1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,440 Ladies and gentlemen, for a more authentic presentation, portions of the program you 2 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:15,000 are about to hear were actually recorded on the scene. 3 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:24,480 The story you are about to hear is true. 4 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,280 Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. 5 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:44,840 Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, brings you Dragnet. 6 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,320 You're a detective sergeant. 7 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,960 You're assigned to robbery detail. 8 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,120 A gang of holdup men have been running loose in your city. 9 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,040 They've committed more than a dozen robberies. 10 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:00,640 They're heavily armed, quick to shoot. 11 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:06,520 Your job, stop them. 12 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:11,640 If you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. 13 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:12,640 Smoke Fatima. 14 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:19,400 Fatima is the long cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos, 15 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,840 superbly blended to make Fatima extra mild. 16 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:29,600 And that's why Fatima has a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other 17 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,440 long cigarette. 18 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,360 That's why Fatima is doubling and redoubling its smokers. 19 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:42,200 So if you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. 20 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,200 Smoke Fatima. 21 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:49,760 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 22 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:54,240 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 23 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:58,800 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case from official police 24 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:00,280 files. 25 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:05,760 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 26 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:11,360 in action. 27 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:14,800 Was Saturday, July 21st, was hot in Los Angeles. 28 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,640 We were working the night watch out of robbery detail. 29 00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:20,840 My partner's Ben Romero, the boss is Thad Brown, chief of detectives. 30 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:21,840 My name's Friday. 31 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:28,040 I was on the way back from the record bureau and it was 6.55 p.m. when I got to room 27A. 32 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:29,040 Robbery detail. 33 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:30,040 Hi, Joey, ready? 34 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:31,040 Let's go. 35 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:32,040 What'll I dump this top coat? 36 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:33,040 It's too hot out tonight for that. 37 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:34,040 Yeah, the rest of the guys take off already? 38 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:35,040 Yeah, we better huddle. 39 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:36,040 How many men are working this thing? 40 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:37,040 I don't know. 41 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:38,040 I don't know. 42 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:39,040 I don't know. 43 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:40,040 I don't know. 44 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:41,040 I don't know. 45 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:42,040 I don't know. 46 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:43,040 I don't know. 47 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:44,040 I don't know. 48 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:45,040 I don't know. 49 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:46,040 I don't know. 50 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:47,040 I don't know. 51 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:48,040 How many men are working this thing tonight? 52 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:52,040 Must be at least 50, covering every drug store in the south central area. 53 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,160 Which one did we drop? 54 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,160 Naomi and South Alameda Rec Formation. 55 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:57,160 Yeah. 56 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,880 Apart from out across the street, we can cover the pharmacy from there. 57 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,040 We better check out of Thompson from the business office first, huh? 58 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:04,040 That's a good idea. 59 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:05,040 We might as well be ready. 60 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:06,040 They are. 61 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,160 Who got the tip the gang was moving into the south end of town? 62 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,160 Johnny Powers, one of his informants. 63 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,160 Okay, here we are. 64 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,160 The business office, Blair. 65 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,160 Yeah, I'll take care of it. 66 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:21,160 Thanks. 67 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:22,160 Hey, Barry, do you want to check out of Thompson for us? 68 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:23,160 Okay, funny. 69 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:24,160 Have you done any? 70 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:25,160 Yeah, kind of. 71 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:26,160 Here's a sign out book. 72 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:27,160 Thank you. 73 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:28,160 Hey, you might as well give us a shotgun while you're at it, Blair. 74 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:29,160 Okay. 75 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:30,160 Check these out for an hour. 76 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:31,160 Sounds like a busy night for you fellas. 77 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:32,160 Yeah, maybe. 78 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:47,160 Thompson's okay. 79 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:55,160 So the shotgun, want to sign up for the shotgun too, Joe? 80 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:56,160 Yeah. 81 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:57,160 Okay. 82 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:04,160 One Thompson, one machine gun, one shotgun. 83 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,160 You got those serial numbers there, Blair? 84 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,160 Yeah, Thompson 67811. 85 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:10,160 67811. 86 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:11,160 Yeah. 87 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:12,160 Shotgun 655228. 88 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:13,160 655228. 89 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:14,160 Okay. 90 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:15,160 Signed, Joe Brady, serial number 22. 91 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:28,160 What's your serial number, Ben? 92 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,160 2633. 93 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,160 Oh yeah, 2633. 94 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,160 Six shells for the shotgun, 50 shells for the Thompson, okay? 95 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:45,160 All right, I'll sign for them. 96 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:46,160 Okay. 97 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:47,160 Gang's pretty rough, I understand. 98 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:48,160 Gun heavy. 99 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,160 Yeah, that's what they tell us. 100 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,160 Okay, here's the book all signed. 101 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:55,160 Okay. 102 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:56,160 Here you go. 103 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:58,160 A lot of firepower there. 104 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:03,160 Yeah, hope you don't have to clean them when we bring them back. 105 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:09,160 We went down to the basement of the city hall, picked up our car, 80K, and drove out to Naomi 106 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,160 and South Alameda streets. 107 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,160 We located the parking lot and pulled in. 108 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,160 There were four other cars parked in the lot so we wouldn't be conspicuous. 109 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,160 Ben and I got in the back seat out of the light. 110 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:22,160 From our vantage point, we had a clear view of the entrance to the Rex Pharmacy across 111 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:23,160 the street. 112 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,160 We had the shotgun and the submachine gun on the seat beside us. 113 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,160 We listened to the calls coming in the radio and we waited. 114 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,160 13-J, stand by. 115 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,160 There's no cooler here than business offices. 116 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,160 Hot and sticky, huh? 117 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:37,160 Yeah. 118 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,160 Paper says it's going to be worse tomorrow. 119 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,160 Roll down your window, will you, and get some air in here. 120 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:45,160 Yeah, I'll do it. 121 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:47,160 The pharmacy isn't doing much business. 122 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,160 Not more than a dozen people in there in the last hour. 123 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,160 No soda fountain again. 124 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:53,160 Sure is hot. 125 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:55,160 You have to talk about it, huh? 126 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:56,160 I need help. 127 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,160 What time you got? 128 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,160 Ten minutes to ten. 129 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,160 No smoke? 130 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:03,160 No, Hank. 131 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:08,160 Yeah, I'll get it. 132 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:09,160 That gang's going to show up here. 133 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,160 Wish they'd get it over with. 134 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,160 The fellas might have got a bum tip. 135 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:16,160 Well, the gang hasn't missed a weekend for two months. 136 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,160 I wonder how much time the average cop's been waiting. 137 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:20,160 I don't know. 138 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,160 Put it all together and make a fine vacation. 139 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:23,160 What do we do? 140 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,160 Sit this out till the pharmacy closes? 141 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,160 Yeah, at two a.m. 142 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,160 Oh, it's hot. 143 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:31,160 Yeah. 144 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,160 Midnight came and passed. 145 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,160 The traffic on South Alameda thinned out. 146 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,160 Only an occasional customer entered the pharmacy across the street. 147 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,160 Ben kept complaining about the heat. 148 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:41,160 We waited. 149 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:42,160 Well, that's it, Joe. 150 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:43,160 Air go the latch. 151 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:44,160 Drugstore's closing. 152 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:46,160 Yeah, the guy's locking the doors. 153 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:47,160 There he goes. 154 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:48,160 We might as well shove off, too. 155 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:49,160 Yeah. 156 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,160 Let's get in the front seat. 157 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:55,160 There's not much call for this shotgun tonight. 158 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,160 I was checking it in. 159 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:58,160 Same duty to mine, eh? 160 00:06:58,160 --> 00:06:59,160 Mm-hmm. 161 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,160 Attention all units. 162 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:05,160 All units in the vicinity of 8th Hill on the corner of Hill and Geneva Alley. 163 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,160 The 211 shooting, row three. 164 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:09,160 Hit the light. 165 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:10,160 Yeah, come on. 166 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:11,160 Let's roll. 167 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:17,160 Sunday, July 22nd, 2 15 a.m. 168 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:22,160 Ben and I pulled up with the Merchant Security Trust Company on the corner of South Hill and Geneva Alley. 169 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:33,160 Two patrol cars were already on the scene and four uniformed officers were trying to keep back a crowd of people who had gathered at the top of a flat of marble stairs which led off the street down one flight to the bank's night depository. 170 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:37,160 At the bottom of the stairs, an elderly man was sprawled out face down, his right arm twisted under him. 171 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,160 The man was dead. 172 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,160 Ben counted five bullet wounds in the victim's back. 173 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,160 We interviewed the only witness, a young sailor. 174 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:45,160 My name's Vasey, Sergeant. 175 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,160 Don Vasey, quartermaster, second class. 176 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:48,160 Here's my ID card. 177 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,160 You saw the shooting, Vasey? 178 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:51,160 I was about a half a block away. 179 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,160 I just came out of the bar down the street there, the top hat. 180 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:55,160 Yeah? 181 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:56,160 Had a couple of beers. 182 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,160 Then I left and I started walking back to the hotel. 183 00:07:58,160 --> 00:07:59,160 When was that? 184 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,160 About five after two. 185 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:02,160 Go on. 186 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,160 Well, before I got to the corner, I saw this man ahead of me. 187 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:08,160 He crossed the street and headed over for the bank. 188 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,160 Then this car pulled up and some guys got off. 189 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,160 They ran over to the man and it looked like they were frisking him. 190 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:14,160 Yeah? 191 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:15,160 All of a sudden I heard shots. 192 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:19,160 The man ran for the stairs here and it looked like he stumbled and fell. 193 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,160 I went to the car and I saw a bunch of guys jump back in the car and drove away. 194 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:23,160 What'd you do then? 195 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,160 I ran up to see what I could do for the old man. 196 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,160 He was lying down there where he is now. 197 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:28,160 Nothing I could do for him. 198 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:29,160 I yelled for a cop. 199 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,160 Did you get a look at the man in that car? 200 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,160 No, I just saw him from a distance. 201 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,160 Four of them, maybe five. 202 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:36,160 What about the car? 203 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:37,160 Did you see the license number? 204 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,160 The last couple of numbers, that's all. 205 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:40,160 699. 206 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:41,160 Couldn't see the rest. 207 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,160 What was it, a coupe or a sedan? 208 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:44,160 A sedan, maroon color. 209 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:47,160 It was a Pontiac, either a 1940 or 41. 210 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:48,160 Are you sure about that? 211 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,160 I saw it when I went back in Delaware, 1940 model. 212 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:52,160 I sold it to my brother when I went in the Navy. 213 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:53,160 I'm sure all right. 214 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,160 And you're sure about the number of men in the car? 215 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:57,160 Oh yes, sir, four or five, no more. 216 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:58,160 I see, thanks. 217 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:00,160 Well, will you drive back to the office with us and give us a full statement? 218 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:01,160 Sure, Sergeant, anything you say. 219 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,160 You can wait in the car, Vasey. 220 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:04,160 We won't be long. 221 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:05,160 Sure. 222 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:07,160 Well, what do you think? 223 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:08,160 I don't know. 224 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:09,160 Drugstore gang? 225 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,160 Said there were four guys, could be. 226 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:12,160 No description. 227 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:16,160 Maroon car, three numbers off the license plate. 228 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:17,160 Pretty thin. 229 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,160 Yeah, looks like a hard summer. 230 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,160 We completed our preliminary investigation. 231 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:29,160 The coroner arrived and the body was taken to the County morgue in the basement of the Hall of Justice. 232 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:35,160 The victim was identified as Walter Conroy, the proprietor of the Flowerland Dance Hall on South Hill Street. 233 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,160 Together with officers Fremont and Hurst from Homicide, 234 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:43,160 Ben and I spent most of Sunday tracking down employees of the dance hall and interviewing them. 235 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:48,160 We sent a rushed teletype to the Department of Motor Vehicles in Sacramento containing the partial license number 236 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:52,160 plus our scanned information on the car which the suspects drove. 237 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:58,160 Early Monday afternoon, Ben and I, along with Captain Ed Walker of Robbery Detail, met with Chief of Detective Stad Brown. 238 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,160 What kind of a motive are you working on? 239 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:01,160 Robbery. 240 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:06,160 The dance hall manager, Conroy, was on his way to the bank's knife depository when this bunch caught up with him. 241 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,160 He had the knife's receipts with him from the dance hall. 242 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:10,160 How much they got, Walker? 243 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:16,160 Three hundred and fifty dollars. They missed over a thousand Conroy had in an inside pocket. 244 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:18,160 No idea who pulled the sticker? 245 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,160 Could have been that drugstore gang. 246 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:21,160 Why them? 247 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:26,160 They haven't missed working a weekend night for two months. There's no sign of any other job that they might have pulled Saturday. 248 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,160 Just a hunch, Chief. 249 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,160 Nothing to go on. We'll have to guess our way for a while. 250 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:35,160 Sacramento check in the description of the car. The numbers on the license plate? 251 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,160 Yeah. I ought to have an answer this afternoon. 252 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,160 Any leads on the drugstore gang at all? 253 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,160 Plenty. None of them good. 254 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:46,160 Suspects are loaded down with guns. That's all we know. 255 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,160 Excuse me. 256 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,160 Brown speaking. 257 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,160 Just a minute. Friday's for you. 258 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:53,160 Thanks. 259 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,160 I'll reach it over here. 260 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:56,160 Friday. 261 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:58,160 Yeah, Ralph. 262 00:10:58,160 --> 00:10:59,160 How many? 263 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:00,160 Yeah. 264 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,160 Okay. Thank you. 265 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,160 I got an answer from DMV Sacramento about the holdup car. 266 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:06,160 What'd they say, Joe? 267 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:13,160 Well, they looked up the possible combinations of 1940 or 41 Pontiac sedans with the numbers 699 on the license plate. 268 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:14,160 Yeah? 269 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,160 123 possibles to check. 270 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:17,160 Not much choice. 271 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:21,160 No car of that description on the hot list. The killer might be the legal owners. 272 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:26,160 123. Well, even after we check them, we still might not have the right party. 273 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,160 That's right. If you got a better lead, we'll work on it. 274 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:30,160 Nope. 275 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:37,160 Well, then ride this till it falls apart. 276 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:46,160 For the next 13 days, Ben and I, Fremont and Hurst from homicide, plus a half a dozen other men, hacked away at the list of 123 car registrations, 277 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,160 any one of which could have been issued to the holdup car. 278 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:56,160 The color of the sedan didn't help us much to start with since California vehicle registrations do not include the colors of the cars. 279 00:11:56,160 --> 00:12:03,160 After 14 days of gradual elimination of possibles, the field was narrowed to six, then four, then two. 280 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:09,160 August 6th, Monday, 5.30 p.m., Ben and I were called to Thad Brown's office. 281 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:14,160 Gentlemen, you check out that last possible yet? 282 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,160 About 20 minutes ago. It didn't pan out. 283 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,160 What about Hurst and Fremont? They had one left. 284 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,160 Right here. Could be the answer. 285 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:23,160 Yeah. 286 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:28,160 1940 Pontiac sedan, license number 4XA699. Last registration, San Diego. 287 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:29,160 Sounds good. 288 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:34,160 We tell it to have to San Diego police. They say the car's been sold to a woman out in Santa Monica. 289 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:35,160 Anyone checked her? 290 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:38,160 No, that's what I want you two for. 291 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:41,160 San Diego and Santa Monica. Well, it's in the right area. 292 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,160 Can't afford to miss now. Hope it's the right one. 293 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:49,160 Well, it's gotta be. Check it. 294 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:56,160 Ben and I checked the woman in Santa Monica, Mrs. Fielding. She told us that she had sold the car six months before to a friend who lived in Bakersfield. 295 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:01,160 We contacted her friend. He told us the car had been traded in by him to an auto dealer in Pasadena. 296 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:06,160 We checked the dealer. He said the car had been sold off his used car lot two months before. 297 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:13,160 The new buyer had given his name as Amo Thurston. Two names were given as reference, Lloyd Newton and John Lacombe. 298 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,160 We ran a routine check through the record bureau. 299 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:26,160 Random through, fellas. Here's the packages. 300 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:27,160 Here to make, point? 301 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:28,160 On all three. 302 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:30,160 What'd you find on Thurston? 303 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:40,160 Let's see. Thurston, two-time loser, second time up to Q-15 counts of armed robbery. On parole from Quentin now. 304 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:42,160 How about the other two? 305 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:51,160 Well, Lacombe, let's see. Preston Reformatory, two terms, went up three years ago, violation of the Dyer Act. He's on parole, too. 306 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,160 What about Newton? Did you make him? 307 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:58,160 Uh, two terms in Oklahoma. They're looking for him now at young parole. 308 00:13:58,160 --> 00:13:59,160 Can I look at that just a minute, Frank? 309 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:00,160 Sure. 310 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:06,160 So I have all three of them. Take a look, Ben. Each one of the mama sheets on these three guys. 311 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:07,160 Yeah. 312 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:10,160 Right here under General Amo. See? 313 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:14,160 Mm-hmm. Thurston, heavily armed at time of arrest. 314 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:16,160 Yeah. This one, Lacombe. 315 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:17,160 Right. 316 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,160 Heavily armed. 317 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:23,160 This one on Newton. Same thing. 318 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:24,160 Good and happy. 319 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,160 Yeah. Come on. 320 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:37,160 At the time he purchased the car, suspect Amo Thurston listed his home address as 1517 North Hoover Avenue. 321 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:41,160 Previous robbery victims positively identified Thurston and his companions. 322 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:46,160 At 1517 North Hoover, the landlady also identified Thurston and his companions as tenants. 323 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:51,160 She told us they drove a red sedan and they parked the car at a Temple Street garage. 324 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:58,160 An immediate stakeout was placed on the apartment house, and we started the canvas of Temple Street garages from Hoover Avenue down to Rampart Boulevard. 325 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:03,160 At 4 p.m., Ben spotted the car in Donnelly's garage on Temple Street near Michigan Drive. 326 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:09,160 The garage attendant told us that the owner of the car had given his name as Amo Thurston. We showed him the mug shots. 327 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:13,160 Yeah. Used to park his car in here a while back. 328 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:18,160 Then he came in yesterday morning with these two guys and said he wanted a paint job. 329 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:23,160 Hmm. Doesn't look like he needs a paint job to me. 330 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:29,160 They offered me 20 bucks extra if I do it in a hurry. He wants the car painted green. 331 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:31,160 When's he gonna call for the car? 332 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:38,160 About 10 o'clock tonight. These jobs take time. He's not gonna like it if the car's not finished. 333 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,160 He won't like it if it is. Come on, Ben. 334 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:56,160 You are listening to Drag Myth, authentic stories of your police force in action. 335 00:15:56,160 --> 00:16:01,160 Now, here is an authentic report from Fatima cigarettes. 336 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:07,160 In 1949, Fatima doubled, tripled, and quadrupled its smokers. 337 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:11,160 In 1950, enjoy Fatima yourself. 338 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:14,160 You'll find Fatima extra mild. 339 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:25,160 Because Fatima is the long cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobacco superbly blended to make Fatima extra mild. 340 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:28,160 You'll find Fatima tastes much better. 341 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:36,160 Fatima's superb blend gives you a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. 342 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:40,160 You'll find Fatima tops in cigarette quality. 343 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:45,160 Fatima has always stood for the best in cigarette quality. 344 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:51,160 For a new year of greater smoking enjoyment, buy Fatima in the appealing golden yellow package. 345 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:57,160 You'll agree, Fatima is the best of all long cigarettes. 346 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:04,160 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 7th. 347 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:09,160 Chief of Detective Stad Brown and Captain Ed Walker swung the entire robbery detail into action. 348 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,160 The stakeout at the apartment house on North Hoover continued. 349 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:18,160 An additional detail of men was stationed in a vacant store on Temple Street directly opposite Donnelly's Garage. 350 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:28,160 Donnelly's Garage was a small family outfit and the only spot from which we could cover it thoroughly without being seen was from a large paint locker set up against the right wall. 351 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:33,160 The garage man cleared enough room so that Ben and I could fit into the locker in a half stoop position. 352 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:38,160 Two small latches were rigged up so that we could pull the doors closed from the inside. 353 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:43,160 Four ventilation holes at the top and bottom of the doors provided us with peep holes. 354 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:47,160 At eight o'clock that night, Ben and I took our places inside the locker. 355 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:50,160 The trap was set. We waited. 356 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:54,160 Can you see all right, Joe? 357 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:55,160 Yeah. 358 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,160 It's hot in here. Stale air. 359 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:02,160 It's a tight fit. I'm getting a clamp on my shoulder. 360 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:05,160 What time did that garage man say he closed? 361 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,160 Eleven o'clock. 362 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:11,160 Lousy paint smell. 363 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,160 Stuffy. 364 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,160 Hey, that car pulling in. Can you see the driver? 365 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:18,160 Wait a minute. 366 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,160 It's nothing. Somebody getting gas. 367 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:25,160 I hope they show up. I wouldn't want this to go on another night. 368 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,160 Well, don't count on it. 369 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,160 What's going to sleep? 370 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:31,160 Why don't you stand still? What time you got? 371 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:36,160 Let me see. Get the light on in here. Ten minutes to nine. 372 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:39,160 Thanks. 373 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:45,160 The popular conception of the working detective really includes a glimpse of his everyday run-of-the-mill duties. 374 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:50,160 Filling out forms, conducting interviews, or waiting long, monotonous hours parked in a car, 375 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:53,160 or standing half-cropped in a garage paint locker. 376 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:59,160 It's slow, dull, and tedious, and it's 95 percent of the police officer's job. 377 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:03,160 By ten o'clock that night, there was still no sign of Thurston and his friends. 378 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,160 The cramped locker got more cramped with the passing minutes. 379 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:09,160 The air was thick with paint fumes. We waited. 380 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:13,160 At ten fifty-five, a taxi pulled to a stop in front of the garage. 381 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,160 Three men got out. 382 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:16,160 Can you see them, Joe? 383 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,160 Wait until they step into the light. There's another guy still in the cab. 384 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:20,160 Here they come. 385 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:22,160 There's the first guy. 386 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,160 Yeah, it's Thurston. 387 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:26,160 The fourth guy's getting out of the cab. 388 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:27,160 That looks like Newton, doesn't it? 389 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:28,160 That's him. 390 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:34,160 Yeah, it's Lecombe right behind. Fat guy. Here they come. 391 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,160 Sure do look the boy. 392 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:38,160 Unlatch your door, but don't open it. 393 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:39,160 Yeah. 394 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,160 Quiet, Ben. What's the matter? 395 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,160 Matt, you're stuck. Wait a minute. 396 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,160 Did you get it? 397 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:46,160 No, it's really stuck. 398 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:50,160 I might tap it with your gun stock. Come on, easy. 399 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,160 There. There it is. It's loose. 400 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:55,160 Good. Can you see where they are now? 401 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,160 Yeah. Talking to the garage man. 402 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,160 I'm looking this way. 403 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:03,160 Oh, they just stay that way, huh? You ready? 404 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:04,160 Okay. 405 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,160 Don't tip them off till we're right on top of them. Let them get away from that garage man, huh? 406 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:08,160 Right. 407 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:12,160 All right. Let's go. 408 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:16,160 Approximately 25 or 30 yards separated us from the suspects. 409 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:21,160 I glanced across Temple Street at the vacant store where Thad Brown and the other men were staked out. 410 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:24,160 25 yards is a long way to walk when you're approaching a murderer, 411 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:28,160 and you know that he won't hesitate to kill you in order to escape. 412 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,160 Ben flipped the safety off the machine gun. 413 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:35,160 We were almost halfway across the garage, 15 yards away. 414 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,160 Thurston turned and saw us. 415 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,160 Look out, Joe! 416 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:41,160 We got one up. 417 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,160 The guy behind the car went up the stairs. Three of them. 418 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:44,160 Come on. 419 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:46,160 Ready. Where'd they go? 420 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:47,160 Up the stairs. 421 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:48,160 Go, Ben! 422 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,160 After them, they'll turn to the building. 423 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,160 Hurry! 424 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:53,160 Up this way, Joe. 425 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,160 Yeah. Watch it, Ben. Get up. 426 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,160 They're somewhere back in that corner up there. 427 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:02,160 You're trapped. Go on. You're certain. 428 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,160 All right, Ben, give it up. 429 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:09,160 One, two, three, four. 430 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:14,160 Put on your guns. Throw them down. 431 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:17,160 There's three of them. 432 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:18,160 Six of them. 433 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,160 All right, now come on down with your hands behind your head. 434 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:23,160 Cover me, Ben. I'll frisk them. 435 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:28,160 Right. You, up on the end. Get your hands back in your head. 436 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,160 All right, stand still. 437 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,160 All right, next one. 438 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:34,160 Go on. 439 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:37,160 Clean. 440 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:38,160 All right. 441 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:39,160 Look home. 442 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:42,160 Watch him, Joe. 443 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:47,160 Rest of you, stand back. Give me a hand. 444 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:48,160 You all right, Joe? 445 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,160 Yeah. Two more guns on him. 446 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,160 All right, you two, hold it. 447 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:54,160 Here comes the chief. 448 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:55,160 Yeah. 449 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,160 I'll get these guns together. 450 00:21:57,160 --> 00:21:59,160 Look home. He's not much of a fighter. 451 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:04,160 Not without a gun. 452 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,160 The suspects were booked at different divisions to keep them separated. 453 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:12,160 Amel Thurston and Lloyd Newton were taken to Hollenbeck Park and booked on suspicion of armed robbery and murder. 454 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:16,160 John LeCombe was booked at Highland Park Jail on the same charges. 455 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:22,160 The other suspect, who had been wounded in the escape attempt, was identified as Harold Steeves, 19 years old. 456 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:29,160 He was treated for a leg wound at Georgia Street Receiving Hospital and then transferred to the prison ward at the county hospital. 457 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:32,160 During the next two days, each of the suspects was questioned individually. 458 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:35,160 Thurston, LeCombe, Newton would admit nothing. 459 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:39,160 The 19-year-old Steeves broke down and agreed to turn state's evidence. 460 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:43,160 We took your statement to Chief of Detective Stad Brown. 461 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:47,160 Gentlemen, what did the boy tell you? 462 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:48,160 Just about everything, boss. 463 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:52,160 They pulled the drugstore holdups and they killed that dance hall owner, Walter Conroy. 464 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:53,160 Which one of them? 465 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:56,160 Well, the kid says Thurston shot him. He says Thurston's the gang leader. 466 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,160 Good. You finally got a count on those guns you took off them? 467 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:03,160 Yeah, 12 of them. Each one of them was ready to go bulletin every chamber. 468 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,160 Did you get a complaint from the DA's office yet? 469 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,160 They were writing preliminary games set for Monday. 470 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,160 Fine. You got them in jail, now put them in prison. 471 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:16,160 The apprehension of the criminal doesn't mean the end of a case for a police officer. 472 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:20,160 He spends just as much time helping to convict the criminal after he's caught. 473 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:24,160 Evidence must be gathered and authenticated and presented to the district attorney's office. 474 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:28,160 If confessions are possible, they must be obtained and put in order. 475 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:33,160 The officer must also help out in formulating the case and in testifying at the trial of the suspect. 476 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:37,160 On October 30th, almost three months after the Thurston gang was apprehended, 477 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:41,160 they were brought to trial in Superior Court. It was a routine affair. 478 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:45,160 Harold Steeves took the stand and told the story of the gang's activities. 479 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:49,160 The victims identified the suspects and testified to the robberies. 480 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:53,160 Both Ben and I took the stand and testified to the arrest and possession of guns by the defendants. 481 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:56,160 We received no cross-examination. 482 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:59,160 On the morning of March 2nd, the case went to the jury. 483 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,160 Ben and I had lunch with Lieutenant Rambo from robbery in the City Hall cafeteria, 484 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:05,160 and it was five minutes past one when we got back to the jury. 485 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:09,160 It was five minutes past one when we got back to the office. 486 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:12,160 Oh, it sure was good soup today. It was a nice lunch. 487 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:13,160 You want to check the mail? 488 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:14,160 I didn't yet. 489 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:16,160 I'll get it. 490 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:17,160 Robbery Friday. 491 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,160 Yeah? When? 492 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:22,160 Right. LaComa and Thurston had just broke jail. 493 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:30,160 Within seven minutes, a dragnet for the escaped criminals had been thrown around the entire city. 494 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:33,160 Chiba Detective Stad Brown directed the operation. 495 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:36,160 At 14 minutes past one, he called us to the photocopy room. 496 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:45,160 The machines were turning out duplicate mugshots of Thurston and LaComa for distribution at the rate of one every four seconds. 497 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:46,160 You want us to stand by, Chief? 498 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,160 For the moment, yeah. We got all the help we need on the street. 499 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:51,160 How'd they pull the break anyway? 500 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,160 Slugged the deputy when he brought in their lunch. 501 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,160 Used a steel leg from one of the benches in the prisoner's tank. 502 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:56,160 Yeah? 503 00:24:56,160 --> 00:25:00,160 And they beat the deputy right into the ground, but he held on to Newton. He didn't get away. 504 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:02,160 How'd Thurston and LaComa ever get out of the building? 505 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:04,160 He's a real freak. 506 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,160 They slugged the elevator man and got down to the basement. 507 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:07,160 Uh-huh. 508 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,160 The right-hand ambulance crew was wheeling a body in the morgue. 509 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:13,160 The attendant left the ignition keys in the ambulance. 510 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,160 Shouldn't be too rough to track them if they're in an ambulance. 511 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:17,160 Tougher than you think. 512 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,160 Honda's copy's coming, Frank. 513 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:22,160 Fast as we can make them, Chief. Have another batch for you in a minute. 514 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,160 You had any reports at all yet, boss? 515 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:27,160 Couple. They're moving fast. 516 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:30,160 Frank, you want to get that? I can't see in this dark room. 517 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:33,160 I can't see it. 518 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:34,160 Yeah? 519 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:36,160 Chief Brown in there? 520 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:38,160 Yeah, come on in. 521 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:40,160 Now, Walker, what do you got? 522 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:41,160 A killer dryer, wasn't it? 523 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:43,160 Oh, yeah. 524 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:44,160 Now, what do you got? 525 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:46,160 Gas station out on Sunset. 526 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:48,160 LaComa and Thurston just held it up. 527 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:58,160 We picked up our car in the City Hall garage and drove out to the service station on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Lorraine Drive. 528 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:01,160 Detective Ruiz and Stormwall from robbery were already on the scene. 529 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:11,160 The two escapees had abandoned the ambulance there, robbed the station of $56 in currency, and stolen a 1938 Grey Packard Coupe, license number 7-ROB-6336. 530 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:15,160 We left the station and started to cruise the area. It was 1.55 p.m. 531 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:17,160 Attention all units, attention all units. 532 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:18,160 Get it up, Joe. 533 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,160 6380 North Sunset, a 211 in progress. 534 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:26,160 6380 North Sunset, a 211 in progress. Code 3. 535 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:27,160 This is a 61-100 truck. 536 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:28,160 Yeah, come on. 537 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,160 6380 North Sunset. 538 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:32,160 There's the lurker. 539 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:33,160 Maybe. 540 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:36,160 Push it. 541 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:37,160 Hey, that car pulling out up ahead there. 542 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:38,160 A Grey Coupe. 543 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:39,160 Wait a minute. 544 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:40,160 7-ROB-7. 545 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:41,160 That's them. 546 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:42,160 Life's changing. 547 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:43,160 They can't make it. 548 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:44,160 They're going through. 549 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:45,160 They're skidding. 550 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:47,160 They hit the lamppost. 551 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:48,160 Broke it off. 552 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:49,160 All right, pull up. 553 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:50,160 Come on. 554 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:51,160 All right. 555 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:55,160 All right, let's go. 556 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,160 Knock your failure through this one. 557 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:58,160 Yeah. 558 00:26:58,160 --> 00:26:59,160 Come on, help me with this door. 559 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:00,160 Yeah. 560 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:01,160 All right. 561 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:02,160 Pull. 562 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:03,160 All right. 563 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:04,160 All right. 564 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:05,160 I'll get you. 565 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:06,160 I'll get Lecombe. 566 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:07,160 You look okay. 567 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:08,160 Yeah. 568 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:09,160 Get Thurston out of here. 569 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:10,160 All right. 570 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:11,160 Come on, you. 571 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:12,160 Come on. 572 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:13,160 All right, Lecombe, come on. 573 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:14,160 Oh, sure you will. 574 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:15,160 Come on. 575 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:16,160 All right, don't try to walk. 576 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:17,160 How's Thurston, Ben? 577 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:18,160 Seems okay. 578 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:19,160 A couple of scratches. 579 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:20,160 All right, sit down over there. 580 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:21,160 All right, sit down over there. 581 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:22,160 All right, sit down over there. 582 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:23,160 All right, sit down over there. 583 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:24,160 All right, sit down over there. 584 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:25,160 Lecombe, slug the guard. 585 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:26,160 That's funny. 586 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:27,160 They don't look great, do they? 587 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:28,160 They can't play their part. 588 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:29,160 They haven't got their guns. 589 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:30,160 The story you have just heard was true. 590 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:46,000 Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. 591 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:51,960 On March 3, 1947, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 91, City and County of Los 592 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,000 Angeles, State of California. 593 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:56,160 In a moment, the results of that trial. 594 00:27:56,160 --> 00:28:01,240 It's amazing how many long cigarette smokers are changing to Fatima. 595 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:03,160 Here are the actual figures. 596 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:04,160 New York Division. 597 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:07,920 Fatima sales up 132 percent. 598 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:08,920 Chicago Division. 599 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:13,120 Fatima sales up 453 percent. 600 00:28:13,120 --> 00:28:14,600 Los Angeles Division. 601 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:18,240 Fatima sales up 545 percent. 602 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:26,880 Yes, in 1949, more and more smokers discovered that Fatima is the best of all long cigarettes. 603 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,640 They found Fatima extra mild. 604 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:33,540 They found Fatima has a much different, much better flavor. 605 00:28:33,540 --> 00:28:38,440 They found the name Fatima means the best in cigarette quality. 606 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:42,360 In 1950, enjoy Fatima yourself. 607 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:48,600 Best of all long cigarettes. 608 00:28:48,600 --> 00:29:00,400 Amal Thurston, John Lecombe, and Lloyd Newton were convicted of first degree murder and 609 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:04,320 robbery and sentenced to life terms. 610 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:11,240 For turning state's evidence, 19-year-old Harold Steves received special consideration. 611 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:17,540 As a result of the jailbreak, Thurston and Lecombe were convicted of assault and escape. 612 00:29:17,540 --> 00:29:26,080 They are now serving life terms in the state penitentiary. 613 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:31,800 You have just heard Dragnet, a new series of authentic cases from official files. 614 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:36,800 Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Acting Chief of Police, W.A. Wharton, 615 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:39,680 Los Angeles Police Department. 616 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:45,080 Dragnet honors the city of Pasadena, state of California, and the men who make up the 617 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:51,560 Pasadena Police Force, another of America's great law enforcement agencies. 618 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:57,980 One of these men, Chief of Police Clarence H. Morris, traffic specialist and veteran 619 00:29:57,980 --> 00:30:09,120 police administrator, dedicates his life to making yours more secure. 620 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:13,920 The Timah cigarettes, the best of all long cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet, portion 621 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:20,880 transcribed from Los Angeles. 622 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:36,960 Be sure to hear songs by Morton Downey tonight on NBC.