- 16 minutes ago
Three con artists are swindling out-of-town businessmen by posing as a prostitute and two corrupt police officers. Detectives Friday and Gannon set a trap to catch them, with Gannon posing as a potential victim.
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TVTranscript
00:04This is the city, Los Angeles, California.
00:08Whether or not you'd want to live here, it's a nice place to visit.
00:12And a few million people do it every year.
00:15They come for a lot of reasons.
00:17Either way, they don't like to be swindled.
00:19When they are, that's when I go to work.
00:22I carry a bag.
00:24It was Friday, October 11th.
00:26It was fair in Los Angeles.
00:27We were working the day watch out of Frauds Division, Bunko Section.
00:30The boss is Captain Lambert.
00:32My partner's Bill Gannon.
00:34My name's Friday.
00:36It was 3.30 p.m.
00:37We had just received a phone call from Sergeant William Booth of Internal Affairs Division.
00:41Among other duties, IAD's job is to investigate any and all complaints lodged against police officers.
00:47Booth was on his way down to see us.
00:58The story you are about to see is true.
01:01The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
01:31You're not a sugar man, are you, Joe?
01:33No, but you are.
01:34You bet.
01:35Energy, Joe.
01:36Pure, concentrated energy.
01:38Uh-huh.
01:38What do all great athletes eat?
01:40Candy bars.
01:41Uh-huh.
01:42What do grown kids eat?
01:43Sugar-coated cereals.
01:44Uh-huh.
01:45What do you give a racehorse?
01:46Make them run faster.
01:47Sugar cubes.
01:48Yes, sir.
01:49Salt of the earth, sugar is.
01:50Is that right?
01:51Your system just stores it up, and then you draw on it when you need it.
01:55Well, one worry you don't have.
01:56What's that?
01:57You'll never run out.
02:02Friday?
02:02Cannon?
02:03Booth?
02:04How's it going?
02:05Got a businessman upstairs, Willard Danhart, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
02:08Yeah.
02:08Claims he was swindled out of $1,000.
02:10What's he doing up in IAD?
02:11Says the men that took him were vice officers.
02:13Yeah.
02:14He's upstairs looking at photos of all vice personnel now.
02:17What was the scam?
02:18According to Danhart, these two vice officers picked up a girl in his room, charged her with
02:22647B.
02:23Danhart went bail for her.
02:24They gave him a receipt.
02:25Take a look at it.
02:28It's not one of ours.
02:30They back it up with anything?
02:31ID cards.
02:32He didn't read them.
02:33They showed him some kind of a badge.
02:35Says he's not sure, but it looked like one of ours.
02:37Yeah.
02:37If they're con men, they got a new wrinkle.
02:39First time I've heard of it.
02:40What's that?
02:41They actually brought him down here to the police building to post bail for the girl.
02:45How'd they work it?
02:46Well, one of them came upstairs here to the third floor.
02:48The other one took Danhart up to the cafeteria for coffee.
02:51It's a public building, but it sure sounds like the hard way, doesn't it?
02:55I'll run upstairs.
02:55Danhart should be through checking those pictures.
02:57Right, Booth.
02:58Talk to your captain.
02:59If it falls one way, you two have got a case.
03:02Yeah.
03:03If it goes the other, we have.
03:113.44 p.m.
03:13Sergeant Booth brought the victim, Willard Danhart, down to the bunco squad room.
03:17Yes, sir.
03:18I've been took.
03:18Look, those two were no more police officers than Hogan's goats.
03:22How's that?
03:23Smedley Hogan.
03:24Runs a dairy back home.
03:25Goat smelt.
03:25I sure feel like one right now.
03:27I don't mind telling you.
03:28Mr. Danhart, Sergeant Friday in office again in here will handle your complaint.
03:31Thanks for your cooperation.
03:33Well, I thank you, sir.
03:36I just got to catch that 6.30 plane tonight.
03:38I already canceled once so I could get to the bottom of this.
03:40Yes, sir.
03:41You probably think it was the thousand dollars.
03:44Well, if that's gone, I know I'm not going to get it back.
03:46But on the other hand, I didn't come because I'm a public-spirited citizen.
03:50I'm just plain mad.
03:51All comes out the same.
03:52What's that?
03:53Your hair.
03:55Yeah.
03:57Well, what can I tell you?
03:58We'd like it all, Mr. Danhart, right from the beginning.
04:01Well, let's see.
04:02You know my name, Willard Danhart.
04:05I'm president of Carthy's Crane and Hoist Company.
04:07If it can be lifted, we've got the crane to do it.
04:10Underhung, top riding, stacker, gantry, jib, monorail.
04:12We have them all.
04:13Yes, sir.
04:14My sales manager comes to the coast three times a year.
04:16I do it once.
04:17Got out here this trip Monday morning, checked into the Elsinore Hotel.
04:20I always stay there.
04:21They know me.
04:22Uh-huh.
04:22And the next couple of days, I saw people push the product, maybe did a little business.
04:27Last night, I went to the ball game.
04:29Can't stay cleaner than that, can you?
04:30No, sir, you can't.
04:31I was back in the hotel about 11 o'clock, had a nightcap in the bar, picked up my key,
04:36went upstairs.
04:37She was in the room.
04:38Who's that?
04:39The girl, Pat somebody, never did get her last name.
04:42She was just sitting there, waiting for me to come in.
04:44I'm Pat, she said.
04:46Yeah.
04:46And I said, well, that's very nice.
04:48How did you get in my room?
04:49You know what she said?
04:50Suppose you tell us, sir.
04:52A bellhop let her in.
04:53Okay, it could happen.
04:55Wrong man, wrong room.
04:56A mistake has been made, I tell her.
04:58I didn't call for room service.
05:00She seemed to have trouble believing that.
05:04Then, comes the knock on the door.
05:06Yeah, sir.
05:06I tell her that's probably her friend, the bellhop, coming to get you.
05:10Uh-uh.
05:11The police.
05:12Sergeant Morlock, Sergeant Kress.
05:15Huh?
05:15Okay, so they were phony.
05:17I know that today, last night, I was a little rattled.
05:19It's understandable.
05:20My thought was, I gotta keep it right here in this room.
05:23If it ever gets back to Cedar Rapids.
05:25That's all, brother.
05:27It's not only the company.
05:29I've got a wife and three kids, all under 20.
05:32Yeah, I was rattled all right.
05:34You were supposed to be.
05:35That's what the con men depend on.
05:37Right.
05:38Well, they said they'd been following the girl all evening.
05:40I said, in that case, you know, she hasn't been in here five minutes.
05:44Nothing out of line could have happened.
05:46But they said they were arresting her, and I'd have to testify at the arraignment.
05:53Wrong, huh?
05:54Yeah, sir.
05:55It doesn't happen that way at an arraignment.
05:57No testimony is given.
05:59The suspect either pleads guilty and receives sentence right then and there, or he pleads
06:02not guilty and the date of trial is set.
06:05Well, if I'd have known that last night, I'd have saved a thousand dollars.
06:08How'd the business of the bail money come up?
06:10Something Morlock said.
06:12He was the older one, kind of tough and cynical.
06:15Cress, he seemed like a nice, friendly type.
06:17Well, as I say, I was looking for a way to keep it hushed up, and Morlock tells me there's
06:22a 50-50 chance she'll never even make the arraignment anyway.
06:26Naturally, I wanted to know more.
06:28Bail, he said.
06:30Real bitter.
06:31She's part of a ring, and they'll probably go bail for her, and she'll skip.
06:35Yeah, sir.
06:35I wanted a better split than 50-50, so I got Cress aside and asked him how I could find
06:41out if she got bailed out.
06:43Now, he could see the bind I was in, and he said he'd give me a call before noon today.
06:47Where did he call from?
06:49The hotel lobby?
06:50Oh, you know it.
06:51Said they were there trying to get a lead on that bellhop.
06:54Bail had been set at a thousand dollars, and nobody had come up with it yet.
06:58All I could think of was to get a check cleared and the money downtown before she was arraigned.
07:02They offered to drive you?
07:04They drove me right down here to the police station.
07:07Cops on every side.
07:09Morlock even stood me to coffee in your cafeteria while his partner was getting my receipt.
07:13Right here on the third floor, he said.
07:16Now, you tell me, Sergeant, would anybody have gotten suspicious of him?
07:19You did.
07:20Well, not suspicious.
07:21Mad.
07:21First, I was just relieved I'd gotten out of a mess and cheap at the price.
07:25And then I asked myself, what mess?
07:28What cheap?
07:28I hadn't done anything wrong, and I paid a thousand bucks for it.
07:32The more I thought about it, the madder I got.
07:35Yes, sir.
07:35The police are supposed to protect honest citizens.
07:38That's what we pay taxes for.
07:39And, brother, I pay plenty.
07:41Not here, back in Iowa, but it all comes out to the same thing.
07:45And I needed protection from scandal.
07:48It was up to the police to give it to me.
07:50So I made me a reservation on a later flight and came back down here.
07:53Well, you don't need protection now, Mr. Danhart.
07:55Well, I realize that, but maybe I'll get something for my money.
07:59Oh, satisfaction, if you catch those crooks.
08:02Well, I don't know.
08:03Maybe you bought something else.
08:04What's that?
08:05An education.
08:106.30 p.m.
08:11Before leaving for the day, Bill and I sent a teletype to New Orleans, Miami, Chicago, Atlantic City, and New
08:16York.
08:17If this racket had been worked in other places, these were the most likely cities due to the large number
08:21of out-of-town visitors.
08:24Monday, October 14th, replies started coming in.
08:27By noon, we had received nine reports of extortion or attempted extortion based on police impersonation.
08:33Except for minor variations, the MOs were identical to our own case.
08:381 p.m., we took the results to Captain Lambert.
08:40Miami police have four cases on file.
08:43They figure another hundred were never reported.
08:45Where'd they get the numbers, just guesswork?
08:46No, sir.
08:47In every case, the phony bail was $1,000.
08:50Hotel records showed too many small-town businessmen had cashed checks for that amount in the larger hotels.
08:55You got any kind of an MO pattern?
08:56Yes, sir.
08:57According to Miami detectives, they seem to work four or five jobs in each hotel.
09:01And there has to be an inside man?
09:02That's what Miami says.
09:03They think a desk clerk or a bell captain or a cashier selects the victims,
09:07and the girl makes the pickup in the bar or the lobby once in an elevator.
09:11Nothing else works.
09:12They'll plant her in the room like they did on Willard Dannhart.
09:14You got descriptions of these people from him?
09:16Yes, sir. Doesn't help much.
09:17And Miami?
09:18Same thing.
09:19The only one they ever identified was a girl.
09:21They're sending us mug shots, but she doesn't sound like the same one who's been working the Elsinore.
09:25Well, how do you want to go?
09:27Stakeout?
09:27Yes, sir.
09:28Just check in and hope they pick up on you, huh?
09:30That's it.
09:31Kind of loose.
09:32You could stay there a week and never get tapped.
09:33Well, we can be sure of one thing, Skipper.
09:35Yeah?
09:36They're going to tap somebody.
09:43It was decided Bill would pose as a businessman from Lincoln, Nebraska.
09:47Captain Lambert prepared a cover story and made the necessary arrangements to back it up.
09:51Tuesday, October 15th.
09:52We drove out to the airport.
09:543.35 p.m.
10:03Fred W. Howie arrived in Los Angeles.
10:084.10 p.m.
10:09He checked into the Hotel Elsinore, room 1008.
10:234.30 p.m.
10:24Fred W. Howie was available to be had.
10:34Working a stakeout is a lot like the Army.
10:36You sit and you wait.
10:37You wait hours, sometimes days.
10:39You wait for the one big break.
10:40Maybe it'll come, maybe it won't.
10:42Either way, you wait.
10:47The plan was for Bill to make himself available.
10:49He ate in the hotel dining room.
10:51He had a drink in the cocktail lounge.
10:53He drifted through the lobby.
10:5510.15 p.m.
10:56If they were paying attention, they knew he was here.
11:05Come on in.
11:34I took the elevator to the floor above and walked back down.
11:36I'd only hate to miss on this one.
11:37You would, huh?
11:38Joe, you know how long I've been married?
11:40Around 12 years, isn't it?
11:41Over 13 years, Joe.
11:43And when you haven't been on the loose for that long, you just don't have the feel for it.
11:47You know what I mean?
11:47No, I don't believe I do.
11:48Well, for example, there was a girl in the lounge.
11:51I thought she might be giving me the eye, but I wasn't sure.
11:54The old instinct was gone.
11:55I just didn't know.
11:57I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
11:59I don't know.
11:59Maybe you'd do better on my end.
12:01You'll do just fine.
12:02You're single.
12:03You got that look about you, you know?
12:05Yeah, I agree with you.
12:06Sure.
12:07That's why you're right for the job.
12:09How's that?
12:10You look like a married man.
12:23You took the best bed, too, didn't you?
12:24The one by the window.
12:31Wednesday, October 16th, 8.05 a.m.
12:34There was no reason not to leave the hotel during the day.
12:37All the victims we knew about had been approached after dark.
12:40Also, it helped Bill's cover as an out-of-town visitor here on business.
12:458.25 a.m.
12:46We checked into work.
12:49There was one more reply to our teletype.
12:51It was from New Orleans.
12:52The M.O. was clearly the same.
12:54It told us nothing we didn't already know.
12:579.12 a.m.
12:58A mugshot of the girl identified by the Miami police arrived in the mail.
13:02As we had expected, it did not match the description given us by Willard Danhart.
13:07Also, it was not the girl Bill had seen in the hotel lounge the night before.
13:12Wednesday, October 16th, 7.14 p.m.
13:15We had one more night to go on the stakeout, and still no contact.
13:26Yeah?
13:27You're Mr. Fred W. Howie?
13:28That's right.
13:29Ainsworth, Hotel Security.
13:30Do you mind if I come in?
13:34Hotel Security?
13:35Oh, you mean you're a house dick.
13:37Well, we have fancier names these days, but that's about it.
13:40Well, what do you want from me?
13:41There's a matter I'd like to discuss with him.
13:42What's that, Ainsworth?
13:44You're from the Midwest.
13:45Lincoln, Nebraska.
13:46What's the problem?
13:47The policy of this hotel, any first-class hotel, is to provide its guests with privacy and protection.
13:53You pay for that.
13:54You're entitled to it.
13:55No complaints.
13:56But there have been complaints by other guests.
13:58Naturally, we had to look into it.
13:59That's part of our job.
14:00Well, what was it?
14:01A poker game.
14:02Professional, high-stakes gambling, the kind where you can be hurt before you can get out.
14:06We have orders to break it up.
14:07That's all right with me.
14:09We've been trying to learn who's running the game, when the next one is scheduled, what room it's going to
14:12be in.
14:13Is that right?
14:14Our investigation has turned up certain things.
14:17Probably no connection with the game, but we have to check them out.
14:19Like what?
14:20Well, you're registered in this room alone, Mr. Howey.
14:23But we have information there's at least one other person occupying the room.
14:27Suppose I tell you it's not true.
14:28How do I know I can believe you?
14:29If it comes to that, how do I know you're really a house detective?
14:34Bradford Hotel chain.
14:36All right.
14:36Now, would you mind satisfying me?
14:38You're going to search the place if I don't?
14:40I have the authority, Mr. Howey, but I'd prefer not to do it.
14:43Say the effort.
14:46Police?
14:47Officer Bill Gannon, my name's Friday.
14:49Why wasn't the hotel informed?
14:51We've handled problems like this before.
14:52There was no need to bring the police into it till we made sure.
14:55We're not looking for gamblers.
14:56Well, and what is it?
14:57Routine investigation.
14:58Well, you could have let us know.
14:59Even if you don't need any help, a little professional courtesy never hurt anybody.
15:03Well, that's what we're depending on.
15:04How do you mean?
15:05You're the only one who knows we're here.
15:07Yeah.
15:07Help us keep it that way.
15:23Thursday, October 17th.
15:25Since our presence in the Elsinore Hotel was known to at least one person outside the department,
15:30a decision had to be made whether or not to continue the stakeout.
15:339 a.m., we talked it over with Captain Lambert.
15:36If Ainsworth's the inside, man, we're burned right now.
15:38We got anything on him?
15:39No, sir.
15:40He's clean.
15:40What about this floating game?
15:42Well, I tried to check it out through a bartender.
15:44He's friendly.
15:44Yeah.
15:45I asked him if there was any action.
15:47I figured it could work for me either way.
15:49Yeah.
15:49He wanted to know what I was looking for.
15:51I gave him the sign.
15:52He shook it off.
15:53Claimed there was no action at the Elsinore.
15:54He didn't try to steer you into anything else, huh?
15:57No, sir.
15:57Based on what you got off the teletype, what's the pattern on when they make a pickup?
16:01Most cases, the night before the victim checks out.
16:03Then he's so busy raising the money, he doesn't have time to think.
16:06Gannon, you were going to stay one more night, huh?
16:07Yes, sir.
16:08Let's go the full run.
16:157.30 p.m.
16:16The stakeout at the Hotel Elsinore was resumed.
16:19Until Bill was approached, there was nothing we could do but continue to wait.
16:25Everything okay, Mr. Howie?
16:27Just fine.
16:27Checking out in the morning?
16:28That's right.
16:31I've been thinking about our conversation last night.
16:33You have?
16:34You asked me if there was any action in the house, remember?
16:36Yeah, I remember.
16:37Well, I did a little checking today.
16:39Just in case there was a little something going I didn't know about.
16:41Ralph, the only thing you checked was me.
16:43Well, you know how it is, Mr. Howie.
16:45No, how is it, Ralph?
16:47Well, I wouldn't know about that, Mr. Howie.
16:49All they said was to find out if you're still interested.
16:51You found out.
16:52Can I make you another one?
16:54Go ahead.
17:00Here you are.
17:01That's the trouble.
17:02What?
17:03Here I am.
17:05Pick up your drink, Mr. Howie.
17:47Come in.
17:51What was that telephone business all about?
17:53Take a look at this napkin.
17:55Room 1244, the big game, huh?
17:57According to the bartender.
17:58Figured I better use the pay phone.
18:00Called our friend Ainsworth, the house detective.
18:02Yeah.
18:02Told him the hotel had better hire a new bartender.
18:05Gave him the room number.
18:06Said he'd handle it.
18:07Couldn't thank me enough.
18:08I'm sure.
18:08I told him to forget it.
18:10Professional courtesy.
18:11Well, he's happy.
18:12I wish we were.
18:13Yeah.
18:14Things don't look too promising, do they?
18:15That is the understatement of the day.
18:28I'm sorry to disturb you, but there's a prowler in my room.
18:30What's your room number?
18:31Just let me use the phone.
18:32I'll call the desk.
18:32Give me a gift.
18:35I'm sorry, but I feel a little faint.
18:37All right.
18:37Now just take it easy, lady.
18:40Maybe I better call the desk for you.
18:41I'm afraid there's no hurry now.
18:43I'm sure you'll be gone.
18:44You know, that's a pretty frightening experience.
18:46Were you asleep?
18:47Yes.
18:49I don't know what wakened me, but all of a sudden I realized there was someone in the room.
18:53I grabbed this.
18:54I don't know whether it was out of modesty or because I couldn't bear to see it stolen.
18:58Then I ran out and pounded on the first door I came to.
19:06Police.
19:06We'd like to come in.
19:07What for?
19:08What's this all about?
19:09Well, I think we ought to keep this thing private, sir.
19:11You don't want to attract a lot of attention, do you?
19:13No, no.
19:14Come in.
19:17I wish you'd tell me what's wrong.
19:19We're from the vice squad.
19:20I'm Sergeant Kress.
19:21This is my partner, Sergeant Morlock.
19:23We arrested this woman for prostitution.
19:24Dirty fuzz.
19:25You're lying.
19:26Now, wait a minute.
19:27We'll need your name and address, too.
19:29Am I under arrest?
19:30No, nothing like that.
19:31You're a material witness.
19:32You'll have to appear at her arraignment tomorrow.
19:34I don't see how I can.
19:35I'm leaving in the morning.
19:37I wouldn't try it.
19:37We just have to bring you back on an out-of-state subpoena.
19:40Look, I'm a businessman.
19:41I can't afford to get mixed up in a scandal.
19:43Mister, we don't make the laws.
19:44We just enforce them.
19:45Well, this woman just walked into my room two minutes ago.
19:49There's nothing we can do, sir.
19:50Sorry.
19:50But I got a wife and a family.
19:52Don't take it too big.
19:53The way these things work out, there's a good chance this girl will never make the arraignment.
19:56What's that mean?
19:57Bail.
19:58This girl's known to be part of an organized ring.
19:59They'll go her bail, and that's the last we'll see of her.
20:01Say, could I talk to you and him, private?
20:03No, you can't leave the room without her.
20:05Yeah, I understand.
20:06Just over here.
20:09There must be something I can do.
20:11If my family hears about this, it'll ruin me.
20:15Now, what do you think, Paula?
20:17Well, one thing's certain.
20:18I know how he feels.
20:19If we could just be sure the bill was posted, this guy'd have it made.
20:23I'll go along with you.
20:24It's not regulation, but you can't always go by the book.
20:27What I'm about to suggest can't leave this room.
20:29You name it, I won't breathe a word.
20:31Well, the only thing you have to be concerned about is that girl's bail.
20:34You know what I'd do if I were you?
20:35I'd post it.
20:36Pay her bail?
20:37Be a sure way to clean this thing up.
20:39Well, how much would that run me?
20:40We don't have the answer to that.
20:42We can sure find out.
20:44All right.
20:45I'll put up her bail.
20:46Well, we have to take her down and book her.
20:47Suppose you come along with us, and we'll clean it all up in about 15 minutes.
20:51Where do we go?
20:51Police building, downtown.
20:53While Crest takes the girl upstairs to book her, you and I'll have a cup of coffee in the cafeteria.
20:57Well, I don't feel much in the mood for coffee.
20:59I'd feel better if I could just stick with you and get this thing done.
21:02Do you have any cash with you, sir?
21:03Well, I have some, yes.
21:05How much do you figure?
21:06Oh, somewhere around a thousand.
21:08Isn't that about what these things usually run, Mollock?
21:10Oh, right around there.
21:11I think I can scrape together that much.
21:13All right.
21:14Well, we better get moving.
21:15You want the money now?
21:16Oh, no, no.
21:17We want to check downtown, get the exact amount for it.
21:20Well, I don't know how to thank you.
21:22Don't bother.
21:23That's what we get paid for.
21:39I don't know how to thank you.
21:57I understand.
21:57I just want to get this over with.
22:01We'll wait for you by the elevator section.
22:03Good.
22:10Friday, Cannon, how's it going?
22:12Hands up on that wall.
22:13Keep yours where we can see them, lady.
22:17All right, you're under arrest.
22:18It's my duty to inform me of your constitutional rights.
22:21Oh, save it, cop.
22:22We've heard it before.
22:23We want attorneys.
22:24We got nothing to say.
22:25Well, I don't think you'll have to, fella.
22:27You've said it all.
22:28I hope we didn't burn anything, Joe.
22:29No, this was the end of the line, Danny.
22:31You and Gannon must have something the rest of us don't.
22:33How do you mean?
22:34You make your cases right in the building now?
22:36No.
22:37These two just made a simple mistake.
22:38What's that?
22:39They thought they worked here.
22:55The story you have just seen is true.
22:58The names were changed to protect the innocent.
23:02On December 12th, trial was held in Department 187, Superior Court of the State of California for the County of
23:08Los Angeles.
23:09In a moment, the results of that trial.
23:15The suspects were found guilty of conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit grand theft.
23:20Conspiracy is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years,
23:25or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year,
23:29or by a fine not exceeding $5,000, or both.
23:49Subsequent investigation revealed that a fourth suspect had been working as a room clerk at the Hotel Elsinore.
23:55He was tried and found guilty on the same charge of conspiracy.
24:32He was tried and found guilty on the same charge of conspiracy.
24:38The story of conspiracy.
25:03You
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