The Big Couple

Originally Aired: February 22, 1951 Dragnet #89, "The Big Couple," Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero are called to investigate a heartbreaking case of fraud at the Holy Gospel Tabernacle. Reverend Andrew Olson explains how a seemingly devout couple, calling themselves Mr. and Mrs. Tom Herbert, approached him with an offer to write a history of his modest church for publication in a county historical book. After gaining his trust through weeks of dedicated research work, the Herberts claimed the publisher backed out and subtly convinced the Reverend and his church board to finance the book themselves. The small congregation scraped together $804.61 through ham dinners, advertising sales, and a bank loan Reverend Olson personally secured. When the promised delivery date passes and the Herberts vanish from their hotel on South Grand, Friday and Romero discover this is no isolated incident. The suspects match the description of a veteran husband-and-wife confidence team with a seventeen-year criminal record spanning multiple cities. These con artists have made their specialty preying on churches and clergymen, leaving struggling congregations robbed and Reverend Olson facing the devastating task of explaining the loss to his hardworking parishioners.