WEBVTT

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Here's another in NBC's great parade of new shows.

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["Dragnet"]

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["Dragnet"]

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Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true.

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Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

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NBC brings you Dragnet.

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["Dragnet"]

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You're a detective sergeant.

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You're assigned a homicide detail.

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A 22-year-old girl has disappeared.

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A letter has been received.

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It demands $30,000 for the girl's return.

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The letter is signed, the wolf.

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Your job, get him.

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Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime,

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investigated and solved by the men who unrelentingly stand watch

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on the security of your home, your family, and your life.

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For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department,

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you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case

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transcribed from official police files.

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From beginning to end, from crime to punishment,

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Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

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It was Tuesday, October 18th. It was cloudy in Los Angeles.

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We were working the night watch out of homicide.

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My partner is Ben Romero. The boss is Ed Backstram, chief of detectives.

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My name is Fryden.

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I was on the way back from the staff's office,

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and it was 3.26 a.m. when I got to room 42, homicide.

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Got those mugs, you asked for them. Here they are.

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Thanks, Harris. Backstrand leave yet?

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In a minute, I'm going out with him.

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What's the address out there to Sullivan Floyd?

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814 Castro Boulevard. You go straight out Santa Monica, take a left at Castro.

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All right, ma'am.

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You ready, chief?

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Yeah, ma'am.

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Fryden, you call Romero yet?

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Right now.

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Get on it. This one we don't fool with.

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Yeah.

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Hello.

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Sorry to wake you, Ben. This is Joe. How you feeling?

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Oh, hi, Joe. What time is it?

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3.30 a.m. How do you feel?

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Oh, a lot better. Be back to work tomorrow.

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You'll be ready in 20 minutes. I'll pick you up.

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20 minutes? Okay, what's up?

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You remember Martin Sullivan, vice president of the Third National Bank?

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Sullivan? Yeah, yeah, what about him?

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He's got a 22-year-old daughter.

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Or he had one. She's gone.

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Look, you made good time, Joe.

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Where are we headed?

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Sullivan Home, out on Castro Boulevard. It's out there now with Harris.

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Any leads to work on?

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No, nothing so far.

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The girl disappeared a little before 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

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At 11 last night, he got a letter.

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They want $30,000.

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Sullivan hasn't got that kind of money.

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Yeah, I know it. Poor guy's almost out of his mind.

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Fill me in. How did it happen?

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Well, the guy took the girl out of a business school.

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He had her called out of class.

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Told her her father was sick. Said he was a friend of the family.

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Well, how about the teachers? What was their story?

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Said the girl didn't want to go with the man at first,

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but he finally talked her into it.

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Kept telling her her father was dying.

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That's about as low as it comes?

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Yeah.

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Did he use a car?

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Witnesses said it was a blue sedan.

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They didn't get the license number or the make.

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Did they remember what the guy looked like?

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About 5'9", 160, brown suit, dark hair.

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Hmm. Nothing else?

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No. Here's a copy of the letter.

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The usual. Read it.

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Yeah. Yeah.

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I have your daughter Judy.

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Get, uh, what's that?

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$30,000.

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$30,000 quick if you want her back alive.

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Don't call police or I'll kill her.

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Contact you later.

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Signed, uh, what was it?

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The wolf.

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Oh, wolf.

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I can think of a better name.

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Come on. Here we are.

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Got the original note, Joe.

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Lee Jones down at the crime ivy

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checking it for prints and handwriting.

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Well, if he was... Oh, hi, David.

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Right on the house, boys. Just waiting for you.

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Thanks, Dave.

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Hi, Joe. Ben.

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In the living room.

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Thank you.

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That's the way I see it, Mr. Sullivan.

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Now, you understand exactly what you have to do?

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Yes, sir. I'll do as you say.

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All right. Here are the two men who will help you.

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Sergeant Friday and Sergeant Romero, homicide.

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Yes, sir. How do you do?

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Mr. Backstrand, I... Are you sure about all this?

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He might get frightened.

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He might do something to Judy.

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Believe me, Mr. Sullivan. It's the only way.

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I know how you must feel, but we can't do anything else.

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All right. I want to see Mr. Sullivan first.

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I'll be ready in a moment.

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Any developments?

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Yeah. Come on back in the dining room.

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There it is on the table. Second note from the guy.

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Tell it, man. When did this come?

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About half an hour ago. Guy phoned it into Western Union from a public booth.

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Couldn't trace it.

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I see, Joe.

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Yeah.

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Be at a lesion park, five o'clock this morning, near Balkan Drive.

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Come alone. Bring 30,000. We'll return, girl.

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Don't tell cops. Kill her if you do. You will.

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4 AM now, skipper. Not much time.

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I know it. We'll have to do as he says. No other way.

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Then Sullivan's going out there alone?

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You're going with him. You and Romero.

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You'll be hidden out in the trunk of the car.

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Any plan?

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Get in. That's all.

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Ben and I went out the back door and into the Sullivan garage.

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We jammed ourselves into the trunk compartment and Harris closed the door on us.

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The latch was fixed so that the door could be pushed open from the inside.

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A few minutes later, Mr. Sullivan came out, got in the car and we drove off.

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At three minutes to five, we pulled up at the meeting place in the lesion park.

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We waited. Nothing happened.

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At five minutes past five, it started to thunder.

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That's all we need now. Thunderstorm.

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Stuff in here. There's trunk in it.

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Oh, yeah.

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Ben, listen.

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Someone in there?

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Must be.

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I wonder if he's seen anything.

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Sounds like he's pacing up and down alongside the car, doesn't it?

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Yeah, listen.

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Can't hear anything else.

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Can you?

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No. We better stay undercover.

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Yeah.

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It rains dark, man.

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I wonder what happened to the wool.

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Cold feet, maybe.

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Let's wait it out.

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Joe. Yeah.

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What time you got now?

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Move over.

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Let me get my watch up.

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Yeah.

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A little past five-thirty.

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Sergeant. Sergeant.

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Mr. Sullivan?

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Yes.

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Do you think he's coming? Please.

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He's coming.

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He's coming.

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He's coming.

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Do you think he's coming? Please.

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It's getting daylight.

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We better wait it out, Mr. Sullivan.

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Now, look, don't come back here again.

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If he's watching, you might tip him off.

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Oh, all right.

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All right.

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Poor guy.

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I hear him.

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I hear him.

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Coming up the road toward us.

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He's stopping.

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Yeah.

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He's coming over to our car. You ready?

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Right.

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Talk to him.

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They're coming back here. Now watch it.

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Brandy. Romero.

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That's you, Ed?

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Yeah. The meeting's off.

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Come on out.

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All right.

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Got a cramp in my leg.

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I'm cramped all over.

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Mr. Sullivan, drive back home.

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We'll contact you there.

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All right. All right, Chief.

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Ben, Joe, come on over to the car.

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What's the story, Ed?

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Guy had no intention of following through with this meeting tonight.

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Well, how come?

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He told us.

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Phoned at 5 o'clock.

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Tried to trace the call.

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He wouldn't stay on the line long enough.

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What did he have to say?

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He wanted more money.

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Bragged about how smart he was.

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How we'd never get him.

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Well, he knows Sullivan's called in the police.

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Sure. Said he didn't care.

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We'd never get him anyway.

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Yeah, pretty cocky.

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Pretty smart.

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Take my word for it. He's no dummy.

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Control 1 to 80K.

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Control 1 to 80K.

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I'll get it.

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80K to Control 1.

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8-OK to Control 1.

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Go ahead.

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80K, go to your office.

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Code 3.

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Go to your office.

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Code 3.

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GM, Adrian, signal.

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All right, Romero.

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Let's roll.

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More than 12 hours had passed

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since the word of Judy Sullivan's disappearance

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had been phoned in a homicide.

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During that time, an all-points bulletin

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containing the descriptions of the suspect, his car, and the girl

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had been sent out on the teletype to law enforcement agencies

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throughout the area.

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The same descriptions were broadcast over the police radio every hour.

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The Sullivan home had been placed under strict surveillance,

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and Mr. Sullivan instructed not to contact the suspect

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without knowledge of the police.

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He'd raised almost $10,000 in cash to buy him off.

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The serial number on each one of the bills

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had been copied by a police stenographer

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and then rechecked by a homicide officer.

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So far, the wolf, as he called himself,

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had made three separate contacts,

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and he'd covered his tracks well.

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We knew that he was somewhere in the city,

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500 square miles of it,

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and we knew we had to find him fast.

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It was 18 minutes past 6 when we got back to homicide.

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Hi, Chief.

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Fellas.

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You got something for us, Mike?

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Here, there's a letter, special delivery.

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Came in about 25 minutes ago.

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Can I see that, Mike?

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Stay away from Sullivan.

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If the kid's found dead, it's your fault.

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Stay away, the wolf.

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All right, Mike.

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Get it over to the crime lab

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and have Lee check it for prints.

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Right, Chief.

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Will he find any prints on the second note, Mike?

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Two.

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Run them through R&I now.

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Franny, Romero, get down there and see if they got a make.

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Right, Ed. Let's go, Ben.

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Who's watching the Sullivan house beside Harry?

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Carpenter and Davis.

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Max Benz afraid the girl's father

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will try to make a deal with the guy.

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Has he tried it yet?

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No, he hasn't yet.

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He couldn't blame him if he did.

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I'm worried sick.

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Oh, yeah.

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Here we are.

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Hi, fellas.

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Just coming down to see you.

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Got something there?

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Those two prints Lee Jones lifted off that letter

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got a make on them from the single print file.

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Good, Larry. Let's see, huh?

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There it is.

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Pulled the whole package on them.

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Donald Alfred Kiefer.

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Looks like a real bad one, doesn't he?

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Donald Alfred Kiefer, male, Caucasian, age 29,

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5 feet 8 inches, 170 pounds, brown eyes, dark brown hair.

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He had one previous arrest for forgery in Los Angeles

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10 months before.

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Kiefer's occupation at the time of his arrest

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was listed as bank clerk at the Third National Bank.

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Ben went back into the files and pulled the crime report.

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Then we called Ed Backstram.

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There's the answer, Skipper.

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At the time Kiefer pulled that forgery job at the bank,

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Mr. Sullivan was one of the vice presidents.

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Go on.

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Sullivan was the one who preferred charges against Kiefer

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and saw that he was prosecuted.

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Where's this Kiefer now?

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Let me see.

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His place on probation and on May 16th this year

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he returned to his home in Omaha, Nebraska.

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That's 1380 Mackinac Avenue.

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All right, Romero.

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Get Omaha on the phone and have them check out Kiefer.

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Right, Skipper.

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Friday, take Kiefer's package

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and this note down to Don Myers.

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Have him check the handwriting.

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And get over to the crime lab and see what Jones lifted off that last letter we got.

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All right, Ed.

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The faster we work, the faster we'll put this guy behind bars.

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Now move.

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How's the writing compared, Don?

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What'd you find?

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It looks good.

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See here?

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Slants as crosses, double loops as Ls, open A's,

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pressure on the downstroke.

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Donald Kiefer, a wolf, same handwriting.

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Lifted three prints off this last note, Joe.

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Brought them out with the iodine fume gun.

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They match with the first.

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Thanks, Lee.

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Did you find anything else?

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I don't know if it'll help you much.

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We examined the paper for watermarks and texture.

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Both notes are written on the same kind of paper.

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Impressions show both pieces of paper from the same tablet.

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Check the density of the carbon and the pencil you use.

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Both specimens match.

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Same pencil.

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By mid-afternoon, Donald Kiefer's description had been broadcast throughout the area.

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Bulletons were dispatched to all departments, and an APB was teletyped for the entire state.

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Men were stationed at every post office in the city to watch for notes that might come through the mail.

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The bus depots, railroad terminals, the airports, and all the main roads leading out of the city were under strict surveillance.

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The entire Los Angeles area was broken down into single square mile districts, and a house-to-house canvas was started.

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A squad of men were assigned to cover each square mile.

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Outlying towns and cities were requested to do the same.

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By five o'clock that afternoon, the greatest dragnet operation in the history of the city was underway.

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We were sure Donald Kiefer was somewhere inside.

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At 12 minutes past five, Ben got the call back from the Omaha police.

13:46.000 --> 13:48.000
Yeah, yeah, I got it.

13:48.000 --> 13:50.000
6X-Ray 419.

13:50.000 --> 13:52.000
Nebraska place, right.

13:52.000 --> 13:55.000
Well, thank you a lot. Here, bye.

13:55.000 --> 13:56.000
They had a make on the car.

13:56.000 --> 13:58.000
Lots more. The Omaha cops are looking for Kiefer, too.

13:58.000 --> 14:00.000
Wanted him for a robbery there two months ago.

14:00.000 --> 14:01.000
Yeah.

14:01.000 --> 14:04.000
That robbery used a stolen 1939 blue sedan.

14:04.000 --> 14:07.000
Nebraska license plate. 6X-Ray 419.

14:07.000 --> 14:09.000
How about his family and his friends back there? They all been checked?

14:09.000 --> 14:10.000
Yeah.

14:10.000 --> 14:12.000
Well, get that car description and communications, huh?

14:12.000 --> 14:14.000
APB, teletype and broadcast. I'll tell him.

14:14.000 --> 14:15.000
Yeah, right, Joe.

14:15.000 --> 14:16.000
Right in, Romero.

14:16.000 --> 14:17.000
Yeah.

14:17.000 --> 14:18.000
What are you tied up with?

14:18.000 --> 14:20.000
Well, just got a call from Omaha. Make on Kiefer in the car.

14:20.000 --> 14:22.000
Give it to me. You two get out to the Sullivan house as fast as you can.

14:22.000 --> 14:23.000
T. Harris.

14:23.000 --> 14:24.000
What's happened, Kevin?

14:24.000 --> 14:25.000
Martin Sullivan's disappeared.

14:34.000 --> 14:36.000
All right, Harris, how did it happen?

14:36.000 --> 14:38.000
About three this afternoon, Mr. Sullivan got a phone call.

14:38.000 --> 14:41.000
Said he had to go down to the bank and went with him.

14:41.000 --> 14:44.000
He had me wait in the reception room and he went in his office.

14:44.000 --> 14:46.000
After waiting ten minutes, I got suspicious and went in.

14:46.000 --> 14:48.000
He was gone. That's it.

14:48.000 --> 14:49.000
Did he get any more money?

14:49.000 --> 14:50.000
This morning.

14:50.000 --> 14:51.000
$5,000.

14:51.000 --> 14:52.000
Did you get the serial numbers off the bills?

14:52.000 --> 14:53.000
Yeah.

14:53.000 --> 14:55.000
Shouldn't have let him get out of my sight.

14:55.000 --> 14:58.000
Forget it. Right now we've got to find out where he's gone to meet Kiefer.

14:58.000 --> 15:00.000
Did you talk to Mrs. Sullivan about it, Harris?

15:00.000 --> 15:02.000
She says she doesn't know anything about it.

15:02.000 --> 15:04.000
Let's try her again. Come on, let's go inside.

15:04.000 --> 15:05.000
Hi, fellas.

15:05.000 --> 15:06.000
Hi.

15:06.000 --> 15:07.000
Where's Mrs. Sullivan, Dave?

15:07.000 --> 15:09.000
Back in the city room, lying down.

15:09.000 --> 15:10.000
Doctor's with her.

15:10.000 --> 15:11.000
Come on.

15:11.000 --> 15:12.000
What time you got, Ben?

15:12.000 --> 15:14.000
6.35.

15:14.000 --> 15:15.000
I'll get it.

15:17.000 --> 15:18.000
Hello?

15:18.000 --> 15:19.000
Hello?

15:19.000 --> 15:21.000
Where are you?

15:23.000 --> 15:25.000
Where are you now?

15:25.000 --> 15:27.000
Where are you now?

15:27.000 --> 15:29.000
We'll be right out.

15:31.000 --> 15:33.000
That was Martin Sullivan.

15:33.000 --> 15:35.000
He met with Kiefer.

15:35.000 --> 15:36.000
Up in World Canyon.

15:36.000 --> 15:38.000
Did he get his daughter back?

15:38.000 --> 15:39.000
Yeah.

15:39.000 --> 15:41.000
Wrapped in newspapers.

15:41.000 --> 15:45.000
All cars in the area were notified that a contact had been made with Kiefer.

15:45.000 --> 15:48.000
We got in the car and drove out to Laurel Canyon.

15:48.000 --> 15:50.000
The entire area had been blocked off.

15:50.000 --> 15:55.000
We found Martin Sullivan standing in the middle of the road at the end of East Winding Way.

15:55.000 --> 15:59.000
500 feet down the hill was a private residence where Sullivan had telephoned us.

15:59.000 --> 16:02.000
It was the only building in the immediate vicinity.

16:02.000 --> 16:06.000
A few yards beyond the point where East Winding Way ended.

16:06.000 --> 16:11.000
Back in a clump of tall grass we found the body of Martin Sullivan's daughter.

16:11.000 --> 16:13.000
We notified the crime lab.

16:13.000 --> 16:15.000
She was backstranded in the corner.

16:15.000 --> 16:19.000
Despite a severe state of emotional shock, Martin Sullivan tried to tell us the story.

16:19.000 --> 16:22.000
He said Judy was all right.

16:22.000 --> 16:24.000
I believed him.

16:24.000 --> 16:26.000
I wanted her back.

16:27.000 --> 16:29.000
Judy.

16:30.000 --> 16:32.000
I tricked the officer.

16:32.000 --> 16:34.000
I tricked the officer.

16:34.000 --> 16:36.000
I tricked the officer.

16:36.000 --> 16:41.000
The one watching me said come along, no police.

16:41.000 --> 16:43.000
Did you see his car, Mr. Sullivan?

16:43.000 --> 16:45.000
I wanted her back.

16:46.000 --> 16:48.000
I wanted Judy back.

16:52.000 --> 16:54.000
I did as he said.

16:54.000 --> 16:58.000
I drove here at six o'clock and I waited.

16:58.000 --> 17:02.000
I put the money on the front seat, like he said.

17:02.000 --> 17:04.000
Did he get the money, Mr. Sullivan?

17:04.000 --> 17:06.000
And I...

17:06.000 --> 17:11.000
I got out, left parking lights on.

17:12.000 --> 17:17.000
I stood up there by the end of the road, waiting.

17:17.000 --> 17:19.000
Mr. Sullivan.

17:19.000 --> 17:22.000
And he drove up.

17:23.000 --> 17:25.000
He took the money.

17:25.000 --> 17:28.000
And then he came up to me.

17:28.000 --> 17:30.000
He had a gun.

17:30.000 --> 17:35.000
I wanted Judy back.

17:36.000 --> 17:38.000
He had a gun.

17:38.000 --> 17:40.000
Did you see his car?

17:40.000 --> 17:45.000
He said she was up there, beyond the road.

17:45.000 --> 17:47.000
Tied to a tree.

17:48.000 --> 17:50.000
I brought her back.

17:50.000 --> 17:52.000
Mr. Sullivan, did you see his car?

17:52.000 --> 17:57.000
I went to look for Judy.

17:57.000 --> 18:00.000
He drove away.

18:01.000 --> 18:03.000
She wasn't there.

18:03.000 --> 18:05.000
By the tree.

18:06.000 --> 18:08.000
Couldn't find her.

18:10.000 --> 18:12.000
On the way back.

18:14.000 --> 18:19.000
I saw her bundle on the way back.

18:19.000 --> 18:21.000
I saw her bundle.

18:26.000 --> 18:28.000
Let me find her.

18:29.000 --> 18:31.000
She killed her.

18:31.000 --> 18:34.000
Let me find her.

18:42.000 --> 18:44.000
Before he went into a state of complete collapse,

18:44.000 --> 18:47.000
we showed Martin Sullivan a picture of Donald Alfred Keifert.

18:47.000 --> 18:48.000
He definitely identified him.

18:48.000 --> 18:51.000
The information was immediately relayed back to Central Division,

18:51.000 --> 18:53.000
rebroadcast to the entire police radio system.

18:53.000 --> 18:56.000
A teletype was dispatched to sheriff's offices,

18:56.000 --> 18:59.000
and communications were sent to police stations throughout the country.

18:59.000 --> 19:02.000
The house-to-house search throughout the entire city intensified.

19:02.000 --> 19:06.000
The dragnet in which we hoped to trap Donald Keifert was drawing slowly inward.

19:06.000 --> 19:08.000
It was 12 midnight.

19:08.000 --> 19:11.000
Ex-tree, Sullivan-Garland murder, ex-tree, read all about it,

19:11.000 --> 19:14.000
Finness and Jones, thanks for killing us.

19:14.000 --> 19:16.000
Brian, did the papers get a list of the numbers on that ransom money?

19:16.000 --> 19:18.000
Yeah, got them in the final night edition.

19:18.000 --> 19:21.000
Two and a half pages of serial numbers gave it a big spread.

19:21.000 --> 19:24.000
Look at these pictures of Keifert here, all over the front page.

19:24.000 --> 19:25.000
The more the better, Romero.

19:25.000 --> 19:27.000
I hope this town never forgets that face.

19:27.000 --> 19:28.000
Good reminder.

19:28.000 --> 19:30.000
We don't make deals with killers.

19:31.000 --> 19:32.000
Hi, fellas.

19:32.000 --> 19:33.000
Come on over.

19:33.000 --> 19:34.000
Find anything here, Lee?

19:34.000 --> 19:36.000
Just checking over these towels here.

19:36.000 --> 19:39.000
Found them wrapped around the girl's body inside the papers.

19:39.000 --> 19:41.000
Funny thing about those papers.

19:41.000 --> 19:42.000
What's that, Lee?

19:42.000 --> 19:43.000
They're all yesterdays.

19:43.000 --> 19:46.000
Every story about the girl's disappearance has been clipped out.

19:46.000 --> 19:48.000
Maybe the guy's making up a scrapbook.

19:48.000 --> 19:50.000
How about the towels, Jones? Any laundry marks?

19:50.000 --> 19:52.000
Not a one so far, Ed.

19:52.000 --> 19:54.000
Every one of them was clipped off.

19:54.000 --> 19:55.000
Pretty smart.

19:55.000 --> 19:57.000
The morgue post the body in?

19:57.000 --> 19:58.000
They're doing it now.

19:58.000 --> 19:59.000
Nasty one.

19:59.000 --> 20:00.000
Yeah.

20:00.000 --> 20:03.000
You got any footprints or time marks out where they found the body?

20:03.000 --> 20:04.000
Lots of them, all cast.

20:04.000 --> 20:06.000
Bossy and Taylor are checking them.

20:06.000 --> 20:08.000
One sink.

20:08.000 --> 20:09.000
When is it, Jones?

20:09.000 --> 20:10.000
I don't know.

20:10.000 --> 20:11.000
On the scene here.

20:11.000 --> 20:12.000
This towel.

20:12.000 --> 20:13.000
Wait a minute, Joe.

20:13.000 --> 20:14.000
That pair of snippers there.

20:14.000 --> 20:15.000
Yeah, there you are.

20:15.000 --> 20:16.000
Thanks.

20:16.000 --> 20:18.000
Just back under the scene.

20:18.000 --> 20:19.000
There.

20:19.000 --> 20:21.000
That's one tag he missed.

20:21.000 --> 20:22.000
Any markings, Lee?

20:22.000 --> 20:24.000
Yeah.

20:24.000 --> 20:27.000
Greenway Apartments, Los Angeles.

20:33.000 --> 20:35.000
One look at the apartment was enough.

20:35.000 --> 20:38.000
In an adjoining garage, we found the car which Kiefer had used.

20:38.000 --> 20:39.000
A blue sedan.

20:39.000 --> 20:42.000
Nebraska license plate, 6X-Ray, 419.

20:42.000 --> 20:46.000
When we got back to the office, Chief Backstrand immediately issued the cancellation of the

20:46.000 --> 20:48.000
ward order for the blue sedan.

20:48.000 --> 20:51.000
Then he ordered a detail amend to stake out the car and the event keeper decided to come

20:51.000 --> 20:52.000
back for it.

20:52.000 --> 20:54.000
Here's the coroner's report, Joe.

20:54.000 --> 20:56.000
Oh, let's see it.

20:56.000 --> 20:58.000
Cause of death, strangulation.

20:58.000 --> 21:02.000
Time of death, Monday, October 18th approximately.

21:02.000 --> 21:04.000
2 p.m.

21:04.000 --> 21:06.000
One hour after he grabbed her?

21:06.000 --> 21:08.000
That can't be right.

21:08.000 --> 21:09.000
Skip in his office?

21:09.000 --> 21:11.000
No, he's out for a minute.

21:11.000 --> 21:14.000
Hey, Joe, Ben, take the call of 2503, will you?

21:14.000 --> 21:16.000
Thanks, Mike.

21:18.000 --> 21:20.000
Would you give me the call on 2503, please?

21:20.000 --> 21:22.000
Thanks.

21:23.000 --> 21:24.000
Hello?

21:24.000 --> 21:25.000
Yeah.

21:25.000 --> 21:27.000
Yeah, when?

21:27.000 --> 21:29.000
We'll be right over.

21:29.000 --> 21:31.000
Some of the ransom money, Ben, just showed up.

21:31.000 --> 21:32.000
Beverly and Highland.

21:32.000 --> 21:40.000
The man's name was Ralph Donahue.

21:40.000 --> 21:43.000
He operated a used car lot on the corner of Beverly and Highland.

21:43.000 --> 21:47.000
He told us that early that morning he sold a dark blue late model coupe to a man who

21:47.000 --> 21:49.000
gave his name as Fred Sims.

21:49.000 --> 21:51.000
The man paid for the car in cash.

21:51.000 --> 21:54.000
Donahue told us that he checked the serial numbers on the bills after the man had driven

21:54.000 --> 21:55.000
away.

21:55.000 --> 21:57.000
Serial numbers check out, Joe, every one of them.

21:57.000 --> 22:01.000
If I only thought to look, Officer, and you know, I generally do, I'm the suspicious kind

22:01.000 --> 22:04.000
anyway, but, oh, this morning I must have been asleep.

22:04.000 --> 22:06.000
You got the full description on the car, Ben?

22:06.000 --> 22:07.000
Yeah, Joe.

22:07.000 --> 22:08.000
All right, let's get it on the air right away.

22:08.000 --> 22:11.000
I saw his mug in the paper while I was waiting for you.

22:11.000 --> 22:12.000
Too late.

22:12.000 --> 22:13.000
Sorry.

22:13.000 --> 22:15.000
Yeah, thanks.

22:20.000 --> 22:23.000
At ten minutes past three that afternoon, another piece of the ransom money turned up

22:23.000 --> 22:25.000
at a busy downtown department store.

22:25.000 --> 22:28.000
The clerk was unable to remember who gave her the bill.

22:28.000 --> 22:31.000
The detail throughout the general downtown area was strengthened.

22:31.000 --> 22:35.000
The house-to-house search of the entire city for Judy Sullivan's murderer went on.

22:35.000 --> 22:38.000
The afternoon dragged into the early evening.

22:38.000 --> 22:41.000
At twenty minutes to seven, Ben and I had a hamburger and a cup of coffee in the drug

22:41.000 --> 22:43.000
store at East Broadway and Third.

22:43.000 --> 22:47.000
And then we got back in the car, checked with communications, and started cruising the neighborhood

22:47.000 --> 22:48.000
again.

22:48.000 --> 22:52.000
At nine minutes to eight, a man answering the description of Donald Keefer was seen crossing

22:52.000 --> 22:54.000
Sunset Boulevard just below Highland.

22:54.000 --> 22:58.000
Seven minutes later, the same man was reported near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard

22:58.000 --> 23:00.000
and Las Palmas.

23:00.000 --> 23:02.000
Communications relayed the information.

23:02.000 --> 23:07.000
At twenty-one minutes past eight, our car, 80K, along with a dozen others, were concentrated

23:07.000 --> 23:11.000
in the Hollywood Boulevard area from Gower Street to La Brea, Franklin Avenue to Santa

23:11.000 --> 23:13.000
Monica Boulevard.

23:13.000 --> 23:16.000
At twenty-four minutes past eight, another piece of the ransom money was passed at a

23:16.000 --> 23:20.000
cigar store on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Hawthorne Street.

23:20.000 --> 23:23.000
The number of men and radio cars in the area was redoubled.

23:23.000 --> 23:27.000
Plane close officers were stationed at every intersection to keep an eye on pedestrian

23:27.000 --> 23:28.000
traffic.

23:28.000 --> 23:32.000
At eighteen minutes to nine, the dark blue coupe which Keefer had bought that morning

23:32.000 --> 23:35.000
was spotted parked in an alley just below Hollywood Boulevard and Cohinga.

23:35.000 --> 23:37.000
We called Ed Backstrand.

23:37.000 --> 23:38.000
City Hall.

23:38.000 --> 23:39.000
Two five oh three.

23:39.000 --> 23:41.000
Two five oh three.

23:41.000 --> 23:43.000
Chief of Detectives Office, Aaron.

23:43.000 --> 23:44.000
This is Friday, Mike.

23:44.000 --> 23:45.000
Chief there?

23:45.000 --> 23:46.000
Yeah, wait a minute.

23:46.000 --> 23:47.000
Just going out the door.

23:47.000 --> 23:48.000
That is for you.

23:48.000 --> 23:49.000
Backstrand.

23:49.000 --> 23:50.000
Friday, Ed.

23:50.000 --> 23:52.000
Just spotted Keefer's car, the one he bought this morning, parked in an alley off Cohinga.

23:52.000 --> 23:53.000
Harris and I are on our way up there now.

23:53.000 --> 23:54.000
We'll take care of the car.

23:54.000 --> 23:55.000
You take care of this call.

23:55.000 --> 23:56.000
Just came in.

23:56.000 --> 23:57.000
What do you got?

23:57.000 --> 23:58.000
The theater on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Fairview.

23:58.000 --> 23:59.000
The girl in the box office just took in a ten dollar ransom bill.

23:59.000 --> 24:00.000
Yeah.

24:00.000 --> 24:01.000
She got a good look at the man who passed the bill.

24:01.000 --> 24:02.000
She says it's Keefer.

24:02.000 --> 24:03.000
All right, Ben, come on.

24:03.000 --> 24:04.000
Yeah.

24:04.000 --> 24:05.000
You got the list of zero numbers?

24:05.000 --> 24:06.000
Right here.

24:06.000 --> 24:07.000
Let's check it out.

24:07.000 --> 24:22.000
Yes, sir, how many, please?

24:22.000 --> 24:26.000
Police officers, Sergeant Romero, Sergeant Friday.

24:26.000 --> 24:27.000
Oh, yes, sir.

24:27.000 --> 24:28.000
Mr. Rabin, the police are here.

24:28.000 --> 24:29.000
Would you step around to the side door, Sergeant?

24:29.000 --> 24:30.000
Yes, ma'am.

24:30.000 --> 24:31.000
Margie, relieve Francis for a minute.

24:31.000 --> 24:32.000
Francis, come in.

24:32.000 --> 24:33.000
Bring that ten dollar bill with you.

24:33.000 --> 24:37.000
Sharp girl, Officer, that Francis.

24:37.000 --> 24:38.000
Sharp.

24:38.000 --> 24:39.000
Here it is, Mr. Rabin.

24:39.000 --> 24:40.000
All right, Sergeant, there you are.

24:40.000 --> 24:41.000
Ten dollar bill and the list of serial numbers.

24:41.000 --> 24:42.000
Check out all right, Ben.

24:42.000 --> 24:43.000
That's it, Jill.

24:43.000 --> 24:44.000
Good work, man.

24:44.000 --> 24:45.000
The report of the man came in about a half hour ago.

24:45.000 --> 24:46.000
You're sure it was Keefer?

24:46.000 --> 24:47.000
Yes, sir.

24:47.000 --> 24:48.000
I have his picture in the box office just behind the change machine.

24:48.000 --> 24:49.000
I recognized him right away.

24:49.000 --> 24:50.000
And as far as you know, he hasn't left the theater.

24:50.000 --> 24:51.000
That's right, sir.

24:51.000 --> 24:52.000
All right, Mr. Rabin, I'm sorry.

24:52.000 --> 24:53.000
I'm afraid we'll have to interrupt the show.

24:53.000 --> 24:54.000
Anything you say, Sergeant.

24:54.000 --> 24:55.000
Anything.

24:55.000 --> 24:56.000
Ben, you keep an eye on the front exit.

24:56.000 --> 24:57.000
I'll call you back.

24:57.000 --> 24:58.000
All right.

24:58.000 --> 25:03.000
80K to Control 4, 8-OK to Control 4.

25:03.000 --> 25:04.000
80K, go ahead.

25:04.000 --> 25:05.000
Control 4, clear all frequencies.

25:05.000 --> 25:20.000
The Sullivan murder suspect, Donald Keefer, has been located in the theater on the southeast

25:20.000 --> 25:22.000
corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Fairview.

25:22.000 --> 25:24.000
Have all units surround the area.

25:24.000 --> 25:25.000
80K, Roger.

25:25.000 --> 25:26.000
Attention all units.

25:26.000 --> 25:27.000
Attention.

25:27.000 --> 25:32.000
Assist 80K to theater on the southeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Fairview.

25:32.000 --> 25:41.000
The Sullivan murder suspect has been located in the theater.

25:41.000 --> 25:42.000
Go ahead, 80K.

25:42.000 --> 25:43.000
Control 4, have all units converge in the general area, Hollywood Boulevard and Fairview.

25:43.000 --> 25:46.000
Unit 62R to block off the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and North Cherokee.

25:46.000 --> 25:48.000
Stop all pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

25:48.000 --> 25:52.000
Unit 61A to block the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Hudson Street.

25:52.000 --> 25:54.000
Stop all pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

25:54.000 --> 25:57.040
Unit 71 and 72 are to block the alley behind the theater.

25:57.040 --> 26:00.400
Unit 66 and 67 are to assist at main entrance to the theater.

26:05.040 --> 26:08.880
Within a few minutes the one-half mile area around the theater was completely blockaded.

26:08.880 --> 26:12.960
Every exit and entrance to the theater was covered. At 923 we met Harris and Ed

26:12.960 --> 26:17.120
Backstrand in the theater manager's office. Backstrand outlined our plan of operation.

26:17.120 --> 26:21.280
At 928 a detail of 14 men walked down the side aisles on the main floor of the theater and took

26:21.280 --> 26:24.960
up their posts on either side of the orchestra pit. The picture was stopped and every light in

26:24.960 --> 26:29.680
the theater was turned on. Ed Backstrand, Harris, Ben and I went down the aisle and up onto the stage.

26:29.680 --> 26:30.960
Backstrand made the announcement.

26:30.960 --> 26:34.560
Ladies and gentlemen, we're sorry to interrupt the picture but this is important.

26:35.200 --> 26:40.160
We're police officers. We've traced the murderer of Judy Sullivan to this theater.

26:40.160 --> 26:44.800
He is in this theater now. Now we're going to search the theater row by row and we'd like to

26:44.800 --> 26:51.040
ask your cooperation. There's no need to be panicky or afraid. Those who wish to leave now may do so.

26:51.040 --> 26:54.800
Lead by the main entrance. Each one of you will be checked as you go out the door.

26:55.520 --> 26:59.520
And for the benefit of the man we're looking for, don't try to escape.

27:00.320 --> 27:05.840
Every exit is covered and the entire area is blockaded. Don't place any more lives in jeopardy.

27:08.960 --> 27:09.440
Come on, Ben.

27:14.720 --> 27:16.800
Backstage Joe, we can make it from there. All right, let's go.

27:16.800 --> 27:20.880
Come on, hustle it, Ben. Yeah, the next building. You'll probably try to jump for it.

27:20.880 --> 27:22.720
All right, watch it. I think this door leads out to the rope.

27:25.360 --> 27:26.880
There he goes. All right, keeper, hold it.

27:26.880 --> 27:28.720
Don't shoot. Don't shoot. I give up.

27:28.720 --> 27:30.560
Throw your gun down. Over here.

27:31.520 --> 27:32.400
Don't shoot. Don't.

27:32.400 --> 27:37.040
Let's get him. All right, coppers. I got it figured. They won't top me for this.

27:37.040 --> 27:38.880
Didn't know what I was doing. Put the cuffs on him, Ben.

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Get away from me, you crump.

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You shouldn't have hit him, keeper. All right, Ben, try the cuffs now.

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Yeah. Come on, let's get him in out of the rain.

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What's the hurry? Why spoil a good rain?

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The story you have just heard is cruel. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent.

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Donald Alfred Keefer was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree.

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He was executed in the lethal gas chamber at the state penitentiary.

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You have just heard the 15th in a new series of authentic cases transcribed from official files.

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Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Acting Chief of Police,

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W.A. Wharton, Los Angeles Police Department.

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Tonight's program is dedicated to Deputy United States Marshal John B. Glenn of Boise, Idaho,

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who on the morning of July 31, 1940, gave his life so that yours might be more secure.

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Dragnet came to you from Los Angeles. Theater Guild on the air returns tomorrow night on NBC.

