Dragnet - Season 5 - Episode 6 - The Big Gap

[Music] ladies and gentlemen the story you're about to see is true the names have been changed to protect the innocent [Music] [Applause] [Music] this is the city Los Angeles California I work here I'm a cop it was Wednesday May 18th was cool in Los Angeles we were working the day watch out of Bunco fugitive division my partner's Frank Smith the boss is Captain Vidia my name is Friday a pawn broker we knew came into the office he said he suspected that a man had been swindled he offered to tell us about it we were ready to listen [Music] maybe just wasting my time here is to but it sure looked like a con game to me well what's a sting well a fella came in last night little guy kind of timid probably never been in a pawn shop before at least he wasn't a steady I can spot him straight off yeah wanted a pawn a ring big green stone fancy setting Oh gimmick tough you know mm-hm man's ring real fancy though ask me what it was worth would you tell him worth 20 bucks maybe 25 is that what you told him yeah you know I can't loan full value now you know that yeah I offer him five bucks would have gone up to ten if he pressed me that's better than a lot of brokers gift you take a five you kiddin he went all her pieces thought he's gonna have a hemorrhage started calling me a crook said the ring was an emerald shouted and screamed all over the place it's an emerald he said a $5,000 emerald Oh bad huh cut grass are you sure you didn't make a mistake I asked you search of what anybody tried to pawn a 5 g mo with me I asked you you know glass that's what it was green glass nice setting though what do you think Joe the old diamond switch maybe could be it sounds like the only difference is the color did you get his name Fred I asked him he just shouted and carried on I wasn't making no sense at all I got his license though you know yeah he was parked right in front of the place got the number when he drove off thought you might want it mm-hmm ah here it is on the inside you make it out all right yeah we'll check on a friend might be a good idea if he got right on it for you me just before he left my place he stopped all that carrying on I think it sunk in but I told him about the ring being no good yeah got real quiet kind of like he was making up his mind about something mm-hmm asked me to sell him a gun Fred Alpen gave us a description of the man who had tried to pawn the ring we check the license number with a local branch of DMV they came up with the information that the automobile bearing that license was registered in the name of Garfield hunt 221 north Selma Avenue Hollywood 9:03 a.m. Frank and I drove out to talk to hunt good morning ma'am who are you what do you want is Mr Hunt here no no he isn't well he lives here doesn't it well who are you I'm sorry we're police officers my name is Friday this is Frank Smith police yes ma'am where is he what's happened ma'am don't try to break it easy just tell me what's happened to God you're mrs. hunt are you he was in an accident wasn't he I just knew it the way you've acted yesterday Okita he shouldn't have gone out last night he never was a good driver I told him a hundred times maybe we don't follow you miss on my husband that's why you're here isn't it yes ma'am we'd like to talk to him for a minute talk to him that's right you're telling me the truth he's not hurt or anything not as far as we know but you're a policeman would you mind if we come inside might be a little easier to talk yes of course thank you I'm afraid the living room is very presentable I didn't have a chance to put the bedding away yet that's all right I swept in here last night so I'd be near the phone I thought he might call I thought somebody had called your husband didn't come home last night never happened before not in 37 years yes ma'am well just let me put this bearing away sir oh thank you yeah just bring that chair over there okay do you have any idea where your husband might have gone no no idea at all he didn't say well I asked anybody wouldn't tell me just said it was going to be a surprise what time did he leave about 935 I looked at the clock as he went out the door I couldn't believe it not like I to go out that late we're usually in bed by 10:00 yes ma'am he promised me he'd only be gone an hour he promised me he'd be back here about 10:30 for sure I see never heard a word from him after that not a word what do you suppose happened to him we don't know miss hunt you must have some notion no ma'am we don't you said you wanted to talk to him just a few questions routine about what we'd rather ask him did you notify the police that he's missing no I didn't know what to do I figured you get in touch with me when you found him I guess I wasn't thinking very good never happened before you got a picture of your husband miss hunt I have one would you like to see it yes if we could he doesn't look like a grandfather does he we had three is that so but if we take this along you won't let anything happen to it will you we'll be careful it's the only one I have yes ma'am do you think you can find him we'll do our best I guess I should have notified you last night yes ma'am I didn't know what to do I thought you'd get in touch with me if something had happened it's always better to call us first I guess so then it might not happen we advise mrs. hunt to make a formal report of her husband's disappearance to the Hollywood division [Music] a local and an APB were set up [Music] 3:15 p.m. patrol car unit 9 l78 reported hunted been found sitting in his car the car was parked on Mulholland Drive Hunt had readily identified himself we asked the officers to bring him in for questioning [Music] Joel yeah here's your mam Garfield hunt thank you I sit down here mr. hunt wait sit down what do you want with me we'd like to talk to you mr. hunt mrs. Frank Smith my name's Friday I just never been under arrest before not once you're not under arrest now the time then what do you want to talk to me for why those officers asked me to come here you didn't go home last night your wife has been kind of worried about you I was going to go home when they found me wasn't any place else to go I they shouldn't have called you she didn't call how'd you find out he tried to buy a gun pawn shop over on Main Street Oh would you want the gun for they wouldn't sell it to me what you want with it no one needed no not now they're gone who are you talking about who's gone wouldn't hurt him just wanted my money back thought I could scare him that's all who were they said they were written in the store next to mine came out first of last week measured the frontage heard him pound around inside hammering and all like there was getting ready to move in said they were jeweler's gonna open up a valley branch for lysing Wells you know big jewelry store down down here mm-hmm seemed like real nice fellas brought me lunch a couple of times where didn't friendly-like try to have moving in the more business there is in the neighborhood the better off everyone is you know crook that's what they were out-and-out crooks went looking for him earlier this morning back door to their store was open the one next mine go ahead mr. Allen couldn't find hide in her hair of him place was empty how much money they get from him not them exactly fella work and Liz him must've been working with him only way it makes sense all right now suppose you tell us all about it in cahoots with that mother too must've been came into my shop day before yesterday long about 1 o'clock in the afternoon call himself Norman Crist said he was from really really challenged in Colorado where my brother lives said he knew my brother Oscar back there what do you want with you claimed Oscar asked him to look me up see how I was doing probably didn't know Oscar at all they must have told him them juror fellas you know got to thinking back remember I mentioned having a brother in Colorado one day when we was having lunch told him the town - really what happened then he sell you the ring you know about that - they tried to pawn it didn't you no sir not really just wanted to find out how much it was worth so I could tell either gonna surprise her figured I'd give him another day before I tried to sell it you still have the ring mr. hunt threw it away up there in the hill this well tell me how did you happen to buy it I wasn't buying it outright I was just loaning him on it I see told me he had a chance to option some property out near Encino real bargain said he had to close a deal by 5:00 p.m. that same day needed cash for a preacher mm-hmm had to get the money from Colorado that's what he said he was afraid it wouldn't be here in time couldn't go to the bank didn't have any credit in l8u no needed $3,000 said if I loan him the three eaten give me back 4,000 first thing in the morning offered me his reign for security said it was worth 7,000 said it cost him more than that you hand the money over no sir not by a Dern sight told him I didn't have 3,000 told him straight out mm-hmm said all I had was 1,500 my savings account yes I shouldn't have said that yes sir yes that was my first mistake he thought about it for a minute asked if he'd use my phone call somebody talk to him for a couple of minutes when he hung up he told me might be able to swing it for 1500 he'd have to go out there and see him in person said he'd come back to believe them not right away I stopped him tow him there was no point in coming back while he was on the phone I had a chance to do some thinking realized I didn't know nothing about them nothing about the ring I know jeweler I said how do I know that rings worth $7,000 I'm not calling you a liar but how do I know he said he didn't blame me for being cautious sure I had good business in took off the ring and later on my counter told me to get it appraised while he was gone huh I went next door to ask those fellows who said they were jewelers place was locked up so y-you figured they were still out to lunch I figured maybe they was in the drugstore down on the corner did you find him there yes she what they say about the ring perfect emerald that's what they said one of them put a gadget up to his eye looked through it you know what I mean yeah perfect emerald worth $10,000 not a flaw in it mm-hm acted like they thought it was money offered to buy if I wanted to sell I told him about the other felony that he needed three thousand dollars told him the whole story uh-huh they said they'd loan him five without batting an eye offered to make out a check right then and there kind of took my win away they were so anxious I said maybe we could go in 5050 they put up 1,500 I put up 15 that way the guy would have 3,000 if he still needed that much we could both make a little profit one of them asked me I wanted to check if he didn't make it out to me I told him to make it out to cash how'd he sign it Jones Quincy Jones that's the name I knew him by other one called himself Wyatt Truesdale I don't think that's our real names though probably what do you think you call him he only says yes sir alias of it well anyway I went over to my bank and drew out the 1500 about 2:30 the fella come back the one who gave me the ring yeah said he tried to talk the real estate people into being satisfied of 1500 wouldn't come down insisted on the whole three thousand I told him not to worry that I had it give him my 1500 and the check he said the check at the old Casey in his house not a local bank promised he'd pay me back in the morning I was yesterday yes sir when he didn't show I just wanted to make sure how much it was worth the ring you know offered me $5 for it man of the pawnshop didn't believe him at first said it was just glass a hunk of glass then it come to me how I've been tricked all of a sudden it come to me when I wanted to stay out all night why didn't you go home couldn't face her Ida knew I'd been swindled $1,500 every cent we'd saved been married for 37 years it was Ida's money too not just because she's my wife helped earn it but we're trying to get it back for you Mr Hunt not much to show for 37 years is it that's what I kept thinking while I was sitting in my car up there in the Hills all day long just kept sinking thirty-seven years $1,500 yes sir too late to start all over again we won't have them not a chance have what sir another 37 years [Music] using Garfield hunts description of the three suspects the stats office came up with 24 Possible's who had worked similar mos we showed mug shots done he identified two of the photographs furnished wilcoxon and Parker Cleaver hunt was positive that wilcoxon and cleaver where the man who had rented the store next to he hasn't pretended to be jewelers he was unable to find a photograph of Norman Chris the man who had sold him the ring we pulled the packages on wilcoxon unclever they had both done time for grand theft they had not previously worked with a third person a local and an APB were sent out on all three suspects using the information from their mama sheets Frank and I began checking various places cleaver and Wilcox and had been known to frequent 812 p.m. we went into the black parathe bar on South Broadway and talked to the bartender wilcoxon Weber huh yeah that's right not by those names I don't know him maybe these will help well yeah they come in here once no well I always come in together as far as I know never have a guy with him tall thin dark hair about 30 no no just the two of them never seen him with another guy why do you want you know we can turn them well they ain't here now wait wait oh they won't be in tonight how do you know I got money oh they grow one of them was in yesterday Quincy Jones that's what he told me his name was yeah but not on a tab he paid it up and full at plenty left over as long as they're carrying the roll they don't come to my place head for them expensive joints like out in the strip places like that when they blown their loot come back to me and start running up another tab I called them on it but what can you do this way I get some of their bundles you know where they live around here somewhere couldn't pin it down for you okay how bad you want to find out how do you mean it'd cost you drink me that bursty not for me girl over there in the booth the brunette uh-huh she knows him and that with him a couple of times I've seen him leave to get it okay I was only kidding about the drinks it's on the house are you guys in her - we don't want any but we'll pay for hers all right but you know we're honored that's right stands a new talent around this plate what police officers miss this Frank Smith my name is Friday oh you like that man don't want horoscope said I was gonna meet somebody new today you know the morning papers on say a big cops where'd that come from these guys shouldn't call guys Jay televise a lady a drink that makes him a gentleman from these gentlemen that's what you should say oh sure very good [Music] you know what can I do for you the bartender says these men are friends of yours [Music] I wouldn't say that this is the most flattering picture but there's a resemblance you know me well Matt we weren't formally introduced but we've met you meet a lot of people here not the best people in town does barn that's convenient I worked down the street mm-hmm eight hours a day five days a week time and a half for Saturday if we work Saturday the seven of us in one office seven young ladies ages 32 to 60 I'm 32 no no they don't come in here the other six that's something I suppose you'd care to hear the sad sorry aging white collar girl you know where they live oh you mean these so-called friends of mine that's right am i well do you ever hear of the Norcross Arms Hotel mm-hmm I haven't been there with them of course in fact I'm sure if it's their residence but Quincy was carrying a hotel key one night and it fell out of his pocket and that was the name on the tag narcho Sarah okay thanks Thank You girlfriend don't mention it all right well you six bits she drinks good stuff keep the change looks like I got a decent break for once what do you mean I'm paying their tab today before you pick them up you got it wrong we didn't pay it huh Oh dead follow me my hunt the clerk at the Norcross Arms Hotel told us the two men who resembled wilcoxon and cleaver were registered under the names of Jones and Truesdale he said they'd gone out for the evening he showed us up to their room 36a we asked him about the suspect known as norman Crist he told us he had never seen anybody with Wilcox none cleaver who answered Chris description 248 a.m. Wilcox nem Cleaver returned to their room we took them into custody and drove them down to the city hall for questioning how many times you want to hear until we get the truth does house a gave us any money he never gave us a set did he know we paid a couple of lunch tabs of hoods that's right always manage to have farmers oh just a couple of lunches he paid him back mm-hmm 1,500 bucks buys a lot of lunches what 1,500 you got your share you've been spending all over town I'd say gave it to us you still had over 600 when we picked you up now where'd it come from Hollywood Park pick three long shots yesterday what the horses names where's Chris I told you before I never heard of it who is he the guy who worked the game with nothing you want to take this wrap yourselves flytrap why'd you rent that store out in the valley Stuart we showed him your mug shots the man you rented it from he made you now you want it in person I guess they got us there Ernie yeah we will then open up a book each other Oh what changed our minds look the situation over decided might get a little warm out in the valley cleared out looky joiner try not a jewelry store what are you talking about us jewelers any of me that's Jay told hunt nothing of the kind laid it on the line Tony where book is just between us he was kind of pleased about it thanks to play the horses himself liked the idea of being able to lay a bet so convenient oh sure hey maybe that's what happened to his money maybe lost it on an egg ba right you two let's try it again now why did you rent that store they're gonna get the same answers same questions same answers waste of time we got plenty mmm 72 hours that's hard you gotta you could hold us on suspicion or send me to can you turn us loose that's you prove something we'll prove it how we didn't take any money from HUD nobody says we did not even him if he was a mark for this so what's his name Chris yeah how do you wrap us into the package hon never saw us with him nobody saw us with him find somebody 72 hours and you gotta turn us loose that's the law yeah we know the law why'd you break it we continued to question the suspects but we were unable to break them down Thursday May 19th 7:45 a.m. another team of detectives took over the interrogation Frank and I went back to the office well cop out I don't know it doesn't look like it unless we come up with crisp well did you call Faye yeah why don't you let me have it kept dinner till after 10:30 last night you're lucky Joe yeah maybe wonder if i get home tonight i got Bunco Friday yeah that's right yeah sounds like him well how long ago no not now right thank you Chris fits the description smashed up a car in the Hollywood Freeway Georgia Street recognized them from our teletype be able to talk died 10 minutes after they brought him here at the morgue the victim Garfield hunt identified the body he was positive it was the man who had sold in the ring norman Crist wilcoxon and cleaver were also shown the body they deny that they'd ever seen Crist before the next day Friday May 20th the evidence against Wilcox and cleaver was taken to the district attorney's office a complaint was refused the evidence was deemed insufficient to bring the matter to trial at this time wilcoxon cleaver were released 6:05 p.m. Frank and I got ready to sign up that really tears it yeah the DA's office knows they're guilty we know it can't do a thing yeah been wasting our time Joe just going through the motion oh no we got him pegged and they'll stay peg yeah next time they move in on a mark we'll sit on them wouldn't be very smart I'm gonna try it twice they're not very smart huh they tried it once [Music] two months later on July 12th the two suspects were apprehended for a similar crime on November 6th trial was held in Department 98 Superior Court of the state of California in and for the County of Los Angeles in a moment the results of that trial the suspects were tried and convicted of grand theft one count and receive sentence as prescribed by law grand theft is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not less than one year or for a period of from one to ten years in the state penitentiary [Music] [Music]

Channel: The Film Detective

Views: 215,248

Keywords: Movies, tv, Classic TV Show, Film, TV, Dragnet - Season 5 - Episode 6 - The Big Gap, Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Olan Soule, Vic Perrin

Id: aTi5ZTRmxF0

Length: 26min 20sec (1580 seconds)

Published: Tue Nov 20 2018