Dragnet 1967 (1967) s01e06 Episode Script

1
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Man Narrating]
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.
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Weak Chuckle]
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.
[Chuckles]
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.
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Sighs]
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Friday Narrating]
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. 5:35 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.
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[ Rings]
[Clicks Line Button]
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.
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Friday Narrating]
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.
[Knocking]
[Knocking Continues]
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.
[Knocking]
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.
[Narrator]
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.