User Reviews

Season 4 Episode 2 Review - The Big Fraud 9-3-54 It is a Big Fraud when civilians pose as police, take money from innocent people. The real police set up a sting to catch the criminals, and we get a Friday lecture as a bonus.

Friday, Smith are working the day-watch out of Bunco-Fugitive Detail, Chief of Detectives is Thad Brown. Martin Dietrich explains the circumstances of his fraud. Gabriel Bush met him at the train station, convinced him to join him at his hotel, feigned taking insulin, when his hypo bag fell, revealing the paraphernalia. Two guys showed at the door, ordered the men to follow, later near the car, demanded money to square the deal. They took $3,300 from Dietrich and left him.

Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives, who is fed up with the crime; it sets a bad mark against all police officers. These con-men are clever, they can spot a mark from out of town. Brown's idea is for Friday to start riding the trains, with Smith and backup following. He hands Friday a train schedule.

Friday is approached by a Gabriel Bush, giving the same line to the prior victim, from Chicago, liquor salesman. Small talk ensued, Friday went along with Gabe Bush's pitch, as they got into a cab to the hotel; Smith and company followed.

Bush and Friday both enter the hotel room, Bush did his similar thing with a small zipped bag going into the bathroom. Coming out, Bush conveniently drops the insulin bag on the floor, a spoon falls out, Friday hands it to Bush. Questions the spoon usage for insulin, when there is a knock at the door, it is two men posing as narcotics police, who claim are after Bush. Roger Silby, fraudulent partner, and Gerald Lang, are going to take the two downtown. The plan for the sting was to be followed, once the marked cash had been exchanged, extortion would be charged, a felony. Exiting the hotel, Friday nods to Smith across the street, these are the guys.

At the car, in an alley, next to the hotel, the loudmouth tries to strike a deal with his partner, he consents to Friday paying $2,500. Friday asks for a ride to First and Spring. Silby asks what's there? Friday quips, city hall, you are under arrest. Smith and officers close in, the three are cuffed, arrested.

Down at HQ, Martin Dietrich identifies the three as the ones swindling him, Fridays jumps into Lang, telling him he is nothing in so many words, the three are lead off to be booked. Friday tells Smith he will be along, he tells Dietrich, there is a way to know men are not police, when they ask for money.