Dragnet - Big Man Part 1 & 2

0:00The The The The The The The Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Fatima cigarettes. Best of all long cigarettes brings you dragnets. Your A detective sergeant, your assigned to narcotics bureau, a vicious criminal has resumed operations in your city. His profession, either in narcotics. You know his name. You know his guilty. Your job. Prove it. If you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. Smoke for Tima.

1:00Fatima is the long cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic debacles superbly blended to make Fatima extra mild. And that's why Fatima has a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. That's why Fatima has more than doubled its smokers, coast to coast. So if you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. Smoke for Tima. Dragnets, 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 from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was Thursday, January 21st, it was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of narcotics bureau. By partner's Ben Romero, the boss is fat brown chief of detectors, my name is Friday.

2:05I was on the way back into work and it was 3.49 pm when I got to the main lobby of the city hall, public phone booth. Hello. Oh, my, this is Joe. Show us if you said you were going to be home at 4 o'clock. Oh, I couldn't help but my little team was a schedule. I got my stuff all right, thanks for packing it. I put your socks and your clean t-shirts on the bed. You put them in your bag? Yeah, I got them. God, love the clothesline right after you call that we're quite dry or I would have packed it for you. I got them all right. Listen, my, I'll call you whenever I get the chance and I don't worry. How long are you going to be gone? I have any idea. Maybe a month. All depends. How can I get in touch with you?

3:05You can't. Call Ben. He'll get the message to me somehow. Where is it you going, Joe? I'm not going any place, Marl. I'll be right here in the city but I just won't be able to come home for a little while. It's a special job. No, but the last time. Yeah. Well, you'd be careful now. Watch what you order when you're eating up and those awful recipes. You get your rest. You need plenty of rest. Yeah, I'm okay, Marl. I'll be all right. We're shopping today about a nice loin roast. We're dinner tomorrow night. No, he won't be here. Why don't you invite the neighbors over? The new news will be good coming for you. Maybe I'll ask your amlisks over. Yeah. I don't worry if you want to get in touch with me. You deliver the message to Ben, okay? Yes. All right. What kind of work you'll be doing? It's going to be dangerous. Oh, it's just another job, Marl. I'll call you when I can. All right, Joseph. Be careful now. Take care of yourself. Yeah, you too. Goodbye, Marl. Joseph. Bye. Bye. Bye. I left the phone booth and started down the corridor.

4:08I went up a short flight of stairs and turned left. The afternoon crowd in the city hall seemed heavier than usual. I walked past the elevators and turned right down another corridor. It was 3.58 pm. I got to room 24. It's my cottage bill. Got a point? Hi, Joseph. You want to take these? Yes, sure. Okay. My badge. Okay. Oh, my identification. And my gun. I'll take care of him for you. These clothes look all right. A minute. Now, let's see. Yeah. I don't like that tie. Romero. Yes, giver. Let's see your tie. Yeah, swap with Friday, will you, Ben? Uh-huh. Christmas, guys. Pretty loud. Mine's not. That's the idea. Here. Here's some stuff to carry in your pocket. Social Security card, ID card. All made out to Joe Kiber. And then some book matches from St. Louis, couple from Reno, Nevada. Okay.

5:09You pick up another gun. I'm lonely in my 25-odd man. It's small. It's easy to carry. Suit yourself. I don't have to tell you to be careful. No. It's a chance we've been waiting for, Joe. A lot depends on you. I'll do what I can. This one thing I want to tell you. Take your time. Pick all the time you need. Don't push it. I understand. No time on it. Your time's up when they find out who you are. Captain Lynn White and I left the narcotics bureau together with Ben and Johnny Bingham. We went down the hall to the office of Chief of Detective Stad Brown. As in most major narcotic cases, the plan involved the coordinated work of all three offices, the federal, state, and our own local bureau. The operation involved a great many men and a lot of time. When we got to the Chief of Detective's office, two men were with him. Bill Craig, the agent who charged the federal bureau of narcotics for the Southern California area, and Inspector Virgil Beckner, head of the state narcotics bureau for our district. All of us had one common goal, the apprehension and conviction of two men, Arthur Belman and Ralph Costello.

6:13The first man on the list, Ralph Costello. Chief Brown outlined the overall plan. Craig, your federal men have been tracking Costello off a month, three years now, back to your state agents. Same for our men. The staff we can't afford to miss. You figure an undercover man working locally? That right, Chief? Yeah, Craig, you'll start right from the bottom, work the plan until he gets to Costello if he gets there. Back? Where are you going to start? Kevin White, would you lay it off to Beckham Gray? Yeah. Friday he's going to handle the job, he's got his full instructions. Joe, you want to fill him in? Fine. I'll make my first contact tonight. I'll meet in the bar down on South Peaco with another one of our undercover men, Beniara Dondo. He'll introduce me as Joe Kiber to one of his informants. The informant is supposed to help get me into the flat-skang. Is it the same bunch running on the South at the time? Yeah, small time peddlers. Be curious. A little bit of everything. Go on Friday. When I get in the game, I run with them until I find out where and how they make their buys. You actually get a contact, you make buys all the way up the line and get as close as you can at the top.

7:14Yeah, that's right. You work out your contact with us? He knows that under no conditions will he be seen around the department here. Spin set up, but I have a hotel room lined up down on the east side. A marrow here in Captain White will be my only contact with the office. I'll be using the name Joe Kiber. Sounds alright to me. I bet you'll create. How about that in Fallen Friday, can Dicano? Perrondondo thinks a lot of me says he's a good man. He's the first rung in the ladder. He's gonna be solid. He's not. We won't have fight or fall. Benzona, you look at it. You can kill yourself in the bathtub. 8pm, Thursday, January 21st. I checked in at the Casino Hotel on Terminal Street. I registered as Joe Kiber, Omaha, Nebraska. I was given a key for Room 5. The rent was $7 a week. I unpacked a few things I had in my bag and went down the hall and took a shower. I went down to the lunchroom on the corner. I had an egg sandwich and a cup of coffee. It was 11.18pm when I walked into Blue Rites bar and grill. I ordered a beer and sat down. I watched the Missing Person's program on the television set above the bar.

8:18Hello, somebody, Kiber? Hello, Benny. Been here long. I just got here. Where's your boy? He's sitting over there with that fella in the blue suit. James Jean. Who is the guy in the blue suit? Marble Flask Gang. Jean's lining up your introduction now. His name is Ludwig. I call him Lud. He owes me a Steve. Right. What do we do? He said Ty, so Jean gives us the word. Ty, yours looks like it's on fire. Look, all right? I wouldn't wear it. Ludwig. Getting hotel okay? You're all set. Room five. Jean wants us. Let's go. Okay. Hi, Steve. Say your boy got here? Yeah. Do you want me to kill Kiber? Hi. This is Lud. Kill Kiber? Sit down. You like to fight the Kiber? Yeah. I got nothing out of here in that line. I used to go to the garden when I was yeast. I couldn't catch the Legion. Well, Hollywood Legion. Friday night, some classy looking fighters out there.

9:20Where is that? I'm Hollywood nice little stadium. I'd like to go with you sometime. Tomorrow? I got a date. Maybe next week. They are long. I don't want to go. Not this one. Okay. Hey, best you'll be? I can eat. Yeah, chill. Sure. How about here? Nobody eats shit. I want steam table over there. The stuff smells pretty good. So does garbage if the wind's blowing the other way? Let's get a first step to our mince. How about Galbra, sir? OK. How about you guys? Sure. Let's go. All right. You're from the East, Cervet? Omaha, Memphis, all around. You don't talk very much. You do. You talk tough. How you talk? Sometimes. This place we're going to go with, sometimes, a meets tough, too. Yeah. Just like a piece of tough meaching, always cut it down the size. The following week at the fights, I met some of the other members of the flat's gang. They were a typical group of hoodlums.

10:20Unlike fiction writers of Portrait, them generally gangs of this type do not operate under a gang leader. Each member considers himself the best of a lot. For all practical purposes, they didn't need a leader. But as in any group, some men are more dominant than others, blood was one of these. Because of his tough manner, I observed that the gang members placed confidence in blood. It was then that I decided that I had to be tougher than he was if the gang was going to accept me. Five weeks went by, March 7th. There was still no mention by any of them that they were either using or dealing in narcotics. I'm on out of time to sit down. What? Cabo, make Jerry film. Bye. I picked up the tickets for the basketball game tonight. Good seats. Yeah, they look OK. Got an extra, OK? Maybe I'll tag along. Yeah, we got four. You look kind of sick, haven't you? They always look said, well, first he was tough and I said, you and that mouth. You know it all, don't you? No, I think she'll look a little low. You don't know about you, Cabo, but I'm a little on the par. I'm going to have myself a pop. You interested?

11:21No, I don't. I don't you try it. You might get a kick out of it. I have. It's all right going up, but it's nothing coming down. That's where you're making a mistake. Stay up. Don't come down. Hell, yeah. Everybody said, Jerry, you don't like it. How does he know? He never stayed up long enough. Take your pop and shut up. You talk about Cabo trying to be tough. You think you're the big wheeler on you. That's enough. But a quick-giving order, Slud. You know, better than the rest. Look, little man, knock off. I can't talk and keep us both happy. You, you, the boss man. You know, I got one positive way to shut you. Why don't you two quit? This concerns me and Fel, you keep your mouth shut. Well, don't get mad at me. I only want to save an argument. Canada, I say. Now look, big mod, you can push feller on, but not me. Now you're playing the tough guy, guy, ain't you? Why don't you go over and sit down, huh? It was set me down. Punk. Bunk. All right, now listen to me, bully you. I'm trying to be in talk down to you, like a junior member of the firm. You either treat me equally or leave me alone. You understand? You had a come in, Lod. Yeah, I put that bottle down, Lod.

12:22Would you get that gun? The guy that thing right along? Right along. Put it down, Lod. OK. I'm long on memory, Cabo. Remember that. Yeah, and I'm real short on patience with you. Well, I still haven't had my pup. Better hurry. I don't want to miss the game. You've got good seats, Cabo. They're not too low. I can't see nothing if they're too low. Don't worry, you'll be high enough. Two months went by. By playing the tough guy, I gained a great deal of prestige in the eyes of the other gang members. Jerry Fell made sure that all the members heard about that episode up in Lod's room. Dealers and users of narcotics rarely carry guns. The members of the flat's gang were small-time peddlers and users, they're referred to as mules or small fry. When they found that I carried a gun at all times, they were impressed. They considered me one of them. Since the very beginning of my undercover work, I met weekly with Ben Romero and Captain Lynn White of the narcotics bureau. I would be picked up at a different location each time,

13:22making sure that I wasn't followed and rude, remain in the car and drive around in a remote section of the city, discussing my progress with the gang. During this first three-month period, under the pretext that I had plans to furnish, I made two small narcotics buys, one for $13 and one for $8. As soon as the purchases were made, I would mark them for identification, contact Ben, and then turn the narcotics over to him to be booked as evidenced by the property clerk at Central Division. Another month went by, Thursday June 5th, 11 p.m. We had just returned from the midget auto races and we were sitting around in Lod's room. He mentioned something out at the races, Kevin, I was on your mind. I told you Lod, I need a half a dozen caps right away. I got people putting the bite on me. Old customers. I owe, can they be? Only been out here five months, remember? When their hook they get to be old customers in a month. I fixed up two buys with Mars for you. Tony says he can't handle anymore. I don't got enough around. You got on board late, you know? All of us are ahead of you. Tony can get more, who's his source? Couple of guys, I know him. How about an officer when I'm here deal with Tony?

14:23He said he hasn't got enough. That's right, I did. OK, how much do you want? Are your customers worth it worth? They'll pay. What's the guy's name? Castellos, one of them. 11 up for you. Who's the other guy? They're deal with Castellos for now. Where can I meet him? Marsle said that up for you. I got to meet him in an hour. It's comin'. Police officers, take it down down the hall. What's the trouble? Checking for a robbery suspect. Find anything George? Rose clean. We don't know anything about a heist. I have to conjuntown answer a few questions. To matter with you, Fully, you look like we spoiled your party. Yeah, we spoiled it. You are listening to Drag Nits, authentic stories of your police force and action.

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16:24while working on an undercover assignment was one which all of us had considered. Since only a handful of men out of some 5,000 working police officers in the department knew anything about our narcotics investigation, we knew that such an occurrence was not impossible. It's one of the chances we had to take. In this instance, we lost in the critical meeting with one of the men we were after was forced all. How long are detention of police headquarters with delay my meeting with Ralph Costello was anybody's guest? Could mean weeks or maybe months. I was booked on suspicion of 211 PC, robbery. So was what? The next afternoon, I was taken from cell block 10D2 to the interrogation room. Come on in and sit down, kyber. How are you Friday? As a tight squeeze. Booking numbers been canceled, Joe. Prince Menstner. There's two men from robbery who pulled me in the win and don't know. I thought I was in trouble for a minute. I had no idea you were in that room. Once they got up there, they had to follow through. They played it right. They remember their etiquette. Either one of them had said a low before you did, you might have been in big trouble.

17:25I'm in big trouble anyway. I had a meet-all set with Costello, almost set. And he'll just a case of bad timing and they pick up from me. I don't say to get there two hours later, it might have been different. How do you stand now? I've close all you to Costello. I need some more money. I got to pay off a load. He'll take you to Costello if you pay the right price. Yeah. Luds working through a morse, you know about him. Remember Friday, if there's any questions when you get back to that gang, you're a book for CCW. You're out on bail. Yeah, right. Now the gums, you know, 32 automatic. OK? Yeah, thanks. I couldn't go back with the same one. What about the federal and state men, how they doing? Pretty good. Federal men picked up Costello and Fresno. He was connected with a sailor six cans of age. That much harrowing up there and I wonder, Luds can afford to hold me up. He knows there's a shortage down here. The case isn't too strong against him. And it looked definite that we had him there. They're going to call you off. He's out on bail. Costello's back down here now. Yeah. It seems like we get our hands on the guy, but we can't hold him. Narcotics in their possession or under their control. That's what the book says.

18:26That's the way we got to get him. We'll get him that way. So after you know Friday, stay with it and keep your chin coming. I mean, if you need anything, you'll call. Mother's been over at the house for dinner a few times. She's OK. Thanks. Tell her I'm all right, would you? Sure. She worries a lot about you, Joe. Anything happened to you and just about killing. That makes two of us. I'll see you. Before I left the city hall, Captain White drew out some more money from the Secret Service Fund. This fund is for this old purpose of undercover work. This latest amount was for the narcotics buy that I hope to make with Ralph Costello. An hour before I left, blood was released on a rip that he had arranged for. Saturday, June 7th, 9am, I checked back into my room at the Casino Hotel. During the three weeks that followed, I kept asking a lot to arrange a meeting for me with Tony Morris, the next man on the ladder on the way up to Costello. Blood kept stalling me. Another week went by. Captain Lim White, Ben and I held our regular weekly meetings. On July 6th, blood told me that a meeting with Morris

19:26had finally been arranged for 8pm that night. I called Ben and told him I'd meet him in the captain immediately after I talked with Morris. At 8pm, following the instructions let it given me. I was in the downstairs waiting room at the subway terminal at 5th and hill. I was told to wait for the Apple vending machine. That's it. Excuse me, Mr. Oh, yeah, sure. Hi, Brick. Yeah, you're Morris. It's right. Want an apple? No, no, thanks. I'm going to shoot down. All right. Now, what'd you have in mind? I got a couple of hundred bucks to spend. Who sent you? You know, who sent me? Sure I do. I just want to hear you say it. Blood. We can handle it. What do you have in mind? I said $200 worth. That's 40 caps. We got it. No, no, that Mexican junk. I want European stuff. You bought the foil. Take what we got. At last buy I made through. Blood the junk was cut to nothing. And only you so much milk and sugar, you know.

20:27At the time I got to you, it was probably cut pretty thin. So, I was going to buy it. I was going to buy it. I was going to buy it. And I was going to go to you, it was probably cut pretty thin. So, it was the price you paid for. I'm not looking for bargains. I pushed a good people. I want good stuff. You do better this time. You're not dealing with blood. Sure we cut it. No more than anybody else. Not as much as blood. When can I get it? You got some sick people? A couple. Have it for you in an hour. Where's the meat? Got a watch? Yeah. What time you got? 12 minutes after eight. Add a minute. Make a 13 out. Okay. An hour from now. Nine thirteen. I'm going to leave. We'll see him in a minute. I know you're leveling. I know you are. I went out the front of the Subway terminal, Dougal. I took a cab down to 7th and main. I got off and walked into Pop Sherman's bar. I called the office and set up a meeting with Ben and the captain. I ordered a beer, paid for it, left my change in the bar, asked the bartender to watch it, told him I'd be right back. I went out the back way. I went out the front of the Subway terminal, Dougal. I took a cab down to 7th and main.

21:28I got off and walked into Pop Sherman's bar. I called the office and set up a meeting with Ben and the captain. I went out the back way across the Allian, got down to Los Angeles Street. I walked up to 9th and picked up a cab to take me to Folkman, Covina Avenue. I got out and walked two blocks. It was 841. You ready? Fight. You ready for us? Yep. Sure nobody tells you. That's it all the pre-classes. What's your setup? I'm not sure I don't have much time. I'm going to make the bite of 9th. Wind, 913. You don't have much time. Kind of rushing event. I figured I'd better play along. I'm going to leave with him. Morse told me to meet the Ludd at Macy and Brooklyn. Said that he'd carry from there. Costello in on it? I don't know. You've got it all. All right. I'll start picking up the flat-skang. Everyone but Ludd. What is the thing? Well the way I got it figured Morse's Costello's runner. He checked me out as far as I could tell. He thinks I'm okay. You know. I got a hunch Ludd's going to take me to either Morse again or Costello or possibly both. I don't know where the actual meet's going to be. That means a tailgear. We'll have to pick you up at Macy and Brooklyn and stick with you until after Ludd leaves

22:28if he does and follow through with him. Figure it wide, Skipper. Don't worry. I know we're close. What time you got from there? 10 minutes to 9. Turn down the next block. Right. Pull up here, Ben. Okay. Here you go Friday. Keep your chin covered. Yep. Hey. Hello, Phil. Friends of yours in a car? Why? I know them. They ain't friends of mine. I did the say I know them. I don't know the guy driving, but the other guy I've seen him lots. Just about four weeks ago we all seen him. That fuzz white. A Cadix man. Oh, yeah. Well, they've been riding me since they picked me up with a gun. Won't do a cop. A Cadix man ain't got nothing on you. That was robbery, remember? They got a make on me from Nebraska, right? They've been on me ever since I got here. That figure. You'll want to do it. All right, look, Jerry. I'll argue with you later. I'm in a hurry. I got a make-lod. I take along. I want to see Ludd too. You're going to spill a lot about what you think? Maybe. I see guy owe it to him.

23:29I know him a lot longer than you. I know he ain't no cop. I'm sure that I am. I know you are. Let's see what Ludd thinks. Yeah. Oh, sorry. Yes, I know. All right, come on. On your feet. I looked at my watch. It was two minutes tonight. In 15 minutes I had to meet Ludd. I had to get Jerry fell. I couldn't take the chance of him getting to Ludd before I did. I couldn't leave him. I couldn't take him with me. I pulled him to his feet and half drag and half carried him two blocks before I spotted a patrolman. Hey officer, officer over here. Yeah, let's trouble. I'm Friday, Central Narcotics. Yeah. Take this man and get him downtown. Contact Chief Brown. He'll identify me. Serial number 2288, Friday, Narcotics. Suspect's name here is Jerry Felt. You got it? Yeah, you got some kind of identification. No, I haven't. Not a thing. It's a special duty. I'm sorry. I don't know you. I have to hold you like calling. All right, put her in. Call box right here. This is Carlson, box 117. Check on a matter with the Chief of Detective Brown with you. Yeah, that's right. Have a man here who identifies himself as Friday. What's your question? Joe, Joe Friday. Tell him to hurry.

24:29Yeah. Joe Friday, Central Narcotics. Serial number 2288. That's his inner hurry. Holding a suspect. Jerry Felt. I'll hold him. I'm going to get him. I'm going to get him. I'm going to get him. I'm going to get him. I'm going to get him. I'm going to get him. I'm going to get him. I'm going to get him. I'm going to get him. I'm going to get him. You might watch this five after nine. What time you got? I got six minutes after. It might be a little fast. Any cab stands around here? You four blocks out the street. Which way? That way? Yeah. Okay, well, thank you. Okay, Sergeant. Sergeant, hold you up. Need me help. You just hang on to this guy. Don't let him go. I started to run. Macy and Brooklyn. Six blocks away and I had eight minutes to make it. Narcotics buy is one date you're not late for. Near you are there. At the specified time, there is no deal. The veteran narcotics peddler knows that that's the only safe way farmed operate. A minute, one way or the other could mean an arrest. By ran. You're out of breast, Kyber, anything wrong? No, the cab broke down.

25:29I didn't want to be late. There you go. Forty seconds. That's cutting it pretty thin, but it'll do. Come on. Right here. By this lamp post, I'd said right in front of it. I'll move to the left to right. But they'll handle the rest, so. Get in, Kyber. Got the money? Right here. Hmm. Yeah, 200. Here's your package. Yeah. That's it. Joe Kyber, meet Ralph Castello. All right. Oh. About this side, Kyber. Okay. I'll see you.

26:35Did you make the buy Friday? Yeah. Take him. All right, Joe. Ben, I thought you were with the captain. They don't need me. I had intersections blocked off up there. They're pulling him over right now. Yeah. They got him. Castello in the car. Yeah. And that's half of the team now. We go after the big men. After Dolman. Took us seven months and four days to get to Castello. Not the time. Yeah. Always seems to work out that way, don't they? What's that? They always went out of time before we do. The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. On July 6, the 10.45pm Ralph Castello was taken to the narcotic spuro, the interrogation room. In a moment, the results of that interrogation.

27:36It's amazing how many long cigarette smokers are changing to Fatima. Here is the actual report. From coast to coast, Fatima has more than doubled its smokers. Yes, more and more smokers every day are discovering that Fatima is the best of all long cigarettes. Smokers find Fatima has a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. They find that Fatima is extra mild because it's the long cigarette which contains the finest. Turkish and domestic tobacco is superbly blended to make it extra mild. Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. Best of all long cigarettes. With the promise of the United States District Attorney, that his prison terms for the possession and sale of narcotics would run concurrently rather than consecutively,

28:41Ralph Castello agreed to furnish us vital information concerning the number one narcotic dealer on the Pacific coast, Arthur Belmont. Next week, The Big Man, Arthur Belmont. You have just heard Dragnet, a new series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the office of Chief of Police, W.A. Warton, Law Centralist Police Department. Fatima cigarettes. Best of all long cigarettes has brought you Dragnet from Los Angeles. Here Mr. and Mrs. Rural Coleman in the halls of Ivy. Tomorrow evening on NBC.

29:49The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Fatima cigarettes. Best of all long cigarettes brings you Dragnet. You are a detective sergeant. You are assigned to narcotics bureau. For seven months you have been working with federal and state agents and breaking in narcotics ring. You have apprehended the small fry. Next in the line, The Big Man, your job, get him. If you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. Smoke Fatima. Fatima is the long cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobacco.

30:51Superbly blended to make Fatima extra mild. That's why Fatima has a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. That's why Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast. If you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. Smoke Fatima. 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 from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was Wednesday July 9. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out in narcotics bureau. My partner is Ben Romero. The boss is Thad Brown, chief detective's my name is Friday. I was on the way into work and it was 3.58 pm when I got to room 24. narcotics bureau.

31:52Hi Joe, feel better? I'm not quite as tired Ben. I've got still a thing was a long haul. narcotics tomorrow. Okay, beg him. I'll tell him. Meeting for five minutes, Chief Brown drove him. Okay, I want to pick up my stuff from the captain first. Hi, Skipper. Come on in. It was a little better Friday to get some rest. Yeah, a couple of good meals. That's the trouble with a flat-skang. I never knew what to eat. Sit down, Joe. I want to talk to you. We got a couple of minutes before the meeting. You'll probably be getting this all up and down the line from here in. Just want to let you know that we think you and all of them in the operation did a fine job. My part wasn't much you did more than I did. No, we all worked but you had the dirty end of it. Good job. It's your equipment. You need it now. Oh, yeah, thanks. And your ID card. You got six shells. That's all of them. Mm-hmm. Thank you. You're back at it. Yep. Here's one for you.

32:52Look at this. What's that you got? Mug shot of a girl picked up in an narcotics raid last night. Pretty girl. Long blonde hair. Beautiful light. She looks young. High school girl. She was when that picture was taken in 1947. She was 16. Yeah. Look at this one. Yeah. Same girl. Yeah. And so, way she looked at 11.30 last night, going to pick her up. She looks 50. 19 years old. Three years on heroin. She might as well be dead. She is eight o'clock this morning. Let's go outside for the meeting. You just looked at the best reason I know of for getting Belmont. Should get her stuff from Belmont. Costello was pushing to her. He got his stuff from Belmont the only time. Emerald, let's go. I'll wait you. Anybody have briefed you on the Costello interview, Joe? No, no, let's have Chief Brown fill you in. You're here.

33:53Chief? Gentlemen, come on in. You will men all know each other. I agree. I'm Captain White. I think you're in your men know policewoman Casual. Yes, sir. How are you, Florence? Hello. And Casual inspector, Virgil Beckman, state narcotics? How do you do? Bill Craig, agent in charge, federal narcotics. I know. How do you do? Well, we got him to Belmont procedure. Let's see how he's standing on the Catella case. So, why do you want to fill everybody in on the information we got from Ralph Costello? Yes, sir. After his arrest, Monday night, we interrogated Costello for about four hours, in order to move the package he sold Friday. Other stuff, too. Crannlab ran it through about a third of an ounce of heroin, fair quality, Mexican stuff. The man we picked up with Costello, Tony Morris, was questioned as well. He corroborated Costello's story. What did you get from him? Well, he told us he had a great deal of information on the big man in the operation, Belmont. But he wouldn't tell us the thing unless we made a deal with him. What kind of a deal? He wanted everything. But we finally agreed that the only thing we might possibly work out was his prison time.

34:54We called in the US district attorney. We talked another four hours, how to work out. Just we could turn he told Costello the only thing he'd do for him is to have his prison terms run concurrently rather than consecutively. Not much to pay for what we got. Costello gave us enough to enable us to start moving on Belmont right away. We've had his immol confirmed. We've got a list of most of his pushers. Now we can get to him. Any definite plan, gee? White knight has been talking over here with Craig. And back we worked out what we think might be a pretty good plan. Craig, do you want to lay out how you're men are going to handle it from the federal end? We'll work from out of town to the center here. Check his contacts across the state lines. We've already chased his connections to the east. New York center. We'll keep working that in. Back? How about your state narcotics men? We work inside the state line. We've already checked out part of his operations. We've located sources in San Francisco, Vegas, and Fresno, as far south of San Diego, or California. We'll draw all those ends up tight. Keep moving. You follow us and both give us a hand if we need assistance. Yeah, that's right. Fine.

35:54Why are we going to do locally? It's going to be a case of taking what we know and finding out what we don't know, putting the two together seems to me to be a case of watching the man at all times. Belmont shouldn't be able to blow his nose without one of our men knowing it. It's going to be a tremendous undertaking. You all know the tough job of this shadow in narcotics men. The Pizzi-D, hypersensitive. They recognize anything out of the ordinary at once. And it can't be a one-man operation. Everybody's got to work. Our undercover won't work this time. There are no doubt alerted. So we'll work it from another angle. When we start, we've already started. Belmont lives in Manhattan Beach. His house is under surveillance. Has been since yesterday. I can't impress upon all of you the importance of not letting Belmont out of your sight for an instant. When narcotics by could be made in 30 seconds. If we're not there at the instant, we lose him. Do we have anything in dollars to when you might be ready to deal again? Nothing. Nobody seems to know Belmont's exact operating time. And in order to prosecute him, we've got to be there. When narcotics are in his possession, or under his control. So we start to live with him and stay as close as we can without being tabbed until his abiding. That's it. Captain White has all these summons for our local men.

36:55Okay. We'll watch him. We'll stay close to him. If he makes a move, be there. The meeting lasted four hours. During that four hours, a plan was formulated, which we hope would end in the successful apprehension of the number one man in Pacific Coast narcotics traffic. Arthur Z. Belmont. How do you watch a man is every move for 24 hours day in day out without his knowing it? How do you watch a man whose very existence depends upon not being watched, who is expertly schooled in every trick and device of police surveillance, whose method of operation will change with the slightest disturbance of his daily routine. And if that MO changes, you've lost him. Thirdly, July 10th. And the small Los Angeles suburb of Manhattan Beach, population 10,172. Three very ordinary events took place. A public nurse began a house to house survey. She asked the simple question, have you ever been vaccinated for smallpox? She started canvassing 27 blocks from the home of Belmont. Policewoman Florence Caswell. Two Japanese gardeners, new to the city of Manhattan Beach,

37:57began soliciting work. They started asking for jobs, 38 blocks from the home of Belmont, Sergeant Ten Food Yucuni and patrolman John Kagawa. A team of surveyors driving a station wagon, marked with the seal of Los Angeles County, began taking linear measurements for the proposed enlargement of storm drains in the area. They started 14 blocks from the home of Belmont, who turned them John Bigum Central Narcotic Sergeant Ben Romero and myself. Okay, Ben, bring in the rod. It's not off for a month. What do you want to eat, John? No wagon. Better take the transfer with his kid and I'll pick it up. Okay. I got it. I can't keep for sand out of my shoes. As well get used to it. We're a long ways from home. Nine years on the job, it's the first time I ever brought my lunch in a paper sack. You know those jokes, my changer of whole way of living. I know that. You want to sit in the front? No, I'm getting back. Call us have a look at the local paper. No, why?

38:57We have to beat Sentinel down the bottom of the page one in the box. Read it now, listen. Mm-hmm. Well, it's good. What is it, Joe? Read that now. Well, it says preliminary work on storm drains started. Surveys. Well, it goes on to say that surveyors have started taking measurements for the new drains. We kept my idea. I had the story planted, even got a release from the planting committee. No, it won't hurt us a bit. Well, you said lunch time. I got enough here for the whole department. Four hard-boiled day. See what kind of sandwich is that, dude? Devil day. That's here. She even put them on egg bread. I hate eggs. Who looks like the captain driving up the street? Mm-hmm. Now, I tell him. Driving the city car. She finds you here. How's it going, bigum? All right. Slow. How'd you lunch?

39:58What do you got? Devil's egg sandwich. It's got plenty. Can't stand it. How about having a cheese? Yeah. Thanks. There you go. How's everybody else doing? First low. Takes time. Gotta keep taking our time. Before we get close enough, bell-monts on these weights. All along, we're going to have to keep our distance. Not much longer. We can't take a chance at starting everybody out right on top of bell-mont. It might look funny to him. Anybody else would be okay. The average person here operations might look normal, but we can't afford to try to get it by bell-monts that way. So the hopper cutter you never know? It's not so much that we don't know. We just can't take any kind of a chance. That's what I mean. You might have tried right on bell-mont's front lawn and you've never got wise. But we wouldn't want to risk it. Bell-montment out of his house today? I'm going to go quite a bit. Left his house at 9.13am, went out of the shop-right market. All I have found is bacon, two dozen eggs, loaf of bread, or a week's Sergeant Hodgkin's weighted on him.

40:58He's parking in the grocery department. Then he drove over to his neighborhood gas station, got a full tank of apple and two ports of oil. 30 weight, drove home, got back at 9.42. Aren't you still there? Yeah. About time you guys were back at it, huh? Right. Okay, Ben. I'm going to grab some of the gear. Yeah. I got to ask him. Hey, Joe. Give me a left over bread crust, William. I'll give him to say go. Yeah, Joe. Here you go. Well, put by a foot we're getting closer to Bell-mont. Hope nobody tips it. Nobody should unless you don't trust those girls. We surveyed the city of Manhattan Beach for five weeks. Policewoman Caswell, posing as a nurse, continued canvassing. Everybody concerned with a job of standing watch over Arthur Z. Bell-mont, carried out their routine day by day. Daily reports came in from everyone in the operation. These reports would be shifted central narcotics and progress reports compiled for the use of those in the field on the Bell-mont case. All police cars, as well as city cars,

41:59such as we were employing were equipped with three-way radio communication. All personnel were in constant contact with one another. Wednesday, August 12th, it was the decision of Captain Lynn White that the idea of our posing as city surveyors had been exhausted. Further use of this could possibly arouse suspicion. Bell-mont lived at 1227 Ocean Avenue. Two days before we were called off the surveying station, the city leased the private residence at 1216 Ocean Avenue. A vanload of furniture was moved in. Drapes and curtains were hung. Regular deliveries of daily newspapers and milk were made to the house. To all outward appearances, the house was occupied by an average family. Actually, it provided another blind from which we could continue to observe Bell-mont. Shortwave radio equipment was installed in the next air's room. And an eye were assigned the night watch. Another car just stopped in front of Bell-mont's house. How many is that, Mae? Three cars. Just nine. Yeah. A couple of guys getting out. We'll have to find Bell. Where, let me see, huh? Hey, look.

42:59Watch Curt. Yeah, Bell-mont answers the door. He's letting him in. Something's doing what he thinks. I don't know. You called Captain White didn't you? No, I don't. Just have to first carpool them. He'll park me out and come back way. I better check with everybody again. This portable seemed to warm up slower than our car radio. About 10. Oh, here we go. Unit 140K to unit 145K. 145K going in. Just checking. Your location is the same. That's right. Motion to clever. We got three cars to cover now. Stand by. Roger. Unit 140K to unit 145K. 145K going in. Just checking. Your location is the same. That's right. Unit 140K to 143K. 143K we got it. Standing by. Location is still good. Same. We're talking to you. Stand by. 149K to 149K. 149K. Go ahead.

43:59Stay put. We got three cars now. Yeah, we heard. Still the same spot. Stand by. Roger. Captain just pulled them there. You know. Don't worry. Good. We're going to see the two from the first car. Two from the second. Two and the third. Seven multi-eight. Maybe he's running for office. No. Then. Any changes since you called me? Another car. Anybody you know? Too dark to see the faces. That's too gray. Like packets today and green cherry. That might be for me. I told the officer to reach me now. Right. Yeah, bigum. You must be wrong. Be sure he's not lying. All right, thanks. Yeah. You sure Belmont hasn't left his house since you came on duty? Good and possibly. And I, without somebody in the details, but you got out somehow. We made a buy. Captain White called the office and talked to Beni Aradondo,

45:04our narcotics undercover man. He confirmed the fact that somehow Belmont had a meat and successfully completed an narcotics transaction. None of us could figure how, and we didn't know when the meat took place. Aradondo told us that the buy had been made sometime in the past 10 hours. The arresting officers had recovered a portion of the narcotics, two bindles of heroin. They were found in the possession of one of Belmont's runners, Archie Scott. I can't figure it out. What do we do now, Schipber? Sit tight and watch those three cars in front of Belmont's house over there. Maybe he didn't have to leave the house to make a buy. It's the way I got it, Peg. Those cars down there, those are the first visitors he's had in the past 24 hours. For as anybody knows, we watch the flow. Sometimes it's like that. Looks like somebody's coming out over there. Too guy. How many in there? Eight, Counting Bellman. All right, Friday. Yes, at the car. Yeah. They started to move out yet? No. Five, six, seven. That's all I'm heading to the car. Yeah. Looks like a three-way switch. We'll see when they start to move out.

46:05Attention, all units in special detail. Stand by. Here's the license numbers here. Oh, good. Green Chevy's headed south. Like packets going north. Those are Dodge Coop. Dodge turned left at the corner. It's headed east now. Got it. 140 K to all units in special detail. Unit 149 K. 149 K, boy. 1946 Green Chevrolet sedan, license 6.1, William, 852 headed south on Ocean. Roger. Unit 145 K. Go ahead. 1947 Grey Dodge Coop, license 1x-ray 1898 headed east on Clipper Street. Roger. 143 K. Come in. 143 K. Yep. 1939 Black Packet sedan, license 6-mary, 6-7, 7-8 headed north on Ocean. Roger. Downspot. Could be a dry run. He couldn't afford to chance it either way. Nothing to do now, but wait it out. It's right in Crafer Range.

47:06It was eight minutes past eight p.m. We sat back and waited for the reports to come in from the cars. At 8.25 p.m., 17 minutes after the alert was brought to us. Unit 149 K reported in on the grey Chevrolet sedan. The car and its occupants were thoroughly searched. No trace of narcotics was found. 8.42 p.m., 34 minutes after the alert. Unit 143 K to 140 K. On that 1939 Black Packet sedan, license 6-mary, 6-7, 7-8. We took him down. Nothing to do. 8.50 p.m., 42 minutes after the alert. The report on the third and final car came in. The 1947 Grey Dodge Coupe. That's it. I'm not tracing narcotics in any of those three cars. They'll month be this tough. It's going to be tougher. Now he knows we're after him. You are listening to Dragnitz, authentic stories of your police force in action.

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49:15The three cars switch. Three cars arrive at a given point at different times. The meat takes place. The drivers of the various cars leave the given point at the same time. The driver drives away from the point in a different direction, making it three times as difficult to follow them. The practice was not new to the narcotics bureau or the dealers in narcotics. It usually includes the drier run in which the actual mechanics of the narcotics are carried out, but neither the merchandise nor the money is on hand. This practice forces the narcotics officer in the pure guesswork. If the officer doesn't follow up, the buy could be successful. If he chooses to follow up, he takes the chance of exposing himself and tipping his hand on a rehearsal. In the case of this particular car switch, we lost, but taken in the car round up, we're seven of Belmont's trusted runners. Six of these men refused to talk, but the seventh Clifford Bissell gave us a lead to one of Arthur Belmont's most trusted friends. His name was Floyd Ketchle. He and his wife lived at 357 Evergreen Drive, Linwood. It's a nice house. Yeah.

50:15Yes? Police officers would like to ask you a few questions. What about? As you probably know, there's been a series of burglaries here in your neighborhood. No, I didn't, though. Oh, yes, quite a few. Would you mind if we came in and talked to you about it? I don't know anything about any robberies around here. Everything's okay. This is just a routine check, Mr. Ketchle. Everybody else in the neighborhood is cooperated. I want to take this to my name. All right, you can come in, but I have to leave in about 15 minutes. Thank you. Now, you have a nice place here, Mr. Ketchle. Yes. Now, what was it you wanted me to help you with? You know a man by the name of Clifford Becell? No. How about Arthur Z. Bellmont? Who? Arthur Z. Bellmont. Becell says you and Bellmont are good friends. I don't understand this. I thought you wanted to ask me about some robberies. I wonder if you'd mind rolling up your left sleeve and look at your arm. What for? You're a user, aren't you? No, I'm not. Then you know what we're talking about, don't you? No, I don't. Do you have any narcotics here in the house? Certainly not. You mind if we look around? Why do you want to search the house?

51:15Why won't you show us your left arm? What? Floyd Ketchle would admit nothing, but he allowed us to search his home in grounds. And the next detail of men was called out to Ediths in the search. We covered every foot of the acre of ground. This took two days. We found nothing. On the third day, under the flooring of an upper bedroom of the Ketchle home, we found Ketchle's plant. He was using heroin. You want me to call Bellmont? Is that the idea? That's right. We want you to set up a meet with him. I'm not going to rush on art. He's a friend of mine. Search yourself. We pronged your plant there. We've got you. You'll be the first one. You'll be the fall guy. You mean I take all the heat, why not? The cell put the finger on you. We've got to have somebody. Why pick on me? We just told you, we found the stuff here, but cell fingered you, you're it. All you have to do is make a phone call. You won't have a clean slate, but it's going to sound a lot better and cooler. All right, it makes sense. You know what to tell him? We've already been over all that. Call him now. Friday, listen in on the extension. If catch will change his mind in the middle of a conversation, I'll see that he hangs up. Yeah.

52:17Bye. Hi, Art. Floyd Catchal. Hi, ships. Fine. Who's Edna? She's fine, Art. Say, I got her Fynn on his way to Honey Lulu, so he wants to take a little package along. Go to have it. You know him? Is he OK? Yeah, old friend. You sure? Yeah. Have to be pretty careful. Thanks, buddy. Pretty careful. You're not hit Wednesday night down the beach. Yeah? Who'd they get? The cell and the six guys from New York. Got all of easy. So try a run. I didn't know that. Nothing in the papers. It isn't hit yet. It did well. How much do you friend need? Gonna be in the islands for quite a while. There's a couple of ounces you're doing. You got the money now? He's good. Can you swing it tonight? Fort Least from San Francisco day after tomorrow. He hasn't got much time, has he? OK, I want to pick it up. Yeah. All right, if I bring him along, I want you to meet him. Good customer. You sure about him, yeah? 830 at the store.

53:17We'll be there, aren't we? 1100 cash. Yeah. Better be OK, catch. He is. Better be. I had one dry run this week, I think. Never another. 3.22 p.m. We took Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Ketzelback to Central Division, where they were booked in suspicion of violation of the state narcotics act. 4 p.m. We met in the office of Chief of Detective Stad Brown. You need $1,100, right? Answering. How much was the old secret service fund? $223. Lotland, for this month's all gone. Where's your arrest of? Haven't got it all yet. For America, the banker. How you got it figured, Ben? Well, let's see. I got it all written down here. First off, we got $220, $3.00 cash. And these fellows all gave us a personal check. Jack Donahoe and Robert gave us $200. Johnny Began put up $100 and kept him white-send for $150. Joe Pinin, $35, and $22 is all I can swing. That's $720. You need $380, right? Yeah, that's where I got a figure. I think I can go to the rest. How about Wynn's Cadlack, you know, to you?

54:18He's not getting that washed. $41, is he? Yeah, to that little old, but it looks good when it's washed. Planshee. Honestly, if you need. Are you going to make the buy-up one? Yeah. Catch a little bit with me. Oh, OK. So I'll hear $1,100. Yeah, we've only got one hitch. It's 5 o'clock in the banks or close. Yeah. Not much time to run around getting checks cash. It was 5 p.m.. We had $3 to cash $720 in personal checks. We split up and covered every possible place in the city where we were known and where we knew they were cashed. By 745 p.m., we had the 1,100 in cash. The serial number on each bill was listed in the money turned over to Captain White. The scene of the meet was a hardware store on East Ninth Street, which Belmont uses a front. Belmont's hardware was located in a small neighborhood shopping district. On Friday nights, the stores remained open until 9 p.m. Promptly at 830, Captain White and Floyd catchable pulled up in front of the store and went in. Ben and I awaited in our car a half a block down the street. It was 835. There they are. They're coming out.

55:19What's the made to buy? Starting the car. There they come. Watch for the skipper signal. Yeah. There it is. Let's go. OK. OK, pull over here. Come on. It's a clerk back there. You see Belmont? No. I'm sorry. I helped him. Mr. Belmont around? No sir. He just stepped out. Are you sure? Yes sir. He went out the back doing on him. I need to go. Biggum and Cass are you out there, aren't they? Yeah, he won't go for me. Well, there is Mr. Belmont. Mr. Belmont, they've done him on the street. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Come on. They've done him on the street. You. They're running up the stairs to me, isn't they? Come on. Right, Belmont. Wait a minute. Watch that trail. I'll watch you. Look out. I'll watch you. Watch that trail on the street.

56:21Come on. Let's go. Come on. There he is. Let's try to reach that skyline. Belmont. Get out. You'll never make it. Slip and jump. Belmont. Come on. You didn't do that showcase, did you, Zoy? Well, it was true. At least that glass. Right through it. It's a rough way to go. Yeah. At least narcotics didn't kill me. Didn't? The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. On December 10, 1948, trial was held in Superior Court Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, state of California, in a moment the results of that trial. It's amazing how many long cigarette smokers are changing. Here is the actual report. From coast to coast, Fatima has more than doubled its smokers.

57:21Yes, more and more smokers every day are discovering that Fatima is the best of all long cigarettes. Smokers find Fatima has a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. They find that Fatima is extra mild because it's the most important thing to do. Much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. They find that Fatima is extra mild because it's the long cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobacco, superbly blended to make it extra mild. Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. Best of all long cigarettes. 12 members of Arthur Z. Bell Montenar Cotix gang were finally rounded up by federal state and local authorities. All 12 were tried and convicted of violating the Harrison Act and the State Narcotics Act.

58:21They received sentences as prescribed by law and are now serving their terms in state and federal penitentiaries. You have just heard Dragnitz, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice for Dragnitz comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.A.W.W.W. Laws Angeles Police Department. Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, has brought you Dragnitz from Laws Angeles. Be sure to hear Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Coleman in Hall's Abadi tomorrow on NBC.