Dragnet: The Big Genius 07/12/1955
episode
Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
25 min
8 speakers
5 chapters
transcribed 4 months ago
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
What is the premise of the Dragnet episode 'The Big Genius'?
Welcome to Choice Classic Radio, where we bring to you the greatest old-time radio shows. Like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, and thank you for donating at choiceclassicradio.com. Dragnet.
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 a juvenile detail. A woman reports that a teenage boy has been stealing food from her home. She says she's seen him several times. Your job, check it out. 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 12th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of juvenile detail. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Powers. My name's Friday. I was on my way into the office, and it was 7.57 a.m. when I got to the second floor of Georgia Street Juvenile Squad Room.
Now, don't try to tell me you needed three hours to make a simple phone call. He was arrested at 1 o'clock this morning. That's right. I didn't hear about it until after 4. Now, why weren't we contacted immediately? My wife was half out of her mind.
We're sorry about that. Oh, morning, Joe. Morning. Mr. Neff, this is my partner, Sergeant Friday. How are you? This is Vincent Neff's father, Joe. I see.
Were you in on this thing, too, Friday?
That's right.
Took both of you to arrest a 15-year-old boy, did you?
We made the arrest together. Why?
What crime is the teenage boy accused of in this episode?
I'd be ashamed to admit it. Well, just what seems to be the trouble, Mr. Neff?
My boy's in jail. He's been there all night. Yes, sir. I found out about it a couple of hours ago. I want to know why I wasn't called at once.
Well, sir, we called you as soon as we could. Your son wasn't carrying any identification. He refused to answer our questions. We had no way of knowing who to contact.
He was scared, that's all. You can't blame him for that.
Oh.
How'd you get his name if he wouldn't tell you? You beat it out of him?
The other boy we picked up decided to cooperate with us.
I'll just bet he did. He wanted to shift some of the blame. My son's done anything at all, anything he shouldn't. You can be certain that limbered kid put him up to it. Vincent doesn't even know what this is all about.
You've talked to him, have you?
Certainly. He says it's a mistake, the whole thing.
Sure.
Oh, I suppose the police don't make mistakes, huh?
How do the detectives begin their investigation into the theft?
We make them. I'll say you do when you pull the beauty this time.
It doesn't look that way to us, mister.
Oh, don't tell me how it looks. I know my son. I know when he's telling the truth. He says this is a mistake, and I believe him. That's natural, I guess. Now, I'm not going to make any wild threats or try to go over your heads, but I want that boy released, and I want him released at once.
Sorry, sir, we can't do that.
I'm being just as patient as I can with you, Sergeant.
Mr. Knapp, we filed a petition on your son. There'll be a pre-detention hearing in juvenile court as soon as possible. The court will decide what happens to him after that. It's out of our hands now.
It wasn't out of your hands last night when you arrested him. That was our job. Your job is to protect people's rights. You're supposed to be cops, not bullies. Take it easy, Mr. Knapp. There's plenty of crime in this town and plenty of criminals. Robberies, killings, hole-ups. Only trouble is they never get solved. Yes, the police force is too busy manhandling youngsters and chasing bums out of freight yards. All right, Mr. Neff. Too busy or too scared, you're afraid to tackle the real gangsters. You might get hurt. You'd rather pick on a teenage kid who can't fight back. Cowards, that's what you really are. You're cowards, not policemen.
Let me ask you something, Neff. Suppose a couple of guys drive into a filling station. One of them cracks the owner over the head with a tire iron while the other one cleans out the cash register.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the premise of the Dragnet episode 'The Big Genius'?
0:00–1:52
2
What crime is the teenage boy accused of in this episode?
1:52–2:31
3
How do the detectives begin their investigation into the theft?
2:31–15:53
4
What leads the detectives to the boy's hiding place?
15:53–23:58
5
What evidence is found in the boy's cave?
23:58–24:59
Speakers
8 identifiedMore from Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
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