1 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. 2 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:38,920 This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're 3 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:42,240 going to bring you this week's episode of dragonnapp But 4 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:44,880 first I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying 5 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:49,560 the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. 6 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,640 Today's program is brought to you in part by the 7 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,799 financial support of our listeners. You can support the show 8 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,600 on a one time basis by mailing a donation to 9 00:00:59,719 --> 00:01:03,960 add gram pill Box one home nine one three. That's 10 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,480 Peelbox one home nine thirteen Boise idahol eight three seven 11 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,040 one five. You can also become one of our ongoing 12 00:01:12,079 --> 00:01:15,120 Patreon supporters for his Little Ass two dollars per month 13 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:20,159 at Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net. After taking a 14 00:01:20,359 --> 00:01:24,439 break last year to bring you The Big Missing, we're 15 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:28,519 returning to one of the great old time radio Christmas classics, 16 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,359 The Big Little Jesus. I will say, in the interests 17 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,719 of full disclosure that the commentary you'll hear after the 18 00:01:36,799 --> 00:01:43,719 episode is mostly the exact same thing I said years ago. 19 00:01:44,079 --> 00:01:47,640 I love this story. I don't think that I can 20 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:52,799 keep uh raising the bar or finding new things to 21 00:01:52,959 --> 00:01:55,799 say about now. Of course I listen to it because 22 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:59,159 it's Christmas and it's the big Little Jesus. But I 23 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,840 think that for the most part, I said everything I 24 00:02:02,959 --> 00:02:06,359 wanted to say back in twenty twenty three. But there 25 00:02:06,439 --> 00:02:09,960 is one small bet that is new. But now let's 26 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,919 go ahead and listen to this episode from December twenty second, 27 00:02:13,159 --> 00:02:14,439 nineteen fifty three. 28 00:02:22,479 --> 00:02:26,199 Speaker 2: Ladies and gentlemen, The story you're about to hear is true. 29 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:40,639 Drag meant. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to Burglary Division. 30 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,039 You get a call that an important piece of religious 31 00:02:44,159 --> 00:02:47,199 art has been stolen from the oldest church in Los Angeles. 32 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:52,039 There's no leed to its whereabouts. Your job find it. 33 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,159 Speaker 3: Dragnet the documented drama of an actual crime. Well the 34 00:03:06,199 --> 00:03:09,639 next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, 35 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,039 you will travel step by step on the side of 36 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:15,039 the law through an actual case, from official police filence, 37 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,520 from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. 38 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,599 Speaker 4: Dragnet is the story of your police force and action. 39 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,439 Speaker 5: It was Wednesday, December twenty fourth. It was cold in 40 00:03:27,439 --> 00:03:29,560 Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out a 41 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,120 burglery division. My partner is Frank Smith. The boss is 42 00:03:32,199 --> 00:03:35,240 Captain Bernard. My name is Friday. I'd gone across the 43 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,520 street to buy stamps for some Christmas cards I was 44 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:38,280 sending out. 45 00:03:38,639 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 6: It was nine to fifteen. 46 00:03:39,639 --> 00:03:42,879 Speaker 5: Am when I got back to Room forty five Burglary. 47 00:03:44,919 --> 00:03:46,680 I sat out at a table in the squadroom and 48 00:03:46,719 --> 00:03:49,080 I started to address the cards when Frank walked in 49 00:03:49,159 --> 00:03:52,680 carrying a stack of Christmas boxes. 50 00:03:55,319 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 6: Hi, Joe, all right, Christmas cards? Huh? Did an't you? 51 00:04:00,719 --> 00:04:00,879 Speaker 7: Well? 52 00:04:00,919 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 6: I wasn't going to send him out Monday, but we 53 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,400 had that steak out. You ought to get married, Joe. Yeah, 54 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:07,479 it's the only system. 55 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,159 Speaker 5: Fay does all that stuff for me, laundry, mails, cards, 56 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:12,639 only system might help. 57 00:04:13,599 --> 00:04:16,439 Speaker 6: Brought in your present? Won't open it now? 58 00:04:17,079 --> 00:04:17,639 Speaker 2: No, I'll wait. 59 00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:21,319 Speaker 5: I always opened a couple of day before. Why well, 60 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:22,959 I'll put you in the spirit ahead of the time. 61 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:24,759 I opened fills this morning. 62 00:04:24,879 --> 00:04:25,879 Speaker 6: Who's he? 63 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 5: Play's brother in Denver gave me a magazine, one of 64 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:29,800 those funny ones. 65 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 6: What do you mean a comic book? No, one of 66 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:33,680 those funny ones, you know? 67 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 5: No, I don't, Frank, Well, some of the pages have 68 00:04:37,199 --> 00:04:39,879 holes in him you look through when there's a picture 69 00:04:39,879 --> 00:04:42,160 on the next page. Oh yeah, I've seen those on 70 00:04:42,199 --> 00:04:46,360 the news stand. They have cloth pasted in cloth in 71 00:04:46,399 --> 00:04:48,199 the ads. If you want to buy a suit, they 72 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:49,240 have a sample right there. 73 00:04:49,519 --> 00:04:50,519 Speaker 6: You mean you can feel. 74 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 5: It, reach right out and feel it. It was one 75 00:04:52,639 --> 00:04:56,279 for two hundred dollars a suit. Sure cloth comes from 76 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,480 Scotland once. It made out of solid gold. 77 00:04:58,759 --> 00:05:00,519 Speaker 6: No, they got a special kind of good over there. 78 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,800 It's real smooth, not a goat, Frank a sheep. Well, 79 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:04,959 it's a special kind of sheep. 80 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 5: Then, because the suit costs two hundred dollars, you're gonna 81 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:07,920 get one. 82 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 6: I told Faye. She said, were the sample anything doing 83 00:05:12,439 --> 00:05:14,439 fanning and pryor we're in on that market? Hold up, 84 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,120 they come up with anything, pound of air, nothing else. 85 00:05:17,399 --> 00:05:19,920 I hope it stays quiet. I got more shopping to do. 86 00:05:20,439 --> 00:05:20,959 I finished. 87 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:25,079 Speaker 5: What you get in stationary set? Some paper and envelopes, 88 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:30,120 leather binding, Joe, you'll never learn what's the matter. No 89 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,920 woman wants a stationary set, get or something personal? 90 00:05:33,199 --> 00:05:35,879 Speaker 6: What's got her initials on it? No? 91 00:05:35,879 --> 00:05:39,759 Speaker 5: No, you want something more sentimental, romantic. What'd you get, Fay? 92 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:42,160 It's different in her case? 93 00:05:42,519 --> 00:05:48,519 Speaker 6: What'd you get? Faine? Sewing machine. That's romantic. Well, there's 94 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:48,959 no way. 95 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 8: Why didn't you buy our catchers man burgery, Freddy, Yes, 96 00:05:57,959 --> 00:06:02,079 that's right, you have the right department. All right, father, 97 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,360 we'll be right down. No, you can tell us about 98 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:08,160 it there. Goodbye the old Mission Church. 99 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,319 Speaker 6: They've had a theft collection money. 100 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 5: Statue of the Child Jesus. Frank and I checked out 101 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,040 of the office and rode over to the church at 102 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:25,399 the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Maine. The Old Mission 103 00:06:25,399 --> 00:06:29,399 Plaza Church founded seventeen eighty one, the year Los Angeles 104 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:33,600 became a pueblow. The outside was typical early Spanish design, 105 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:35,040 complete with mission arches. 106 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:35,639 Speaker 6: It was made of. 107 00:06:35,639 --> 00:06:38,399 Speaker 5: Adobe and painted white. They called it the Queen of 108 00:06:38,399 --> 00:06:42,279 the Angels. The pod raised from down in Mexico. Building 109 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:46,680 the devout Mexicans and towns still attended services there. Ten 110 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,639 o five am, Frank and I crossed through. The courtyard 111 00:06:49,959 --> 00:06:52,000 used to be the old stable, but the Spanish priest 112 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,319 changed all that when it became a mission. Stonemasons paved 113 00:06:55,399 --> 00:06:59,519 the stable floor and made it a courtyard. They planted grapevines, trees, 114 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,680 and flower A young priest crossed the courtyard to meet 115 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:04,959 us he'd been sitting on a stone bench reading his 116 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,399 morning prayers, as priests had done here for one hundred 117 00:07:07,439 --> 00:07:10,360 and seventy two years. We asked for Father Xavier Rojas, 118 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,240 who communicated with us. We were total he was inside. 119 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,600 We entered a side door. The church seemed to glow 120 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,240 with the hundreds of votive candles flickering on both sides 121 00:07:21,279 --> 00:07:23,480 of the aldar and at the shrines. Throughout the church 122 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,879 was empty except for a few people praying. Surrounding the 123 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,920 main order were several old oil paintings and gold frames. 124 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,040 The air was heavy with the scent of advent flowers. 125 00:07:34,759 --> 00:07:37,399 We found Father Rojas up near the sanctuary, looking at 126 00:07:37,439 --> 00:07:42,279 the Nativity scene. He told us about the crib. It 127 00:07:42,399 --> 00:07:44,839 was a seventy dollars duplication of the scene at Bethlehem. 128 00:07:45,399 --> 00:07:47,639 The parishioners had taken up a collection for it thirty 129 00:07:47,639 --> 00:07:50,720 one years ago. Was put up every year on December 130 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:54,600 twenty second, and taken down after the holy season. Was beautiful, 131 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:56,959 except that one of the shepherds had lost an arm, 132 00:07:57,199 --> 00:07:59,839 the sheep was old and cracked, and the infant. 133 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:00,519 Speaker 6: Jesus was missing. 134 00:08:01,279 --> 00:08:09,319 Speaker 5: Father Rojas led us back into the sacristy I'm sorry 135 00:08:09,319 --> 00:08:12,560 to bother you man, all right, father, especially now the 136 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,439 holiday season. We cash our checks, Father one, and tell 137 00:08:15,519 --> 00:08:18,000 us what happened, or what you think happened. I discovered 138 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,480 the statue was missing right after the six o'clock mass. 139 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 6: Save at six. 140 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 5: Yes, I started over to the rectory and stopped by 141 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,519 the crib. Was the statue there before mass? I don't know, 142 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:29,519 but it was there last night? 143 00:08:29,759 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 6: How late? Is the church open all night? 144 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 5: You'll leave it wide open so any thief can walk in, 145 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,159 particularly paved. Sergeant, you say it was there last night? 146 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 7: Father? 147 00:08:38,519 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 5: How late ten or eleven o'clock? We had confessions? No 148 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,840 one saw it after that. One of the altar boys, 149 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:45,679 he says it may have been there. He thinks it was. 150 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,399 Speaker 6: Did he see it? He's not sure. What's his name? Pardon? 151 00:08:56,279 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 5: Here's the schedule. You'll find the names for every mass. 152 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,159 There was there a big crowd at six o'clock mass, Father, 153 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:03,799 not too many. Seven's the big one. People on their 154 00:09:03,799 --> 00:09:05,919 way to work. Did anyone stay after? 155 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 2: Master? 156 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:06,759 Speaker 6: Did you know this? 157 00:09:07,039 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 5: Not? 158 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:07,759 Speaker 6: Especially? 159 00:09:07,879 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 5: I came back here, took off the vestments. I suppose 160 00:09:10,399 --> 00:09:12,159 it was ten or fifteen minutes before I went back 161 00:09:12,159 --> 00:09:12,679 in the church. 162 00:09:12,919 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 6: It was empty then. No people were coming into the 163 00:09:15,399 --> 00:09:18,320 seven o'clock. Are these the older boys, James Corneen and 164 00:09:18,399 --> 00:09:19,159 Joseph Heffernan. 165 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:21,639 Speaker 5: That's right, Joe's the one who mentioned it might have 166 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,840 been there. Did you check with the other priest's father 167 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,240 before I called you? None of them knows anything about it. 168 00:09:27,399 --> 00:09:29,080 Just for a check on the pawn shops. How much 169 00:09:29,159 --> 00:09:32,399 the statue worked in money? Well, that's the point in 170 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,279 pawn shop's father only a few dollars. We could get 171 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:39,600 a new one, but it wouldn't be the same. We've 172 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,200 had children in the parish, they've grown up and married. 173 00:09:42,759 --> 00:09:46,519 It's the only Jesus they know, we understand, And we've 174 00:09:46,519 --> 00:09:49,080 had children who died. It was the only Jesus they knew. 175 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,759 So many of the people who'd come here as simple people, 176 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:54,240 they wouldn't understand such. 177 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:56,559 Speaker 6: It would be like changing the evening star. 178 00:09:57,279 --> 00:09:59,799 Speaker 5: We'll do our best, Father, That's why would mean so 179 00:09:59,879 --> 00:10:01,720 much much to have it back for the first Mass 180 00:10:01,759 --> 00:10:05,879 son Christmas. It's not very long, father, less than twenty 181 00:10:05,919 --> 00:10:08,080 four hours. When anything turns up here, you know where 182 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:12,519 to get in touch with us. Yes, sad, isn't it? 183 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 6: How's that? 184 00:10:13,759 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 5: And so short a time men learned to steal. Yes, 185 00:10:17,039 --> 00:10:20,519 but consider us father hus. Some of them didn't, You 186 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:25,279 and I'd be out of work. Ten fifty am we 187 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:28,159 notified pawn shop detail. Frank and I checked out the 188 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:31,240 two Holler boys. The first one, James Corneen, said he 189 00:10:31,279 --> 00:10:36,879 knew nothing about the missing statue. The second one, Joseph Heffernan, 190 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:38,879 was not at home. His father said he had a 191 00:10:38,919 --> 00:10:40,600 part time job, but he had n't get in touch 192 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:45,360 with us right after lunch. By eleven thirty am, we'd 193 00:10:45,399 --> 00:10:47,639 run out of book procedure. We had a man to 194 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:51,519 find our only clue. He'd been to church. Eleven thirty 195 00:10:51,519 --> 00:10:57,440 three am. We'd checked the phone books for the names 196 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:58,960 of religious stores in the area. 197 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 6: Two of them were closed. We tried the third. When 198 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:03,440 we got there, the. 199 00:11:03,399 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 5: Only person in the store was an elderly man sitting 200 00:11:05,879 --> 00:11:06,519 by a table. 201 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,639 Speaker 6: In front of him was a large, beautifully carved chess set. 202 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:22,600 We're police officers. My name is Friday. This is my partner, 203 00:11:22,639 --> 00:11:23,200 Frank Smith. 204 00:11:23,279 --> 00:11:24,799 Speaker 9: Neat to see you copy in the middle of a 205 00:11:24,799 --> 00:11:27,960 big chess match. Where's your partner, Autrom sanos A. We've 206 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,879 been playing for years, same match, No just two or 207 00:11:30,879 --> 00:11:32,879 three months on this one. But I meant was we've 208 00:11:32,879 --> 00:11:36,399 been playing different matches for years. I see you know 209 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,440 you do it through the mail. I send him a move, 210 00:11:38,519 --> 00:11:40,639 he sends me one. Let's keep you on your toes 211 00:11:40,879 --> 00:11:43,600 except during the holidays. Mail gets all fiddled up. That's 212 00:11:43,639 --> 00:11:46,440 no good. Yues not slow those things down. 213 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 4: That's no good. I like to catch him off guard. 214 00:11:48,799 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 6: You, mister Flavan. 215 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 4: Do you know we never met? 216 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,919 Speaker 6: Your Name's on the window out front, mister Flavan. We 217 00:11:54,039 --> 00:11:56,840 checked the other two religious stores in this neighborhood. They're closed. 218 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,919 Speaker 4: It's the best one anyway, fifty European items. 219 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,919 Speaker 5: We're checking the stories around the Mission Church. Oh what 220 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:05,360 statue of the Child Jesus? Do you have one we 221 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:05,879 could look at? 222 00:12:06,519 --> 00:12:19,559 Speaker 6: Sure? No, sir're a larger one. 223 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:21,919 Speaker 9: You don't want a larger one unless it's for a church. 224 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:23,200 That's why you want a larger one. 225 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:24,919 Speaker 6: Could we see it? Please? 226 00:12:32,399 --> 00:12:34,559 Speaker 4: It's not my dude to butt in. But unless you 227 00:12:34,639 --> 00:12:36,039 live in a big place, this will make your living 228 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:36,799 room all the counter. 229 00:12:37,519 --> 00:12:39,759 Speaker 6: Yes, most of the people who go to the Mission 230 00:12:39,799 --> 00:12:40,799 Church trade here. 231 00:12:40,799 --> 00:12:44,559 Speaker 9: Could many of them, specially to kids, white kids, more religious? 232 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:46,919 Check on yourself see have kids on more religious than 233 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:50,200 you might be. So that's what's wrong with the world. Oh, 234 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,600 I don't mean you're wrong with it and everybody. 235 00:12:52,279 --> 00:12:53,759 Speaker 6: Yes, sir. What if we could take to the point, 236 00:12:53,759 --> 00:12:54,799 mister Flavan. 237 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 4: Sure a lot of people from the Mission church come 238 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:56,840 in here. 239 00:12:57,039 --> 00:12:59,399 Speaker 5: Do people ever come in and sell back a religious article, 240 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:01,360 a prayer book or rosaries? 241 00:13:01,759 --> 00:13:02,159 Speaker 6: Yes, sir? 242 00:13:02,399 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 4: Second hand? 243 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 9: You mean yes, sir, not since I ever been around 244 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:08,679 shilly Why people don't have religious articles so they can 245 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:10,399 get rid of them. They happened, so they can happen. 246 00:13:10,519 --> 00:13:12,279 Speaker 5: But if a man had a statue and wanted to 247 00:13:12,279 --> 00:13:13,919 sell it, he'd come to a place. 248 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 6: Like this, sure, but he wouldn't want. 249 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:15,679 Speaker 10: To sell it. 250 00:13:15,919 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 9: He would if it was stolen, No, sir, If a 251 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:20,360 man was to steal a statue, he'd be crazy or 252 00:13:20,399 --> 00:13:22,480 something like that. The only place he'd want to go 253 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:23,679 is where crazy people are. 254 00:13:24,039 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 6: You may be right, mister Flaman. 255 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 9: I don't know what you fellas are looking for. But 256 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,120 if it's somebody who stole his tatoo, he's crazy and 257 00:13:29,159 --> 00:13:31,240 you won't find him. You won't find him as long 258 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,200 as you live or in a million years. 259 00:13:33,879 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 5: That should cover it. We checked religious stores out as 260 00:13:39,639 --> 00:13:42,759 far as Vans. We asked the same questions. The owners 261 00:13:42,799 --> 00:13:45,320 gave us the same answers, but none of them was encouraging. 262 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:49,720 As mister Flavan, Frank and I had lunch and reported 263 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,480 back to the office. It was one thirty pm when 264 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,000 we started into the squad room. The capital is just 265 00:13:55,039 --> 00:13:57,759 coming out. I just checked Fan a luntrum and we've 266 00:13:57,799 --> 00:13:59,679 been out on that theft of the mission. Make it 267 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:01,919 show on the Patterson case they locate him. I think 268 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:03,799 he's on the bus from Sacramento. Well, that means the 269 00:14:03,799 --> 00:14:04,679 Bakersfield police. 270 00:14:04,759 --> 00:14:18,039 Speaker 11: We'll wait and see one of you, fellow Sergeant Friday, 271 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:20,279 he is, I'm Drew Heffnon. 272 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 10: My father said you wanted to see me. 273 00:14:23,039 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 6: Sit down, son, You didn't have to come in. A 274 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:25,639 phone call would have worked. 275 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,519 Speaker 10: My father said to get on over. He says that 276 00:14:28,639 --> 00:14:30,600 any kid that uses phones is lazy. 277 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 6: We want to ask you about this morning. You served 278 00:14:33,039 --> 00:14:34,039 six o'clock mass. 279 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:37,559 Speaker 10: Yes, sir, I'm seeing a boy. Do I get the sixth. 280 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 6: You're a senior and you take the early trick. 281 00:14:39,519 --> 00:14:42,879 Speaker 10: Yes, sir, that way, if you received communion, you get that. 282 00:14:42,919 --> 00:14:43,840 Have breakfast sooner. 283 00:14:44,279 --> 00:14:46,679 Speaker 5: Father Rojas says, you think the statue was there before 284 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:47,440 a mass. 285 00:14:47,639 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 10: I didn't look, but I have a feeling that was there, 286 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,919 a feeling, you know how you have a feeling about 287 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:55,519 something but you're not sure. 288 00:14:55,879 --> 00:14:57,679 Speaker 6: Could you stay around long after a mass? 289 00:14:57,840 --> 00:14:59,639 Speaker 10: I put out the candles and hung up. 290 00:14:59,519 --> 00:15:01,399 Speaker 6: My surp How long would that take? 291 00:15:01,799 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 10: About five minutes? Maybe? 292 00:15:03,399 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 6: Did any of the people at mass stay on? 293 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:10,759 Speaker 10: Some moms do, especially ladies. Oh maybe they don't finishing time, 294 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:13,519 or else they start new prayers. I don't know. 295 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 6: So when you left there were still some women. 296 00:15:15,519 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 10: There, No, sir, that was at first. After I went 297 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,840 back to the sacristy, there was only this one man. 298 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 6: What man? 299 00:15:23,039 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 10: He comes at six o'clock all the time. 300 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 6: Do you know his name? 301 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 10: No, sir, but he works down and arf, you know 302 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,200 all pint shop or the paint signs. 303 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 6: Could you describe him? 304 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 10: Short? Medium, We're no. Suit that didn't match, didn't match, 305 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,159 you know, different pants than coat. 306 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:40,559 Speaker 6: How about his age? 307 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:41,799 Speaker 10: Oh, he's pretty young. 308 00:15:42,279 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 6: Take a guess about forty. 309 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,879 Speaker 10: Maybe there's nothing particular about him. 310 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:48,039 Speaker 6: Then why do you notice him? 311 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 10: I seen him before and the bundle, I guess. 312 00:15:51,159 --> 00:15:52,639 Speaker 6: The bundle out in front. 313 00:15:53,039 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 10: I saw him when he was coming out. He had 314 00:15:55,159 --> 00:15:57,080 this bundle and he almost dropped it. 315 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 6: How large your bundle? 316 00:15:58,960 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 10: It's hard to say. 317 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 6: Come on, son, was it large or small? The size 318 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:02,159 of the. 319 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,519 Speaker 10: Statue got that big? Yes, sir. 320 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 6: We located the signs shop. 321 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 5: The suspect didn't work there anymore, but we discovered his 322 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:23,120 name was Claude Strup. 323 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 6: We fought out where he lived. Two twenty five pm. 324 00:16:28,519 --> 00:16:29,480 We arrived there. 325 00:16:29,759 --> 00:16:32,559 Speaker 5: It was a hotel for men, mostly old man, mostly 326 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:39,000 down on hours. Was called the Golden Dream. 327 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 6: Police officers, we're looking for Claude Stroup. 328 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:43,399 Speaker 4: Hope Claude didn't get any trouble. 329 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:44,159 Speaker 6: So the way is he in? 330 00:16:44,559 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 4: H he's got room three h seven. You can check 331 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:47,399 if you like. 332 00:16:47,519 --> 00:16:50,879 Speaker 6: Go take your word. Were you on this morning? H? Yeah? 333 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,759 Speaker 9: The early shift? Well, we don't have shifts. My uncle 334 00:16:53,799 --> 00:16:56,559 owns the place on the shift. Did Stroop spend last 335 00:16:56,639 --> 00:16:59,159 night here? Came in about eleven? When'd he leave this morning? 336 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 4: Round six men. 337 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 9: Before to come back after eight o'clock or so? Then left, 338 00:17:03,559 --> 00:17:06,400 supposed to be back at ten and pulls this trick? 339 00:17:06,559 --> 00:17:07,079 Speaker 6: What trick? 340 00:17:07,319 --> 00:17:09,759 Speaker 4: Our program? He knows the other fellas need. 341 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,079 Speaker 2: Him program be here at the hotel. 342 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 9: Every Christmas, we have a program, put up a tree 343 00:17:14,559 --> 00:17:18,160 and sing and mostly old fellas singing like that makes 344 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,000 him remember back when they were kids. And Jimmy Finn 345 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:24,480 comes on. He shares number four oh nine. His family 346 00:17:24,519 --> 00:17:26,240 once had a lot of money, so he tells the 347 00:17:26,279 --> 00:17:29,759 fellas about it, stories about Christmas, how they had this 348 00:17:29,799 --> 00:17:32,279 big log and his grandfather used to start it up. 349 00:17:32,319 --> 00:17:35,400 And after dinner everybody turned over his plate and there 350 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:38,720 underneath was a twenty dollar gold piece, brand new one. 351 00:17:39,519 --> 00:17:41,599 Speaker 6: When Stroup came in this morning, did he have a bundle? 352 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:42,839 Speaker 4: I didn't see him come in? 353 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 6: He said, you saw him. 354 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 4: I saw him go out after, but not come in. 355 00:17:45,839 --> 00:17:48,279 When was that eight? If you want to look for 356 00:17:48,279 --> 00:17:49,519 a bundle, I could give you his key. 357 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 7: We don't have a ward. 358 00:17:51,079 --> 00:17:51,640 Speaker 6: It's all right. 359 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:53,279 Speaker 4: I know about police. It's all right with me. 360 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:54,279 Speaker 6: It's not with us. 361 00:17:54,599 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 4: I didn't mean that. I just met. It was all 362 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:56,559 right with me. 363 00:17:57,960 --> 00:17:58,599 Speaker 2: Jean we. 364 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:05,519 Speaker 6: On, Uh stop steave Man. 365 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,799 Speaker 5: When there were three old men, they couldn't tell how 366 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:10,920 much better they would have been. 367 00:18:10,839 --> 00:18:13,759 Speaker 6: With Stroop singing the fourth part, But somehow you didn't care. 368 00:18:14,599 --> 00:18:15,720 This was Christmas at the. 369 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,839 Speaker 5: Golden Dream, and it sounded fine. 370 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:25,799 Speaker 6: Cross flaws crool. Well, when poor man. 371 00:18:25,799 --> 00:18:29,519 Speaker 9: Came inside calling water. 372 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:35,160 Speaker 6: This is the last rehearsal. 373 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 4: I got most of the songs down. 374 00:18:36,519 --> 00:18:38,119 Speaker 6: Pat sounds pretty good. 375 00:18:39,079 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 4: That's why I see shame. Claude isn't here. He's tenor 376 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:43,640 and they need him to make it sound just right. 377 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:44,759 Speaker 6: Does Stroop have a job? 378 00:18:45,079 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 4: No, sir, he used to have jobs, not much. 379 00:18:47,279 --> 00:18:49,559 Speaker 9: Lately though, you say where he was going? No, he 380 00:18:49,599 --> 00:18:50,839 should have. The fellas need him. 381 00:18:50,839 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 6: But he comes in what do you call us? 382 00:18:52,319 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 4: Sure and not saying anything to him. 383 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:55,079 Speaker 6: That's right. 384 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,279 Speaker 9: I hope it's nothing serious for Claude. Fellas troubles out 385 00:18:58,279 --> 00:18:59,680 to be over troubles. 386 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 4: Way back wouldn't count tell us anyway. I don't know 387 00:19:03,519 --> 00:19:04,359 much about it. 388 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:05,440 Speaker 6: As much as you know, and not come on. 389 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,079 Speaker 4: It was something back where he used to live, robbed 390 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,440 somebody or something, what else? That's all. 391 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,119 Speaker 9: It was a long time ago, away far back. But 392 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,200 he forgot it all or robbing and everything? 393 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:21,759 Speaker 6: No, not quite hm. He remembered it this morning. Oh 394 00:19:22,279 --> 00:19:25,920 res very jam old man. 395 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:59,319 Speaker 12: You dismay Jesus Christ same on this day. 396 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,319 Speaker 5: We went back to the office and ran stroops name 397 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:54,759 through our eye. If he'd been booked anywhere. We had 398 00:19:54,799 --> 00:19:56,720 no record of it, at least not under that name. 399 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,559 Four or fifteen pm. Pawn shot detail report it back 400 00:20:00,759 --> 00:20:03,359 no object resembling the statue of the Child Jesus had 401 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:05,599 been turned in four eighteen pm. 402 00:20:05,759 --> 00:20:07,279 Speaker 6: I hung up the bone. 403 00:20:07,519 --> 00:20:10,519 Speaker 9: Patterson's on a Sacramento bus. I thought Bakersfield had it. 404 00:20:10,559 --> 00:20:13,039 They were supposed to confirm they did up over the station. 405 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 5: What about Panning and prior. They're still out, Well, they'll 406 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,519 be back soon. When's the bus arrived six o'clock. There's 407 00:20:18,519 --> 00:20:19,880 plenty of time for him to make it. 408 00:20:20,079 --> 00:20:22,160 Speaker 6: There's more time for you. We're still in that theft. 409 00:20:22,519 --> 00:20:26,400 Can it wait? No? What is it? Ten fifteen dollars statue? 410 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:27,960 When's the price determined? The case? 411 00:20:28,319 --> 00:20:30,279 Speaker 5: I realized it's a church statue, but that doesn't give 412 00:20:30,279 --> 00:20:32,599 a priority. It's important to them. Captain Joe and I 413 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:33,559 promised to get it back. 414 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:34,319 Speaker 2: What you got on it? 415 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:35,519 Speaker 6: Nothing much? 416 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 5: And whire is a big herder burgery Friday when no, 417 00:20:43,559 --> 00:20:47,799 don't say anything. No, right, Cloud's troop. He just walked 418 00:20:47,799 --> 00:20:51,000 into the hotel. He's our suspect. Nobody's leaked to him. No, 419 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:52,480 you'll keep You're gonna run. 420 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,640 Speaker 6: Him down tomorrow. It'll be too late then I need 421 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:56,519 it for the first mass in the morning. Skipper's kind 422 00:20:56,559 --> 00:20:57,480 of the big thing for them. 423 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 9: I'm sorry, I can't juggle details around, so you can 424 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,559 get a statue back this time later on. 425 00:21:02,599 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 2: We'll do our. 426 00:21:03,039 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 6: Best, Yes, sir, you better get over the station. Yes, sir, 427 00:21:07,079 --> 00:21:09,759 what you call father ro Hotsover Commission. Tell them we're 428 00:21:09,759 --> 00:21:10,640 too busy to work on. 429 00:21:10,519 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 5: That statue, but we'll do it later tomorrow or when 430 00:21:13,079 --> 00:21:13,720 we get a chance. 431 00:21:13,799 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 6: I can't you call it. Well, we better get over 432 00:21:15,279 --> 00:21:15,640 the station. 433 00:21:15,839 --> 00:21:18,319 Speaker 5: If Patterson's on that bus, we don't want to miss him, 434 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:19,720 all right, I'll call. 435 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:32,799 Speaker 6: Him alrighty, yeah. 436 00:21:28,039 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 9: I can send finding in priority. Might as well stand 437 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:45,000 another thing. Whenever you say, Kavin, you. 438 00:21:45,039 --> 00:21:48,759 Speaker 3: Are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force. 439 00:21:48,799 --> 00:22:00,279 Speaker 6: An action or three pm. We arrived at the Olden 440 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:01,119 Dream Hotel. 441 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 5: The desk clerk was right, Claude Stroop looked like a 442 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:06,200 man who at his troubles at bargain rates. 443 00:22:06,599 --> 00:22:10,319 Speaker 6: We named Claude Stroup. Yes, police officers, we'd like to 444 00:22:10,319 --> 00:22:10,759 talk to you. 445 00:22:11,319 --> 00:22:13,440 Speaker 13: I didn't do anything against the law, honest, I didn't 446 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:14,480 do anything against. 447 00:22:14,319 --> 00:22:16,359 Speaker 6: Yep, I'm been accused. I want to take you downtown. 448 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:18,519 Speaker 9: We like to talk to you. No said, I'm not going. 449 00:22:18,759 --> 00:22:20,839 I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to talk to anybody. 450 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 14: You're half wrong already. 451 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,519 Speaker 5: Five point fifteen pm we returned Stooped for interrogation. 452 00:22:37,799 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 6: He kept his word. He refused to talk. 453 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:45,839 Speaker 5: Six oh five pm, Frank called Fay total he'd be 454 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,240 a little late. Stroop didn't move for a whole hour. 455 00:22:48,319 --> 00:22:54,480 He sat and stared, but he didn't talk. Six forty 456 00:22:54,519 --> 00:22:57,119 pm we got a final report from pawn shop detail. 457 00:22:57,319 --> 00:23:00,960 The shops were closed. There was no statue. Stroop still 458 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:01,640 hadn't talked. 459 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:04,680 Speaker 9: Don't you ever want to go? Homestroop? If I was 460 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:06,839 to talk, you wouldn't let me go. Depends on what 461 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:10,039 you'd say. I'd say it wrong and I wouldn't get home. 462 00:23:10,279 --> 00:23:11,279 You won't this way either. 463 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:14,440 Speaker 13: I'd like to go. You can bet on that. This 464 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,359 is the seventh year we had the program, and I 465 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,839 never missed a one and a single one. Why don't 466 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:21,039 just tell us what happens, toupe? 467 00:23:21,319 --> 00:23:22,559 Speaker 6: How would I know you'd let me go? 468 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 13: You wouldn't. I might as well anyway, all right? What 469 00:23:25,559 --> 00:23:29,119 happened from mass on, Well there was mass. I came 470 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,200 out and started down towards the hotel back up. I 471 00:23:32,319 --> 00:23:34,319 left my stuff at the hotel, and then I picked 472 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:37,559 up Georgia's car. I didn't steal it. He said I 473 00:23:37,559 --> 00:23:40,160 could have it any time I wanted, Only this time 474 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:41,839 I didn't ask him. 475 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,279 Speaker 6: I took it and started out. Yeah, I should have asked, 476 00:23:45,279 --> 00:23:46,119 but I just didn't. 477 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:49,559 Speaker 13: I went over to Grand Avenue for the Christmas bulbs 478 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:53,400 for this fellow sales in second hand. It was coming 479 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:55,480 out of the lot, but I did it. Yeah, the 480 00:23:55,519 --> 00:23:58,559 bumper must have caught the other car didn't leave too 481 00:23:58,559 --> 00:24:01,680 big a dent, but there was this long scratch. I 482 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:03,880 got off and tried to wipe it off with my handkerchief, 483 00:24:04,319 --> 00:24:05,480 you know, spit on a line. 484 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:07,599 Speaker 6: Only didn't do no good. 485 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:11,880 Speaker 9: I didn't think anybody saw. I don't know how you 486 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:18,319 Fellas found out about it. I'll check out of records, right, stroop. 487 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:19,880 We didn't bring you down here to talk about that. 488 00:24:20,799 --> 00:24:21,519 Speaker 4: We didn't know. 489 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 5: There's a statue missing from the church, the statue of 490 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:25,400 the Child Jesus. 491 00:24:25,799 --> 00:24:26,559 Speaker 2: You mean I took it? 492 00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:28,799 Speaker 13: You took a bundle out of church. You guys say 493 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:31,599 that was my other pants for the program to night. 494 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:33,599 I had a place sewed up and there was a 495 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:38,359 button off you can check. But I wouldn't take a statue. 496 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:41,119 I don't think you would either. 497 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:46,640 Speaker 4: He's clear at auto records quite hope for the program? 498 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:48,880 Speaker 6: You mean it's all right? Good night's troop. 499 00:24:52,039 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 7: Night, Merry Christmas? 500 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:13,759 Speaker 6: Where too? Well, I don't know. We could stay and 501 00:25:13,799 --> 00:25:16,799 work on it tonight. It wouldn't do any good. 502 00:25:16,839 --> 00:25:21,680 Speaker 5: We won't find it, I don't think, so tell he's 503 00:25:21,799 --> 00:25:28,200 kidding the priest. Build his hope set as we'll go. 504 00:25:28,279 --> 00:25:44,359 Tell him now, Merry Christmas. Seven twenty seven pm. We 505 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:47,799 found Father Rojas. Frank told him how it was that 506 00:25:47,839 --> 00:25:50,039 we couldn't get the statue back by morning, but that 507 00:25:50,039 --> 00:25:51,559 we'd keep trying during the week. 508 00:25:52,079 --> 00:25:54,200 Speaker 6: He said he understood. We told him we had to 509 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:54,480 get on. 510 00:25:55,559 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 5: As Frank and I started to leave, the doors at 511 00:25:58,240 --> 00:25:59,880 the main entrance to the church opened. 512 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:09,160 Speaker 6: It was a good two hundred feet away. 513 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 5: It was hard to be sure, but it looked like 514 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:19,480 a small boy drawing a bright red wagon behind him. 515 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:21,559 When he got closer, you could see was no bigger 516 00:26:21,599 --> 00:26:23,160 than a pint of milk. 517 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:24,920 Speaker 6: It was a luminous side. 518 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 5: Little Mexican boy with a face as young as yesterday. 519 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:36,720 The priest seemed to know him. 520 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:41,279 Speaker 6: Akito. In the back of the wagon was the missing 521 00:26:41,319 --> 00:26:43,839 statue of the child Jesus. He picked it up gently 522 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:44,559 and walked up. 523 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 5: To the priest has He just stood there looking up 524 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:55,039 at Father Rojas. Spaco Mendoza, the boy from the Paridi 525 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:59,559 ask him where he found it, dundel and contrasting. 526 00:27:00,079 --> 00:27:01,799 Speaker 10: On here's a maniana. 527 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:10,200 Speaker 6: He didn't find it. He took it white Okayo restaurant. 528 00:27:11,079 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 15: Must I leave Histores, I leave his l flemo riahi 529 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,519 in me communs, he. 530 00:27:26,519 --> 00:27:29,039 Speaker 6: Says, all through the years he's prayed for a red wagon. 531 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:33,160 This year he prayed to the child Jesus. He promised 532 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:35,119 that if he got the wagon, the child Jesus would 533 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:36,039 have the first ride in it. 534 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:46,079 Speaker 15: And is diabo paquito he wants not the devil will 535 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:47,079 come and take him to hell. 536 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 6: Not sure department problem noel diavo. This is a ma 537 00:27:55,559 --> 00:28:02,960 Pako crossed over to the sanctuary. With the help of 538 00:28:03,039 --> 00:28:03,880 Father Rojas. 539 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:06,400 Speaker 5: The young boy replaced the infant Jesus in the right 540 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,920 to replace the crib in the nativity scene. Frank and 541 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:13,000 I could have been wrong, But the small plaster's statue 542 00:28:13,039 --> 00:28:21,200 seemed to approve Mary Joseph, the wise Man, Gaspar. 543 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:25,759 Speaker 6: No Kire Baldazar, the old shepherd. 544 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 5: The young shepherd, the peasant. They all seemed to approve. 545 00:28:37,279 --> 00:28:44,640 Red priest told the boy to go home. He took 546 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:47,160 hold of his wagon started the long walk out of 547 00:28:47,200 --> 00:29:05,240 the church. There wasn't much we could say. There wasn't 548 00:29:05,319 --> 00:29:08,000 much to say. We just stood there and watched them go. 549 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:12,359 Halfway up, he turned to look back, and he went 550 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:12,759 on out. 551 00:29:25,559 --> 00:29:28,279 Speaker 6: I don't understand how we got that wagon today. Don't 552 00:29:28,359 --> 00:29:29,880 kids wait for Santa Claus anymore? 553 00:29:30,359 --> 00:29:34,119 Speaker 5: It isn't from Santa Claus. The fireman fixs old toys 554 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:38,200 and kids them to new children. Paquito's family, they're poor. 555 00:29:44,720 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 6: Where are they father? The story you have just heard 556 00:30:46,599 --> 00:30:47,000 is true. 557 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 2: The names and locations were changed. 558 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 6: You have just heard. 559 00:30:57,119 --> 00:31:02,359 Speaker 3: Dragnet a series of authentic cases from a technical advice 560 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:05,119 comes from the Office of Chief of Police W. H. Pucker, 561 00:31:05,279 --> 00:31:06,799 Los Angeles Police Department. 562 00:31:22,359 --> 00:31:29,839 Speaker 1: Welcome Back. A quite classic episode with a very different 563 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:33,680 feel from the normal Dragnet. It has some points that 564 00:31:33,839 --> 00:31:37,640 are artifacts of its time. I actually went and watched 565 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:40,880 the nineteen sixty eight version because I wasn't sure that 566 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:45,440 they used that line about the dad saying that boys 567 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:49,039 who use the phone are lazy, but they'd did deil. 568 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:52,319 I think the core of the story spoke to something 569 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:56,920 more timeless. Over the years, many Christmas specials, some good 570 00:31:57,039 --> 00:32:04,279 and some bad, have pride the commercialism of Christmas. This 571 00:32:04,519 --> 00:32:07,480 is kind of the opposite side of the coin. Rather 572 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:13,799 than complaining about apartment stores and big interest and big corporations, 573 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:19,519 this holds up the example of Christmas observed by those 574 00:32:19,599 --> 00:32:21,079 who have very little. 575 00:32:21,359 --> 00:32:22,519 Speaker 6: A little boy with a. 576 00:32:22,599 --> 00:32:26,839 Speaker 1: Repaired second hand toy, a group of down and out 577 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:30,519 men giving their all to prepare for Christmas and sharing 578 00:32:30,599 --> 00:32:34,960 a humble meal, and stories of better days. They celebrate 579 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:38,680 even though they are poor. But are they father. It's 580 00:32:38,759 --> 00:32:43,640 a simple but profound question that the episode leaves the 581 00:32:43,759 --> 00:32:47,680 audience to ponder as a mystery. There's not a whole 582 00:32:47,759 --> 00:32:51,759 lot here, and obviously they don't even really solve the case. 583 00:32:53,039 --> 00:32:56,079 But it's a story about Joe and Frank being drawn 584 00:32:56,160 --> 00:33:00,400 into this world and understanding that, even though there's not 585 00:33:00,599 --> 00:33:03,799 a lot of money involved, that this is an important case. 586 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:08,240 It was unusual at the time for Friday or his 587 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:12,039 partner to push back on the captain, but he does hear, 588 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:17,880 and it's a good question. When does the money determine 589 00:33:17,920 --> 00:33:21,720 the importance of the case? The question ties into the 590 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:25,839 theme that the season is about things greater than money 591 00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:31,200 or financial value. The episode's theme is quietly encoded in 592 00:33:31,319 --> 00:33:34,920 the song song at the Golden Dream Good King Winces's Loss. 593 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:38,559 I used to think the choice of the song was incidental, 594 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:42,200 that they just wanted some Christmas song, and the reason 595 00:33:42,359 --> 00:33:45,119 is because I didn't understand it. Now, to be fair, 596 00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:48,759 I think that a lot of people don't because Good 597 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:54,000 King WinCE's Loss is a challenge because at first glance, 598 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:59,519 it doesn't seem to fit into the typical themes of 599 00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:03,960 chrism music Jesus sent Santa winter and having a good time. 600 00:34:04,799 --> 00:34:10,000 It also varies from other Christmas classics in really dramatic ways. 601 00:34:10,199 --> 00:34:12,719 I remember a time I got together with some friends 602 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:16,119 to sing carols. Someone forgot to bring words, and it 603 00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:19,960 was a short session because we all knew nothing more 604 00:34:20,039 --> 00:34:23,599 than the first verse and chorus of each song. And honestly, 605 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:26,639 whether you're talking about a sacred song like Silent or 606 00:34:26,679 --> 00:34:30,199 Not or something that's just a little more jolly like 607 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:33,760 deck the Halls. Well, there are many verses to most songs, 608 00:34:33,840 --> 00:34:37,280 the first verse and the chorus are enough to capture 609 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:40,519 the feelings, and that's what we hang on to emotionally, 610 00:34:40,639 --> 00:34:44,719 most of us. Good King Wincess Loss is different because 611 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:47,960 it's a story song and the first verse doesn't tell 612 00:34:48,039 --> 00:34:51,199 us much. It's at the feast of Stephen, which, if 613 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:53,920 you look up, is the day after Christmas Day. The 614 00:34:54,039 --> 00:34:56,920 King's looking out the window, it's cold, and a poor 615 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:01,400 man comes out together full all that most of us know. 616 00:35:02,039 --> 00:35:07,440 The Victorian song is rooted in the legend of a 617 00:35:07,519 --> 00:35:11,599 real tenth century Bohemian king who left the comfort of 618 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:15,480 his palace to enter a winter storm to give alms 619 00:35:15,559 --> 00:35:18,480 to a poor stranger. By its final verse, the carol 620 00:35:18,519 --> 00:35:22,599 becomes an explicit call to charity, even promising blessing to 621 00:35:22,679 --> 00:35:26,639 those who follow the king's examples, but with a Christian frame. 622 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:29,719 Once's Loss also becomes a mirror of Christ leaving the 623 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:33,159 warmth and glory of heaven to enter the cold poverty 624 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:37,440 of the world, and that's where Breeen's choice becomes so precise, 625 00:35:38,159 --> 00:35:41,880 Sung by forgotten men in a broken down hotel. The 626 00:35:42,119 --> 00:35:48,039 song becomes practically a prophecy. Christmas in the story belongs most. 627 00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:51,760 Speaker 6: Clearly to the poor, and so the king. 628 00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:55,239 Speaker 1: In the statue of the Child of Jesus was where 629 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:59,800 he belonged all the time. In terms of the production itself. 630 00:36:00,119 --> 00:36:04,119 In his book My Name's Friday, Michael Hayes sides two 631 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:07,559 things that he found were distracting problems with the episode. 632 00:36:09,119 --> 00:36:11,880 The first goes back to a problem that during the 633 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:16,159 golden Age of Hollywood, many people failed to comprehend the 634 00:36:16,280 --> 00:36:22,119 difference between Portuguese and Spanish last names, and that people 635 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:27,360 from Brazil and Portugal speak Portuguese. Now you can be 636 00:36:27,519 --> 00:36:30,679 ignorant of this, and you can get through your life 637 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:34,280 without ever knowing this, and odds are you will never 638 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:38,599 have a problem as a result of this. Jack Web 639 00:36:38,719 --> 00:36:43,519 was not so fortunate. As the program was being filmed 640 00:36:43,559 --> 00:36:48,280 and recorded, he discovered that the young actor that he'd 641 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:54,119 hired was of Portuguese descent and couldn't speak a word 642 00:36:54,199 --> 00:36:58,800 of Spanish. He had to learn his lines phonetically, and 643 00:36:59,039 --> 00:37:02,840 according to Hayes, this came off as to woulden to me. 644 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:07,480 I never saw it that way. I always interpreted the 645 00:37:07,599 --> 00:37:11,519 way he delivered it as him being nervous, just because 646 00:37:11,639 --> 00:37:17,280 sometimes when I'm nervous, I can come off a little staff. 647 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:20,199 The point which I do agree with hayt On is 648 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:25,480 that Friday is just way too harsh this episode. Well, 649 00:37:25,639 --> 00:37:29,760 I think it's understandable that he's racing against the clock, 650 00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:34,360 so he might not be patient. This behavior, in some 651 00:37:34,519 --> 00:37:38,960 ways was just totally against the sort of personality that 652 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:42,599 Friday had shown. I mean, he was getting rough with 653 00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:46,639 everybody's a desk clerk and even the altar boy. If 654 00:37:46,679 --> 00:37:49,320 I'm in the place of the altar boy in this episode, 655 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:53,400 I'm really afraid that Friday is gonna nail me to 656 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:57,199 the wall for something if I don't deliver with my 657 00:37:57,559 --> 00:38:02,159 best guess as to the size of the bundle versus 658 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:06,679 the size of the statue of the child Jesus really quick. 659 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:11,239 Of course, Breen had written hard boiled crime stuff like 660 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:15,159 Pat Novak for Hire, and I think he was kind 661 00:38:15,199 --> 00:38:20,800 of leaning into that approach with the Dragnet episode. It's 662 00:38:21,199 --> 00:38:25,800 a bit distracting here, but his inability to get Friday's 663 00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:29,440 voice right as listeners had seen and heard it since 664 00:38:29,639 --> 00:38:35,920 nineteen forty nine, and Web either being unwilling or unable 665 00:38:36,159 --> 00:38:42,719 to rain his friend in would lead to bigger problems 666 00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:45,880 in the nineteen fifty four Dragnet film, I guess is 667 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:50,239 another story. On a more positive note, One of the 668 00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:54,199 things I noted is how many people were cast in 669 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:57,960 both the nineteen fifty three and sixty seven version of 670 00:38:58,039 --> 00:39:03,320 the story. In addition to Jack Webb, Harry Bartel, Herb Vigrin, 671 00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:08,000 and Ralph Moody appear as Father Rojas, the desk clerk, 672 00:39:08,559 --> 00:39:12,760 and mister Flavin. In all versions of the story. There 673 00:39:12,840 --> 00:39:17,440 are details that did get changed in the nineteen sixties version. 674 00:39:17,519 --> 00:39:21,760 In the nineteen sixties TV version, for example, Claude Stroup 675 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:25,599 works at a mini golf place, and when Friday presses 676 00:39:25,639 --> 00:39:28,880 the older boy on whether the package was about the 677 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:32,639 size of the statue, he's dialed back the intensity about 678 00:39:32,719 --> 00:39:37,239 two or three levels, so it's not so out of 679 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:42,519 character for the good sergeant. Otherwise, the nineteen sixty seven 680 00:39:42,719 --> 00:39:47,000 broadcasts remains pretty much the same, and I think with 681 00:39:47,239 --> 00:39:54,119 those three actors, he recognized that those performances were perfect 682 00:39:54,360 --> 00:39:58,880 for what the script required, which is refreshing for an 683 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:02,280 era when and the work of actors, particularly the work 684 00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:06,679 of old radio actors was often disregarded or as seen 685 00:40:06,719 --> 00:40:11,920 as disposable or replaceable, and seriously, could anyone else but 686 00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:16,239 Ralph Moody play mister Flavin? Web knew that the story 687 00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:19,840 needed to be remade for technical reasons. Even if the 688 00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:24,519 original nineteen fifty three color print had survived, there were 689 00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:29,119 many technical complaints with it and it couldn't compare to 690 00:40:29,960 --> 00:40:32,559 what they were able to do in color in nineteen 691 00:40:32,679 --> 00:40:37,119 sixty seven. He certainly recognized that there were some minor 692 00:40:37,239 --> 00:40:40,880 tweaks that could be done to the script and perhaps 693 00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:44,920 to his performance, without doing any harm to the story. 694 00:40:45,119 --> 00:40:49,480 The core of the episode was beautiful and that didn't 695 00:40:49,599 --> 00:40:53,039 need to be updated or changed. In fact, it was 696 00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:57,320 more needful in nineteen sixty seven than it had been 697 00:40:57,400 --> 00:41:00,400 in nineteen fifty three. Now, the world was not a 698 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:03,639 perfect place. In nineteen fifty three, a country was just 699 00:41:03,760 --> 00:41:06,440 coming out of the Korean War, but there was a 700 00:41:06,719 --> 00:41:14,039 level of upheaval, division and uncertainty that was really palpable 701 00:41:14,440 --> 00:41:17,920 in the United States during that era. I think of 702 00:41:18,039 --> 00:41:22,960 it in the same sort of class, though not obviously 703 00:41:23,239 --> 00:41:27,280 on his grand a scale, as the nineteen sixty eight 704 00:41:27,559 --> 00:41:33,119 Apollo eight mission and the reading of Genesis in that 705 00:41:33,639 --> 00:41:37,760 it provided hope and reassurance to a troubled world and 706 00:41:37,920 --> 00:41:42,119 perhaps still can today. Listener comments and feedback now and 707 00:41:42,239 --> 00:41:47,360 we go over to Spotify where Mechanic sixty six rites 708 00:41:47,400 --> 00:41:51,360 in regarding the episode the Big September Man. Good one. Well, 709 00:41:51,440 --> 00:41:53,880 thanks so much, appreciate you taking the time to comment. 710 00:41:54,079 --> 00:41:57,760 Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day, 711 00:41:57,920 --> 00:42:00,360 and I want to go ahead and thank Tom Preon 712 00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:04,519 supporter since January twenty twenty one, currently supporting the podcast 713 00:42:04,639 --> 00:42:07,639 at the Shawmus level of four dollars or more per month. 714 00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:09,039 Thanks so much for your support. 715 00:42:09,119 --> 00:42:09,360 Speaker 10: Tom. 716 00:42:09,519 --> 00:42:12,719 Speaker 1: That will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, 717 00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:17,440 please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And if 718 00:42:17,440 --> 00:42:21,480 you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure to lock 719 00:42:21,599 --> 00:42:25,280 the video, subscribe to the channel, and mark the notification 720 00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:29,320 bill all those great things that help YouTube channels to grow. 721 00:42:30,079 --> 00:42:35,679 We will be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, 722 00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:39,679 this time a non Christmas themed one, but Christmas related 723 00:42:39,760 --> 00:42:43,800 programming does continue tomorrow over on the Amazing World of 724 00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:48,119 Radio at Amazing Great Detectives dot net, we have our 725 00:42:48,360 --> 00:42:52,320 first Christmas special available for you tomorrow and join us 726 00:42:52,440 --> 00:42:57,039 back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollar, where. 727 00:42:58,159 --> 00:43:01,760 Speaker 16: I'm glad to see I'm back to town? Why certainly? 728 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:03,440 Speaker 10: Doc Oh, this is mister Dollar. 729 00:43:03,559 --> 00:43:05,079 Speaker 6: Hi, Chris? 730 00:43:05,639 --> 00:43:06,599 Speaker 10: Is he still our eyes and. 731 00:43:06,719 --> 00:43:08,679 Speaker 16: Couldn't shave and sitting out here waiting for you? 732 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:10,559 Speaker 6: You haven't seen the patience? 733 00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:12,480 Speaker 16: Letical man, who's a duty. 734 00:43:12,280 --> 00:43:12,639 Speaker 5: And all that? 735 00:43:12,840 --> 00:43:14,000 Speaker 10: But I'm too old. 736 00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:15,039 Speaker 3: Talk back to a gun. 737 00:43:15,480 --> 00:43:18,320 Speaker 6: They wouldn't let you. Well, I'm not a medical fan. 738 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:19,719 Speaker 4: Supposelease be careful, Johnny. 739 00:43:21,159 --> 00:43:22,920 Speaker 6: I told your star bus stay away and leave the 740 00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:23,239 old man. 741 00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:28,760 Speaker 16: Well, if I little Genie the policy pictures? 742 00:43:29,639 --> 00:43:33,679 Speaker 6: Who are you, mister buddy do Gastino? This is Johnny Dollar. 743 00:43:34,039 --> 00:43:36,360 He's in the insurance company to see about changing the policy. 744 00:43:36,760 --> 00:43:38,679 Speaker 16: Who are you talking, man, Adam? 745 00:43:38,719 --> 00:43:39,880 Speaker 6: Give us some terrorist directions? 746 00:43:39,920 --> 00:43:43,760 Speaker 16: Back to by stove? Have you know policy changing at 747 00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:47,679 this late date? Mister ned Kringle is very bereaved at 748 00:43:47,719 --> 00:43:51,679 the imminence of his uncle's demid just family admitted it. 749 00:43:51,760 --> 00:43:53,599 This said Alice, the most of your long folks, I 750 00:43:53,599 --> 00:43:58,679 don't leave the young man was great. Your foot is 751 00:43:58,719 --> 00:44:02,400 in the door, mister, I don't like your foot. 752 00:44:03,320 --> 00:44:05,760 Speaker 1: I hope you'll be with us then, In the meantime, 753 00:44:06,119 --> 00:44:10,519 send your comments to Box thirteen at Greatdetectives dot net, 754 00:44:11,079 --> 00:44:13,880 follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us 755 00:44:13,920 --> 00:44:20,039 out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho. 756 00:44:20,320 --> 00:44:22,800 This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.