All language subtitles for Dragnet S02E12 The Pyramid Swindle.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en

This is the city, Los
Angeles, California.

It's a big city,

and a lot of money
can be made here.

The great majority
spend their time

working hard to support
themselves and their families.

There's a small minority
who spend their time

thinking up ways to
separate these people

from their hard-earned pay.

It's my job to try and stop 'em.

I carry a badge.

It was Monday, March 13th.

It was cool in Los Angeles.

We were working the day watch

out of Frauds Division,
Bunko Section.

The boss is Captain Lambert.

My partner's Bill Gannon.

My name's Friday.

We began the day with our
usual Monday morning routine:

reading and checking the
Business Opportunities Section

of the daily newspapers.

On occasion, an ad in the paper

has led to a successful bunko
investigation and prosecution.

The story you are
about to see is true.

The names have been
changed to protect the innocent.

You two see this
in Sunday's paper?

"Wanted, Sales Personnel,
$800 a month guaranteed.

"Experience unnecessary.
Fabulous discount service.

"Double earnings in a month.
Double them again in two.

"Unlimited potential.
Earn over $100,000.

"Proof available. Win
new Cads and T-Birds.

Phone Mrs. Horton,
Bonnie Bates, 93373."

That's the old pyramid deal.

Sound familiar?

Horton Bates, didn't
he work this same scam

three, four years ago?

That's right. Looks like his
wife inherited the scheme.

Bates died of a coronary,
didn't he, about a year back?

Yeah, as a free man.

We never could come up with
anything more than 17500 B & P.

Slowed him down,
but it didn't stop him.

Yeah, that's about all a false
advertising charge ever does.

He was working something
he called Creative Marketeers,

organized it in '63,
sold out for $140,000.

Like the ad says,
"Earn over $100,000."

That's one of the reasons

we couldn't lean
on him last time.

His lawyer used that as proof
that the ad didn't misrepresent.

Got another idea this time.

What's that, Skipper?

322PC... operating a lottery,

more effective than
Business and Pro.

They applied it to a bunk
case up in Washington,

got a conviction,
and it was upheld.

Prove there's an
element of chance, huh?

Might work. I'd
like to establish

that precedent here in L.A.

These pyramid deals are vicious.

The victims are
generally old people

who put up their last dime,

or young ones who
borrow to invest,

thinking they're
going to get rich quick,

like a chain letter. One
person writes to two,

two write to four,
four write to eight.

Before you know it, you've
got 1,000 people on the hook.

And only the ones in
early ever collect a penny,

and not much at that.

Get on it right away.

I want you to work
full time, starting now.

Yes, sir.

Let's see if we can't knock
a building block or two

out of Bonnie Bates' pyramid.

Bill telephoned the
number given in the ad.

Bonnie Bates'
assistant answered.

It was a short conversation
but a fruitful one.

Naturally, they wouldn't give
me anything over the phone.

Said if I'd come to a
meeting tomorrow night,

I'd meet the great lady
and walk out a rich man.

Who'd you talk to?

Says he's Bonnie
Bates' assistant,

gave the name Everett Tottle.

Where's the meeting?

Brookfield Hotel,
Corinthian Room.

That's out of the
high-rent district.

This Tottle guy said to bring
three things to the meeting.

Yeah, what's that?

Love, faith, and
an interested friend.

Well, now, I don't know
about those first two,

but that last item you've got.

Tuesday, March 14th, 7:30 p.m.

We left the office and
drove over to West 5th Street

to the Brookfield Hotel.

8:10 p.m. The meeting
was underway by the time

we reached the Corinthian
Room of the Brookfield Hotel.

Everett Tottle introduced
himself as the man

who had spoken to
Bill on the telephone,

and he welcomed us
with whispered enthusiasm.

The meeting just got underway.

- You haven't missed a thing.
- Oh, that's good.

Copies of the Dollar Wise Pledge

and the Dollar Wise Song,

if you want to join in at
the end of the program.

- Sure will.
- Thank you.

♪♪

Look up here,
friends! Look up here!

Look up here and see
who's smiling down on us!

♪♪

Horton Bates, my
dear departed husband.

God rest his soul. God
rest your soul, Horton.

Smile down on us, Horton, dear.

We're doing all
kinds of good tonight.

He spent his last years

proving the things
I say are true.

I hold here in my hands a
copy of the $140,000 check...

he got in 1964.

Good and faithful friend,
Brother Everett Tottle,

you tell the folks about Horton.

All I can tell you, folks,

is that I knew Horton
Bates since I was a boy.

We grew up making
our money the hard way!

Oh, I thought he was a dreamer

until he showed
me that check of his!

Now I know he was a
mathematical genius, folks!

You tell 'em, brother!

But they're not folks
anymore, Brother Everett.

They're brothers and sisters,

because we're
all in this together!

After I show you
how to save money,

I'm going to show
you how to make it.

How many of you pay retail
prices for the things you buy?

Did you ever buy a thing,

then right after
find it up for sale

at almost half the
price you had to pay?

Yes!

Did it make you angry?

Yes!

Did it make you mad?

Yes!

Did you feel that
you were taken?

Yes!

Would you like to
have it stopped?

Yes!

Well, that's what
we're here to teach you,

teach you how to make it stop!

S-T-O-P!

Yeah!

Take this vacuum
cleaner. Oh, you take it.

I don't want it at that price.

Fair trade, they say.

Can't get it anywhere
for less than 67.50!

$41 through our
Dollar Wise Catalog!

A 26.50 savings!
Top brand mixer!

Do I have to tell
you what it cost?

37.90.

The Dollar Wise price
$22, signed, sealed,

guaranteed and
delivered right to your door.

15.90 savings to our members.

Is that a buy?

Yes!

You bet it is!

Everything you'll want,
brothers and sisters,

at only 10% above the
wholesale manufacturer's price.

You tell me, dear hearts,
is that buying power?

Yes!

I ought to hear it again!
Is that buying power?

Yes!

Well, I'm here to tell you

that buying power
is all well and good,

but what about making power?

If you ain't got, you can't get!

Now, anybody here want
to make $300 a month

working two spare nights a week?

I do!

Who wants to make
600 for four spare nights?

I do!

Well, pay attention.

I'm going to show you how.

You see this tiny figure?

199.99.

That's your cost of
membership for ten whole years.

You give me this figure,
I'll make you prospectors

in the Dollar Wise
Market Service.

Besides the great
savings I've told you about,

I'm going to give
you more money,

and each new brother
or sister you bring in,

I'll give you $30 cash money.

If each of those people
become prospectors

and bring in new members,

I'll give you $4.00 cash money

for each new
member they bring in.

Let me show you, friends,
how easy this really is.

Four prospectors a week
from among your friends,

relatives, and
neighbors will put $544

into your very own
pocket every month.

Have you ever, in your lives,
heard of so much free money?

Free money, free money,
free money, free money!

Everybody!

Free money, free money,
free money, free money,

free money, free money
free money, free money!

9:30 p.m.

One thing you could
say about Bonnie Bates...

She was a great salesman.

Isn't that something?

No prospector can pan any
gold without one of these.

Sales promotion kit, 19.95.

That one hour reel of
tape's worth the price.

The Bonnie Bates sales
pitch recorded for posterity.

10:10 p.m. Bonnie Bates really
had them rocking and rolling.

Brother Black, stand
up, and let's talk well.

When did we first meet?

Last month, Sister Bonnie.

Brother Black is a pharmacist.

Drug store right
around the corner.

How much did you make
your first week as a prospector?

$260.

What about the second week?

700. Oh, no, no, I lost one.

Make that 660.

Oh, you lost one, Brother Black!

Oh, I am sorry
about that! I am sorry!

Tell us about the third week.

840.

That's $1,760 for
the month so far!

Thank you, Brother Black.

And that's not counting
overrides or merchandise,

and the new
members, his members,

and his members' members
are going to bring him.

By the time his final
tally for the month is in,

he will have made $10,000
from our growing pool of dollars!

10:42 p.m.

After eliciting testimonials

from a number of
successful members,

Bonnie Bates made
a big production

out of paying off
the old members.

The new members
crowded around to sign up.

They couldn't wait to
give her their money.

Isn't Sister Bonnie wonderful?

Yes, ma'am. This
is my third meeting.

I just can't make up my mind.

How's that, ma'am?

199 doesn't seem like
much to some people,

but my land, it's almost $200.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, no sense being
an old scaredy cat.

Ma'am.

Hm?

Can you keep a secret?

Why, yes, I think so.

Well, now, I understand
they're running

a half price special
a week from tonight,

part of the new
membership drive.

Half price?

Well, that means
I'll save almost $100.

That's right.

Now, please, don't
spread that around, will ya?

Cross my heart.

Bless you, brother.

Wednesday, March
15th, 10:40 a.m.

We listened to Bonnie
Bates' sales tape.

We were fairly certain
we could get a conviction

on a false advertising charge.

We brought in Nick Gowers,

one of the
department's statisticians

from Information Services

to help with the lottery angle.

He said he'd go to
work on it right away.

12:45 p.m.

Just talked to
the City Attorney.

Yes, sir?

Bust her.

1:10 p.m., Bill and I
arrived at Corinthian Hall

with a warrant for
Bonnie Bates' arrest.

Thank you very much.

This is exactly what
I was looking for.

You know, I'm a
salesman by trade,

and I think I can do pretty good

bringing in new prospectors.

Indeed, you should, brother.

And as I told you, you
can become a manager

with the profits you'll be
making as a prospector.

I don't know how to thank you.

Try calling this number
in about an hour, fella.

I don't understand.

Police officers, Mrs. Bates.

We have a warrant
here for your arrest,

charging 17500 B & P
Code, false advertising

and Section 322PC,
operating a lottery.

Now, now, gentlemen!

Better just stand quiet, Mister.

What's all that mishmash,

all those fancy numbers
you're throwing around there?

- Funny thing, Mrs. Bates.
- What's that?

The jury's gonna want to
know the same thing about you.

Monday, May 15th, 9:30 a.m.

Trial was held in Division 69

of Los Angeles Municipal Court.

Deputy City Attorney Hal Davies

handled the prosecution.

Bonnie Bates was
represented by Palmer Forrest.

And that's when Sergeant Friday

and Officer Gannon
appeared at the hotel

and placed Mrs.
Bates under arrest.

- Is that right?
- Yes, sir, that's correct.

Your witness.

No questions.

9:38 a.m. Bill was
called as the next witness.

Davies began
laying the groundwork

for the false advertising count.

Do you, of your own knowledge,

know of anyone who
got a salesman's job

without paying a
fee to Mrs. Bates?

No, sir.

You ever hear of anyone
obtaining such a job?

Objection.

Sustained.

Well, to the best of your
knowledge and belief,

did anyone get a salesman's job

without paying the defendant?

No, sir, they did not.

Thank you. Your witness.

No questions.

He's sharp.

He doesn't want
to prejudice the jury.

He knows he can't beat
the false advertising rap,

so he's saving his
edge for the lottery count.

10:12 a.m. Bonnie
Bates' taped sales pitch,

which she had recorded
live at one of her meetings,

gave an accurate
picture of the meeting

which we had attended.

The court listened
to the full hour.

If it please the court, I
waive cross examination

of this particular, uh, witness.

11:16 a.m. I was sworn in next.

Davies concentrated
on the lottery angle.

And so it's called a
pyramid because of the way

the membership
spreads down and out?

Yes, sir.

Well, how rapidly does the
membership multiply, Sergeant?

Quite rapidly.

You might call it a
geometrical progression.

Does anyone make
money out of it?

Only those who get in
at the very beginning.

Like Mrs. Bates?

Objection.

Overruled.

If it please Your Honor,

the prosecutor is
leading the witness.

It's been established
that Mrs. Bates

started the Dollar
Wise Marketing Service.

You may answer the
question, Sergeant Friday.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Let me repeat the
question, Sergeant Friday.

Yes, sir.

Would Mrs. Bates
be one of the few

to make money out of
this pyramid scheme?

Yes, sir. That's correct.

Does anyone lose money?

Yes, sir, the
majority who join late

and are at the
bottom of the pyramid.

Well, what determines
who wins and who loses?

Objection.

The term "win" presupposes
the element of chance.

I'll rephrase the question.

What determines who
makes and who loses?

Well, that would
be impossible to tell.

Why is it be impossible to tell?

Because it's just a
matter of pure chance.

That's all. Thank you, Sergeant.

Sergeant Friday,
what's the formula

for determining the square of
a number to the ninth power?

I wouldn't know, sir.

How would you chart the
incidence of recurrence

of digit X in a field
of 73 variables?

I couldn't answer that, sir.

So you are not an authority

on the mathematics of
geometrical progressions,

chance, probabilities,
and applied calculus?

No, sir, I'm not.

Oh. You used the term
"geometrical progression."

Isn't that correct,
Sergeant Friday?

Yes, sir.

Well, that's my
mistake, isn't it?

What's that, sir?

Why, I assumed you knew
what you were talking about.

That's all.

Nick Gowers appeared
as a witness in rebuttal.

Using charts prepared by the
police department cartographer,

he showed his simplified
proof of the element of chance

in Bonnie Bates'
pyramid operation.

There was a sudden
change in the jury's attitude.

You're a statistician,
are you not, Mr. Gowers?

Yes.

And your job is to
gather statistical material

for the police department's
Information Services Section.

- Is that right?
- That's right.

Now, correct me, if I'm wrong.

The type of mathematics
in your work is primarily

adding, subtracting,
multiplying, and dividing.

Isn't that so?

Primarily, yes.

The kind of math we
all learn in high school.

- Is that right?
- That's right.

So you are not a
mathematical authority

on chance and the
laws of probability.

Is that correct?

I may not be an authority...

Are you or are you not
an authority on chance

and the laws of probability?

No.

No further questions.

11:43 a.m. The defense placed

its group of character witnesses

on the stand for Bonnie Bates.

They spoke about
the money they made

and the reverent
feelings they had

for the Dollar
Wise organization.

Forrest was still
drawing them out

when court was
recessed for lunch.

2:30 p.m. Bonnie
Bates took the stand.

Under Forrest's
expert direction,

she wasn't selling promises
of profits to prospectors.

She was selling faith to
the jury in Bonnie Bates.

And then they come
and accuse me of lottery.

Well, I'll tell you how
much I know about lottery.

I thought they meant
playing bingo at the church.

I don't take money.
I give money.

And when I give,
other people receive

more than they've ever received.

It's like I've said and
lived by all my life.

Yes, Mrs. Bates?

It is more blessed to
give than to receive.

After an hour on the stand,

Forrest turned Mrs. Bates
over for cross examination.

Hal Davies took over.

Mrs. Bates, I'm going
to ask you again.

Were there any
prospectors or managers

who didn't make a profit?

I always say, if a
member of Dollar Wise

can't make lots of money,

then he sure ain't no
prospector or no manager.

Were there some who lost money?

Mr. Lawyer, some people
can do two things at once.

Well, I'm not one of them.

I have all I can
do to keep track

of all that money
I'm handing out.

Your Honor, this witness
is just not responsive.

I must caution you
again, Mrs. Bates.

Just answer the questions.

Well, I'm trying, Your Honor.

Lord knows I'm trying.

Mrs. Bates, isn't it true

that you and your
deceased husband

were involved in a venture
called Creative Marketeers?

Objection!

- Sustained.
- If Your Honor please,

I intend to establish
a connection.

Mr. Davies, one
case at a time, please.

Now, directing yourself
to Mr. Gowers' chart,

isn't it true that the
levels of membership

could never really go
beyond the first few levels?

Oh, no! No.

With good, honest
work and God's help,

it could go on and
on and on and on!

Right on through the 12th,
13th, 14th, even 15th levels?

Absolutely, Mr. Lawyer.

No more questions, Your Honor.

And now, if it please the court,

the defense would like
to call its expert witness,

Dr. Edgar Peter Sundstrom.

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly
swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth,

so help you God?

- I do.
- Be seated.

Would you please state
your full name, Doctor?

Edgar Peter Sundstrom.

And, Dr. Sundstrom,

you are a Professor
in Quantitative Analysis

at the University of
Southern California.

Is that not correct?

That is correct.

You are also an
acknowledged authority

on the laws of
chance and probability.

Is that also not correct?

My contributions to that field

are regarded by
some as significant.

And you have been present
throughout these proceedings,

- have you not?
- That's correct.

And do you feel,
with the evidence

that has already been presented,

that you can structure
a feasibility analysis,

based on Mrs. Bates'
operational planning;

in other words,
determine if it will work

as Mrs. Bates has said it will?

Yes, I have all the,
uh, data that I need.

Fine. Dr. Sundstrom,

please consider this
question carefully.

Is it theoretically possible
for Mrs. Bates' plan to work?

Theoretically?

Theoretically.

There's no doubt in my mind

that it is
theoretically possible

for Mrs. Bates' plan to work.

Thank you very
much, Dr. Sundstrom.

Your witness.

Just hold on.

I think I can lock
the barn door.

Doctor, I understand you
say that Mrs. Bates' plan

is theoretically possible.

That's correct.

Would you consider it practical?

Engineers are experts
on practical matters.

I'm a mathematician.

I understand. Just
one more question.

You heard Mrs. Bates testify
that the levels of membership

could go right on
through the 12th,

13th, 14th, even 15th levels.

Now, to reach the 12th level,
how many members would it take?

For the operational
plan to succeed,

the base of the pyramid
must be broad enough,

have sufficient membership

interested in the
service feature only.

Excuse me, Doctor. Would
you tell us in numbers?

Well, certainly.

For the plan to
work, it would require

at least a minimum
membership of 360 million people.

Dr. Sundstrom,

are you familiar with
the Census Report.

Census Report?

Yes, according to
the Census Bureau,

the population of
the United States.

What would you
say that figure is?

I don't know precisely.

Well, as close as you can come.

I'll take round numbers.

Well, I'd say about
200 million people.

About 200 million people
in the United States.

Yes, sir. Well, then, Professor,

in order for Mrs. Bates'
pyramid scheme to work,

it would take a total of
160 million more people

than the entire population
of the United States.

That is exactly correct.

♪♪

The suspect was found
guilty of operating a lottery,

as well as on a charge
of false advertising.