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About this Episode
A groundbreaking police procedural drama that follows Sergeant Joe Friday and his partners as they investigate crimes in Los Angeles. Known for its realistic portrayal of police work, the series emphasized methodical investigations and factual storytelling, setting a new standard for crime dramas.
Hosts & Guests
Transcript
The story you're about to hear is true.
Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
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Dragments.
The documented drama of an actual crime.
For the next 30 minutes into operation
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.
Was Wednesday, June 24th, was sheltering Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out in narcotics.
My partner's been Romero, the boss is that brown
chief of detectives, my name's Friday.
Was 9.27 a.m. when I got to the Cheering Cross Apartment
on 12th Street, the side entrance.
I'll be right back.
Hi.
Hi.
Anything going?
Nothing.
How's the bug working?
Better.
One of the fellows from the crime lab came out and faced it last night
and went next door and replaced the microphone.
I'm getting real sour on this detail, Joe.
Here, let me take over for a while.
Come on here.
My ears shoot like a couple of baked caterpillars.
Two solid weeks hold up in this place with a pair of earphones on.
Yeah.
What do we got to show for?
That woman next door hasn't even mentioned narcotics in two weeks.
All she does is eat, sleep, and play solid here.
Who's out for groceries once in a while?
Hold it.
Somebody ringing the buzzer next door.
But there's a different way.
Yeah.
Just a minute.
Yeah?
You know this may work.
That's right.
What is it?
I talked to a friend of yours, George.
But it might be a good idea if I'm not too lucky.
What do you want to see me about?
Well, it's a business washroom.
Could we hear it?
Let me talk to him, sir.
All right.
Come on here.
Can you plug in these earphones, Joe?
Yeah, go ahead.
I'd like to introduce my service washroom.
My name's Howard Scully.
You and George were former associate scientists.
No, we worked together a little.
What can I do for you?
Well, George and I are old friends.
We were in business in Hong Kong before the war.
It's a nice fella, Joe.
No, I have a date down town, half an hour.
I don't get much time to talk.
Sorry, I didn't realize you're in such a hurry.
I'll get back to the point.
My business partner's nine just came up from Mexico a few days ago.
And we have some merchandise.
It's ready for the market.
It's good quality.
It's right here.
I contacted George and he might introduce me
to some prospective buyers.
So he didn't want to handle any merchandise at this time.
I know.
Oh, it's something about the police.
He seemed to be watching it.
He just didn't want to take any part in his business.
I'm just getting it.
George gave you a problem steer sending it to me.
I can't help it.
You haven't heard my proposition.
I don't have to hear it.
Count me out.
I don't fool around with junk any of it.
It's a tough wrap out here.
Well, if you'll just listen to my proposition.
No.
I'm not pleased.
I'm not asking you to be involved.
I'm perfectly safe and legitimate transaction in mind.
You'll be well paid for your time and effort with no risk,
quite so everything.
Yeah.
I know.
All you big connections make it sound good.
George, does me your acquainted with the right kind of people?
People with one hands.
Kind of people with my partners.
And I want to meet you.
All I'm asking you to do is introduce me to a few such persons
for our mutual benefit.
And then you just leave the rest of me.
Yeah, it's still too much.
I give you an officer of fire and you were caught.
They get me from the spirit.
No, they're not.
I do too much of it.
It's no say.
Well, you just have to believe me in this, Washington.
No one's going to be caught.
Now, we work in an entirely different manner.
But police haven't any idea of our method of operation.
We've tested it in six big cities in the Orient.
And not once did it fail us.
And I tell you, it's not done to fail us here.
It's your story.
Well, it's true.
I'm not chanting a wrap to prove you're wrong.
What?
Here, do you want to say a word?
Yes.
Sorry.
It's a matter.
You see?
Okay.
Now, I'm going to ask you one thing, Ms. Warren.
An introduction to the right party in that cell.
Now, you know my reputation.
I'm making well what you were.
If the connection is right, you can live on.
You would take for the rest of the year.
I don't have many friends.
Just a few.
And I guarantee it for my payoffs.
Well, I can deposit the money with George.
You'll hold it and do what deal is made.
What do you say?
An introduction.
That's all.
That's all we'll need.
Now, the product speaks for itself.
I know a fella up in Hollywood.
His name's Mr. Miller.
I can call him.
He's telling me to meet you.
I'll be fine, I'll see.
I'm not going to introduce you.
No, I won't set up a meet for you, that's all.
All right, that's all we ask.
Do you have this Mr. Miller?
Miller.
You have him eat tonight?
I think so, yeah.
Yeah, it's fine.
Now, to 9, 11, 30, I'll be at the corner of 7th and Alameda.
Now, remember this now.
Yeah, I heard it.
Corner of 7th and Alameda at 11, 30, exactly.
I'll have on a great coat and I'll be carrying a book.
I'll make a million shouldn't have any trouble wrecking it.
I'm just telling the walk right up to me.
Put out his hand and say, my name's with Miller.
That's all.
I'll know if he's the right party.
My name's Nick Miller.
That's all he has to say.
All right, I got it.
That's all right.
Well, I'll make arrangements with George and this boss
will take care of your fee.
Thank you very much, Mr. Washman.
No, no, no.
I just don't be too sure of yourself.
The first and the time can smile by three miles away.
We'll take care of the police, Mr. Washman.
I'll insist I'm sure to teach him a few lessons.
Well, the violence is working.
Thank you very much.
Yeah.
Don't come here after this.
Call me when I'm home.
Sir, come back.
You know, wait a minute.
She's going for the polls.
Come on.
That's the manner.
Try the door.
It's not.
What do you want?
Police officer.
All right, what's the pitch?
I'd like to talk to you downtown.
About what?
Howard Scully.
What about him?
We know who I was here.
Get your coat clean.
I haven't done anything.
Come on, lady, let's go.
I told Scully I didn't want any.
He made the proposition, but I didn't buy it.
You know that.
I didn't buy a word of it.
We did.
Before the suspect was taken downtown,
we informed her landlady to tell anyone
that she'd be out of town for a week.
That information was to be passed on any of her friends
or business acquaintances and might try to contact her.
After that, we took May Washburn back to the office.
After being questioned thoroughly,
she was detained for further investigation.
At 2 p.m., Ben and I met with Captain Kerney,
a central narcotics inspector of Virgil Beckner,
a state narcotics bureau of southern division.
$100,000 by, is that what they have in mind?
That's the word around town, Skipper.
Washburn, girl, told us the same thing.
Washburn, go on with the approach for an office, huh?
Yes, that's right, back.
She was ready to go when we picked her up.
The pusher's Howard Scully, you remember him?
About nine years ago, wasn't it?
With two one a day?
Eight or nine years, yeah.
That big heroine by, they tagged everyone in the gang, but Scully.
Yeah, he's no Amazon.
He's got every narcotic law in the book memorized.
He sets the deals, takes the gravy, but he never gets tagged.
How about the federal narcotics men in Romero?
They've been briefed, understood?
I call Harry Stone, or that this morning.
They've been following it, too.
And he'd be over this afternoon.
Well, they set up for this McMillan guy.
What do you think, Pam?
Clear sailing airbags, far as I can see.
Scully set up to meet with May Washburn.
Ben and Joe grabbed her before she could contact with Billin.
Well, Scully's got a Ouija board.
He still must figure everything's Jake.
And we could have a man weakly Scully tonight
and pass himself off as McMillan.
We shouldn't be too much trouble
from the way he talks.
Scully's never seen McMillan.
Has no idea what he looks like.
It's just a guess.
And neither one of you are known to Scully, are you?
I never met him or his friends.
I worked that case last February when we grabbed Ray Mardick.
He used to be a meal for Scully.
That's close, I've been.
Well, I'm afraid that's too close.
You know how many hype friends Murdock has in his town
if any of them spot you and pass the word,
to Scully the whole deal's choked off.
Joe, I think you could pass yourself off as McMillan
for a couple of days.
I'd like to give it a try.
Back what you think.
Good or late?
We're going to help with the tailing.
Only one possible hitch I can see.
Yeah.
We're not positive that this guy McMillan
is a total stranger to Scully.
I'm sure he sounded like it, didn't he, Joe?
Where Scully and the Washburn girl were talking?
It's possible. Scully might have seen the picture of McMillan.
They'd be known somebody known as background as habit.
So he does visit.
It's possible, yeah.
Suppose Scully starts asking the questions, Joe.
How are you going to call it?
You know, we could talk to the Washburn girl again.
She might brief us.
Now, if we needed to guy's life history,
let's pick it up firsthand.
How do you mean?
Get McMillan.
Late that afternoon, standing, McMillan
was located at a small restaurant out in the valley
and quietly placed under arrest.
It was booked at one of the outlying stations
on suspicion of violating the state narcotics act.
We questioned him and got all the necessary information
on this background that we needed.
He told us that he had never seen or had any deans
before with Howard Scully.
7.30 pm.
I went home, changed my clothes, put away my gun,
ID card, and the rest of my identification.
An hour later, I checked in on a small hotel near
fifth and main street.
11.15 pm.
I left the hotel and started for seventh and alamedist streets
where the scheduled meet with Howard Scully was to take place.
As in most cases, there was one all-important rule
that I had to work by.
If the suspects were to be arrested and successfully prosecuted,
we had to get them with narcotics in their possession
and under their control.
And one of the first things that the working detective learns
is that dealers such as Scully rarely do the actual handling
of narcotics except that the actual moment of sale.
If the officer fails to make an arrest at that moment,
the odds are stacked heavily against the conviction
of an narcotics criminal.
11.30 pm.
I got the corner of seventh and alamedist streets.
I walked up to a man standing by a lamp post.
With short, heavily built dark hair, dark eyes,
and the small sky on his chin.
He had on a gray coat, and he carried a book under one eye.
I put out my hand.
Yes?
My name's McNoan.
Oh, glad to know you, Mr. McGon.
I need a Scully.
Why?
I understand we have mutual friends that Craig?
Well, I still haven't told you.
You're from Louisiana, originally New Orleans.
No.
Oh, it's so?
I thought you were from Louisiana.
Oh, Missouri.
St. Louis.
Oh, I see.
I suppose we go for a drive.
We have hotels down on the fifth.
We can talk there.
Oh, I think my car would do better.
When I can't afford a waste time, I get customers waiting.
Are you going to believe me?
This won't be a waste of time.
I'm prepared to do business.
All right, let's go.
Fine.
No, go ahead.
Thanks.
How are you?
Please have a handle on the other side.
It's fine.
Yeah, sure.
Fine.
Thank you.
You can't be too careful in that way out here.
Yeah, it's right.
There's a lot of heat.
Oh.
I hope none of it's on you.
The way I'm clean.
No, it's humbles.
Would I be here for a word?
I got customers to protect good customers.
Fine.
You know what I mean?
We can do business.
How much can you handle?
How much you got?
How about $10,000?
Standard rate full measure.
What do you think of the cut at all?
Sounds fair.
We drove three more blocks,
and then scully pulled the rider
with stop underneath the rope,
spreading palm trees on a deserted street.
Pulled the emergency brake on,
and then he turned to me,
clamped my arms to my side and shook me down.
What's the pitch here?
What's the idea?
Oh, thanks, sir.
It's about precaution,
because you had a gun.
What do you take me for, mister?
I'm not used to doing businesses way.
to do in business this way. That might go real great in these, but it's nothing out
here. I said no offense. There's a hot town. You could be a fuzz. You can't be too careful
you know that. You don't have to pull that careful stuff with me. Who set up this
meet anyway. You are listening to dragnet authentic stories of your police force in action.
Oh no. Oh that's different. Yes what a difference. There's a difference you can hear. There's
a difference you can see but the difference in Fatima is quality. Yes friends when you compare
long cigarettes you'll find that in Fatima the difference is quality. Quality of tobacco.
The finest Turkish and domestic varieties extra mild and superbly blended to give you a much
different much better flavor under Roma than any other long cigarette. Quality of manufacture.
Smooth plump cigarettes rolled in the finest paper money can buy. Quality even to the appearance
of the bright clean yellow package. Carefully wrapped and sealed to bring you Fatima's rich,
fresh, extra mild flavor. Fatima's cost the same as other long cigarettes but your first puff will
tell you. Oh that's different. Yes in Fatima the difference is quality. Ask your dealer for
Fatima the quality king size cigarette. Best of all long cigarettes. Start enjoying Fatima tomorrow.
June 25th 3012 30 a.m. I had two and a half hours to raise $10,000. The narcotics dealers
Howard Scully and his partner Jim Rhodes had laid it out for me. Either I had the money by 3 a.m.
or there was no deal. If it failed to come off our plan to trap the narcotics gang would be worth nothing.
Rhodes and Scully could possibly find another buyer with our knowledge make a deal and flood the
market with their store of narcotics. I knew it would be impossible to get the $10,000 together.
But only one alternative. Fake our way is best we could. I went back to the hotel, put a call
through the cap and kerney at the office and told him what had happened. He went to work on it.
From the narcotic details emergency fund set up for such purposes we got together $600.
From cheaply detective Stad Brown, deputy chief white and state narcotics bureau and anyone else
available by phone we succeeded in rounding up another $350. 230 a.m. The money was tied in two
small bundles with hundreds, fifties and twenties on top. One dollar bills were sandwiched in
between. The two bundles were placed in the briefcase and delivered to me at the hotel on 5th street.
The gun was also in the briefcase. I took it out, put it in my pocket, closed the briefcase.
245 a.m. I left the hotel with the money and started for the big meat. 3 a.m. 7th and Alameda.
Look, now I'm down here. Scully, we're down this way.
Yeah, the money? Your pal said all or nothing. I got it.
Seven look, how about the merchandise? We can check it in the car, it's right down here.
Roads?
All right, money? Yeah, that's right, I got the money. Now how about a look at this stuff?
I like to know what I'm buying. We can stop on our way for a sample.
Okay, hard.
Can I have something, Mark?
Where you got it?
Cash in, let's have some.
Oh, thank you.
Here's lots of heat on this town.
Perhaps it'll take us five.
Yeah, that's right.
Rough time, I got the kelp.
That's the reason anyway, when it's time.
Well, about six weeks ago, the bulls tag some high school kids after them.
Huh? Or four?
Well, they were regular hipes.
Just punks, aching year olds, a couple of them were 70.
You squished.
Yeah, and the heat's going to get worse.
One of the punks cashed in yesterday, breaded in the paper, overdosed.
Not going to help, does it?
Well, I'll tell you one thing, I'm planning to close.
I got good customers, now I'm not going to risk my name.
How much stuff are you thinking you handle about me going?
No thanks anymore.
Well, I got about 30 main liners.
They're regular and they're short.
Eight, ten ounces a week, but they're like good stuff, no alley hype junk.
Howard must have told you that it's always handled good stuff.
If it goes right, we could make it a permanent connection with you.
Well, I'd like to see what you're offering first.
You'll have a good look.
All right, Howard, you know where I pull up.
Yeah.
You're staying at Comic Mountain.
All right.
Yeah, Howard and Howard.
All right, Mack, you can go.
Yep.
There you go.
Some of the best white stuff you've seen in a long time.
Satisfied yourself?
Yeah.
All right.
Okay, it's standard.
It's all good, not just that simple.
Okay, I'll go.
Okay, now about the money.
All right, have a look.
There you are.
One stack.
Two stacks, hundreds, 20 stands.
Two fives in there.
It's 10 grand.
Satisfied?
Okay.
Kim?
Right.
All right, excuse me, Mack.
Just a minute.
I'm just checking.
What do you think you're doing?
Get your lousy hands off of me.
Not no, Fence.
You know, I'm just a simple precaution.
The precaution's nothing.
We're doing business, aren't we?
You shook me down once tonight.
Now, how many times are going to take you?
Oh, Fence, Mack.
He's just checking that song.
All right, then.
Suppose I fan you two down.
I got the dough.
How do I know this isn't a hijack deal?
Now, come on.
This business works both ways.
Either we have a deal or we don't.
We play ball on both sides or not at all.
I'm getting second-tired of taking second place.
Okay, Mack.
Okay, take it easy.
Forget it, Howard.
Let's go go back to the car.
I'm sorry, Mack.
No, Fence.
Okay, let's close the deal.
Where are we going to go?
No, where.
It's a safe place.
Okay, Howard.
3.35 am.
In another hour, it'd start getting right.
I knew they'd planned to have the buy-take place before then.
According to our plan,
Ben and Sergeant Hunt, along with the other team of men
from the state of Archite's Bureau,
they were to tell us to the place of the meat
and move in on a signal from me.
When the buy was actually in progress.
3.45 am.
Scully drove out North Figaro
onto Pasadena Avenue and turned right onto Avenue 43.
We headed up Montecito Drive.
The area became more deserted.
There were no homes around.
No buildings of any kind to provide cover for anybody
that might be following.
Somewhere below, we could hear the rattle of a freight train
on its way to the southern Pacific areas.
Off in the distance, I can see the lights of the city.
I look pretty far away.
Scully finally pulled the credit with stop
from the crest of the highest hill in the area.
And we got out.
What do you think, Mack?
A nice view.
Yeah.
It's been a long time finding this spot.
We'll prove.
Here?
Bring him over here, Jim, with Sean.
Huh.
You see there?
Clear view of everything down below.
At least half a mile in every direction.
No chance getting trapped up here.
Pretty smart.
It's the way I like to deal.
There's only cops following us.
We can see the lights before they get here.
On each time, cover up any evidence.
Cops ask questions, right?
We tell them we're just looking at real estate up here.
It's pretty good, huh?
Well, I got a hand at you.
You can't be too careful.
What do you do for lookouts?
Let me show you.
Sweet!
I swear!
Who's that?
Friend.
Yeah, Jim?
Well, what's the pitch?
Who is this guy?
Business power.
Howard me.
Sweet!
This is Mr. McMillan.
What do you say?
How do you do?
Look how many people do you need to make a buy a road, huh?
Sweet, Joe.
Look out.
It's a big fella, Nick.
We got enough people here for a Sunday picnic.
We need to look out.
You just got to finish saying it.
We can't be too careful.
Well, come on.
Let's wrap it up.
Where's the stuff?
Sweet.
You want to go?
Okay.
How far is he have to go?
Close by.
Stuff was put away down the tall grass.
Nobody ever found it.
It's a good idea.
I like the way you operate.
Sweet will have the stuff for you in a minute.
Well, how about the money?
Should we count it?
Rather, wait till sweet gets back.
Okay.
Sweet for the car.
Can't beat this, Mark.
Can you, McMillan?
No, it's good.
Yeah, no idea.
I'm a star.
We spent looking for it.
You did real good.
Yeah.
Yeah, you didn't go.
Okay, thanks.
Not a money, you know?
Well, how about counting it out here?
I'd feel better keeping an eye on it and road down below.
Okay, good idea.
Well, this is kind of, Mark, huh?
Yeah, we're with it.
There you go.
There's one bundle.
And there's the other.
I'll count it, Jim.
Yes, Nippet App.
We've been here long enough already.
Come on, Jim.
Well,
that is quite a few $1 bills here.
Huh?
Well, there's a few of them, but it's all there.
It's really hard.
It could be with all these ones.
Yeah, let me see.
Don't bond the roads.
Yeah, what are you trying to pull?
I'd get away from the car sculler.
You too, sweet.
Put the gun down, Mark.
You won't get away with it.
The hands behind your head.
That means you two roads.
Nobody's hijacked us, my darling.
You're not going to be the first one.
It's no hijack, Mr. This is a pinch.
He's a fuzz.
He's a...
He's a lousy fuzz.
I knew he should offend him again.
Shut up, Howard.
You know, we can square this with your Mac.
Five grand co-cash, no questions.
You're talking to yourself, Rhodes.
I'll make a ten.
Ten grand cash.
Now you can't afford to pass that up.
Come on, I'm out of Mac.
If you want me to just like we are, you can use the tool.
You keep your hands behind your head, Mr. This is some sense copper.
It suites as strong as a horse.
I could put a money, you could break every bone in your body.
You don't have to get past this gun first.
You're not going to stop all three of us.
How do you think you're going to get back to town?
Well, Roy, you won't have to walk.
Never get us downtown.
Sweden'll break you in half.
They'll kill you.
You just give me an idea, Rhodes.
Huh?
You're pretty tough.
Shouldn't bother you.
I'll kill the sweet right now.
You and Scully can carry his body in front of me.
We'll start walking down that road.
We get the nearest place with a pole.
I think that'll take care of it, won't it?
You guys don't get the guts, Jim.
Turn around, sweet.
Well, don't kill me, Mr. Hard.
I'll go away, I don't shoot.
Turn around.
Stay where you are, Scully.
Don't, don't, don't kill and copper.
Don't kill the sweet room.
Do anything you say.
Somebody come and look, Mac.
We'll give you every time we own 50,000 bucks.
I don't have nothing to happen.
Bet.
Over here.
50 grand, Mac, you can't lose.
Right, Jim.
Back.
Back over this one.
The three of them, Beth.
Okay.
All right, behind you, back.
Come on.
Couldn't get here any sooner, Jim.
I had to park at the bottom of the hill,
and they'd have seen the stale still.
Yeah.
We certainly run on the foot, climbed up through the grass.
I was beginning to think I lost you.
All right, you two, get him behind you, back.
Back.
Back, Joe.
Get the joke right here.
These two packages are a lot of sew it up.
Look, uh, talk it over with your partners.
I'm 50,000 bucks, you do the right thing.
It's all yours.
How about a 50 grand, you can't lose.
What they're talking about, Joe?
Well, they got a big deal.
They'll give us 50,000 if we let them go.
How about a tech shipper, Joe?
Is that don't, do a car, do a house?
Just forget your ever saw.
See, there's that 50,000 cash.
What do you say, Tex, huh?
Sorry, you've got the wrong man.
What?
My name ain't Tex.
The story you were just heard was true.
Only the names were changed to protect the innocent.
In a moment, the results of their trial.
Now, here is our star, Jack Webb.
Thank you.
In his training, the working detective
has taught the importance of thoroughness.
He has learned never to overlook even the smallest detail.
What may seem unimportant to the novice may well be the one thing
to help the working detective successfully culminate his case.
So, with a cigarette, the people who make Fatima
are well-trained and thorough in the manufacture of their cigarette.
Fatima's contain the finest Turkish and domestic tobacco
superbly blended.
And pack after pack Fatima is extra mild.
If you're a long cigarette smoker like I am,
smoke Fatima.
They cost the same, but in Fatima, the difference is quality.
Smoke Fatima.
May Washburn, Howard Lewis Gully, James Henry Rhodes,
and John Sweet Nelson were tried and convicted.
They received their sentences as prescribed by law
and are now serving their term in the state penitentiary.
You have just heard dragn at a series of authentic cases
portions transcribed from official files.
This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.
