1 00:00:28,719 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. 2 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,240 This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're 3 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,679 going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But 4 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,840 first I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying 5 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:51,719 the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. 6 00:00:52,399 --> 00:00:57,399 Our listener support and appreciation campaign continues and you can 7 00:00:57,439 --> 00:01:00,640 become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little 8 00:01:00,679 --> 00:01:05,359 as two dollars per month at Patreon dot Great Detectives 9 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,719 dot net. And I want to thank Paul for becoming 10 00:01:08,799 --> 00:01:11,840 our latest supporter at the Shawmus level of four dollars 11 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,959 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support. 12 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:20,319 Now from December twenty seventh, nineteen fifty one, here is 13 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:21,840 the big sorrow. 14 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 2: Ladies and gentlemen, The makers of Fatima Cigarettes and the 15 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:34,599 entire cast and crew and technicians of Dragnet respectfully dedicate 16 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:39,799 tonight's program to the memory of Barton Yarborough, who created 17 00:01:39,799 --> 00:01:50,000 and portrayed the role of Sergeant Ben Romero. 18 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 3: The story you were about to hear is true. The 19 00:01:55,079 --> 00:02:05,640 names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a 20 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:10,479 detective sergeant. They're assigned a robbery details. Two convicts escape 21 00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:14,039 from a nearby state penitentiary in the early morning. According 22 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,280 to reports, they're heading for your city. They're both armed, 23 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:30,719 they're both dangerous. Your jobs get them. 24 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:34,719 Speaker 4: Drag Man the documented drama of an actual crime. While 25 00:02:34,759 --> 00:02:37,439 the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles 26 00:02:37,439 --> 00:02:40,439 Police Department, you will travel step by step on the 27 00:02:40,479 --> 00:02:43,080 side of the law through an actual case. Transcribed from 28 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:47,639 official police violence, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment, 29 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,680 Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 30 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 2: It was Saturday, April twenty fourth. It was hot in 31 00:02:58,439 --> 00:03:00,639 Los Angeles. We are working the day watch out of 32 00:03:00,719 --> 00:03:04,120 robbery detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Didion. 33 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:05,080 My name is Friday. 34 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,319 Speaker 5: It was five minutes past eight am when I got 35 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:08,520 the room, twenty seven. 36 00:03:08,319 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 6: A robbery detail worn Joe, Hi. 37 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 2: Crowley, how's it working out? 38 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 5: Any more? 39 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:16,599 Speaker 7: Word in the escape for isn't it nothing this morning? 40 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:16,719 Speaker 8: No? 41 00:03:17,719 --> 00:03:18,759 Speaker 6: Captain likes seeing Joe. 42 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 7: Okay, Ben check in yet? 43 00:03:23,039 --> 00:03:26,599 Speaker 5: No get a little late? Yes, he was held up. 44 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,199 Speaker 6: Huh Captain want to see it right away? 45 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 9: Some bad minutes? 46 00:03:28,879 --> 00:03:30,439 Speaker 5: Joe, Oh, what's matter? 47 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:31,879 Speaker 6: Maybe it'd be better if. 48 00:03:31,759 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 5: You don't do all right? 49 00:03:36,439 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 7: Oh morning Joe, Hi, do you want to see me? Yeah? 50 00:03:38,719 --> 00:03:42,000 Good money, it's good. 51 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 6: N Yeah. 52 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,639 Speaker 10: Got some bad news, Joe, real bad for what's a mina? 53 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:51,879 I know how much it means. I wish I didn't 54 00:03:51,879 --> 00:03:52,560 have to be the one. 55 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:52,879 Speaker 7: To tell you. 56 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 5: But tell me what. 57 00:03:54,759 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 7: Sorry, Joe, it's about the Ben. Something's happening Ben. 58 00:03:58,199 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 5: Well, what do you mean? 59 00:03:59,159 --> 00:04:00,919 Speaker 10: We were going to find him out it early this morning. 60 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:02,000 I thought about calling him. 61 00:04:02,599 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 7: Figure it'd be better if I told you in person. 62 00:04:04,719 --> 00:04:05,639 Speaker 5: But what's the matter of Ben? 63 00:04:05,719 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 8: Sir? 64 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,159 Speaker 7: He's dead Joe been dead early this morning? 65 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:10,439 Speaker 5: What? 66 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:12,199 Speaker 7: Yeah? Sorry? 67 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 10: Heart attack happened a little after six o'clock this morning. 68 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:21,079 No got out of bed, started dressing and go to work. 69 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,120 Went downstairs to put a pot of coffee on make 70 00:04:23,199 --> 00:04:26,399 some toast. Wife heard him fall. She went downstairs and 71 00:04:26,439 --> 00:04:28,279 found him already dead. 72 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 7: Went fast. 73 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 5: Ook. I don't get this. 74 00:04:32,519 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 7: It couldn't be sorry, Joe means a lot to all 75 00:04:35,879 --> 00:04:36,759 of us. 76 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:38,959 Speaker 5: Yeah, well I still don't yet it. Ben didn't have 77 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,199 any trouble with his heart. He never mentioned anything about it. 78 00:04:41,439 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 10: Yeah, maybe that was the trouble? Was his heart all right? 79 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:46,680 When his wife found him. She called the doctor in 80 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:48,959 the fire department rescue squad. They worked over him for 81 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,879 an hour, no years, and his wife called me not 82 00:04:52,959 --> 00:04:53,800 to tear your heart out. 83 00:04:55,399 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 5: Yeah, I can't believe it what you say. 84 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 10: Actually didn't break up, too shocked to realize that, I guess, 85 00:05:03,319 --> 00:05:07,439 sounded apologetic that I'm sorry, captain, this is missus Romero. 86 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:09,560 Ben died this morning. I thought you ought to know 87 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:10,319 Ben's dead. 88 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 5: That's terrible. It's a lousy shame. 89 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,199 Speaker 10: Kept saying the same thing over again, I'm sorry, Ben's dead. 90 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,839 I thought you ought to know Ben's dead. Yeah, Joe 91 00:05:21,879 --> 00:05:23,720 White had and I went out there right away, tried 92 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:24,800 to talk to her. It wasn't much. 93 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:30,439 Speaker 5: You excuse me, I'm sorry. 94 00:05:31,319 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 7: Yeah, you were with him a long time. 95 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 11: Yeah, eleven years day I came on the job. They 96 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:43,920 assigned me as his partner. You know, this is a 97 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,399 tough one. It's hard to believe. It's tougher on his wife. 98 00:05:49,199 --> 00:05:50,839 That's all right with you. I'd like to go see her, 99 00:05:51,079 --> 00:05:53,120 all right. I wish I could give you the day off, Joe. 100 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:55,000 I know what it means to you. You just get 101 00:05:55,079 --> 00:05:57,680 convict thing. I just can't spare you. Yeah, that's all right, 102 00:05:57,720 --> 00:05:58,759 I just soon worked. 103 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 12: I figured out to talk to Amy though, might help 104 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:04,560 to take the edge off as the four video. 105 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:15,519 Speaker 10: Sure man, Joe, Yeah, I know what it is. I've 106 00:06:15,519 --> 00:06:19,519 been on the job nineteen years, lost two partners, good cops. 107 00:06:20,199 --> 00:06:21,639 One of them was killed in the line of duty. 108 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:23,600 The other one worked at his job until he dropped. 109 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,199 It's the same thing, Joe. In my book, they both 110 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:26,800 rate medals. 111 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 2: I left the office and went down on the elevator alone. 112 00:06:33,959 --> 00:06:35,680 I got in the car, and I started over for 113 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,120 Ben's place. I thought about what I was going to 114 00:06:39,199 --> 00:06:39,959 say to his wife. 115 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 5: I thought about his little boy. I thought about Ben. 116 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 2: Eleven years I'd been working as a cop, and all 117 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:53,439 of a sudden, it wasn't the same anymore. I thought 118 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,639 about the first day I met Ben I was a rookie. 119 00:06:57,439 --> 00:06:59,439 I remembered what he taught me about being a cop. 120 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,319 Speaker 5: I thought about how much I owed him. 121 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:05,879 Speaker 2: I thought about the thousands of cops just like him 122 00:07:05,879 --> 00:07:08,600 all over the country, the ones that came before us, 123 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:10,720 the ones that'll take our place. 124 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 5: I thought about their. 125 00:07:12,839 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 2: Lives, and their homes and their families, what they meant, 126 00:07:16,759 --> 00:07:17,839 what their jobs meant. 127 00:07:19,319 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 5: I thought about Ben eleven years. 128 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 2: Stakouts, the early morning watch, interrogations, office duty. You could 129 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:30,759 cover it in volumes, or you could write on the 130 00:07:30,759 --> 00:07:33,720 back of an envelope. He was a good cop and 131 00:07:33,759 --> 00:07:37,319 he was a good friend. There wasn't much else to say. 132 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:39,399 It was a big loss. 133 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:42,639 Speaker 5: I stayed at Ben's house for about an hour talking 134 00:07:42,639 --> 00:07:43,360 to his wife. 135 00:07:43,759 --> 00:07:48,319 Speaker 2: Joe Whitehead from the medical detail was there. All things considered, 136 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,319 she seemed to be taking it fairly well. I told 137 00:07:51,319 --> 00:07:53,600 her I'd drop around later in the day, and then 138 00:07:53,639 --> 00:07:57,319 I checked back in at the office for work. Temporarily, 139 00:07:57,399 --> 00:08:00,480 Sergeant Ed Jacobs was assigned to work with me. The 140 00:08:00,519 --> 00:08:03,160 big problem at the moment was a pair of escaped convicts. 141 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:05,639 Jacobs and I drove out to run down on a 142 00:08:05,759 --> 00:08:08,959 possible lead eleven o five am. We got to the 143 00:08:08,959 --> 00:08:11,319 address listed the Cathedral of Saint Augustine. 144 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 5: We checked in at the rectory and then we went 145 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:14,279 around to the church. 146 00:08:20,199 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 13: Go ahead, Okay, I'm sure a beautiful church, isn't it. 147 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:36,559 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's a nice choir, isn't it. 148 00:08:37,159 --> 00:08:38,879 Speaker 8: What if they're holding services? 149 00:08:38,879 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 5: No, whole choir is probably just practice. You'll see the 150 00:08:42,279 --> 00:08:43,279 priest on anywhere. Ed. 151 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:47,519 Speaker 14: Well, yeah, someone over by the side all today looks 152 00:08:47,519 --> 00:08:48,080 like the padre. 153 00:08:48,399 --> 00:08:57,639 Speaker 12: Yeah, easter Hamles sure pretty hard the yeah, sure, it 154 00:08:57,720 --> 00:08:58,600 really takes me back. 155 00:08:59,039 --> 00:09:00,519 Speaker 8: You never believe it to what's that? 156 00:09:01,639 --> 00:09:02,399 Speaker 5: He used to be a boy? 157 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 8: Tendor? 158 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:05,159 Speaker 5: Or excuse me? 159 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 8: Please? 160 00:09:06,279 --> 00:09:07,039 Speaker 9: Yeah? 161 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 5: Are you father? Newman's right? 162 00:09:09,799 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 9: Can I help him? 163 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 2: Police officer's father? I see, this is my partner, Sergeant Jacob's. 164 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:17,200 Mine name was Friday. 165 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 14: I'll foll housekeeper over directly told us we could find 166 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:22,600 you here. I'd like to talk to you for a 167 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:23,759 few minutes if you got the time. 168 00:09:23,799 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 10: Father, Let's see, I have confessions starting at three o'clock. 169 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,759 Leave me about ten minutes. What was it about Sagan? 170 00:09:32,039 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 5: Well, we're inquiring about a Stanley Blair. Father. We understand 171 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:36,399 that you knew him fairly well, oh. 172 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 10: Yes, if I knew. Matter of fact, I read about 173 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:41,600 him in the paper this morning. Trouble he's in. Is 174 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:42,919 that what you wanted to talk about? 175 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 14: Yes, that's right. We're making a check of all his 176 00:09:45,519 --> 00:09:47,519 known friends as relatives. 177 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:51,159 Speaker 10: Very unfortunate, isn't it. Did the newspapers have the story correct? 178 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 8: Yes, I'm afraid so. Yeah. 179 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:55,399 Speaker 14: I wonder if we could step outside of father, we 180 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:57,679 could talk out there without disturbing anyone in church. 181 00:09:58,159 --> 00:10:01,159 Speaker 5: Truly sorry, please kill. 182 00:10:02,919 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 10: Certainly a tragedy, I mean happening at Easter time. I'll 183 00:10:07,399 --> 00:10:10,639 remember the boy in my mask tomorrow. Lord knows he can. 184 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 5: Use some prayers, yes, sir, I guess he can. 185 00:10:20,039 --> 00:10:23,519 Speaker 9: Here we are bench there could carried us down, sir. 186 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 5: That's all right. 187 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:27,919 Speaker 10: The newspapers weren't too specific. How did he manage to 188 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:31,200 escape the way he did? I always thought state penitentiaries 189 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:32,039 were well guarded. 190 00:10:32,399 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 14: Apparently Blair was one of the trusted prisoners. It's a 191 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:36,799 minimum security prisoner to begin with, Father. 192 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,799 Speaker 10: I see, I suppose Blair and the man he escaped 193 00:10:39,799 --> 00:10:42,320 with thought about it. A good deal, according to the paper, 194 00:10:42,399 --> 00:10:45,679 and as well planned. When did they get away last night? 195 00:10:45,879 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 14: It was this morning, prison official figure about two am 196 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:50,600 slugged the guard and went over the wall. 197 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:51,639 Speaker 8: Some other. 198 00:10:51,639 --> 00:10:53,399 Speaker 14: Two of them got hold of a gun, held up 199 00:10:53,399 --> 00:10:55,480 a motorist on the highway store his car. As last 200 00:10:55,519 --> 00:10:56,879 reportment hand terrible? 201 00:10:57,840 --> 00:10:59,559 Speaker 9: Did the police considered them dangerous? 202 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:00,919 Speaker 5: Their arm? Father? 203 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,279 Speaker 2: Both of them were doing time for robbery. They both 204 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,840 used guns before. How about possible contacts he might have outthound? 205 00:11:06,919 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 5: Father? Can you help us there at all? 206 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 10: I'm I prayed, not, Sergeant. I think stan knew some 207 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:15,559 people in San Francisco. I don't know their names or addresses, though, 208 00:11:15,639 --> 00:11:17,519 I haven't any idea, And. 209 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:19,799 Speaker 2: There's no special person or place that you know of 210 00:11:19,879 --> 00:11:21,440 that he'd be likely to go if he heads back 211 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:22,279 for Los Angeles. 212 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 10: No, no, I can think of. You imagine he'd be 213 00:11:25,799 --> 00:11:26,840 likely to come back here. 214 00:11:27,039 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 8: We're not sure. 215 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,519 Speaker 14: Last report we had seemed to indicate Blairin's partner. We're 216 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:33,440 heading this way. Prison's only about forty miles away. Could 217 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:34,159 be there in the city. 218 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:35,919 Speaker 9: Now, I don't understand. 219 00:11:36,039 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 10: I mean, with all the police looking for them, why 220 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:40,480 would they come back here. 221 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 2: They probably figured they can find cover a lot easier 222 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:44,559 than they could in some of the small towns. 223 00:11:44,759 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 10: H Sergeant, Yeah, father, do you think they'll have trouble 224 00:11:48,519 --> 00:11:49,279 taking stand? 225 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:51,799 Speaker 9: I mean, can they take him alive? 226 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 2: Well, we'll try our best to make it that way. 227 00:11:54,159 --> 00:11:56,039 It's like I told you, father, he's got a gun. 228 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:57,919 If he's cornered, there's a good chance he might try 229 00:11:57,919 --> 00:11:59,759 to shoot his way out. 230 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,039 Speaker 10: Discouraging sometimes I try to help them. I pray for them, 231 00:12:03,799 --> 00:12:07,279 young thieves. I only hope they're all as lucky as 232 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:08,080 as he was. 233 00:12:08,399 --> 00:12:08,919 Speaker 8: How's that it? 234 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 7: The grotto back there in the garden figure of a 235 00:12:11,879 --> 00:12:12,320 man in it. 236 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 8: Oh? 237 00:12:13,399 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 10: Yeah, the statue of Disma's one of the luckiest men 238 00:12:16,399 --> 00:12:18,919 who ever lived. I like to tell fellows like Stan 239 00:12:19,039 --> 00:12:19,559 about him. 240 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 5: I don't think I understand. Father. 241 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:23,879 Speaker 10: You know the story of the crucifixion. The two men 242 00:12:23,919 --> 00:12:25,759 who were crucified with Christ. 243 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:26,679 Speaker 8: They were both thieves. 244 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 10: A few minutes before he died, one of the thieves 245 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:33,000 turned to Christ on the cross, confessed his crimes, asked 246 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,039 our Lord to remember him. Christ told him this day 247 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,399 he'll be with me in Paradise. The man's name was Disma. 248 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,879 We like to call him the good Thief. I told 249 00:12:43,879 --> 00:12:46,039 Stan about it right here in his courtyard. He should 250 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,720 have remembered it. Yeah, I guess so. I told him, 251 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:50,759 you never give up hope. He can make the grade 252 00:12:50,759 --> 00:12:53,080 in the last five minutes of your life. Stand out 253 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,919 of no better or to remember, sir, the good Thief. 254 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,240 He made it with a prayer, not to the gun 255 00:12:58,279 --> 00:12:58,840 in his hand. 256 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 2: Before we left, Father Newman, we gave him our card, 257 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:08,919 and he gave us a list of eight names and 258 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,039 addresses people in the neighborhood who'd known the escaped convict 259 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:15,279 Stanley Blair before he was sentenced to the State penitentiary 260 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,879 to serve time on his robbery conviction. Three point fifteen 261 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,879 pm we met with Sergeants Max Herman and J. E. 262 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,360 Crowley from robbery Detail. We divided the list of names 263 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,240 in half and we began checking him out. Ed and 264 00:13:28,279 --> 00:13:30,600 I didn't have much luck on our and most of 265 00:13:30,639 --> 00:13:32,480 the people we talked to told us that they knew 266 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:35,159 Stanley Blair, but none of them had seen heard from 267 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:37,879 him or knew anything about his activities or his family 268 00:13:37,919 --> 00:13:39,679 since Blair had gone to prison two and a half 269 00:13:39,759 --> 00:13:42,720 years before. Steakhouts were set up at two of the 270 00:13:42,759 --> 00:13:46,600 hottest places. Five twenty pm. ED and I went back 271 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:48,799 to the office. Crowley was waiting for us. 272 00:13:49,039 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 15: No no luck on our Indeed, the same thing I 273 00:13:51,519 --> 00:13:53,039 say heard Edvan was when he was set up. 274 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 8: Just finishers at any lately, pats. 275 00:13:54,919 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 6: It all yees teletype from the Sheriff's office. 276 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:58,919 Speaker 15: It was waiting here When Max and I got back, 277 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:00,279 I guess Sir Hunt was right. 278 00:14:00,639 --> 00:14:01,759 Speaker 6: Looks like they headed this way. 279 00:14:02,039 --> 00:14:03,399 Speaker 5: Well, how do you mean somebody spot them? 280 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:05,639 Speaker 15: This is side of West COVENA hell up a grocery 281 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:08,519 store slugged. The owner got twenty three dollars and forty cents. 282 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:09,320 Not going to take them far. 283 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 5: Descriptions match out, yeah, perfectly. 284 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,919 Speaker 15: Suspects believed to be two prisoners who escaped this day 285 00:14:14,919 --> 00:14:18,639 from the California Institution from Manchino, Stanley AR Blair, Wesley A. 286 00:14:18,799 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 6: Russell something else. 287 00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 8: Yeah. 288 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 6: At grocery store they knocked over. 289 00:14:22,399 --> 00:14:25,559 Speaker 15: They picked up another gun. The owners description serial numbers 290 00:14:25,559 --> 00:14:28,759 on it. Here has twenty rounds of ammunition too supplementary 291 00:14:28,799 --> 00:14:29,879 apb's already. 292 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:29,919 Speaker 9: Out on it. 293 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 15: How about a car they switch over? Y, Yeah, we 294 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,519 don't know about it. Apparently they're still using the Buick coop. 295 00:14:34,559 --> 00:14:36,559 They took them at motors this morning. No reports on it, 296 00:14:36,639 --> 00:14:37,519 though it's. 297 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 5: A queer one. You think somebody'd spot it. 298 00:14:39,159 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 15: They got the highway patrol working, this highway patrol, Sheriff's office, 299 00:14:42,399 --> 00:14:44,000 our department, everybody you can name. 300 00:14:44,639 --> 00:14:46,519 Speaker 6: By the way, you had R and I Puller mug jest. 301 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:48,759 Speaker 14: Said, yeah, both of them. Blair and Russell are running out. 302 00:14:48,759 --> 00:14:51,159 The duplicates now five hundred of them should be about ready. 303 00:14:51,159 --> 00:14:54,039 Pretty good chet mm hmm, stand up mugs. Fairly recent 304 00:14:54,559 --> 00:14:55,840 I made the last time we had the two of 305 00:14:55,919 --> 00:14:56,440 them through here. 306 00:14:56,799 --> 00:14:58,679 Speaker 2: How about that other list of their friends and relatives 307 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,279 we pulled from their packages. The michaeleb were checking them out, 308 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:01,960 weren't They. 309 00:15:01,759 --> 00:15:02,399 Speaker 6: Probably still are. 310 00:15:02,559 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 7: No word from him yet. 311 00:15:04,039 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 6: How do you size it to them, Joe Blair and Russell. 312 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 5: I don't know. 313 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 2: It's a tough combination. Russell's older, He's got the experience. 314 00:15:10,039 --> 00:15:12,679 Blair is younger, he's got the nerve. Anyway, you figure 315 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:13,120 it's not going. 316 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:13,519 Speaker 6: To be easy. 317 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:15,559 Speaker 8: Guns in the ammunition they grabbed me and gonna help 318 00:15:15,639 --> 00:15:15,960 much either. 319 00:15:16,639 --> 00:15:18,879 Speaker 5: Just the roadblocks are up, highway patrol take care of the. 320 00:15:18,919 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 6: Yeah, all said, working now. 321 00:15:20,759 --> 00:15:23,799 Speaker 15: All our special details have been alert at airports, bus depots, 322 00:15:23,919 --> 00:15:30,200 train terminals, just about everything covered. Robbery Crowley, Yeah, my collage. 323 00:15:32,639 --> 00:15:37,679 You'll stay on it right see La mclem He and 324 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:39,480 young are still checking on friends of Russell. It's on 325 00:15:39,559 --> 00:15:41,519 the places he hung out, any lots. Not from the 326 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:43,799 end either, one of you see the captain on the way. 327 00:15:44,039 --> 00:15:45,519 Speaker 8: No, I say he'd be over with the Sheriff's office, 328 00:15:45,559 --> 00:15:47,360 didn't he? Hotcha? 329 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 2: I'll get it. 330 00:15:50,799 --> 00:15:51,919 Speaker 5: Yeah. 331 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:52,759 Speaker 8: What as a. 332 00:15:52,519 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 2: Clothing store out of North Thig two eleven and slugging. 333 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,240 They're sure moving fast, Sam, you got it Blair and 334 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:03,360 Russell five point fifty five pm. A supplementary broadcast and. 335 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 5: An all points bulletin were gotten out. 336 00:16:04,759 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 2: Immediately on the two escaped convicts. While Crowley and Hermann 337 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:10,519 stood by at the office, Ed Jacobs and I picked 338 00:16:10,559 --> 00:16:12,919 up duplicate mug shots of the suspects and drove out 339 00:16:12,919 --> 00:16:15,440 to the scene of the robbery, a men's clothing store 340 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:19,159 near the intersection of North Figueroa and merced We showed 341 00:16:19,159 --> 00:16:21,519 a group of mugshots to the victim and two witnesses, 342 00:16:21,519 --> 00:16:23,919 and they definitely identified Blair and Russell as the hold 343 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,440 up men. The robbery had netted them less than twenty dollars. 344 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:30,840 We relayed all the information we got back to communications 345 00:16:30,879 --> 00:16:33,240 immediately and another supplementary. 346 00:16:32,639 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 5: Broadcast was gotten out on the two fugitives. 347 00:16:35,799 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 2: An hour later, at seven o five pm, Blair and 348 00:16:39,039 --> 00:16:42,200 Russell hit again, this time at a sporting goods store 349 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,480 in the San Fernando Valley. It netted them ninety four dollars, 350 00:16:45,759 --> 00:16:48,879 a thirty thirty hunting rifle and two hundred rounds of ammunition. 351 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 5: According to the broadcast, they were last seen heading north. 352 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,759 Speaker 2: Through the valley in the Buick Coup the original escape car. 353 00:16:56,759 --> 00:16:59,120 Seven thirty eight pm Ed Jacobs and I got a 354 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,320 call to return to our station. We went back to 355 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:01,919 the city hall. 356 00:17:03,799 --> 00:17:05,559 Speaker 8: Got a hunch show. It's going to be a long 357 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:06,839 night and it's a rough one. 358 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 5: Guns and ammunition. They want to make a stand. They're 359 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:10,039 all ready for it. 360 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 14: Can't see how they can go too fu at hot 361 00:17:12,039 --> 00:17:14,359 car or roadblocks set up. Somebody's bond to stopping what 362 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:19,519 we're doing. All right, So go ahead, you know, Friday Jacobs, Yeah, 363 00:17:19,599 --> 00:17:20,759 Cappan you want to send here. 364 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 8: Not for long. Keep your coats on. 365 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:23,880 Speaker 6: The rest of the men have already left. 366 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:24,599 Speaker 5: What's the latest. 367 00:17:24,759 --> 00:17:28,319 Speaker 10: Yes, communication from the Ventura Sheriff's office. Blur and Russell 368 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:30,680 were spotted just across the county line. Sheriff figures they 369 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,279 got them boxed in. How close a lot of territory? 370 00:17:33,319 --> 00:17:35,799 Twenty square mile circle? You say they got Blurr and 371 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,599 Russell tied down inside and they're on foot. We're sending 372 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:39,680 up men to help out her. 373 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 8: Two of them. Twenty square mile's gonna take a lot 374 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:42,240 of men. 375 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 10: If we need more, we'll get them. It's no easy touch. 376 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,279 They're desperate. You heard the latest? O. What's that last 377 00:17:47,279 --> 00:17:49,160 place they hit in the valley? They serve Notice they're 378 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:50,680 not going to be taken alive, either one of them. 379 00:17:50,839 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 5: That's good sales talk. What do they got to back 380 00:17:52,519 --> 00:17:52,759 it up? 381 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 10: Three guns and a load of ammunition. If we want 382 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,119 to take them alive, they swear it'll cost us ten men. 383 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:58,680 They'll kill five cops apiece. 384 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 16: You any ideas, Yeah, let's make liars out of them. 385 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 4: You are listening to dragnet authentic stories of your police 386 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:16,519 force and action. 387 00:18:23,279 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 2: Saturday, April twenty fourth, nine pm, along with Captain Dideon 388 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,599 and a dozen other men from Robbery Detail, Ed Jacobs 389 00:18:29,599 --> 00:18:31,640 and I left the office and headed north up through 390 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:32,839 the San Fernando Valley. 391 00:18:33,319 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 5: The area where the two escape. 392 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,559 Speaker 2: Convicts were reportedly surrounded was just on the outskirts of 393 00:18:37,599 --> 00:18:40,920 Ventura County Line. On the way out, we stopped for 394 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,599 a minute and iPhone Ben's house. His wife had been 395 00:18:43,599 --> 00:18:46,519 given a sedative and she was resting. Her folks were 396 00:18:46,519 --> 00:18:50,000 with it. Ten fifteen pm we arrived at the meeting 397 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,039 point on the edge of the blockaded area from which 398 00:18:52,039 --> 00:18:55,920 the search was being directed. Communication facilities had been set 399 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:57,920 up along with a field kitchen to feed the men 400 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,440 taking part in the hunt, over five hundred of them, 401 00:19:01,759 --> 00:19:05,240 from our office, the La Sheriff's Department, the State Highway Patrol, 402 00:19:05,519 --> 00:19:08,359 the Ventura Sheriff's Department, and a couple of dozen private 403 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,559 citizens who lived in the area. Together with Max Herman 404 00:19:11,599 --> 00:19:14,240 and Crowley, Ed Jacobs and I took up our position 405 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:16,880 in the line of men that stretched north and east, 406 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:21,519 then north again, circling the entire area, twenty square miles 407 00:19:21,519 --> 00:19:27,519 of it. The line drew slowly inward twelve midnight, one am. 408 00:19:27,559 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 5: No sign of the suspects. We stayed at it. 409 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,079 Speaker 14: You get no idea the size of these hayfields till 410 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:35,920 you start hiking them. 411 00:19:36,079 --> 00:19:36,279 Speaker 8: Yeh. 412 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,400 Speaker 5: Throw the light over there? What you add irrigation ditch 413 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:45,839 there right there at it? Yeah, it's okay. 414 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,640 Speaker 2: It's a long hike. I would you like to see 415 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:52,039 some of that hot coffee pretty soon? 416 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:55,160 Speaker 8: Yeah? Same here? Nice setup they got. 417 00:19:55,200 --> 00:20:00,279 Speaker 2: I had a field kitchen, yeah, joy, Yeah, Hey. 418 00:20:00,839 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 12: You got the light. 419 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 17: Yeah we got it. 420 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 7: I want to stand up with flare worth. 421 00:20:07,519 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 2: A clump of tree over this light It up good, okay, Crawley. 422 00:20:16,039 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 8: About a forty five degree angle. Joe had ought to 423 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:18,359 do it. 424 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:24,519 Speaker 14: Huh yeah, okay, had ought to do it. 425 00:20:25,319 --> 00:20:26,519 Speaker 8: Really lights it up, doesn't it. 426 00:20:27,559 --> 00:20:29,160 Speaker 5: You got any extra magnesium shells? 427 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 4: Are right? 428 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 8: Yeah? One fight here? Here you are? 429 00:20:35,799 --> 00:20:37,039 Speaker 5: Thanks? 430 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 6: There we go Friday at you? 431 00:20:41,519 --> 00:20:42,519 Speaker 5: Yeah, cap over here? 432 00:20:42,759 --> 00:20:44,519 Speaker 9: I know he was beating the brush here anymore. 433 00:20:44,559 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 7: We're moving up three miles north. 434 00:20:46,079 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 10: How come Blarin Russell? They hit again, kidnapped an old 435 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:49,640 couple from a farmhouse. 436 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:50,559 Speaker 5: They're still on foot. 437 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 10: Yeah, as far as we know, they're hemmed in a 438 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,359 two square mile area. They may try to break out, 439 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:56,200 use the old couple for a shield, but where's that 440 00:20:56,279 --> 00:20:56,640 leave us? 441 00:20:56,759 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 7: I don't know. 442 00:20:57,480 --> 00:20:58,759 Speaker 5: You think they'd harm the old couple. 443 00:20:58,799 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 6: They kidnapped him their desk? 444 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 5: You figure it, am. 445 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,880 Speaker 2: All of the men in the search party were shifted 446 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,240 north to the area where the two escaped convicts and 447 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:13,680 their kidnap victims were last seen. Two officers were sent 448 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,160 to each farmhouse in the immediate neighborhood to make sure 449 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:18,440 that the suspects and their victims were not hit out 450 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:19,359 or that they were. 451 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:20,319 Speaker 5: Being held as hostages. 452 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,559 Speaker 2: The officers were ordered to remain at the homes in 453 00:21:23,599 --> 00:21:25,720 the event that Blair and Russell might try to find 454 00:21:25,759 --> 00:21:30,039 cover the searching party moved in slowly over the affected area. 455 00:21:30,799 --> 00:21:34,599 We knew for certain the suspects were still somewhere inside. 456 00:21:34,759 --> 00:21:37,519 Speaker 5: Two point fifteen am, still no sign of them. 457 00:21:37,799 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 2: The lines drew in closer two thirty am. 458 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:44,599 Speaker 8: Can't be much longer, that's sure. 459 00:21:45,599 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 5: Yeah, well, I can't understand it. We should have jumped 460 00:21:47,759 --> 00:21:48,200 them by now. 461 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 14: It's only a few hundred feet to ago. As the 462 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:52,480 other line closing in toward us wander, they could have 463 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,880 slipped through beach me ed. Who's that coming? 464 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:56,519 Speaker 5: Can you see? 465 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:01,599 Speaker 8: Yeah? It looked like Crowley. Yeah, Joe, Yeah, over here? 466 00:22:02,559 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 5: You got any word? 467 00:22:03,599 --> 00:22:05,599 Speaker 15: They found the old couple tied up in an irrigation 468 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:07,440 to a chaf a mile south of here. Say all right, 469 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,720 yeah they're okay, old ladies for a bad headlong she 470 00:22:10,799 --> 00:22:11,440 got slugged. 471 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:13,319 Speaker 6: She and her husband have been taking the hospital. 472 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:14,319 Speaker 8: How about blurring Russell? 473 00:22:14,599 --> 00:22:15,039 Speaker 6: No word? 474 00:22:15,599 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 15: She's heard the captain ask for the car with a 475 00:22:17,279 --> 00:22:19,400 loud speaker. He's over there now with sheriff early and 476 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:21,240 they couldn't have gotten through the lines. They gotta be 477 00:22:21,279 --> 00:22:22,319 around here somewhere. 478 00:22:22,079 --> 00:22:24,519 Speaker 8: Doesn't figure. We combed every foot of this neighborhood. 479 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:31,519 Speaker 18: Attention all officers. Attention all officers, this is Captain Didion. 480 00:22:32,599 --> 00:22:37,640 Returned to your posts immediately. The search has been canceled. 481 00:22:38,519 --> 00:22:40,319 The search has been canceled. 482 00:22:41,079 --> 00:22:41,839 Speaker 8: How about that? 483 00:22:42,079 --> 00:22:43,799 Speaker 5: I don't know. Come on, let's find out. 484 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 8: Area is just getting out of the car. 485 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 5: Capt'n Yeah, what's the matter are we're giving it up? 486 00:22:52,279 --> 00:22:52,319 Speaker 8: No? 487 00:22:52,559 --> 00:22:54,759 Speaker 10: Maybe we've been going at it backwards. We've been trying 488 00:22:54,799 --> 00:22:57,039 all night to jump in. Got a new idea, Yeah, 489 00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:58,759 maybe we can make them jump us. 490 00:23:01,559 --> 00:23:05,400 Speaker 2: Two forty eight am, Captain Dideon and Sheriff Durley ordered 491 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:08,039 the men to return to the Sheriff's office, with the 492 00:23:08,079 --> 00:23:11,759 exception of two deputy sheriffs, Captain Dideon, Sheriff Durley and 493 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:14,559 Ed Jacobs, and myself. The rest of the searching party 494 00:23:14,599 --> 00:23:17,559 vacated the area. The plan was to give the general 495 00:23:17,559 --> 00:23:19,799 impression that the search had been called off in the 496 00:23:19,839 --> 00:23:22,039 hope that it might bring the suspects out in the open. 497 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,079 Because of the darkness and the early morning fog settling 498 00:23:26,079 --> 00:23:28,680 over the terrain, we knew that the odds were all 499 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:33,200 against us. Captain Didion and Sheriff Durley decided instead to 500 00:23:33,279 --> 00:23:35,559 try and lure Blair on Russell from wherever they were 501 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:39,799 hiding out Each of the small farmhouses in the immediate neighborhood, 502 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:43,599 eight of them in all, were already under surveillance. Each 503 00:23:43,599 --> 00:23:46,039 of the occupants were requested to park their cars in 504 00:23:46,079 --> 00:23:50,400 a conspicuous place outside their homes with the distributor heads removed. 505 00:23:51,279 --> 00:23:52,960 They were asked to turn all the lights off in 506 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,759 their houses. In the event they heard anyone trying to 507 00:23:55,799 --> 00:23:59,799 start their cars, they would remain indoors. Ed Jacobs and 508 00:23:59,839 --> 00:24:02,200 Eyes were assigned to cover two of the houses. The 509 00:24:02,279 --> 00:24:04,720 other men cover the rest of them. The two houses 510 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:06,720 that Ed and I were assigned to cover were separated 511 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:08,119 by about five hundred yards. 512 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 5: We staked out in between the two of them. We 513 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:17,119 waited four am. Four thirty. 514 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 14: Sure cool. Uh yeah, bug goes right through you. You're 515 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:27,799 gonna be getting light pretty soon. Joe just remembered, Yeah, 516 00:24:27,839 --> 00:24:31,200 what's that Easter morning? I wonder how long this is 517 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:33,440 gonna go. I promised to hide Easter eggs for the 518 00:24:33,519 --> 00:24:34,079 kids today. 519 00:24:34,319 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 2: Now, if it's gonna break, it has to break soon 520 00:24:36,839 --> 00:24:38,880 be daylight and a half hour or so. They won 521 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:42,599 have a chance and wait a minute. 522 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:46,400 Speaker 8: Bomb house down on the left. 523 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:51,759 Speaker 5: Yeah, sounds like it come on, couldn't you see the car? 524 00:24:51,839 --> 00:24:55,880 Speaker 2: Wait a minute, Yeah, you'll cover the passenger side. I'll 525 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:57,799 come up on the driver's site and watch it. 526 00:25:00,079 --> 00:25:01,279 Speaker 8: Hustle or getting out of the car. 527 00:25:01,519 --> 00:25:05,839 Speaker 2: All right, hold it up, police officers, watch you, Joe 528 00:25:06,319 --> 00:25:07,359 Blair Russell. 529 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 9: You haven't got a chance. 530 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,640 Speaker 8: Throw it on the gun, all. 531 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 5: Right, ed, let's give it back. 532 00:25:15,799 --> 00:25:18,079 Speaker 2: Shoo show, throw. 533 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:18,599 Speaker 7: Off the guns. 534 00:25:19,079 --> 00:25:20,759 Speaker 8: Come to it with your hands open. 535 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 5: Go shoot. 536 00:25:21,599 --> 00:25:22,400 Speaker 9: Do what they say. 537 00:25:22,519 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 17: Come on up, go shoot that. 538 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:28,559 Speaker 8: All right? Come on, keep coming. 539 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 5: That's fine enough, right, cover them and I'll shake them down. 540 00:25:34,559 --> 00:25:36,920 Speaker 8: Yeah, we'll break up Joe. 541 00:25:37,039 --> 00:25:43,680 Speaker 5: All right, you want to throw the cuffs on him? 542 00:25:43,759 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, right, I'll go get the car. 543 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:51,079 Speaker 5: You want to keep it covered? Ben, excuse me? 544 00:25:51,559 --> 00:25:54,440 Speaker 8: I mean sorry, too bad. He wasn't here tonight. 545 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:57,599 Speaker 5: How can you tell for sure. 546 00:26:06,079 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 3: The story you have just heard was true? The names 547 00:26:09,519 --> 00:26:11,240 were changed to protect the innocent. 548 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,920 Speaker 4: On July sixteenth, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 549 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,759 eighty eighth, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 550 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:20,599 In a moment, the results of that trial, now here 551 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:22,079 is our star, Jack Webb. 552 00:26:22,599 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 2: Thank you, George Venaman. Friends, We all hope that you 553 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:29,519 enjoyed listening to Dragnet in nineteen fifty one. We all 554 00:26:29,559 --> 00:26:31,119 like to think that you'll be with us during the 555 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,400 new year. On our part, we hope to bring you 556 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:35,839 the kind of entertainment you want. 557 00:26:45,079 --> 00:26:47,920 Speaker 4: Stanley Blair and Wesley Russell were tried and convicted on 558 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,160 three counts of first degree robbery and one count of kidnapping. 559 00:26:51,559 --> 00:26:55,319 They received sentences as prescribed by law. First degree robbery 560 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:59,079 is punishable by imprisonment from five years to life. Kidnapping 561 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:02,240 is punishable by imprisonment for not less than one nor 562 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:05,920 more than twenty years. One count of escape is still pending. 563 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,680 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases 564 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:23,200 from official files. Technical advice comes from the Office of 565 00:27:23,279 --> 00:27:26,319 Chief of Police W. H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 566 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:30,440 Heard Tonight where Barney Phillips and Vic Perrin. Script by 567 00:27:30,559 --> 00:27:34,119 Jim Mosy, music by Walter Schumann. Hell give Me. 568 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:44,680 Speaker 19: Speaking, Counterspy Fights International Intrigue. Next on NBC. 569 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:57,640 Speaker 1: Welcome Back. The dedication to Yarborough at the beginning and 570 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:02,319 the plot addressing the death of Ben Romero is the 571 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:07,480 type of thing that you would expect from a modern drama, 572 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:12,400 but these were not at all typical in nineteen fifty one. 573 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:16,559 In fact, Wally Mayer, who had played the role of 574 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:22,240 Sergeant Matt Grabb on the lineup, passed away eight days later, 575 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:26,680 and the death was not even acknowledged of either Mayor 576 00:28:26,839 --> 00:28:32,680 or his character. You just had Jack Moyles playing Sergeant 577 00:28:32,759 --> 00:28:38,279 Pete Harger and presiding over the lineup, so that Web 578 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:43,240 decided to do this does speak to the nature of 579 00:28:43,319 --> 00:28:48,519 his friendship with Barton Yarborough and the importance of Yarborough 580 00:28:48,559 --> 00:28:53,559 to the series. Yarborough had been part of multiple series, 581 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:58,640 including a couple of major hits, both for Carlton Morse. 582 00:28:59,279 --> 00:29:03,039 He'd play a doc in I Love a Mystery and 583 00:29:03,599 --> 00:29:08,440 actually played the role in three films that brought the 584 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:13,599 series from radio to the big screen. He'd also been 585 00:29:14,319 --> 00:29:19,079 part of the cast of one of America's most famous 586 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:24,279 soap operas, as Clifford Barber in One Man's Family, also 587 00:29:24,319 --> 00:29:28,279 produced by Morse. Now there is no record of any 588 00:29:28,359 --> 00:29:33,680 particular acknowledgement of his passing on One Man's Family, although 589 00:29:34,799 --> 00:29:39,039 that and the character not being mentioned again are not 590 00:29:40,039 --> 00:29:45,119 unheard of for the soap opera genre, and he actually 591 00:29:45,319 --> 00:29:49,000 had been replaced on I Love A mystery back in 592 00:29:49,119 --> 00:29:54,960 nineteen forty eight with Jim Bowles, our broad had a 593 00:29:55,119 --> 00:29:59,319 lot of character work passed away right after filming the 594 00:29:59,359 --> 00:30:03,720 second episode of Dragon. He was fifty one years old, 595 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:09,839 and his passing would change Dragnet and would definitely be 596 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:13,839 a creative challenge for Jack Webb. Now, I don't want 597 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:17,960 to oversell this because so much of this series comes 598 00:30:18,039 --> 00:30:22,559 down to the storytelling style and the way that the 599 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:28,319 investigation unfolds and shows real procedures. This was not primarily 600 00:30:28,359 --> 00:30:34,720 a character driven drama. It didn't have the impact that 601 00:30:35,039 --> 00:30:38,880 it would have had if, say, Martin Milner or Kent 602 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:44,960 McCord died while filming Adam twelve about a decade and 603 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:49,000 a half later. But there was a place, in a 604 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:54,880 position for Ben Romero that no other partner of Joe 605 00:30:54,920 --> 00:31:00,920 Friday would ever have, and we heard somewhat why during 606 00:31:01,079 --> 00:31:06,799 the reflective part of the episode in which Friday stated 607 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:11,680 that Romero had been his partner from his first day 608 00:31:12,079 --> 00:31:15,880 joining the force and it taught him to be a cop. 609 00:31:16,799 --> 00:31:21,160 They were totally equals in terms of their even though 610 00:31:21,319 --> 00:31:26,839 Friday was the main character. Both subsequent permanent partners for 611 00:31:27,079 --> 00:31:32,000 Joe Friday would be outranked by him, even though they 612 00:31:32,039 --> 00:31:36,480 were both older than he was. Ben Romero was also 613 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:44,039 the most effortlessly believable police officer of any of Friday's partners, 614 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:48,599 with a lot of complaining and no nonsense attitude, and 615 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:54,640 any humor being somewhat wry or deadpan. The two work 616 00:31:55,039 --> 00:31:59,000 and the show had been built around them, and while 617 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:02,519 it wasn't as bad part of the show as it 618 00:32:02,559 --> 00:32:07,359 would be more modern programs, Web would need to find 619 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:12,400 a new dynamic now. Some might see this episode as 620 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:18,119 slightly contradicting The Big Escape, where Friday stated he went 621 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:23,519 off to service in World War Two, so therefore couldn't 622 00:32:23,519 --> 00:32:27,799 have been working all that time continuously. I would probably 623 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:32,039 not read it that way, though. It could have either 624 00:32:32,279 --> 00:32:36,960 been a situation where Friday was counting back to the 625 00:32:37,079 --> 00:32:41,559 time that he started and not thinking about his war service, 626 00:32:42,279 --> 00:32:46,559 or had subtracted it out. But regardless, there are many 627 00:32:46,599 --> 00:32:54,000 instances of larger backstory issues and numbers slipping within Dragnets, 628 00:32:54,039 --> 00:32:59,079 so those things tend not to be terribly consistent. Friday's 629 00:32:59,119 --> 00:33:04,880 reflection on Ben are believable and work for the character, 630 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:13,400 while also reflecting the water appeal and message of Dragnet 631 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:18,599 and it's the idea that as a police officer, Ben 632 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:25,160 Romero was part of something bigger than himself, that he 633 00:33:25,359 --> 00:33:29,960 had this broader mission to protect and serve the people 634 00:33:30,039 --> 00:33:35,559 of Los Angeles, and that everything he did was a 635 00:33:35,759 --> 00:33:42,119 part of that mission, no matter how unimportant or tedious 636 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:45,799 the task was, or how much he complained about it, 637 00:33:46,359 --> 00:33:51,920 done his part to protect and bring justice to Los Angeles. 638 00:33:52,359 --> 00:33:56,680 Cask had been passed on to him by those who'd 639 00:33:56,720 --> 00:34:01,200 come before, and now that would be passed onto others. 640 00:34:01,680 --> 00:34:05,960 And this is where Dragnet differed from a lot of 641 00:34:06,039 --> 00:34:14,960 programs that pushed people towards various careers. Oftentimes the excitement, 642 00:34:15,159 --> 00:34:23,440 the adrenaline, and the cool toys are what drew people in. However, 643 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:29,719 Dragnet and I think other Jack Web shows were pretty 644 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:37,880 straightforward about the tediousness of these jobs and how monotonous 645 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:42,400 and retain and difficult they could be at times. But 646 00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:47,760 what it presented viewers and those who would be inspired 647 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:53,239 by them was an opportunity to be part of something bigger, 648 00:34:53,679 --> 00:35:01,000 something important, that transcended excitement or money and had a 649 00:35:01,119 --> 00:35:05,840 real sense of purpose. So, again, very consistent with the 650 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:09,760 tone and message of Dragnet. Also I don't know what 651 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:12,519 it is, but of all the roles we've heard her 652 00:35:12,679 --> 00:35:16,920 Butterfield in, I am having trouble buying him as a 653 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:21,559 Catholic priest. Listener comments and feedback now we go over 654 00:35:21,599 --> 00:35:26,159 to Spotify were Harrison comments regarding the Big Canarityies. I 655 00:35:26,199 --> 00:35:29,639 agree with you about programs dialing it to eleven. I'm 656 00:35:29,639 --> 00:35:32,199 looking at you, mister chameleon. One of the best things 657 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:35,559 Dragnet does is when they let the villain just talk 658 00:35:35,599 --> 00:35:38,719 themselves into a confession. Stacy Harris is really good at 659 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:43,280 the slow breakdown. Joyce McCluskey's performance is another one of those. 660 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:46,239 I remember listening to this once before and I had 661 00:35:46,280 --> 00:35:48,559 to stop what I was doing because I was just 662 00:35:48,639 --> 00:35:52,960 so surprised by one scene after another. The only odd 663 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:56,559 part was having the journalists tag along like that. 664 00:35:57,480 --> 00:35:57,679 Speaker 7: Well. 665 00:35:57,719 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 1: I appreciate the comment Harrison. Now, of course, another series 666 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:06,360 we're playing, The Big Story, makes it clear that there 667 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:10,519 is something to be said about journalists hanging around and 668 00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:15,960 being part of the scenery with police investigations, but it 669 00:36:16,039 --> 00:36:19,840 does seem to vary from case to case. Rarely does 670 00:36:20,039 --> 00:36:23,760 happen in Dragnet, and I agree, not certainly what the 671 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:28,119 point was in this particular story. Well, now it's time 672 00:36:28,159 --> 00:36:30,960 to thank our Patreon supporter of the day, and I 673 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:35,079 want to thank Sheila, Patreon supporter since February twenty twenty, 674 00:36:35,159 --> 00:36:39,559 currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of 675 00:36:39,639 --> 00:36:42,360 seven dollars and fourteen cents or more per month. Thanks 676 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:44,880 so much for your support, Sheila, And that will do 677 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:48,239 it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow 678 00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:52,639 us using your favorite podcast software. And if you're enjoying 679 00:36:52,679 --> 00:36:55,519 the podcast on YouTube, be sure to lock the video, 680 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:59,360 subscribe to the channel, and mark the notification bell. We'll 681 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:02,440 be back now Thursday with another episode of Dragon at 682 00:37:02,440 --> 00:37:05,440 But join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny 683 00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:05,920 at All or. 684 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:08,880 Speaker 20: Where Larkin has the combination to your wall? Say? 685 00:37:09,039 --> 00:37:09,400 Speaker 13: Why not? 686 00:37:10,079 --> 00:37:11,719 Speaker 17: What would he ever do with the junk I keep 687 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:13,199 stashed away in it? 688 00:37:13,519 --> 00:37:14,679 Speaker 20: What kind of shock? 689 00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:18,960 Speaker 17: Some odds and names and necklaces and roaches and rings, 690 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:20,679 mostly a couple of bracelets. 691 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:22,039 Speaker 20: And what's the ring? 692 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:23,320 Speaker 17: Shenka diamond? 693 00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:27,360 Speaker 20: What isn't that the one I've read about? Probably the 694 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:29,400 one supposed to be the opposite of the Hope diamond 695 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:31,239 that's supposed to have good luck. Charm about it? 696 00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:31,840 Speaker 2: No nether? 697 00:37:32,599 --> 00:37:34,360 Speaker 20: Why the thing's worth close to a million, isn't it? 698 00:37:34,519 --> 00:37:37,519 That's what the insurance company says. And you plan to 699 00:37:37,559 --> 00:37:40,159 wear it when your son Edgar gets married. Oh well, 700 00:37:40,239 --> 00:37:41,960 it's silly superstition, I. 701 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:45,119 Speaker 17: Suppose, but maybe it'll bring him and marry Luanne good 702 00:37:45,199 --> 00:37:51,159 luck in their marriage. Mary Luanne Melanie Beaufort exement culpepper. 703 00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:52,320 Speaker 20: Sounds like something out of Gone. 704 00:37:52,079 --> 00:37:55,760 Speaker 17: With a Wind, the most gorgeous viol in Greensboro, North Carolina? 705 00:37:55,880 --> 00:37:56,079 Speaker 5: Sir? 706 00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:57,360 Speaker 20: Is that where the wedding is going to be? 707 00:37:57,519 --> 00:38:00,760 Speaker 17: That the old family plantation right outside of town. You're 708 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:02,880 going to escort me to the wedding and the bang 709 00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:06,480 up reception afterward. I understand those seven folks really know 710 00:38:06,519 --> 00:38:07,519 how to throw a wingding. 711 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:10,119 Speaker 20: He tell me, Martha, do you expect somebody to make 712 00:38:10,159 --> 00:38:11,039 a try for that time? 713 00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:11,480 Speaker 8: Well? 714 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:12,480 Speaker 20: Sure, I always do. 715 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:14,480 Speaker 17: Some of the top jewel thieves in the country I 716 00:38:14,480 --> 00:38:15,599 have tried to snatch that ruck. 717 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:18,079 Speaker 1: I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime. 718 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:23,320 Send your comments to Box thirteen at Greatdetectives dot net, 719 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:27,400 follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us 720 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:34,559 out on Instagram, Instagram dot com, slash great detectives from Boise, Adaho. 721 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:37,960 This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.