WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:07.000 The story you are about to hear is true. 00:11.000 --> 00:14.000 Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:14.000 --> 00:21.000 Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, brings you Dragnet. 00:21.000 --> 00:28.000 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a homicide detail. 00:28.000 --> 00:31.000 A newborn baby is taken from a hospital nursery. 00:31.000 --> 00:35.000 There's no trace of the infant. There's no trace of the abductor. 00:35.000 --> 00:40.000 Your job. Find them. 00:41.000 --> 00:45.000 You'll be amazed when you compare Fatima with other long cigarettes. 00:45.000 --> 00:46.000 Buy a pack of Fatimas. 00:46.000 --> 00:49.000 You'll find they now cost the same. 00:49.000 --> 00:52.000 Light a Fatima. Your first puff will tell you. 00:52.000 --> 00:54.000 Ah, that's different. 00:54.000 --> 00:56.000 Yes, what a difference. 00:56.000 --> 00:59.000 In Fatima, the difference is quality. 00:59.000 --> 01:07.000 You see, Fatima is the quality king size cigarette because it contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos superbly blended. 01:07.000 --> 01:14.000 And Fatima is extra mild with a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. 01:14.000 --> 01:22.000 Because of its quality, its extra mildness, its better flavor and aroma, Fatima has more than doubled its smokers coast to coast. 01:22.000 --> 01:24.000 Try comparing Fatima yourself. 01:24.000 --> 01:30.000 Fatimas now cost the same as other long cigarettes, but your first puff will tell you. 01:30.000 --> 01:32.000 Ah, that's different. 01:32.000 --> 01:35.000 Yes, in Fatima the difference is quality. 01:35.000 --> 01:42.000 Ask your dealer for Fatima, the quality king size cigarette, best of all long cigarettes. 01:42.000 --> 01:45.000 Start enjoying Fatima tomorrow. 01:45.000 --> 01:53.000 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 01:53.000 --> 02:03.000 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. 02:03.000 --> 02:10.000 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 02:10.000 --> 02:19.000 It was Thursday, January 28th. It was raining in Los Angeles. 02:19.000 --> 02:25.000 We were working the night watch out of homicide. My partner's Ben Romero, the boss's Captain Steed. My name's Fryden. 02:25.000 --> 02:30.000 It was 11.35 p.m. when we got to Mercy Hospital on Norwich Avenue, the main entrance. 02:30.000 --> 02:36.000 Better check at the desk. 02:36.000 --> 02:38.000 Yeah. 02:38.000 --> 02:43.000 2B, right away on the... 02:43.000 --> 02:45.000 2B, Wayne. 02:45.000 --> 02:46.000 Yes, sir? 02:46.000 --> 02:48.000 Police officers, we received a call from the hospital here. 02:48.000 --> 02:49.000 Oh, yes, sir, right this way, please. 02:49.000 --> 02:51.000 Yes, ma'am. 02:51.000 --> 02:52.000 Dr. Walsh is waiting for you. 02:52.000 --> 02:53.000 Is he the man in charge? 02:53.000 --> 02:55.000 Oh, no, Dr. Walsh is the head of the hospital. 02:55.000 --> 02:57.000 I see. 02:57.000 --> 02:58.000 Please, Dr. Walsh. 02:58.000 --> 03:00.000 All right, come in, please. Come in. 03:00.000 --> 03:01.000 Thank you, ma'am. 03:01.000 --> 03:05.000 Yes, sir. 03:05.000 --> 03:06.000 Dr. Walsh. 03:05.000 --> 03:07.000 How do you do? 03:07.000 --> 03:09.000 This is my partner, Sergeant Romero. My name's Fryden. 03:09.000 --> 03:10.000 Yes, sir. 03:10.000 --> 03:11.000 I've been waiting for you. 03:11.000 --> 03:12.000 Have a seat, please. 03:12.000 --> 03:13.000 Thank you. 03:12.000 --> 03:14.000 Thank you, sir. 03:14.000 --> 03:16.000 Gentlemen, I just got here a few moments ago myself. 03:16.000 --> 03:18.000 No doubt you know as much about this as I do. 03:18.000 --> 03:20.000 We were notified that a three-day-old baby's missing. Is that correct? 03:20.000 --> 03:22.000 Yes, one of the Stryker twins. 03:22.000 --> 03:23.000 The bond used Tuesday morning. 03:23.000 --> 03:25.000 Where'd the baby disappear from, doctor? 03:25.000 --> 03:27.000 The nursery. I can't understand how it could happen. 03:27.000 --> 03:28.000 I've never heard of such a thing. 03:28.000 --> 03:29.000 Who was in charge of the nursery? 03:29.000 --> 03:32.000 Nurse O'Connor. She's back with the superintendent of nurses. 03:32.000 --> 03:33.000 Quite upset. 03:33.000 --> 03:34.000 Would you like to talk to her? 03:34.000 --> 03:35.000 Yes, sir, we would. 03:35.000 --> 03:36.000 All right. 03:36.000 --> 03:37.000 Thank you. 03:43.000 --> 03:45.000 I can't understand it. How could a baby disappear like that? 03:45.000 --> 03:47.000 Have the parents been notified? 03:47.000 --> 03:49.000 Father's on his way in now. He hasn't told the mother yet. 03:49.000 --> 03:50.000 Mm-hmm. 03:50.000 --> 03:52.000 When did they first notice the baby was gone? 03:52.000 --> 03:54.000 I understand it was around 11 p.m. 03:54.000 --> 03:56.000 Call came into our office about 11.20. 03:56.000 --> 03:58.000 Go ahead, Sergeant. 03:58.000 --> 04:00.000 Nurse O'Connor? 04:00.000 --> 04:01.000 Yes, Dr. Walsh. 04:01.000 --> 04:03.000 These gentlemen are from the police department. 04:03.000 --> 04:04.000 Sergeant Romero, Sergeant Fryden. 04:04.000 --> 04:06.000 Oh, he may be. What did he do? 04:06.000 --> 04:08.000 He wanted to know all about what happened tonight. 04:08.000 --> 04:09.000 You know, of course, it's a serious matter. 04:09.000 --> 04:11.000 Try to tell exactly how it happened. 04:11.000 --> 04:12.000 I'll try, doctor. 04:12.000 --> 04:13.000 All right, officer. 04:13.000 --> 04:14.000 Thank you. 04:14.000 --> 04:16.000 Well, we know that you're probably pretty upset, nurse. 04:16.000 --> 04:17.000 Now you just relax and take your time. 04:17.000 --> 04:18.000 Yes, sir. 04:18.000 --> 04:21.000 When did you first notice that the Stryker baby was missing? 04:21.000 --> 04:23.000 Must have happened somewhere between 11 o'clock and 10 minutes past 11. 04:23.000 --> 04:24.000 I'm sure of that. 04:24.000 --> 04:26.000 How are you sure of that? 04:26.000 --> 04:27.000 I came on duty a few minutes before 11. 04:27.000 --> 04:29.000 I took the night reports as usual, 04:29.000 --> 04:31.000 and then I started checking the orders and the formulas. 04:31.000 --> 04:34.000 I remember very well that both the Stryker twins were in their cribs at that time. 04:34.000 --> 04:36.000 Mm-hmm. Go on, please. 04:36.000 --> 04:39.000 I think it must have been about five minutes past 11 when I got this phone call from home. 04:39.000 --> 04:41.000 My mother's been sick lately. It was about her. 04:41.000 --> 04:43.000 How far did you have to go to answer the phone? 04:43.000 --> 04:46.000 About 10 feet down the hall from the nursery, just around the corner. 04:46.000 --> 04:49.000 Could you see the entrance to the nursery from where you were talking on the phone? 04:49.000 --> 04:50.000 No, sir, I couldn't. 04:50.000 --> 04:52.000 I was only on the phone for a minute or two. 04:52.000 --> 04:54.000 As soon as I hung up, I came right back to the nursery. 04:54.000 --> 04:56.000 Was the telephone call actually from your mother? 04:56.000 --> 04:58.000 Yes, sir. My mother has a heart condition. 04:58.000 --> 05:00.000 She wanted me to be sure and have a prescription filled. 05:00.000 --> 05:02.000 What time was it when you got back to the nursery, owner? 05:02.000 --> 05:03.000 Can you remember that? 05:03.000 --> 05:05.000 It wasn't quite 10 minutes past 11, 05:05.000 --> 05:09.000 so I came back through the door into the nursery and noticed right away one of the cribs was empty. 05:09.000 --> 05:11.000 One of the Stryker twins was gone. 05:11.000 --> 05:13.000 Is there more than one entrance to the nursery, Miss O'Connor? 05:13.000 --> 05:16.000 Yes, sir, there are two entrances, but at night one of them's kept locked. 05:16.000 --> 05:19.000 Mm-hmm. Is it possible that somebody in the hospital, 05:19.000 --> 05:22.000 maybe a doctor, took the baby for examination or some kind of treatment? 05:22.000 --> 05:23.000 No, sir. 05:23.000 --> 05:26.000 Just as soon as I noticed the baby was gone, I went to the head nurse, 05:26.000 --> 05:28.000 and the two of us contacted everybody in the hospital. 05:28.000 --> 05:30.000 No one knew anything about it. 05:30.000 --> 05:34.000 Well, is it possible that the child's mother could have come down from the second floor and taken the baby? 05:34.000 --> 05:37.000 No, sir. Miss Stryker's been asleep since 10 o'clock. She's still asleep. 05:37.000 --> 05:41.000 Are there any other nurses or attendants working near the nursery when the baby disappeared? 05:41.000 --> 05:44.000 No. No reason for anyone besides myself to be around at that time. 05:44.000 --> 05:46.000 None of the cleaning people. They'd all gone home. 05:46.000 --> 05:49.000 Dr. Walsh, I wonder if we could have a look at the nursery now. 05:49.000 --> 05:52.000 Certainly, sir, I'd want Nurse O'Connor to come along. 05:52.000 --> 05:53.000 Yes, would you please? 05:53.000 --> 05:58.000 Yes, sir. 06:00.000 --> 06:03.000 This way, gentlemen. It's your town hall. 06:03.000 --> 06:05.000 What are the hospital visiting hours, doctor? 06:05.000 --> 06:08.000 The usual. 204 in the afternoon, 7 to 9 in the evenings. 06:08.000 --> 06:09.000 Quite strict about that. 06:09.000 --> 06:13.000 Do you know if all the visitors had left the hospital by 9 o'clock tonight? 06:13.000 --> 06:16.000 Of course I wasn't here, but the superintendent of nurses told me they had all left by 9. 06:16.000 --> 06:19.000 She's compiling a list of every visitor we had this evening. 06:19.000 --> 06:21.000 Good. They'll all have to be checked. 06:21.000 --> 06:23.000 Nursery's right here, officers. 06:23.000 --> 06:25.000 Mm-hmm. 06:25.000 --> 06:28.000 This empty crib just inside the window here. 06:28.000 --> 06:32.000 Yes, sir. It's where the baby was. You can see it's right next to the door here. 06:32.000 --> 06:35.000 I noticed that there's no blanket in the crib. Is that missing too? 06:35.000 --> 06:39.000 Yes, sir. The crib's just the way I found it when I came back from the telephone. I haven't touched it. 06:39.000 --> 06:42.000 Are there any marks of identification on the blanket or the clothing? 06:42.000 --> 06:45.000 Each one's stenciled. Mercy Hospital. Each baby wears an ID bracelet. 06:45.000 --> 06:49.000 Doctor, I wonder if we could have that crib brought out to have a check for possible fingerprints. 06:49.000 --> 06:50.000 Certainly, of course. 06:50.000 --> 06:53.000 Is this the other door to the nursery you mentioned, Mr. Conner? 06:53.000 --> 06:55.000 That's right, Sergeant. I checked it. It's locked. 06:55.000 --> 06:58.000 That large window on the other side of the nursery. Is that a stationary window? 06:58.000 --> 07:00.000 Yes, sir, it is. It faces onto a small court. 07:00.000 --> 07:02.000 Well, then whoever took the baby had to use this door. 07:02.000 --> 07:06.000 It's the only way they could have gotten in. Oh, excuse me a minute. I want to attend to the baby in there. 07:06.000 --> 07:08.000 Sure. 07:11.000 --> 07:12.000 Listen now, Jim. 07:12.000 --> 07:16.000 Yeah. Doctor, are there any other entrances open at night besides the main one? 07:16.000 --> 07:21.000 Not after 10 p.m. No. Just the main entrance. I know which one. There's a nurse on duty there at all times. 07:21.000 --> 07:24.000 How about the parents? Is there anything unusual there? 07:24.000 --> 07:29.000 No. Father's a working man. Mother's a housewife. Both the babies are perfectly normal. Nothing unusual at all. 07:29.000 --> 07:33.000 Three-day-old baby. They usually take a lot of careful handling, don't they? 07:33.000 --> 07:35.000 Yes, definitely. First week's always critical. 07:35.000 --> 07:40.000 And this thing, taking a three-day-old infant out in this weather, cold, rain. 07:40.000 --> 07:42.000 I'm afraid the odds are all against the child. 07:42.000 --> 07:46.000 You're sure the main entrance was the only one open after 10 o'clock? 07:46.000 --> 07:50.000 Yes. I can't understand it. How could anyone get that baby out of that hospital? How could they? 07:50.000 --> 07:52.000 We're not sure they did. 07:57.000 --> 08:02.000 Midnight. Three-day-old twin boy was missing from his crib in the hospital nursery. That's all we knew. 08:02.000 --> 08:06.000 We checked the list of possibilities. The baby could have been taken for ransom. 08:06.000 --> 08:10.000 Somebody wanted revenge on the Stryker family and decided on the baby as the best means. 08:10.000 --> 08:14.000 Maybe someone just wanted a child. Someone mentally unsound, a maniac, a pervert. 08:14.000 --> 08:18.000 Maybe an accident had happened at the hospital. Somebody wanted to cover up. 08:18.000 --> 08:24.000 Possibly one of the parents or their families had a motive. Perhaps somebody just wanted the child dead. 08:24.000 --> 08:29.000 We called the office and got out an APB on the Stryker baby and a description of the blanket and the clothing. 08:29.000 --> 08:35.000 Details of officers were alerted at the bus depots, railroad terminals, the airports, all public transportation facilities. 08:35.000 --> 08:41.000 Steps were taken to notify doctors, hospitals, sanitariums, anybody in any place where a three-day-old baby might be taken. 08:41.000 --> 08:45.000 The entire area around Mercy Hospital was canvassed. No information. 08:45.000 --> 08:50.000 The baby's crib was dusted for prints. No leads, no physical evidence. 08:50.000 --> 08:57.000 The investigation continued. When George Stryker, the father of the child, arrived, Ben and I met with him in the office of the hospital superintendent. 08:57.000 --> 09:01.000 Can we let people know about it? Newspapers and the radio? 09:01.000 --> 09:06.000 We've already covered that. Stories and pictures have gone out to the papers. We've notified the radio stations. 09:06.000 --> 09:08.000 They're getting our broadcast on. 09:08.000 --> 09:10.000 How am I going to tell my wife? 09:10.000 --> 09:14.000 Well, sir, there's only one thing that we can promise you. We'll do everything we can to find your baby. 09:14.000 --> 09:18.000 Well, isn't there something I can do? Isn't there some way I can help? 09:18.000 --> 09:21.000 This is just a remote possibility, Mr. Stryker, but you ought to know about it. 09:21.000 --> 09:22.000 What's that? 09:22.000 --> 09:28.000 In case anybody contacts you regarding your baby, in case they make any demands on you for money or anything else, we want you to notify us immediately. 09:28.000 --> 09:32.000 What could they expect to get from us? We own our home. That's about all. 09:32.000 --> 09:39.000 We just want to cover all the possibilities, Mr. Stryker. In case any demand at all is made, don't try to deal with the people, all right? 09:39.000 --> 09:41.000 Yes, sir, I understand. 09:41.000 --> 09:42.000 Sergeant? 09:42.000 --> 09:43.000 Yeah? 09:43.000 --> 09:46.000 One of the men from Homicide like to see outside, Sergeant, will leave us alone. 09:46.000 --> 09:49.000 Thank you, doctor. We'll have to go now, Mr. Stryker. We'll keep you informed. 09:49.000 --> 09:51.000 All right, thank you. 09:54.000 --> 09:55.000 Joe? 09:55.000 --> 09:56.000 Yeah, I'll leave us. 09:56.000 --> 09:57.000 Think we got something back here? 09:57.000 --> 09:58.000 Yes. 09:58.000 --> 10:01.000 And seen us and I with a night watch went out back to the side of the hospital that faces on Stacy Avenue. 10:01.000 --> 10:02.000 Yeah. 10:02.000 --> 10:05.000 Two doors back there just off the street. One of them's open. 10:09.000 --> 10:15.000 Together with Sergeant Believis and Dr. Walsh, the head of the hospital, we went back and examined the side door which opened onto Stacy Avenue. 10:15.000 --> 10:20.000 The latch was obviously foley. It took only slight pressure on the door to open it. 10:20.000 --> 10:24.000 The latch, both doorknobs and the door itself were dusted for prints. 10:24.000 --> 10:28.000 The entrance way and the immediate area were rechecked. No leads, no physical evidence. 10:28.000 --> 10:32.000 We traced an imaginary path from the open door to the nursery. 10:32.000 --> 10:37.000 We came to the conclusion that it could have been possible for an abductor to enter the hospital, make his way to the nursery, 10:37.000 --> 10:43.000 take the child from its crib in the absence of the night nurse, and leave by the same side door without being seen. 10:43.000 --> 10:48.000 Storekeepers and residents along Stacy Avenue were re-questioned. We got nowhere. 10:48.000 --> 10:54.000 When the abduction story broke in the newspaper and over the radio the next morning, the calls started to come in. 10:54.000 --> 10:58.000 People in practically all sections of the city thought that they'd seen the missing baby. 10:58.000 --> 11:01.000 Each call was carefully checked out. None of them paid off. 11:01.000 --> 11:04.000 Ten a.m. We checked back in at the office. 11:04.000 --> 11:09.000 I must be getting old, Joe. Can't seem to take these all-night sessions like I used to. 11:09.000 --> 11:14.000 I'm pretty tired. I drank too much coffee again. I got a sour stomach. 11:14.000 --> 11:18.000 Hi. Hi, Elizabeth. Hi. 11:18.000 --> 11:22.000 The stats office come up with that run for us yet? No, they're still working on it. 11:22.000 --> 11:25.000 How about that San Bernardino call? Yeah, they called back. 11:25.000 --> 11:29.000 They picked the woman up when she got off the bus, checked her and the baby out. Baby belongs to her. 11:29.000 --> 11:34.000 Anything else come in? All been checked out. The press called again. Want to know if there are any new leads. 11:34.000 --> 11:38.000 Sergeant Friday in here? Yes, sir. Can I help you? 11:38.000 --> 11:43.000 They told me in the business office to come down and see you. Surely. Come on in. Thanks. 11:43.000 --> 11:50.000 My name's Wallace. I'm the desk clerk down at the hotel on 11th Street, Bluebird Hotel. 11:50.000 --> 11:53.000 Yes, sir. I got some information. I'd like to talk to you. 11:53.000 --> 11:57.000 All right, sir. This is my partner Sergeant Romero. This is Sergeant Olivas. 11:57.000 --> 11:59.000 How are you? I'm well, sir. Wallace. 11:59.000 --> 12:04.000 What's the information about? Well, I got hold of a paper this morning. Read about that baby that's missing. 12:04.000 --> 12:07.000 Yes, sir. Imagine those people are pretty worried about the kid. 12:07.000 --> 12:10.000 Guess they'd like all the information they can get, huh? 12:10.000 --> 12:13.000 Looks like that hospital's in the jam, wouldn't you say? 12:13.000 --> 12:15.000 Well, what information do you have, Wallace? 12:15.000 --> 12:18.000 I guess those parents could sue the hospital if they wanted to, huh? 12:18.000 --> 12:21.000 Well, sir, all we're interested in is finding the baby. Can you help us there? 12:21.000 --> 12:23.000 Well, I don't know for sure. 12:23.000 --> 12:25.000 What are you trying to tell us? Have you seen the baby? 12:25.000 --> 12:29.000 Well, I may have. Do you happen to know if they're offering any reward for information? 12:29.000 --> 12:31.000 Well, I don't know where it'd come from. The father's a working man. 12:31.000 --> 12:35.000 Oh, don't get me wrong, Sergeant. I don't expect anything for any information I'd give them. 12:35.000 --> 12:41.000 Well, I don't make too much at the hotel. You know, if they wanted to show their gratitude in some way, just thought I'd mention it. 12:41.000 --> 12:44.000 Well, thank you, Wallace. Don't worry about that. Now, what's the information? 12:44.000 --> 12:49.000 Well, you know, I didn't mean anything by that. Anybody be glad to help out in a case like this. 12:49.000 --> 12:54.000 What I came in to tell you was a woman and a young baby checked in the hotel last night when I was on duty. 12:54.000 --> 12:55.000 What time? 12:55.000 --> 13:00.000 I think it was about 12 o'clock. The woman didn't have any baggage or anything, one little blanket around the kid. 13:00.000 --> 13:03.000 When I saw that story in the paper this morning, I got suspicious. 13:03.000 --> 13:05.000 Was the woman still registered at the hotel? 13:05.000 --> 13:07.000 She was. When I left, that was about an hour ago. 13:07.000 --> 13:09.000 What name did she register under, do you remember? 13:09.000 --> 13:12.000 No, I don't, but it's in the register. You can check it if you want. 13:12.000 --> 13:13.000 Where is the hotel? 13:13.000 --> 13:17.000 11th and Charleston, right in the corner. I'm sure it must be the kid you're looking for. 13:17.000 --> 13:18.000 Say, I hope you haven't got me wrong. 13:18.000 --> 13:19.000 How do you mean? 13:19.000 --> 13:22.000 About the reward, you know. I don't expect anything for this. 13:22.000 --> 13:24.000 We haven't got you wrong. 13:24.000 --> 13:35.000 At 35 a.m. it was still raining. Together with the desk clerk Wallace, we drove to the Bluebird Hotel on 11th Street. We checked the cards at the desk and found that the woman had registered under the name of Mrs. Harold Parks. 13:35.000 --> 13:39.000 The clerk on duty told us as far as he knew she was still in the room with the baby. 13:42.000 --> 13:44.000 The room is down this way, Sergeant. 13:44.000 --> 13:45.000 Okay. 13:45.000 --> 13:55.000 This is 116. Mrs. Parks. Mrs. Parks. 13:55.000 --> 13:57.000 You have a passkey with you, Wallace. 13:57.000 --> 13:58.000 Here you go. 13:58.000 --> 13:59.000 Thank you. 14:06.000 --> 14:07.000 There's nobody here. 14:07.000 --> 14:08.000 Wait a minute. 14:12.000 --> 14:13.000 What have you got? 14:13.000 --> 14:16.000 Small blanket. Check the lettering. 14:16.000 --> 14:17.000 Mercy Hospital. 14:27.000 --> 14:32.000 You are listening to Dragnet. Authentic stories of your police force in action. 14:35.000 --> 14:36.000 Oh, no. 14:38.000 --> 14:40.000 Ah, that's different. 14:40.000 --> 14:41.000 Yes, what a difference. 14:41.000 --> 14:47.000 There's a difference you can hear. There's a difference you can see. But the difference in Fatima is quality. 14:47.000 --> 14:54.000 Yes, friends. When you compare long cigarettes, you'll find that in Fatima the difference is quality. 14:54.000 --> 15:06.000 Quality of tobaccos, the finest Turkish and domestic varieties, extra mild and superbly blended to give you a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. 15:06.000 --> 15:13.000 Quality of manufacture. Smooth, plump cigarettes rolled in the finest paper money can buy. 15:13.000 --> 15:23.000 Quality even to the appearance of the bright, clean yellow package. Carefully wrapped and sealed to bring you Fatima's rich, fresh, extra mild flavor. 15:23.000 --> 15:29.000 Fatima's now cost the same as other long cigarettes, but your first puff will tell you. 15:29.000 --> 15:31.000 Ah, that's different. 15:31.000 --> 15:36.000 Yes, in Fatima the difference is quality. 15:38.000 --> 15:48.000 Ask your dealer for Fatima, the quality king-size cigarette. Best of all, long cigarettes. Start enjoying Fatima tomorrow. 15:48.000 --> 15:58.000 Friday, January 29th, 11 a.m. 15:58.000 --> 16:03.000 We were unable to locate the woman who had registered at the hotel under the name of Mrs. Parks. There was no sign of the baby. 16:03.000 --> 16:08.000 The blanket we found in the room was identified by hospital personnel as the same type used in the nursery. 16:08.000 --> 16:12.000 The room was checked for fingerprints and physical evidence. We found nothing. 16:12.000 --> 16:16.000 People in the adjoining rooms were questioned, but they could give us no information. 16:16.000 --> 16:21.000 We got a description of the woman who used the name Mrs. Parks from the desk clerk and we got out an all-points bulletin on her. 16:21.000 --> 16:25.000 Her hotel registration card was checked for handwriting and fingerprints. 16:25.000 --> 16:30.000 Captain Steed ordered an immediate canvas of all hotels, apartments, and rooming houses in the central area. 16:30.000 --> 16:36.000 The hotel clerks were shown mugshots of possible suspects. They failed to identify any of them. 16:36.000 --> 16:39.000 3 p.m. Friday, the search for the striker baby went on. 16:39.000 --> 16:43.000 Yeah, checked out all right. Okay, Gilfent. 16:43.000 --> 16:44.000 Anything? 16:44.000 --> 16:47.000 Gil and Zanis, check that Wilshire calls another phone. 16:47.000 --> 16:48.000 My name's John Lassos. 16:48.000 --> 16:49.000 Yeah? 16:49.000 --> 16:54.000 Roos and I were making the rounds of hotels out along Kiko. Stopped at a drug store for a cup of coffee. 16:54.000 --> 16:57.000 We talked to Druggist while we were there. He had a pretty good story for us. 16:57.000 --> 16:58.000 You got a light? 16:58.000 --> 16:59.000 Yeah. 16:59.000 --> 17:00.000 Here you go. 17:02.000 --> 17:04.000 Thanks. 17:04.000 --> 17:07.000 This drug store is two blocks from the hotel where the woman stayed. 17:07.000 --> 17:09.000 It's open all night. 17:09.000 --> 17:14.000 Druggist told us the woman answering this Mrs. Parks description came in about 1 p.m. 17:14.000 --> 17:15.000 Bought a whole raft of stuff. 17:15.000 --> 17:17.000 How do you mean? What kind of stuff? 17:17.000 --> 17:20.000 Everything for a baby. Bottles, nipples, dextrose, oil powder, you know, all that stuff. 17:20.000 --> 17:22.000 Was he sure of the woman's description? 17:22.000 --> 17:27.000 He gave it to us before we'd even mention what this Mrs. Parks looked like, right down to the color of her coat. 17:27.000 --> 17:29.000 Did she have the baby with her when she bought this stuff? 17:29.000 --> 17:33.000 Druggist said no. She even asked him if she could buy canned milk there. 17:33.000 --> 17:34.000 Where does it lead? 17:34.000 --> 17:35.000 How do you mean? 17:35.000 --> 17:38.000 Does he have any idea where the woman came from, where she went? 17:38.000 --> 17:41.000 No, but he said if she came back in again, he'd call us right away. 17:41.000 --> 17:45.000 He's going to notify the other clerks too. They'll keep us posted when he turns up. 17:45.000 --> 17:47.000 I got it. 17:48.000 --> 17:50.000 Homicide Friday. 17:50.000 --> 17:53.000 My name's Mrs. Lucy. I'm calling about that missing baby in the paper. 17:53.000 --> 17:55.000 Am I talking the right department? 17:55.000 --> 17:57.000 Yes, ma'am. Do you have any information on the case? 17:57.000 --> 18:00.000 I certainly have. I know where that striker baby is right now. 18:00.000 --> 18:01.000 Where's that, ma'am? 18:01.000 --> 18:03.000 Right next door. The Salazar's have him. 18:03.000 --> 18:04.000 What makes you so sure? 18:04.000 --> 18:07.000 It's perfectly obvious. That's all. It's not their baby. 18:07.000 --> 18:08.000 Why do you say that? 18:08.000 --> 18:12.000 That baby they have no more looks like Mr. Salazar. Mrs. Salazar and mine do. 18:12.000 --> 18:13.000 How do you mean, Mrs. Lucy? 18:13.000 --> 18:20.000 It's very simple. Mr. Salazar is dark, quite dark. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark complexion. His wife's the same way. 18:20.000 --> 18:21.000 Yes, ma'am. 18:21.000 --> 18:23.000 The baby they have is a blonde. 18:27.000 --> 18:32.000 Before I hung up, I got the woman's name and address and told her that we'd check out our neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Salazar. 18:32.000 --> 18:34.000 We weren't sure what it meant. It could be the real thing. 18:34.000 --> 18:37.000 It could be like a hundred other calls that we'd had in the last 12 hours. 18:37.000 --> 18:41.000 Ben and I got in the car and drove out to the Salazar home on Wonderland Avenue. 18:41.000 --> 18:44.000 We noticed several cars parked in the driveway and in front of the house. 18:44.000 --> 18:47.000 We went up the front stairs and rang the doorbell. 18:52.000 --> 18:53.000 Yes, sir? 18:53.000 --> 18:54.000 Come on in, please. 18:54.000 --> 18:55.000 Would you like to speak to Mr. Salazar? 18:55.000 --> 18:57.000 Yes, sir. That's me. Come on in. 18:57.000 --> 18:58.000 Thank you. 18:59.000 --> 19:02.000 Come inside. Let me fix you a drink. You're late, huh? 19:02.000 --> 19:05.000 No, thank you. We're police officers, Mr. Salazar. I'd like to ask you a few questions. 19:05.000 --> 19:08.000 Oh? What's the matter? Are we making too much noise for the neighbors? 19:08.000 --> 19:12.000 No, it's not that, sir. Just like to ask you a few questions. Some place we can talk. 19:12.000 --> 19:18.000 Well, I have to take care of the guests, you know. We have this party here. My son was baptized today, my first son. 19:18.000 --> 19:19.000 That's why we're having a party. 19:19.000 --> 19:22.000 Yes, sir. We're sorry to interrupt, but this is pretty important. It won't take very long. 19:22.000 --> 19:25.000 Well, all right. I guess I can get along for a few minutes. 19:25.000 --> 19:28.000 Back here in the kitchen. It's probably the quietest place. 19:28.000 --> 19:29.000 Fine. 19:29.000 --> 19:30.000 Back this way, officer. 19:30.000 --> 19:32.000 Fine. 19:36.000 --> 19:38.000 Over there. Pull up a couple chairs. 19:38.000 --> 19:39.000 Thank you. 19:41.000 --> 19:45.000 Uh, Mr. Salazar, this is my partner, Sergeant Romero. My name's Friday Homicide. 19:45.000 --> 19:48.000 Yes, sir. What's the matter? What do you want to ask me? 19:48.000 --> 19:51.000 We're investigating a case that involves a missing baby, sir. 19:51.000 --> 19:55.000 The one in the paper this morning. I read about that. It's a terrible thing, isn't it? 19:55.000 --> 19:58.000 Yes, sir, it is. We've had a report that the missing baby was seen in this neighborhood. 19:58.000 --> 20:01.000 We don't know how true it is, but we have orders to check it out. 20:01.000 --> 20:04.000 Well, sure, anything I can do. I don't know how much I can help, 20:04.000 --> 20:07.000 but I can understand how that mama and papa feel. 20:07.000 --> 20:09.000 My brand new son, I know how I'd feel. 20:09.000 --> 20:11.000 How old is your son, Mr. Salazar? 20:11.000 --> 20:15.000 He's just one week old this afternoon. Fine boy. 20:15.000 --> 20:17.000 Was the baby born here in Los Angeles? 20:17.000 --> 20:19.000 No, I sent my wife Roberta to Phoenix to have a baby. 20:19.000 --> 20:22.000 We thought it'd be a lot healthier for her down there. 20:22.000 --> 20:24.000 She has a good friend of hers in Phoenix. 20:24.000 --> 20:27.000 Oh, I see. Your wife had the baby in Phoenix, and then she brought him back here. 20:27.000 --> 20:30.000 Yes, that's right. Roberta came in early this morning. 20:30.000 --> 20:33.000 Big surprise for me. I didn't know she was coming. 20:33.000 --> 20:35.000 Right away, I called all our old friends. 20:35.000 --> 20:39.000 I called Father De Soto for the baptism, and I got things ready for the party. 20:39.000 --> 20:41.000 Big baptism party. 20:41.000 --> 20:43.000 You say your wife got back early this morning? 20:43.000 --> 20:45.000 Yes, a few minutes after three o'clock. 20:45.000 --> 20:49.000 Roberta came in on the plane. She said it was late. You know, a big storm. 20:49.000 --> 20:52.000 I wonder if we could talk to your wife, Mr. Salazar. 20:52.000 --> 20:55.000 Well, Roberta's taking a little nap right now. 20:55.000 --> 20:58.000 She's out in late, you know, all the excitement. 20:58.000 --> 20:59.000 Do we have to wake her up? 20:59.000 --> 21:02.000 Well, no, sir, not right away. I just wonder if we could see the baby. 21:02.000 --> 21:05.000 Well, the baby's sleeping, too. 21:05.000 --> 21:08.000 Roberta said not to go in, but... 21:08.000 --> 21:09.000 Well, if you're real quiet... 21:09.000 --> 21:11.000 Yes, sir, will be. 21:11.000 --> 21:14.000 Okay, he's right back here. 21:18.000 --> 21:20.000 Over here. 21:20.000 --> 21:23.000 Let me pull the blanket down. 21:23.000 --> 21:26.000 There he is. 21:26.000 --> 21:28.000 Big fella, huh? 21:28.000 --> 21:29.000 He's blonde. 21:29.000 --> 21:30.000 Huh? 21:30.000 --> 21:31.000 What do you think, you know? 21:31.000 --> 21:33.000 I think he's got a twin. 21:36.000 --> 21:40.000 Five p.m., Harland Stahl from Leighton Fingerprints arrived at the Salazar home. 21:40.000 --> 21:45.000 The footprint of the missing child taken at the time of birth was compared with the print from the child the Salazars had. 21:45.000 --> 21:48.000 The prints were identified as the same as the child's. 21:48.000 --> 21:50.000 The missing baby had been found. 21:50.000 --> 21:54.000 Five twenty p.m. Ben and I talked with Mrs. Salazar in the kitchen of her home. 21:54.000 --> 21:56.000 The christening party went on. 21:56.000 --> 22:00.000 I don't think I understand what this is all about, officer. 22:00.000 --> 22:02.000 What has my baby got to do with all this? 22:02.000 --> 22:06.000 You know as well as we do, Mrs. Salazar, that baby in there doesn't belong to you. 22:06.000 --> 22:08.000 It's not yours. 22:08.000 --> 22:10.000 What do you mean it's not mine? 22:10.000 --> 22:12.000 Of course it's my baby. 22:12.000 --> 22:14.000 My husband said mine. 22:14.000 --> 22:16.000 I just brought him from Phoenix last night. 22:16.000 --> 22:18.000 That's where the baby was born. 22:18.000 --> 22:20.000 What are you trying to do to me? 22:20.000 --> 22:22.000 That baby isn't yours, Mrs. Salazar. 22:22.000 --> 22:24.000 Now you know that. It was taken from the hospital. 22:24.000 --> 22:26.000 How about the truth? 22:26.000 --> 22:28.000 You don't know what you're saying. You don't know what you're talking about. 22:28.000 --> 22:30.000 It's my baby. 22:30.000 --> 22:32.000 He was baptized today. 22:32.000 --> 22:34.000 He went to my Salazar. 22:34.000 --> 22:36.000 It's my baby. 22:36.000 --> 22:38.000 This is a pretty serious matter, ma'am. 22:38.000 --> 22:40.000 The baby's footprint has been checked out. 22:40.000 --> 22:42.000 The child belongs to a Mrs. Stryker. 22:42.000 --> 22:44.000 We want to know how you happened to know that. 22:44.000 --> 22:46.000 Because he's my baby. 22:46.000 --> 22:48.000 That's why I have him. 22:48.000 --> 22:50.000 You don't know what a mistake you're making. 22:50.000 --> 22:52.000 He's my baby. 22:52.000 --> 22:54.000 I brought him from Phoenix last night. 22:54.000 --> 22:56.000 You can ask my husband. He'll tell you. 22:56.000 --> 22:58.000 A woman checked in at the Bluebird Hotel on 11th Street 22:58.000 --> 23:00.000 about midnight last night, Mrs. Salazar. 23:00.000 --> 23:02.000 She had a young baby with her. 23:02.000 --> 23:04.000 You fill her description. 23:04.000 --> 23:06.000 I didn't go to a hotel last night. 23:06.000 --> 23:08.000 The plane landed here from Phoenix. 23:08.000 --> 23:10.000 I came right home. 23:10.000 --> 23:12.000 The hotel clerk remembers you. He can identify you. 23:12.000 --> 23:14.000 So can the druggist when you bought the supplies, Ron. 23:14.000 --> 23:16.000 I bought nothing. The plane landed. 23:16.000 --> 23:18.000 I came home. He's my baby. 23:18.000 --> 23:20.000 He's my baby. 23:20.000 --> 23:22.000 We found the baby's blanket in the hotel room you rented. 23:22.000 --> 23:24.000 We have your description from at least three people, 23:24.000 --> 23:26.000 even the color of the coat you wore last night. 23:26.000 --> 23:28.000 You can't take him away. He belongs to me. 23:28.000 --> 23:30.000 Me and friend, you can't take him away. 23:30.000 --> 23:32.000 Please, you can't. 23:32.000 --> 23:36.000 Mrs. Salazar, why don't you put yourself in the place of the real mother of that baby? 23:36.000 --> 23:40.000 How do you think she feels about her baby being taken away? 23:40.000 --> 23:42.000 How about it, Mrs. Salazar? 23:44.000 --> 23:46.000 Have a drink, officer, please. 23:46.000 --> 23:48.000 For the party. 23:50.000 --> 23:52.000 Have a drink, I'll tell you. 23:52.000 --> 23:54.000 Tell us what, ma'am? 23:54.000 --> 23:56.000 I'm tired. Let me sit down. 23:58.000 --> 24:00.000 Here you are. 24:00.000 --> 24:02.000 It's for a few minutes. 24:02.000 --> 24:04.000 I'll tell you how it happened. 24:04.000 --> 24:06.000 I know you... 24:06.000 --> 24:08.000 you understand. 24:08.000 --> 24:10.000 Yes, ma'am. 24:10.000 --> 24:12.000 It'll be 11 years next month 24:12.000 --> 24:14.000 that Frank and I were married. 24:14.000 --> 24:16.000 I don't have to tell you, we want a baby. 24:16.000 --> 24:18.000 Frank always wanted a baby. 24:18.000 --> 24:20.000 But no more than I did. 24:20.000 --> 24:22.000 It's what we live for. 24:22.000 --> 24:24.000 A baby of our own. 24:24.000 --> 24:26.000 Yes, ma'am. 24:26.000 --> 24:28.000 Boy or girl, we didn't care. 24:28.000 --> 24:30.000 But we didn't have one. 24:30.000 --> 24:32.000 For 11 years, we didn't have one. 24:32.000 --> 24:34.000 But we didn't have one. 24:34.000 --> 24:36.000 For 11 years, we didn't have one. 24:36.000 --> 24:38.000 But last April, 24:38.000 --> 24:40.000 that's when the doctor told me. 24:40.000 --> 24:42.000 He said I was going to have a baby. 24:42.000 --> 24:44.000 He said I was going to have a baby. 24:44.000 --> 24:46.000 Yes, ma'am, I understand. 24:46.000 --> 24:48.000 Well, a month before the baby was born, 24:48.000 --> 24:50.000 we thought it would be better 24:50.000 --> 24:52.000 if I went to my friend's place in Phoenix, 24:52.000 --> 24:54.000 our son. 24:54.000 --> 24:56.000 For the winter, you know, it would be warmer there. 24:56.000 --> 24:58.000 And Frank thought it would be nicer 24:58.000 --> 25:00.000 for me and the baby. 25:00.000 --> 25:02.000 Your husband was still in Los Angeles? 25:02.000 --> 25:04.000 Yes, he tried to come to Phoenix, 25:04.000 --> 25:06.000 but he had to work, so 25:06.000 --> 25:08.000 I had my baby alone. 25:08.000 --> 25:10.000 I had my baby alone. 25:10.000 --> 25:12.000 It was a boy. 25:12.000 --> 25:14.000 My friend was with me. 25:14.000 --> 25:16.000 She'll tell you it was a boy. 25:16.000 --> 25:18.000 Yes, ma'am. 25:18.000 --> 25:20.000 I kept calling for him to bring my baby. 25:20.000 --> 25:22.000 I kept calling for him to bring my baby. 25:22.000 --> 25:24.000 It was a long time I kept calling. 25:24.000 --> 25:26.000 Then they finally came. 25:26.000 --> 25:28.000 And the doctor, too. 25:28.000 --> 25:30.000 And here's the one that told me. 25:30.000 --> 25:32.000 Yes, ma'am. 25:32.000 --> 25:34.000 He looked just like his father. 25:34.000 --> 25:36.000 I know that. 25:36.000 --> 25:38.000 But they told me he was dead. 25:38.000 --> 25:40.000 But they told me he was dead. 25:40.000 --> 25:42.000 I don't remember much after that, 25:42.000 --> 25:44.000 Sergeant. I got out of the hospital 25:44.000 --> 25:46.000 and then I took the plane 25:46.000 --> 25:48.000 and I came back here. 25:48.000 --> 25:50.000 It was dark and it was raining. 25:50.000 --> 25:52.000 But I walked around. 25:52.000 --> 25:54.000 I walked up and down the streets 25:54.000 --> 25:56.000 thinking, what could I tell Frank? 25:56.000 --> 25:58.000 Baby was dead. 25:58.000 --> 26:00.000 That's all I could tell him. 26:00.000 --> 26:02.000 Baby was dead. That's all I could tell him. 26:02.000 --> 26:04.000 Then I walked past the hospital. 26:04.000 --> 26:06.000 Then I walked past the hospital. 26:06.000 --> 26:08.000 That was Mercy Hospital, no? 26:08.000 --> 26:10.000 Yes. And it was raining. 26:10.000 --> 26:12.000 And I could see all those babies inside. 26:12.000 --> 26:14.000 Warm and in their cribs. 26:14.000 --> 26:16.000 And I wanted just one of them. 26:16.000 --> 26:18.000 And I wanted just one of them. 26:18.000 --> 26:20.000 Just one. 26:20.000 --> 26:22.000 Just one. 26:22.000 --> 26:24.000 For Frank and me. 26:24.000 --> 26:26.000 So I went in the side door and I found 26:26.000 --> 26:28.000 the nursery. 26:28.000 --> 26:30.000 The nurse was gone. 26:30.000 --> 26:32.000 I took him and left. 26:32.000 --> 26:34.000 I took him and left. 26:34.000 --> 26:36.000 My baby. 26:36.000 --> 26:38.000 I went to the hotel to keep him out of the rain. 26:38.000 --> 26:40.000 I went to the hotel to keep him out of the rain. 26:40.000 --> 26:42.000 And when it cleared a little, I took him home. 26:42.000 --> 26:44.000 I took him home to Frank. 26:44.000 --> 26:46.000 I took my baby home. 26:46.000 --> 26:48.000 I took my baby home. 26:50.000 --> 26:52.000 That's why you want my baby, isn't it? 26:52.000 --> 26:54.000 Because I took him? 26:54.000 --> 26:56.000 Because my baby died and I took him? 26:56.000 --> 26:58.000 Because my baby died and I took him? 27:00.000 --> 27:02.000 Everything will be alright, Miss Salazar. 27:02.000 --> 27:04.000 I think we can straighten it out. 27:06.000 --> 27:08.000 Roberta? 27:08.000 --> 27:10.000 You talked to the officers? 27:10.000 --> 27:12.000 Frank, what do you want me to say? 27:12.000 --> 27:14.000 Frank, what do you want me to say? 27:14.000 --> 27:16.000 It'll be alright, officers. 27:16.000 --> 27:18.000 Won't everything be alright? 27:18.000 --> 27:20.000 Yes, sir. I think we can work it out. 27:20.000 --> 27:22.000 What could I tell you, Frank? 27:22.000 --> 27:24.000 What could I tell you, Frank? 27:24.000 --> 27:26.000 What was there to say to you? 27:26.000 --> 27:28.000 It's alright, honey. 27:28.000 --> 27:30.000 It's alright. 27:30.000 --> 27:32.000 I'll go out and tell the people now. 27:32.000 --> 27:34.000 I'll go out and tell the people now. 27:34.000 --> 27:36.000 And what can you say? 27:36.000 --> 27:38.000 What can you tell them? 27:38.000 --> 27:40.000 The party's over. 27:40.000 --> 27:42.000 It was just a mistake. 27:46.000 --> 27:48.000 The story you have just heard was true. 27:48.000 --> 27:50.000 Only the names were changed 27:50.000 --> 27:52.000 to protect the innocent. 27:52.000 --> 27:54.000 In a moment, the results of the trial. 27:54.000 --> 27:56.000 Now here is our star, Jack Webb. 27:56.000 --> 27:58.000 Thank you. 27:58.000 --> 28:00.000 Last week I asked you to write me 28:00.000 --> 28:02.000 if your cigarette dealer was out of Fatimas. 28:02.000 --> 28:04.000 You did, and we've done something about it. 28:04.000 --> 28:06.000 Now if any more of you find a dealer 28:06.000 --> 28:08.000 fresh out of Fatimas, 28:08.000 --> 28:10.000 send me his name and address. 28:10.000 --> 28:12.000 We'll take care of that, too. 28:12.000 --> 28:14.000 Write me, Jack Webb, 28:14.000 --> 28:16.000 Post Office Box 951, 28:16.000 --> 28:18.000 Hollywood 28. 28:18.000 --> 28:20.000 And Mr. Dealer, 28:20.000 --> 28:22.000 don't wait another day. 28:22.000 --> 28:24.000 Step up your Fatima order for Thanksgiving 28:24.000 --> 28:26.000 and the coming holidays. 28:26.000 --> 28:28.000 Get in on the increasing demand for Fatima. 28:28.000 --> 28:30.000 The quality long cigarette. 28:36.000 --> 28:38.000 Roberta Salazar was examined by six psychiatrists 28:38.000 --> 28:40.000 and was ordered to be placed 28:40.000 --> 28:42.000 in a state mental institution for treatment. 28:42.000 --> 28:44.900 The 28:46.000 --> 28:48.000 You have just heard Dragnet, 28:48.000 --> 28:50.000 a series of authentic cases portions transcribed 28:50.000 --> 28:52.000 from official files. 28:52.000 --> 28:54.000 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police 28:54.000 --> 28:56.000 W.H. Parker, 28:56.000 --> 28:58.000 Los Angeles Police Department. 29:00.000 --> 29:02.000 Coming up, We the People, 29:02.000 --> 29:04.000 then Screen Director's Playhouse 29:04.000 --> 29:12.000 on NBC.