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:46.759 feet and highter over. 264 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:49.559 He told us if they'd have a file ready for us. 265 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:52.039 The following morning, we drove back to the office and 266 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:54.000 checked in with Russ Camp at the crime lamb. 267 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:57.039 He was examining the thirty eight slugs under the comparison mind. 268 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:02.559 Just a few more match fellows have a share, Yeah, 269 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:04.000 not much luck so far. 270 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:16.279 Well well yeah, well that's it. Yeah, no, make these 271 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:17.759 slugs come from two different guns. 272 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:25.159 That night, two more armed robberies were committed, one at 273 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:27.919 a liquor store, the other of a cafe. In both cases, 274 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:30.600 the hold up man escaped in a taxi cab. The 275 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:33.080 description of the man who robbed the liquor store matched 276 00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:35.360 that of the bandit who shot and killed Bert Matthews. 277 00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:38.480 The big switch came when we checked the cafe hold up. 278 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:38.879 There. 279 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:41.639 The victims described the suspect as short and fat with 280 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:44.440 dark blonde hair. He had a deep scar on his chin. 281 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.879 During the robbery, this suspect had become so nervous that 282 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:50.320 he'd dropped his gun, but he'd succeeded in getting outside 283 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:52.879 and escaping in a taxi cab before it could be apprehended. 284 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:55.039 The gun was taken back to Lake and fingerprints and 285 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:58.240 checked was clean. Russ Camp checked it through ballistics. 286 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:00.960 Some days, I like this, what do you mean that 287 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:03.080 cab driver Solomon was shot with a thirty eight? 288 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:03.600 Yeah? 289 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:05.720 Bert Matthews was shot with a thirty eight, A different 290 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:07.960 one though, it's kind of Bandit dropped tonight. 291 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:09.559 It's a thirty eight too, you know, we know that 292 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:10.279 what are you getting at? 293 00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:11.600 It doesn't match either case. 294 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:17.480 The next morning we started working one of the few 295 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:20.279 leads we had left. We drove down to the taxicab 296 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:22.519 company and collected the pictures of all the drivers that 297 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:24.679 they employed during the past year, who were six feet 298 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.799 and highter over the. 299 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:27.440 Eighty seven of them. 300 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:30.519 We started checking them out. That's what the working detective 301 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:33.399 calls legwork. It's slow and it's tedious, and you're not 302 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.080 sure it's going to amount to anything even by the 303 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:39.039 time you finished. Two nights later, the taxicab banded hit again. 304 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:42.240 His first repeater a restaurant in South figure Row. He 305 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:45.000 robbed the same place less than three weeks before. Ben 306 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:47.240 and I interviewed the manager of mister Cavallo. 307 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:49.600 Tell you, sergeant, I can't take any more of it. 308 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:50.799 Twice in one month. 309 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:52.559 Yes, sir, could we talk back then? In one of 310 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:53.039 the bullets. 311 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:56.879 Oh yeah, come on, you've got a good look at 312 00:13:56.879 --> 00:14:00.240 the man. Did Jimmys Cavallo two feet from him face 313 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:03.080 for the first time. It's not a joke, you know. So. 314 00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:05.480 I have no time for the customers, and too busy opened. 315 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:06.360 The cash box for that thief. 316 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:08.600 Yeah, shut up. 317 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:09.200 Thanks. 318 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:13.759 Well, when you're positive it's the same man who robbed 319 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:15.919 you before, there's no question there none. 320 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:19.080 I'm positive. And he used the same moo too, Yeah 321 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:21.200 sure mo, what's that? 322 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:21.879 Excuse me? 323 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.960 I mean he used the same approach, the same method 324 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.519 of operation. Everything was the same, the man, the gun, 325 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:27.679 the taxi cab, everything. 326 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:29.960 You didn't get the number of the cab. I looked 327 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:33.519 for it and see any must cover it up, someway. Well, 328 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:35.879 we've got some pictures here, mister Fallow. We'd like to 329 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:37.360 have you a look at him. Just tell us if 330 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:39.559 you recognize any of them, I won't do any good. 331 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:42.320 I already did that. They showed me pictures the last time. 332 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:47.240 This is a different lot. Oh all right, quite a 333 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:47.759 few of them. 334 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:50.200 I like to have you check each one of them careful, 335 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:51.639 if you would just take your time. 336 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:55.279 We can't sit here without coffee, Natalie, Well, I wouldn't, Natalie. 337 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:56.960 I don't care for him. I don't be silly. 338 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:59.679 You can't work without eating, Natalie. Coffee? 339 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:02.360 Three? And now where do wife start? 340 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:06.480 Well, he's right here. If you just check these over. 341 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:13.960 Please, uh no, not him? 342 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:18.440 Uh uh, not him either? 343 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:22.799 Oh, thank you, thank you. 344 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:31.919 Oh it's hot. No, not that one. 345 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:35.440 No? 346 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:37.600 Is that all? 347 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:43.799 No, that's some more here. Yeah. 348 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:48.399 Oh hey, that's an ugly looking guy. 349 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:49.320 I don't look at that scar. 350 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:50.480 You look familiar. 351 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:54.320 No, better check with his skipper when we finished year. 352 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:56.519 It's been a couple of hours in him that allows you. 353 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:58.919 No good cease right here? 354 00:15:58.960 --> 00:15:59.320 This one? 355 00:15:59.360 --> 00:15:59.879 That's a guy. 356 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:00.840 You're sure? 357 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:03.159 I open my cash box twice for might No, his 358 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:03.679 face in a. 359 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:09.759 Million Morris Copley age twenty one description matches. 360 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.559 It's copin. 361 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.320 Thanks Mitch, cell. 362 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:15.000 It's only forty minutes since the robbery's probably not even 363 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:16.200 home yet, What can you do? 364 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:21.000 We'll wait up. Ten thirty pm. 365 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:24.120 We park down the street from five twenty seven Dayton Avenue, 366 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:26.200 a two story white stucclel apartment house. 367 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:27.039 We checked the. 368 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:29.840 Names on the mailboxes. Morris Copley's wasn't on any of them. 369 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:31.360 We rang for the manager. 370 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:36.519 Copley Mars Copelan. No, he doesn't live here, never heard 371 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:36.960 of him. 372 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:38.919 I wonder if you'd take a look at this man 373 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:42.960 this picture, ma'am. Have you ever seen this man before? 374 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:47.720 Let me get over here in the line. Let me 375 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:51.720 say now, No, it doesn't. 376 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:53.519 Live here, and you've never seen him before. 377 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:56.000 No, I didn't say that. I just said he doesn't 378 00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:56.440 live here. 379 00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.840 You haven't seen him before. 380 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:01.240 I believe in my time is matter of fact. I'm 381 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:04.559 sure of it. The friend of mister Touben's apartment five 382 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:06.880 comes to visit mister Tauben every now and then. 383 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:09.440 This is mister Tobin in now man, we like to 384 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.200 talk to him. 385 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:14.480 Nory not it works nice, never comes home for two 386 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:26.599 a m. Yeah, here's a cab driver. 387 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:31.240 You are listening to dragnet authentic stories of your police 388 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:31.880 force in action. 389 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:39.880 Ten five pm, in the presence of the manager We 390 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.920 made a search of the apartment registered in the name 391 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:44.119 of Ralph Tobin, the man who was supposed to be 392 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:47.119 a friend of the suspect Morris Copley. We found nothing 393 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:48.960 that would tie either of them up with the robberies 394 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:52.039 and the killings. Before the manager returned to her apartment, 395 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:54.119 we instructed her to say nothing about our being there 396 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:57.200 in case Tobain or Copley returned. We called the office 397 00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:59.799 and told him we received an identification on Morris Copley. 398 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:02.440 They checked them both through R and I. Neither had 399 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:05.279 any criminal record. They got out an APB on Copley. 400 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:13.400 We waited midnight, came nothing happened, one am, one thirty, 401 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:15.519