- 1 day ago
Friday and Gannon encounter Benjy "Blue Boy" Carver, an LSD user. Because of the then-lack of any laws against the use of LSD, they are unable to make a case against him, and Carver's parents are of no help. Finally, legislation is passed against LSD use and sale, but by then it may be too late for "Blue Boy".
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TVTranscript
00:25This is the city, Los Angeles, California.
00:30This is Wilshire Boulevard.
00:31Forty years ago, these were bean fields.
00:34Now they call it the Miracle Mile.
00:36This is MacArthur Park.
00:38It's on Wilshire Boulevard.
00:40For 90 cents, you can rent a boat for half an hour.
00:42A lot of old people live around the park.
00:45Most of them draw pensions.
00:46You can live pretty good in Los Angeles on a pension, if you're careful.
00:50When you're old, sometimes you need good medical facilities.
00:53The city has them.
00:55Once in a while, somebody tries to take what little the old have away from them.
01:00That's when I go to work.
01:01I carry a badge.
01:04It was Monday, December 5th.
01:06It was overcast in Los Angeles.
01:07The paper said it might rain.
01:08We were working the day watch out of Fraud's Division, Bunko's Section.
01:12The boss is Captain Lambert.
01:13My partner's Bill Gannon.
01:16My name's Friday.
01:18A team of expert confidence men had moved into the city and set up a widespread operation.
01:22They were clever and successful.
01:24Their victims were men and women over 70.
01:26Their take was beginning to reach the five-figure mark.
01:29We had to try and stop them.
01:40The story you are about to see is true.
01:43The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
02:11Joe, you eat out once in a while, don't you?
02:13Well, you know I do, most of the time.
02:16Mm-hmm.
02:17Now, what's the most expensive item on any menu?
02:20Well, I don't know why.
02:21You never see this on the menu over across the street at Willie's.
02:24Well, about all they serve as sandwiches, don't they?
02:27That's just the point.
02:28Wait till I get my Swiss mondanes with maybe a few Indian mondanes thrown in,
02:32and I got an idea what to cross them with.
02:34What are you talking about?
02:35A fortune, Joe, a fortune, right here in my hand.
02:40Well, what is it?
02:42Squab.
02:44Huh?
02:44Squab.
02:45That's a baby pigeon, Joe.
02:47I've heard.
02:48I doubt Carl and me can raise enough to supply the demand.
02:51Carl?
02:51Wife's cousin, Carl Sawyer.
02:53Oh, yeah.
02:54Carl quit his job, put everything he had into it, doing just great.
02:57Then he got a bad break.
02:58Yeah, right?
02:59One of his kids left the Pandora open.
03:01Best breeding stock, all of them.
03:03Flew the coop.
03:04Well, it doesn't sound like much of a business to me, not if they all might fly away.
03:08That's just it, Joe.
03:09You know, a person can profit by other people's mistakes.
03:12Makes you think, and you come up with a better way of doing things.
03:14Yeah.
03:15I don't know why somebody hasn't thought of it before, and it'll work.
03:19But what's that?
03:20Simplest thing in the world, Joe, if you don't want them to fly away.
03:23What is?
03:23Like I said, crossbreed them.
03:25With what?
03:26Homing pigeons.
03:30Righty.
03:31Damn it.
03:33Here's one for you.
03:34What is it, Skipper?
03:35A couple of Seattle tourists.
03:37Huh?
03:37Those phony bank examiners they had working up there?
03:40Had.
03:40They've moved.
03:41Looks like we've got them.
03:42A woman by the name of Burnside phoned in the complaint.
03:45Seems she turned her life savings over to a man who identified himself as a state bank examiner.
03:49How much did she give him?
03:50Six thousand dollars.
03:52Said he needed her money to help catch a thieving teller at her neighborhood bank.
03:55Yeah?
03:56Bank examiner told her the money would be returned to her within a week.
03:59It's been over a week, so she called us.
04:01This the address?
04:02Yeah.
04:03Better take a run out there right away.
04:04You're going to have a little explaining to do.
04:06How's that?
04:07About her money.
04:08Yeah.
04:08The man told her a policeman would bring it back to her.
04:21Bill and I had been there before.
04:23It was an old apartment house, mostly pensioners.
04:25They get a check every 30 days from Social Security or welfare.
04:29Nothing very big, just enough to keep them going from month to month.
04:32But I know they were real bank examiners.
04:35Well, Mr. Gleason, I could tell how important he was over the phone.
04:39And Mr. Montgomery had a bank examiner's badge.
04:42He marked each bill real clever.
04:45Tiny marks you and I would never notice.
04:48Why did he say he was marking the bills?
04:50Well, so that he put the money back in the bank,
04:53and then whatever teller stole any of it, the little marks would give him away.
04:57Isn't that smart?
04:59Yes, ma'am.
05:00Could you describe this Montgomery?
05:04Well, he wore glasses, just like yours.
05:08I don't wear glasses, ma'am.
05:10Oh.
05:12Well, my eyes aren't what you call real good.
05:15Yes, ma'am.
05:17Do you think you can get my money back?
05:19Well, we can't offer much hope, ma'am.
05:21We'll certainly do our best.
05:24Well, it's not so much for me, but for my granddaughter, Lillian.
05:30How's that?
05:31I've always wanted them to have a house with a yard for the youngsters.
05:36Yes, ma'am.
05:37I always thought when I was gone,
05:39the money would be enough for a good down payment on a house with a real yard.
05:45It was going to be a surprise.
05:48Yes, ma'am.
05:50Sergeant, it isn't right for somebody to steal it.
05:54No, ma'am.
05:56Not when it was going to be yard money.
06:0411.31 a.m.
06:06We drove over to the Wilshire Bank, where Mrs. Burnside had her account.
06:09We talked to the manager, Harry Croft.
06:11He remembered Mrs. Burnside's large withdrawal.
06:1512.17 p.m.
06:16We drove back to the office.
06:18The bank examiner swindle was pretty much a new wrinkle in Los Angeles.
06:21It was a sophisticated variation of old bunco schemes,
06:23like the phony stock certificate swindles.
06:28We put through a request to the Seattle detectives.
06:30We asked for complete intelligence reports, M.O.s, mug shots,
06:33anything they might have in their files concerning the phony bank examiners.
06:37Thanks a lot.
06:38We sure appreciate that.
06:40Looks like you've got another one.
06:41What do you mean?
06:42Either one of you remember Flo Bell Morata?
06:44No, can I say that I do?
06:46Yeah, wait a minute, that name rings a bell.
06:47Old-time movie actress, wasn't she?
06:49That's right.
06:50It was at the Majestic Hotel.
06:51Yeah.
06:52Phony bank examiners.
06:53What about them?
06:54I took them for $5,500.
07:07The Majestic Hotel is an old hotel just off Hollywood Boulevard.
07:10Actors first began staying there in the days of the Keystone Cops.
07:13It was fashionable.
07:14Now they stay because the rates are right.
07:17Besides, the desk always knows what's being filmed at the studios tomorrow
07:20and how many extras they'll need.
07:23Flo Bell Morata had never really been a star.
07:25She'd had some good roles in a few minor films in the past,
07:28but she hadn't worked for years in pictures.
07:33Thanks, Flo Bell.
07:34Can't promise they'll run them, but I'll do my best.
07:36Thank you so much.
07:38Oh, hello.
07:40I'm so glad you could come.
07:42Are you from the AP?
07:43No, ma'am.
07:44Never mind.
07:44I'm sure you have a wide circulation.
07:47Now, ask me anything you want.
07:50We're police officers, ma'am.
07:51My name's Friday.
07:52This is Bill Gannon.
07:53How do you do, ma'am?
07:53Oh.
07:56I guess no one else is coming.
07:59No one else from the press, that is.
08:01Of course, it was very nice of you to come,
08:04but, oh, you do understand.
08:07Yes, ma'am.
08:08You see, I've been planning a return to pictures.
08:12But you don't want to know about that.
08:15You're not in the business.
08:16No, ma'am.
08:18Well, anyway, this young man phoned.
08:22You can record or take pictures if you wish.
08:25We'll just take notes.
08:27Thank you, ma'am.
08:28Just as you prefer.
08:30Anyway, this young man phoned.
08:32A beautiful voice.
08:34I told him he should be an actor.
08:37He seemed very pleased.
08:38But he said he enjoyed his work as a bank examiner.
08:41Then he told me about these terrible thefts from the bank accounts.
08:46When he asked me to help, how could I refuse?
08:49Besides, the publicity would be good.
08:52Not that I need it, you understand.
08:54No, ma'am.
08:55If I were to help catch the thief, I was sure it would make the front pages.
08:59Exactly how did he want you to help?
09:01I was to withdraw $5,500 from my savings account.
09:05Another bank examiner would come to my suite and mark the bills.
09:10Then the examiner would put the money back in the bank,
09:13and the police would wait to see which one of the tellers was pilfering the accounts.
09:18After a week, the police were to return the money to me.
09:21When did you withdraw the money?
09:23A week ago yesterday.
09:25When the police didn't come yesterday or this morning,
09:29I realized I'd been swindled.
09:33Why did you wait all this time before you reported it, ma'am?
09:36Both bank examiners cautioned me not to say a word.
09:39It would alert the thief.
09:41Could you give us a description of the man you turned your money over to?
09:44Ooh, sort of average, polite.
09:48Do you remember what color hair he had?
09:50Sort of medium.
09:52I don't pay much attention to these things.
09:54Would you recognize him if you saw him again?
09:56I think so.
09:57Yes, I think so.
09:58I'm not very good at describing people, but I remember them real well.
10:02Yes, ma'am.
10:03The studios will read about this, won't they?
10:06Well, I wouldn't know, ma'am.
10:07That's up to the press.
10:10I guess it was a busy day.
10:13No one came but that photographer and you.
10:17Yes, ma'am.
10:18About my return to pictures.
10:21I have to now.
10:23Is that so?
10:25That was all the money I had in the world.
10:30I'm sorry, ma'am.
10:43Miss Morata.
10:44Yes, sir?
10:44Would it be too much trouble to ask you for your autograph?
10:47It would be a pleasure.
10:49Who do I make this to?
10:51Gannon's my name.
10:52Just your first name.
10:54Bill.
10:56To Bill.
11:02Thank you very much.
11:11Well, I didn't know you collected autographs.
11:14I don't.
11:29Wednesday, December 7th, 9.43 a.m.
11:32It was beyond doubt now that the phony bank examiners had a well-organized operation.
11:37Several bank managers had called to report their depositors had received phone calls from men claiming to be bank examiners.
11:43We checked each one of them out, but they led nowhere.
11:46Five more victims.
11:47Look at this, Joe.
11:48$43,500.
11:51That's their take so far.
11:52A couple of old friends.
11:54Seattle sent these, coming out mugs of Frank Thomas and James Fremont.
11:58Did time for GT Bunko at Walla Walla.
12:01Seattle thinks they worked the bank examiner scam there up until last month and moved on.
12:05They ever worked L.A. before?
12:06Johnson and I busted them eight years ago.
12:08They were working the coin smack then, doing pretty good until we nailed them.
12:11Yeah, well, they're doing all right now.
12:12Over 43,000 so far.
12:14At the rate they're scoring, they'll drop the bank examiner game in a couple more days and move on.
12:18A couple more days, they can open their own bank.
12:3110.34 a.m.
12:32Bill and I drove out to the apartment house where Mrs. Mary Burnside lived.
12:37We showed her the mug shots of the two suspects, Frank Thomas and James Fremont.
12:42Now, just take your time, Mrs. Burnside.
12:44All right.
12:47Sergeant.
12:48Yes, ma'am.
12:49I've got to tell you the truth.
12:51What's that?
12:53These pictures.
12:55Yes, ma'am.
12:56I can't see them.
12:57They all look the same.
13:1111.15 a.m.
13:13Bill and I returned to the office and went upstairs to the Scientific Investigation Division.
13:16We spoke to Lieutenant John Bigham, commander of the photo section.
13:20We had an idea, and we hoped it would work.
13:22You figure all your victims have bad eyesight?
13:24Most of them are old, John.
13:26Maybe it'll help.
13:27How about eyeglasses?
13:28Well, the Burnside woman, for instance.
13:30She told us, according to her doctor, her eyes are too far gone.
13:33The other witnesses, too.
13:34They're pretty well up in the years.
13:35I don't know why not.
13:37It's never been done before, but it might work.
13:40About this size, say, 8 by 10?
13:42That should do it, John.
13:43You'll blow up a dozen or so strange ones to work with them, huh?
13:45Yeah.
13:46Rotten shame, isn't it?
13:48A couple of punks working all these old parties for their last dime?
13:51Sure is.
13:52Average bunco schemes, I really can't work up too much sympathy for the victims.
13:55They figure they can turn a quick buck, get something for nothing.
13:59Yeah.
13:59But these crumbs, making the old-timers believe they're helping to catch a thief.
14:03You'll get us those blow-ups, John.
14:05Maybe they will.
14:113.37 p.m.
14:13Lieutenant Bigham rushed the enlarged mug shots through.
14:16The bank examiners were busy, too.
14:18Three more victims had reported losses since morning.
14:21Their total take up to now stood at $49,700.
14:25The latest victim was Fred Gregory.
14:27He was 82 years old.
14:29He reported losing $800.
14:31It was the smallest loss so far.
14:33His landlord said we'd find him on a bench by the lake in MacArthur Park.
14:37He'd be the one wearing a green cap.
14:39We showed him the book of enlarged mug shots.
14:43There.
14:44There he is.
14:45Montgomery, he called himself.
14:47He took my money.
14:48You're sure?
14:49Positive.
14:50That's Montgomery.
14:51Montgomery, but he seemed like such a nice man.
14:54He had a badge.
14:56He said the police would bring it back to me in a week.
14:59And you don't have it, do you?
15:01No, sir, we don't.
15:02The money's gone, isn't it?
15:04I'm afraid so, sir.
15:05I sure don't want to be in a jar.
15:08Beg pardon?
15:09If you haven't any money when you die, the city has to take you.
15:13They cremate you.
15:14The ashes they put in one of those jars.
15:17Yes, sir.
15:18The $800, that was my burial money.
15:334.15 p.m.
15:35Mrs. Mary Burnside was shown the book of enlarged mug shots.
15:38She identified Frank Albert Thomas as the man who had taken her money.
15:435.07 p.m.
15:44We showed the book of mug shots to Flo Bell Morata.
15:47She also identified Frank Albert Thomas as the man who posed as a bank examiner
15:51and took her savings.
15:54Bill and I returned to the office.
15:56We filled Captain Lambert in.
15:575.35 p.m.
15:59I'm afraid of it.
16:00None of the victims can eyeball Fremont and the ones that made Thomas or Shaggy, to say the least.
16:03That's the way we figured, too.
16:05We've got to watch one of these things go down.
16:08Yeah.
16:09All right.
16:10Put him on the job.
16:19Thursday, December 8th, 9.48 a.m.
16:21It was decided that the best way to make a strong case against the phony bank examiners
16:25was to put them on a job, to catch them, in the process of an actual swindle.
16:30To accomplish this, we had to contact a potential victim who might work with us
16:34before turning over any money to them.
16:36So far, victims had only been calling us after they'd been built.
16:40Under the direction of Chief of Detective Tom Redden,
16:42a warning was sent out to all newspapers, radio, and television stations,
16:46cautioning everyone to be on the lookout for the bank examiners.
16:51Monday, December 12th.
16:53The press had given the phony bank examiner's story full coverage,
16:56but we still hadn't gotten the break we needed.
16:58We knew it wouldn't be long before the bank examiners would be moving on to a new city
17:02and a new set of victims.
17:049.38 a.m.
17:09Bunko Gannon.
17:11Yes, ma'am, I see.
17:12This is Pauline Gray, 1210 Primrose Avenue, apartment 6.
17:19Thank you, we'll be right over.
17:21No, ma'am, please don't do anything till we get there.
17:24You got anything?
17:25Bank examiners called this Mrs. Gray just a few minutes ago.
17:28She'd read the papers, so she stalled.
17:30Yeah?
17:30They're going to call her back in 30 minutes.
17:40It took us 12 minutes to drive over to the Primrose Avenue address that Mrs. Gray had given us.
17:47Now, this is what I told her.
17:49I said, now, I am expecting a very important long-distance call,
17:52and can you call me back?
17:54I've heard about this paper before, you know.
17:56I read a lot of detective magazines.
17:58Yes, ma'am.
17:59Now, these boys have just put a little twist to that old Mexican charity switch.
18:03Now, that's it, isn't it?
18:04No, ma'am.
18:05All right.
18:06Now, here's what we'd like you to do.
18:07The cover?
18:08I beg your pardon?
18:09You know, the cover-up, the blind, the cover story.
18:12Yes, ma'am, that's the idea.
18:14Now, when this man calls back, he's going to ask you to draw some money out of the bank from
18:18your account.
18:18You tell him you'll do it.
18:19Right, Sergeant.
18:20We'll comply.
18:22Tell him your son is visiting you today, your son that lives in Arcadia.
18:25Tell him your son will make the withdrawal for you.
18:28Neat and tidy.
18:29But why don't I go to the bank myself?
18:31Well, say your arthritis is bothering you.
18:33Good deal.
18:35Don't worry, officers.
18:36We'll pull it off A-OK.
18:39Yes, ma'am.
18:40You know, this is something I've always wanted to see.
18:43What's that?
18:44Especially these two hoods.
18:45Ma'am?
18:46I've always wanted to be in on a pinch.
18:55Two hours went by and no call from the bank examiners.
18:58Mrs. Gray appeared to be calm and collected.
19:01While we waited, she read passages aloud from the latest monthly detective magazines.
19:0512.19 p.m.
19:091.47 p.m.
19:10A man who identified himself as a state bank examiner told Mrs. Gray his name was Gleason.
19:15She handled it well.
19:16Gleason asked her to have the money ready in an hour.
19:18She told him she would.
19:20I see.
19:21Then you will mark my $3,500 and put it back into the bank, and we'll catch that teller who's
19:27been dipping into the accounts.
19:29That's very clever.
19:31Yes.
19:33Oh, I'm only too happy to help.
19:36All right.
19:38Goodbye.
19:40How'd that do?
19:41Just fine, Mrs. Gray.
19:42There's just one thing we didn't think of.
19:44No?
19:45What's that?
19:45I don't have a son.
19:47You do now, ma'am.
19:532.15 p.m.
19:55We called the office and told Captain Lambert we would need $3,500 in marked bills.
19:59We also asked him to have another team stake out Mrs. Gray's apartment house to back us up.
20:052.48 p.m.
20:07Policewoman Marjorie Adams delivered the marked bills and took Mrs. Gray to an unoccupied apartment in the building.
20:14Bill and I didn't have a long wait.
20:16It was exactly 3.05 p.m.
20:30The Special Agent Montgomery, State Banking Commission.
20:32Come right in.
20:35It's a real pleasure to meet you, Mr. Montgomery.
20:38I'm Bill Gray.
20:39Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, too, Mr. Gray.
20:41Is your mother here?
20:43Oh, she forgot to tell you.
20:44You know, when they get to be her age, they do forget things.
20:47She knows I always take her to the doctor every Monday.
20:50But I have some money she told me to give you.
20:52Fine.
20:53The Banking Commission surely appreciates your help.
20:55Happy to do it.
20:56You do have identification from the Banking Commission.
20:59Yes, of course.
21:04My examiner certificate and my ledger.
21:07Well, that's fine.
21:09Now, if I could have the money?
21:11It's all right here.
21:12But where's Mr. Gleason?
21:14Gleason?
21:15Yes, my mother said she'd talk to a Mr. Gleason.
21:17I'm to give the money to him.
21:18Of course.
21:19Gleason's my associate.
21:20We work as a team.
21:22I'm sorry.
21:23That's what she insisted on.
21:24I'm to turn the money over to Mr. Gleason only.
21:29I see.
21:32All right.
21:33I'll go get him.
21:45I think they're hinky.
21:46Well, if they are, the boys out front will pick them up.
21:48How did they sound?
21:49Do you think I sold them?
21:51Well, if they both show up, we'll know.
21:52Hope we don't get this close just to watch it fade.
21:55Yeah.
22:06Mr. Gray, this is Special Agent Gleason.
22:08Mr. Gleason?
22:09You're Mrs. Gray's son.
22:10That's right.
22:11I sincerely hope your mother isn't ill.
22:13Oh, nothing like that.
22:14As I told Mr. Montgomery, Monday's her regular checkup day.
22:17I see.
22:18Bless her heart.
22:19I understand she wanted me to pick up the money in person.
22:22I appreciate her confidence.
22:23May I have it?
22:23Yes, sir.
22:24Right here.
22:25$3,500.
22:27Do you mind if I sit here?
22:28I have to mark these bills.
22:29Certainly.
22:39That sure is interesting how you people do that.
22:42What do those little marks mean?
22:44Sorry, we can't tell you.
22:45That's classified information.
22:47Classified?
22:48Top secret.
22:49Oh, I see.
22:52Say, as long as you've got your pen out, I wonder if you'd sign this receipt.
22:56Why, sure.
22:59Mr. Montgomery, too?
23:03Money?
23:05Agent Gleeson and I are always cautioning citizens like yourself to be extremely careful in matters like this.
23:10Your mother's a very smart woman, Mr. Gray.
23:13Besides, it helped us up at Sacramento.
23:16That so?
23:16Oh, yes.
23:17Our chief agent is a real stickler on money matters like this.
23:20You know, where we're utilizing other people's funds.
23:23I can understand that.
23:25Mr. Gleeson?
23:26Yes?
23:26That's such a large amount of money.
23:28Mr. Montgomery showed me his identification.
23:30I wonder if I might see yours.
23:33Here's my badge.
23:35We both carry them.
23:36So do we.
23:37You're under arrest.
23:50The story you have just seen is true.
23:53The names were changed to protect the innocent.
23:57On March 14th, trial was held in Department 182, Superior Court of the State of California,
24:03in and for the County of Los Angeles.
24:05In a moment, the results of that trial.
24:12Both suspects were found guilty on three counts of conspiracy and three counts of grand theft.
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