WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:12.100 The story you are about to hear is true. 00:12.100 --> 00:15.180 Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:15.180 --> 00:20.580 Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, brings you Dragnet. 00:20.580 --> 00:33.400 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide detail. 00:33.400 --> 00:38.040 An old couple suddenly disappear from one of the fashionable neighborhoods in your city. 00:38.040 --> 00:44.080 There's no trace of them, not a clue to their whereabouts. Foul play is suspected. 00:44.080 --> 00:46.920 Your job, find them. 00:46.920 --> 00:54.720 If you want a long cigarette, smoke the best of all long cigarettes. 00:54.720 --> 01:01.360 Smoke extra mild Fatima. Yes, Fatima is the king-size cigarette which contains the finest 01:01.360 --> 01:06.240 Turkish and domestic tobaccos superbly blended to make it extra mild. 01:06.240 --> 01:12.480 To give Fatima a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. 01:12.480 --> 01:16.440 That's why Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast. 01:16.440 --> 01:21.640 Enjoy extra mild Fatima yourself. Best of all, long cigarettes. 01:21.640 --> 01:27.720 It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. It's wise to smoke extra mild Fatima. 01:27.720 --> 01:36.560 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 01:36.560 --> 01:41.080 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, 01:41.080 --> 01:45.160 you will travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case from 01:45.160 --> 01:50.160 official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, 01:50.160 --> 01:55.720 Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 01:55.720 --> 01:59.120 It was Saturday, September 30th. It was warm in Los Angeles. 01:59.120 --> 02:02.720 We were working the day shift out of homicide. My partner is Ben Romero. 02:02.720 --> 02:05.880 The boss is Captain Blaine Steed. My name is Friday. 02:05.880 --> 02:10.160 It was 3.45 p.m. when I got to room 67A, missing persons. 02:10.160 --> 02:14.280 Hi, Jim. Hi, where's Al? 02:14.280 --> 02:17.080 He's already back in a minute. Oh. 02:17.080 --> 02:19.880 There's a phone message for you in the book from your wife. 02:19.880 --> 02:22.520 What is it this time? She didn't say. 02:22.520 --> 02:25.760 It's been a bad week. Why? What's the matter? 02:25.760 --> 02:28.160 Lucille. Who? 02:28.160 --> 02:30.960 Our cat. Again? 02:30.960 --> 02:35.720 Kittens. Had to let them up by the time I left the house. 02:35.720 --> 02:38.080 He was a healthy kid. Yeah. 02:38.080 --> 02:42.760 Don't know what I'm going to do with him. Hey, your mother likes cats, doesn't she, Joe? 02:42.760 --> 02:46.480 You gave us two from the last litter. We still got them. They're as healthy as their mother. 02:46.480 --> 02:48.760 Yeah. Never pass up a meal. 02:48.760 --> 02:51.120 Hi, Joe. Hi, Al. 02:51.120 --> 02:55.760 Sorry to keep you waiting. Just getting this report straightened out. Here you go. 02:55.760 --> 02:59.560 Mr. and Mrs. Walter Apperson. How long have they been missing? 02:59.560 --> 03:01.560 Well, today's the fourth day. 03:01.560 --> 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. 03:06.680 --> 03:10.720 Came in yesterday and filed a 316 on him. Let's see. 03:10.720 --> 03:14.120 Clarence Stokely. Is that the neighbor? Yeah. 03:14.120 --> 03:18.360 It says here he lived next to the Apperson's for 28 years. 03:18.360 --> 03:24.280 Never known him to take off like this. Checked Apperson's cottage out there. Dirty dishes on the kitchen table. 03:24.280 --> 03:27.960 Not the way an old couple leave a house normally. And how about friends and relatives? 03:27.960 --> 03:32.680 Stokely called them. None of them have seen or heard from the Apperson's for a week. 03:32.680 --> 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. 03:38.720 --> 03:41.520 Wonder if I can see that, Ben. Oh, yeah, yeah. Thank you. 03:41.520 --> 03:47.320 Well, how about the third relative? Nephew, is that it, Joe? Yeah. Frank Apperson. 03:47.320 --> 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. 03:52.880 --> 03:56.820 Possibly the old couple might be with him? Not according to Stokely. 03:56.820 --> 04:00.320 Says the Apperson's seldom spend any time away from their home. 04:00.320 --> 04:03.880 That's all we've got to go on, huh? Just the neighbor's story? Yeah. 04:03.880 --> 04:08.280 Oh, he says he checked the garage, too. The Apperson's car is gone. How does that tie in? 04:08.280 --> 04:11.680 Well, Mr. Apperson hasn't driven the car for the last year and a half. 04:11.680 --> 04:15.120 He has a nephew or some friend drive whenever he wants to go out. 04:15.120 --> 04:20.480 Uh, one more thing. It may mean something, it may not. What's that, Al? Mrs. Apperson's in Imbalin. Yeah. 04:20.480 --> 04:24.720 She hasn't left the neighborhood in 10 years. 04:24.720 --> 04:29.880 Four p.m. Ben and I left the office and drove out to interview the neighbor of the missing couple. 04:29.880 --> 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. 04:36.980 --> 04:41.680 The chipped gold lettering on the window read, Jim Dandy Tonsorial Parlor. 04:41.680 --> 04:46.180 Smaller lettering in the right-hand corner of the window read, Proprietor Clarence Stokely. 04:46.180 --> 04:50.180 Except for a man in a white barber's smock sitting in the first chair, the shop was empty. 04:50.180 --> 04:58.280 Hi there, gentlemen. Hi. How are you? You Clarence Stokely? That's right. 04:58.280 --> 05:02.680 Police officer's Mr. Stokely. I'd like to talk to you about the missing persons report you filed yesterday. 05:02.680 --> 05:05.480 Oh, yes. Glad to help. You find out anything yet? 05:05.480 --> 05:07.980 You know the apperances pretty well, do you, Mr. Stoker? 05:07.980 --> 05:14.180 28 years. Sure worried about Walter and Kate. Never known them to do anything like this. 05:14.180 --> 05:16.680 Say, I couldn't be of service to you, could I? 05:16.680 --> 05:22.480 Well, I just had a haircut a few days ago. How about you, Joe? Looks like you could stand a trim. 05:22.480 --> 05:26.280 We could talk it over while I cut your hair. Don't think we'd be disturbed. 05:26.280 --> 05:29.480 They still look well. Yeah. Okay, fine. 05:29.480 --> 05:31.280 Here, I'll take your coat. Oh, thank you. 05:31.280 --> 05:36.280 First chair there. Thank you. 05:40.780 --> 05:44.780 Mr. and Mrs. Apperson didn't mention anything about going away on a trip, did they? 05:44.780 --> 05:48.180 Not a word. That's what makes it so strange. 05:48.180 --> 05:52.380 Let me fix this around your neck here. Oh, yeah. Thanks. 05:52.380 --> 05:57.680 Play cards with them twice a week, usually. Katie Apperson's a fine wisp player. 05:57.680 --> 06:02.280 Want me to take some off the sides here, officer? Yeah, please. Not too much, though. 06:02.280 --> 06:04.880 When did you first notice the Apperson's weren't home? 06:04.880 --> 06:08.780 Uh, Tuesday night. We thought we might go over and play some cards. 06:08.780 --> 06:10.780 I see. 06:10.780 --> 06:14.080 Is that enough off right here, officer? Let me see. 06:14.080 --> 06:19.480 Yeah, that's fine. How is it you waited until yesterday to report the Apperson's missing? 06:19.480 --> 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. 06:26.680 --> 06:30.380 Besides, we thought if anything was wrong, Buzz would have said something. 06:30.380 --> 06:33.080 Who is Buzz? Anderson's nephew, Buzz. 06:33.080 --> 06:36.080 Name's Frank, but everybody calls him Buzz. 06:36.080 --> 06:38.380 Thought he was away at school, a place out near Monrovia. 06:38.380 --> 06:41.180 Yeah, Stanley College, private school. 06:41.180 --> 06:45.180 But he only stays there part of the time. He's usually home early in the week. 06:45.180 --> 06:50.080 We were under the impression that this nephew Buzz was on a vacation. 06:50.080 --> 06:52.380 Hmm, not so. 06:52.380 --> 06:57.380 Well, it's the first I've heard. If only Walt and Katie would have told us. 06:57.380 --> 06:58.780 Oop, that bone. 06:58.780 --> 06:59.880 No, it's all right. 06:59.880 --> 07:01.880 Let's get this little doll. 07:01.880 --> 07:04.880 Head down. 07:04.880 --> 07:09.980 You, uh, think the nephew might have count for the Apperson's car being missing? 07:09.980 --> 07:12.480 You think he might have taken it on his vacation? 07:12.480 --> 07:15.980 Impossible, I guess, but I think Walt would have mentioned it. 07:15.980 --> 07:19.980 That car was old, but he was particular about it. 07:19.980 --> 07:22.380 Maybe sit it out on top here a little? 07:22.380 --> 07:24.280 All right, fine. 07:24.280 --> 07:26.180 Do you know the nephew at all? 07:26.180 --> 07:29.080 Pretty well. Nice young fella. 07:29.080 --> 07:31.580 He got along with his aunt and uncle all right, did he? 07:31.580 --> 07:33.980 Yes, indeed. Buzz loved them both. 07:33.980 --> 07:37.480 Do you have any idea where the Apperson's might be, Mr. Stulph? 07:37.480 --> 07:40.180 No, I don't. Here does my wife. 07:40.180 --> 07:42.380 That's why we called you people. 07:42.380 --> 07:45.880 We don't mean to be buddhists, but we're worried. 07:45.880 --> 07:47.880 Maybe just a little more off the top, officer? 07:47.880 --> 07:50.380 No, I think it's fine. It's okay. 07:50.380 --> 07:53.180 You have no idea where we might find the nephew of Buzz? 07:53.180 --> 07:55.880 Not if he's away on vacation. 07:55.880 --> 07:57.080 He might check with the school. 07:57.080 --> 08:00.280 Buzz might have gone off with a couple of his friends. 08:00.280 --> 08:02.080 Want something to dampen that down? 08:02.080 --> 08:04.080 Yeah, fine. 08:08.880 --> 08:13.380 Yeah, that porch light of theirs has been burning for three nights and three days. 08:13.380 --> 08:15.580 That really kicks up the old electric bill. 08:15.580 --> 08:17.880 Maybe the Apperson's may have overlooked it. 08:17.880 --> 08:19.880 Maybe. 08:19.880 --> 08:22.580 All right, sir. 08:22.580 --> 08:25.180 That's a good-looking haircut, if I say so myself. 08:25.180 --> 08:28.480 Yeah. It's fine. 08:28.480 --> 08:29.880 Here you go. 08:29.880 --> 08:32.480 Thank you. 08:32.480 --> 08:36.380 Oh, here's our card, Mr. Stokely. We'll be checking with you. 08:36.380 --> 08:38.880 Bye. Bye. 08:38.880 --> 08:40.880 Can I borrow your comb? 08:40.880 --> 08:42.880 Barbara never combs your hair right. 08:42.880 --> 08:44.880 That's not gonna help you. 08:44.880 --> 08:45.880 Huh? 08:45.880 --> 08:46.880 It's the way he cut it. 08:46.880 --> 08:47.880 What do you mean? 08:47.880 --> 08:50.880 He put the part on the other side. 08:54.880 --> 08:56.880 After we left Clarence Stokely's barber shop, 08:56.880 --> 09:00.880 we drove out to the Apperson home on 54th Street just below Seaboard Avenue. 09:00.880 --> 09:02.880 We checked the house from top to bottom. 09:02.880 --> 09:04.880 The closets and the beds were all clean. 09:04.880 --> 09:08.880 None of the luggage seemed to be missing. 09:08.880 --> 09:10.880 In the basement, back on one of the cupboard shelves, 09:10.880 --> 09:13.880 we found a bottle of cyanide. It was half-filled. 09:13.880 --> 09:16.880 In the kitchen, we found dirty dishes still lying on the table. 09:16.880 --> 09:18.880 We put in a call to Ray Pinker at the crime lab, 09:18.880 --> 09:21.880 and he came out and took sample scrapings from each of the three plates 09:21.880 --> 09:25.880 and specimens from each of the half-filled cups of coffee on the table. 09:25.880 --> 09:28.880 He also took along a bottle of cyanide to examine it for fingerprints. 09:28.880 --> 09:31.880 Ben and I called the record bureau just as a matter of fact. 09:31.880 --> 09:35.880 We asked for any make and warrants on the nephew, Frank Buzz Apperson. 09:35.880 --> 09:38.880 R and I called back with the information that Frank Apperson had been arrested 09:38.880 --> 09:42.880 for grand theft auto six weeks before his trial was pending. 09:42.880 --> 09:45.880 We checked back with the barber, Clarence Stokely. 09:45.880 --> 09:47.880 He knew nothing about the trouble. 09:47.880 --> 09:51.880 The next morning, Sunday, with the help of school authorities at Stanley College near Monrovia, 09:51.880 --> 09:54.880 we got in touch with the parents of two of Buzz Apperson's friends. 09:54.880 --> 09:58.880 They told us as far as they knew, Apperson was on a camping trip with their son. 09:58.880 --> 10:01.880 They were expected back in the next day around noontime. 10:01.880 --> 10:03.880 From one of the boarding students at Stanley College, 10:03.880 --> 10:07.880 we got the name of Buzz Apperson's girlfriend, a Miss Norma Louise Bernard. 10:07.880 --> 10:09.880 She lived in San Marino. 10:09.880 --> 10:11.880 Sunday night, we drove out to interview her. 10:11.880 --> 10:13.880 I don't know what I can tell you, Sergeant. 10:13.880 --> 10:17.880 Buzz is on a camping trip with two of the fellows from school. That's all I know. 10:17.880 --> 10:19.880 When did he leave, do you know, Miss Bernard? 10:19.880 --> 10:22.880 Last Monday morning. They left from school. Said they'd be gone for a week. 10:22.880 --> 10:23.880 They're coming back tomorrow. 10:23.880 --> 10:25.880 You know Buzz Apperson? 10:25.880 --> 10:28.880 Yes, I do, as well as anyone, I guess. 10:28.880 --> 10:30.880 What is he, just a casual date? 10:30.880 --> 10:33.880 Oh, well, Buzzy and I have been going steady for almost a year now. 10:33.880 --> 10:34.880 I see. 10:34.880 --> 10:35.880 How old are you? 10:35.880 --> 10:36.880 I'm 19. 10:36.880 --> 10:39.880 Have you ever met the Appersons, his aunt and his uncle? 10:39.880 --> 10:41.880 Just once. They're awfully sweet. 10:41.880 --> 10:43.880 How did Buzz get along with them, do you know? 10:43.880 --> 10:44.880 Well, fine, I guess. 10:44.880 --> 10:47.880 The only argument Buzz ever told me about was a month ago. 10:47.880 --> 10:50.880 He wanted more allowance and his uncle said no. 10:50.880 --> 10:52.880 Was Buzz ever in any trouble to your knowledge? 10:52.880 --> 10:55.880 I don't think I know what you mean. What kind of trouble? 10:55.880 --> 10:58.880 I mean, was he ever in any trouble at the college or with a law in any way? 10:58.880 --> 11:01.880 Oh, you mean that car Buzz took about two months ago? 11:01.880 --> 11:02.880 Yeah. 11:02.880 --> 11:05.880 We were supposed to go to this school dance and Buzz didn't have a car. 11:05.880 --> 11:07.880 I guess he was ashamed. 11:07.880 --> 11:09.880 He said he knew the fellow he borrowed the car from, 11:09.880 --> 11:11.880 but the day after the dance the cops came. 11:11.880 --> 11:13.880 How did his uncle react to that? 11:13.880 --> 11:16.880 Well, there was a terrible row, Buzz said. 11:16.880 --> 11:19.880 I really shouldn't be telling you, but I'm sure he's going to be a good friend. 11:19.880 --> 11:23.880 How were feelings between the boy and his uncle before he left on the trip? 11:23.880 --> 11:25.880 Did he mention anything to you about that? 11:25.880 --> 11:28.880 Well, we had a date last Sunday night. 11:28.880 --> 11:31.880 I asked him how things were at home. He didn't seem to want to talk about it. 11:31.880 --> 11:34.880 The last time you saw him was Monday morning, is that right? 11:34.880 --> 11:36.880 Yes, just before he left on the camping trip. 11:36.880 --> 11:38.880 Well, you're sure he went on that trip? 11:38.880 --> 11:39.880 Well, of course I'm sure. 11:39.880 --> 11:40.880 How do you mean? 11:40.880 --> 11:43.880 He said, no matter who asked you, I went on a camping trip. 11:43.880 --> 11:44.880 He said it a couple of times. 11:44.880 --> 11:45.880 He offered an offer to you? 11:45.880 --> 11:46.880 Yes. 11:46.880 --> 11:49.880 No, but I knew everything was all right. 11:49.880 --> 11:50.880 Oh, is that so? How? 11:50.880 --> 11:53.880 I could tell. Well, he kissed me. 11:53.880 --> 11:57.880 The next morning, Monday, Ben and I checked with missing persons. 11:57.880 --> 12:00.880 There was no additional information on the missing couple. 12:00.880 --> 12:02.880 We phoned the barber, Clarence Stokely. 12:02.880 --> 12:05.880 He had seen or heard nothing further of Mr. and Mrs. Apperson. 12:05.880 --> 12:08.880 We went down to the bank where the Appersons had their account. 12:08.880 --> 12:12.880 With the help of the manager, we found that three children had been killed. 12:12.880 --> 12:16.880 We went down to the bank where the Appersons had their account. 12:16.880 --> 12:19.880 With the help of the manager, we found that three checks had been passed 12:19.880 --> 12:22.880 on the Apperson checking account since the previous Wednesday, 12:22.880 --> 12:25.880 a full day after the missing couple had been last seen. 12:25.880 --> 12:28.880 One check was for $100 and two for $50 each. 12:28.880 --> 12:31.880 All of them had been cashed in Los Angeles and all bore the signature, 12:31.880 --> 12:33.880 Walter Apperson. 12:33.880 --> 12:37.880 After examination, it was found each signature had been carefully forged. 12:37.880 --> 12:40.880 10.45 a.m. We went back to the office. 12:40.880 --> 12:42.880 Hello, Ray. 12:42.880 --> 12:43.880 Just coming. 12:43.880 --> 12:45.880 You finished checking that stuff through the crime lab? 12:45.880 --> 12:47.880 Yeah. I was passing over this way. 12:47.880 --> 12:49.880 I thought I'd drop off the report for you. 12:49.880 --> 12:50.880 Got it right here. 12:50.880 --> 12:51.880 How'd it go? 12:51.880 --> 12:53.880 Fingerprints on that bottle of cyanide. 12:53.880 --> 12:56.880 Litten prints got a make. Here's the name on it. 12:56.880 --> 12:59.880 Frank Buzz Apperson. 12:59.880 --> 13:01.880 You look over those dirty dishes we found in the Apperson house? 13:01.880 --> 13:03.880 Checked them through. Nothing. 13:03.880 --> 13:05.880 How about the samples you took from those cups? 13:05.880 --> 13:08.880 Whoever drank that cup is in trouble. It's loaded. 13:08.880 --> 13:10.880 Enough cyanide to kill a horse. 13:10.880 --> 13:22.880 You are listening to Dragnet, 13:22.880 --> 13:27.880 the case history of a police investigation presented in the public interest by Fatima cigarettes. 13:27.880 --> 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. 13:34.880 --> 13:40.880 Hi there. My name is Bab Beckwith. 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I wish I could help you out, but well, maybe it's not as bad as you think. 15:51.880 --> 15:53.880 When did you last see your aunt and uncle? 15:53.880 --> 15:55.880 Monday, before I left on the camping trip. 15:55.880 --> 15:57.880 They're in the habit of going off like this, aren't they? 15:57.880 --> 16:01.880 Oh, sure. Aunt Cain and Uncle Walter have friends all over. They go on trips all the time. 16:01.880 --> 16:03.880 Is that so? How do they get there? 16:03.880 --> 16:07.880 They drive, both of them. They've been driving for years. 16:07.880 --> 16:10.880 You talk to your uncle's friend, this Mr. Stokely next door. 16:10.880 --> 16:13.880 He says your aunt and uncle haven't been driving for at least a year and a half. 16:13.880 --> 16:17.880 Stokely, the barber? He's one of the neighborhood cranks, Sergeant. 16:17.880 --> 16:21.880 Anybody around here can tell you that. Minds everybody's business but his own. 16:21.880 --> 16:24.880 You don't seem too worried about your aunt and uncle. Think they're all right? 16:24.880 --> 16:27.880 Well, we'd have heard by now if they weren't, don't you think, sir? 16:27.880 --> 16:32.880 They probably took off on a trip. That's just about the size of it, I think. 16:32.880 --> 16:34.880 And how about this trip of yours? 16:34.880 --> 16:35.880 Sir? 16:35.880 --> 16:37.880 Well, this camping trip that you just come from. 16:37.880 --> 16:42.880 Oh, a couple of fellows from school. We went camping up by Big Bear for a week. 16:42.880 --> 16:45.880 Pretty good fishing for September. Ever been up there? 16:45.880 --> 16:46.880 Yeah, have you? 16:46.880 --> 16:50.880 Well, sure. I just said that's why we've been camping. 16:50.880 --> 16:55.880 Say, I'm a little thirsty. There's a couple bottles of ale in the refrigerator. Careful, Bill. 16:55.880 --> 16:57.880 No, not right now. 16:57.880 --> 16:59.880 Would you mind if I had one? Sure could use it. 16:59.880 --> 17:02.880 No, you go right ahead. We can talk in the kitchen. 17:02.880 --> 17:07.880 Place is in kind of a mess. I guess I'll have to go in and clean it up. 17:07.880 --> 17:09.880 Is your aunt usually leaving her hurry like this? 17:09.880 --> 17:20.880 Not usually, no. Dishes all over the place. She probably figured she'd wait till she got back to clean up. 17:20.880 --> 17:22.880 Aunt Kate does things like that once in a while. 17:22.880 --> 17:23.880 That's her? 17:23.880 --> 17:28.880 Yeah, she's like that sometimes. 17:28.880 --> 17:36.880 Well, happy days. 17:36.880 --> 17:41.880 Okay, Buzz, you want to tell us? Where are they? Your aunt and uncle, what happened? 17:41.880 --> 17:44.880 Say, I don't think I know what you're talking about. What's the trouble? 17:44.880 --> 17:49.880 Come on, Buzz, you know what the trouble is. Let's have a straight story. Gonna save a lot of time. 17:49.880 --> 17:50.880 Sir? 17:50.880 --> 17:54.880 We can draw it out as long as you like. Be a lot easier if you cooperate. 17:54.880 --> 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? 17:59.880 --> 18:02.880 Something's happened to your aunt and uncle. We're pretty sure you know what it is. 18:02.880 --> 18:04.880 Well, how could I? I've been away on this camping trip. 18:04.880 --> 18:06.880 You've been away, but not on a camping trip. 18:06.880 --> 18:07.880 Sir? 18:07.880 --> 18:10.880 We've checked you out from the day you came to live with your aunt and uncle, boy. 18:10.880 --> 18:13.880 You gonna make us spell out the whole record for you? 18:13.880 --> 18:16.880 But I've been away. I just got back. I don't know what's happened. 18:16.880 --> 18:20.880 We found a bottle of cyanide in the basement cupboard. Your fingerprints are all over it. 18:20.880 --> 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. 18:24.880 --> 18:25.880 You use it in coffee? 18:25.880 --> 18:26.880 Sir? 18:26.880 --> 18:30.880 The police chemists checked what was left in two of the cups that were on that table there. 18:30.880 --> 18:33.880 Cyanide in both of them, enough to kill six people. 18:33.880 --> 18:37.880 Now, look, boy. We've talked to your neighbors, your teachers, your girlfriend Norma, 18:37.880 --> 18:39.880 and those two pals you were supposed to go camping with. 18:39.880 --> 18:42.880 Now, we can drag all of them out if we have to. They're gonna make a liar out of you. 18:42.880 --> 18:43.880 Sir? 18:43.880 --> 18:45.880 I think you got it the first time. 18:45.880 --> 18:48.880 Well, there couldn't be any cyanide in those cups. Why should there be? 18:48.880 --> 18:50.880 We think you can tell us that. 18:50.880 --> 18:54.880 But I can't. I don't know anything about this. I haven't any idea what you're talking about. 18:54.880 --> 18:56.880 Is this some kind of a gag? 18:56.880 --> 18:58.880 You know better than that. 18:58.880 --> 18:59.880 How about those checks, Buzz? 18:59.880 --> 19:00.880 Sir? 19:00.880 --> 19:03.880 The ones you forged your uncle's signature on. You need the money that bad? 19:03.880 --> 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. 19:09.880 --> 19:13.880 You got in a row with your uncle. Maybe about that stolen car. Is that how it happened? 19:13.880 --> 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. 19:18.880 --> 19:20.880 How about the man at the camp who's drug-stolen? 19:20.880 --> 19:21.880 Sir? 19:21.880 --> 19:23.880 The one you bought the cyanide from. You want to talk to him, too? 19:23.880 --> 19:28.880 Look, are you two fellas kidding me? This must be some kind of a gag, is it? 19:28.880 --> 19:32.880 Your aunt and uncle are missing. There's evidence of foul play now. Does that sound like a joke? 19:32.880 --> 19:36.880 Well, how should I know where they are? I wasn't there. 19:36.880 --> 19:40.880 I want to talk to Norma. I want to see Dave and Willie. They'll tell you. 19:40.880 --> 19:42.880 Why don't we drive over and see him now? 19:42.880 --> 19:44.880 It's all right with us. Want to get your coat? 19:44.880 --> 19:53.880 Sure. Norma's the girl I'm engaged to. Dave and Willie are my best friends. They know everything about me. 19:53.880 --> 19:54.880 Couple of real nice guys. 19:54.880 --> 19:55.880 You think so? 19:55.880 --> 19:57.880 Sure. 19:57.880 --> 19:59.880 Well, let's go, Bing. 19:59.880 --> 20:00.880 Yeah. 20:00.880 --> 20:03.880 Dave and Willie have been all through school with me. They can vouch for me. 20:03.880 --> 20:04.880 Yeah? 20:04.880 --> 20:07.880 Sure. You can take their word, too. 20:07.880 --> 20:08.880 We will. 20:08.880 --> 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. 20:18.880 --> 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. 20:25.880 --> 20:28.880 Buzz Apperson's friend Dave met us at the front door. 20:28.880 --> 20:31.880 What's it all about, anyway, Buzz? What's the pitch? 20:31.880 --> 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? 20:36.880 --> 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? 20:42.880 --> 20:45.880 I don't know. That's what these officers want to find out. 20:45.880 --> 20:50.880 I'd like to have you tell us again, Dave. Was Buzz here with you on that camping trip? 20:50.880 --> 20:54.880 Sure. That's why we came over. Now, tell them about it. You know. 20:54.880 --> 20:59.880 All right, let's have it, Dave. Was he with you on that trip? 20:59.880 --> 21:02.880 These officers aren't kidding, Buzz. They want the truth. 21:02.880 --> 21:06.880 Well, tell them I was with you when Willie and we went to Big Bear. 21:06.880 --> 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. 21:12.880 --> 21:15.880 All right, Dave. Thanks. 21:15.880 --> 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? 21:22.880 --> 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. 21:29.880 --> 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? 21:37.880 --> 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. 21:45.880 --> 21:48.880 Joe, all right. Thank you, Dave. That's all. 21:48.880 --> 21:53.880 All right, Sergeant. Sure there isn't anything I can do? No, thanks. Just the same. Good night. 21:53.880 --> 21:58.880 Okay. Good night. 21:58.880 --> 22:01.880 Anybody could tell he was lying, isn't that right, Sergeant? 22:01.880 --> 22:04.880 Well, he's your friend, Buzz. Why do you say that? 22:04.880 --> 22:08.880 He was just plain lying, that's all. Couldn't you tell? 22:08.880 --> 22:11.880 No, I couldn't. How about you, Ben? 22:11.880 --> 22:16.880 Not me. Why would he lie, Buzz? You told us he was your pal. 22:16.880 --> 22:22.880 Some kind of a stupid gag they're pulling. Gang in the fraternity I belong to. Dave's one of them. 22:22.880 --> 22:26.880 They've done it before. I don't know why they're lying, but they are. 22:26.880 --> 22:29.880 Where does your friend Willie live? Sir? 22:29.880 --> 22:33.880 You said you wanted to drive over and have us talk to Willie? Oh, yeah. 22:33.880 --> 22:38.880 Where does he live? Look, would you mind very much... How's that? 22:38.880 --> 22:44.880 I've got a terrible headache. Would you mind very much just driving around a while? 22:44.880 --> 22:48.880 I'd like to clear my head a little. I can't figure this thing out. 22:48.880 --> 22:53.880 All right. Why don't you roll down the window there, Buzz? 22:53.880 --> 23:01.880 Okay. Yeah. 23:01.880 --> 23:09.880 The air feels good. Sure is hot out tonight. Yeah, mm-hmm. 23:09.880 --> 23:13.880 Been a pretty long summer, hasn't it? Yeah, it has. 23:13.880 --> 23:18.880 Say, I guess maybe we ought to forget about going over to Willie's place. 23:18.880 --> 23:21.880 He strings along with the rest. He'd probably lie, too. 23:21.880 --> 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. 23:26.880 --> 23:30.880 It'd be better if we drove over to see Norma. That's the girl I'm engaged to. 23:30.880 --> 23:34.880 Yeah, that's what we understand. If anybody can give you a straight story, Norma can. 23:34.880 --> 23:38.880 She doesn't live far. Straight down the road here into San Marino? Yeah, we know. 23:38.880 --> 23:42.880 Oh. Sure would appreciate it if you'd drive over there. 23:42.880 --> 23:45.880 Okay. Norma can straighten this thing out. 23:45.880 --> 23:50.880 Well, girl, we're going to get married as soon as we can. Oh? Yeah. 23:50.880 --> 23:57.880 She saw me leave on that trip to Big Bear. She won't lie to you. 23:57.880 --> 24:04.880 Sure wish my aunt and uncle had left a note where they were going. All this trouble. 24:04.880 --> 24:08.880 You mind if I lay out a couple things for you, Buzz? How would he mean? 24:08.880 --> 24:12.880 When a police officer picks somebody up, he's got a good reason for it. 24:12.880 --> 24:15.880 Yeah, but Dave was lying, Sergeant. You know that. 24:15.880 --> 24:18.880 It's a lot more than what Dave had to say. Now, you've done something wrong. 24:18.880 --> 24:21.880 We don't know what exactly, but we've got an idea and we're going to find out. 24:21.880 --> 24:26.880 You can't prove anything. I got that cyanide for the garden. We used it around the house for different things. 24:26.880 --> 24:31.880 You don't use it in coffee cups. What happened, boy? Where's your aunt and uncle? 24:31.880 --> 24:35.880 Next turn for Norma's house, up by the signal, turn left. Yeah. 24:35.880 --> 24:39.880 Come on, Buzz. You know what happened. You're going to have to face it sooner or later. 24:39.880 --> 24:42.880 If it's not tonight, then tomorrow morning or tomorrow night or the night after. 24:42.880 --> 24:46.880 But I don't know what happened. The facts say you do. And they're not going to disappear. 24:46.880 --> 24:50.880 Now, you made the problem. It's going to stick out in front of you until you find an answer. 24:50.880 --> 24:54.880 How about it? Norma will know what to do. Wait till I talk to Norma. 24:54.880 --> 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. 24:57.880 --> 25:03.880 She'll know what to do. Can she find your aunt and uncle? 25:03.880 --> 25:08.880 Can she? How about the three checks? 25:08.880 --> 25:13.880 How about them? Can she explain those signatures that you forged? 25:13.880 --> 25:18.880 Maybe those fingerprints on the cyanide bottle. Can she help you out there? 25:18.880 --> 25:23.880 Now look, Buzz, I believe you. You love the girl. Do you want her mixed up in all this? 25:23.880 --> 25:27.880 Here we are, Jim. 25:27.880 --> 25:30.880 Okay. 25:30.880 --> 25:33.880 That's the right house, isn't it? 25:33.880 --> 25:36.880 Yeah. Now that's Norma's house. 25:36.880 --> 25:40.880 All right. What's it going to be? Do we go in? 25:40.880 --> 25:45.880 She'd cry. She'd only cry. Norma thinks a lot of me. 25:45.880 --> 25:46.880 Yeah? 25:46.880 --> 25:51.880 She's a swell girl. I don't want to have to tell her. She'd only cry. 25:51.880 --> 25:52.880 Yeah. 25:52.880 --> 25:55.880 I killed my aunt and uncle. 25:55.880 --> 26:03.880 8 p.m. Buzz Apperson directed us to drive to San Pedro to the west basin of the Los Angeles harbor. 26:03.880 --> 26:07.880 We got out of the car and followed him to the end of one of the piers. 26:07.880 --> 26:10.880 He told us his story and we put in a call to the office. 26:10.880 --> 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. 26:16.880 --> 26:20.880 We stood by and watched. Buzz Apperson, Ben and I. 26:20.880 --> 26:24.880 I put quite a bit of cyanide in the coffee. I had to be sure. 26:24.880 --> 26:26.880 How'd you manage to get both of them in the car? 26:26.880 --> 26:30.880 I waited till way after dark and then I dragged them out. 26:30.880 --> 26:35.880 Drove down to the end of the pier right here, put the car on low. 26:35.880 --> 26:41.880 It went over right where the diver went down, just this end of the barge. 26:41.880 --> 26:45.880 All right. There's lines up there. 26:48.880 --> 26:50.880 There's the first one. 26:50.880 --> 26:51.880 You better stand back here. 26:51.880 --> 26:54.880 Yeah, watch it. 26:56.880 --> 26:57.880 Okay, sir. 26:57.880 --> 26:59.880 Let's go. 27:04.880 --> 27:05.880 Buzz. 27:05.880 --> 27:08.880 Yeah, my aunt. 27:08.880 --> 27:14.880 Only one thing missing, Buzz. Sir, a reason. What'd you do it? 27:14.880 --> 27:17.880 I'm not sure anymore. 27:17.880 --> 27:23.880 Stolen car trouble, I guess. My trial was coming up. All that trouble. 27:23.880 --> 27:26.880 I didn't want my aunt and uncle to go through all that. 27:26.880 --> 27:28.880 You mean that's why you killed them? 27:28.880 --> 27:32.880 I think so. I didn't want them to be ashamed of me. 27:32.880 --> 27:34.880 That must sound funny. 27:34.880 --> 27:36.880 Nobody's gonna believe you. 27:36.880 --> 27:37.880 I suppose they don't. 27:37.880 --> 27:38.880 Yeah. 27:38.880 --> 27:47.880 Would it make any difference? 27:47.880 --> 27:52.880 The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. 27:52.880 --> 27:58.880 On December 15th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 92, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 27:58.880 --> 28:00.880 In a moment, the results of that trial. 28:00.880 --> 28:03.880 And now, here is our star, Jack Webb. 28:03.880 --> 28:04.880 Thank you. 28:04.880 --> 28:09.880 To successfully prosecute a criminal suspect, the working detective gathers all available physical evidence. 28:09.880 --> 28:14.880 And in the crime lab, this evidence is carefully selected and screened to determine its worth. 28:14.880 --> 28:15.880 So with a cigarette. 28:15.880 --> 28:20.880 The makers of Fatima select and buy the finest tobaccos, both Turkish and domestic. 28:20.880 --> 28:24.880 And these tobaccos are skillfully blended to make Fatima extra mild. 28:24.880 --> 28:28.880 Best of all, long cigarettes. Pack after pack, they're extra mild. 28:28.880 --> 28:38.880 If you're a long cigarette smoker like I am, smoke Fatima. 28:38.880 --> 28:43.880 Frank Buzz Apperson was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life imprisonment. 28:43.880 --> 28:49.880 He is now serving his term in the state penitentiary. 28:49.880 --> 28:53.880 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 28:53.880 --> 28:59.880 Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 28:59.880 --> 29:04.880 Fatima cigarettes, the best of all, long cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet from Los Angeles. 29:04.880 --> 29:23.880 Coming up, Duffy's Tavern. Be sure to hear Theatre Guild Sunday on NBC.