Typical Confusion Pod Cast Hosted by Jim Holliday

This Is Your FBI The Three-A-Day Fugitive

This Is Your FBI Season 11 Episode 377

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0:00 | 30:03

Air Date June 20 1952

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SPEAKER_08

The Equitable Life Assurance Society presents. This is your FBI. This is your FBI, the official broadcast from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Presented transcribed as a public service by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and the Equitable Society's representative in your community. Everybody, every family has problems, and it doesn't matter how much money you make. Your problem may be home ownership or education for your children or provision for accidents or sickness. Whatever it is, worrying won't help. But you can consult a neighbor of yours who may help you best of all. He is your local equitable society representative. He's friendly, helpful, and he knows the answers. In about 13 minutes, I want to tell you more about your Equitable Society representative and how he may help you too enjoy peace of mind through membership in the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. It's titled The Free A Day Fugitive.

SPEAKER_09

In the 1951 fiscal year report made by Director J. Edgar Hoover, there was a summary reflecting the investigative accomplishments of your FBI during the year. One of the results showed that in a single year, your FBI had apprehended more than 6,000 fugitives, an average of well over a hundred a week. Some of those fugitives were bad check offists, some were auto thieves. And some, like the one in this evening's case, were killers. Tonight's FBI file opens in a western state. It is early evening. A mud-splattered sedan driven by a bushy-haired man in a loud sports jacket rumbles along a desolate stretch of highway. With him are two women.

SPEAKER_15

And far across the hills they went, in that new world which is the old. Tennyson wrote that. Alfred Lord Tennyson. At the institute we had to memorize his poetry and recite it out loud. That's how we learned cadence, huh? How to get a ripple in our voice when we read a line. As Professor Wilkins told me, this will give me a background in case I'm ever called upon to play a vaudeville actress in a drama. Oh.

SPEAKER_07

Hey, uh, Lady Dracula. What's wrong with the material?

SPEAKER_13

Well, the last time it got a laugh, it was used by a traveling troop at Valley Forge.

SPEAKER_07

The sailor bit is brand new. But I buy it, and what happens? The stage hands know it better.

SPEAKER_15

I felt I had the proper perspective.

SPEAKER_07

Let's run through it and throw it in the first show tomorrow.

SPEAKER_13

Without warning anybody?

SPEAKER_07

I'm on my hands and knees in the sailor suit. Now, Gloria, you come on stage left.

SPEAKER_15

Come on. Come on. Oh. Sailor, what are you doing?

SPEAKER_07

The Admiral told me to swab the deck.

SPEAKER_15

But you're in Philadelphia.

SPEAKER_07

Ruth, you've got the next line.

SPEAKER_13

I know, I know. I didn't forget it at the last show. I just didn't have the nerve to say it.

SPEAKER_07

If we do it right, we'll get a laugh.

SPEAKER_13

Okay, so I walk up to you and I say, Sailor, what are you looking for?

SPEAKER_07

My wallet. I'll be court-martialed unless I find it.

SPEAKER_13

Where did you misplace it?

SPEAKER_07

Across the street.

SPEAKER_13

Why don't you look over there?

SPEAKER_07

There's more light here. Then you both get down on your knees with me while they're laughing.

SPEAKER_13

We can't bend that fast.

SPEAKER_07

Oh.

SPEAKER_13

What's that? Well, it's either the tire or a critic. Oh, what a great little spot for a flat. Do we have a spare?

SPEAKER_07

Yeah. What an old jack.

SPEAKER_13

Adlib one.

SPEAKER_07

Dandy. Hey, those lights up ahead. That must be Crystal City. Where are you going? To find a gas station. Clever?

SPEAKER_15

Woody. You don't have to walk all the way down there. Look at those big rocks.

SPEAKER_07

What about them?

SPEAKER_15

At the Institute, they taught us to improvise when the property man couldn't secure the correct articles.

SPEAKER_07

Honey, get with it.

SPEAKER_15

Well, if we roll the car up onto a rock, it would lift the wheel enough to allow us to change the tire.

SPEAKER_07

Sorry, girl, that's not my line of work. You two wait here. I'll be right back with the jack, then we drive in the town and hit the sack. That was written by Tennyson, too. Sam Tennyson.

SPEAKER_06

Can I help you, sir?

SPEAKER_07

I hope so, pal. My car's got a flat. Where? Down the road, and I got no jack. Can you mosey over and fix it?

SPEAKER_06

Sorry, I can't leave the station.

SPEAKER_07

Well, will you lend me a jack without a cosigner?

SPEAKER_06

Yes, if you'll be sure to. Sure to what? Uh bring it back. Oh, I'll drop it when I come past. You'll you'll have to sign a receipt. Okay.

SPEAKER_07

Gee, must be half past lonesome working here. Get him up. What? Don't move or I'll shoot. Al, if you don't want to lend me the jack, say so.

SPEAKER_06

I almost didn't recognize you. Just stand there while I call the sheriff.

SPEAKER_09

Meanwhile, at the FBI field office in the nearby large city, special agent Taylor approaches the desk of agent in charge, Maldon.

SPEAKER_01

Taylor, were you in on the Frank Dudley arrest? Dudley? Two years ago, he's the holdup man who used that woman as a shield and killed her when he got outside the bank. Oh, yeah. Bank robbery charges are still pending against him.

SPEAKER_02

Yes, I know, Mr. Molden. I arrested him.

SPEAKER_01

We'll have to try and do it again. But he was given a life sentence. I know. He was being brought in from the state prison to testify at a trial here. When the train was about ten miles outside of Crystal City, he slugged the guard and escaped. Well, when did this happen? Tonight. Dudley got the guard's gun and an extra clip of ammunition, so don't take any chances. All right, sir. I think you know Sheriff Gardner at Crystal City.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Lee and I worked together quite a bit.

SPEAKER_01

He had the local radio station broadcast an alarm, and his men are covering the area. But if Dudley gets up into those hills back of Crystal City, he'll be hard to flesh out. Oh, has anyone been in touch with the prison? I've got a call in for them now. You might as well get started, though. All right, sir. If I get anything from the warden, I'll put it on the teletype.

SPEAKER_15

Is there anything else I can do? No, kid. I just gotta tighten these lugs.

SPEAKER_13

Oh, then you're finished? Except for putting on the hubcap. You know. I knew we'd have this job done before Big Cheek lay an egg got back. Oh, he's coming. Where? Down the road. See him? Oh. For once his timing is perfect. He's back just in time to miss doing any work. Come on, let's get back in the car and ignore him. You know, it'd serve him right if we just drove off and left him staying. Hold it. Huh? What is this?

SPEAKER_12

Come on, get in the car. We'll take a little ride.

SPEAKER_15

But we've got to wait here.

SPEAKER_12

This gun says you don't. Come on, get moving.

SPEAKER_07

Say, pal, what's with that sheriff? He's coming now. There's his car. Well, now we'll get this thing straightened out. Hey, by the way, pal, about that jack. I still gotta get that flat fixed.

SPEAKER_06

We can talk about that later.

SPEAKER_07

Hello, Adams.

SPEAKER_06

Hi, Sheriff. Sheriff. Tell him I'm not the guy you're looking for. He's the one, isn't he, Sheriff? Well, I'm not sure. What is this?

SPEAKER_07

A rib? Well, he looks like that description you gave on the radio. Well, yes, and no. I'm a comedian, not a crook. I can prove it. You came here down the side road? That's right. Well, it's my car you passed. The one with the two girls in it. They're part of my act. We were on our way to Crystal City. Now drive me back to the car and the girls will give you a rundown on me. There's no car parked on that road.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, now I know it's a rip. An FBI man is on his way here now. FB I'll have to hold you till he arrives.

SPEAKER_13

Mister, where are we taking you?

SPEAKER_12

You'll find out.

SPEAKER_15

There's a policeman up there.

SPEAKER_12

That's a roadblock. Now listen and listen carefully. Stay right in line. I'm gonna lay down on the floor under these suitcases. When you get to the car, just give them the right answer.

SPEAKER_15

Why should we protect you? That policeman must have one too.

SPEAKER_12

Before he took me, I could get one of you. Maybe the border. Okay, you just uh lean back and pile him suitcases on me.

SPEAKER_15

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_12

There. Yeah, that's good enough.

SPEAKER_15

The policeman's waving us up.

SPEAKER_11

Good evening. You see a man walking along the highway?

SPEAKER_13

No, sir.

SPEAKER_11

Where are you coming from?

SPEAKER_13

Auburn. We're showgirls. We're open tomorrow night in Crystal City.

SPEAKER_11

Oh. Okay. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_12

Now make that right turn and head up into the hills.

SPEAKER_02

Good evening, Sheriff.

SPEAKER_03

Hello, Taylor. May I have your man for you? Good. Where is he? The next room.

SPEAKER_02

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

I don't know for sure whether it's Dudley or not. He answers the general description, but he claims he's some kind of actor. Huh?

SPEAKER_02

Oh, thanks, huh?

SPEAKER_07

Hey, Sheriff, how long are you gonna keep me here?

SPEAKER_02

Is this the man? Yeah. Well, Sheriff, he's not Frank Dudley.

SPEAKER_07

Well, hallelujah. Give me five, pal. I'm Woody Webster, the man that makes you laugh.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, yeah. Well, the chance he wasn't Frank Dudley, I kept the roadblocks up. Good. Now, Sheriff, what about my car?

SPEAKER_02

Those dames will think I walked out on them. Be with you in a minute, Webster. Oh, I brought some pictures of Dudley for you, Sheriff. We ought to post these as soon as possible. All right.

SPEAKER_10

Sheriff.

SPEAKER_03

In here, Tom. I left Clark in charge at the block. Seputary Ford, this is Agent Taylor.

SPEAKER_07

Hello, Ford.

SPEAKER_03

How do you do, Sheriff?

SPEAKER_07

Sheriff, I gotta get back to those dames.

SPEAKER_03

Webster, I told you that there was no car parked on the back road. But I left it there.

SPEAKER_02

That back road's near the railroad tracks, isn't it? Not too far. Webster, when'd you leave your car? About eight o'clock. Eight o'clock. Well, that'd be a little while after Dudley jumped off the train. You know it's entirely possible he came along after you started for the city and commandeered your car. But those two girls in the car are my partners.

SPEAKER_11

We're supposed to open them, Mara. Say, were those girls in a gray sedan? That's the crate. They went through the roadblock 15 minutes ago, headed the other way.

SPEAKER_13

Mister, how much further are we going?

SPEAKER_12

Just past those big trees. There's a cabin. Just stop right in front.

SPEAKER_15

What for?

SPEAKER_12

I'm meeting someone there.

SPEAKER_15

I hope we have enough gas to get back.

SPEAKER_12

No car here. No lights on the inside either. Maybe his car's around on the other side.

SPEAKER_13

Enough?

SPEAKER_12

That'll do. Hmm. I guess he didn't make it. Shut off the motor.

SPEAKER_13

Why?

SPEAKER_12

Shut it off. Let's have them keys.

SPEAKER_15

Here.

SPEAKER_12

Ah, come on, get out.

SPEAKER_15

Where are we going?

SPEAKER_12

We're going into the cabin and wait for my pal.

SPEAKER_08

We will return in just a moment to tonight's exciting case from the official files of your FBI. If your problem is protection for yourself and your family, no matter what, then I'm sure you'll be interested in the experience of Mr. Willard Trigby, one of the five million members of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. Will you tell us, Mr. Trigby, what influenced you to join the Equitable?

SPEAKER_04

Well, my wife and I were worried about how we could send our boy to college. And then one night we heard you describe an easy way to plan ahead for our son's education.

SPEAKER_08

That's the Equitable Education Fund.

SPEAKER_04

That's right. Our local equitable representative explained how the education fund made it easy to provide for our boy's education while he was growing up.

SPEAKER_08

That's spreading the cost of his education over 10 or 15 years instead of four. Not only that, but if something happens to you, the fund becomes fully established and no more payments are necessary.

SPEAKER_04

Ah, that's what I like about it. And another thing, Mr. Keating, our equitable representative is a man I like to do business with. He's genuinely friendly and very helpful, and he certainly solved our problem.

SPEAKER_08

That's an excellent description of an equitable representative. You see, equitable men are specialists. Providing protection is their business, and they know it from A to Z. They are not only specially trained, but they are backed up by a staff of experts in the equitable home office, actuaries, technicians, and economists. So please bear this in mind. No matter what your insurance problem, it will pay you to get acquainted with your local equitable man. He'll discuss your problem without any obligation. Simply consult your local telephone directory for the name of your local equitable representative. Or write care of this station to the Equitable Society.

SPEAKER_04

That's E-Q-U-I-T-A-B-L-E.

SPEAKER_08

The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. And now back to tonight's FBI file, The Free a Day Fugitive.

SPEAKER_09

The Wotton attack on the prison guard by the killer in tonight's case and the subsequent taking of the female hostages were typical of the seriousness of crimes committed in this country in the last year. According to the latest FBI Uniform Crime Report, more than 12,000 people met death at the hands of killers during 1951. And almost 150,000 people were feloniously assaulted. Including all categories, crime increased more than 5% over the previous year, which means your crime bill is up that much. Or do not make the mistake of many people who feel impervious to the criminals in our midst. The girls in tonight's case felt that way too, until too late. Without warning, crime can strike anyone, including you. Tonight's FBI file continues a few minutes later at the office of Sheriff Gardner.

SPEAKER_03

Sheriff, have you come up with my partners? Not yet, Mr. Webster, but we sent out an alarm on your car. You can wait around if you like and see if we get any word. Thanks.

SPEAKER_02

Aye, Sheriff.

SPEAKER_03

Aye.

SPEAKER_02

Heard from the prison yet? Yep. Dudley told one of his cellmates he was going to meet a panel at a cabin.

SPEAKER_03

Where?

SPEAKER_02

In the hills, up behind here. That's all the location he mentioned. Lots of cabins up there. How many roads run off the main highway, Sheriff?

SPEAKER_03

Quite a few. This, uh this green lines, Route 33. Now here's the intersection Webster's car went through.

SPEAKER_02

Well, then if Dudley was with the girls, they might have gone up Oak Hill Road, Skyline Drive, or any one of these others.

SPEAKER_07

We just don't have enough men to cover all of them. Sheriff, I never did this kind of bit, but if I can help. Excuse me, Webster.

SPEAKER_03

Sheriff Gardner.

SPEAKER_10

A woman just called in about Webster's car.

SPEAKER_03

From where?

SPEAKER_10

Oak Hill Road. She saw it going up about ten minutes ago.

SPEAKER_03

Thanks, Tom. We'll get right on it.

SPEAKER_14

Let us out. Let us out.

SPEAKER_13

Take it easy. Take it easy, kid. But he can't leave us locked in here. I ain't in our contract.

SPEAKER_15

Oh, how can you just stand here and not do anything?

SPEAKER_13

Honey, at my age, you just save your strength for a spot where it might do some good.

SPEAKER_15

Maybe if I yelled at one of us was sick, he'd open the door and we could hit him over the head.

SPEAKER_13

That bit went out with mustache cups. The best thing that we can do is to just be quiet and not get him annoyed. What's that? Maybe it's his friend.

SPEAKER_16

George, where you been? I got the top of the roadblock. Let's get on the Erie. Where can you get the outfit? I made a couple of games bringing me here. What are they doing with that? How do I know? He must have on one of What's costumes? We gotta stay here till they throw down those roadblocks. We can't. Why not? The cops will be looking for those games. I'm gonna eat oh my plane. Let's call the airport and find out when they're not working.

SPEAKER_15

I can't hear them anymore.

SPEAKER_13

Well, maybe they'll come back after they call the airport.

SPEAKER_02

There's a car. Looks like Webster's. You ready? Go ahead. All right. No one in this room.

SPEAKER_14

Oh. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03

Are you both all right?

SPEAKER_14

Yeah, who are you?

SPEAKER_03

I'm County Sheriff. Where's Dudley?

SPEAKER_14

Who?

SPEAKER_03

Uh, look at this picture. Is this the man that locked you in there?

SPEAKER_13

That's him.

SPEAKER_03

Do you know where he went?

SPEAKER_13

Well, somebody came here in a car after he heaved us in there.

SPEAKER_02

How long ago?

SPEAKER_13

Maybe half an hour.

SPEAKER_02

Can you tell us anything about his friend?

SPEAKER_13

No, we never saw him. Well, the guy who brought us here was talking about some outfit he was wearing. And he said something about an airport.

SPEAKER_03

Sheriff, is there an airport in Crystal City? No, but there's one at Lexington. That's 15 miles from here.

SPEAKER_02

Fifteen miles, huh? Well, they left about a half an hour ago. Maybe they haven't gotten there yet. Let's alert them. This is Car Three. Can you hear me?

SPEAKER_10

Come in, Car Three.

SPEAKER_02

Hello, Ford. Is Mr. Webster there?

SPEAKER_10

Yeah, just a minute. Oh, Webster.

SPEAKER_02

Hello? This is Agent Taylor, Mr. Webster. We found your partners.

SPEAKER_05

Are you okay?

SPEAKER_02

Yes, but your suitcase was broken into, and from what the girls heard, the escaped man stole an outfit of yours.

SPEAKER_05

Which one?

SPEAKER_02

They don't know. I'd like a list of what you had in your bag so we can check to see what's missing.

SPEAKER_05

Well, I have the books for the banana nose bed, the padding owned canoe, no touches of balloons, eat a piece of pool, eh? And small water can be. Sophistication.

SPEAKER_02

Can you describe those a little more fully?

SPEAKER_05

See?

SPEAKER_02

Mr. Webster, I mean, can you describe the things you had in the bag a little more fully?

SPEAKER_05

Well, for the banana nose, I got a pumpkin with a little electric head in it. A pair of baggy pants, a breakaway tuck seat, and a pair of shoes about three feet long.

SPEAKER_02

Go on, please.

SPEAKER_05

In the pad of your own canoe bed, I use a hot water bottle, a derby with a hole in the wheel.

SPEAKER_03

A pair of pants with patches on the knees. Right. And a hot water bottle.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Well, that's it.

SPEAKER_02

Then there's a sailor suit missing. Oh? Yeah. And Dudley's about the same size as Webster.

SPEAKER_03

And those clothes we found must be the ones he took from the guard on the train.

SPEAKER_02

Probably.

SPEAKER_03

Mm-hmm. But even a sailor's uniform wouldn't have done him any good in the airport. Nobody boarded the last flight at this stop.

SPEAKER_02

Well, he must have had a definite reason for taking it.

SPEAKER_03

Hey, maybe he decided to thumb his way, you know. Figured the uniform would get him a quick lift.

SPEAKER_02

Well, I thought of that, Sheriff, but I think he's too smart for it. After all, he's in a car now, and he knows we've got no description on the car or the driver. That's true. You know, he might fool a lot of people with that uniform. He was in the Navy during the war until he was dishonorably discharged. Did he ever wear a uniform during a job? No, no, that's not his pattern. My guess is he took this for transportation.

SPEAKER_03

Well, they won't get through the roadblocks this time, because every car's being checked inside.

SPEAKER_02

Hold on, Sheriff. I just remembered something on that map of yours. Let's take another look at it. Not on that plane. Girl at Connor told me she had a call asking when the next plane was taking off. If that was him calling, he may wait till the last minute and make a run for it. The man who called identify himself? No, but you. Wait a minute, Sheriff. There's somebody just coming out from behind that door. Oh, Sailor. Yeah. Heading for this gate. Uh-huh. It looks like Dudley. It's big enough to be. It's him. Hold it, Dudley. Here, look out. No, you don't. All right, Sheriff. Pick up his gun while I put the cross on him.

SPEAKER_07

Webster, you're on, Nick. Okay. Hey, Gernalt! Gerns!

SPEAKER_13

How we got?

SPEAKER_14

Oh, swell, swell.

SPEAKER_07

Look, I wrote a new opening joke for the restaurant bed. Let's throw it in this joke.

SPEAKER_14

How does it go?

SPEAKER_07

Well, after you two sit down the table, I bring you each a menu, just like we do now. Then, Gloria, you say, this is printed in French.

SPEAKER_14

This is printed in French.

SPEAKER_07

No, no, no.

SPEAKER_14

This is printed in French.

SPEAKER_07

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_14

This is printed in French.

SPEAKER_07

That's it. Then Ruth points to her menu and says, I'll have some of this. I do a double take and say, madam, that happens to be what the orchestra is playing. Pretty good, eh?

SPEAKER_13

If that gets a laugh, I'll carry you, Piggy, back to the hotel. Look, the FBI man.

SPEAKER_02

Oh, hello, Mr. Taylor. Hello, Mr. Webstrom. Glad I found you. Here, your sailor uniform's in this bag. Thanks. Hey, that means you found the guy. That's right. We arrested him a little while ago.

SPEAKER_13

Isn't this exciting? How'd you come up with him?

SPEAKER_02

Well, the things you girls heard gave us, the lead.

SPEAKER_13

Huh?

SPEAKER_02

You said you heard Dudley mention the airport and the fact that he was wearing an outfit of some kind. Oh, then you found out about the outfit being the sailor suit. We're hip up to there. Well, the first time the sheriff showed me a map of this particular area, I noticed a naval air station close by. Dudley must have known about it too.

SPEAKER_07

Oh, so that's why he glommed the uniform.

SPEAKER_02

That's it. He wanted to hitch a ride on a Navy plane.

SPEAKER_15

To where?

SPEAKER_02

Any place, as long as it was far away. He did that during the war, but we arrested him when the plane landed. This time, never got off the ground.

SPEAKER_09

Frank Dudley was returned to state authorities to serve the life sentence previously imposed upon him. After the capture of Frank Dudley at the Navy Airport, a slip of paper was found in his pocket bearing the name of a man with whom he had once been arrested. That man was located, and when arrested, the FBI laboratory found that the tires on his car matched the tire tracks found in front of the cabin. After seeing the laboratory report, he confessed and received a prison sentence for conspiring to aid a federal fugitive. In tonight's case, you heard how a special agent of your FBI, in cooperation with a local law enforcement agency, was able to free a trio of innocent people taken hostage, and also to prevent a killer from making good his escape. Because he was armed, and because he was a known killer, there is a chance Frank Dudley would have added to his list of victims had he been successful in remaining free. Of course, no one will ever know who that potential victim would have been, or where he lived, or when the killing would have taken place. One thing, however, is certain. Wherever you are, you're safer because this homicidal maniac is again behind prison bars.

SPEAKER_08

Part of the American dream is owning your own home, giving your children a good education, retiring someday with enough money to enjoy life. If that's your dream too, what are you doing about it? If nothing is your answer, why not consult a man whose business is making dreams come true? He's your neighbor, your local equitable society representative. He's helpful, he's honest, and he knows the answers. It will pay you to do business with him. Simply consult your local telephone directory for the name of your local representative of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States.

SPEAKER_09

Next week we will dramatize another case from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Its subject Armed Robbery. Its title, The Five Fathom Stick Up.

SPEAKER_08

The incidents used in tonight's Equitable Life Assurance Society's broadcast are adapted from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, all names used are fictitious, and any similarity thereof to the names of places or persons living or dead is accidental. Tonight, the music was composed and conducted by Frederick Steiner. The author was Jerry D. Lewis. Your narrator was William Woodson, and Special Agent Taylor was played by Stacey Harris. Others in the cast were Sally Cassell, Walter Cathlett, J.C. Flippin, Frank Gersel, Tony Hughes, Charles Maxwell, Victor Rodman, and Peg Lacentra. This is your FBI, is a Jerry Divine production. This is Larry Keating speaking for the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and the Equitable Society's representative in your community. And inviting you to tune in again next week at this same time when the Equitable Life Assurance Society will bring you another thrilling transcribe story from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on This Is Your FBI.