1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,100 The story you are about to hear is true. 2 00:00:12,100 --> 00:00:15,180 Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. 3 00:00:15,180 --> 00:00:20,580 Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, brings you Dragnet. 4 00:00:20,580 --> 00:00:33,400 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide detail. 5 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:38,040 An old couple suddenly disappear from one of the fashionable neighborhoods in your city. 6 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:44,080 There's no trace of them, not a clue to their whereabouts. Foul play is suspected. 7 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,920 Your job, find them. 8 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:54,720 If you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. 9 00:00:54,720 --> 00:01:01,360 Smoke extra mild Fatima. Yes, Fatima is the king-size cigarette which contains the finest 10 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:06,240 Turkish and domestic tobaccos superbly blended to make it extra mild. 11 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:12,480 To give Fatima a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. 12 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:16,440 That's why Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast. 13 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:21,640 Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. Best of all, long cigarettes. 14 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:27,720 It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. 15 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:36,560 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 16 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:41,080 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, 17 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:45,160 you will travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case from 18 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:50,160 official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, 19 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:55,720 Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 20 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,120 It was Saturday, September 30th. It was warm in Los Angeles. 21 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,720 We were working the day shift out of homicide. My partner is Ben Romero. 22 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,880 The boss is Captain Blaine Steed. My name is Friday. 23 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:10,160 It was 3.45 p.m. when I got to room 67A, missing persons. 24 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:14,280 Hi, Jim. Hi, where's Al? 25 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,080 He's already back in a minute. Oh. 26 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,880 There's a phone message for you in the book from your wife. 27 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,520 What is it this time? She didn't say. 28 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,760 It's been a bad week. Why? What's the matter? 29 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,160 Lucille. Who? 30 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,960 Our cat. Again? 31 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,720 Kittens. Had to let them up by the time I left the house. 32 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,080 He was a healthy kid. Yeah. 33 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:42,760 Don't know what I'm going to do with him. Hey, your mother likes cats, doesn't she, Joe? 34 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,480 You gave us two from the last litter. We still got them. They're as healthy as their mother. 35 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,760 Yeah. Never pass up a meal. 36 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,120 Hi, Joe. Hi, Al. 37 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:55,760 Sorry to keep you waiting. Just getting this report straightened out. Here you go. 38 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:59,560 Mr. and Mrs. Walter Apperson. How long have they been missing? 39 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,560 Well, today's the fourth day. 40 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:06,680 There are notably a couple. One of their next door neighbors got a little worried when he didn't see him around the house. 41 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:10,720 Came in yesterday and filed a 316 on him. Let's see. 42 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,120 Clarence Stokely. Is that the neighbor? Yeah. 43 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:18,360 It says here he lived next to the Apperson's for 28 years. 44 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:24,280 Never known him to take off like this. Checked Apperson's cottage out there. Dirty dishes on the kitchen table. 45 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,960 Not the way an old couple leave a house normally. And how about friends and relatives? 46 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:32,680 Stokely called them. None of them have seen or heard from the Apperson's for a week. 47 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:38,720 Checked out two of their three living relatives. Cousin of Eagle Rock, niece of El Hambra. They don't know a thing. 48 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,520 Wonder if I can see that, Ben. Oh, yeah, yeah. Thank you. 49 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:47,320 Well, how about the third relative? Nephew, is that it, Joe? Yeah. Frank Apperson. 50 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:52,880 Says here he goes to a private college out near Monrovia. Yeah, I haven't been able to contact the kid. He's away on a vacation. 51 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,820 Possibly the old couple might be with him? Not according to Stokely. 52 00:03:56,820 --> 00:04:00,320 Says the Apperson's seldom spend any time away from their home. 53 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,880 That's all we've got to go on, huh? Just the neighbor's story? Yeah. 54 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:08,280 Oh, he says he checked the garage, too. The Apperson's car is gone. How does that tie in? 55 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,680 Well, Mr. Apperson hasn't driven the car for the last year and a half. 56 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,120 He has a nephew or some friend drive whenever he wants to go out. 57 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:20,480 Uh, one more thing. It may mean something, it may not. What's that, Al? Mrs. Apperson's in Imbalin. Yeah. 58 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,720 She hasn't left the neighborhood in 10 years. 59 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:29,880 Four p.m. Ben and I left the office and drove out to interview the neighbor of the missing couple. 60 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:36,980 After checking at his home, we finally located him at his place of business, a small barber shop at the corner of 54th Street and Maxford Place. 61 00:04:36,980 --> 00:04:41,680 The chipped gold lettering on the window read, Jim Dandy Tonsorial Parlor. 62 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:46,180 Smaller lettering in the right-hand corner of the window read, Proprietor Clarence Stokely. 63 00:04:46,180 --> 00:04:50,180 Except for a man in a white barber's smock sitting in the first chair, the shop was empty. 64 00:04:50,180 --> 00:04:58,280 Hi there, gentlemen. Hi. How are you? You Clarence Stokely? That's right. 65 00:04:58,280 --> 00:05:02,680 Police officer's Mr. Stokely. I'd like to talk to you about the missing persons report you filed yesterday. 66 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,480 Oh, yes. Glad to help. You find out anything yet? 67 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:07,980 You know the apperances pretty well, do you, Mr. Stoker? 68 00:05:07,980 --> 00:05:14,180 28 years. Sure worried about Walter and Kate. Never known them to do anything like this. 69 00:05:14,180 --> 00:05:16,680 Say, I couldn't be of service to you, could I? 70 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:22,480 Well, I just had a haircut a few days ago. How about you, Joe? Looks like you could stand a trim. 71 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,280 We could talk it over while I cut your hair. Don't think we'd be disturbed. 72 00:05:26,280 --> 00:05:29,480 They still look well. Yeah. Okay, fine. 73 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,280 Here, I'll take your coat. Oh, thank you. 74 00:05:31,280 --> 00:05:36,280 First chair there. Thank you. 75 00:05:40,780 --> 00:05:44,780 Mr. and Mrs. Apperson didn't mention anything about going away on a trip, did they? 76 00:05:44,780 --> 00:05:48,180 Not a word. That's what makes it so strange. 77 00:05:48,180 --> 00:05:52,380 Let me fix this around your neck here. Oh, yeah. Thanks. 78 00:05:52,380 --> 00:05:57,680 Play cards with them twice a week, usually. Katie Apperson's a fine wisp player. 79 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:02,280 Want me to take some off the sides here, officer? Yeah, please. Not too much, though. 80 00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:04,880 When did you first notice the Apperson's weren't home? 81 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:08,780 Uh, Tuesday night. We thought we might go over and play some cards. 82 00:06:08,780 --> 00:06:10,780 I see. 83 00:06:10,780 --> 00:06:14,080 Is that enough off right here, officer? Let me see. 84 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:19,480 Yeah, that's fine. How is it you waited until yesterday to report the Apperson's missing? 85 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:26,680 Wife and I are great friends of Walter and Katie's, but it's certainly none of our business if they want to go off for a few days. 86 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,380 Besides, we thought if anything was wrong, Buzz would have said something. 87 00:06:30,380 --> 00:06:33,080 Who is Buzz? Anderson's nephew, Buzz. 88 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:36,080 Name's Frank, but everybody calls him Buzz. 89 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,380 Thought he was away at school, a place out near Monrovia. 90 00:06:38,380 --> 00:06:41,180 Yeah, Stanley College, private school. 91 00:06:41,180 --> 00:06:45,180 But he only stays there part of the time. He's usually home early in the week. 92 00:06:45,180 --> 00:06:50,080 We were under the impression that this nephew Buzz was on a vacation. 93 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,380 Hmm, not so. 94 00:06:52,380 --> 00:06:57,380 Well, it's the first I've heard. If only Walt and Katie would have told us. 95 00:06:57,380 --> 00:06:58,780 Oop, that bone. 96 00:06:58,780 --> 00:06:59,880 No, it's all right. 97 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:01,880 Let's get this little doll. 98 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:04,880 Head down. 99 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:09,980 You, uh, think the nephew might have count for the Apperson's car being missing? 100 00:07:09,980 --> 00:07:12,480 You think he might have taken it on his vacation? 101 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:15,980 Impossible, I guess, but I think Walt would have mentioned it. 102 00:07:15,980 --> 00:07:19,980 That car was old, but he was particular about it. 103 00:07:19,980 --> 00:07:22,380 Maybe sit it out on top here a little? 104 00:07:22,380 --> 00:07:24,280 All right, fine. 105 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,180 Do you know the nephew at all? 106 00:07:26,180 --> 00:07:29,080 Pretty well. Nice young fella. 107 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,580 He got along with his aunt and uncle all right, did he? 108 00:07:31,580 --> 00:07:33,980 Yes, indeed. Buzz loved them both. 109 00:07:33,980 --> 00:07:37,480 Do you have any idea where the Apperson's might be, Mr. Stulph? 110 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,180 No, I don't. Here does my wife. 111 00:07:40,180 --> 00:07:42,380 That's why we called you people. 112 00:07:42,380 --> 00:07:45,880 We don't mean to be buddhists, but we're worried. 113 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:47,880 Maybe just a little more off the top, officer? 114 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,380 No, I think it's fine. It's okay. 115 00:07:50,380 --> 00:07:53,180 You have no idea where we might find the nephew of Buzz? 116 00:07:53,180 --> 00:07:55,880 Not if he's away on vacation. 117 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:57,080 He might check with the school. 118 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:00,280 Buzz might have gone off with a couple of his friends. 119 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:02,080 Want something to dampen that down? 120 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,080 Yeah, fine. 121 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:13,380 Yeah, that porch light of theirs has been burning for three nights and three days. 122 00:08:13,380 --> 00:08:15,580 That really kicks up the old electric bill. 123 00:08:15,580 --> 00:08:17,880 Maybe the Apperson's may have overlooked it. 124 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:19,880 Maybe. 125 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:22,580 All right, sir. 126 00:08:22,580 --> 00:08:25,180 That's a good-looking haircut, if I say so myself. 127 00:08:25,180 --> 00:08:28,480 Yeah. It's fine. 128 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:29,880 Here you go. 129 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:32,480 Thank you. 130 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:36,380 Oh, here's our card, Mr. Stokely. We'll be checking with you. 131 00:08:36,380 --> 00:08:38,880 Bye. Bye. 132 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:40,880 Can I borrow your comb? 133 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:42,880 Barbara never combs your hair right. 134 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:44,880 That's not gonna help you. 135 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:45,880 Huh? 136 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:46,880 It's the way he cut it. 137 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:47,880 What do you mean? 138 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:50,880 He put the part on the other side. 139 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:56,880 After we left Clarence Stokely's barber shop, 140 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,880 we drove out to the Apperson home on 54th Street just below Seaboard Avenue. 141 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:02,880 We checked the house from top to bottom. 142 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,880 The closets and the beds were all clean. 143 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,880 None of the luggage seemed to be missing. 144 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:10,880 In the basement, back on one of the cupboard shelves, 145 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,880 we found a bottle of cyanide. It was half-filled. 146 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,880 In the kitchen, we found dirty dishes still lying on the table. 147 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:18,880 We put in a call to Ray Pinker at the crime lab, 148 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:21,880 and he came out and took sample scrapings from each of the three plates 149 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,880 and specimens from each of the half-filled cups of coffee on the table. 150 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,880 He also took along a bottle of cyanide to examine it for fingerprints. 151 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,880 Ben and I called the record bureau just as a matter of fact. 152 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,880 We asked for any make and warrants on the nephew, Frank Buzz Apperson. 153 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,880 R and I called back with the information that Frank Apperson had been arrested 154 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:42,880 for grand theft auto six weeks before his trial was pending. 155 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,880 We checked back with the barber, Clarence Stokely. 156 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:47,880 He knew nothing about the trouble. 157 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:51,880 The next morning, Sunday, with the help of school authorities at Stanley College near Monrovia, 158 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:54,880 we got in touch with the parents of two of Buzz Apperson's friends. 159 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:58,880 They told us as far as they knew, Apperson was on a camping trip with their son. 160 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:01,880 They were expected back in the next day around noontime. 161 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:03,880 From one of the boarding students at Stanley College, 162 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,880 we got the name of Buzz Apperson's girlfriend, a Miss Norma Louise Bernard. 163 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:09,880 She lived in San Marino. 164 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:11,880 Sunday night, we drove out to interview her. 165 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:13,880 I don't know what I can tell you, Sergeant. 166 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:17,880 Buzz is on a camping trip with two of the fellows from school. That's all I know. 167 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:19,880 When did he leave, do you know, Miss Bernard? 168 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,880 Last Monday morning. They left from school. Said they'd be gone for a week. 169 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:23,880 They're coming back tomorrow. 170 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:25,880 You know Buzz Apperson? 171 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:28,880 Yes, I do, as well as anyone, I guess. 172 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:30,880 What is he, just a casual date? 173 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,880 Oh, well, Buzzy and I have been going steady for almost a year now. 174 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:34,880 I see. 175 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:35,880 How old are you? 176 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:36,880 I'm 19. 177 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,880 Have you ever met the Appersons, his aunt and his uncle? 178 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:41,880 Just once. They're awfully sweet. 179 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:43,880 How did Buzz get along with them, do you know? 180 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:44,880 Well, fine, I guess. 181 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,880 The only argument Buzz ever told me about was a month ago. 182 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,880 He wanted more allowance and his uncle said no. 183 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:52,880 Was Buzz ever in any trouble to your knowledge? 184 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:55,880 I don't think I know what you mean. What kind of trouble? 185 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,880 I mean, was he ever in any trouble at the college or with a law in any way? 186 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:01,880 Oh, you mean that car Buzz took about two months ago? 187 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:02,880 Yeah. 188 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,880 We were supposed to go to this school dance and Buzz didn't have a car. 189 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:07,880 I guess he was ashamed. 190 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:09,880 He said he knew the fellow he borrowed the car from, 191 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:11,880 but the day after the dance the cops came. 192 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:13,880 How did his uncle react to that? 193 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:16,880 Well, there was a terrible row, Buzz said. 194 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,880 I really shouldn't be telling you, but I'm sure he's going to be a good friend. 195 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:23,880 How were feelings between the boy and his uncle before he left on the trip? 196 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:25,880 Did he mention anything to you about that? 197 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:28,880 Well, we had a date last Sunday night. 198 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,880 I asked him how things were at home. He didn't seem to want to talk about it. 199 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,880 The last time you saw him was Monday morning, is that right? 200 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:36,880 Yes, just before he left on the camping trip. 201 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:38,880 Well, you're sure he went on that trip? 202 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:39,880 Well, of course I'm sure. 203 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:40,880 How do you mean? 204 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:43,880 He said, no matter who asked you, I went on a camping trip. 205 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:44,880 He said it a couple of times. 206 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:45,880 He offered an offer to you? 207 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:46,880 Yes. 208 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,880 No, but I knew everything was all right. 209 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:50,880 Oh, is that so? How? 210 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,880 I could tell. Well, he kissed me. 211 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,880 The next morning, Monday, Ben and I checked with missing persons. 212 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:00,880 There was no additional information on the missing couple. 213 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:02,880 We phoned the barber, Clarence Stokely. 214 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,880 He had seen or heard nothing further of Mr. and Mrs. Apperson. 215 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:08,880 We went down to the bank where the Appersons had their account. 216 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:12,880 With the help of the manager, we found that three children had been killed. 217 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:16,880 We went down to the bank where the Appersons had their account. 218 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,880 With the help of the manager, we found that three checks had been passed 219 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:22,880 on the Apperson checking account since the previous Wednesday, 220 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,880 a full day after the missing couple had been last seen. 221 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:28,880 One check was for $100 and two for $50 each. 222 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,880 All of them had been cashed in Los Angeles and all bore the signature, 223 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:33,880 Walter Apperson. 224 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,880 After examination, it was found each signature had been carefully forged. 225 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,880 10.45 a.m. We went back to the office. 226 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:42,880 Hello, Ray. 227 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:43,880 Just coming. 228 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:45,880 You finished checking that stuff through the crime lab? 229 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,880 Yeah. I was passing over this way. 230 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:49,880 I thought I'd drop off the report for you. 231 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:50,880 Got it right here. 232 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:51,880 How'd it go? 233 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:53,880 Fingerprints on that bottle of cyanide. 234 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:56,880 Litten prints got a make. Here's the name on it. 235 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,880 Frank Buzz Apperson. 236 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:01,880 You look over those dirty dishes we found in the Apperson house? 237 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:03,880 Checked them through. Nothing. 238 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:05,880 How about the samples you took from those cups? 239 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,880 Whoever drank that cup is in trouble. It's loaded. 240 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:10,880 Enough cyanide to kill a horse. 241 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:22,880 You are listening to Dragnet, 242 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:27,880 the case history of a police investigation presented in the public interest by Fatima cigarettes. 243 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:34,880 If you smoke a long cigarette, it will be in your interest to listen to this case history recorded by a typical Fatima smoker. 244 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:40,880 Hi there. My name is Bab Beckwith. Bab, that's short for Bethany Ann Beckwith. 245 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,880 I live in New York City and I'm a fashion stylist. 246 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:48,880 The other day at a showing of the New Fall Styles, I ran out of cigarettes. 247 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:53,880 A friend of mine, a designer, introduced me to the new long Fatima. 248 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,880 I really wish someone had told me about them sooner. 249 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:02,880 Fatimas are a lot milder than the cigarettes I've been smoking, and they have a delightful flavor too. 250 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:10,880 I'm very glad to recommend them to you, because I know from experience it's wise to smoke extra mild Fatimas. 251 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:13,880 And more and more smokers every day are finding that out. 252 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:19,880 Actual figures show extra mild Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast. 253 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:23,880 So enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. 254 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:31,880 The king size cigarette, which contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos, superbly blended to make it extra mild. 255 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:36,880 You will prefer Fatimas much different, much better flavor and aroma. 256 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:37,880 You will agree. 257 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,880 It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. 258 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,880 It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. 259 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,880 The best of all long cigarettes. 260 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:53,880 Music 261 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:57,880 Monday 1 p.m. We obtained a specimen of Frank Buzz Apperson's signature, 262 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:02,880 and we had Don Myers and handwriting check it out against the signatures on the three checks. 263 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,880 Both styles of handwriting matched in every detail. 264 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:12,880 At 1.30 p.m., the parents of Buzz Apperson's two friends called to tell us that their sons were back from their camping trip. 265 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,880 We checked the Apperson home, the nephew wasn't there. 266 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:17,880 We drove out to see his two friends. 267 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:22,880 Under questioning, one of them finally broke and admitted that Buzz Apperson had not gone with them on the camping trip. 268 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:26,880 In the process of questioning the boys, one of them told us that he had been with a suspect two days before the trip 269 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:30,880 when he purchased some medicine at the campus drugstore. 270 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:32,880 We went to the drugstore and checked the prescription book. 271 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:38,880 It showed Frank Buzz Apperson had purchased and signed for a bottle of cyanide two days before the disappearance of his aunt and uncle. 272 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,880 Ben and I drove back to the Apperson house. 273 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:46,880 When we arrived, the officers on stakeout had the boy in custody. 274 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:51,880 No, I'm sorry, officers. I wish I could help you out, but well, maybe it's not as bad as you think. 275 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:53,880 When did you last see your aunt and uncle? 276 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:55,880 Monday, before I left on the camping trip. 277 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:57,880 They're in the habit of going off like this, aren't they? 278 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,880 Oh, sure. Aunt Cain and Uncle Walter have friends all over. They go on trips all the time. 279 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:03,880 Is that so? How do they get there? 280 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:07,880 They drive, both of them. They've been driving for years. 281 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,880 You talk to your uncle's friend, this Mr. Stokely next door. 282 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,880 He says your aunt and uncle haven't been driving for at least a year and a half. 283 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,880 Stokely, the barber? He's one of the neighborhood cranks, Sergeant. 284 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:21,880 Anybody around here can tell you that. Minds everybody's business but his own. 285 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,880 You don't seem too worried about your aunt and uncle. Think they're all right? 286 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,880 Well, we'd have heard by now if they weren't, don't you think, sir? 287 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:32,880 They probably took off on a trip. That's just about the size of it, I think. 288 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:34,880 And how about this trip of yours? 289 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:35,880 Sir? 290 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:37,880 Well, this camping trip that you just come from. 291 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:42,880 Oh, a couple of fellows from school. We went camping up by Big Bear for a week. 292 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,880 Pretty good fishing for September. Ever been up there? 293 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:46,880 Yeah, have you? 294 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:50,880 Well, sure. I just said that's why we've been camping. 295 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:55,880 Say, I'm a little thirsty. There's a couple bottles of ale in the refrigerator. Careful, Bill. 296 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:57,880 No, not right now. 297 00:16:57,880 --> 00:16:59,880 Would you mind if I had one? Sure could use it. 298 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:02,880 No, you go right ahead. We can talk in the kitchen. 299 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:07,880 Place is in kind of a mess. I guess I'll have to go in and clean it up. 300 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:09,880 Is your aunt usually leaving her hurry like this? 301 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:20,880 Not usually, no. Dishes all over the place. She probably figured she'd wait till she got back to clean up. 302 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:22,880 Aunt Kate does things like that once in a while. 303 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:23,880 That's her? 304 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:28,880 Yeah, she's like that sometimes. 305 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:36,880 Well, happy days. 306 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:41,880 Okay, Buzz, you want to tell us? Where are they? Your aunt and uncle, what happened? 307 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,880 Say, I don't think I know what you're talking about. What's the trouble? 308 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:49,880 Come on, Buzz, you know what the trouble is. Let's have a straight story. Gonna save a lot of time. 309 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:50,880 Sir? 310 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,880 We can draw it out as long as you like. Be a lot easier if you cooperate. 311 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:59,880 Look, I don't know what you're thinking, Sergeant, but whatever it is, I don't understand you. What are you getting at? 312 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:02,880 Something's happened to your aunt and uncle. We're pretty sure you know what it is. 313 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:04,880 Well, how could I? I've been away on this camping trip. 314 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:06,880 You've been away, but not on a camping trip. 315 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:07,880 Sir? 316 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,880 We've checked you out from the day you came to live with your aunt and uncle, boy. 317 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,880 You gonna make us spell out the whole record for you? 318 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,880 But I've been away. I just got back. I don't know what's happened. 319 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:20,880 We found a bottle of cyanide in the basement cupboard. Your fingerprints are all over it. 320 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:24,880 Well, sure, that figures. We use it for bug poison in the garden. I take care of the garden. I use it all the time. 321 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:25,880 You use it in coffee? 322 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:26,880 Sir? 323 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:30,880 The police chemists checked what was left in two of the cups that were on that table there. 324 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,880 Cyanide in both of them, enough to kill six people. 325 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,880 Now, look, boy. We've talked to your neighbors, your teachers, your girlfriend Norma, 326 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:39,880 and those two pals you were supposed to go camping with. 327 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,880 Now, we can drag all of them out if we have to. They're gonna make a liar out of you. 328 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:43,880 Sir? 329 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:45,880 I think you got it the first time. 330 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,880 Well, there couldn't be any cyanide in those cups. Why should there be? 331 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:50,880 We think you can tell us that. 332 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,880 But I can't. I don't know anything about this. I haven't any idea what you're talking about. 333 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:56,880 Is this some kind of a gag? 334 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:58,880 You know better than that. 335 00:18:58,880 --> 00:18:59,880 How about those checks, Buzz? 336 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:00,880 Sir? 337 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,880 The ones you forged your uncle's signature on. You need the money that bad? 338 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:09,880 I didn't forge any checks. I was away on a camping trip. Dave and Willie were with me. They can tell you. 339 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:13,880 You got in a row with your uncle. Maybe about that stolen car. Is that how it happened? 340 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:18,880 It had nothing to do with it. I want to see Norma. I want to talk to Dave and Willie. They'll tell you. 341 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:20,880 How about the man at the camp who's drug-stolen? 342 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:21,880 Sir? 343 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:23,880 The one you bought the cyanide from. You want to talk to him, too? 344 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:28,880 Look, are you two fellas kidding me? This must be some kind of a gag, is it? 345 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:32,880 Your aunt and uncle are missing. There's evidence of foul play now. Does that sound like a joke? 346 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:36,880 Well, how should I know where they are? I wasn't there. 347 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,880 I want to talk to Norma. I want to see Dave and Willie. They'll tell you. 348 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:42,880 Why don't we drive over and see him now? 349 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:44,880 It's all right with us. Want to get your coat? 350 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:53,880 Sure. Norma's the girl I'm engaged to. Dave and Willie are my best friends. They know everything about me. 351 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:54,880 Couple of real nice guys. 352 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:55,880 You think so? 353 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:57,880 Sure. 354 00:19:57,880 --> 00:19:59,880 Well, let's go, Bing. 355 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:00,880 Yeah. 356 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,880 Dave and Willie have been all through school with me. They can vouch for me. 357 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:04,880 Yeah? 358 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,880 Sure. You can take their word, too. 359 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:08,880 We will. 360 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:18,880 Five-fifty p.m. We left the Apperson house, drove across town, and headed over the Arroyo Seco toward the home of the suspect's friend, Dave Killifer. 361 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:25,880 Six-thirty-three p.m. We took a right turn off the freeway, headed south for another mile, and finally pulled up in front of the Killifer home. 362 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,880 Buzz Apperson's friend Dave met us at the front door. 363 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,880 What's it all about, anyway, Buzz? What's the pitch? 364 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:36,880 Well, that's what I want to know. Look, is this some kind of a gag you guys cooked up on me? 365 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:42,880 We were on the trip, Buzz. I don't know anything about any gag. What's all this about your aunt and uncle? 366 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,880 I don't know. That's what these officers want to find out. 367 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:50,880 I'd like to have you tell us again, Dave. Was Buzz here with you on that camping trip? 368 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:54,880 Sure. That's why we came over. Now, tell them about it. You know. 369 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:59,880 All right, let's have it, Dave. Was he with you on that trip? 370 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:02,880 These officers aren't kidding, Buzz. They want the truth. 371 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:06,880 Well, tell them I was with you when Willie and we went to Big Bear. 372 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:12,880 We were looking for your aunt and uncle. I'm not going to lie now. You didn't go to Big Bear with us. 373 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,880 All right, Dave. Thanks. 374 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:22,880 Well, he's lying, officers. Who put you up to this stunt, Dave? They'll throw you in the jug for a gag like this. Who's behind it? 375 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:29,880 You're the guy who said it was a gag. You told us to tell everybody we were up at Big Bear with Willie and me. 376 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:37,880 How about leveling? What's it about? He's lying. What's it about? You've got nothing to hide. Have you? 377 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:45,880 He's lying. You can tell that, can't you? Let's go talk to Willie. He'll tell you the truth. 378 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,880 Joe, all right. Thank you, Dave. That's all. 379 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:53,880 All right, Sergeant. Sure there isn't anything I can do? No, thanks. Just the same. Good night. 380 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:58,880 Okay. Good night. 381 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,880 Anybody could tell he was lying, isn't that right, Sergeant? 382 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,880 Well, he's your friend, Buzz. Why do you say that? 383 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:08,880 He was just plain lying, that's all. Couldn't you tell? 384 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,880 No, I couldn't. How about you, Ben? 385 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:16,880 Not me. Why would he lie, Buzz? You told us he was your pal. 386 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:22,880 Some kind of a stupid gag they're pulling. Gang in the fraternity I belong to. Dave's one of them. 387 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:26,880 They've done it before. I don't know why they're lying, but they are. 388 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,880 Where does your friend Willie live? Sir? 389 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:33,880 You said you wanted to drive over and have us talk to Willie? Oh, yeah. 390 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:38,880 Where does he live? Look, would you mind very much... How's that? 391 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:44,880 I've got a terrible headache. Would you mind very much just driving around a while? 392 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:48,880 I'd like to clear my head a little. I can't figure this thing out. 393 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:53,880 All right. Why don't you roll down the window there, Buzz? 394 00:22:53,880 --> 00:23:01,880 Okay. Yeah. 395 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:09,880 The air feels good. Sure is hot out tonight. Yeah, mm-hmm. 396 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:13,880 Been a pretty long summer, hasn't it? Yeah, it has. 397 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:18,880 Say, I guess maybe we ought to forget about going over to Willie's place. 398 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:21,880 He strings along with the rest. He'd probably lie, too. 399 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:26,880 You said you wanted us to have a talk with him. Yeah, but I've been thinking about it. He'd only lie. 400 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,880 It'd be better if we drove over to see Norma. That's the girl I'm engaged to. 401 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:34,880 Yeah, that's what we understand. If anybody can give you a straight story, Norma can. 402 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:38,880 She doesn't live far. Straight down the road here into San Marino? Yeah, we know. 403 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,880 Oh. Sure would appreciate it if you'd drive over there. 404 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:45,880 Okay. Norma can straighten this thing out. 405 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:50,880 Well, girl, we're going to get married as soon as we can. Oh? Yeah. 406 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:57,880 She saw me leave on that trip to Big Bear. She won't lie to you. 407 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:04,880 Sure wish my aunt and uncle had left a note where they were going. All this trouble. 408 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,880 You mind if I lay out a couple things for you, Buzz? How would he mean? 409 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:12,880 When a police officer picks somebody up, he's got a good reason for it. 410 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:15,880 Yeah, but Dave was lying, Sergeant. You know that. 411 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,880 It's a lot more than what Dave had to say. Now, you've done something wrong. 412 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,880 We don't know what exactly, but we've got an idea and we're going to find out. 413 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:26,880 You can't prove anything. I got that cyanide for the garden. We used it around the house for different things. 414 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:31,880 You don't use it in coffee cups. What happened, boy? Where's your aunt and uncle? 415 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:35,880 Next turn for Norma's house, up by the signal, turn left. Yeah. 416 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:39,880 Come on, Buzz. You know what happened. You're going to have to face it sooner or later. 417 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:42,880 If it's not tonight, then tomorrow morning or tomorrow night or the night after. 418 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:46,880 But I don't know what happened. The facts say you do. And they're not going to disappear. 419 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:50,880 Now, you made the problem. It's going to stick out in front of you until you find an answer. 420 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:54,880 How about it? Norma will know what to do. Wait till I talk to Norma. 421 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:57,880 Why don't you stand up and face it, boy? Getting your girl mixed up in this isn't going to help. 422 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:03,880 She'll know what to do. Can she find your aunt and uncle? 423 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:08,880 Can she? How about the three checks? 424 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:13,880 How about them? Can she explain those signatures that you forged? 425 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:18,880 Maybe those fingerprints on the cyanide bottle. Can she help you out there? 426 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:23,880 Now look, Buzz, I believe you. You love the girl. Do you want her mixed up in all this? 427 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,880 Here we are, Jim. 428 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:30,880 Okay. 429 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,880 That's the right house, isn't it? 430 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:36,880 Yeah. Now that's Norma's house. 431 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,880 All right. What's it going to be? Do we go in? 432 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:45,880 She'd cry. She'd only cry. Norma thinks a lot of me. 433 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:46,880 Yeah? 434 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:51,880 She's a swell girl. I don't want to have to tell her. She'd only cry. 435 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:52,880 Yeah. 436 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,880 I killed my aunt and uncle. 437 00:25:55,880 --> 00:26:03,880 8 p.m. Buzz Apperson directed us to drive to San Pedro to the west basin of the Los Angeles harbor. 438 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:07,880 We got out of the car and followed him to the end of one of the piers. 439 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,880 He told us his story and we put in a call to the office. 440 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:16,880 Within half an hour, a fireboat and a barge were on the scene and a diver was sent down into the water a few yards from the edge of the pier. 441 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:20,880 We stood by and watched. Buzz Apperson, Ben and I. 442 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:24,880 I put quite a bit of cyanide in the coffee. I had to be sure. 443 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:26,880 How'd you manage to get both of them in the car? 444 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:30,880 I waited till way after dark and then I dragged them out. 445 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:35,880 Drove down to the end of the pier right here, put the car on low. 446 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:41,880 It went over right where the diver went down, just this end of the barge. 447 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:45,880 All right. There's lines up there. 448 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:50,880 There's the first one. 449 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:51,880 You better stand back here. 450 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:54,880 Yeah, watch it. 451 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:57,880 Okay, sir. 452 00:26:57,880 --> 00:26:59,880 Let's go. 453 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:05,880 Buzz. 454 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,880 Yeah, my aunt. 455 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:14,880 Only one thing missing, Buzz. Sir, a reason. What'd you do it? 456 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,880 I'm not sure anymore. 457 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:23,880 Stolen car trouble, I guess. My trial was coming up. All that trouble. 458 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,880 I didn't want my aunt and uncle to go through all that. 459 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:28,880 You mean that's why you killed them? 460 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:32,880 I think so. I didn't want them to be ashamed of me. 461 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:34,880 That must sound funny. 462 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:36,880 Nobody's gonna believe you. 463 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:37,880 I suppose they don't. 464 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:38,880 Yeah. 465 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:47,880 Would it make any difference? 466 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:52,880 The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. 467 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:58,880 On December 15th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 92, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 468 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:00,880 In a moment, the results of that trial. 469 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:03,880 And now, here is our star, Jack Webb. 470 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:04,880 Thank you. 471 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:09,880 To successfully prosecute a criminal suspect, the working detective gathers all available physical evidence. 472 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:14,880 And in the crime lab, this evidence is carefully selected and screened to determine its worth. 473 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:15,880 So with a cigarette. 474 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:20,880 The makers of Fatima select and buy the finest tobaccos, both Turkish and domestic. 475 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:24,880 And these tobaccos are skillfully blended to make Fatima extra mild. 476 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:28,880 Best of all, long cigarettes. Pack after pack, they're extra mild. 477 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:38,880 If you're a long cigarette smoker like I am, smoke Fatima. 478 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:43,880 Frank Buzz Apperson was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life imprisonment. 479 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:49,880 He is now serving his term in the state penitentiary. 480 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:53,880 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 481 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:59,880 Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 482 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:04,880 Fatima cigarettes, the best of all, long cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet from Los Angeles. 483 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:23,880 Coming up, Duffy's Tavern. Be sure to hear Theatre Guild Sunday on NBC.