The Big Hands

The Big Hands

Originally Aired: November 22, 1951 Dragnet #128, "The Big Hands," Sergeant Joe Friday and Officer Ben Romero investigate the brutal strangulation of an unidentified woman found in a cheap downtown Los Angeles hotel. The victim, registered under the alias "John Ross and Wife," was well-dressed and wearing expensive clothes that seem out of place for such a shabby establishment. A neighbor heard a man and woman arguing around the time of death, but the killer disappeared without a trace. The investigation reveals troubling details: the woman's wallet is missing, no fingerprints were found at the scene, and the savage nature of the attack—with a crushed vertebrae at the base of her skull—suggests the work of someone with powerful hands. Friday and Romero work with crime lab technician Lee, examining the meager evidence and canvassing the area with morgue photos, but leads run cold. After two frustrating days, a peculiar visitor named Al P. Morgan arrives at headquarters claiming to recognize the victim as Maud McLeod, a former circus performer. Just as Friday dismisses Morgan's questionable identification, Communications calls with a breakthrough: Washington has identified the victim through her fingerprints.

The Big Bungalow

Originally Aired: November 15, 1951 Dragnet #127, "The Big Bungalow," Sergeant Joe Friday and Officer Ben Romero meet informant Red Smalley at Johnny Cokin's cafe after receiving an urgent phone call. Over hamburger steak and coffee, Smalley nervously shares information about Jeff Allen, a professional second-story burglar from Michigan who has been operating in Los Angeles for the past six months. According to Smalley, who overheard Allen bragging at Ziggy's bar, the experienced thief has been pulling jobs regularly throughout the city, working alone with a simple method of entry through windows using a jimmy or small pinch bar. Smalley provides a detailed description of Allen and reveals that the burglar frequently visits the 1322 Club on North Parish, though he warns Friday and Romero that his life would be in danger if Allen discovered he had talked to the police. After accepting a twenty-dollar loan from the detectives to help with his rent, the struggling informant departs for the racetrack. Friday and Romero now face the challenge of tracking down this prolific burglar while protecting their informant's identity.

The Big Hit and Run Killer

Originally Aired: November 8, 1951 Dragnet #126, "The Big Hit and Run Killer," Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero are called to investigate a tragic hit and run accident at a busy Los Angeles intersection. A 64-year-old woman and her nine-year-old grandson have been struck down in a pedestrian crosswalk by a speeding panel truck. The grandmother is killed instantly, and the boy is rushed to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital in critical condition. The driver flees the scene, and witnesses fail to get a license number, leaving Friday and Romero with precious few leads. Working through the night, the detectives interview witnesses, including a theater box office cashier who provides crucial information: the vehicle was a late model tan panel truck with black lettering that included the word "bakery." With the intersection well-lit by Christmas decorations and the victims clearly visible, Friday and Romero know there's no excuse for the driver's actions. As they narrow down their search to local bakeries with matching delivery trucks, the race is on to find the hit and run driver before the trail goes cold.

The Big Lease

Originally Aired: November 1, 1951 Dragnet #125, "The Big Lease," finds Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero investigating the mysterious disappearance of Chester Dillon, a wealthy retired businessman. When Dillon's sister Gladys contacts the Los Angeles Police Department from New York, worried that she hasn't heard from her brother in weeks, Friday and Romero begin piecing together the puzzle. They interview Lucille Banner, who holds a two-year lease on Dillon's home on Rolston Avenue. Banner reveals that Dillon left for New York eight weeks ago without leaving a forwarding address, telling her he'd collect the rent checks when he returned. As the interview progresses, a troubling picture emerges. Dillon's wife died just months earlier, and he never recovered from the loss. Banner describes him as profoundly depressed, brooding constantly, and unable to remain in the home he shared with his late wife. Most disturbing is Dillon's parting comment when Banner offered to send his rent money: "Where I'm going, I won't need the money." Friday and Romero now face two grim possibilities—suicide or foul play—with virtually no leads to follow in finding the missing man.

The Big Market

Originally Aired: October 25, 1951 Dragnet #124, "The Big Market," finds Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero hunting a pair of elusive bandits who have terrorized eleven food markets in just 21 days. The methodical criminals have a well-established pattern: they strike supermarkets on main thoroughfares during morning hours, always using stolen Pontiacs or Nashes taken from the industrial area. One man stays behind the wheel while his partner enters the store holding a white handkerchief to his face, goes directly to the manager with a nickel-plated revolver, and demands money in a brown paper sack. Despite weeks of investigation and multiple bulletins, the suspects remain unidentified and the holdups continue. When the bandits strike again at a supermarket on Slauson near South Broadway, Friday and Romero finally catch their first break. A customer, Mrs. Thomas Swanson, sees the holdup man's face when his car door sticks and he drops the handkerchief to pull it open with both hands. Downtown at headquarters, she works through mug books trying to identify the suspect, picking out photographs that match individual features but struggling to find one complete match.