The Big Story
Manhunt In Manhattan
by
In this episode of The Big Story, crime reporter Ted Prager recounts a robbery he witnessed at the Actor’s Inn, a Manhattan restaurant that was also a speakeasy. During the holdup, confusion inside and outside the establishment led a policeman to shoot two innocent people. The robbers escaped with $8,000.
Prager’s account follows the investigation and his role in identifying the men. About a month after the robbery, he recognized them in a downtown neighborhood. His identification helped police arrest Frank DeMarco, whose identity was also confirmed by other witnesses. DeMarco tried to frustrate identification by growing a beard while in custody, but a judge ordered him to appear clean-shaven in the lineups.
The story brings together firsthand reporting, police work, and the tense details of a real crime. Prager’s perspective as a reporter who was present gives the episode a direct, eyewitness quality, while the case’s mistaken assumptions and efforts to evade recognition keep the account focused on how the investigation unfolded.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.