Dragnet: The Big Signet (EP5089)

0:03 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 please follow us using your favorite podcast software and today's episode is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners You can support the show on a one-time basis by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, PO Box 15913. That's PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho, 83715.

1:01 And I want to thank Derek, Maggie. And Carl and Carolyn, thanks so much for your support. You can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $ 2 per month and go to patreon.greatdetectives.net. And I want to welcome our latest Patreon supporters, Neil at the Detective Sergeant level of $ 7.

1:32 14 or more.

1:33 Per month, and Kayleen at the Shamus level of $ 4 or more per month. Again, thank you so much for your support. Now, from July 31st, 1952, here is The Big Signet.

1:50 The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

2:02 The Big Signet.

2:10 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a robbery detail. Two armed bandits hold up a restaurant in your city. The owner is slugged, beaten viciously. One of the bandits is shot. The other makes good his escape. Your job, get him.

2:35 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.

3:01 It was Monday, June 2nd. It was smoggy in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of robbery detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Diddy. My name's Friday. It was 7.53 a.m. when I got to room 27A. Robbery detail. Hello.

3:14 Good morning, Joe.

3:15 Morning, Frank. What's doing?

3:16 Not too much. How was the weekend?

3:18 It was great. I hated to come back. It's sure nice up there.

3:20 Where'd you go? Same place?

3:21 Yeah, Lake Mary. You remember Don Camp House up there, don't you?

3:24 Yeah, sure.

3:25 He said to say hello. Fishing's real great up there. You ought to try and make it next month or so, if you can.

3:29 Fat chance.

3:30 Why, what's the matter?

3:31 The in-laws are loose again. They're coming down for a visit. Never stay less than a month. That'll take care of my vacation.

3:35 That's too bad. Why don't you say something to the wife?

3:37 What's the use? Why start an argument?

3:42 What do we got here? Anything hot?

3:43 Yeah, this one here. Hold up in Slugging Cafe down on South Hill. Radio car boys jumped and shot one of them.

3:48 The other one got away.

3:49 We identified yet?

3:50 Yeah, the one who was shot, Benny Ashford. Record long as your arm. Graduate from Folsom. Some of them never learned. How about the number two man?

3:57 Don't know.

3:57 They tried to talk to this Ashford last night. He wouldn't tell them anything. I called the hospital just before you came in. They operated on the guy six o'clock this morning. You're going to call as soon as he's able to talk. It's going to be a couple days at least. How much did they get? Here's the crime report.

4:11 Thank you. You talked to the victims yet?

4:14 No, not yet.

4:15 It's a fair night's work, isn't it? $ 805 in cash, man's diamond signet ring. Estimated value of $ 1, 500. 17 stitches in the victim's scalp. Slug of the revolver, huh? Must have meant business.

4:28 Lousy thing.

4:29 They didn't have to slug him. He couldn't put up much of a fight anyway. He's 68 years old.

4:33 No other witnesses, huh?

4:34 No.

4:35 Just the owner, his wife, the bartender? That's all they have listed, yeah. Did you phone the victims yet?

4:40 No, I was just going to when you came in. Two phone numbers for them. They're both listed there.

4:43 Yeah, I see. Why don't you finish up with the day book here, and I'll give him a call, all right?

4:47 Okay, fine.

4:50 Here, you want a pencil?

4:57 Oh, thanks.

4:59 Hello, this is Friday, Los Angeles Police Department, Central Robbery. Mr. and Mrs. Reiner there, please? Neither one of them, huh? Well, how about the bartender? Is he there? Six o'clock, I see. No, that's all right. I got their home phone. Yeah, thanks very much. Nobody there.

5:17 Trying the other number?

5:20 Yeah. Hello, is this the Reiner residence? Yeah, well, this is Friday, LAPD, Central Robbery. Los Angeles Police Department. Yes, ma'am. Yes, Ms.

5:32 Reiner.

5:33 I just called the restaurant trying to get a hold of you. How's Mr. Reiner this morning? Let's see. I wonder if it would be possible if my partner and I could drop out and see you this morning. No, your case has been assigned to us. Yes, ma'am. Well, how about 10 o'clock? That be convenient for you? All right, fine. Yes, right away. Thank you very much.

5:52 Bye.

5:54 I got it set up, Mr.

5:55 And Ms.

5:55 Reiner. 10 o'clock this morning out at their home.

5:58 How's the old man feeling?

5:59 My wife says pretty rough. He lost quite a bit of blood. Big shock for an old man.

6:03 That's too bad.

6:04 She says he's still pretty hazy, but we can talk to him. One thing he remembers pretty well, though. Yeah? The face of the man who slugged him.

6:09 8.20 a.m.

6:14 We finished making up the daybook and then we went over to the main jail to interview two other robbery suspects who'd been booked in over the weekend. We completed our 510 reports on them and then we got in the car and drove out to the Westchester district to talk to the victims of the cafe holdup the night before, Mr.

6:28 And Mrs.

6:28 William Reiner. 9.55 a.m. We arrived at the Reiner home, and a small gray-haired woman answered the door and asked us in. She identified herself as Mrs. Reiner.

6:37 Come right into the living room, officers, and make yourselves to home.

6:40 All right, ma'am.

6:41 Thank you.

6:41 You go ahead.

6:41 I hope you'll excuse the way the house looks. Everything's all upset. I haven't had a chance to do any picking up.

6:46 It's perfectly all right, ma'am. We understand.

6:48 I was up with my husband half the night. I had heard him something terrible. It was almost six in the morning before he got to sleep. I hope this is enough to make up his mind for him.

6:57 How do you mean, Mrs.

6:57 Reineck?

6:58 About selling the place. I've been after him for months to get rid of it. Business like that's for younger people. We're getting too old to keep it up. Besides, the doctor's been telling William he needs more rest, less worry.

7:09 I see you. How's your husband feeling now, ma'am?

7:11 Oh, not so well. He lost so much blood and his head's so sore. He's taking a nap right now. I expect he'll be awake in a few minutes. That's all right with you, isn't it, officer?

7:20 Yes, ma'am. Perfectly all right. We'd like to go over the thing with you anyway. Might possibly be something that you forgot to mention to the officers last night.

7:26 Well, I told them everything. I'm sure I did.

7:28 Maybe some of the details, Mrs.

7:30 Reiner.

7:30 Maybe some little thing that didn't seem important to you could mean a good deal to us.

7:33 Well, I don't know. I thought I told them everything. Where do you want me to start?

7:37 Well, when did you first notice the two hold-up men, Miss Renner?

7:40 When they come out of the back room. I guess they'd been hiding there.

7:43 You notice them earlier in the evening? I mean, were they customers in your place?

7:46 Well, I'm not sure, but I think so.

7:48 Where were they served? Was it in the restaurant or were they in the bar? Well.

7:52 There again, I'm not positive, but I think it was in the bar. I think I served them two bottles of beer.

7:58 You don't happen to remember what you did with those two bottles, do you, ma'am? Possible we may be able to lift some prints off of them.

8:02 No.

8:03 The officers asked me that last night. It wouldn't do any good. You see, I was the only one who touched the bottles. We used the regular big mugs, and I poured the beer for them. Neither one of them touched the bottles.

8:13 How about the man who escaped, Ms.

8:14 Reiner?

8:15 You remember him pretty well, do you, of what he looked like? Oh, yes.

8:17 Yes, he's the one who did all the talking. He's the same one who hit my husband, too.

8:21 What did he look like, ma'am? How old would you say he was?

8:24 Oh, I don't know. I think I'd say he was in his late 30s, yes.

8:28 How tall, ma'am?

8:30 Well, my husband's 5'9, and I'd say the man was 2 inches taller than him. He's huskier, too. I... I'd guess about 175 or 80 pounds, a very strong-looking man.

8:42 Do you remember what he was wearing?

8:43 It was a tan sports coat, I think, and green slacks, light green, and a dark brown hat.

8:49 Did you notice anything unusual about him?

8:51 I beg your pardon?

8:52 Anything outstanding about him? Anything that was different? Say, a scar, a mole, tattoos, anything like that?

8:56 No, no, not that I could notice.

8:58 What was the first thing this man said to you and your husband, ma'am?

9:01 Well, he said it to all three of us, me and my husband and the bartender. That's George O'Leary. He's been with us for years. He's a good bartender. He'd only stay sober.

9:10 Yes, ma'am. What was the first thing the holdup man said?

9:12 Well, he's the same one that hit my husband, you know. He said in a real loud voice, he said, this is a stick-up. Get your hands up high and keep them there.

9:20 And what happened then?

9:21 We put our hands up for George. That's the bartender, you know. Scared him so bad, he dropped a full bottle of bourbon. Bonded, too. Broke all over the floor.

9:30 George isn't.

9:31 Well, that's why he drinks.

9:33 Well, what do the holdup men do after they had you raise your hands?

9:35 Well, that one that hit my husband. He told the other man to go behind the bar and get the money. It was all spread out on the bar. William and I was just checking the register when it happened.

9:44 Let's see.

9:45 Would you go on, please?

9:46 Well, after they got the register money, they put it in our bank bags, and then they went through my purse and through my husband's wallet and through George's wallet, too. They took George's last dollar and a half, got $ 805 in all cash. I guess you knew that.

9:59 Yes, ma'am. What happened after that?

10:01 Jenny!

10:01 Jenny, where are you? Oh, will you excuse me?

10:04 The office is my husband's.

10:05 Yes, ma'am. Go ahead.

10:05 I'll just see what he wants. I think he'll be able to talk to you now.

10:08 All right, ma'am. Frank, do you remember to bring that mug book?

10:12 Yes, it's out in the car.

10:13 That's good. We can leave it here where the Reiner's pick it up later tonight.

10:16 Okay, you want me to get it now? No, let's wait and see how he is, huh?

10:19 Officers, would you like to come back here?

10:21 Officers?

10:22 Yes, ma'am.

10:22 We're coming.

10:25 Jenny, would you pull up chairs for the officers?

10:28 Oh, why, surely. Officers, this is my husband, Will.

10:31 How do you do, sir?

10:33 Here you are, Sergeant.

10:34 Thank you very much.

10:36 You catch the other man yet? The one who hit me?

10:38 No, sir, not yet. That's why we're out here. We know that you don't feel too well, Mr. Reiner. We'll try to keep it short.

10:43 No, I sure don't. I guess Jen told you. My head's killing me. Poor girl. I kept her up most of the night, I guess. She was a fine nurse, Jen. She didn't get any rest at all.

10:53 Yes, sir. She was just telling us about the holdup last night, sir.

10:56 How it happened.

10:57 I was telling them how they got the money, Will. I didn't explain about your ring, though. Do you want to tell them?

11:02 It was the worst part of the whole thing. I'd rather have lost anything but that ring.

11:06 How's that, sir?

11:07 Some kind of a keepsake? It belonged to my dad. Diamond signet. The stone wasn't perfect, but money sure can't replace it.

11:12 Yes, sir.

11:13 I remember when Dad.

11:14 Gave it to me.

11:16 Just a couple of days before he died. It was his ring.

11:19 Been in the family way back. Which one of the whole of men took the ring, Mr.

11:22 Ryan?

11:22 The same one hit me. One got away.

11:24 After they took all our money, he came over to me and said, give me the ring.

11:28 Hand it over. I told him I couldn't get it off my finger.

11:31 What did he do then?

11:32 Slapped my face. Said if I couldn't get the ring off, he could. Said if he had to, he'd cut it off.

11:37 I pleaded with him.

11:38 I told him what it meant to me. Didn't do any good.

11:41 I see.

11:42 When I didn't give him the ring right away, brought that gun down right on top of my head. hit me as hard as he could. I don't remember too well after that.

11:49 You think you'd recognize the man if you ever saw him again, Mr.

11:52 Reiner?

11:52 I'll never forget him. I sure hope you find the ring, officer. Jen and I have been through some tough times together. I guess at one time or other we've either sold or pawned everything we own, but we never.

12:03 Let go of that ring. Never did, not until last night. Isn't that right, Jen?

12:08 Yes, that's right, Will.

12:09 Well, we'll do all we can to get it back for you, Mr. Reiner. Now, about this man who got away, can you remember anything outstanding about him at all, anything unusual?

12:16 No, I don't think so. He had mean-looking eyes, I remember that much.

12:20 Yes, sir.

12:21 Kind of the smart aleck type, I guess. Kept twirling his gun around his hand, on his finger, you know. I was scared death was going to go off.

12:28 So was George. He's our bartender. Real scared, wasn't he, Jen?

12:32 Oh, yes.

12:33 George was white as a sheet.

12:34 How do you mean, Mr. Reiner?

12:35 He twirled the gun around. Oh, you know, like in the movies. Cowboy pictures.

12:39 Typical smart aleck. He sure did run when the cops came, though. Only wish he was the one who got shot.

12:45 You're sure you'll be able to identify this man if you see him again?

12:48 I told you I'll never forget him. Say, there's something about this I don't think I understand.

12:54 Yeah?

12:55 Why are you asking me all these questions about it? How about the fella who was with that crook? The fella that shot him.

13:00 Why don't you talk to him? He ought to be able to tell you who his partner is.

13:04 Well, he had an emergency operation, sir, at 6 o'clock this morning. His condition's still critical.

13:08 Oh, I see.

13:09 Just a matter of time, then, huh? I mean, when he recovers, you'll be able to talk to him. You'll find out what you want to.

13:15 Well, there's only one hitch, sir. Whether he recovers or he doesn't recover. Yes? Either way, we can't depend on him.

13:20 11.38 a.m.

13:25 After we finished interviewing the holdup victims, Frank got the mug book out of the car containing pictures of recent robbery releases from the state prisons and we left it with Mr. and Mrs.

13:33 Reiner.

13:34 We instructed them that if they succeeded in identifying any one of the pictures to take down his name and prison number and call our office immediately. We told them we'd be back later that afternoon. 11.50 a.m. We left the Reiner home and drove down to the scene of the robbery, the restaurant on South Hill. When we got there, Officer Walmsley from Leighton Fingerprints was just leaving. He told us that he'd been unable to raise any legible prints at the back window where the number two suspect had escaped.

14:00 Frank and I checked over the scene, then we headed back for the office. There were half a dozen messages for us in the book. One of them was to call State Parole Officer Fred Galloway at his office on South Broadway. Frank put in the call and Galloway said he'd be right down and thought he had something for us. 1.05 p.m.

14:17 Galloway met us in the squad room and briefed us on some of the information that he'd received earlier that morning from one of his parolees. It concerned the wife of a former hold-up man who now was wanted by Galloway for violation of parole. He told us the wife had rented a car from a U-Drive lot in Santa Monica and that supposedly the ex-con and his wife were planning to leave the city.

14:37 What's the tie, Fred? How's it figure in for us?

14:39 I was talking to Chandler this morning. He happened to mention the holdup you're working. This fellow answered the description of the one who got away. What was that name again?

14:45 The ex-con?

14:45 Ernest Morgan. Your L.A.

14:46 Number 178435. Folsom numbers 12968.

14:51 Reason I got pepped on is the thief could have hurt his leg jumping out of the back window of the bar.

14:54 You figure he could have?

14:55 Yeah, easily. It's a good 30, 35-foot drop. Why, Fred?

14:58 Well, my informant says a Cerny Morgan has a bumped foot. Hurt it so bad he can hardly walk on it. Says he saw Morgan day before yesterday. His leg was all right then. Sounds like a good one to get off the street, huh? What do you say we check his package?

15:09 Good idea. Your informant say who this Morgan's been running with, Fred? Said he didn't know. Thinks he plays it alone, more or less. Go ahead, Fred.

15:20 Did you contact the U-Drive lot, Fred, and get the dope on the car?

15:23 Yeah.

15:24 Didn't want to put the teletype on until I was sure. One of the fellas from our office had to make a call out that way. They're taking a mugshot of Morgan's wife out there to see if the U-Drive clerk can give him an ident on her. She got a record? She's never done any time. She's done a couple of pinches with him. Never could make her on anything, though.

15:38 I'll pull the package.

15:39 All right, fine.

15:41 How about your victims, Joe? They any good?

15:43 Yeah. They claim they can identify the man. I don't think we'll have any trouble there. How about this informant of yours? Does he know where we can locate the Morgans?

15:50 No, not now.

15:51 According to him, Morgan and his wife left town about nine this morning.

15:54 He thinks he might get a line of where they're headed, though.

15:55 Well, how come your informant knows so much about Morgan? He run with him?

15:58 No, he sold with him up at the junkyard. Fred, Joe, you want to have a look? Yeah. Here's the package. It's mugshot. Is this your Ernie Morgan, Fred? Yeah, that's him.

16:09 Good picture? Yeah, looks just like him.

16:11 The description, Joe.

16:12 Hmm.

16:12 Got everything right down the line.

16:14 Yeah.

16:15 Check this right here. Habits and characteristics.

16:19 Yeah, looks like it, doesn't it?

16:21 What's that?

16:21 He likes to twirl a gun in his hand. 1.52 p.m. We placed Ernest Morgan's picture in an envelope along with two dozen other mug shots, and then we put in a call to Mr. and Mrs. Reiner, told them we were coming out to see them. They told us that so far, neither one of them had been able to identify any of the pictures in the mug book that we'd left with them. Fred Galloway went back to his office and we told him we'd notify him the minute we got a positive identification. 2.25 p.m. We drove back to the Reiner home. The old man was still in bed.

16:53 Been all the way through this book of yours, officer. Couldn't find one who looked like the man, could we, Jen?

16:57 No, his picture's not in.

16:58 There, Sergeant.

16:59 We're sure of that.

17:00 I see.

17:01 Well, we've got some more of them here, folks. I'd like to have you look through them if you don't mind. See if you can identify one of them.

17:05 Yes, all right.

17:07 Jen, would you fix this pillow back here for.

17:09 Me, please? Oh, yes, of course, dear.

17:10 Thank you.

17:13 Here you are.

17:13 Thank you.

17:14 Did you see any picture in the book that resembled the man at all, sir?

17:16 No, I didn't.

17:17 None of them.

17:18 Wasn't the one who looked like him.

17:19 Here you are. See if any of these pictures look familiar to you.

17:22 Thank you, sir.

17:24 Jen, do you want to sit here by me? We can see him together.

17:26 All right, Will. Let's see now.

17:32 Oh, my.

17:32 Look at this one, Will. Doesn't he look like a mean one?

17:35 Mm-hmm.

17:37 Look at this one, Jen.

17:38 Look at him.

17:39 Think he's a college graduate, wouldn't you?

17:41 Oh, my, yeah. Officer, this young man here, what did he do?

17:46 Let me see that, ma'am. Oh, yeah, it's Marty Lee. Hold up and murder him, Miss Reiner. Shot and killed an elderly lady. She ran a candy store.

17:54 Oh, my, can you feature that? Such a clean-looking boy. Never believe what you will.

17:58 Takes all kinds, I guess.

18:00 Let's see now. No.

18:02 No.

18:04 No. No.

18:06 Let me see, Will. Oh, no, that's not him.

18:09 No.

18:10 No, no, we've been through these already. Have you some more, officer?

18:13 No, that's all, Mr.

18:14 Reiner.

18:15 You sure the holdup man's picture isn't in there?

18:17 No, sir. I looked at them all pretty carefully. I didn't see him. Did you, Jen?

18:21 No, no, I didn't see him. Was his picture supposed to be in here?

18:24 Well, we thought so, ma'am. Let's see. There, how about this one? Does he look familiar to you?

18:30 Jen?

18:31 No, no, I don't know.

18:34 Maybe, maybe not.

18:36 We serve so many people every night.

18:38 Are you folks sure you'll recognize the hold-up man when.

18:41 You see him?

18:42 Oh, yes.

18:42 Just one more question here, Mr.

18:44 Wright.

18:45 Yes?

18:46 Now, are you absolutely sure this is not the man who held you up and slugged you last night?

18:49 Yes, I'm sure. It's not the man.

19:03 You are listening to Dragnet, authentic stories of your police force in action.

19:15 Monday, June 2nd, 2.45 p.m. After the victims, Mr. and Mrs. Reiner, failed to identify Ernest Morgan as the robbery suspect, Frank and I got in the car and drove back to the office. Neither one of us had anything to say. Just at the moment we figured that we had the suspect positively identified, the victims themselves had contradicted what we thought was definitely the answer to the case. It wasn't by any means a news story. One of the first lessons a working detective learns is to keep an open mind regardless of how incriminating the circumstances first appear to be.

19:46 The big fallacy of a detective being too sure too soon... is based for the most part on the failure to recognize that police work means human beings dealing with human beings. So instead of going by the usual odds, the human margin for error is double. Frank and I didn't have too clear an idea of how or why it came about, but suddenly we found ourselves farther away from the solution of the case than before we started.

20:08 3.10 p.m.

20:12 Lousy day, huh?

20:13 Yeah, sure is.

20:14 Ten after three, feel like I haven't slept for two days.

20:16 Yeah, I know what you mean. Pretty hard to figure, isn't it?

20:18 Sure, hope the wife did the washing today. Why? She won't feel much like talking, I sure don't.

20:25 Well, let's check the books, huh?

20:26 Yeah, I'll do it. A couple of phone calls, Joe. One from the hospital, prison ward.

20:32 What do they want?

20:33 Our number one suspect, Ashford. He's doing better than they figured. Be available for interview tomorrow morning.

20:38 Lucky thief, huh? It was a copy with a dime.

20:40 Another message. It's from Galloway. Wants us to call him. And still a Madison number?

20:45 Yeah. You want the pad?

20:49 Oh, yeah, please.

20:51 There you go.

20:53 Adult parole, please, men. Thank you. Fred Galloway, please. Smith, robbery, LAPD. Thanks. Hi, Fred. Frank Smith. Uh-huh. Yeah, they're right. He sure about that?

21:08 Uh-huh.

21:09 Sure doesn't figure. No, I didn't mean to think to him. Yeah.

21:13 Okay.

21:14 Right. Thanks, Fred. He's got me, Joe. Why?

21:17 What's the matter?

21:17 Galloway got the report back from that U-drive lot, the place where Morgan's wife rented that car.

21:21 Mm-hmm.

21:22 They identified her as the woman who rented that car. She offered him a deal. She didn't want to leave a cash deposit for the car.

21:27 Well, what'd she offer?

21:28 Man's ring, diamond signet.

21:33 After we got the word from State Parole Officer Fred Galloway, we got out a broadcast and an APB, in addition to those we already had out. We requested that the rented car and the occupants be held for questioning in connection with the robbery of Reiner's Cafe the night before. If a man's diamond signet ring was found in possession of the occupants or in the car, it was to be booked as evidence. The following morning, Frank and I interviewed our number one suspect, Benny Ashford, in Ward 13,400 at General Hospital Prison Ward. Because he had the idea his partner had run out on him and taken the money with him, that he'd let him down, Ashford was in a fairly cooperative mood. After talking with him for

22:10 a little more than 20 minutes, he named Ernest Morgan and identified his mugshot as his companion in the robbery of Reiner's Cafe. He also told us the holdup was Morgan's idea and that Morgan had told him the job would be a pushover. We asked him where he thought we might locate Morgan, and he told us our best bet was Las Vegas, Nevada. Supposedly, Morgan had a good friend in Las Vegas, an ex-con by the name of Harry Breen. Frank and I went back to the office where we met with Inspector Farnan and Captain Didion. At 1.30 that afternoon, according to instructions, Frank and I signed out a trip car and headed out U.S. Highway 91 for Las Vegas. We checked in at the Las Vegas Police Department a few minutes before 8.30 that night. The alleged

22:49 friend of the suspect, Morgan, Harry Breen, had already been taken into custody by Las Vegas officers on the request of Captain Didion. We began questioning Breen, and he readily admitted that he was acquainted with Morgan.

23:01 All right, how long ago did you see Morgan? I don't know, this afternoon sometime. A lot of hours in an afternoon. When did you see him? What are you so excited about? What did he do, commit a murder?

23:08 Look, Breen, how much time do you owe the state? What's that got to do with it? We didn't drive all the way up here just to pass the time of day with you. You know he's hot. If you want to cover for him, you can serve his time.

23:15 Look, I don't get it. I'm not his keeper. If you want him, find him.

23:18 But we're going to find him if we have to walk all over you to do it. When the two of you are up doing time, you can figure it out for yourselves.

23:23 Trouble with you cops, once a guy does time, you can't leave him alone. I've been leveling since I got out. I've been carrying a lunch pail every day.

23:29 All right, now look, Breen, who do you think you're giving a snow job? We've been kidded by experts. You're not giving us anything new. We didn't send Morgan up to see you. If you're so lily white, how come Morgan got in touch with you? All right, I'll tell you. You're as bad right now as the day they locked the gate on you. You're never sorry for what you've done.

23:41 You just moaned because they caught you. Save that act for the jury, Breen. We're not going to buy it. Now, what about it? Where is he?

23:46 Wait a minute, huh? What are you so sore at me for? I didn't rob anybody. Who said you did? You must have been talking to Morgan. All right, I have.

23:52 I told you I'd talk to him.

23:53 He came around this afternoon. Now, get off my back.

23:55 What'd he want?

23:56 He's hot. He wanted to cool off.

23:57 Where's he now?

23:58 I don't know. Look, how should I know? He came around with his wife, asked for a favor. I couldn't do it. I just got married. My wife's a square. I told her about it. She wouldn't go for it.

24:07 The guy's a big crybaby anyway, trying to tell me how we ought to stick together.

24:11 Never done a favor for me. You see the car he was driving, Breen?

24:14 Yeah.

24:15 Convertible coupe, Packard.

24:16 California plates.

24:17 How'd you notice? You got the license number?

24:19 No, he asked me where he could get some cold plates. I figured it was hot. You get him any plates?

24:23 Look, I wouldn't know where to get them. I already told you. I've been leveling ever since I got out. There's no use kidding.

24:28 I couldn't do any more time. I'm too old. One more trip and I'm through. I'm really through.

24:33 I got a good wife.

24:34 She works every day. I don't want to lose that.

24:35 All right, Breen. You take your choice.

24:37 What do you mean?

24:38 What do you like the best, Morgan or your wife? What about it?

24:42 All right, you got it.

24:47 The suspect's friend, Harry Breen, went on to admit that during the conversations he'd had with Ernest Morgan that afternoon, Morgan had told him that he and his wife were going to San Francisco. There, supposedly, they would contact a man by the name of Baker Harrison, who operated a restaurant out by Hunter's Point. He said the Morgans had told him that they planned on driving at night only to lessen the chances of the police spotting their car.

25:09 We immediately got in touch with Inspector George Haig of the San Francisco Police Department and notified him of the latest developments in the case. He told us he'd read our teletypes and said that he'd placed the restaurant operated by Baker Harrison under immediate surveillance. We told him we'd leave early the next morning for San Francisco after we'd gotten a few hours sleep. Before we turned in, we got off a teletype to Captain Didion, bringing him up to date on what had happened and what our plans were.

25:33 The next morning at 6.30, Frank and I left Las Vegas for San Francisco. A few minutes after 7 o'clock that night, we checked in at the San Francisco Hall of Justice at Washington and Kearney Streets. Inspector Haig was waiting for us. He informed us Harrison's restaurant out at Hunter's Point was still being covered, but so far, Morgan and his wife had failed to put in an appearance.

25:51 Along with Inspector Haig, Frank and I drove out to the restaurant and joined the detail that had the place under surveillance. 9.05 p.m., no sign of the suspects. 10 p.m., 10.30, 11 o'clock, midnight, still no sign.

26:03 We waited.

26:04 We waited.

26:06 How about this fog? I sure wish I brought my top coat. I'm freezing.

26:09 If they don't show pretty soon, we're going to have to pull in closer. I can hardly see the door to the restaurant over there.

26:14 Smell that hot coffee. Sure could use a cup right now.

26:17 Look at that fog out there, Frank. Can't tell where the bay leaves off and the fog begins.

26:21 Wait a minute, Chuck. Car pulling up. Convertible?

26:24 Yeah.

26:25 Packard.

26:26 Wait till he gets in the light. We can see him better.

26:27 The man getting out, heading for the restaurant.

26:30 Yeah, looks like him. Come on.

26:31 Come on.

26:35 Somebody else in the car. It's a woman.

26:37 Higgs got it covered. George is with him.

26:39 All right, let's hustle it. Come on.

26:41 Passing into the light. It's him, Joe.

26:44 Yeah. All right, hold it. Right where you are. Police officers.

26:46 What's the matter? What do you want?

26:47 All right, hands up in front of you. Get them up high.

26:49 All right, I got them up. What's it all about?

26:51 What's the trick? Frank, you want to shake them?

26:52 Yeah.

26:52 Come on, keep those hands up and stand still.

26:54 I'm standing still. Is this a shakedown or what? I haven't done anything. Nothing doing, Joe. Clean.

26:58 Those hands, aren't they? Your right hand, mister. Let's have a look at it.

27:01 All right. Still don't get this, sir. What about it?

27:03 That ring on your finger, where'd you get that?

27:05 It's mine.

27:05 Why?

27:05 I had it a long time. Diamond signet a little big for you, isn't it? Doesn't quite fit. What are you getting at? What's my ring got to do with this? Where'd you get it? Crap game. I won it in a crap game. It was down in Las Vegas. I won it gambling.

27:15 Is that right?

27:16 Yeah, a bunch of guys up in the hotel room shooting a little crap. Just a gamble I won.

27:19 You sure of that, are you?

27:20 Of course I'm sure. Just a crap game. I took a gamble I won.

27:23 No, you're half right, mister. Yeah?

27:25 You gambled, but you didn't win. The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.

27:39 On August 8th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 89, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California.

27:45 In a moment, the results of that trial.

27:48 Music Ernest Harold Morgan was tried and convicted of robbery in the first degree, along with his accomplice, Benjamin Ashford. Ernest Morgan's wife was tried for conspiracy to commit robbery and found not guilty. Robbery in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary from five years to life. Ladies and gentlemen, when you buy defense bonds, you help build your own future security. You also become a partner with Uncle Sam in building America's security. Buy your bond today. You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. Technical advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn,

28:46 Sergeant Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Vic Perrin, Virginia Gregg, Harry Bartell, Ralph Moody. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

29:10 This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.

29:21 Welcome back. I have to admit that I got a little bit lost by the turning the potential for mistake between the police and the witness into this sort of mathematical formula but the point is, I guess, that the police have to deal with these sort of errors where the detectives make a bad guess or where a witness doesn't remember correctly.

29:53 But criminal errors.

29:54 Tend to trump everything else, as there were multiple mistakes the robber made with the signet ring. You know, trying to sell it, wearing it, not even stealing it in the first place. A smarter criminal hearing how much this meant to the victim would have realized that this piece of jewelry would be very easy to identify. The signet ring not being the most common type of ring out there anyway and even though the victims forgot the exact look and weren't able to identify him from his pictures that ring would be incredibly easy for them to identify and of course the fact is that uh For 1952, for robbing literally a mom-and-pop store, $ 800 in cash was a really good haul. But greed and stupidity ultimately lead

30:57 to a criminal's downfall. All right, listener comments and feedback now. And Maggie writes, I've been a loyal listener for several years now, and those Old radio shows served as a calming influence amidst all the turbulence going on in the real world today. Especially enjoy Dragnet and Johnny Dollar. And she does ask about the LAPD duplicate badges we had a few years back. And we don't actually have any, didn't have any left for Dragnet. I thought we had some for Adam 12, but those may have been lost in the move. So I should probably take those off the website. And then there's a final note. Thank you for all you do to keep our great detectives alive and fighting crime in the 21st century and commercial free.

31:50 Nobody does it better. Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy summer. Thanks so much. Appreciate it, Maggie. And then we have A note from Derek. I've been meaning to send this for a couple years now, but because I don't do anything financial online, I kept podding off, writing a check. Then I got the Cronin Manor omnibus, and I thought, today is the day. I love me some Johnny Dollar six-parters and omnibuses. It hit me. Adam is running a lunch counter. He is showing up every day, feeding us. Some meals he fixes are delicious. Johnny Dollar, Dragnet.

32:26 Sam Spade with Howard Duff. Other meals, not so much. Looking at you, Dr. Tim and Mr. Chameleon. But that doesn't take away from the fact that every day you present me with something. I digest it, but rarely give you anything back. Love the show. Keep up the great work. Well, I get a lot of really good comments from you, Derek, and I appreciate that and this donation. You might even say I have an old-time radio snack wagon. Now, there's an idea for a podcast. I do have some standards, but I try to keep it open to a wide variety of tastes, and I know there are quite a few people who enjoy Mr. Chameleon, though maybe not many who enjoy it unironically. But regardless, I appreciate your support,

33:11 and will definitely keep on serving some great old-time radio. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you to Cheryl, Patreon supporter since May of 2022, currently supporting the podcast at the strongest level of $ 4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Cheryl. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software.

33:39 And be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We will be back. next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet. But join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollar, where.

33:54 Oh, please come in, Mr. Dollar.

33:57 I'm so glad you've come.

33:59 Maybe you can help to find Howard.

34:02 Oh, I just can't believe he's dead.

34:04 Well, that seems to agree with the police theory, Mrs. Edwards.

34:07 The police?

34:08 They've been terrible. They've been trying to drive me out of my mind, make me say a lot of things that aren't so... Day and night, they've been driving me crazy. Ben Wrangler and that no-good son-in-law, he had them put on the force, coming here, questioning me, calling on the phone in the middle of the night. Well, it's terrible.

34:29 And if losing Howard wasn't enough.

34:33 You've been pretty much broken up over his death or disappearance, whichever it is.

34:38 Well?

34:39 No, Mr.

34:40 Dollar.

34:42 What?

34:43 Please, sit down, sir.

34:45 Thanks.

34:47 The past few years, Howard has been so occupied with his inventions.

34:52 What kind of inventions? A machine.

34:54 A device of some kind for molding plastics. I'm afraid I don't know much about it.

34:59 He wouldn't tell me.

35:00 He kept to himself all the time.

35:03 Well, he must have at least.

35:04 There was like an obsession with him. He was so wrapped up in it that I'm afraid I haven't been much more than a... than a housekeeper for him these past few years. A.

35:15 What have you been living on, Mrs.

35:16 Edwards?

35:17 The money I had ran out.

35:19 We had to borrow, but now that's all gone.

35:24 You have your home up for sale. I noticed the sign out front.

35:27 It's all that we have left.

35:31 Unless, of course, you could collect the insurance on your husband.

35:34 Yes, the insurance.

35:36 Then I wouldn't have to worry anymore. I would make up for all the years of struggling along and almost nothing.

35:44 Now, wait a minute, Mrs.

35:45 Edwards.

35:45 Yes?

35:46 You sound as though you'd like to have your husband proven dead.

35:49 At least it would provide a decent living for me after all these.

35:54 No.

35:56 Oh, no.

35:57 That sounds terrible, doesn't it?

35:58 Yeah, it sure does.

36:00 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 and check us out on Instagram, instagram.com slash greatdetectives. From Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.