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Speaker 1: Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from

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boy Sea, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In

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a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode

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of Dragnet. But first, I do want to encourage you,

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if you're enjoying the podcast, to please follow us using

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your favorite podcast software. And today's program is brought to

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you in part by the financial support of our listeners.

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You can support the show on a one time basis

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by mailing a donation to Adam Grant Peelbox one five

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nine one three that's peel Box one five nine thirteen

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Boisei Adaho eight three seven one five, and you can

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also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as

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little last two dollars per month at Patreon dot Great

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Detectives dot nit and I want to go ahead and

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ninth Gina for upgrading Court from the rookie level of

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two dollars or more per month to the Shawmas level

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of four dollars or more per month. Thanks so much, Tina.

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And now from February first, nineteen fifty one, here is

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the Big.

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Speaker 2: Children, ladies and gentlemen, is proud to bring you its

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prize winning radio program, winner of the Motion Picture Harald

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Fame Award. The story you were about to hear is true,

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only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

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You're a detective sergeant. They're assigned to Juvenile Bureau. They

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receive a complaint about an eight year old boy and

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his sister. A neighbor reports they've been going from door

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to door begging for food. Supposedly the children are from

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well to do parents. Your job investigate.

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Speaker 3: Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. While the

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next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department,

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you will travel step by step on the side of

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the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files,

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from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is

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the story of your police force in action.

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Speaker 4: It was Tuesday, April twenty seventh. It was overcast in

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Los Angeles. We were working the daywatch out a juvenile bureau.

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My partner's Ben Romero, the boss's Captain Kinsling.

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Speaker 5: My name's Friday.

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Speaker 4: I was on the way back in communications. That was

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four point thirty eight PM when I got to thirteen

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thirty five Georgia Street, second floor, room fourteen. Hi, joll

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I've been waiting long. I'm just checking with the record.

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I just got here. What's this thing all about? Well,

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just what I told you on the phone. Seven year

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old boy and his sister covering the neighborhood bagan food.

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Speaker 5: You ready to go, man, let me put this away.

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For kid's supposed to be from a wealthy family.

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Speaker 4: Huh, wealthy enough to live in the best part of

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bell Area.

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Speaker 5: Doesn't make much sense. It must be some kind of

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a gig, you know. No, not, according to the neighbor

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who called in.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, she says, the kids are half starved. Ben and

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I got in the car and drove out Sunset Boulevard

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at the bell Air District. They pulled up in front

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of a large, two story home near the corner of

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Brookline Avenue and Knightsbridge Drive. Was a white frame colonial

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mansion set back in the middle of well landscape, lawn

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and gardens. The other homes in the neighborhood were just

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as large. Fifty thousand dollars enough was the last place

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in the city that you'd expect to find neighborhood children

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bagging food. Five twenty PM, who went around at.

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Speaker 5: The rear entrance of the colonial mansion.

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Speaker 4: As we'd been instructed on the phone, we located the

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woman who had called in the complaint, a miss Janette Beijean.

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She was employed as laundress and cooked by the owners

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of the house. She was busy fixing dinner.

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Speaker 6: They're from next door, officer.

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Speaker 7: The children, as I explained on the phone, A boy

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about seven years a girl or five years old.

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Speaker 5: I guess which side do they live on, Miss beiji

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on the house on the.

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Speaker 7: Car nor the other side up here the rown and

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white house just up the street next door.

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Speaker 5: Other children there? Now do you know that?

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Speaker 7: No, but they were here this afternoon again, here to

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the back door, asking for something to eat.

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Speaker 6: I don't understand it. Something must be wrong.

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Speaker 5: Well have they been around off in this.

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Speaker 7: Two or three days? Maybe four days? First I thought

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they were fooling, but they were not. I gave them

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some cookies sandwishes. They were very hungry. They ate them

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like they were starving. The little girl saved her cookies.

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She took them with her.

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Speaker 5: How about their parents? Are they at home?

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Speaker 7: Excuse me? Potash there that's there. No, I haven't seen

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the mother the last few days. I understand they are

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divorced the mother. She lives there with the children, the father.

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I don't know.

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Speaker 5: Well, what's their name? Do you know Kessler?

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Speaker 6: Madam?

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Speaker 7: The woman I work for? She says there are three

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children in the Kessler family, but I don't know. I

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have only seen the two, the boy and the girl.

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I would go over and see what is wrong, but

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I do not know the Kessler. It is not my place.

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Speaker 6: That's why I called your officer.

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Speaker 7: I don't thank you very much, not at all, Officer. You

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understand I do not mind giving the children food. Well,

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I think only something is wrong doing to get it

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at home.

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Speaker 5: Well, thank you very much for notifying us. We're gonna

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check you into it. I'm just a little curious, miss Beage.

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Uh what set you're making this?

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Speaker 6: Napoleon?

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Speaker 5: Huh?

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Speaker 6: How's that Lapoleon?

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Speaker 4: You know?

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Speaker 6: Lapoleon Piastree?

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Speaker 5: Oh oh yeah, here's me. I's good. Well, thanks again, certainly, officer.

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Speaker 6: If there is anything I can do, you will let

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me know, Yes.

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Speaker 5: Ma'am, we will. Goodbye, goodbye, Thank you very much. It's

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a beautiful place. Yeah. Those Swedish women make pretty good cooks,

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don't they. I don't know. She sounded French to me.

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Speaker 4: Uh, huh, maybe so most good at cooking anyhow.

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Speaker 5: Or yeah, they a little white house next door. That

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must be it.

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Speaker 4: Uh that name Castler. They fairly prominent around town society.

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Speaker 5: I don't know.

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Speaker 4: There's quite a few of 'em. Could be any way

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you look at it. It's hard to figure. And the

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kids has.

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Speaker 5: Been at it for four days. It's on the level.

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They really might be in a bind. Garage door is

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opened back there no sign of a car, kid's bicycles. All.

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Let's try at the front door.

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Speaker 4: Hu, just better try to get a yeah.

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Speaker 8: Yes, sir, Hello son, your name's Kessler. All right, Yes,

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I'm Richard. My mother's not home right now. Maybe you

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can come back tomorrow.

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Speaker 4: We're police officers, Richard. If you're not busy, we like

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talking for a minutes.

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Speaker 5: That alright?

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Speaker 8: Well, yes, sir, that'd be all right. Would you come

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in please?

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Speaker 4: Richard Kessler was a blonde haired, wiry boy, polite, well mannered.

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He told us that he was eight years old and

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he attended the neighborhood grammar school. He showed us back

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to the kitchen where he was warming a can of

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soup that he borrowed from a neighbor. Was a large house,

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richly furnished, but it hadn't been cleaned for weeks. Dust

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was piled up thick on the furniture, and children's books

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and toys were scattered around the rooms, along with scraps

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of dried bread half eaten. The house was cold and musty.

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On a small bar in the dining room there were

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three half filled cocktail glasses and plate full of cigarette butts.

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Evidently they've been standing there for days. On the sink

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in the kitchen there were a few pieces of stale

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bread and an open bottle of milk it had turned sour.

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Next to it were a half a dozen empty whiskey bottles.

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The Kessler boy was well dressed, except for the shirt

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that he had on looked as if he'd been wearing

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it for a week.

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Speaker 8: What did you want to talk to me about, officers,

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I haven't done anything wrong.

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Speaker 4: Oh we know that, son. We'd just like to find

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out how you've been getting along.

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Speaker 8: I've been getting along all right. Two ways and four

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bees on my report card last month. Where's your sister, Dick, Judy.

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She's down the street. She'll be back in a minute.

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Speaker 5: How about your mother, Pus.

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Speaker 8: She's out too, she'll be back.

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Speaker 5: What do you expect hers? Huh?

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Speaker 8: Pretty soon? He's coming back pretty soon.

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Speaker 5: Your sister, Judy, she's younger than you, didn't she Dick?

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Speaker 6: Uh?

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Speaker 8: Yes, Judy's only six.

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Speaker 5: I made any other grown ups live here with you?

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Besides your mind?

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Speaker 8: No, Mom takes care of us. She'll be back pretty soon.

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Speaker 5: We'd like to have you tells the truth now, Dick.

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How long she been going?

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Speaker 8: I don't know. It's probably important taking her a long time.

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You can come back tomorrow. She'll probably be here.

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Speaker 5: Then. When was the last time you saw us? Huh? Son?

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How about that?

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Speaker 8: A couple of days ago?

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Speaker 5: Missus?

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Speaker 8: Tuesday? You mean she left the house Sunday? No before that?

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Last Friday night she went out, said she'd be back.

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I don't know.

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Speaker 5: Does your mother say where she was going, Dick?

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Speaker 8: No, her boyfriend was here, Larry, I don't know his

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last name. Mom went out with him to a party.

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I think I don't know where she'll be back? All right?

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Did you leave anyone to take care of No, we

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can take care of ourselves. Nobody to fix the cooking, though,

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I don't know how yet.

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Speaker 6: I'd better look at.

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Speaker 5: The soup on the store I'll take care of us

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when you go ahead and sit down. Has your mother

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ever left you like this before?

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Speaker 8: Sir M maybe once or twice. She never stayed away

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this long long.

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Speaker 6: I don't know.

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Speaker 5: It's no matter, Dick.

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Speaker 8: Well, it's Johnny Officer, my little brother. He hasn't eaten

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much for a while, must be hungry by now. I

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was fixing the soup for him. Now, where's Johnny. He's

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upstairs in the nursery. He's been sick with a bad cold.

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Mom knew Johnny was sick. That's why I wondered. She

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hasn't come back yet. I don't think Johnny's feeling good.

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Speaker 5: Do you wanna take sept to see him?

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Speaker 8: Sir?

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Speaker 6: Yeah, all right, if you want.

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Speaker 8: Yeah.

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Speaker 5: Huh. How long has Johnny had this cold? Dick?

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Speaker 8: A couple of days before Friday, before mom left.

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Speaker 5: How old is he?

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Speaker 8: Johnny's just a little kid. You won't be two years

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old until July. I've been wondering about him. Coughed a

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lot at first. I've been giving him milk and cookies.

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That's Judy and I had. I don't know.

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Speaker 5: Has a doctor been to see Johnny? Oh?

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Speaker 8: No, I thought of calling him and I didn't know

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the doctor's name. I was waiting til mom got home.

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Wanted this Johnny's rom here and in the crib, Officer,

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that's my brother Johnny pretty.

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Speaker 5: Gold in here. Yeah, what's happened like that? Yeah? Alright there,

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young fella.

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Speaker 8: Hi Johnny, you're hungry now?

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Speaker 5: Yeah? Hug at his eyes? Yeah, I wanna get to

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a phone doctor name, but let's te him to Harry Bright.

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Speaker 8: Oh what's the matter, officer? What about Johnny's eyes?

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Speaker 5: And would be alright?

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Speaker 8: Oh, he's been acting offul quiet though hardly moved around

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a tall most of the time, he's jumping up and

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down his crib like anything.

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Speaker 5: Has anyone had all been in here to see him

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since Friday?

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Speaker 8: Yes, sir, my sister Judy and I. We change his

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diapers and give him something to eat.

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Speaker 5: I see she.

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Speaker 8: I sure wish momm would get home and I'd like

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to talk to her.

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Speaker 5: Yeah, so would I.

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Speaker 4: Five forty eight pm we put in a call to

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the office for a policewoman, and then we got in

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touch with Lieutenant Lee Jones at the crime Lab and

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he sent out a man to photograph the condition of

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the Kessler home and the children. The doctor and The

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ambulance arrived and little Johnny Kessler was taken to the

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General Hospital.

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Speaker 5: In critical condition. The twenty two month old boy was

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in a coma.

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Speaker 4: Richard Kessler and his sister, Judy were taken to Georgia

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Street Juvenile Bureau and then transferred to Juvenile Hall and

249
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placed under protective custody Section seven hundred subby Welfare and

250
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Institution Code. The two of them were given a bath

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and something to eat. Judy Kessler was interrogated separately by

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a policewoman.

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Speaker 5: Ben and I talked to the boy Richard.

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Speaker 4: After a few minutes, he broke down and admitted that

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his mother had gone off and left the three children

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alone on at least a half a dozen occasions. He

257
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told us his parents were divorced. He rarely saw his father,

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but his mother had had two or three boyfriends at

259
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the house during the past year. He also told us

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his mother drank quite a bit, but.

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Speaker 8: She's never been gone this long before. Sergeant. She's out

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somewhere and has no way to get home.

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Speaker 4: We'll find her, all right, cent Don't you worry about

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this boyfriend of your mother's Dick.

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Speaker 5: His first name was Larry. Is that all you can

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tell us.

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Speaker 8: Yes, sir, I don't know his last name. Are you

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gonna keep us here all night?

269
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Speaker 6: Judy and me just for.

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Speaker 5: A day or so? They'll take good care of us.

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Speaker 8: Huh where'd you take Judy?

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Speaker 5: Well, she's just next door, Dick, you can see her

273
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in just a minute now.

274
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Speaker 8: And Uh, how about Johnny? I always take care of him.

275
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He's pretty fussy around strangers.

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Speaker 4: Well, they've got him over at the hospital deck. They're

277
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gonna take good care of him. Now you can count

278
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on that.

279
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Speaker 8: I don't know, Officer, I better see him. He might

280
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get off of fussy. All right, we'll fix that up

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00:13:34,799 --> 00:13:39,000
for you. Do you have any relatives in Los Angeles? Son, aunt's, uncles,

282
00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,240
anyone like that. No, just my father, but I don't

283
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know where he lives. We had a nurse who used

284
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to take care of us, missus McIntosh.

285
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Speaker 6: She was swill.

286
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Speaker 8: My mom fired her though.

287
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Speaker 5: Oh how'd that happened? Do you know?

288
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Speaker 8: No? I'm not quite sure. Maybe my mom was drinking.

289
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Missus McIntosh got mad at her, had a big fight,

290
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Mom fight.

291
00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:02,759
Speaker 4: Oh now this missus mac and dush you know where

292
00:14:02,799 --> 00:14:06,600
we can find No, sir, I don't how about Uh?

293
00:14:06,639 --> 00:14:09,039
Some of the other boyfriends that your mother had. They

294
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do you remember any of their names?

295
00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:11,120
Speaker 5: No?

296
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Speaker 8: One of 'em was George something. I don't remember the

297
00:14:14,639 --> 00:14:16,440
other one, Joe.

298
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Speaker 5: See you a minute, Yeah, I may. You want to

299
00:14:18,639 --> 00:14:24,240
stay with the boy? How bet? Yeah? Hospital call. It's

300
00:14:24,279 --> 00:14:27,120
a lousy thing. What's that? A Kestler boy?

301
00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:27,879
Speaker 4: Little Johnny?

302
00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:29,159
Speaker 5: Yeah, he just died.

303
00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:38,039
Speaker 4: John Albert Kessler, white male American, aged twenty two months.

304
00:14:38,559 --> 00:14:40,879
All the pertinent facts and data would be listed on

305
00:14:40,919 --> 00:14:44,120
the crime report, and if and when the case was closed,

306
00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:46,960
the report would be filed away. Wouldn't be any different

307
00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,240
from a thousand other dead body reports, same size, same color,

308
00:14:50,879 --> 00:14:53,919
same number up in the left hand corner, and the

309
00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:55,759
course of ten or twenty years on the job of

310
00:14:55,879 --> 00:14:58,519
police officer sees a lot of 'em. Most of 'em

311
00:14:58,559 --> 00:15:02,399
he forgets, few of 'em he never forgets. The next morning,

312
00:15:02,399 --> 00:15:04,320
the body was posted to the county morgue. It was

313
00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,360
found that the youngster had been suffering from malnutrition, but

314
00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,399
the cause of death was listed as a basal skull fracture.

315
00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:14,840
Homicide detailed was notified. The search for the mother, missus

316
00:15:14,919 --> 00:15:18,320
Gene Kessler, went on. We talked to her neighbors, all

317
00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,559
of her friends that we could locate. We checked out

318
00:15:20,559 --> 00:15:22,960
an address book that was found in missus Kessler's effects

319
00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:25,159
at her home. We got out a broadcast in an

320
00:15:25,159 --> 00:15:29,559
APB no luck, Thursday, April twenty nine. How about the

321
00:15:29,639 --> 00:15:31,799
youngster's brother and sister, Ben Do you think it could

322
00:15:31,799 --> 00:15:32,519
have happened that way?

323
00:15:32,679 --> 00:15:33,240
Speaker 5: How do you mean?

324
00:15:33,399 --> 00:15:35,240
Speaker 4: Well, they were taking care of the little fella. They

325
00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:37,159
might have had an accident with him. They're afraid, don't

326
00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:39,399
up to it. I don't think so, Jill, That's not

327
00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:39,919
very likely.

328
00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:40,200
Speaker 5: Mac.

329
00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,200
Speaker 4: We talked to him quite a bit last night. A

330
00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,000
couple of pretty honest kids. Pretty sure they wouldn't lie about.

331
00:15:44,759 --> 00:15:46,519
Speaker 5: Something like that. Where does that leave it? The mother?

332
00:15:46,679 --> 00:15:49,600
Speaker 4: Good possibility? We know Miss Cassler drinks quite a bit.

333
00:15:49,799 --> 00:15:51,960
She could have lost patience with a little boy. More

334
00:15:52,039 --> 00:15:53,320
chance of an accident there.

335
00:15:53,559 --> 00:16:03,080
Speaker 5: I get a June old Friday, yep Bert Where huh right? Thanks? Yeah?

336
00:16:03,399 --> 00:16:05,919
Speaker 4: Woman answering Miss Kesler's description checked in at a hotel

337
00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,600
down on South Hope last night, still registered as she

338
00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:10,799
checked out earlier this morning. They found a woman's sport

339
00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:12,960
coade in the room. What about bloodstains on it?

340
00:16:23,559 --> 00:16:26,720
Speaker 3: You are listening to drag Met call the step by

341
00:16:26,799 --> 00:16:29,679
step solution to Tonight's authentic case history.

342
00:16:37,519 --> 00:16:40,039
Speaker 4: Friday, April thirtieth, we were still without a lead as

343
00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,600
to the whereabouts of the missing mother, Missus Gene Kessler.

344
00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,039
The bloodstained coat which had been found in the South

345
00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,759
Hope Street hotel was shown to Missus Kessler's friends and

346
00:16:47,759 --> 00:16:50,799
to her children, Richard and Judy. They identified it as

347
00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:54,200
belonging to the missing woman. Routine investigation of the hotel

348
00:16:54,279 --> 00:16:57,240
room failed to uncover any further leads. We got out

349
00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,879
of Supplementary APB, and then we started rechecking with a

350
00:17:00,039 --> 00:17:02,159
Kessler woman's friends and acquaintances.

351
00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:02,559
Speaker 5: Nothing.

352
00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,200
Speaker 4: We rechecked a dozen taverns and cocktail lounges that she'd

353
00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:09,000
been known to frequent, No sign of her, no sign

354
00:17:09,079 --> 00:17:13,000
of her boyfriend. In rechecking her personal effects, we found

355
00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:17,240
a canceled check payable to their former nurse, Missus mcintish.

356
00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:21,039
The endorsement carried her address. We checked it out she'd moved.

357
00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:23,599
We traced her to the forwarding address. There we were

358
00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:25,319
told that she had a new job as a nurse

359
00:17:25,319 --> 00:17:27,839
maid with a wealthy family living in the Los Phelis district.

360
00:17:28,279 --> 00:17:30,519
We called there and talked to missus McIntosh, and she

361
00:17:30,559 --> 00:17:32,640
told us that she was just leaving the house with

362
00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:34,519
the three children for an outing at the park and

363
00:17:34,559 --> 00:17:37,400
the zoo. We made arrangements to meet where her out

364
00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,799
there one thirty pm, Ben and I located her at

365
00:17:40,799 --> 00:17:42,559
the head of the path leading through the main part

366
00:17:42,599 --> 00:17:44,960
of the Griffith Park Zoo.

367
00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:47,720
Speaker 9: I read about it in the paper, Sergeant about Johnny.

368
00:17:47,759 --> 00:17:49,440
I didn't know you wanted to talk to me. I

369
00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:50,720
would have called in if I did.

370
00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,640
Speaker 4: We're still trying to locate the mother, missus McIntosh. Can

371
00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:54,680
you help us out there at all?

372
00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:57,160
Speaker 9: No, I don't know if you asked at those places

373
00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,240
she used to go to all the time where she used.

374
00:17:59,079 --> 00:18:01,240
Speaker 5: To drink, Yes, ma'am, we have. They couldn't help us.

375
00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,640
Speaker 4: Did you know any of missus Kessler's boyfriends, the ones

376
00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:04,920
that had come to the house.

377
00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,000
Speaker 10: Yes, I knew all of them. Donald, don't you want

378
00:18:08,079 --> 00:18:10,119
to off now? Same for you, Patsy.

379
00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,119
Speaker 5: You stay close the boy Richard. He was telling us

380
00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:15,039
about one of the boyfriends, man Fellow down and Larry.

381
00:18:15,279 --> 00:18:20,759
Speaker 10: Oh, yes, Donald, you heard what I said. You stay close? Yes,

382
00:18:20,799 --> 00:18:21,680
I knew Larry.

383
00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:23,680
Speaker 5: You remember what his last name was?

384
00:18:23,759 --> 00:18:27,000
Speaker 10: Now, Yes, Bartel some kind of an actor in the movies.

385
00:18:27,079 --> 00:18:30,680
Speaker 5: I think Bartell anywhere he lives.

386
00:18:31,519 --> 00:18:33,960
Speaker 9: No, I think he had an apartment in Hollywood. I

387
00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:35,240
wouldn't know the address.

388
00:18:35,559 --> 00:18:37,279
Speaker 4: What kind of a man was this Bartel? I I

389
00:18:37,319 --> 00:18:38,880
mean he's temperament and things like that.

390
00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,400
Speaker 8: Well, I think he was kind of lazy. I think

391
00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,079
Missus Kesler was giving him money.

392
00:18:45,559 --> 00:18:48,279
Speaker 5: Did the two of them ever argue or have any fights.

393
00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:50,279
Speaker 10: All the time? He had a terrible temper.

394
00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:51,720
Speaker 5: Do you ever strike miss Kessler?

395
00:18:52,599 --> 00:18:52,880
Speaker 10: Yes?

396
00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,759
Speaker 9: I saw it happen several times, not too close to

397
00:18:55,799 --> 00:18:56,200
the cage.

398
00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:57,720
Speaker 10: Donald back a little.

399
00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:03,119
Speaker 5: How did this Bartail act? Children? Missus mcintie indifferent?

400
00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:05,039
Speaker 10: I guess they annoyed him sometimes.

401
00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:07,880
Speaker 5: Well that was after that you had the argument with

402
00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:08,400
miss Casser.

403
00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,599
Speaker 9: Yes, it was about her drinking and the boyfriends and

404
00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:13,519
all the rest. I just got sick of it and

405
00:19:13,559 --> 00:19:16,720
I told her what I thought. She didn't want to

406
00:19:16,759 --> 00:19:20,200
admit she was getting old, not caring for the children,

407
00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:22,680
pretending she was still in the twenties.

408
00:19:23,559 --> 00:19:24,880
Speaker 5: Well, do you have any idea where he might look

409
00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,519
keep the father? Well they're divorced.

410
00:19:27,559 --> 00:19:30,640
Speaker 9: You know, he's a head salesman for a lumber concern downtown.

411
00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,319
He inherited most of his money. I have the name

412
00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:35,240
of the company at home.

413
00:19:35,319 --> 00:19:37,160
Speaker 5: You can have it if you're like, yes, mam, we'd

414
00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:37,759
appreciate that.

415
00:19:39,279 --> 00:19:39,400
Speaker 10: You know.

416
00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:43,079
Speaker 9: It's the children I feel sorry for, yes, ma'am. Three

417
00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:47,880
beautiful children. That poor little Johnny. I just can't understand.

418
00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:48,480
Speaker 5: What's that?

419
00:19:49,519 --> 00:19:51,759
Speaker 10: How could anyone deserve a helpless.

420
00:19:51,319 --> 00:19:53,279
Speaker 5: Baby like that? We'll ask his mother.

421
00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:59,960
Speaker 4: Friday, five pm, Missus mcintie called us at the offic

422
00:20:00,079 --> 00:20:02,000
us and gave us the business address of the missing

423
00:20:02,039 --> 00:20:05,359
woman's ex husband, Richard Lane Kessler. We called there, but

424
00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:07,440
they told us Kessler was away on a week's vacation.

425
00:20:07,839 --> 00:20:09,720
They had no idea where to contact him, but he

426
00:20:09,759 --> 00:20:12,400
was expected back in a few days. We called Central

427
00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:14,519
Casting and asked them to check their talent list for

428
00:20:14,559 --> 00:20:16,440
a bit player by the name of Larry Bartel.

429
00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:18,200
Speaker 5: They had no such name listed.

430
00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,440
Speaker 4: Saturday eight am, the Kessler children, Richard and Judy, remained

431
00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:25,079
in the custody of juvenile authorities. The search for their

432
00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:28,119
mother continued all day Saturday. Ben and I ran down

433
00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:29,279
what few leads we had.

434
00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:30,440
Speaker 5: They went nowhere.

435
00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:32,920
Speaker 4: Checks of the moor and of the city hospitals and

436
00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,440
the drunk tank at the main jail still failed to

437
00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,880
turn up the missing woman. We checked again at the

438
00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:41,079
different drinking places she used to patronize. No one had

439
00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:43,519
seen her. Five point thirty pm we went back to

440
00:20:43,559 --> 00:20:48,559
the office. A lot of mileage today. Man, there's not

441
00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:50,880
much to show for it. Not going to be much

442
00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:53,319
fun for us, Cassel the kids. Is Sunday. What do

443
00:20:53,319 --> 00:20:55,079
you mean, first Sunday in May.

444
00:20:55,799 --> 00:20:56,519
Speaker 5: It's mother Day.

445
00:20:56,839 --> 00:21:02,160
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, Hi, mic Hi, got a piece of news

446
00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,799
for you. Yeah, Cassler woman's boyfriend, Larry Bartel, What about him?

447
00:21:05,799 --> 00:21:12,400
He's been located. When he'd seen his name mentioned the

448
00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,400
previous night in the newspaper stories concerning the case, Larry

449
00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,640
Bartel had contacted the office to let us know that

450
00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:19,359
he didn't consider himself a fugitive.

451
00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:22,319
Speaker 5: At least that was his story. He called just a.

452
00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:24,480
Speaker 4: Few minutes before we got back to the office. He

453
00:21:24,559 --> 00:21:26,319
left word that he could be found at a Wilshire

454
00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:29,400
address all day Sunday. In the meantime, he'd be at

455
00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:31,960
the Spotlight Club. It was a club for theatrical people

456
00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,359
located in West Hollywood. Six twenty five pm, Ben and

457
00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:37,519
I located him at the club. Back in the billiard's room.

458
00:21:37,759 --> 00:21:40,039
He was tall, dark haired, dressed expensively.

459
00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:42,200
Speaker 5: I told the cup when I called in, you weren't

460
00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,160
supposed to contact me here. This was important.

461
00:21:44,279 --> 00:21:47,440
Speaker 4: That little Kessler boy's dead, Bartel, we think gets pretty important.

462
00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,400
I didn't know anying about that. You didn't have to

463
00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,400
interrupt me. That's an important man I was playing with. Now,

464
00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:52,000
what do you want to know?

465
00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:54,920
Speaker 5: Where's miss Kessler? Why ask me? I don't know. You're

466
00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:56,359
a pretty good friend of hers. You were the last

467
00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:57,119
person seeing with him.

468
00:21:57,160 --> 00:21:58,519
Speaker 4: Oh, it was a week ago. He went out to

469
00:21:58,519 --> 00:22:02,720
a party last Friday night, Innocence the following Monday. Uh, yeah,

470
00:22:02,799 --> 00:22:05,240
last Monday. I'm through with her anyway. What do you mean, Well,

471
00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:07,559
I just got sick of her, that so pawing all

472
00:22:07,559 --> 00:22:09,640
over me, asking me to marry. I just got sick

473
00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,079
of it. Wasn't worth it. You accepted money for it

474
00:22:12,279 --> 00:22:13,839
just to tide me over. She had plenty of it.

475
00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:14,240
Speaker 5: Why not?

476
00:22:14,599 --> 00:22:17,359
Speaker 4: Where'd you last see her? Keep your voices down. I

477
00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:19,680
would like this stuff to get around the club. Yeah,

478
00:22:19,799 --> 00:22:22,000
there was a hotel downtown on South Fower. I could

479
00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:22,720
give you the address.

480
00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,319
Speaker 5: Were you at another hotel with miss Kessler? Last week?

481
00:22:25,839 --> 00:22:29,000
Speaker 4: Mm yeah, yeah, on South Hope run ninth Street. I think, oh,

482
00:22:29,039 --> 00:22:30,839
that's where you find a coat. Huh, you've got an

483
00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:35,799
explanation for that bloodstain? Sure, Crazy Day told her. I

484
00:22:35,799 --> 00:22:37,200
saw then she tried to hit me in the bottle?

485
00:22:37,279 --> 00:22:40,359
Can I sell boy? I tell he just wasn't worth

486
00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:40,920
it that to him.

487
00:22:41,079 --> 00:22:42,799
Speaker 5: I guess you can prove everything you're telling us, So.

488
00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:44,839
Speaker 4: Of course I can prove it. It's the truth. And

489
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:46,759
what about the little boy? How'd that happen?

490
00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,240
Speaker 5: I didn't nothing to do with it, wasn't my vote. Well,

491
00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:49,839
how did it happened?

492
00:22:49,839 --> 00:22:49,960
Speaker 11: Now?

493
00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:51,880
Speaker 4: It was that Friday night, just before we left the house.

494
00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:54,799
Alady now downstairs having a few drinks. She put the

495
00:22:54,839 --> 00:22:56,400
little kid to bed, but he wouldn't stay there. He

496
00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:58,079
could getting up out of bed and run it down

497
00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,640
stairs crying. Yeah, go on, Ash, you finally took a

498
00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:03,559
kid game and good spanking through him back in bed.

499
00:23:03,599 --> 00:23:05,400
I think he hit his head in one of the

500
00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:05,960
post of the crew.

501
00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:08,319
Speaker 5: Why didn't you do something about it? Well? I told her,

502
00:23:08,319 --> 00:23:10,880
but she said it was nothing, didn't matter. Got our

503
00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,079
coats left, that's all kids are, all right? When he left?

504
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,759
Speaker 4: You mean all the time you and Missus Kesseley went out.

505
00:23:15,799 --> 00:23:17,839
You knew those children were being left all alone, and

506
00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:18,440
then half.

507
00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:21,359
Speaker 5: Oh what out of cheese? The mother? Not me? How look,

508
00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:23,079
I gotta get back. I kept that game waiting on.

509
00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:24,759
It's just a minute. It's going to wait a little longer.

510
00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:25,079
Come on.

511
00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,480
Speaker 4: Larry Bartel was taken downtown and held for questioning on

512
00:23:32,519 --> 00:23:36,680
suspicion of seven o two WIC contributing to negligence of miners.

513
00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:38,960
He gave us the address of the hotel where he'd

514
00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,519
last seen Missus Kessler. Ben and I checked it out.

515
00:23:41,839 --> 00:23:44,319
It was a typical cheap downtown hotel with the bar

516
00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,000
opening off the lobby. The desk clerk told us a

517
00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,799
woman answering Missus Kesler's description was registered.

518
00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:50,720
Speaker 5: In a room on the second floor.

519
00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:54,079
Speaker 4: They had an old fashioned player piano going full volume

520
00:23:54,119 --> 00:24:00,160
in the bar. The sound followed us up the stairs.

521
00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:02,640
Speaker 5: Tenants here, sure must like their music.

522
00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:17,680
Speaker 4: Yeah, that's it therein two sixteen. Yeah, an you better

523
00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,519
try it. Yeah, let's have hello.

524
00:24:24,759 --> 00:24:25,359
Speaker 5: Who's there?

525
00:24:25,839 --> 00:24:26,319
Speaker 11: Who is it.

526
00:24:28,079 --> 00:24:30,880
Speaker 5: You? Missus Jean Kessler? What is it?

527
00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:32,160
Speaker 11: Who are you?

528
00:24:32,319 --> 00:24:33,680
Speaker 5: Police officers like to talk to you.

529
00:24:34,079 --> 00:24:36,519
Speaker 11: I haven't done anything. What do you want with me?

530
00:24:36,599 --> 00:24:39,079
Speaker 5: I want to talk to you about your children, Miss Kessler.

531
00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:42,240
Speaker 11: But I didn't do anything. Johnny was sick, that's all.

532
00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:43,519
I didn't do anything.

533
00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:45,079
Speaker 5: That's not what Bardail says.

534
00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:49,160
Speaker 11: Larry, have you seen him? Is he coming back to me?

535
00:24:49,599 --> 00:24:51,119
Speaker 5: You better get up, lady, get your coat.

536
00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:53,160
Speaker 11: I gotta have Larry back.

537
00:24:54,039 --> 00:24:55,000
Speaker 5: Is everything to me?

538
00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:56,599
Speaker 11: I love him?

539
00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:57,519
Speaker 6: Is he coming back?

540
00:24:58,160 --> 00:24:59,799
Speaker 5: You've been going over a week? Aren't you a little

541
00:24:59,799 --> 00:25:00,920
worldorried about your children?

542
00:25:03,039 --> 00:25:06,240
Speaker 11: I'm too young to spend my life on children. I

543
00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:06,920
need Larry.

544
00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:07,519
Speaker 6: Where is he?

545
00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:16,200
Speaker 5: See if you can find her code? Will you been? Yeah?

546
00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:20,400
Speaker 11: I've been drinking office. I felt terrible. Yeah, I need

547
00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:21,319
Larry so bad.

548
00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:23,039
Speaker 5: He's young like me.

549
00:25:23,799 --> 00:25:27,920
Speaker 11: I love him. I gave him moment love, gave him

550
00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:28,559
every bit of it.

551
00:25:28,799 --> 00:25:31,599
Speaker 5: Yeah, you gave him too much. Well, you didn't have

552
00:25:31,599 --> 00:25:32,640
any left for your kids.

553
00:25:39,759 --> 00:25:43,240
Speaker 2: The story you've just heard was true, only the names

554
00:25:43,279 --> 00:25:45,039
were changed to protect the innocent.

555
00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,440
Speaker 3: On July, second trial was held in Superior Court, Department

556
00:25:48,519 --> 00:25:51,400
eighty seven, city in County of Los Angeles, State of California.

557
00:25:51,599 --> 00:25:54,319
Speaker 5: In a moment, the results of that trial, now here

558
00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:58,119
is our star Jack Webb. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

559
00:25:58,160 --> 00:25:59,799
Speaker 4: I like to take a moment to thank all of

560
00:25:59,839 --> 00:26:02,799
you for your very fine response to our program, Dragnet.

561
00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:04,839
Since the first show went on the air about a

562
00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,680
year and a half ago, your cards and letters have

563
00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:11,359
been a constant source of encouragement and guidance in the

564
00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,599
field of radio presentations. We felt that we were attempting

565
00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,640
something a little different, and we were not altogether sure

566
00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:19,039
that it would meet with your approval.

567
00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:21,839
Speaker 5: Possibly, we were sure.

568
00:26:21,599 --> 00:26:23,839
Speaker 4: That our approach to this type of presentation was a

569
00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:26,680
sound one, but the final approval had to rest with you.

570
00:26:27,799 --> 00:26:31,160
If we may judge by your response, you've placed Dragnet

571
00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,119
high among the programs.

572
00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,440
Speaker 5: That you enjoy most. For this, were indeed grateful.

573
00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:39,240
Speaker 4: We've tried to bring you, first of all, an adult

574
00:26:39,279 --> 00:26:41,799
program worthy of the thirty minutes that you spend with

575
00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:44,319
us each week. We've tried to bring you an honest

576
00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:47,400
and authoritative report on the work of your police force.

577
00:26:48,519 --> 00:26:51,200
We've tried to bring before you documented police cases that

578
00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:55,559
were informative as well as entertaining. In forthcoming weeks, we

579
00:26:55,599 --> 00:26:57,680
sincerely hope that Dragnet remains one.

580
00:26:57,519 --> 00:27:00,200
Speaker 5: Of your favorite shows.

581
00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:03,079
Speaker 4: Have been read by all members of the Dragnet production staff,

582
00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,440
so if you like to listen to Dragnet. It's because

583
00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,640
you our listeners have helped to guide us in presenting

584
00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:11,119
the kind of entertainment that you want.

585
00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:22,799
Speaker 5: For this our thanks missus.

586
00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:25,640
Speaker 3: Geen Kessler was filed on and found guilty in superior

587
00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:28,480
court charge of manslaughter. She was sentenced to one year

588
00:27:28,519 --> 00:27:30,559
in the county jail and deprived of the custody of

589
00:27:30,559 --> 00:27:45,039
her children. You have just heard Dragnets, a series of

590
00:27:45,079 --> 00:27:48,839
authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the

591
00:27:48,839 --> 00:27:51,799
Office of Chief of Police W. H. Parker, Los Angeles

592
00:27:51,839 --> 00:27:52,599
Police Department.

593
00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:05,000
Speaker 2: Now stay tuned for cover Spy and if screen directors

594
00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:05,799
play house on it.

595
00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:16,440
Speaker 1: Welcome back. A really heartbreaking situation which is far too real,

596
00:28:16,519 --> 00:28:19,440
and it illustrates the mistake of thinking these things can

597
00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:23,839
only happen in poor neighborhoods. And of course both the

598
00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:28,759
mother and her boyfriend are very heartless, but these sort

599
00:28:28,759 --> 00:28:32,359
of people are out there. The one odd note about

600
00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:36,400
this episode is perhaps the most inappropriate case of naming

601
00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:40,680
a character after a living person that you'll find, because

602
00:28:41,559 --> 00:28:47,240
Larry Bartell, the character is clearly named after the real

603
00:28:47,599 --> 00:28:52,839
actor and frequent Dragnet guest star Harry Bartel, who I

604
00:28:53,079 --> 00:28:56,319
never had the pleasure of meeting, but by all accounts

605
00:28:56,359 --> 00:28:59,319
was a fine gentleman and nothing like the character in

606
00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:03,079
the story. I wonder if he called Jack Webb up

607
00:29:03,119 --> 00:29:06,680
about this, because I think in most cases actors were

608
00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:09,599
fine with a character being named after them. You want

609
00:29:09,599 --> 00:29:13,119
to name a room clerk or doorman, or some random

610
00:29:13,119 --> 00:29:16,880
police officer after an actor, they wouldn't take offense. But

611
00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,880
if you want to name a character who is selfishly

612
00:29:20,039 --> 00:29:23,440
indifferent to the suffering and the fate of a baby,

613
00:29:24,079 --> 00:29:28,480
and who is also a lazy actor whose name is

614
00:29:28,599 --> 00:29:32,759
only one letter different from yours, I think most people

615
00:29:32,759 --> 00:29:35,400
would pick up the phone if they found out about it.

616
00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:38,839
Whether Bartel called Web or even knew about it, I

617
00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:42,640
don't know. But in the TV version the character was

618
00:29:42,799 --> 00:29:47,759
renamed Larry Carpenter, so apparently someone saw the need to

619
00:29:47,799 --> 00:29:53,640
make a change. Web statement on the receipt of the

620
00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:59,519
award was very classy and very heartfelt. It showed how

621
00:30:00,559 --> 00:30:05,720
had really made a major impact, and certainly it had

622
00:30:05,759 --> 00:30:12,119
been a boon to NBC after the talent raids. CBS

623
00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:18,240
had dominated them in the nineteen forty nine poll, but

624
00:30:18,359 --> 00:30:25,920
this poll for nineteen fifty found NBC pulling even with CBS,

625
00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:30,759
and Dragnet and Jack Web were part of that, as

626
00:30:30,839 --> 00:30:36,839
not only did Dragnet win the award for Best Mystery Program,

627
00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:42,920
but Jack Webb was given the award for Most Promising

628
00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:47,759
Star of Tomorrow. And so it illustrates what type of

629
00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:52,359
cultural juggernaut Dragnet was and certainly what it meant for

630
00:30:52,519 --> 00:30:56,480
Jack Webb. At the time this was aired, he was

631
00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:03,160
twenty months removed from launching a program that was sustaining

632
00:31:03,319 --> 00:31:08,079
over NBAC so that he could pay the bills with

633
00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:12,880
a baby on the way, and his career had absolutely skyrocketed.

634
00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:16,039
So I think Web meant every word of that, and

635
00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:20,559
certainly listener feedback was very important to him. One thing

636
00:31:20,799 --> 00:31:25,400
I remember reading in Michael Hayes's great biography of Web,

637
00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:30,680
My Name's Friday, is that he tended to consider that

638
00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:36,440
each person who sent a letter into Dragnet represented one

639
00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:40,359
hundred people who thought the same way but didn't think

640
00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:44,200
to mail it. So he took it very seriously, and

641
00:31:44,799 --> 00:31:48,200
there's a degree to which the way that listeners and

642
00:31:48,279 --> 00:31:52,400
later viewers responded helped to shape the way that he

643
00:31:52,519 --> 00:31:55,240
made the show. All right, Well, now it's time to

644
00:31:55,240 --> 00:31:57,359
thank our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want

645
00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:00,359
to go ahead and think Deborah. Deborah's been one of

646
00:32:00,359 --> 00:32:04,799
our Patreon supporters since October twenty twenty four, currently supporting

647
00:32:04,799 --> 00:32:08,119
the podcast at the shamous level of four dollars or

648
00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:11,000
more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Debrah,

649
00:32:11,359 --> 00:32:14,079
and that will actually do it for today. If you're

650
00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:18,519
enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast

651
00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:22,119
software and be sure to rate and review the podcast

652
00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:25,839
wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Saturday

653
00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:28,720
with another episode of drag Nat, but join us back

654
00:32:28,799 --> 00:32:33,079
here on Monday or The Adventures of the Falcon Wear.

655
00:32:34,319 --> 00:32:35,960
Speaker 6: So you are Johnny Stone?

656
00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:37,200
Speaker 5: That's right?

657
00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:39,519
Speaker 6: Well this is a great o.

658
00:32:39,559 --> 00:32:42,400
Speaker 4: Heay, what's the idea?

659
00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:44,279
Speaker 5: I wouldn't do that again?

660
00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:46,920
Speaker 6: Why would you beat me up?

661
00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:47,119
Speaker 11: Too?

662
00:32:47,279 --> 00:32:48,359
Speaker 5: Looks? Who are you?

663
00:32:48,839 --> 00:32:54,200
Speaker 12: Lisa Dollar? Oh you recognize the name. I believe my

664
00:32:54,279 --> 00:32:55,119
husband works for you.

665
00:32:55,599 --> 00:32:57,880
Speaker 5: You got your tenses wrong. He did work for me.

666
00:32:58,039 --> 00:32:59,480
Speaker 6: How could you do such a thing?

667
00:33:00,319 --> 00:33:02,240
Speaker 12: How could you hit a man half your size just

668
00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:04,799
because they stood up to you? But you're not used

669
00:33:04,839 --> 00:33:07,200
to that, are you, mister Stone? What you're used to

670
00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:09,960
people falling all over themselves to cooperate in you're crooked

671
00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:13,079
deals is that what you think? That's what I know,

672
00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:17,400
But you don't frighten me. I've met men like you before,

673
00:33:18,079 --> 00:33:20,119
bullies who always pick on someone weaker.

674
00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:24,319
Speaker 5: Steve, anything else you care to say?

675
00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,200
Speaker 6: No, I think I've said enough. You Just keep away

676
00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:27,680
from Paul.

677
00:33:28,599 --> 00:33:30,200
Speaker 12: You are never to go near him again.

678
00:33:31,039 --> 00:33:36,079
Speaker 4: You understand, I understand you're going crazy or something, Johnny.

679
00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:38,559
How could you take that, especially if that's slaping a puss?

680
00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:39,759
Speaker 5: Forget it? Forget it.

681
00:33:39,799 --> 00:33:41,279
Speaker 4: I wouldn't believe it if I didn't say it with

682
00:33:41,279 --> 00:33:43,759
my own eyes. That Paul must have really sold her

683
00:33:43,799 --> 00:33:44,519
a bill of goods.

684
00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:47,319
Speaker 5: I guess she must trust him.

685
00:33:47,680 --> 00:33:51,160
Speaker 4: Kind of nice, isn't it, Steve Huh, being able to

686
00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:52,440
believe what someone tells you.

687
00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:54,799
Speaker 1: I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime.

688
00:33:55,000 --> 00:34:01,039
Send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,

689
00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:05,000
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us

690
00:34:05,039 --> 00:34:11,239
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives From Boise, Idaho.

691
00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,000
This is your host, Adam graham Son and Off

