WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:09.760 Ladies and gentlemen, this program is for you, not your children. 00:09.760 --> 00:13.880 The subject is of vital importance to you as parents. 00:13.880 --> 00:16.520 This is the story of a vicious man. 00:16.520 --> 00:27.200 The story you are about to hear is true. 00:27.200 --> 00:31.080 Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:31.080 --> 00:44.840 Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, brings you dragnet. 00:44.840 --> 00:46.880 You're a detective sergeant. 00:46.880 --> 00:49.520 You're assigned to homicide detail. 00:49.520 --> 00:52.920 Two small girls are reported missing. 00:52.920 --> 00:58.120 They drop from sight. 00:58.120 --> 01:03.640 Your job, find them. 01:03.640 --> 01:08.520 If you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. 01:08.520 --> 01:09.520 Smoke Fatima. 01:09.520 --> 01:15.560 Fatima is the long cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos, 01:15.560 --> 01:19.360 superbly blended to make Fatima extra mild. 01:19.360 --> 01:25.000 And that's why Fatima has a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other 01:25.000 --> 01:26.760 long cigarette. 01:26.760 --> 01:30.920 That's why Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast. 01:30.920 --> 01:36.720 So if you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. 01:36.720 --> 01:38.720 Smoke Fatima. 01:38.720 --> 01:43.160 Dragnet, the document a drama of an actual crime. 01:43.160 --> 01:47.920 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 01:47.920 --> 01:52.040 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case from official police 01:52.040 --> 01:53.460 files. 01:53.460 --> 01:58.640 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 01:58.640 --> 02:02.640 in action. 02:02.640 --> 02:06.320 Was Monday, October 27th, was cloudy in Los Angeles. 02:06.320 --> 02:08.760 We're working the night watch on a homicide detail. 02:08.760 --> 02:09.880 My partner's Ben Romero. 02:09.880 --> 02:12.040 The boss is Thad Brown, chief of detectives. 02:12.040 --> 02:13.040 My name's Friday. 02:13.040 --> 02:15.440 We were on the way out from central division. 02:15.440 --> 02:23.560 It was 16 minutes past 8 p.m. when we got to South Peoria Street, number 267. 02:23.560 --> 02:24.560 Short and gloomy. 02:24.560 --> 02:25.560 Yeah, it's sultry. 02:25.560 --> 02:28.560 Looks like we're in for some rain. 02:28.560 --> 02:30.360 Yes, sir? 02:30.360 --> 02:31.360 Police officers. 02:31.360 --> 02:32.360 There's Lieutenant Barker here. 02:32.360 --> 02:33.360 Yes, you want to come in? 02:33.360 --> 02:34.360 Thank you. 02:34.360 --> 02:35.800 This is Sergeant Romero. 02:35.800 --> 02:37.800 I'm Sergeant Friday, central homicide. 02:37.800 --> 02:38.800 How are you? 02:38.800 --> 02:39.800 My name's Claude Jimerson. 02:39.800 --> 02:40.800 Lieutenant Barker's in here. 02:40.800 --> 02:41.800 On the phone. 02:41.800 --> 02:42.800 Hi, Captain. 02:42.800 --> 02:43.800 Yeah, Alex. 02:43.800 --> 02:45.800 Romero. 02:45.800 --> 02:47.800 How's it going, Lieutenant? 02:47.800 --> 02:48.800 Not good. 02:48.800 --> 02:50.400 You met Mr. Jimerson? 02:50.400 --> 02:51.400 Oh, sure. 02:51.400 --> 02:52.400 Sit down, gentlemen. 02:52.400 --> 02:53.400 Would you like some coffee? 02:53.400 --> 02:54.400 I can have the wife make some. 02:54.400 --> 02:55.400 No, thank you. 02:55.400 --> 02:57.440 We didn't want to bother the girl's parents any more than we had to. 02:57.440 --> 02:59.240 Jimerson here is one of the neighbors. 02:59.240 --> 03:01.480 He's been nice enough to let us use his phone. 03:01.480 --> 03:04.160 The kid's disappeared about four this afternoon, is that right? 03:04.160 --> 03:05.160 At 345. 03:05.160 --> 03:07.160 Got out a local broadcast on him. 03:07.160 --> 03:09.160 Here's a missing report. 03:09.160 --> 03:11.440 Thank you, sir. 03:11.440 --> 03:16.520 Elma Griswold, age 11, Barbara Sperry, seven-year-old. 03:16.520 --> 03:17.840 You talked to both families? 03:17.840 --> 03:18.840 Yeah. 03:18.840 --> 03:22.600 At 330 this afternoon, Mrs. Griswold sent her daughter to the grocery store down on 03:22.600 --> 03:23.600 Sixth Moor Avenue. 03:23.600 --> 03:26.600 It's about ten blocks from their home. 03:26.600 --> 03:29.600 The Sperry girl, a friend of hers, she went with her. 03:29.600 --> 03:31.320 Anybody at the store remember seeing her? 03:31.320 --> 03:35.280 According to the grocery clerk, they were there about 345. 03:35.280 --> 03:36.280 Mother gave the kids a note. 03:36.280 --> 03:39.760 They bought a loaf of white bread, a half pound of bacon, a dozen oranges. 03:39.760 --> 03:40.760 Yeah. 03:40.760 --> 03:42.480 And I hope nothing's happened to the kids. 03:42.480 --> 03:44.840 We've been neighbors to the Griswolds for years. 03:44.840 --> 03:45.840 Sperry's too. 03:45.840 --> 03:48.480 Did you notice if the little girls were going in the direction of their home? 03:48.480 --> 03:49.480 Yes, they were. 03:49.480 --> 03:52.560 The last time I saw them, they were about a block away, heading straight for home. 03:52.560 --> 03:53.920 Little Sperry girl had a dog with her. 03:53.920 --> 03:54.920 Champ, I think they call him. 03:54.920 --> 03:55.920 He's a collie. 03:55.920 --> 03:56.920 And he's missing too. 03:56.920 --> 03:57.920 That's right, John. 03:57.920 --> 03:59.760 Not a trace of the kids or the dog. 03:59.760 --> 04:03.760 Juvenile officers from 77th Street have been checking the neighborhood for the past three 04:03.760 --> 04:04.760 hours. 04:04.760 --> 04:06.520 Are the girls in the habit of wandering off like this? 04:06.520 --> 04:07.520 Parents say no. 04:07.520 --> 04:08.520 It's the first time. 04:08.520 --> 04:09.520 Mm-hmm. 04:09.520 --> 04:11.640 Well, thanks very much, Mr. Jimerson. 04:11.640 --> 04:12.640 Well, not at all, Sergeant. 04:12.640 --> 04:13.640 Sure you won't have a cup of coffee? 04:13.640 --> 04:14.640 No, no, thanks. 04:14.640 --> 04:18.040 We don't like to bother you, but we may have to check back with you later tonight. 04:18.040 --> 04:19.040 Routine questions. 04:19.040 --> 04:21.320 If I can help out in any way to find those girls, let me know. 04:21.320 --> 04:22.320 Yeah, we'll let you know, Jim. 04:22.320 --> 04:23.320 And thanks again. 04:23.320 --> 04:24.320 Nice fellow. 04:24.320 --> 04:28.320 Most of the neighbors we've talked to have been the same. 04:28.320 --> 04:29.320 Anxious to help. 04:29.320 --> 04:34.280 Some of them are out with our juvenile officers now trying to take a believe in the kids. 04:34.280 --> 04:36.920 You checked the movie theater and the playgrounds in the neighborhood. 04:36.920 --> 04:37.920 Everything, Joe. 04:37.920 --> 04:41.560 Those are some of your men from juvenile, Lieutenant. 04:41.560 --> 04:43.000 Yeah, looks like it. 04:43.000 --> 04:44.440 Yeah, Schwartz and Preston. 04:44.440 --> 04:45.440 Lieutenant? 04:45.440 --> 04:46.440 Yeah, Preston, what you got? 04:46.440 --> 04:48.080 Found the kid's dog, Colley. 04:48.080 --> 04:49.080 Where? 04:49.080 --> 04:50.840 Just above Sanchez Drive up in the hills. 04:50.840 --> 04:51.840 Hope it's no indication. 04:51.840 --> 04:52.840 How do you mean? 04:52.840 --> 04:53.840 Dog's dead. 04:53.840 --> 05:01.640 The Colley dog was taken to a veterinarian on Jefferson Boulevard to be examined for 05:01.640 --> 05:02.640 cause of death. 05:02.640 --> 05:07.020 We put in a call to the office and a special detail of men was assigned to aid in searching 05:07.020 --> 05:08.480 the area where the dog was discovered. 05:08.480 --> 05:11.000 We got out on all points bulletin. 05:11.000 --> 05:14.560 The fathers of the missing girls and a dozen neighbors joined in the search. 05:14.560 --> 05:19.120 With the aid of flashlights, we started from the end of Sanchez Drive and as best we could, 05:19.120 --> 05:23.240 we covered the ground for almost a full mile back into the sunset hills. 05:23.240 --> 05:25.920 10.55 p.m. started to thunder. 05:25.920 --> 05:27.680 The search went on. 05:27.680 --> 05:31.880 The hilly terrain and thick patches of scrub oak didn't make the job any easier. 05:31.880 --> 05:35.360 11.15 p.m. started to rain. 05:35.360 --> 05:38.040 Watch your step, Joe. 05:38.040 --> 05:39.040 The rocks are slippery. 05:39.040 --> 05:40.040 Yeah. 05:40.040 --> 05:41.040 I can't figure it. 05:41.040 --> 05:42.040 Not a sign. 05:42.040 --> 05:43.040 What do you think? 05:43.040 --> 05:44.040 I don't know. 05:44.040 --> 05:45.040 Wait a minute. 05:45.040 --> 05:46.040 Flashlight over here. 05:46.040 --> 05:47.040 No, here. 05:47.040 --> 05:48.040 See something? 05:48.040 --> 05:49.040 I thought I did. 05:49.040 --> 05:50.040 Yeah. 05:50.040 --> 05:51.040 Scrap of brown paper. 05:51.040 --> 05:52.040 Who's this coming? 05:52.040 --> 05:53.040 Sergeant, is that you? 05:53.040 --> 05:54.040 Jimerson? 05:54.040 --> 05:55.040 Yeah. 05:55.040 --> 05:56.040 What's that you got? 05:56.040 --> 05:57.040 I found it. 05:57.040 --> 05:58.040 Right down there. 05:58.040 --> 05:59.040 Just off the path. 05:59.040 --> 06:00.040 Paper say. 06:00.040 --> 06:01.040 Look. 06:01.040 --> 06:07.080 A loaf of bread, a few oranges, a package of bacon. 06:07.080 --> 06:08.080 Where'd you find it? 06:08.080 --> 06:09.080 Right down there. 06:09.080 --> 06:10.080 Mr. Holm questioned me. 06:10.080 --> 06:13.120 We were heading back for the cars when I saw this bag lying to one side of the bush. 06:13.120 --> 06:14.120 We'll take it, Jimerson. 06:14.120 --> 06:15.120 Thanks. 06:15.120 --> 06:16.120 Let's go, man. 06:16.120 --> 06:18.240 That means that Barbara and Toma were up here today. 06:18.240 --> 06:20.280 You haven't mentioned that to either one of the girls' fathers. 06:20.280 --> 06:21.280 No, I haven't. 06:21.280 --> 06:22.280 Good. 06:22.280 --> 06:23.280 They're having a hard enough time as it is. 06:23.280 --> 06:24.280 Rainey, Ben, see him for a minute? 06:24.280 --> 06:25.280 Yeah. 06:25.280 --> 06:26.280 Excuse us, Mr. Jimerson. 06:26.280 --> 06:27.280 Certainly. 06:27.280 --> 06:34.280 Yeah. 06:34.280 --> 06:36.480 Schwartz and I checked with the vet who examined the dog. 06:36.480 --> 06:37.480 What did he say? 06:37.480 --> 06:43.040 He says the dog was beaten to death. 06:43.040 --> 06:46.640 We made another attempt to continue the search of the Sunset Hills area for the two missing 06:46.640 --> 06:50.480 girls, but the heavy rain and the darkness made the job impossible. 06:50.480 --> 06:53.840 The rain had also destroyed the physical evidence at the spot where we had found the grocery 06:53.840 --> 06:54.980 bag. 06:54.980 --> 06:57.720 We went back to Jimerson's house and called the office again. 06:57.720 --> 07:01.200 Another detail of men was assigned to be on hand to help in the search when it resumed 07:01.200 --> 07:02.200 at daylight. 07:02.200 --> 07:06.160 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown and Captain Harry Elliot of Homicide were notified of 07:06.160 --> 07:07.160 late developments. 07:07.160 --> 07:12.040 At 25 minutes past midnight, we started to retrace the steps of the two missing girls 07:12.040 --> 07:15.920 from the time they left their homes at 3.30 the afternoon before. 07:15.920 --> 07:19.120 We covered every foot of ground along the route which the girls reportedly took on their 07:19.120 --> 07:21.280 way to the grocery store. 07:21.280 --> 07:24.180 We got the grocery clerk out of bed and interviewed him again. 07:24.180 --> 07:28.320 We talked with two elderly ladies in the neighborhood who said that they had seen the missing children 07:28.320 --> 07:31.920 between 3 and 4 p.m. the previous afternoon. 07:31.920 --> 07:34.800 They could add nothing to what Jimerson had already told us. 07:34.800 --> 07:37.880 3.30 a.m. was still raining hard. 07:37.880 --> 07:40.640 We drove back to South Peoria Street and sat in the car. 07:40.640 --> 07:43.800 The lights were still burning in the homes of the missing youngsters, the grizz walls 07:43.800 --> 07:45.600 and the sparrows. 07:45.600 --> 07:47.400 Jimerson asked us in for coffee again. 07:47.400 --> 07:48.400 This time we accepted. 07:48.400 --> 07:51.360 We went in and sat around the kitchen table. 07:51.360 --> 07:55.760 Glenn Chandler and Stendhal from Homicide Lieutenant Barker, Ben and myself. 07:55.760 --> 07:57.160 Jimerson's wife made the coffee. 07:57.160 --> 08:07.040 There wasn't much talking. 08:07.040 --> 08:08.040 You want more coffee? 08:08.040 --> 08:09.040 Hmm? 08:09.040 --> 08:10.040 Oh, oh yeah. 08:10.040 --> 08:13.040 Thank you, Miss Jimerson. 08:13.040 --> 08:17.620 Thank you. 08:17.620 --> 08:18.620 You want some more? 08:18.620 --> 08:19.620 No, thanks. 08:19.620 --> 08:20.620 It's fine. 08:20.620 --> 08:21.620 You want some more coffee? 08:21.620 --> 08:22.620 Is that not fair? 08:22.620 --> 08:23.620 Sure, Lieutenant. 08:23.620 --> 08:24.620 Plenty. 08:24.620 --> 08:25.620 Go ahead. 08:25.620 --> 08:26.620 Okay. 08:26.620 --> 08:29.620 Fill the sugar bowl, will you, Amy? 08:29.620 --> 08:30.620 Empty. 08:30.620 --> 08:31.620 There isn't any more. 08:31.620 --> 08:32.620 You never do things right. 08:32.620 --> 08:33.620 I told you to get some at the store today. 08:33.620 --> 08:34.620 You told me? 08:34.620 --> 08:35.620 Yeah, that's all right, Jimerson. 08:35.620 --> 08:36.620 Never use it anyway. 08:36.620 --> 08:37.620 Thanks. 08:37.620 --> 08:38.620 Never do anything right. 08:38.620 --> 08:39.620 All right, Amy. 08:39.620 --> 08:40.620 Go to bed. 08:40.620 --> 08:41.620 She's a little upset. 08:41.620 --> 08:42.620 Not feeling too well. 08:42.620 --> 08:50.860 Well, I guess we'd better be going, Jimerson. 08:50.860 --> 08:51.860 Thanks. 08:51.860 --> 08:52.860 No, that's all right, Sergeant. 08:52.860 --> 08:53.860 She didn't mean you. 08:53.860 --> 08:54.860 It's this whole thing, I guess. 08:54.860 --> 08:55.860 It's got everybody on edge. 08:55.860 --> 08:56.860 There's still a chance they may be all right. 08:56.860 --> 08:57.860 How do we explain the bag of groceries we found back in the hills and the dog? 08:57.860 --> 08:58.860 Anybody's hurt those kids, we'll take care of him. 08:58.860 --> 08:59.860 Right here in this neighborhood, you'll get what's coming to him. 08:59.860 --> 09:00.860 Somebody at your back door? 09:00.860 --> 09:01.860 Oh, yes. 09:01.860 --> 09:02.860 I'll be right back. 09:02.860 --> 09:03.860 I'll be right back. 09:03.860 --> 09:04.860 I'll be right back. 09:04.860 --> 09:05.860 I'll be right back. 09:05.860 --> 09:06.860 I'll be right back. 09:06.860 --> 09:07.860 I'll be right back. 09:07.860 --> 09:08.860 I'll be right back. 09:08.860 --> 09:09.860 I'll be right back. 09:09.860 --> 09:10.860 I'll be right back. 09:10.860 --> 09:11.860 I'll be right back. 09:11.860 --> 09:12.860 I'll be right back. 09:12.860 --> 09:13.860 I've got a raise. 09:13.860 --> 09:14.860 Oh, okay. 09:14.860 --> 09:15.860 You can go to the back door. 09:15.860 --> 09:16.860 Oh, yes. 09:16.860 --> 09:17.860 I'll bring.. 09:17.860 --> 09:18.860 Sergeant Friday here? 09:18.860 --> 09:19.860 Yes. 09:19.860 --> 09:20.860 He's here. 09:20.860 --> 09:21.860 Come on in. 09:21.860 --> 09:22.860 Hey Sergeant, 09:22.860 --> 09:23.860 Hi Tom, 09:23.860 --> 09:24.860 Hi, 09:24.860 --> 09:25.860 What you got? 09:25.860 --> 09:26.860 Mr. Griswold, Joe. 09:26.860 --> 09:28.960 I'd like to have you come over and talk to him. 09:28.960 --> 09:31.540 Figures will make his wife feel better, all broken up. 09:31.540 --> 09:32.540 Sure. 09:32.540 --> 09:33.540 Come on, man. 09:33.540 --> 09:35.220 We'll be over to Griswold's, Lieutenant. 09:35.220 --> 09:36.220 All right. 09:36.220 --> 09:37.220 Thank you for the coffee, Jimerson. 09:37.220 --> 09:38.220 Not at all. 09:38.220 --> 09:39.580 If you get a chance, tell Griswold how sorry everybody is. 09:39.580 --> 09:40.620 We'll help all we can. 09:40.620 --> 09:41.620 Sure. 09:45.920 --> 09:47.120 Bad night. 09:47.120 --> 09:48.120 Yeah. 09:48.820 --> 09:50.620 Did you check by the Sperry's house, Tom? 09:50.620 --> 09:51.620 Mm-hmm. 09:51.820 --> 09:53.420 Mother's trying to get a little sleep. 09:53.420 --> 09:55.120 Father's still sitting up. 09:57.220 --> 09:59.220 There he is, by the window. 09:59.220 --> 10:00.220 Yeah. 10:01.920 --> 10:03.920 Uh, this is the Griswold home. 10:03.920 --> 10:04.920 Go ahead, Tom. 10:04.920 --> 10:05.920 Yeah. 10:05.920 --> 10:06.920 They're gonna ask questions. 10:06.920 --> 10:07.920 What are we gonna tell them? 10:07.920 --> 10:08.920 I don't know. 10:08.920 --> 10:10.420 They could be all right. 10:10.420 --> 10:11.920 Kids do funny things sometimes. 10:11.920 --> 10:13.920 Maybe, but they don't murder their pet dog. 10:17.920 --> 10:19.920 Like a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer, 10:19.920 --> 10:21.920 the police officer comes to realize that 10:21.920 --> 10:24.920 there's only so much that can be learned from his books. 10:24.920 --> 10:27.920 Time and experience make up the rest. 10:27.920 --> 10:29.920 The police manual contains no stock answers 10:29.920 --> 10:31.920 for the grieving wife who was just lost. 10:31.920 --> 10:33.920 The police officer is a man of his word. 10:33.920 --> 10:37.920 No answers for the grieving wife who was just lost a husband in an auto accident. 10:37.920 --> 10:42.920 No firm but polite reply to the belligerent motorist handed a traffic tag. 10:42.920 --> 10:47.920 No words of reassurance for distraught parents of missing girls, ages 11 and 7. 10:47.920 --> 10:50.920 Whether it's trapping criminals or comforting parents, 10:50.920 --> 10:52.920 you find the right answer the hard way. 10:52.920 --> 10:54.920 There isn't any other way. 10:54.920 --> 10:56.920 We sat and talked with the Griswolds for a full hour. 10:56.920 --> 10:59.920 We didn't tell them about the dog or the bag of groceries. 10:59.920 --> 11:02.920 Until the fate of the two little girls was definitely decided, 11:02.920 --> 11:06.920 giving them the information would serve no purpose except to add to their worries. 11:06.920 --> 11:08.920 Five minutes passed 5 a.m. 11:08.920 --> 11:12.920 Almost a full hour until daylight was still raining. 11:12.920 --> 11:18.920 George, maybe the officers would like some breakfast before they leave. 11:18.920 --> 11:21.920 No, thank you kindly, Miss Griswold. We had some sandwiches about an hour ago. 11:21.920 --> 11:23.920 Sure I can fix you something. It's no trouble. 11:23.920 --> 11:25.920 No, sir, thanks anyway. Thanks. 11:27.920 --> 11:30.920 Terrible night. Rain. 11:30.920 --> 11:35.920 Now Helen, just a little while longer. We'll find the girls. 11:35.920 --> 11:37.920 It'll be daylight soon. 11:37.920 --> 11:42.920 Miss Griswold, some of your neighbors tell us that there were two strangers here in the neighborhood this afternoon. 11:42.920 --> 11:47.920 Yes, but that was earlier. Mrs. Nelson next door and I were talking about it. 11:47.920 --> 11:52.920 One was a gardener looking for work. The other one was selling books. 11:52.920 --> 11:54.920 What time were they around, ma'am? 11:54.920 --> 12:00.920 Books sales on the zero about noon, the gardener about two o'clock. 12:00.920 --> 12:04.920 How is your daughter about strangers? Does she make friends easily? 12:04.920 --> 12:09.920 No, not at all. Thelma's very careful about that. 12:09.920 --> 12:12.920 She'd never go with a stranger, I'm sure of it. 12:12.920 --> 12:15.920 Why do you ask that question, Sergeant? Have you found out something? 12:15.920 --> 12:18.920 No, sir, no, we haven't. It's just a routine check, that's all. 12:18.920 --> 12:20.920 I can't understand it. 12:20.920 --> 12:25.920 The girls. Out in all this rain something must have happened, I know. 12:25.920 --> 12:28.920 Now Helen, you've been doing fine. Don't let down now. 12:28.920 --> 12:31.920 Joe, Chief Brown's car just pulled up outside. 12:31.920 --> 12:32.920 Thanks, sir. Ben? 12:32.920 --> 12:33.920 Yeah. 12:33.920 --> 12:36.920 Thank you very much, Mr. Griswold, Miss Griswold. 12:36.920 --> 12:40.920 Well, thank you, gentlemen. Here, let me show you the door. 12:40.920 --> 12:44.920 We'll meet at the end of Sanchez Drive, Mr. Griswold, about six a.m. 12:44.920 --> 12:46.920 It should be light enough by then. 12:46.920 --> 12:51.920 Oh, all right. Oh, Sergeant, there is a chance, isn't there? 12:51.920 --> 12:53.920 The girls are all right. 12:53.920 --> 12:56.920 There's a good chance. You try not to worry. Come on, Ben, practice. 12:56.920 --> 12:57.920 Hmm. 13:02.920 --> 13:07.920 Tom, you want to check with Barker again and see if any of his men have a line on the two men here in the neighborhood yet? 13:07.920 --> 13:08.920 Right. 13:10.920 --> 13:12.920 If you want us, we'll be in Thad Brown's car. 13:12.920 --> 13:14.920 All right, Sergeant. What time you got, Joe? 13:14.920 --> 13:17.920 Oh, twenty to six. It's getting light now. 13:17.920 --> 13:19.920 Yeah. Let's get out of this ring. 13:23.920 --> 13:25.920 Gentlemen, you look a little wet. 13:25.920 --> 13:27.920 I could stand a dry pair of shoes. 13:27.920 --> 13:28.920 Still no trays of the kids? 13:28.920 --> 13:30.920 You heard about the dog in the bag of groceries. 13:30.920 --> 13:32.920 Yeah. Nothing else since then? 13:32.920 --> 13:35.920 No. It'll be light in a couple of minutes and we can start searching the hills again. 13:35.920 --> 13:39.920 I ordered up another detail of men to help there. Parked up on Sanchez Drive. Captain Elliott's with them. 13:39.920 --> 13:43.920 Good. I can use all the help we can get. That's rough terrain. There's a lot of ground to cover up there. 13:43.920 --> 13:45.920 You should talk to everybody in the neighborhood. 13:45.920 --> 13:46.920 Yeah. Parents too. 13:46.920 --> 13:47.920 They help you much? 13:47.920 --> 13:51.920 Well, they told us there were two strangers in the neighborhood before the girls disappeared. We're having them checked out. 13:51.920 --> 13:52.920 Yeah. 13:52.920 --> 13:57.920 Griswold thinks the kids would be safe on that count. Says his daughter's afraid of strangers. Never goes near them. 13:57.920 --> 14:00.920 How much area did you cover in the hills last night? 14:00.920 --> 14:05.920 About a four mile, wouldn't you say, Ben? Starting from Sanchez Drive, straight back into the brush. 14:05.920 --> 14:08.920 It wasn't too thorough. Not enough men, not enough light. 14:08.920 --> 14:13.920 You got plenty of both right now. 14:13.920 --> 14:19.920 Ten minutes past 6 a.m. Tuesday, October 28th. The search of the Sunset Hills area was resumed. 14:19.920 --> 14:24.920 150 officers spread out over a two square mile area with orders to probe every foot of ground. 14:24.920 --> 14:28.920 With them were almost 50 volunteers from the neighborhood. 14:28.920 --> 14:32.920 The rain settled to a cold, steady downpour. The mud was ankle deep. 14:32.920 --> 14:39.920 8.30 a.m. No sign of the missing youngsters. 10.30, still no sign. Search went on. 14:39.920 --> 14:45.920 A neighborhood restaurant owner sent out five gallon jugs of hot coffee for members of the searching party. 14:45.920 --> 14:49.920 After six continuous hours combing the hills, still no results. 14:49.920 --> 14:52.920 Chief Brown, Ben, and I went to the car for a cup of coffee and a cigarette. 14:52.920 --> 14:56.920 It's got me beat. Those kids wanted off. They had to come in this direction. 14:56.920 --> 14:59.920 Well, they couldn't have headed toward town. Somebody would have noticed them, sure. 14:59.920 --> 15:03.920 Yeah. No leads at all on that APB you sent out? 15:03.920 --> 15:05.920 Two. They both fizzled. 15:05.920 --> 15:08.920 The youngsters up in those hills someplace. Gotta be. 15:08.920 --> 15:09.920 You two ready? 15:09.920 --> 15:11.920 Yeah. Let's go. 15:14.920 --> 15:18.920 Sure doesn't fake it. Two square miles. We've been over it twice. 15:18.920 --> 15:21.920 Go over it again. Find them. 15:21.920 --> 15:30.920 Film of Griswold, age 11. Barbara Sperry, age 7. Tuesday, October 28th, 2 p.m. They were still missing. 15:30.920 --> 15:34.920 Another detail of men from Metropolitan Division were dispatched to aid in the hunt. 15:34.920 --> 15:37.920 The daily newspapers played the story across the front page. 15:37.920 --> 15:43.920 Wire services bulletin'd the news across the country. Radio newscasters covered the story at the scene. 15:43.920 --> 15:47.920 On South Peoria Street, the two mothers sat in their homes and waited. 15:47.920 --> 15:51.920 The search went on. It stopped raining. 15:51.920 --> 15:54.920 Did you cover that patch of underbrush over there, Joe? 15:54.920 --> 15:56.920 Yeah. Watch it. 15:56.920 --> 15:59.920 Yeah. Yeah. It's hard. 15:59.920 --> 16:02.920 Oh, yeah. Let's swing up this way. 16:02.920 --> 16:04.920 All right. 16:06.920 --> 16:07.920 Anything? 16:07.920 --> 16:09.920 No, nothing. 16:09.920 --> 16:11.920 All right, come on. 16:12.920 --> 16:14.920 Almost 2.30. 16:14.920 --> 16:16.920 Yeah. Too much coffee. Sour stomach. 16:16.920 --> 16:17.920 Yeah, or stomach. 16:17.920 --> 16:19.920 Me too. You got a cigarette on my mouth. 16:19.920 --> 16:21.920 Oh, here. Thanks. 16:21.920 --> 16:25.920 Ryan 8! Romero! Come on down! 16:25.920 --> 16:28.920 Rustin! What do you got? What is it? 16:28.920 --> 16:31.920 They found him! They found the kid! 16:31.920 --> 16:33.920 Come on. 16:33.920 --> 16:35.920 Watch it, Ben. Bad spot here. 16:35.920 --> 16:37.920 Yeah, it's slippery. 16:37.920 --> 16:39.920 Come on. 16:45.920 --> 16:48.920 Thelma Griswold had brown hair and brown eyes. 16:48.920 --> 16:50.920 About four feet six inches tall. 16:50.920 --> 16:53.920 She had a bunch of wildflowers in her hands. 16:53.920 --> 16:56.920 Barbara Sperry had blonde hair and blue eyes. 16:56.920 --> 16:59.920 She held a bunch of wildflowers, too. 16:59.920 --> 17:01.920 Friday? 17:01.920 --> 17:03.920 Chief. 17:03.920 --> 17:04.920 Who found them? 17:04.920 --> 17:06.920 Jemerson, some of the neighbors. 17:06.920 --> 17:07.920 Oh. 17:07.920 --> 17:09.920 Dear God. 17:09.920 --> 17:10.920 Preston. Yes, sir? 17:10.920 --> 17:12.920 Get something to cover him up. 17:12.920 --> 17:13.920 Yes, sir. 17:13.920 --> 17:14.920 Come on. 17:14.920 --> 17:16.920 Yeah. 17:16.920 --> 17:19.920 I've been a cop 32 years and never seen anything like that. 17:19.920 --> 17:21.920 I hope I never do again. 17:21.920 --> 17:23.920 Must have been a maniac. Had to be. 17:23.920 --> 17:25.920 The lowest kind. Depraved. 17:25.920 --> 17:27.920 Anybody call the crime lab? 17:27.920 --> 17:28.920 Yeah, the area's been cleared. 17:28.920 --> 17:29.920 Family's been notified? 17:29.920 --> 17:31.920 Not yet. I'll have to tell them. 17:31.920 --> 17:33.920 Do you want to come along? 17:33.920 --> 17:35.920 No, that wouldn't be any good. 17:35.920 --> 17:37.920 Two lives. What can you say? 17:37.920 --> 17:39.920 Whoever did it ran up a big bill. 17:39.920 --> 17:41.920 They're gonna pay it. 17:50.920 --> 17:52.920 You are listening to Dragnet. 17:52.920 --> 17:55.920 Authentic stories of your police force in action. 17:55.920 --> 17:59.920 Now listen to these authentic reports about Fatima cigarettes. 17:59.920 --> 18:04.920 Sales reports show that Fatima has more than doubled its smokers from coast to coast. 18:04.920 --> 18:08.920 Smokers reports give the actual reason for this astonishing gain. 18:08.920 --> 18:12.920 Hear what Mr. W.B. Williams of New York has to say about Fatima. 18:12.920 --> 18:15.920 I like its even mildness. No irritation. 18:15.920 --> 18:19.920 There's something about the taste of Fatima that doesn't seem to be in any other cigarette. 18:19.920 --> 18:21.920 In the words of Miss Marie Blacker of Chicago... 18:21.920 --> 18:26.920 My friends are switching to Fatima, too. It's much the best of long cigarettes. 18:26.920 --> 18:29.920 Listen to this statement by Miss Cecilia Marr of Los Angeles. 18:29.920 --> 18:33.920 I like Fatima best. It's so mild and has a wonderful flavor. 18:33.920 --> 18:39.920 Yes, from all reports. Fatima is the best of all long cigarettes. 18:39.920 --> 18:42.920 Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. 18:42.920 --> 18:45.920 It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. 18:51.920 --> 18:56.920 Five minutes after the bodies were discovered, the hunt for the psychopathic killer was underway. 18:56.920 --> 19:01.920 Lee Jones and his crew from the crime lab arrived and took pictures of everything that could possibly have a bearing on the crime. 19:01.920 --> 19:03.920 Physical evidence was hard to find. 19:03.920 --> 19:07.920 The heavy rain had destroyed any possible chance there might have been of finding footprints. 19:07.920 --> 19:13.920 When the crew from the crime lab was finished, the coroner arrived and took the bodies to the county morgue for autopsy. 19:13.920 --> 19:17.920 An immediate roundup of all known sexual psychopaths in the area was ordered. 19:17.920 --> 19:19.920 They were taken into homicide for questioning. 19:19.920 --> 19:24.920 So were the people from the South Peoria Street neighborhood whom we had talked with previously. 19:24.920 --> 19:26.920 The questioning went on all through the night. 19:26.920 --> 19:30.920 Together with a half a dozen officers from homicide detail, we narrowed down the field. 19:30.920 --> 19:35.920 Wednesday, October 29th, 7 a.m. We checked in with Chief of Detective Stad Brown. 19:35.920 --> 19:37.920 Gentlemen, you must be tired. 19:37.920 --> 19:40.920 Got a few hours of sleep last night. We could use a few more. 19:40.920 --> 19:42.920 Sorry, we have to keep moving on this. 19:42.920 --> 19:44.920 Did you see the papers this morning? 19:44.920 --> 19:46.920 Yeah, they're like everybody else crying too late. 19:46.920 --> 19:49.920 Someday people are going to learn you don't fool with these degenerates. 19:49.920 --> 19:52.920 You take precautions or you get the consequences. There's no in-between. 19:52.920 --> 19:56.920 There's usual talk going around town. It's supposed to be all our fault letting the psychos run loose. 19:56.920 --> 20:01.920 We don't make the laws, we enforce them. Until we get something to work with, laws with teeth in them, these atrocities are going to go on. 20:01.920 --> 20:06.920 Nobody seems to care. We pick them up, they serve a few days, pay a fine and they waltz out of here. Nobody cares. 20:06.920 --> 20:11.920 Sure, pity them, don't cure them. Nature played a trick on them. Feel sorry for them until they kill a kid. 20:11.920 --> 20:15.920 It's not a firm law to cover them as they are. We have to wait until they murder somebody. 20:15.920 --> 20:19.920 We've got a better law for mad dogs. We don't let them run loose until they bite somebody. 20:19.920 --> 20:23.920 Those two little girls ought to prove something. How are the parents making out? 20:23.920 --> 20:27.920 What you might expect. Shock hysterics. Excuse me. 20:27.920 --> 20:31.920 Brown speaking. Who? Send him in. 20:31.920 --> 20:35.920 Chandler, they finished questioning that bunch we brought in yesterday. 20:35.920 --> 20:37.920 Hello Chief. Glenn, Joe. 20:37.920 --> 20:39.920 How many possibles Glenn? 20:39.920 --> 20:45.920 None. Four we had left established airtight alibis. We checked the registrations, gave them their releases. 20:45.920 --> 20:46.920 Where does that leave us? 20:46.920 --> 20:47.920 We start from scratch. 20:47.920 --> 20:48.920 I don't think so Chief. 20:48.920 --> 20:49.920 You got a hunch? 20:49.920 --> 20:53.920 A little better than that Joe. I'm sold. What do you mean? 20:53.920 --> 20:56.920 You said the parents told you the little girls were afraid of strangers, wouldn't go near them. 20:56.920 --> 20:57.920 That's right. 20:57.920 --> 21:01.920 They got the same reactions from some of the neighbors we talked to the day before yesterday. 21:01.920 --> 21:02.920 Yeah. 21:02.920 --> 21:06.920 Now we find out that all the known psychos in the area are clear, perfect alibis. 21:06.920 --> 21:09.920 Well, and you figured the killer couldn't have been a stranger to the little girls. 21:09.920 --> 21:13.920 That's right. There were only two strangers in the whole neighborhood the day the girls disappeared. 21:13.920 --> 21:16.920 The gardener and the salesman. Both of them have been checked and cleared. 21:16.920 --> 21:17.920 Mm-hmm. 21:17.920 --> 21:21.920 As far as we know the little girls wouldn't have gone that far up in the hills alone with their own accord 21:21.920 --> 21:25.920 and they wouldn't have gone with the strangers. They had to be lured there and by someone they knew. 21:25.920 --> 21:26.920 Any ideas? 21:26.920 --> 21:28.920 Could have been one of the neighbors. 21:28.920 --> 21:31.920 No, we checked every possible out there Glenn. We questioned them a half a dozen times. 21:31.920 --> 21:34.920 So have I. There's one that might fit. 21:34.920 --> 21:35.920 Who's that? 21:35.920 --> 21:36.920 Claude Jimerson. 21:36.920 --> 21:43.920 Glenn Chandler had been a veteran homicide officer before Ben or I joined the department. 21:43.920 --> 21:49.920 He was tall, quiet, and reserved. He had a good reason for everything he did, for everything he thought. 21:49.920 --> 21:52.920 The three of us sat down and tried to put the pieces together. 21:52.920 --> 21:56.920 Number one, Chandler uncovered a point that Ben and I had missed completely. 21:56.920 --> 22:00.920 Jimerson and his wife were not close friends of either the Sperry family or the Griswolds. 22:00.920 --> 22:05.920 For a near stranger he showed an extraordinary interest in the welfare of the children after they disappeared. 22:05.920 --> 22:10.920 Number two, Ben and I discovered that Jimerson's wife had an eight-year-old boy by a previous marriage. 22:10.920 --> 22:12.920 The child did not live with them. 22:12.920 --> 22:17.920 Mrs. Jimerson told Chandler that her husband had been cruel to the boy. She refused to elaborate. 22:17.920 --> 22:21.920 Number three, Jimerson was the last person to see the children alive. 22:21.920 --> 22:26.920 Number four, the bodies of the children had been well hidden in the underbrush. Jimerson found them. 22:26.920 --> 22:31.920 Number five, Jimerson had bent over backwards to make friends with the investigating officers right from the start. 22:31.920 --> 22:35.920 As any veteran officer can tell you, that's not the usual attitude. 22:35.920 --> 22:38.920 At 8.30 a.m., Chandler, Ben, and I left the office. 22:38.920 --> 22:41.920 We spent the day digging back 15 years into Jimerson's life. 22:41.920 --> 22:43.920 We got back to the office just after midnight. 22:43.920 --> 22:47.920 Thursday, October 30th, 10 a.m., we checked in. 22:47.920 --> 22:49.920 Okay, Joe, all ready. 22:49.920 --> 22:50.920 Thanks. Come on, Ben. 22:50.920 --> 22:51.920 Yeah. 22:58.920 --> 23:00.920 Good morning, Mr. Jimerson. 23:00.920 --> 23:03.920 Oh, how are you, Sergeant? Glad to see you. 23:03.920 --> 23:05.920 Sit down. Sorry to bother you again. 23:05.920 --> 23:06.920 Not at all. Glad to help. 23:06.920 --> 23:08.920 Anything new turn up? 23:08.920 --> 23:10.920 Did you kill those two little girls? 23:10.920 --> 23:13.920 That's a funny thing to ask. Of course not. You know that. 23:13.920 --> 23:16.920 We ask everybody the same thing. Hope you're not offended. 23:16.920 --> 23:18.920 Oh, you kind of surprised me. I didn't know. 23:18.920 --> 23:20.920 Did you kill those little girls? 23:20.920 --> 23:22.920 I don't understand. I told you no. Of course not. 23:22.920 --> 23:26.920 It's a stock question. Routine. Did you kill them? 23:26.920 --> 23:29.920 Now look, Sergeant, how many times do I have to tell you no? 23:29.920 --> 23:32.920 Sorry. You don't have any children, do you? 23:32.920 --> 23:33.920 No, we don't. 23:33.920 --> 23:34.920 No stepchildren? 23:34.920 --> 23:35.920 No. Why? 23:35.920 --> 23:40.920 Before you moved out to South Fioria Street, you and your wife lived out in West L.A., didn't you? 23:40.920 --> 23:41.920 Kelton Avenue? 23:41.920 --> 23:43.920 Oh, yes. How'd you know? 23:43.920 --> 23:45.920 You recall a Mary Gibbs out there? 23:45.920 --> 23:47.920 Gibbs? No. 23:47.920 --> 23:51.920 Six-year-old girl. You were charged with molesting her. That was back in 1944. 23:51.920 --> 23:53.920 They were crazy. They never proved it. 23:53.920 --> 23:57.920 Before Kelton Avenue, you lived in Santa Monica on 10th Street. Is that right? 23:57.920 --> 24:01.920 Yes. It was an eight-year-old girl. Donna Honrath. 24:01.920 --> 24:04.920 That kid lied, too. She asked me to fix her doll buggy. I never went near her. 24:04.920 --> 24:10.920 What about your stepson? Why isn't he living with you? Why did your wife send him to live with her sister? 24:10.920 --> 24:14.920 Amy's crazy. I never harmed the boy. We didn't get along, that's all. He got on my nerves. 24:14.920 --> 24:18.920 You've had four jobs in the past five years. What were they? 24:18.920 --> 24:21.920 I don't know what you're talking about. 24:21.920 --> 24:26.920 You were a janitor at a grammar school down the south end of town, then a gardener at a children's playground, 24:26.920 --> 24:31.920 then you were a shoe salesman, children's shoes, then you worked at another grammar school. 24:31.920 --> 24:36.920 What does all this mean, anyway? What are you getting at? Have you ever been in jail? 24:36.920 --> 24:39.920 Once. Six months. There was some trouble. 24:39.920 --> 24:40.920 What kind of trouble? 24:40.920 --> 24:45.920 I didn't know what I was doing. I was drinking. I didn't mean to bother the kid. 24:45.920 --> 24:46.920 Well? 24:46.920 --> 24:50.920 That's all, Jimerson. Routine question. You can go now. 24:50.920 --> 24:54.920 Oh, thanks. I hope you haven't got the wrong idea about me. I like children, that's all. 24:54.920 --> 24:56.920 Sure. Thanks for coming in. 24:56.920 --> 25:00.920 Not at all, Sergeant Any. Thing I can do to help. 25:00.920 --> 25:01.920 Well, goodbye. 25:01.920 --> 25:04.920 Say, Jimerson, I almost forgot. There is one thing. 25:04.920 --> 25:05.920 Oh? 25:05.920 --> 25:08.920 Since you're the one who found the little girls, we'll have to have you identify the bodies. 25:08.920 --> 25:12.920 It won't take long. Morgue's just across the street, up the block. 25:12.920 --> 25:14.920 Well, I'd like to help you, but I got an appointment. 25:14.920 --> 25:18.920 All you have to do is look at him. It won't take you long. Come on, let's go. 25:18.920 --> 25:22.920 I'd like to help, Sergeant, but I don't take these things when I get sick. 25:22.920 --> 25:25.920 We'll make it right. Not this way. 25:25.920 --> 25:28.920 It's raining again. 25:28.920 --> 25:30.920 I'm sorry, Sergeant. I don't think I'd better go. 25:30.920 --> 25:34.920 Just identify him. That's all. It won't take a minute. 25:35.920 --> 25:38.920 Maybe if we had a drink before we went in, you can have one after. 25:38.920 --> 25:39.920 Watch it. There's heavy traffic. 25:39.920 --> 25:42.920 Yeah, lights, Jims. We'll have to wait. 25:43.920 --> 25:45.920 I need a drink. I can't go in that place without a drink. 25:45.920 --> 25:47.920 You'll be all right. 25:47.920 --> 25:50.920 Okay, let's go. 25:50.920 --> 25:52.920 Morgue's up the block. 25:52.920 --> 25:56.920 Let's go. Morgue's up this way. 25:57.920 --> 26:00.920 I can't look at him. I get sick. Don't make me. 26:00.920 --> 26:03.920 Nothing to it. You'll see. 26:04.920 --> 26:08.920 Here we are. We went down the driveway. It's a shortcut. 26:14.920 --> 26:16.920 This way. 26:17.920 --> 26:19.920 Hi, Joe. Can I help you? 26:19.920 --> 26:24.920 You see those little girls? Thelma Griswold, Barbara Sperry? 26:24.920 --> 26:26.920 Oh, yeah. This way. 26:26.920 --> 26:28.920 Please. 26:31.920 --> 26:33.920 Right here, Joe. 26:34.920 --> 26:36.920 Yeah, Thelma Griswold. 26:36.920 --> 26:38.920 Uncover. 26:42.920 --> 26:44.920 Jimerson? 26:45.920 --> 26:47.920 Yeah. 26:47.920 --> 26:49.920 Thelma. 26:54.920 --> 26:56.920 This one? 26:57.920 --> 26:59.920 Barbara. 26:59.920 --> 27:01.920 The little one. 27:01.920 --> 27:04.920 You killed him, didn't you? 27:05.920 --> 27:08.920 The dog jumped at me. 27:08.920 --> 27:10.920 She started to yell. 27:10.920 --> 27:13.920 Put my hand over her mouth. 27:14.920 --> 27:16.920 Then the other kid. 27:16.920 --> 27:18.920 I hit them. 27:18.920 --> 27:20.920 Too hard. 27:21.920 --> 27:23.920 They cried. 27:24.920 --> 27:26.920 Joe? 27:26.920 --> 27:28.920 That's all. 27:29.920 --> 27:31.920 All right. Huh? 27:33.920 --> 27:35.920 Let's go. 27:35.920 --> 27:37.920 It wasn't my fault. 27:37.920 --> 27:39.920 I like kids. 27:39.920 --> 27:41.920 They didn't understand me. 27:41.920 --> 27:46.920 Neither do I, mister. Come on. 27:51.920 --> 27:54.920 The story you have just heard was true. 27:54.920 --> 27:58.920 Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. 27:58.920 --> 28:01.920 On March 18th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 87, 28:01.920 --> 28:03.920 City and County of Los Angeles, State of California, 28:03.920 --> 28:05.920 and a moment the results of that trial. 28:05.920 --> 28:09.920 It's amazing how many long cigarette smokers are changing to Fatima. 28:09.920 --> 28:11.920 Here is the actual report. 28:11.920 --> 28:14.920 From coast to coast, Fatima has more than doubled its smokers. 28:14.920 --> 28:20.920 Yes, more and more smokers every day are discovering that Fatima is the best of all long cigarettes. 28:20.920 --> 28:25.920 Smokers find Fatima has a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. 28:25.920 --> 28:32.920 They find that Fatima is extra mild because it's the long cigarette which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos, 28:32.920 --> 28:35.920 superbly blended to make it extra mild. 28:35.920 --> 28:40.920 Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself, best of all long cigarettes. 28:46.920 --> 28:49.920 Claude Willis Jimerson was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree. 28:49.920 --> 28:55.920 On April 23rd at 10 a.m., he was executed in the lethal gas chamber at the State Penitentiary. 28:55.920 --> 28:59.920 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 28:59.920 --> 29:04.920 Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.A. Wharton. 29:04.920 --> 29:08.920 You're tuned for the stars on NBC.