The Big Bill

Originally Aired: January 19, 1954

Dragnet #231, "The Big Bill," Sergeant Joe Friday and Officer Frank Smith investigate the mysterious disappearance of Bertha Gillespie, an elderly woman who runs a popular tea shop called the Tea Cozy. Her best friend, Miss Crocker, is convinced something terrible has happened because Bertha vanished without a word—and more importantly, she abandoned an important Scrabble championship match she'd been eagerly preparing for. The devoted Scrabble champion had recently withdrawn $2,500 from her bank account, leaving over $18,000 behind, and posted a cryptic note on her shop door about taking a vacation.

Friday and Smith methodically canvas the neighborhood, interviewing Bertha's gentleman friend Chester and checking with her bank. While the bank manager confirms she mentioned taking a trip, Miss Crocker remains adamant that Bertha would never leave voluntarily, especially not before her big tournament. As days turn into weeks with no word from the missing woman, the detectives dig deeper into utility records and financial trails, searching for any clue that might explain where Bertha Gillespie went—and whether she left of her own free will.

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