All language subtitles for Dragnet S01E06

This is the city— Los
Angeles, California.

This is Wilshire Boulevard.

Forty years ago,
these were bean fields.

Now they call it
the Miracle Mile.

This is MacArthur Park.
It's on Wilshire Boulevard.

For 90 cents, you can rent
a boat for a half an hour.

A lot of old people live around the
park. Most of them draw pensions.

You can live pretty good in Los
Angeles on a pension, if you’re careful.

When you're old, sometimes
you need good medical facilities.

The city has them.

Once in a while somebody tries to take
what little the old have away from them.

That's when I go to
work. I carry a badge.

It was Monday, December
5. It was overcast

in Los Angeles. The
paper said it might rain.

We were working the day watch
out of Frauds Division, Bunco Section.

The boss is Captain Lambert.
My partner's Bill Gannon.

My name's Friday.

A team of expert confidence
men had moved into

the city and set up a
widespread operation.

They were clever and successful. Their
victims were men and women over 70.

Their take was beginning
to reach the five-figure mark.

We had to try and stop 'em.

The story you are
about to see is true.

The names have been
changed to protect the innocent.

Joe, uh, you eat out
once in a while, don't you?

You know I do. Most of the time.

Mm-hmm. Now, uh, what's the
most expensive item on any menu?

- Oh, I don't know. Why?
- You never see this on the menu
over across the street at Willie's.

- About all they serve is sandwiches.
- That's just the point.

Wait'll I get my Swiss Mondaines with
maybe a few Indian Mondaines thrown in.

- And I got an idea what to cross 'em with.
- What are you talking about?

A fortune, Joe. A fortune
right here in my hand.

What is it?

- Squab.
- Huh?

- Squab. That's a baby pigeon, Joe.
- I've heard.

- I doubt Carl and me can raise
enough to supply the demand.
- Carl?

- Wife's cousin. Carl Sawyer.
- Oh. Yeah.

Carl quit his job, put everything
he had into it, doing just great.

- Then he got a bad break.
- Is that right?

One of his kids left
the pen door open. Best

breeding stock, all of
'em— Pfft! Flew the coop.

It doesn't sound like much of a business
to me, not if they all might fly away.

That's just it, Joe. A person can
profit by other people's mistakes.

- Makes you think, and you come up
with a better way of doing things.
- Yeah.

I don't know why somebody hasn't
thought of it before, and it'll work.

- What's that?
- Simplest thing in the world, Joe,
if you don't want 'em to fly away.

- What is?
- Like I said, cross-breed 'em.

- With what?
- Homing pigeons.

Friday. Gannon.

Here's one for ya.
What is it, Skipper?

- Couple of Seattle tourists.
- Huh?

- Those phony bank examiners
they had working up there?
- "Had"?

They've moved. Looks
like we've got 'em. Woman

by the name of Burnside
phoned in the complaint.

Seems she turned her
life savings over to a man

who identified himself
as a state bank examiner.

- How much did she give him?
- Six thousand dollars.

Said he needed her
money to help catch a

thieving teller at her
neighborhood bank. Yeah?

Bank examiner told her the money
would be returned to her within a week.

It's been over a
week, so she called us.

This the address? Yeah. Better
take a run out there right away.

- You're gonna have
a little explaining to do.
- How's that?

- About her money.
- Yeah?

The man told her a policeman
would bring it back to her.

Bill and I had
been there before.

It was an old apartment
house, mostly pensioners.

They get a check every 30 days
from Social Security or Welfare.

Nothing very big. Just enough to
keep them going from month to month.

But I know they were
real bank examiners.

Mr. Gleason, I could tell how
important he was over the phone.

And Mr. Montgomery had
a bank examiner's badge.

He marked each bill. Real clever.
Tiny marks you and I would never notice.

Why did he say he
was marking the bills?

Well, so that they could put
the money back in the bank,

and then whatever teller stole any of
it, the little marks would give them away.

Isn't that smart? Yes, ma'am.

Could you describe
this Montgomery?

Well, he wore
glasses, just like yours.

I don't wear glasses, ma'am.

Oh.

Well, my eyes aren't
what you'd call real good.

Yes, ma'am.

Uh, do you think you
can get my money back?

Well, we can't offer much hope,
ma'am. We'll certainly do our best.

Well, it's not so much for me,

but for my
granddaughter, Lillian.

How's that?

I've always wanted
them to have a house...

with a yard for the youngsters.

- Yes, ma'am.
- I always thought...

when I was gone, the money would be enough
for a good down-payment on a house...

with a real yard.

- It was going to be a surprise.
- Yes, ma'am.

Sergeant, it isn't right
for somebody to steal it.

No, ma'am.

Not when it was going
to be yard money.

1 1:3 1 a.m.

We drove over to the Wilshire Bank
where Mrs. Burnside had her account.

We talked to the
manager, Harry Croft.

He remembered Mrs.
Burnside's large withdrawal.

12:1 7 p.m. We drove
back to the office.

The bank examiner swindle was
pretty much a new wrinkle in Los Angeles.

It was a sophisticated
variation of old bunco

schemes like the phony
stock certificate swindles.

We put through a request
to the Seattle detectives.

We asked for complete
intelligence reports—

M. O. 's, mug shots,
anything they might have in

their files concerning the
phony bank examiners.

Thanks a lot. We
sure appreciate that.

Looks like you've got another
one. What do you mean?

Either one of you
remember Flabella Mirada?

No, can't say that I do. No, wait
a minute. That name rings a bell.

Old-time movie actress,
wasn't she? That's right.

Lives at the
Majestic Hotel. Yeah?

Phony bank examiners.
What about 'em?

They took her for $5,500.

The Majestic is an old hotel
just off Hollywood Boulevard.

Actors first began
staying there in the days

of the Keystone Cops.
It was fashionable.

Now they stay because
the rates are right.

Besides, the desk always knows what's
being filmed at the studios tomorrow...

and how many
extras they'll need.

Flabella Mirada had
never really been a star.

She'd had some good roles
in a few minor films in the past,

but she hadn't worked
for years in pictures.

Thanks, Flobelle. Can't promise
they'll run 'em, but I'll do my best.

Thank you so much.

Oh, hello! I'm so
glad you could come!

- Are you from the A.P.?
- No, ma'am.

Never mind. I'm sure you
have a wide circulation.

Now, ask me anything you want.

We're police officers, ma'am. My
name's Friday. This is Bill Gannon.

How do you do, ma'am?

Oh.

I guess no one else is coming.

Uh, no one else
from the press, that is.

Of course, it was very
nice of you to come, but...

- Oh, you do understand?
- Yes, ma'am.

You see, I've been
planning a return to pictures.

Oh, but you don't
want to know about that.

- You're not in the business.
- No, ma'am.

Well, anyway, this
young man phoned...

You can record or
take pictures if you wish.

We'll just take notes.
Thank you, ma'am.

Uh-huh. Just as you prefer.

Anyway, this young man phoned.

A beautiful voice.

I told him he
should be an actor.

He seemed very pleased, but he said
he enjoyed his work as a bank examiner.

Then he told me about these
terrible thefts from the bank accounts.

When he asked me to
help, how could I refuse?

Besides, the publicity
would be good.

- Not that I need it, you understand.
- No, ma'am.

If I were to help catch the thief, I
was sure it would make the front pages.

Exactly how did he
want you to help?

I was to withdraw $5,500
from my savings account.

Another bank examiner would
come to my roo—uh, suite...

and mark the bills.

Then the examiner would
put the money back in the bank,

and the police would wait to see which one
of the tellers was pilfering the accounts.

After a week the police were
to return the money to me.

- When did you withdraw the money?
- A week ago yesterday.

When the police didn't come
yesterday or this morning, I...

realized I'd been swindled.

Why did you wait all this time
before you reported it, ma'am?

Both bank examiners cautioned me not
to say a word. It would alert the thief.

Could you give us a description of
the man you turned your money over to?

Oh, sort of average. Polite.

Do you remember
what color hair he had?

Sort of medium. I don't pay
much attention to these things.

- Would you recognize him
if you saw him again?
- I think so.

Yes, I think so. I'm not
very good at describing

people, but I remember
them real well.

Yes, ma'am.

The studios will read
about this, won't they?

Well, I wouldn't know, ma'am.

That's up to the press.

I—I guess it was a busy day.

No one came but that
photographer and you.

Yes, ma'am.

About my return to pictures...

- I have to now.
- Is that so?

That was all the
money I had in the world.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

Miss Mirada? Yes, sir?

Would it be too much trouble to ask you
for your autograph? It would be a pleasure.

Who do I make this to?

Gannon's my name.
Just your first name.

Bill. To Bill.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

I didn't know you
collected autographs.

I don't.

Wednesday, December 7, 9:43 a.m.

It was beyond doubt now that the phony bank
examiners had a well-organized operation.

Several bank managers
had called to report

their depositors had
received phone calls...

from men claiming
to be bank examiners.

We checked each one of
them out, but they led nowhere.

Five more victims.
Look at this, Joe.

$43,500.

That's their take so far.

Couple of old friends.
Seattle sent these.

Coming-out mugs of
Frank Thomas and James

Fremont. Did time for G.
T. bunco at Walla Walla.

Seattle thinks they
worked the bank examiner

scam there up until last
month and moved on.

- Ever work L.A. before?
- Johnson and I busted 'em eight years ago.

They were working the coin-smack
then. Doing pretty good till we nailed 'em.

Yeah, well, they're doing all
right now— over 43,000 so far.

At the rate they're scoring,
they'll drop the bank

examiner game in a couple
more days and move on.

Couple more days, they
can open their own bank.

10:34 a.m.

Bill and I drove out to the apartment
house where Mrs. Mary Burnside lived.

We showed her the mug shots of the two
suspects— Frank Thomas and James Fremont.

Now, just take your
time, Mrs. Burnside.

- Sergeant?
- Yes, ma'am?

I've got to tell you
the truth. What's that?

These pictures— Yes, ma'am?

I can't see them.

They all look the same.

Thank you, ma'am.

1 1:15 a.m.

Bill and I returned
to the office and went

upstairs to the Scientific
Investigation Division.

We spoke to Lieutenant John Bigham,
commander of the photo section.

We had an idea, and
we hoped it would work.

You figured all your
victims have bad eyesight?

Most of them are
old. Maybe it'll help.

How 'bout eyeglasses? Well,
the Burnside woman, for instance.

She told us according to her
doctor, her eyes are too far gone.

The other witnesses too.
They're pretty well up in their years.

I don't know why not.

It's never been done
before, but it might work.

About, uh, this
size? Say, 8-by-10?

That should do it, John. You'll blow up a
dozen or so strange ones to work with 'em?

Yeah. Rotten shame, isn't it?

- Couple of punks working all these
old parties for their last dime.
- Sure is.

Average bunco schemes, I really can't
work up too much sympathy for the victims.

- They figure they can turn a quick buck,
get something for nothing.
- Yeah.

But these crumbs, making the old-timers
believe they're helping to catch a thief.

You get us those blowups,
John, and maybe they will.

3:37 p.m. Lieutenant

Bigham rushed the
enlarged mug shots through.

The bank examiners
were busy too.

Three more victims had
reported losses since morning.

Their total take up to
now stood at $49, 700.

The latest victim was Fred
Gregory. He was 82 years old.

He reported losing $800.

It was the smallest loss so far.

His landlord said we'd find him on a
bench by the lake at MacArthur Park.

He'd be the one
wearing a green cap.

We showed him the book
of enlarged mug shots.

There. There he is.

Montgomery, he called
himself. He took my money.

You're sure? Positive.

That's Montgomery. But he
seemed like such a nice man.

He had a badge.

He said the police would
bring it back to me in a week.

- And you don't have it, do you?
- No, sir, we don't.

- The money's gone, isn't it?
- I'm afraid so, sir.

I sure don't want
to be in a jar.

Beg pardon?

If you haven't any money when you die,
the city has to take you. They cremate you.

- The ashes they put in one of those jars.
- Yes, sir.

The $800, that was
my burial money.

4:15 p.m.

Mrs. Mary Burnside was shown
the book of enlarged mug shots.

She identified Frank Albert Thomas
as the man who had taken her money.

5:07 p.m. We showed the book
of mug shots to Flabella Mirada.

She also identified
Frank Albert Thomas...

as the man who posed as a bank
examiner and took her savings.

Bill and I returned to the office.
We filled Captain Lambert in.

-35 p.m.

I'm afraid of it.

None of the victims can
eyeball Fremont, and the

ones who made Thomas
are shaky, to say the least.

That's the way we figured too.

We've gotta watch one of
these things go down. Yeah.

All right. Put 'em on a job.

Thursday, December 8, 9:48 a.m.

It was decided that
the best way to make a

strong case against the
phony bank examiners...

was to put them on a job,

to catch them in the
process ofan actual swindle.

To accomplish this, we had
to contact a potential victim...

who might work with us before
turning over any money to them.

So far, victims had only been
calling us after they'd been bilked.

Under the direction of Chief
of Detectives Tom Reddin,

a warning was sent out to all
newspapers, radio and television stations,

cautioning everyone to be on
the lookout for the bank examiners.

Monday, December 12.

The press had given the phony
bank examiner story full coverage,

but we still hadn't gotten
the break we needed.

We knew it wouldn't
be long before the bank

examiners would be
moving on to a new city...

and a new set of victims.

9:38 a.m.

Bunco. Gannon.

Yes, ma'am, I see.

Mrs. Pauline Gray,
1210 Primrose Avenue,

Apartment 6.

Thank you. We'll be right over.

No, ma'am. Please don't
do anything till we get there.

You got anything? Bank examiners called
this Mrs. Gray just a few minutes ago.

- She'd read the papers, so she stalled.
- Yeah?

They're gonna call
her back in 30 minutes.

It took us 12 minutes to

drive over to the Primrose
A venue address...

that Mrs. Gray had given us.

This is what I told him.

I said, "I am expecting a very
important long-distance call,

and can you call me back?"

I've heard about this caper before.
I read a lot of detective magazines.

Yes, ma'am.

These boys have just
put a little twist to that

old Mexican charity
switch. That's it, isn't it?

No, ma'am. All right, here's
what we'd like you to do.

- The cover?
- I beg your pardon.

You know, the cover-up.
The blind. The cover story.

Yes, ma'am, that's the idea.

When this man calls
back, he's gonna ask you to

draw some money out of
the bank from your account.

You tell him you'll do it.
Right, Sergeant. Will comply.

Tell him your son is visiting you
today, your son that lives in Arcadia.

- Tell him your son
will make the withdrawal for you.
- Neat and tidy.

Why don't I go to
the bank myself?

Well, say your arthritis
is bothering you.

Good deal. Don't
worry, Officers.

- We'll pull it off A-okay.
- Yes, ma'am.

- You know, this is something
I've always wanted to see.
- What's that?

- Especially these two hoods.
- Ma'am?

I've always wanted
to be in on a pinch.

Two hours went by, and no
call from the bank examiners.

Mrs. Gray appeared to
be calm and collected.

While we waited, she
read passages aloud

from the latest monthly
detective magazines.

12:19 p.m.

1:47 p.m.

A man who identified
himself as a state bank

examiner told Mrs. Gray
his name was Gleason.

She handled it well.

Gleason asked her to have the money
ready in an hour. She told him she would.

I see.

Then you'll mark my $3,500
and put it back into the bank,

and we'll catch that teller who's
been dipping into the accounts.

That's very clever.

Yes.

Oh, I'm only too happy to help.

All right. Good-bye.

- How'd I do?
- Just fine, Mrs. Gray.

There's just one
thing we didn't think of.

Oh? What's that?

I don't have a son.

You do now, ma'am.

2:15 p.m.

We called the office
and told Captain

Lambert we would need
$3,500 in marked bills.

We also asked him to
have another team stake

out Mrs. Gray's apartment
house to back us up.

2:48 p.m.

Policewoman Marjorie A dams
delivered the marked bills...

and took Mrs. Gray to an
unoccupied apartment in the building.

Bill and I didn't have a long
wait. It was exactly 3:05 p.m.

Special Agent Montgomery,
State Banking Commission.

Come right in.

It's a real pleasure to
meet you, Mr. Montgomery.

I'm Bill Gray. Well, it's a
pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Gray.

- Is your mother here?
- Oh, she forgot to tell you.

When they get to be her
age they do forget things.

She knows I always take her
to the doctor every Monday.

- But I have some money
she told me to give you.
- Fine.

- The banking commission
surely appreciates your help.
- Happy to do it.

- You do have identification
from the banking commission.
- Yes, of course.

My examiner's
certificate and my ledger.

Well, that's fine.

- Now if I could have the money?
- It's all right here.

- But, uh, where's Mr. Gleason?
- Gleason?

Yes. My mother said she talked to a
Mr. Gleason. I'm to give the money to him.

Oh, of course. Gleason's my
associate. We work as a team.

I'm sorry. That's what
she insisted on. I'm

to turn the money over
to Mr. Gleason only.

I see.

All right. I'll go get him.

Think they're hinky? Well, if they
are, the boys out front'll pick 'em up.

How'd I sound? Do you think I sold
him? If they both show up, we'll know.

Hope we don't get this close
just to watch it fade. Yeah.

Mr. Gray, this is Special
Agent Gleason. Mr. Gleason.

You're Mrs. Gray's
son. That's right.

I sincerely hope your mother
isn't ill. Oh, nothing like that.

As I told Mr. Montgomery,
Monday's her regular checkup day.

I see. Bless her heart.

I understand she
wanted me to pick up the

money in person. I
appreciate her confidence.

May I have it? Yes,
sir. Right here. $3,500.

Thank you. Do you mind if I sit
here? I have to mark these bills.

Certainly. Thank you.

That sure is interesting
how you people do that.

What do those little marks mean?

Sorry. We can't tell you.
That's classified information.

- Classified?
- Top secret.

Oh. I see.

Say, as long as you've got your pen
out, I wonder if you'd sign this receipt.

Why, sure.

Mr. Montgomery too?

Monty?

Agent Gleason and I are
always cautioning citizens like

yourself to be extremely
careful in matters like this.

Your mother's a very smart
woman, Mr. Gray. Thank you.

Besides, it helps
us up in Sacramento.

That so? Oh, yes.

Our chief agent is a real
stickler on money matters like this,

you know, where we're
utilizing other people's funds.

I can understand that.

Mr. Gleason? Yes?

That's such a large
amount of money.

Mr. Montgomery showed
me his identification.

I wonder if I might see yours.

Here's my badge.
We both carry them.

So do we. You're under arrest.

The story you have
just seen is true.

The names were changed
to protect the innocent.

On March 14, trial was
held in Department 182,

Superior Court of
the State of California,

in and for the County
of Los Angeles.

In a moment, the
results of that trial.

Both suspects were found guilty
on three counts of conspiracy...

and three counts of grand theft.