Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Dranget: Production 6 (aka: The Red Light Bandit) (EP1358)

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Dranget: Production 6 (aka: The Red Light Bandit) (EP1358) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

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Detectives dot net through the Kendle Store. Now it's time for today's episode of
2:49
Dragnet. This was known as Production six, but is popularly referred to as
2:53
the Red Light Bandit. Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to
3:08
hear is true, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
3:14
NBC brings you Dragnet of You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to robbery Detail.
3:30
A ruthless fiend roams the streets of your city masquerading as a police officer.
3:36
For months, helpless citizens have been robbed, beaten, senseless, and
3:39
kidnapped. The criminal is a twisted, genius, vicious cunning. Your job
3:46
is to get him. Dragnet the documented drama of an actual crime investigated him,
3:55
solved by the men who unrelentingly stand watch on the security of your home,
4:00
your family, and your life. Paul. The next thirty minutes,
4:03
in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step
4:08
on the side of the law through an actual case from official police files,
4:12
from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of
4:17
your police force in action. It was Wednesday, June fourth. It was
4:26
warm in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of Robbery Detail.
4:30
My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is at backstrand Chief of Detectives.
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My name's Friday. I was on my way back from communications and it was
4:38
eleven thirteen pm when I got to room twenty seven eight robbery detailed. Oh
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hi Joe, Hi, Ben, she got that message to call home?
4:47
Yeah, bad news. What's the matter? That dog gone kid in mine?
4:50
Chicken pox? Oh again last year? It was the months year before
4:55
that amazes every time I get set for a vacation, he decides to catch
4:59
some forget it, Ben, think what a comfort is going to be in
5:00
your old age? Go ahead, lad, you'll find out. Yeah,
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how are you, Friday Romaro? Fine? What can we do for you?
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You don't look like you remember me. Oh wait a minute, name
5:17
Savage, isn't it George? It's Johnny sageant Johnny Savage remember now? Oh
5:24
sure, those liquor store robbers out in the Wiltshire district about six seven years
5:28
ago? Wasn't it ten years from You ought to remember that. You're went
5:30
the trial. We testify in court every week. Ten years is a long
5:34
time. It's longer in the state pen. It's a lot longer. Now.
5:39
You cried a little at that trial, didn't you, Savage? You
5:41
said, we beat that confession out of it. Yeah, that's why I
5:44
figured I dropped in for a little visit. I kind of apologize to you,
5:46
fellas you gave me a square deal. I guess I kind of lost
5:49
my head. I figured that apologize. Oh that's all right, Savage.
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Once you get out a couple of weeks ago, I did it the hard
5:57
way. Serve ten flat. I don't know my day. You find a
6:00
job yet? Yeah? Friday? Yeh, I'm working nights. What kind
6:03
of a job? Laborer and a warehouse south end of town? Good decided
6:09
to level. Ten years in prisons a long time. You learn a lot
6:13
of things. Nights are long, you think a lot, you get things
6:15
straightened out. I hope you mean that. Sure, I mean it's Friday.
6:19
I've got everything straightened out. I know who my friends are, and
6:23
I know who to watch that. You sound like maybe on the right track.
6:27
I got a figure room hero like you two fellas. You caught me
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red handed and you send me up for ten years. Well you did all
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right, Savage, five armed robberies. You got off pretty easy. You
6:36
got a break, Savage, make the best of sure, I'm not kicking
6:41
ten years, real break. That's right. Well, just dropped in for
6:46
a little visit. Maybe I'll see you fellas sometime. All right, Savage,
6:53
keep your nose clean. Sure, No, heart feelings. No,
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you just took ten years in my life, that's all. There's no such
7:04
thing as a man going through prison without changing, and Ben and I have
7:08
seen him switch in both directions. Some men learn their lesson after they land
7:12
behind bars, and when they're released they turn into good citizens. Johnny Savage
7:15
was sour. We made a mental note to check him out later on,
7:18
and then we went down to the record bureau and pulled his coming out mug.
7:21
That's about all we had time for because about an hour later we started
7:26
to get busy at chat. Joe Gravic on the corner of Selma and Naples,
7:30
the drug store two eleven and probable attack on the corner of Selma and
7:35
Naples two eleven. What you got, Joe Selomon, Naples two eleven an
7:40
attack? Come on here we are, Joe over around the four corner.
7:54
Yeah, all right, come on. We got the story from the victim
8:01
of the store owner, mister Thomas. For the most part, it was
8:03
the usual rundown of an early morning hold up. There was only one exception.
8:07
Well, I've had young Budin's try to hold me up before, but
8:09
there was nothing like this one. You mean, that's dumb. Well.
8:11
He came in here just before closing, and ordinarily out he kept an eye
8:16
out because it's the time to look for him. But this fella came to
8:18
the door and said he was a policeman, so I let him in.
8:20
He looked like a cop. Boyd's right up to me and the wife behind
8:24
the counter and pointed a gun and she screamed and he hit her in the
8:26
face with the butt of the gun. Sergeanty, it was horrible. That's
8:31
the way it started, and that's the way it kept going because most of
8:33
the victims and most people don't realize that as a citizen they have the right
8:37
to check on police officers. Identification went in doubt. After we got the
8:43
story from mister Thomas and checked the store in the neighborhood, Ben and I
8:46
headed back to the office. Attention all units at the end of North Baxter
8:52
Road near Gilcrest, victim of two eleven and slugging cars seventy two. Take
8:58
the call to three, catch all four blocks away from the last one.
9:01
Let's go along. I've been all right, I'll hit the sire and you'd
9:05
get to that. By the time Ben and I got up to the end
9:09
of North Baxter the man from Car seventy one were already there. The victim
9:13
was telling his story. His face looked like it had been through a meat
9:16
grinder. I we're just shifting the car in a second to make the hill
9:18
when I hear the siren behind me and I see this red light flashing in
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the sideview mirror. Well, naturally, I pulled over the curbin who was
9:26
just reaching for my driver's license. When the cop runs up, yanks me
9:30
out of the car and studs clubbing me in the face with the butt of
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his gun. Did you get a look at him? Think you can describe
9:35
him now? I'm afraid not. He swung me around and kept me staring
9:39
into that red light on his car all the time he was beating me.
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After a while, everything just went black. When I woke up, my
9:46
wallet was gone, all my money's Forty five minutes later, Ben and I
9:48
were interviewing the third victim, a young housewife out on the Wheelsire district.
9:52
Same trademark tried the time, didn't have any money, and he wouldn't listen.
10:01
He kept holding me by miss thrown meeting me when he fits like he
10:05
enjoyed all right, all right, missus Jamieson, could you tell us how
10:11
he got in the house. He came in the front door and rang the
10:16
bell. I opened the door, but lest the burglar chain of study.
10:22
Was the policeman, so need to mission? And I opened the door all
10:26
the way I did. And you can't describe the man force, missus Jameson.
10:33
He was tall and he had dark hair and hands. It was like
10:41
a knight, tall, dark hair, big hands. Your guess the same
10:52
as mine. Jo. Maybe let's wait and see. Come on, let's
10:56
check with the boss. Ahi min Hi, he's waiting for you in there.
11:03
Come on, Ben here the detectives. I was Hannah, sit down?
11:09
Yeah, all right, you too. Let's have it. Guy with
11:11
the red light, Yes, the guy with the red light posing as a
11:13
policeman. Why hasn't he been picked up? You know as much about it
11:16
as we do. Ed. We got our first call around midnight. He
11:18
knocked over a drug store out on Selma. He hasn't stopped working since.
11:20
Didn't you get any definite lead on him? No description, no license number,
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nothing. He's tall, big hands, dark hair. That's all fine.
11:28
Either of you got any ideas? Could be anybody? Skipper with that
11:31
description. You're sure it wasn't anybody on the forest. We sent all the
11:33
victims down to personnel. Lowry showed him the mug book of all police officers.
11:37
Wasn't one of our men? Works fast drug store motorists. The pedestrian,
11:39
the housewife out in the Wheelschiir district went right in the house after her.
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Four up, right in a row. Five huh as A twenty year
11:46
old kid in the next room came in just before you got here. A
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couple of hours ago. He was sitting in the car with his girl up
11:52
and male and drive his red light bend and comes along, slugs him and
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kidnaps the girl kidnaps. She still miss on a trace. When did this
12:00
happen? A couple of hours ago? They brought the kid over from Georgie
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Street Hospital. We can talk to him now. He's had a bad time.
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I didn't hear him, kid, Pete. We're going to have to
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ask you a few more questions. Oh yeah, okay, it feels a
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little better now. This is Sergeant Friday and Sergeant Roumo. Hi pee,
12:20
Hi, Can you tell us what time the trouble started? How about ten
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fifteen, ten thirty Sally and I were sitting in the car talking about where
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we were going on our honeymoon. We're going to be married next month.
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And then this car pulls up behind us and starts splicing a red spotlight onest
12:37
and a guy runs over and pulls open the door. He said he was
12:41
a cop. Did you get a good look at his car? Peet?
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I think it was a black sedan. Did you get a look at the
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man, Pete, No, No, I didn't. It was pretty dark,
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and he kept me staring into that red spotlight. It all happened so
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fast. Then he started slugging me and I went down. What happened?
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Then next thing I know, Sally was screaming. He had one hand on
13:03
a throat and he had a backed up against the side of the car.
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He was beating her with the other hand. Some kind of a short billy
13:09
car. I got up in my started for him, and he slung me
13:11
again. When he came to Sally was gone. Anybody checked the area up
13:16
there, ed, Yeah, Davis and Griffin didn't find the thing. I
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sergeant, you gotta find it. You got to. I wouldn't know what
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to tell her, folks, I wouldn't know what to say. That's all
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right, Pete, wheel Fliner, you'd take it ease. Got a hot
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shot head up on Summer'd Road near Westmall, a woman unconscious, ambulance follow
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up, possible dead body. All right, hennon, we'll have to beat
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here, Friday Romeo, let's go. Haven't had romano to the ride?
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Okay, Scarf, Yeah, there's the ambulance and the cruiser car. You're
13:48
a lonely looking spy. All right, come on, hi, doc,
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what'd you find hi? Fellas right over here, just going to take her
14:00
in? Where'd you find her? Over there by the side of the road.
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Somebody driving by a sorrow they called us? Any identification? This bracelet
14:09
on her wrists to my dearest Sally and Pete twenty fifth, nineteen forty seven.
14:15
That's a girl, all right? What are the chances I wouldn't bet
14:18
on him? Pretty bad shape? Well, have you seen or notough?
14:20
Yeah, Friday Romero, call the crime lab and check the area for footprints
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and tire tracks. All right, back in the ambulance with the girl.
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If she regains consciousness, I want to talk to her, all right,
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Okay, I'll meet you in the office by eight thirty we're working straight through
14:35
till we get this guy. Say at the office, gave her what time
14:56
you got Ben? Seven minutes before long? That car up there ahead,
15:01
let's take a look at it. It blacks and now hey, look he's
15:05
flashing a red spot on that convert Come on, he's Jesus Joe spulling away.
15:13
Get that gas pedal down to the floor. Already there he's turning off
15:16
right. Hit the siren, I'll get the light. We're gaining a little
15:20
Ben. Next corner to the left, Yo, where'd you go? The
15:24
fancy driver? Try the alley up ahead to the left. Here, must
15:28
have turned up that cross stream. Gets through the alley and double back on
15:31
him right here, Yes, Ben, look out, what did much?
15:35
He's around us? We got hit just in front of the rear bumper.
15:46
Our car was forced into the curving and it turned over. He was real
15:48
lucky he kept right on going. But this time Ben and I were sharing
15:52
a lot. All we got out of it was a couple of nasty cracks
15:54
on the head and a few bruises, but it was enough to keep us
15:56
in a hospital under observation for a day. By this time, ed Backstrand
16:00
was fuelming, so were the newspapers. During the day we spent in the
16:04
hospital, a red light bended, went on our real blitz. We pulled
16:07
six more jobs, one liquor store, two residents, will hold up some
16:10
three car robberies. Five of the six victims were slugged and beaten. Davis
16:15
and Griffin had taken over for Ben and me, and by the time we
16:17
got back on the job, they build up a lead for us. So
16:18
we've been working with wilkeson up an auto theft Joe. He's used four stolen
16:22
cars already. We got the makes and numbers on each one of them.
16:26
How about the dark sedan and he was driving when he rammed us. The
16:27
boys picked it up this morning out on the pulpitum. We're checking it for
16:30
Prince. Now, that's fine, Dave, you got any description on the
16:33
guy yet? Not like that Joe. He works too fast, nothing at
16:36
all the same as you had, tall, black hair, big hands,
16:41
loves to use him. Ridday Romeo got a minute. Okay, skipper check
16:45
you lated, honey choosday boys sit down, How do you feel? Pretty
16:51
fair? Edge? A little staff here and there, and I did Davis
16:53
fill you in up to date. Okay, I just called the doctor who's
16:56
handling Sally Wilder, Pete's girlfriend, you remember. Oh yeah, she's been
17:00
in pretty bad shape since we found her up there on Summit Road. This
17:03
morning, she took a turn for the better. She's conscious and a doctor
17:06
thinks she might be able to talk to us a little bit. Good when
17:08
better an hour. I cleared it with the doctor and with her family.
17:11
You'll only be able to stay a couple of minutes and make the most of
17:14
them. That's all all right, ed, we'll check with you later,
17:18
say Joe, Ben, here's some mail came for you fellas while you were
17:22
gone. Oh, thank you, Mike. We're going on to the county
17:25
hospital. We ought to be back in a couple of hours. Okay,
17:27
say there's been a couple of phone calls too, Yeah, anything important,
17:30
I don't think so. The guy just called to say hello, said his
17:33
name is Johnny Savage. Just called us Hello. I presume you men are
17:41
aware of the girl's critical condition. Yeah, that's right, doctor Froeman.
17:44
When we saw her before she was taken here to the hospital. Ah.
17:45
Yes, you understand, of course that you'll be able to see her for
17:48
only a few minutes, and please try your best not to excite her.
17:52
Right, Doctor, Sally isn't able to talk, bad mouth and face injuries,
18:02
so your questions will have to be answered simply yes, sir, no,
18:04
and nod of the head. Okay, we got you. We only
18:07
have a few questions, and we want to know if she can identify the
18:08
man who beat her from these pictures we've got here. All right, sergeant,
18:11
this way, Thank you, Sally. Sally, these gentlemen from the
18:22
police department, they'd like to ask a few questions now. There's no need
18:26
to be nervous or afraid. Simply nod your head yes or no. That's
18:30
fine, all right, sorry, Sally. Did you see the man who
18:36
attacks you? Yes, she says, yes. Did you get a good
18:40
look at his face? You did? All right, Sally, Now you
18:44
can answer these three together, just yes or no? Was he tall?
18:47
Did he have dark hair? Did he have large hands? He did?
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Ben? All you got you? Hand me the phone here you thanks.
18:56
Now there's just one more thing, Sally. I'm going to show you some
18:57
pictures. Now take all the time you want before you make up your mind
19:00
about each one. If you recognize any one of these men as the person
19:03
who attacked you. Just nod your head, all right, all it's fine.
19:07
Good. Here's the first one. No, all right, here's the
19:11
next one. No, how about this one? No, all right,
19:18
here's another. Do you recognize him? This was the man? Are you
19:22
sure, Sally, thank you, that's all. Let's go. Did you
19:29
find what you wanted? Sergeant, Yes, doctor, we did. Here
19:33
it's this one, nice looking chaff. Who is he, Sergeant, His
19:37
name's Savage, doctor Freeman, Johnny Savage. When we got back to the
19:44
office, we checked in with ed Backstrand. In five minutes and all points,
19:48
bulletin and a full description of the suspect was broadcast every radio, car
19:51
or remotorcycle officer, and every sheriff and law enforcement agency in Los Angeles and
19:53
southern California. My nightfall on man hunt was on. More than a dozen
20:00
extra PETOLS units were called in for duty that night. When they pulled out
20:03
of the police garage, the name, the picture, and the whole description
20:06
of Johnny Savage was in the possession of every officer. The same for the
20:08
patrolman, whether they walked to beat downtown or out in the residential areas.
20:11
The picture of Johnny Savage went with him. Everything was done that could be
20:15
done. On the second night of the man hunt, far out on the
20:18
ind of town, Johnny Savage the red light Bendit got his twelfth victim,
20:22
a sixty three year old star keeper attentions nine three nine Malckham Street near Clark
20:27
two eleven and slugging called three. Ambulance dispatched all units street here it is
20:41
kipper time. What'd you get? Welcomes and lifted the princes off? Had
20:47
black sedin at rams joined me? Yeah, they belonged to Johnny Savage.
20:49
Yeah good, that's storekeeper last night. It is Savage. All right.
20:52
Victim identified him from his mound. All right, we've got enough in this
20:56
Savage. You got to put him a nice for life. All we have
20:59
to do now is to get him. Now. Look the way we figured
21:00
it ed this red light bandit is using stolen cars with coal plates, so
21:03
there's no way of tracking down the cars at regular commercial garages. He's got
21:07
to be running private garages someplace around town. All right, Let's get the
21:10
neighborhood patrolman on the job advertise it all over town. It's a city ordinance,
21:14
isn't it. People who rent private garages are bombed by a law to
21:17
register the car and license number with the police. Start a campaign if you
21:21
want, but find those cars right? Wait a minute? Hello, backstrand
21:25
yeah when I see Yeah? Thanks? What is it that? It was
21:33
the hospital? About the girls? Sally, Sally Wilder? What about she
21:37
died five minutes ago? That night, everybody went back on the job as
21:45
usual, the cruiser cars, the patrolmen and the motorcycle officers, and about
21:48
a dozen decoy cars, armed policewomen riding alone in cars or parked in lonely
21:52
spots with a police officer escort. Our car eighty K was still in the
21:56
garage for repairs, so they assigned us another one. We started to make
22:00
the rounds. Everything was usual except one thing. We weren't tracking down just
22:03
a thief anymore, or a say this who like to beat people's faces in.
22:07
We were out to get a murderer. It was a perfect night for
22:12
the suspect. Dark no moon. I gave Ben two to one odds and
22:15
I put up five dollars that we'd get savage that night. I lost the
22:18
five dollars. We cruised until seven the next morning, but there wasn't even
22:22
a nibble. We had breakfast at the Federal Cafe, a little restaurant down
22:26
the street from the City Hall, and was about eight fifteen when we got
22:30
back to the office. We were pretty tired. Robert del Romme, Maryland,
22:34
I would like to speak to sache on Friday for you. Okay,
22:38
nice Friday talking Sageant Friday. I want to talk to you. Well,
22:42
I'm listening. Go ahead, I mean I want to talk to you in
22:45
person as soon as possible. Can't you tell me over the phone? What
22:48
is it? I cannot tell you over the phone. It is very important.
22:51
Can you come now? Well, I look, mister am auful,
22:52
sorry, but we're very busy down by fifty. Can you come now?
22:56
What's this all about? Who is this speaking? My name is Carl Savage.
23:02
My son's name is John period Joe Nicks looking little play Yeah, yeah,
23:25
I'm Sergeant Friday. You mister Savage, Yeah, come here. Okay,
23:29
it's my partner, Sergeant Romero. How do you do? I will
23:32
be brief, gentlemen. I am the father of John Savage. I wish
23:34
for you to catch him and I will help you. I noticed the name
23:37
on the mailbox outside, mister Savage changed the name len. I changed my
23:41
name ten years ago when John first got into trouble my own name. I
23:47
had to change. The shame always from him, my son. Shame,
23:51
mister Savage. Has your son been home since he got out of present?
23:53
Yeah, many times to ask for money. I would not give him any.
23:56
So he struck me last night reading the newspaper. The little girl he
24:02
beat up. She is dead. Then I make up my mind. You
24:07
know where your son is now, mister Sammie, Not now, No,
24:11
But our garage has a car, and there it is not his. I
24:14
know. Also in the garage I find many license plates. I find spotlights
24:18
with red glass lens. But you don't have any idea where we could find.
24:22
No, But he will come back. He always comes back for money.
24:26
We're going to station an officer here in the house, mister Sammie,
24:27
anything you want, if it will catch him. He's bad, sergeant,
24:32
like something poison or all true. He's bad. See if someone basket over.
24:37
I met Savin, the wife lived here with ten days ago. Before
24:41
this starts. I better get through my wife, his mother, sergeant.
24:48
For ten years. She's sick, but for ten years she stays alive.
24:52
To see him from prison ten days ago she died. He did not even
25:00
come to the funeral. Did your son have any idea that you might call
25:03
us? No, no, I don't think so. But when you catch
25:07
him, give me a gun with my own two hands, I will kill
25:14
him. Johnny Savage. Before we left, we called ed Backstrand and we
25:21
brought him up to date. He sent three detectives out to relieve us,
25:23
Davis, Griffin and marsh We told them to keep an eye on the house
25:27
and the stolen car in the garage. That night, after dinner at Backstrand,
25:32
Ben and I went out and relieved them. We parked the cruiser car
25:34
in the garage next door, and then we took up our posts. Carl
25:37
Savage had a light supper and then he went to bed. About nine,
25:41
the three of us sat at the front windows in the darkened house and we
25:44
waited. Ben kept his eye on the garage outside. Across the city.
25:48
The man uncontinued as usual. Three hours went by, the waiting got monotonous.
25:55
Friday Romero, look alive? Will you yes? Sorryd Clock's enough to
26:00
put anybody to sleep. H what time you got twelve twenty three am?
26:04
Thanks? The clock kept ticking. We were tired. We took turns keeping
26:11
each other awake. At ten minutes past two, I looked at my watch,
26:15
and then I settled back and tried to find some kind of a comfortable
26:18
position. They started so fainting. It was just like the ticking of the
26:22
clock, same rhythm. And then they came closer and the sounds got out
26:26
a rhythm Backstrand's head came up with a snap. Ro You hear that?
26:30
Yeah, get up to the window. Wants the curtains. You see anything?
26:34
Yeah, yeah, somebody's coming. Savage can't tell the way. Man,
26:41
he's going down. It's going up to drive away to the garage.
26:47
It's going inside. That's him, Come on, watch it. He spotted
26:55
us, went over that fence into the yard. There he is, Friday.
27:02
You hit him, Joe. Maybe he's going for the street. He
27:06
set it for that car, right, that sedan up on the corner there.
27:07
Yeah, rom I won't go back and get the right mister Clark at
27:17
the block before he came around. Where's Romaro? I don't know? Oh
27:19
here he comes. Now all right, let's go get that radio on,
27:25
Joe, it's already on it, all right, give him a call and
27:27
he signed yet no nothing so far. Next part is the light bend Unit
27:33
eighty K to Control four. Eighty K to Control four, Claire and keep
27:38
frequency four open. This is an emergency Roger frequency care frequency there he is
27:51
Friday half ahead dark blue saddan Control four. We are in pursuit of the
27:55
possible red light band. Suspect is driving a dark blue nineteen forty nine Sadan.
28:00
His number in the seventh column sixty one Robert seven eighty four, he
28:03
was caution. Suspect is armed. O three attentions all units attentions all units
28:08
Unit eighty K now pursuing possible red light bandits suspect is driving up darn blue
28:14
nineteen forty nine to that life's number is the seventh column six what Robert seven
28:19
eighty four He was caution. Suspect is armed. Oh three your location eighty
28:25
K Control four. We are headed east on Wiltshire Boulevard crossing Lebrea. Attention
28:29
all units. Suspects headed east on Wilshire Boulevard crossing Abrea. Watch it from
28:33
Mara. Don't lose him. I've seen him. Kevin Control four still pursuing
28:37
red light banded headed east on Wilshire, now crossing ross More. Attention was
28:41
all units. Suspect is still headed east on Wilshire, now crossing gross Bar.
28:47
Suspect is armed. He was crossings three. The truck pulling out of
28:51
the head hit the surn Will you skim he had on trasqueen on a traffic
28:59
of ahead, is gotta slow down. Control four suspects headed east one glocers
29:03
crossing Western Avenue, closing in there. He goes go right down Sherman Alley.
29:07
The dead ends, yeah. Control four suspect turns south of the Sherman
29:12
Alley, closing in on suspect. Suspect his turned south and themon alleyect his
29:18
own Arery skipper pulling up ahead. He's jumping out, all right, take
29:25
the mic what you had here? Come on, Ben, I'll direct the
29:27
other cars and we need help. All right? All right? Which way
29:33
to go? Ben? Now I'm between fielding on starting up the back of
29:36
fire skis all right? Keep him business all right? Savage, come on
29:40
down. He wants to go rough with one march sad Savage, come on
29:45
down, No us, Joe. He's heading up for the roof month.
29:49
He clans like I'm an let's get him here. Here, I'll give your
29:53
hands here. Here's all right. Where'd you go? I don't know.
29:56
Let's run out, all right, Savage a fruit. No, you're gonna
30:00
mounting your hands up and watch it. Joe, you're running for the edge,
30:03
Joe, I'll get them all right. Guy back here, losy comp.
30:08
You're pretty lovey comp. I'll tell you about your fruit saving your throat?
30:19
Good Yoh yeah, throw the cups you you just bet you? H
30:32
m hm you want a small Yeah, it's your usable thanks m hm.
30:42
Quiet up here. Yeah, I was just thinking, Yeah, Carl Savage,
30:52
this guy's father, what about nothing? What would you do if your
31:00
son was a murderer. The story you have just heard is true, only
31:11
the names were changed to protect the innocent. John Savage was tried and convicted
31:18
of murder in the first degree. He was executed in the lethal gas chamber
31:22
at the State Penitentiary. You have just heard the sixth and a new series
31:30
of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice for Dragnet is furnished by the
31:36
Los Angeles Police Department. Tonight's program is dedicated to patrol Officer Robert Steele of
31:45
the Montana State Highway patrol who, on the morning of November two, nineteen
31:51
forty seven, gave his life so that yours might be more secure. Dragnet
32:09
came to you from Los Angeles. This is NBC the National Broadcasting comment Welcome
32:35
back. A tough last name to be stuck with in fictional worlds anyway,
32:39
is the last name of Savage, and here chosen for a character who is
32:45
very violent. Is kind of a cliche name choice, though I should say
32:50
that I have seen some characters named Savage who are very cool and tough,
32:55
such as Doc Savage. Of course, rarely is it something that is neutral.
33:01
It's a very powerful last name. Someday I'm going to have to write
33:06
a story where there's a character whose last name is Savage, who is just
33:09
a very meek and quiet librarian who doesn't really do anything at any rate.
33:15
The one thing I did find myself wondering about in this episode is why the
33:20
father wasn't hadn't already been checked. But I assume the answer to that may
33:27
have had something to do with the fact the father had changed his name and
33:30
it had been a decade. But it's a very interesting perspective, and this
33:37
Johnny savage. Definitely a bad egg is portrayed in this story. Well,
33:45
we have some listener comments and feedback, and we start with a comment from
33:50
Sparky in San Diego, who is confused by the werewolf. They learned that
33:55
six lossonse plates have been stolen, then they get six card A script is
34:00
the only problem is the bad guy's going to put the plates on some other
34:04
car. You're the pro, So maybe I'm missing something here. Well,
34:07
Sparky, as I listened to that, I came away with a couple of
34:10
different impressions listening to the werewolf. The first impression I came with is that
34:17
they were talking about cars that had been stolen, not license plates, and
34:25
they were asking for the license plate numbers in their efforts to search for the
34:30
cars. It was confused a little bit later when they referred to stolen license
34:35
plates as opposed to stolen cars. And this may have been you know,
34:38
we're only dealing with the third episode of Dragnet here with the werewolf, so
34:44
it may have been this very confusing thing the way it was written, because
34:49
we've heard episodes where there have been stolen license plates, that is a car's
34:54
park somewhere and somebody goes and steals the license plates, which is different than
35:00
stealing the car. It was clear because there were descriptions given to the car
35:05
that even though they were asking for license plates, it was only identification number.
35:09
But then again when they were once again referring to stolen license plates rather
35:14
than stolen cars, I actually started making up a narrative which I don't think
35:19
I could gather from the story where there were stolen cars, and then there
35:22
were also an additional stolen license plates, but again not justified by the story.
35:29
So I would say, just a very noticeable little error there, and
35:34
I do appreciate you pointing that out, but that I would read it because
35:39
they do deal with a car and they find him in one of the cars
35:43
that were taken, I would read it that they were referring to the car.
35:46
But thanks so much for the question. And then had a question about
35:52
something I said on the previous Dragging That show. Roderick emails in ask hat
36:00
im just wanting to let you know, still enjoying the show. I was
36:04
wondering back when you were running the old time Dragnet show, you mentioned there
36:07
were eleven lost episodes. Have any of them been found? Short answer is
36:13
no. There are still eight lost episodes from nineteen forty nine and three from
36:16
nineteen fifty one, and to be honest, there have been There haven't been
36:22
any Dragnet radio episodes. There have been some Dragnet television shows, of which
36:27
there are a lot more missing somewhere in the neighborhood of two hundred of the
36:31
two hundred and fifty plus programs that were broadcast from nineteen fifty one to fifty
36:38
nine are missy. With the radio show, I always hope for lost episode,
36:44
and we'll be very happy if it happens. But with three hundred and
36:49
six of the three hundred and seventeen broadcast out there available in a general circulation,
36:58
that's ninety six and a half half percent, which is a very high
37:01
number. I'd love to see it get up to one hundred percent. Whether
37:06
the programs are out there to make it happen, I don't know, but
37:09
I still keep hoping. Probably one of the most disappointing moments in the course
37:17
of doing this is a listener actually found a set that had of real to
37:23
real tapes that had entries marked off on it for the seven missing episodes.
37:30
In the fall of nineteen forty nine, and he was excited about it and
37:35
bought it. I got in touch with some people and found somebody who could
37:39
transfer the real to real tapes to MP three, and was just excited the
37:44
prospect that I might get to hear these episodes that have been lost for so
37:49
long. But then it turned out that the collector who had the tapes had
37:53
made entries on the box. But these were entries apparently put there as kind
37:59
of placehold, hoping that he would stumble upon those seven lost episodes. So
38:05
there are false starts, there are moments, but I'll continue to keep looking,
38:10
and I know others are And if you happen to find any of those
38:15
lost episodes, get them to a qualified preservationist so that they can be enjoyed
38:22
ed And O'Brien. Johnny Dollar episode that we played this week is from the
38:28
same year as the Dragnet lost episodes, which is one reason why I continue
38:34
to hold out hope that we'll be able to enjoy programs. The Big Cop
38:38
is probably the one I'm most eager to hear. Over to some comments received
38:45
on Facebook, Jim says, I'm really surprised and pleased at the quality of
38:51
these very early Dragnet shows. Thank you for passing them on to us,
38:54
and Jim I am too. When we first played Dragnet, we had twenty
39:00
four kbaps programs which were really weak quality and the voices were hard to distinguish.
39:09
But we now have some better versions of the programs, which is just
39:15
another great reason to play them. And Rebecca says, I wish there was
39:17
more Dragnet in the world today, and I say a hearty a man to
39:22
that. Well, that will do it for today. I do want to
39:28
again encourage you to support our listener support campaign support dot Great Detectives dot net.
39:32
Among the items we do have available as thank you gifts include the nineteen
39:38
fifty four Dragnet movie, which we'll send along to anyone in the US and
39:43
Canada with a donation of one hundred dollars or more. Full details available support
39:47
Dot Great Detectives dot net, become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook,
39:52
dot com, slash Radiodetectives, and follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives
39:57
from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam grimms on and Off