Dragnet: The Big Roll (EP5074)

0:02 THE END.

0:28 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first, I want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast, to please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And if you are enjoying the podcast, you can support us on a one-time basis by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, P.O.

1:00 Box 15913. That's P.O. Box 15913, Boise, Idaho, 83715. But now, from June 26, 1952, here is The Big Roll.

1:04 The Big Roll.

1:25 The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide detail. An unidentified man is abducted from a downtown street. The scene is checked where the man was reported taken. Bloodstains are found on the sidewalk. The abductors escaped in a gray sedan. No one saw the license number. Your job, get them.

2:03 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department... You will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

2:32 It was Monday, March 18th. It was overcast in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of homicide detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Warman. My name's Friday. It was 6.48 p.m. when we got to the corner of 11th and South Pierce Street. The 797 Club.

2:49 More service tonight, closing up.

2:50 Your name Leon Morley?

2:51 Yeah, I can't serve you any drinks, so closing up.

2:53 Police officers, Mr.

2:54 Morley.

2:55 I'd like to talk to you a minute, if you don't mind. Oh, I'm sorry.

2:57 I thought maybe you were after a drink.

2:58 We were just talking to the officers in the radio car up the street, the car that answered the call out here tonight. They told us you were one of the people who saw what happened. Well, yeah, I guess I did. I saw part of it anyway. Lousy deal kind of thing makes your ulcers pop. That's why I'm closing down early, going home.

3:12 We're following through on the investigation, Mr.

3:13 Morley.

3:14 I'd like to have you tell us everything you know about it, if you would, everything that you saw.

3:17 I told the cops in the radio car everything I know. It was about 6 o'clock, and I heard this big commotion out in the street.

3:23 I didn't know what it was. Sounded like somebody was hurt. I went out and took a look.

3:27 Marie in the beauty shop next door, she was outside rubbernecking too.

3:29 She saw as much as I did. You talked to her? Yes, sir, we have. She wasn't too clear on some of the details. Maybe you can straighten it out for us. I'm glad to if I can.

3:36 What do you want to know?

3:37 You mind telling us in your own words just exactly how it happened? I mean, how you saw it? Well, there's not an awful lot to it. I was working behind the bar here and it was around six o'clock, like I say, maybe a couple of minutes after. I was just fixing up a round of drinks for some fellas when I heard this noise outside.

3:51 Yeah.

3:52 Didn't know what it was at first. Sounded like somebody screaming, like they were hurt.

3:54 You said you heard this commotion outside the bar about six o'clock.

3:58 Yeah, that's right.

3:59 Well, I didn't arrive right then. I finished mixing the round of drinks. First, I thought the racket was just a couple of early drunks, but it kept on. Man screaming. It got louder, and I decided to take a look. I went out and looked down the street a couple of doors, down toward the corner.

4:12 Which corner is that, Mr.

4:13 Long? The nearest one, down to the left. Here, I'll show you.

4:16 All right, fine.

4:17 I didn't know what was happening. It was a terrible sound. A man screaming at the top of his lungs. You recognize who the man was?

4:23 No, I didn't.

4:24 Never saw him before.

4:25 Didn't get too good a look at him anyway.

4:26 He was getting kind of dark. Here, let me show you. Over here by the window.

4:29 All right, fine.

4:33 You see, it was right down there, just next to that mailbox. These two guys had a hold of the man who was screaming. They were trying to drag him into a car, a gray sedan. The man was trying to fight him off.

4:43 Can you describe any of these three men for us?

4:45 No, I couldn't be sure about it. Like I say, it was getting kind of dark. Well, you can see for yourself, they were about 7,500 feet away. This man, they were trying to drag him into the car. He kept screaming, leave me alone, you can have the money. Leave me alone, you can have my car. Looked like he was hurt to me.

4:59 Blood on his clothes.

5:00 Didn't anybody try to help him?

5:01 Well, you know how this neighborhood is. When there's trouble, they all cut out.

5:04 They don't want to get involved. Happened pretty fast anyway. These two guys got this man in the back seat of the car, and the big guy got in the back seat with him. The smaller guy got in the front seat, and they took off.

5:14 Which way did they go, Mr. Morley?

5:16 Straight down the street there. Turn right at that corner.

5:18 Did you happen to see the license number?

5:21 No, I thought of it, though. They didn't turn the car lights on and went by pretty fast, too.

5:25 I couldn't get a good look at it.

5:26 Was it a California plate, do you know?

5:28 Oh, yeah, I noticed that much. That's about all of them.

5:30 What kind of a car was it?

5:32 Like I told you, a gray sedan, four-door. I couldn't tell the makes. Fairly new car.

5:36 Well, did you notice anything outstanding about the car? Anything at all?

5:39 Well, I don't know. What do you mean, outstanding?

5:41 Well, special markings of any kind. Anything unusual. Maybe some of the accessories. Spotlight? Anything like that?

5:47 No, nothing I noticed. The rear bumper was bent out, I think. Matter of fact, I'm pretty sure of it.

5:51 Rear bumper?

5:52 Yeah.

5:52 I saw it when they drove off. They drove right past the place here.

5:56 How about the men, sir? Can you describe them at all?

5:58 No.

5:58 One was pretty tall and thin. The other one was smaller. About the same build on the thin side. They sure must have worked that guy over. He was all bent over. Looked like he was holding his stomach. Stains all down the front of his suit. On the sidewalk, too. I guess you saw that.

6:10 Yes, sir, we did. Now, you're sure that you've never seen any of these men before? Nothing familiar about them at all?

6:15 No, sir, not to me. I think if I saw them before, I'd know it. Oh, just a minute. It's probably the wife.

6:20 Excuse me.

6:20 Be right back.

6:20 Yes, sir.

6:22 What do you think, Jim?

6:23 Well, it doesn't look too good. Stains on the sidewalk down there. If it was just a robbery, why'd they take the guy with them?

6:27 Well, you got me.

6:28 He possibly might have recognized him. Well, maybe you got some, but I hope you're wrong. If he can make the hoods, there's a good chance they're not going to turn the man loose alive.

6:34 Sergeant.

6:35 Yeah.

6:36 It's your office on the phone. I want to talk to either one of you.

6:38 Oh, I'll get it, Jim.

6:38 All right, thanks, Frank.

6:39 Phone's straight back, Sergeant. Enter the bar.

6:41 Yeah.

6:41 Okay, thanks.

6:42 Look, Sergeant, I've got to have something to quiet my nerves. How about you? You want a drink?

6:46 No, no, thanks. Besides the woman in that beauty shop next door, Mr. Morley, did you notice anyone else around and saw what went on?

6:51 No, no, no, no.

6:52 No, as far as I know, Marie and I were the only ones.

6:54 Just like I told you, when there's any trouble around this neighborhood, they get off the street quick.

6:58 You can't think of anything else that might give us a break on this? Anything at all now?

7:01 Wish I could. I think I told you just about everything. Sure feel lousy. Joe.

7:07 Yeah.

7:07 I was talking to Harry.

7:09 Yeah.

7:09 1A1 found the car. Great sedan.

7:11 Where'd they find it?

7:11 Third and Bixler. Look, it was empty. Key's still in it.

7:14 You sure it's the right car?

7:15 Bloodstains in the back seat.

7:16 7.18 p.m. Frank and I left the 797 Club, got in the car, and drove down to 3rd and Bixel, where the abandoned gray sedan had been located. It matched the same general description of the abductor's car, a four-door gray sedan, late model, with a damaged rear bumper. Dean Bergman from Leighton Prince dusted the car and succeeded in raising a half a dozen fingerprints, which he took back to the office for possible identification. The crime lab crew went over the car for additional physical evidence. The stains found on the back seat were identified as having been made by human blood. The white slip attached to the steering post showed the car was registered to a Kenneth L.

7:54 Gorman at a Canal Street address. Before Frank and I left the scene, we got a report that approximately 20 minutes prior to the time the gray sedan had been located, another car had been stolen. It was a maroon, late model Club Coupe, licensed 7 Tom 7972. It had been taken in the same neighborhood, less than two blocks from where the gray sedan was abandoned. A broadcast and an APB was gotten out on it immediately.

8:18 8.05 p.m.

8:20 After checking by the office, Frank and I drove down to check on the home address of the registered owner of the gray sedan, Kenneth L. Gorman. It was a white wood-framed cottage at the upper end of Canal Street. The woman who answered the door identified herself as Mrs. Elsie Gorman, a small middle-aged woman, blue eyes, partially graying hair.

8:36 No, I'm sorry, officers. My husband isn't home right now.

8:39 Where is he, Mrs.

8:40 Gorman, do you know?

8:40 Well, he went downtown to see a friend of his, business appointment. Is there anything I can help you with?

8:45 Are you expecting your husband home pretty soon, ma'am?

8:47 Yes, I am. Matter of fact, he should have been home long before this. I don't know what's keeping him. Told me he was going downtown to collect some money a friend of his owed him. Said he'd be right back. I don't know what could be keeping him.

8:58 When did he leave the house, ma'am?

8:59 About 2.30, 3 o'clock this afternoon. It's almost 8.30 now. Could be he stopped to have a beer with his friend. Usually phones, though, if he's going to be late. I don't understand these men sometimes.

9:11 You and your husband own a car, Mrs.

9:13 Gorman?

9:13 Yes, we do. My husband has it right now. Why?

9:17 What kind of a car is it, ma'am?

9:18 A 49 Chevy sedan.

9:20 Gray color, four-door?

9:21 Yes.

9:22 License number 7T7972? Well, yes, I think that's it.

9:27 Why?

9:27 What's the matter? Something happen?

9:29 Nothing to get worried about, Mrs. Gorman. We located the car in the downtown area, parked on a side street. The keys were still in it. Thought we'd check on it.

9:36 Where was it parked?

9:37 Near 3rd and Bixel.

9:38 Well, that can't be right. This man my husband was going to see has his store on Alameda. It's on Alameda between 9th and 10th. No reason for Kenneth to drive the car way down on 3rd Street.

9:48 Possible he might have had another business appointment down there, ma'am. Maybe something he didn't mention to you.

9:52 Well, I don't know. I suppose it is possible. You'd think he'd call, though. He usually does when he's going to be out late like this.

9:59 What about this man your husband was going to see, Miss Gorman? You happen to know who he is?

10:03 Yes, Fred Bernard. He's in the sheet metal business, has his shop on South Alameda. He owed my husband $ 300. My husband went down this afternoon to collect it.

10:12 You're a friend of your husband's, is he?

10:13 Oh, yes, they're good friends. Fred and my husband have done business for years.

10:16 There wasn't any ill feeling between them about this debt?

10:19 No, no, of course not. It was just a bill for some materials. Why do you ask that?

10:24 Just routine questions, ma'am. Can you think of anyone at all who might have a quarrel with your husband? Somebody who has a grudge against him, maybe?

10:31 No.

10:32 Why are you asking questions like that? Is something wrong? Something you're not telling me about?

10:36 No, ma'am. It's just a routine check, Ms. Gorman. Nothing to worry about. I want to make sure everything's all right. That's all.

10:42 The way you talk, it isn't all right. It's far from right. It's never gone this long without calling me. There must be something wrong.

10:49 You're just getting yourself all worked up, ma'am. You admit your husband might have had another appointment after he left Bernard.

10:54 By the way, have you checked with Mr. Bernard yet, ma'am?

10:56 No, to tell you the truth, I haven't. I don't usually like to call my husband when he's out on business. I don't like to bother him. This is different, though. I think I'll call Fred Bernard right now.

11:07 That's a good idea. Do you mind if we wait, ma'am?

11:08 No, no, not at all.

11:09 It'll only take me a minute. Excuse me.

11:11 Yes, ma'am.

11:13 What do you think?

11:14 I don't know.

11:15 Doesn't look too good, does it? Car's abandoned. Stain's in the back seat. Man's late in getting home. It's all there.

11:21 Could be anything, couldn't it?

11:22 Doesn't look good. Sargent?

11:23 Yes, ma'am.

11:24 I just talked to Fred Bernard. He said my husband's been there and left.

11:27 What time did he leave, Bernard?

11:28 About 3.15, 3.30. Fred Bernard paid my husband the $ 300 he owed him, and my husband left. Fred told me my husband asked him if he wouldn't have a glass of beer with him, but Fred said no, he was busy. So my husband said, all right, he was going to have a beer at home. Told Fred he was going right home. That was at 3.15 this afternoon.

11:46 Yes, ma'am.

11:47 There must be something wrong, I know it. It just isn't like my husband. He wouldn't leave the car like that. If he was late, at least he'd call me. Oh, would you excuse me again? I've had the dinner on the stove, boiled away to nothing. I want to turn it off.

12:01 Yes, ma'am, go right ahead. I hope it works out all right. Seems like a nice woman.

12:05 Yes, she does.

12:06 Sure doesn't figure, does it? He's had plenty of time to get home. No reason why he shouldn't be here by this time. Well, I can think of two.

12:12 Yeah?

12:12 An empty car and $ 300. We continued interviewing the wife of the missing man, Kenneth Gorman, and she told us that occasionally he did some drinking at neighborhood bars. She also told us that when her husband drank quite a bit in public places, he was over-friendly and he liked to brag and flash money. Mrs. Gorman got on the phone, contacted all their friends and relatives who happened to be home, but none of them had seen or heard from Mr.

12:37 Gorman that day. Before Frank and I left, Mrs. Gorman gave us a complete description of her husband, the clothing he was wearing, and also a recent photograph of him. We called Fred Bernard, the friend of the missing man, the last known person to see him, and told him that we'd like to talk to him. He told us that he was working late, getting out a rush order, and that we could find him in his shop. 9.05 p.m.

12:56 We located Bernard at his shop on South Alameda.

13:00 Won't take long, will it?

13:01 An awful rush tonight.

13:02 Won't take long, sir.

13:03 Did Mr.

13:04 Gorman give you any idea where he was going when he left here this afternoon?

13:07 No, just like I told his wife on the phone. I paid him the money I owed him. He asked me if I wanted a beer, took a rain check on it, and he left.

13:13 Went right out that door there.

13:14 You seem worried about anything, Mr. Gorman?

13:16 No, not that I could see.

13:17 He seemed all right to me.

13:18 Had he been drinking, do you know?

13:19 No, couldn't say.

13:20 If he was, I couldn't smell it on him.

13:22 Is there anything unusual about him at all?

13:24 Anything out of the ordinary?

13:25 No, same old Ken. Pretty good mood when I paid him. $ 300 cash.

13:30 He's all dressed up.

13:30 I guess you might call that unusual.

13:32 How do you mean unusual?

13:33 Well, Ken's like me.

13:34 Working man, not much of a dresser. Usually find him in working clothes. I think it's the second time I ever saw him in a suit.

13:41 A new one, too.

13:41 Looked nice on him.

13:42 He didn't give you any indication at all where he might be going, did he?

13:45 No, he just collected his money and went out. I thought maybe he was going home. What did Miss Gorman tell you? Didn't you have any idea where he is?

13:51 No, sir.

13:51 She told us he came down here to collect some money. She expected him right home. We're not trying to be nosy, Mr. Bernard, but how do Gorman and his wife get along? Are they pretty happy together?

14:00 Yes, I guess you might say that. Get along as well as you could expect them to.

14:05 What do you mean by that?

14:05 Nothing.

14:07 Ken's a.

14:07 Well, he's a fellow who likes his nightlife. Wife's just the opposite, quiet type. Almost left him once. Guess they're getting along pretty good now, though.

14:15 Why'd she almost leave him? Would you happen to know?

14:17 Well, she found him out with a girlfriend. Matter of fact, she caught him at a terrible row. Didn't understand any of it. The girlfriend wasn't much at all, real lush.

14:24 You know the girl's name?

14:25 Yeah, I met her twice. Name's Elaine something... She works at a cafe three blocks from here.

14:31 Real lush.

14:31 She sure took it. You know if Gorman's been seeing her lately? He says he hasn't been. I don't know.

14:36 I never can tell when he's drinking, though. Didn't his wife mention the girl at all? Well, I guess she wouldn't. Must have been a terrible thing for her when she found out. Terrible.

14:46 How long ago was all this, Mr. Bernard? I mean, this affair Gorman had with this girl.

14:50 Oh, six weeks.

14:51 Maybe two months ago.

14:52 Just about that.

14:53 I tell you, it was the greatest thing I ever saw. Ken has a nice, quiet wife of his at home. They get along fine together, never fought, never quarreled. Then he picks up with his girl Elaine, sure different.

15:03 How's that?

15:04 Real mean girl.

15:05 Two of them fought all the time. 9.40 p.m. We left Fred Bernard at his shop, drove to the restaurant where Gorman's girlfriend reportedly was working as a waitress, and we checked with the manager. He told us a girl by the name of Elaine Summerall had been employed there, but that she'd been fired for drinking on the job.

15:23 He also told us that he had reason to suspect that Elaine Summerall was not the girl's true name. We showed the cafe manager a picture of Mr. Gorman and he identified it. He said Gorman had been in that afternoon inquiring about the Summerall girl. Gorman had asked for the girl's forwarding address, but the manager told us that he'd thrown it away. We left our card with him and asked him to contact us immediately in the event the girl returned. 10.18 p.m. We drove back to the city hall and checked in at the office. We ran the name and description of the Summerall girl through R & I, and they told us they had a Summerall girl in the files who answered the description. Elaine Summerall, alias Elaine O'Donnell, alias Elaine Shellman. There were wants out

16:01 on her for forgery, three counts, and grand theft merchandise. We signed out of the office, went across the street to the Federal Cafe, and had a sandwich and a cup of coffee.

16:10 It wouldn't look so rough if it wasn't for the stains they found in the backseat of that car.

16:13 It's hard to get around at points to more than robbery, doesn't it? The M.O.

16:16 Sure strikes me pretty funny, pulling the man off the street like that.

16:19 Must be either hard up or crazy, huh? Battle Cafe.

16:22 Just a minute.

16:23 Friday?

16:24 Yeah.

16:25 Phone. Right, thank you. I'll be right back.

16:26 Okay.

16:29 Yeah, Friday talking. Yeah, Glenn. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm, where? How long ago?

16:36 Yeah, I see, huh?

16:38 It wasn't, huh? Yeah, we'll roll on it right now. Tell them we're on our way in, will you?

16:43 Yeah, right.

16:43 Thanks, Glenn. Bye.

16:47 Yeah?

16:48 Chandler, they just found the maroon coupe, the one stolen in the neighborhood where Gorman's was dropped.

16:52 Where'd they find it?

16:52 Picked it off going up through Lancaster, Sheriff's deputies.

16:55 Does it look good on our job?

16:56 Well, there were two men in the car. One of them had a knife, bloodstains on their clothes, all over the inside of the car.

17:00 How's it figure?

17:01 It doesn't. Not a scratch on either one of them.

17:14 You are listening to Dragnet, authentic stories of your police force in action.

17:19 Monday, March 18th, 1040 p.m.

17:29 After we received the report that the stolen maroon coupe, along with the two suspects, had been recovered north of the city in the town of Lancaster, Frank and I stopped by the record bureau and checked to see if there was a make on either one of the suspects. The first one, Paul Mike, white male American, 32 years, 5'11, 150 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes. He had a long felony record, including burglary and robbery. He'd served sentences in both San Quentin and Folsom, and there was a warrant on him for violation of parole. The second suspect, Floyd Compton, white male American, 34 years, 5'8, 135 pounds, black hair, brown eyes. His record included arrests on suspicion of burglary, four grand theft merchandise, and three drunk arrests. He was

18:09 a petty thief known to us as a shoplifter. He'd never served time in a penitentiary. 10.55 p.m., Frank and I, with identifying photographs of the two suspects, left the city and drove north. We checked in at the Lancaster Sheriff's Office substation. Captain Walker Hannon briefed us on the details of the arrest and then he showed us back to the cell block where the two suspects were being held.

18:29 He told us neither of the men had been questioned because the officers there weren't acquainted with the facts of the case. He also informed us both men had been separated from the time of their apprehension. Captain Hannon had Paul Mike taken from his cell and he was brought to the captain's office where we started to question him.

18:44 It went slow.

18:45 I don't think I understand you, Sergeant. What's all the excitement about? You can answer that better than we can, Mike.

18:49 Answer what? What do you want to know? The car, Mike. The bloodstains. What about them?

18:53 A little unusual, wouldn't you say? I don't know anything about any bloodstains. If they're in the car, I don't know how they got there. It isn't my car.

18:59 Yeah, we know that. What about the stains in your clothes? Well, I don't know. We were sitting in the car there. Maybe the stains rubbed off on us. You got a cigarette?

19:05 Only one thing wrong with that story, Mike. The stains were on the wrong side of you.

19:09 All right, so I had a fight. Got hit in the nose. What's that, a law against it? I got a hunch, Mike. Yeah? You're lying. Where'd you get that car? I told you where I got it.

19:17 Me and Compton were bumming a ride on San Fernando Road. This spook came along in the maroon coupe and gave us a ride. A couple of miles this side of Lancaster, he stopped the car and got out. Said he'd be right back. Walked right out into the desert.

19:28 That right?

19:29 Yeah.

19:30 Waited for him to come back. Waited a long time. Hooked the horn, yelled for him. We finally gave it up. Matter of fact, Compton and me got a little scared. Thought maybe the car was stolen. I didn't want to get caught in the hot car. I'm an ex-con. I couldn't stand the heat. The truth, I'm squaring with you.

19:43 What about the money, Mike?

19:44 Huh?

19:44 The money. They booked you in with $ 133 in your pocket. Oh, yeah. I got lucky in a crap game last night. I was pulling out. How about the pocket knife? Bloodstains on it. You win that in a crap game, too? No, matter of fact, it was in the car. I found it right there on the seat.

19:58 Big coincidence, Mike. Somebody leaves you a car, bloodstains on the inside, stains on you and your partner, pocket knife, stains on that, too. You're on parole, leaving town without notice, driving a car you're not supposed to be driving, pocket full of money you got no way of accounting for. Face it, Mike.

20:10 What do you mean?

20:11 Face it.

20:11 You're dead. Flag on your card now. Parole officer wants you. Now, how about the truth?

20:15 What do you mean, the truth?

20:16 I've told it to you.

20:17 All right, now, come on. Let's save time for all of us, Mike. You've been around long enough. You've graduated. You know we're not going to buy that line. What line?

20:23 How can I explain things to you? You won't believe me. Told you nothing but the truth since I walked into this room and you won't believe me.

20:28 You got a cigarette? How do you account for the blood in your shirt? I told you, I had a fight. Guy hit me in the nose. Happened right down there in L.A. You can check it. Where'd it happen? Bar, downtown.

20:37 There's a lot of bars downtown. Place in South Pierce. I go there sometimes. What's the name of it?

20:42 797 Club.

20:43 Ask anybody in there. You said it happened tonight? Yeah, about 8 o'clock. Just before we cut out. Guy hit me right on the nose.

20:49 Real rough one. You got a cigarette? What time did you say you had that fight? About 8 o'clock.

20:54 You sure of that?

20:55 Sure of what? You're not doing too well, Mike. Now what's the matter? We were at the 797 Club tonight. We talked to the owner. So what? We were there at 635. He locked the place up and went home at 645. He was sick. 797 Club? Yeah, that's right. Now where were you at the time of the robbery?

21:10 I want an attorney. I'm not saying anything else. Trying to frame me. Take me back to my cell. Any way you want it, Mike.

21:15 Let's go. Once they use telling the truth and they don't believe you. How about that cigarette?

21:21 Captain, would you have the jailer return this one and bring in Captain? How about that? He couldn't tell the truth if it helped him. I hope we do better with his partner. We're going to have to. We know we're on the right track. The big question is, what have they done with Gorman? Big guess. A thousand places they could have dumped him between here and L.A.

21:38 I hate to make book on his chances. Everything points to a killing, doesn't it?

21:42 Mike looks like the one who could handle it.

21:44 Come on in, Tom. Come over here. Sit down.

21:48 Here.

21:49 Yeah. My name's Friday. This is Smith, my partner.

21:54 Hi.

21:55 Branched out of your class, haven't you, Compton? Running in the big time here?

21:58 What do you mean?

21:58 We haven't done anything. Robbery, kidnapping, grand theft auto. You're moving pretty fast. Didn't Mike tell you? This guy gave us a ride. He stopped the car and walked away. We didn't steal the car. Thought the guy was lost. We drove in here to get help. Let's take it from the top. Where'd you spend the day?

22:11 Who were you with?

22:11 Mike.

22:12 He stayed overnight with me. Both slept till about 2 o'clock. Got something to eat and went to a show. Got out about 5.

22:17 What'd you do then?

22:18 Went to this bar downtown.

22:19 Didn't Mike tell you?

22:20 You were with him, weren't you? Sure I was with him. He'll tell you that.

22:23 He did.

22:23 And you didn't do anything wrong to him?

22:25 No.

22:26 Then what are you worrying about? Let's forget Mike now. You level with us, will you? You're getting it straight.

22:30 I didn't do anything. Mike says he can't stand another beef. Can't afford it. He's too upright now.

22:35 I know that.

22:36 We believe him, Compton. Mike's done too much time. He couldn't make another trip easy. We think he's telling us the truth.

22:41 Well, so am I. What are you getting at, anyway?

22:44 All right, now, let's get on the bandwagon while you can. We don't need you, Compton. If you talk or not, it doesn't make any difference. Just a minute.

22:49 Can I talk to Mike?

22:50 All right, we'll give it a try. Frank, you want to ask him? Yeah, okay.

22:53 Be right back.

22:54 Now, let's pick up where we left off. The bloodstains on your clothes, stains inside the car, where'd they come from?

22:59 Mike told you, didn't he?

23:00 Yeah, you tell us.

23:00 What for? Why can't I wait till Mike gets here?

23:02 All right, what about the money? You want to explain about that?

23:04 Nothing to explain. I saved it.

23:06 What kind of work do you do?

23:07 Jobs around town, any place I can find them.

23:09 You say you got up at 2, you had something to eat, you went to a show, and you got out about 5 o'clock, is that right? Yeah, that's right. When did you go to the 797 Club?

23:16 Right after the show, about 5 o'clock.

23:18 How long did you stay there? About an hour, until about 6 o'clock. Anything unusual happen while you were in the bar?

23:23 What do you mean?

23:24 Anything unusual, anything out of the ordinary?

23:26 Oh, Mike and me sat there, talked, had some drinks. Pretty dead place. Decided to take off for Reno. Mike's got a friend up there, a good friend. Thought maybe he'd get the both of us jobs.

23:35 Captain? Yeah?

23:38 Where's Mike? I told him you wanted to talk to him. He said he didn't want to see you. They took him out to feed him. Told me to tell you he'd see you in court.

23:45 What do you mean, see me in court?

23:46 I think you got it, Compton. We told you we didn't need you. Come on, we're tired. We're going to lock you up.

23:50 Well, what did he say? What did he tell you? Now, look, fella, we're tired. You wanted to go the hard way. All right, you'll get the answers in court.

23:55 Well, what did he say? What did he tell you?

23:56 Come on, let's go. You should have known better. Mike's not going to ride your beef for you.

23:59 He was in it all the way. It's his idea and it's his beef, not mine.

24:02 I argued with him.

24:03 I know he shouldn't have gone along crazy. Yeah, come on.

24:05 It's the truth.

24:05 The whole thing's Mike's. It's his knife, too. Met the guy in some bar.

24:09 And he was real high talking about some dame he was looking for, a girlfriend. Guy bought us a couple of drinks, had a big roll of bills.

24:14 Mike framed the whole thing.

24:15 Yeah?

24:16 Yeah, he wanted to roll the guy. He left, got in the guy's car and drove with him way toward town. Mike was driving. I didn't know where he was heading for. All of a sudden, the guy says he wants another drink. Mike didn't want to stop, but he was making a racket. Finally pulled up by the 797 club.

24:30 We got out.

24:30 Then the guy changes his mind. He wants to go home. Mike tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. Mike pulled a knife and cut him. Then he slugged the guy and the two of us pushed him in the car and took off. Where'd you go from there? We cruised around until we found another car, Maroon Coupe. We clouded that one, dumped the gray sedan, and took off up this way.

24:45 Right.

24:46 Look, it's the truth. I'll even tell you about the guy.

24:47 What happened to him? You got flashlights in your car?

24:50 The man still alive?

24:51 I don't know.

24:52 He was when we left him. 1.45 a.m. The Lancaster Sheriff's substation contacted the local emergency ambulance, and they were instructed to follow our car. Along with the suspect, Floyd Compton, Frank and I got in the car and headed south, following his directions. After several tries at locating the spot where Mike and Compton supposedly left their victim, we finally found where they'd parked their car on the side of the road. We got out and Compton led us back across a stretch of sand to a thick clump of sagebrush about 300 yards off the highway. The victim, Kenneth Gorman, was lying face down. His hands and feet were tied together.

25:27 It was fairly evident that he'd lost a good deal of blood and that he was in a state of severe shock. He was placed on a stretcher and placed in the ambulance. All right, that's it.

25:38 Let's go.

25:39 Be real tough.

25:40 I'm sure glad he ain't dead.

25:41 Yeah, sure. Come on.

25:42 Where are we going now?

25:43 Back to the sheriff's office. Want to take your statement.

25:45 Okay with me. Just one thing I want. One more thing.

25:48 Yeah?

25:48 That lousy Mike. I want to be there.

25:49 I want to see him. How's that?

25:51 Trying to load this thing on me. I want to see his face when you tell him. Can't wait to see it.

25:54 Yeah, neither can we.

25:55 The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.

26:07 On July 12th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 84, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Paul Mike and his accomplice, Floyd Compton, were filed on for violation of Section 209 of the Penal Code, kidnapping for the purpose of robbery, and Section 211 of the Penal Code, robbery in the first degree. They were also filed on for one count of grand theft auto. They were tried and convicted and received sentences as prescribed by law. Kidnapping for the purpose of robbery, where bodily harm is inflicted, is punishable by the death sentence or life imprisonment without possibility of parole. Robbery is punishable by imprisonment from five years

26:55 to life. Grand theft auto is punishable by a prison term of not less than one nor more than ten years. The victim, Kenneth Gorman, finally recovered after more than three months in the hospital. Ladies and gentlemen, next week, Dragnet presents a trilogy. Three documented case histories of vital importance to all of us. This trio of authentic stories is both tragic and terrifying. Please try to hear Dragnet next week when we present our trilogy. You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief.

27:42 Of Police W.H.

27:43 Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. Technical advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Vic Perrin, Virginia Gregg, Sam Edwards. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

28:00 Ladies and gentlemen, you may now read Dragnet every day on the comic page of your favorite newspaper.

28:05 Please consult your local daily paper.

28:29 Adventure is yours tonight with Counterspy on NBC.

28:42 Welcome back.

28:43 Well, there's a bit of a trope in many mystery stories that if an alibi is unbelievable, it may just be true because how could you make up something like that? Well, this is a case where it shows that some people are just bad at coming up with logical stories.

29:05 I mean, the whole idea is that Gorman.

29:09 Picked up these two hitchhikers, drove away, pulled over, and just, you know, got out of the car without any real explanation and wandered off into the desert. As you do. Now, of course, in real life, this can be true. And my favorite example of a dragnet story where this did actually turn out, a story was told that you thought was absolute nonsense, but turned out to be correct. The first time I listened to the episode, The Big Hit and Run Killer, and I think I saw the TV version of it first. And we played the radio version already.

29:48 But for those who don't remember, there was a hit and run. A bakery truck was identified as the vehicle. and they traced the truck to a company that let its drivers take the bakery trucks home, and the truck that was actually involved belonged to a driver who also had a part-time job at cafe but he said he didn't do the killings wasn't driving the vehicle that he lended out to a customer named paul and when they asked what was this customer's last name he didn't remember and they couldn't really find any verification of paul being around and then i when i i believe i was first watching that story i was like really This is the story that this guy's going with. It's obviously false.

30:53 Except it wasn't. I mean, what he had done was incredibly stupid, but that was what actually happened. He did something stupid and, you know, let a customer whose last name he didn't even know have his truck. And the customer committed a hit and run and left the driver to.

31:16 Stand for it.

31:17 So sometimes that cliche is true, but not always. Listener comments and feedback now, and we go to YouTube where James writes in regarding the Big Whiff. Excellent episode. Well, thanks so much, James. And now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you to Rebecca, Patreon supporter since August of 2024, currently supporting the podcast at the Seamus level of $ 4 or more per month.

31:47 Thanks so much for your support, Rebecca. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollarware.

32:09 But now listen. Did Pat McCracken tell you why I wanted to see you? Something about a missing beneficiary. Here's a story in a.

32:15 Couple of nutshells. We've got a lot of farms around here. Big ones, little ones, all kinds. A few years ago, Harvey Wakeman and his family came out here.

32:23 That's Mrs.

32:24 Wakeman and his 20-year-old son, Ben. It's Wakeman's policy that's involved? Just let me give it to you my own way to save time.

32:30 Yeah, shoot.

32:31 Well, Wakeman used to be a professor at some agriculture college somewhere back east. When his doctor told him if he didn't stop teaching and retire, he'd die before his time, why, he came out here and bought this farm up this side of Coburg.

32:42 And went to work on it. He called that retiring? Oh, he did wonders with it. And when he died a few weeks ago... You wouldn't know this.

32:48 Yeah?

32:49 A wife and son... That's right. Had left the insurance to somebody by the name of... That's right. To a man named Jonathan Doe. Just who is this John Doe? Ask me, Johnny.

33:00 He isn't.

33:01 What do you mean by that? Ask me. Jonathan Doe is dead.

33:04 He must have known old man Wakeman was leaving him this money, so why isn't he around to collect it?

33:08 I see.

33:09 Tell me one thing, Les. What's that? How did Wakeman die?

33:12 Sound asleep in his own bed in his own house. Nothing to be suspicious about, if that's what you meant.

33:17 Okay. Now, let's get back to Jonathan Doe.

33:20 Wakeman's best friend, Johnny, had a farm just north of Wakeman's on a little side road. The way I understand it, Wakeman spent almost as much time this past year over at Jonathan's helping him out as he did on his own farm.

33:31 His best friend? Yeah, that's why he left him the insurance money.

33:34 After all, he left his widow and his boy his own farm worth three or four times that much.

33:38 I see. But now my problem is I can't find Jonathan Doe. He just disappeared? Just disappeared. When? About the same time Harvey Wakeman died near as we can figure it. That was three months ago. What did the police think? Well, they decided the only thing we can do is wait. Maybe he'll show up again. But you ask me, Johnny.

33:58 Yeah?

33:58 That means wait for seven years until he's legally presumed not to be alive, and then give the money to the secondary beneficiary.

34:05 Legally presumed not to be alive? That's a funny way.

34:08 I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box13 at greatdetectives.net. Follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives. Check us out on Instagram, instagram.com slash greatdetectives. From Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.