Dragnet - Big Fall Guy

Chesterfield brings you dragnet for a smile in your smoking by Chesterfield

smoother cooler best for you ladies and gentlemen the story you're about to

hear is true the names have been changed to protect the innocent you're a

detective sergeant you're assigned a robbery detail the owner of a small

delicatessen reports that he's been robbed he says the thief casually walked

out of his store and disappeared your job find him

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dragnet the document a 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

with Sunday October 9th it was overcast in Los Angeles we were working the day

watch out a robbery detail my partner's Frank Smith the boss of Chivity

Techers Thad Brown my name's Friday as I'm away back from communications that

was 3.48 p.m. when I got to room 278 robbery I got it

Robert Friday get a second look at that pan yeah all right go ahead please all

right I have it what happened how long go all right right away thank you I came

into a delicatessen over on sunset took out a pretty big order a sack full of

money for 15 p.m. Frank and I drove out to a small combination delicatessen and

grocery on the corner of sunset and third the owner of the store Mr. Paul Clay

pool told us that the robbery had taken place approximately 20 minutes

earlier he said that the patrol car officer who had answered his call had left

to make an immediate search for the suspect gave a real good description I

did yes he said that kept my wets about me all the time that young

hoodlums in the store I was studying him didn't let him catch all the

course but I was making mental notes I wonder if you tell us just what happened

Mr. Claypool how's that we like to hear about the robbery right from the

beginning oh check it up on me sir making sure I give you the same store I

gave another car oh no sir that's not the idea I told him everything that

was to tell oh we like to hear it too that's all you ain't gonna hear nothing

different than what he did oh would you tell us anyway well if that's how you

wanted this year cook fella came walking into my store biggest life that's how

I began I was about 20 minutes ago wasn't who might be twenty one or two but

now depends on how long you've been talking to me yes sir what do you say when

he came out then it fell off that's right nothing nothing that's what he said

not a single solitary word I say he'd even open his mouth just handed me an

envelope you know seal it was sealed up shut hmm go ahead struck me as being

kind of peculiar what do you mean well lots of my customers bringing lists of

things they're supposed to buy they don't see them at no envelope my instinct

show was right it wasn't no grocery list as far from it presents up no

inside hand printed it was I say on the one said well that would be nice yes

sir take all of the money out of the cash register but it is a paper bag and

hand it over that wasn't all you want to hear the rest if you wouldn't please don't

do any talking don't try to stop me if you do I'll kill you I was the end of it

do you still have this note mr. Claypool right over there slaying all the

register what if we could see it please well that's up to you I guess hmm other

cops said I wasn't a handle it on the kind of fingerprints we'll try to be

careful with it help yourself take my place to take no chances on the strong

valuable evidence yes sir well had it right didn't it word for word yes sir you

sure did after you read this note what you do mr. Claypool I done just what

it said you gave the money from the register that's right put in the paper bag

in number eight what's that eight eight that that was the size of the bag oh how

much money did you give them all there was an able to fifty dollars most of it

in bills most I'd say a couple of ten see four five some ones the rest was

changed all right what happened next I took the bag kind of grand and walked out

look real pleased with himself did you see where he went left the store yes

sir I mean after that turn down the street to get into a car I didn't see

none you didn't try to follow no I didn't aim to stick out my neck none figure

that was up to you follow that's right mr. Claypool you know if the robber had

again must have did you see it hope but that's not said he'd kill me if I gave

him any trouble yes sir must have had a gun if he aimed to kill me well stands

to reason yes sir was there anybody else in here when he came in just me I don't

do much business this time last noon and not on Sunday and do you ever seen

this man before no not that I recollect I wonder if you describe him for us oh

sure I told you I give him a real good ones hold him yes sir first all is a

young fellow right around the old 20 I'd say husky about five ten maybe ways

one seventy not that you understand you're just husky what about his coloring well

I'm coming to that yes round hair medium brown kind of gray eyes medium

complex I mean marks of scars no how is he dressed pants dark colored surge more

unlikely new surge they look like there was part of a suit hmm couldn't see a

shirt he had on a sweater yellowish with the one of them of them colors a

choke show what's it fits all around your neck is he like so turtle neck sweater

what was that what you call it yes sir curtain like well that's a right good name

that's just what it looks like turtle poking out his neck yes sir there's

anything else you can tell us about this man what have you gotten mine well mr.

Claypool anything would help us identify well sir he acted real funny almost

like he didn't know what he was doing oh time to look at me funny too hmm don't know

how to put it into words exactly yes sir one of you come down the city hall

for a few minutes mr. Claypool city hall yes sir we'd like to show you some

mug shots if you can make an identification for us well that mean closing up

the store I won't take very long well I guess it will help catch this fellow we

appreciate it oh excuse me yes sir

Claypool's done with the test man how's that who Friday that's for us sir oh here you

are thank you this Friday yeah that's right how long go fountain yeah I got it thank

you but we won't need you downtown just yet mr. Claypool change your mind

huh yes sir what's that flower shop over on fountain yeah sounds like the same guy

Frank and I told mr. Claypool we'd check with them later we left the delicatessen

drove out to the Pringer for a shop on fountain and Selma 442 p.m. we talked to

the victim Miss Norma Devaro she seemed to be extremely agitated she told us

that a man had walked into the store about 430 and gave her a sealed envelope she

showed us the note the envelope it contained and it appeared to be a duplicate of

the note mr. Claypool had been given to this man saying anything to him

mr. Devaro I I don't remember I don't think so what did you say anything to him

oh I was too scared yes man how much money did you take I gave him all it was

everything in the register I see but about how much would you say I'm not sure

you see I don't work here I was just helping out the store belongs to my

sister and brother-in-law I see they wanted to take their children for a ride

this afternoon so I said I'd look after the shop oh I never should have

offered I might have known something like this would happen I've had a funny

feeling all day long that right it's a bad week for me anyway this whole week

huh according to my horoscope oh you don't have any idea how much money was

stolen mr. Devaro I don't think it was very much a few bills and some coins do you

happen to know what day this is the day I mean yes man this is the ninth

ninth oh I might have known she said to be especially careful on the ninth and

the eleventh what am I pay more attention to that last reading it certainly

cost me enough I miss Devaro you notice where this man went when he left the

shop what did you notice where he went oh no I didn't pay any attention I was

just so relieved that he was gone what if you describe him for us please well

mr. Devaro I'm trying to think yes man it just comes up a blank his face

everything about him well how's he dressed I'm terribly sorry I just can't

remember well maybe we can help you was he wearing a coat or a sweater that's

right a sweater I remember the sweater what color was it a right age I think I'm

not sure what kind of a sweater would you recall that just sweater I guess how

about his hair eyes and anything at all mr. Devaro well there's one thing I don't

know whether it would do any good or not yes man I feel like such a fool not

being able to remember where it was or when but I'm almost certain about it what's

that I've seen him before Frank and I continue to question the victim she

insisted that she hadn't met her seen the suspect sometime before the crime but

she was unable to recall the circumstances 538 p.m. we drove both victims down to

the city hall and asked them to go through the mug books for the purpose of

identifying the suspect

we've finished another book sergeant yes ma'am seems like you sure have enough of

them yes sir I could only think where it was that I signed before yes I get you

folks and coffee that sounds like a right good idea how about you miss what would

you like some coffee too is Devaro that's it that's it I remember now his face

everything about him it's the same man I'm positive it is it was when you

mentioned coffee that's what brought it back to me yes ma'am I just when wasn't

you saw this man oh let's see it was last week when I went shopping for a new

coat Tuesday yes that's when it was Tuesday I was having lunch the fairway

cafeteria in Hollywood yes ma'am well it was crowded and I was sitting alone he

came by and asked if he could use the same table I'm glad I nodded and he sat

down I didn't pay any attention to him not really I just went on and finished my

lunch he was still eating when I left and anything else you can tell us about him I

think he had on the same clothes he was wearing today the sweater anyway I remember

the sweater real plain now I see now you're sure this was the same man or object oh

yes I know it was that'll help won't it my remembering where I saw him well it

might I'll bet he eats there all the time at that same cafeteria yes ma'am we'll

check on that oh he does I just feel certain of it you'll see sergeant it was

faith made me go into that restaurant and it was faith that made him set at my

table yes ma'am was all part of a big plan our meeting like that and then him

robbing me today was all part of a big plan so that you could catch him yes that's

right and you will catch him don't you worry about that you'll catch him fates

against him well it makes his even and then what so are we now that she remembered

seeing the suspect before Miss Devaro confirmed Paul Claypool's description we

asked the victims to continue going through the mug books they were unable to

come up with an identification 6.31 p.m. Frank and I drove them home and we went

off duty the next day October 10th 10.05 a.m. we interviewed the day cash

years at the fairway cafeteria they couldn't recall any specific customer who

answered the suspect's description 11.46 a.m. we went back to the office

robbery Freddy gallery mm-hmm well thanks anyways right Sloan yeah says he

can't give us a lead from the way those notes were printed huh well how about

nearly lunch today all right with me where do you want to go well I don't care

how about you the main difference to me we'll suggest something I told you

doesn't mean difference well I don't know why it always has to be up to me

Joe hmm where we eat why don't you decide once in a while all right fine let's go

over that new Chinese place on Broadway for lunch well why not you don't want

Chinese food for lunch Joe I don't of course not what do you got in mind I don't

know hmm I'd end up making the choice sure as a problem isn't it well it gets

kind of a not-nice that's all buddy yeah something to do for you it's just

here well you the guys in handle robberies yeah it's right I've named two

yesterday which to go to store on flower shop you know something about him

do you yeah I know something well just what is it who robbed him I know who it

was down this was me for a smile and you're smoking next time you buy cigarettes

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give them a try light up a Chesterfield they said it's fine the man would come

into the office answer the description would receive from the victims he was

in his early 20 stocky billed about five ten brown hair and gray eyes he was

wearing dark blue trousers in the yellow turtleneck sweater he told us that his

name was Harvey Tilden that he lived in a rooming house on West Ivar he readily

admitted the two robberies but he insisted he had not meant to commit the crimes

I didn't know what I was doing that's all I just didn't know what are you trying

to sell us were you drunk of course not I hadn't had a drink not even a beer well

well he told me it was money they owed that I was collecting it for him who told

you that stony who's stony well that's all I know him by stony and you were

collecting money for him is that it uh-huh and you expect to buy that too don't

you know I guess no one want to try giving us the truth well look now may I not

the brightest guy in the world if I was I wouldn't be in this message I come to

you in my own accord didn't I well maybe you got scared maybe you figured it

go easier with you if you gave yourself up is not it yeah I guess I can't blame

you for thinking that sure was a dumb drink well why'd you do it then because I

didn't know because he told me it was just a job I was doing stony told you

yeah yeah that's right my knowledge here to your way you know well you he said

he worked for kind of collection agency you know where they go after them dead

beach you know yeah well he said he had to have somebody to help him only part

time but the pay would be good yeah offered me the work mm-hmm and I had a steady

job lately sound kind of good to me yeah go ahead well I was supposed to meet him

yesterday afternoon three o'clock he picked me up in front of the place where I live

now drove me past that grocery store and parked around the corner give me an

envelope and he told me to take it inside handed to a fellow who worked there he

said I was to make sure nobody else is in the store on a county he didn't want

to make the old guy feel bad by collecting the debt in front of somebody else you

know yeah so I've done what he told me I'll give the old guy the note he give me

the money and I took it back to stony well where was he while you're in the

store around the corner like I said why didn't he go in with it you want to see

if I could handle it myself on my own you know that's what he told me mm-hmm well

then we we drove over to that there flower place same routine yeah only this time

I got kind of suspicious you know yeah she acted so scared the lady there

didn't seem to me to have to pay up a debted make somebody so scared I told

stony afterwards he said it was just a act that they all put on like that mm-hmm

you know what I I didn't exactly believe him so next place we stopped I

opened up the envelope for I went inside and I read that there no yeah well I

didn't know what to do finally I went back to the car and I really told him

off stony I told him I was a new thief I told him he had to return all that money

what did he say he just laughed at me he said I was the biggest pigeon he ever

meant I said if he didn't take back the door I go to the cops he told me you

throw me in jail that you never believe a word I told you mm-hmm what happened

then I got out of the car I said I wasn't a cook and over was gonna make me be

one mm-hmm I was heading right for the police station then I all I got to

thinking I seem like maybe he was right that nobody would believe a story like

this yeah so I went home all right why'd you come in today well I didn't sleep

none too good last night it's kind of worrying me what I've done I think it

maybe he'd find some other stucker lock me and pull that same stunt over again

now I didn't want him to get away with it so I decided to take my chances all

you guys huh I'm gonna get a short count now am I you know where the stony lives

no he never said not to me and you don't always last night either or did you

meet him at least Jim or on Olympic I hang out there sometimes you'll fight

or I had some bouts here how'd you and stony get acquainted well I don't know

it just start talking one day last week he come in for a steam bath and afterwards

we're both watching some of the guys work out here's again on Saturday that's

that's when he offered me this job what kind of a car is he drive Chevy so

damn no coop hardtop last year's model you know the license no I'm paying

no attention it wouldn't matter for dead I might you remember and things yeah can

you tell us what stony looks like yeah why is a big fella shop dresser how old is

it 35 maybe 40 what colors is here sort of red anything else scars anything like

that no that's the whole story huh yeah you didn't know you were robbing those

stores you didn't have any idea honest I didn't sounds crazy don't yeah it does

Joe I'm not you for me yeah you wait right there tell me okay okay I must think

we're pretty done expect us to fall for a line like that what you think is for I don't

know it wouldn't be true I don't worry then heck of it is for such a darn full

story Joe I just can't help believing it I'm a war so do I Frank and I continue to

interrogate the suspect he maintained his innocence and we were unable to shake

him we ran the name Harvey Tilden through our eye we had nothing on him we also

ran the name stony through the moniker file when we came up with two

possible we pulled them mug shots and showed them to Tilden he tentatively

identified one of the photos James Brightstone but he wasn't positive we

telephone Brightstone's last on address a small downtown hotel they told us he'd

moved during the summer and they had no idea of his present whereabouts we

checked the MV in our own vehicle records they reported that a late model

Chevrolet was registered in Brightstone's name Harvey Tilden was held in custody

for further questioning 408 p.m. Frank and I drove over to Hentley's gym on

South Olympic and talked to the owner George Hentley

Stony yeah that's right full name maybe James Brightstone we're not sure

don't ring a bell in a fight game but we aren't sure how about a Harvey Tilden you

know him sure sure I know he found here pretty often often on you still a

little bottle at a perfect record six fights six chaos he was a punty before

ever got in a ring Tilden says this is where he met his stony

I could take a look at this picture what you've ever seen this guy before

you got a man and you Jeff well I wouldn't swear to a guy look something like this

he's coming in lately works out takes a steam bag you know is he ever asked

he been around the day no not so far but it was the last time do you remember

and the last week Friday Saturday you talking to Tilden no I don't know maybe

guys come in here friendly type guys they all talking to each other right here's

our card so this fella comes back he was called with you

you want to talk to him okay he comes in I'll call you thanks sure I'm a real

obliged and I feel like I got no people you can't be a waste of time though

huh calling you you want to see this guy all you got to do is turn around

what's that he just walked in the door

Frank and I talked to the man George Hentley had pointed out he readily admitted

that he was James Brightstone he also admitted knowing Harvey Tilden

he said he had spent the previous afternoon in this room at the Jackman hotel

with telephone to hotel but the clerk was unable to confirm Brightstone's

alibi 5.31 pm we drove the suspect down to the city hall and continued our

interrogation I look why don't you guys just tell me what it is you want to know

spell it out in real big letters and I'll give you the answer same size where

were he yesterday afternoon thought we already covered that let's go over it again

okay boys I was in my hotel room well a clerk doesn't back up well does he say

I wasn't there it was the last time he saw Harvey Tilden Saturday over at the gym

not yesterday the gym is an open and sundays you know we're Tilden lives no

you pick him up his rooming house yesterday didn't you so why would I be

picking a crumb up like that did you offer Tilden a job oh that's pretty funny

what's the joke I ain't got a job myself did you ever take Tilden for a drive

boys I'm telling you the only place I ever seen the guys at least Jim yeah

he knows what kind of a car you got oh making model well maybe you see me

I didn't see him hmm oh look just Tilden fall he's a screw ball he don't even

know what time it is whatever he told you to forget it well there are a couple

things we can't forget yeah Tilden says you put him up to robbing two

stars yesterday you couldn't he says you had him to work for you to collect some

past due bills oh I this kid is really off his rocker isn't maybe well as I

supposed to be what he was doing me these favors outside in your car waiting

for him hmm go on boys you interest me what's about it and you'd pick up a guy

in a funny story like that he look I'm getting out of here Tilden and the only guy

who's not sit down bright stone all right you jokers prove any part of it we're

gonna try to I like know how we got a team out right now checking

the neighborhood of both robberies if anybody saw your car on those

stores yesterday afternoon you got trouble I got news for you guys it don't

matter where I was yesterday you can't tie me into these jobs we'll see

matter of fact I'll give you a hand I might have been driving around those

stores yesterday is that right yeah coming to think of it I went for a ride

along about two o'clock slip a mind before sure not that I know where Tilden

pulled his heist your dollar sure of course now then want to make you think you

were in the vicinity well I'm not saying I was and saying I might have been

yeah that's where I worry who knows it took me a real long drive what time

do you leave your hotel two o'clock maybe what time to get back later how much

later all right I tell you what I'm gonna give you guys a break good now I know

you can keep this up for 72 hours and they got more

important things to do so let's get it over with okay valley up to you okay okay

okay tell them was given up to your square he was just a pigeon dumbest pigeon I

ever ran into yeah go ahead well that's it you got it now what are you gonna do

about it what do you think oh if you're smart you're gonna turn me loose

yeah look let me give you a little advice free so Tilden was the

fog I already admitted to you guys yeah but to nobody else anybody else

asked me I didn't I have the whole thing so you might as well place smart you

figure out a stick of me with this rap you got to have a sign confession I'm

gonna give it to you well now maybe we won't need it boy you got the biggest

rocks in your head Tilden was in those stores I wasn't he took the money I

didn't you go in a court you come out look and dumber and he does

that's my word against is you think anybody in a right mind is going to

believe this boy you think he's the chance of convincing the jury

believe my that chance he convinced us

the story you have just heard is true the names were changed to protect the

innocent on January 8th trial was held in department 98 superior court of

the state of California in and fall the county of Los Angeles in a moment

the results of that trial now here is our star Jack Webb the date June 19th the

man in question father the gift for father's day Chesterfield make it a point

to pick up a couple of cartons first chance you get it's the easiest way I know

to put a smile and dad smoking and a nice way to remember a great guy

the district attorney failed to issue a complaint against Harvey Tilden

james hill bright stone was tried and convicted of robbery in the second

degree two counts robbery in the second degree is punishable by imprisonment

in the state prison for not less than one year

you have just heard dragnet the 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 advisers captain jack donnohoes sergeant

marty winds sergeant bandspracer heard tonight where Ben Alexander

pick rodman Virginia Greg Eddie Firestone script by Frank Berks music by

Walter Schuman hell kidney speaking watch an entirely different dragnet

case history each week on your local nvc television station please check

your newspapers for the day and time

Chesterfield has brought you dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles

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