Dragnet: The Big Fellow 08/30/1955
episode
Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
24 min
6 speakers
5 chapters
transcribed 4 months ago
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
What is the main premise of the Dragnet episode 'The Big Fellow'?
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Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to robbery detail. You get a teletype warning you that two hold-up men are heading for your city. You know they're armed and dangerous. Your job? Be ready for them.
Dragnet. The documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.
It was Tuesday, April 5th. It was raining in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out a robbery detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Chief of Detectives Thad Brown. My name's Friday. I was on my way back from R&I and it was 8.46 a.m. when I got to room 27A. Squad room. Frank? Yeah, Joe. Back here. How about it? Turn anything? Yeah, a couple of names. None of them match the description. Mm-hmm. When are the mugs supposed to be in? This afternoon's mail. They said they were sending them there especially. It'll be easier when we know who we're looking for, huh?
What warning do the detectives receive about the hold-up men?
Yeah, it will. Friday? Smith? Yeah, Skipper. Got a minute? Right there. Morning.
Yeah.
Close the door, huh?
Yeah, sure, sir. Sit down.
Here. Take a look at this. What is it? About the Merton brothers. Oh. I just talked to Leopold. Sheriff from Las Vegas? That's right. Gave me as much as he could on the Merton. Well, we checked our records. There's nothing on them here. Isn't likely. From what Leopold says, they're fresh out from the east. You name a town? No, someplace in Georgia. They're trying to run it out. Mm-hmm. Bolton, we got here. They pulled a couple of gas station holdups over there. Anything else? Yeah. At least they think so. Yeah. According to their records, the boys got into town a couple of months ago. No visible means, but plenty of money. Oh. Hung around the places on the strip. Gambled, drank, had themselves quite a time.
Yeah.
The department over there started to wonder where the money was coming from. Put a couple of men on them full time. What'd they find out? Not much. Merchant's plate is cozy. They were finally picked up on a drunk charge, mugged and printed. Nothing to hold them on, so they were released. Yeah. Next morning, they skipped town, left clean.
How do the Merton brothers get involved in the robbery case?
On the way out, they stopped long enough to kick in a couple of those gas station motels, you know, along the highway. Worked pretty good. Did the victims make the identification right away? Yeah. As soon as they saw the pictures, Sheriff's Office notified Baker. Highway Patrol there was waiting, but they must have gotten through before the word went out. Mm-hmm. We've been able to trace them through Barstow, Victorville, on through Parablasin, Little Rock. They worked hard all the way. What do you mean? Three service stations, two restaurants, one motel. Anything on them here in L.A.? Not yet. It's a matter of time. We've got to get them before then. Yeah. All the victims tell the same story. These two guys are off their rockers.
The way it stacks up, they're well-armed. The car they're driving is cold, and they're on the needle. Tell us. Well, we got it. Leopold says they kept a couple of dates with known pushers in Vegas. As far as he could tell, there wasn't anything passed. That doesn't mean it didn't happen. Oh. That's the story. Get on it. Okay, Skipper. I told you before, it's a matter of time until they try to put somebody around here in town. A couple of crazy gunmen, high on H. Bad combination. Somebody's going to lose. Let's hope it's not us. Ethan Gifford Merton, WMA, 27 years, 5 feet 8 inches, 165 pounds. And his brother, Grady James Merton, 24 years, 5 feet 6, 152 pounds. Arrived in Los Angeles on the morning of April 5th.
The first word we had of their presence was a hot shot telephone call reporting the robbery of a market on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Monroe Street.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main premise of the Dragnet episode 'The Big Fellow'?
0:00–1:52
2
What warning do the detectives receive about the hold-up men?
1:52–2:58
3
How do the Merton brothers get involved in the robbery case?
2:58–9:15
4
What details do the victims provide about the robbery?
9:15–12:22
5
What information do the detectives gather about the suspects?
12:22–24:22