WEBVTT 1 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:34.640 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. 2 00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:39.159 This is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, 3 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:43.439 email it to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, 4 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:47.880 Follow us on Twitter and Radio Detectives, and become one 5 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:53.640 of our friends on Facebook, Facebook, dot com, slash Radio Detectives. 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You can receive all of 29 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:30.280 my reviews sent automatically to your kindle and you can 30 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:32.800 try that service out free for two weeks to search 31 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:36.840 for great detectives of old time radio. Well, now it's 32 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:41.120 time for today's episode of Dragnet. The original air day 33 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:45.520 August thirty, first of nineteen fifty. The title The Big Check. 34 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:58.520 The story you are about to hear is true, only 35 00:02:58.560 --> 00:02:59.840 the names have been changed. 36 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:00.960 Protect the Innocent. 37 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:12.400 Fatima Cigarettes best of all, Long Cigarettes brings you Dragnet. 38 00:03:16.360 --> 00:03:20.919 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a forgery detail. An 39 00:03:20.919 --> 00:03:24.159 accomplished check forger is at work in your city. His 40 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:27.840 victims small businessmen. You know his m O. 41 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:29.599 You don't know his identity. 42 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:31.080 Your job. 43 00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:36.240 Get him. 44 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:38.800 If you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of 45 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:44.280 all long cigarettes. Smoke extra mild Fatima. Yes, Fatima is 46 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:47.520 the king size cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and 47 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:52.240 domestic tobaccos, superbly blended to make it extra mild, to 48 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:56.080 give Fatima a much different, much better flavor and aroma 49 00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:00.000 than any other long cigarette. That's why Fatima has more 50 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:01.439 more than doubled its smokers. 51 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:02.280 Coast to coast. 52 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:08.080 Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself, best of all long cigarettes. 53 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:11.400 It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. 54 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:20.120 It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. 55 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:24.319 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime, will the 56 00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:27.680 next thirty minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department. 57 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:30.240 You will travel step by step on the side of 58 00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:33.120 the law through an actual case, from official police violence, 59 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:37.839 from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is 60 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:39.800 the story of your police force in action. 61 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:46.279 It was Monday, February fourth, was cold in Los Angeles. 62 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:49.040 We were working a day watch out of forgery detail. 63 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:52.120 My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Elliott. My 64 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:54.519 name is Friday. I was on the way home from 65 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:56.600 the office, and it was eight twenty five pm when 66 00:04:56.600 --> 00:05:00.879 I got to Collis Avenue, remember. 67 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:05.759 Forty six fifty six. Joseph said you, Yeama. 68 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:07.759 We're in the living room. We have company. 69 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:08.879 Oh that's all. 70 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:11.759 Hello Joe, remember Mary found? 71 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:14.399 I sure do? How are you, miss Foller? 72 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:17.160 Just signed Joe? Thank you doing some shopping out this 73 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:18.920 wedd thought I stop buying. Have a cup of tea 74 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:19.399 with your mother. 75 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:21.399 Well it's good to see. How are things in the 76 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:22.240 old neighborhood now? 77 00:05:22.279 --> 00:05:23.399 Oh? Pretty much the same? 78 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:23.920 Oh? 79 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:28.160 Miss Daily remember her finally die? Yeah, I suppose it 80 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:30.439 was for the best. So I'm just telling your mother. 81 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:33.600 Jim and Louise watching finally moved. Jim got a new job. 82 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:34.879 How by all the dinner? 83 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:35.560 Oh that's all. 84 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:40.279 Yeah, Na, you certainly looking, find Joe. Don't you wear 85 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:41.639 your police uniform anymore? 86 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:44.480 Mind? No, Mary and Joseph's and the detective girl now 87 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:46.079 hasn't learned his uniform from here? 88 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:50.399 Oh that's right. I remember now that note you sent 89 00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:53.720 me your Christmas guide here before last. What do you 90 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:54.360 do now, Joe? 91 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:57.600 Forgery detail my partner and I am a bum checkcases 92 00:05:58.000 --> 00:05:59.279 my that certainly must. 93 00:05:59.160 --> 00:06:01.399 Be under it. Have you had your dinner at Jersey. 94 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:03.560 Yes, ma'am, I stopped at the place out in Santa 95 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:04.279 Monica and had something. 96 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:07.439 Yes when Mary brought me some nice coffee cakes finding 97 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:09.920 for filling, would you like them of a couple of 98 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:10.519 comfort yours? 99 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:11.600 No, I don't know. 100 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:13.720 You sit down in your chair there and rest yourself, 101 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:16.920 cos I'm so tired. I have no idea how hard 102 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:17.279 they work. 103 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:24.279 You remember Genevieve, don't you? Joe my oldest girl? 104 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:24.480 Oh? 105 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:26.800 Yeah, sure? How is she just fine? 106 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:31.040 Lots of boyfriends as usual, going out all the time. 107 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:31.959 Well, that's good. 108 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:36.240 She asked to be remembered to you. I think you 109 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:38.079 and Jen were stuck on each other at one time. 110 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:38.519 Where to do? 111 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:39.319 Oh? 112 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:41.879 We went to a couple of dances in high school 113 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:43.600 a r. I think she started going to stay with another fella. 114 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:48.319 Young girls never open their will off coffee and Joe 115 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:50.319 soon set it here in the end table. 116 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:52.240 Nice. I don't think I can use it much. 117 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:54.959 Delicious coffee cake? You smell? 118 00:06:56.279 --> 00:06:56.439 Yeah? 119 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:56.959 Nice? 120 00:06:57.160 --> 00:06:57.600 Oh? 121 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:00.519 My quarter to nine, I should have left, have an ago. 122 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:03.519 Oh you have to go. Maybe she's visits throng. We're 123 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:04.079 so sure? 124 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:06.720 Well, I got a lot of iron introduced and I 125 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:08.680 have to make Carl's lunch. He's always so fussy about 126 00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:09.040 his lunch. 127 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:10.399 Yes, I get your cold. 128 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:14.639 Well, it's nice seeing you again, Jim. Do you want 129 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:15.839 to be remembered to Jenevieve? 130 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:17.800 Yeah, tell her hello, William is father. 131 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:20.240 If you're over our way, be sure and drop in 132 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:23.160 and see us. Let me say Jenney's home office by six. 133 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:26.759 She often says, she'd like to see you again. All same, 134 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:29.519 good night, Joe. You'd be sure to come and see 135 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:31.560 us now, Jenny'll be looking forward to it. 136 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:38.279 Okay, his following tonight, she's all right. 137 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:45.279 You know I wouldn't be You're mine. 138 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:50.000 Nice person, married, hind time trying to find a husband 139 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:50.560 for Geneva. 140 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:54.160 Yeah, hey mom, I'm not very hungry. I can't even know. 141 00:07:56.480 --> 00:08:06.639 She's such a shame. Waves lovely copy cake been used 142 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:07.680 on the same case. 143 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:11.000 Yeah, same one. 144 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:12.680 It's taking it off your long time. 145 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:14.680 Oh we've been on it two months here. 146 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:20.600 Never understand that when people write bad checks always get caught. 147 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:22.680 Well, it's easy living while it lasts. 148 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:29.800 Now you know what the man's handwriting is like? Don't 149 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:30.759 you know who the man is? 150 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:33.440 Well, we think so much, we're not sure. There's hundreds 151 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:35.919 of checkmen at work, almost alike. Some of them even 152 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:38.960 look alike. There's always a big enough field to pick from. 153 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:40.919 Our problems picking the right one. 154 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:42.879 I don't know much about it, but the whole thing 155 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:44.080 is kind of silly to me. 156 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:45.639 How's that? 157 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:51.960 What's this man's supposed to be doing? They're around your 158 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:56.080 small neighborhood stores cashing fifteen twenty dollars checks? Have you 159 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:58.600 got himself a job? He's probably doing that much in 160 00:08:58.679 --> 00:08:59.960 money day, doing good? Honest? 161 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:03.240 So he? Ben didn't call before I got home? 162 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:05.559 Did he? 163 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:07.759 He was going to interview one of the bum check 164 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:09.600 victims on his way home the grocery store onner down 165 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:10.320 of Highland Park. 166 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:16.960 It might be him. Now we're not that yeah Friday talking. 167 00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:18.000 There's Ben Joe. 168 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:21.120 I've got a partial identification from the Grocer's nothing great. 169 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:22.320 Which mug shot did he? 170 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:22.559 Like? 171 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:25.080 Stanley Buelbeck grocer thinks it might have been the guy 172 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:25.720 pushed the check. 173 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:26.600 He can't be sure. 174 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:32.440 Thirty three bum checks passed, Samemo, not one positive identification. 175 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:33.559 Something's funny, isn't it? 176 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:33.679 All? 177 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:34.720 Got me stuff? 178 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:36.840 We know the endorsements on every one of those checks 179 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:39.279 was written with the same guy. He was practiced the 180 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:42.440 same story on every one of his victims. Yeah, those 181 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:44.759 thirty three people are either blind and they're kidding it. 182 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:47.600 There was only one other answer. We're looking for the 183 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:48.320 wrong man. 184 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:53.679 For two months and two days in different shopping districts 185 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:57.159 throughout the city, a man described as well dressed, middle aged. 186 00:09:57.240 --> 00:10:00.399 It's been passing worthless checks on independent neighborhoods this man. 187 00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:04.320 Most of the victims were proprietors of small shops, meet markets, 188 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:07.679 liquor stores, grocery stores. In none of the cases was 189 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:09.879 the check written for more than twenty five dollars. 190 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:12.080 With the help of the Stat's office. 191 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:14.000 And our record bureau, we've gone through the list of 192 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:17.320 experienced checkmen until we found one man who's description and 193 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:20.080 m O. Matt's perfectly with that of a suspecture. The 194 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:21.879 man's name was Stanley Buebeck. 195 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:25.080 We can't locate him cabin Another thing, we can't get 196 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:27.840 a positive identification from many of the victims. 197 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:30.279 And find a suspect they can identify. They've been tracking 198 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:32.080 the guy for two months. What's the big mestery? 199 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:34.799 Oh, he tabbed the man of Stanley Bubeck and his record. 200 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:37.600 His m is description the all tie in perfectly. Now, 201 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:38.519 we're not sure it's him. 202 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:41.279 What I mean, Well, if it is bu Beck, it's. 203 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:42.960 Almost a sure thing that one of the victims could 204 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:44.799 have made him on one of his mud shots. None 205 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:46.000 of them can make up their minds. 206 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:48.480 Look, maybe one of you two would like to be 207 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:50.399 kept in the forgery for a day. Sit in this 208 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:53.720 office and listen to complaints coming over that phone about 209 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:56.240 this guy at the front office. Neighborhood, business men's clubs, 210 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:59.120 retail merchants. They tell me they're trouble, so I'm passing 211 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:01.960 them on to you. Whoever this paper hanger is. 212 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:04.240 We want him, We want it fast, lowsy little twenty 213 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:06.879 dollars checks. We'll probably have a lot better target if 214 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:08.039 you drive something bigger and. 215 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:10.039 Don't think he and a hundred dollars checkmen like him, 216 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:12.879 don't know that you won't find him stealing company paychecks 217 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:15.159 and flood in the town with paper. They take it 218 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:16.879 from the little guy, and they take it in small amounts, 219 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:18.399 but add up those small amounts at the end of 220 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:19.440 the year, and they'll scare you. 221 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:21.559 It's a rotten part about it. None of those victims 222 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.320 can afford. 223 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:24.679 A bad check at grocer Donnely stands on his feet 224 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.840 all day and at a profit of ten to fifteen dollars, 225 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:28.919 he gets tagged with one bad check and he's working 226 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:29.360 for nothing. 227 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:32.039 We've got bulletins out on the suspect. All the small 228 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:34.120 businessmen in town. I've all been alerting. 229 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:38.000 Excuse me, catn. 230 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:43.480 Ellian, Okay, don right away, Don Myers, he went over 231 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:45.000 the handwriting those last three checks. 232 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:45.600 Wants to see you. 233 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:49.159 Okay, how about that special bulletin you got out to 234 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:52.279 the prisons on Stanley Bubeck And he replies nothing, ex 235 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:55.000 g me, all right, stay on it, right, let's go 236 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:55.360 for it. 237 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:02.919 Yes, I'd give a right arm for a line on 238 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:03.919 this guy. Yeah. 239 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:05.919 Well it would move a lot faster if somebody'd help 240 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.120 us follow those checks closer. The way it's running now, 241 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:10.159 we hear about the paper two weeks after it's been 242 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:11.240 cash and few bag. 243 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:13.399 Thing isn't over much, you know, you just find another 244 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:19.440 line to get a settle. Hi, don oh hi, U. 245 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:21.480 Just finished up on those last three checks that came in. 246 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:22.960 You want to give me a look, how do they say? 247 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:27.120 But well, you can see for yourself right here, yeah, 248 00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:31.240 uh here the three I just went over and uh, 249 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.679 here are half a dozen bad ones for cash last month. 250 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:37.519 The endorsements on this half doesn't match perfectly on those 251 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:40.240 other three. Well, i'd say they were endorsed with the 252 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:45.159 same person. Oh look here you can notice the capitol letters. 253 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:48.480 He still handles them the same way, disconnected from the 254 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:49.039 other letters in. 255 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:51.440 The first name see yeah, yeah, But. 256 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:53.039 He connects the capitals in the last. 257 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:57.039 Name see not very bright. Yeah. 258 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:58.559 And I much doubt my mind. 259 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:01.639 All the other handwriting factors tied in form skill shading, 260 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:05.320 They all match up. The movement terminals are all the 261 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:08.639 same for my money. Yeah, here the way he writes 262 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:11.159 the lower case letters. That's interested for me. 263 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:13.039 How's that done? Well? 264 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:16.639 Here the inclination of the terminal stroke on the s 265 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:20.840 see the breest land above the horizontal's just about fifty 266 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:23.879 five degrees in all cases. Now, the finger movement in 267 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:26.600 his capitals have plenty of freedom. They're not shaded much. 268 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:30.039 Nothing like this in his lower case letters though. You 269 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:33.240 see here, Yeah, I think I know what you mean. 270 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:37.159 That much freedom here, lots of shading and the pressure 271 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:43.080 on the lifts here they match up same on the downstroke. Now, 272 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:45.799 I'd say the skill is medium in all cases embellishments 273 00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:46.480 both class two. 274 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:49.759 No change is a doll in the style all he made. 275 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:51.200 The signature just look a little different. 276 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:54.360 All eight factors match up. Though it's the same person. 277 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:56.000 All we have to do is find him. 278 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:59.200 How about this fella, Stanley Bubeck, I thought you had 279 00:13:59.240 --> 00:13:59.840 him tap. 280 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:01.879 I We're not too sure about him, but it's the 281 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:03.799 only line we got to work on, so we'll have 282 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:04.480 to do for now. 283 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:07.840 I lamera a man in the office, say you and Joe. 284 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:10.639 Names Loomis, right, Fred me there in a minute. 285 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:14.039 Well, thanks John, we'll check you later. Sure, okay, see 286 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:14.919 you let's go back. 287 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:29.200 How you do you mister Loomis, Yes, Sir Sagan Rameril No, 288 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:31.559 this is sergeant Ramoo here. My name is Friday. Oh 289 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:34.679 all right, what can we do for you? 290 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:40.159 It's about these checks, are you? These are right here? 291 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:41.200 Yeah? 292 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:41.720 You see. 293 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:44.240 I run a delicatessen out on Sunset, and a few 294 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:46.320 days ago a new customer came in for a few 295 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.039 things and paid for them with these checks. 296 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:49.000 He came in twice. 297 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:52.399 Yeah, go ahead, Well I got the checks back today. 298 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:55.159 They're no good. I tried to look up the man 299 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:58.080 at the address he gave but there's no such address, 300 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.759 you can. I see one's for fifteen dollars, the other 301 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:04.279 ones for twenty. And the reason I asked for you, man, 302 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:06.679 is because I know the man who runs a drug 303 00:15:06.679 --> 00:15:09.720 store across the street, George home Quist. He had some 304 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:12.000 bad checks about a month ago, he said, dud took 305 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:12.639 care of him. 306 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:15.000 Oh yeah, yeah, I remember you recall a man who 307 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:16.399 passed these checks, Misteris. 308 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:17.519 Yes, I think I do. 309 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:20.399 He told me he was new in the neighborhood and 310 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:23.080 he was looking for a place to trade. Well, I 311 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.840 guess we're all anxious for new business. 312 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:25.840 I took the checks. 313 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:30.279 He got those mud shots there, man, Yeah, yeah, thank you. 314 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:33.159 How about these men, mister Loomis, and he haven't looked 315 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:35.879 anything like the person who passed the checks on you. 316 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:41.120 No, let's see this one. Yes, it does look like 317 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:43.919 a man in a way. I don't know if I 318 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:44.360 could be. 319 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:46.840 Absolutely sure, Andy, bu vaccine him. 320 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:47.679 Pot. 321 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:49.559 Well, it looks like you're stuck with a couple of 322 00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:52.200 bad ones. Mister lumis probably the same man who passed 323 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:53.480 checks on your druggist friend. 324 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:55.480 We're doing everything we can to run this man down. 325 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:58.840 What about the checks, isn't there anything I can do 326 00:15:58.879 --> 00:15:59.399 about them. 327 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.440 No, sir, I'm sorry, not right now. We would like 328 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:04.080 to have you make out a crime report if you will, 329 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:04.639 and would you. 330 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:06.360 Leave these checks with us? 331 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:12.159 Bad here as just came in for you, I replied 332 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:14.000 from Salt Lake City, Utah on that bullet and you 333 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:15.399 sent out on the Stanley Bubreck. 334 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:18.120 Yeah, he's been in jail for five months. 335 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:22.799 We sent a request to Salt Lake asking him to 336 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:25.639 question Stanley Bubeck if he knew of any forger who 337 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:27.639 matched his description or used his m O. 338 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:28.559 BW. 339 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:29.679 Beck could tell us nothing. 340 00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:33.679 Wednesday, February sixth we threw away the results of two 341 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:34.840 months of investigation. 342 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.720 We went back and started from the beginning. 343 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:40.200 Despite all precautions and warnings, the checks kept coming in 344 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.080 at the rate of half a. 345 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.600 Dozen a week. 346 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:43.960 The same mo O was used, the same handwriting showed 347 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:45.399 up in the signatures on the checks. 348 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:47.399 Again. With the help of the staff and. 349 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:49.679 The statistician's office and the record Bureau, we waited through 350 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:52.799 hundreds of names of known checkmen and compiled a new 351 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:55.840 list of thirty eight possible suspects. Each one fitted the 352 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:58.480 general description of the forger. Each one at some time 353 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:00.919 in his forgery career, had he was the same general 354 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:04.359 method of operation. Well, after days of leg work, we 355 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:07.039 finally boiled down the list of possibles to three names, 356 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:09.920 George Roberts, James Young, and Harry L. 357 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:10.599 Johansson. 358 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.839 We got out a flyer to all the small businessmen 359 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:15.640 in the areas where the forger operated. Another week passed, 360 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:17.640 the worthless checks kept showing up at the rate of 361 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:20.680 two and three a day. On February twenty first, Ben 362 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:22.400 and I answered a call from a druggist in the 363 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.440 Echo Park district. 364 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:26.240 He bought some toothpaste and a cotton of cigarettes. Sergeant 365 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:27.720 asked me to cash a twenty dollars. 366 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:27.920 Check for it. 367 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.759 Did you ever seen the men before? 368 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:30.440 No? 369 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:32.400 He gave me the same old story about being new 370 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:35.119 in the neighborhood. That's when I remembered that police full 371 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:36.160 of in the department sent me. 372 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:37.680 Do you still have that bullet? 373 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:38.039 No? 374 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:40.079 I looked it over, and then I guess it got mislaid. 375 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:43.039 I wonder if you'd mind taking a look at these 376 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:46.000 pictures here, not at all these right here? 377 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:49.960 M sure this one right on top that's the man. 378 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.279 Yeah, sure, I am. 379 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:54.079 It only happened a few hours ago. Do you know 380 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:54.559 who he is? 381 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:57.880 Harry L Joe Hanson. That's the name we have on him. 382 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:00.759 Doesn't mean anything to me. He got real happy when 383 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:02.640 I wouldn't take his check, stalked right out of the store, 384 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:03.519 very suspicious. 385 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:04.319 Did you follow him? 386 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:04.720 No? 387 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:06.680 I told Ralph, my clerk, to follow him. 388 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:11.039 Ralph, you want to tell these officers about that man 389 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:11.519 this morning? 390 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:15.119 I followed him down the street for blackman, turned the corner. 391 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.240 That's where I lost him. 392 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:19.119 Bad. Yeah, all I got was a license number. 393 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:32.880 You are listening to Dragnett the case history of a 394 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:37.160 police investigation presented in the public interest by Fatima Cigarettes. 395 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:39.640 If you smoke a long cigarette, it will be in 396 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:42.240 your interest to listen to a typical case history of 397 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:43.279 a Fatima smoker. 398 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:46.759 It's the case of Northwest Airline Stewardess Gene Madson. You 399 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:49.880 will see her picture in leading magazines this week now 400 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:51.400 her actual signed statement. 401 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:53.640