WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:05.600 Ladies and gentlemen, Fatima Cigarettes is proud to bring you its prize-winning radio program, 00:05.600 --> 00:08.600 winner of the Motion Picture Herald Fame Award. 00:08.600 --> 00:17.600 The story you are about to hear is true. 00:17.600 --> 00:20.600 Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:20.600 --> 00:33.600 Fatima Cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, brings you Dragnet. 00:33.600 --> 00:35.600 You're a detective sergeant. 00:35.600 --> 00:38.000 You're assigned to juvenile bureau. 00:38.000 --> 00:41.800 You receive a complaint about an eight-year-old boy and his sister. 00:41.800 --> 00:45.800 A neighbor reports they've been going from door to door begging for food. 00:45.800 --> 00:48.900 Supposedly the children are from well-to-do parents. 00:48.900 --> 00:54.600 Your job, investigate. 00:54.600 --> 00:59.100 You'll be amazed when you compare Fatima with other long cigarettes. 00:59.100 --> 01:01.900 You'll find they now cost the same. 01:01.900 --> 01:05.400 But in Fatima, the difference is quality. 01:05.400 --> 01:14.400 You see, Fatima is the quality king-size cigarette because it contains the finest Turkish and domestic tobaccos superbly blended. 01:14.400 --> 01:21.900 And Fatima is extra mild with a much different, much better flavor and aroma than any other long cigarette. 01:21.900 --> 01:24.400 So compare Fatima yourself. 01:24.400 --> 01:30.900 Fatima's now cost the same as other long cigarettes, but your first puff will tell you, 01:30.900 --> 01:33.400 Ah, that's different. 01:33.400 --> 01:37.400 Yes, in Fatima, the difference is quality. 01:37.400 --> 01:42.400 Ask your dealer for Fatima, the quality king-size cigarette. 01:42.400 --> 01:45.400 Best of all, long cigarettes. 01:45.400 --> 01:48.400 Start enjoying Fatima tomorrow. 01:48.400 --> 01:57.400 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 01:57.400 --> 02:01.400 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, 02:01.400 --> 02:07.400 you will travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. 02:07.400 --> 02:16.400 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 02:16.400 --> 02:20.400 It was Tuesday, April 27th. It was overcast in Los Angeles. 02:20.400 --> 02:22.400 We were working the day watch out of Juvenile Bureau. 02:22.400 --> 02:26.400 My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Kinsley. My name's Friday. 02:26.400 --> 02:36.400 I was on the way back from communications. It was 4.38 p.m. when I got to 1335 Georgia Street, second floor, room 14. 02:36.400 --> 02:42.400 Hi, Jill. Been waiting long? I was just checking my records. 02:42.400 --> 02:43.400 No, I just got here. 02:43.400 --> 02:44.400 What's this thing all about? 02:44.400 --> 02:49.400 Well, just what I told you on the phone, a seven-year-old boy and his sister covering the neighborhood begging food. 02:49.400 --> 02:50.400 You ready to go? 02:50.400 --> 02:51.400 Yeah, let me put this away first. 02:51.400 --> 02:52.400 All right. 02:52.400 --> 02:55.400 Kids are supposed to be from a wealthy family, huh? 02:55.400 --> 02:58.400 Well, wealthy enough to live in the best part of Bel Air, yeah. 02:58.400 --> 03:01.400 Doesn't make much sense. Must be some kind of a gag, huh? 03:01.400 --> 03:03.400 No, not according to the neighbor who called in. 03:03.400 --> 03:04.400 Yeah? 03:04.400 --> 03:08.400 They were half-starved. 03:08.400 --> 03:11.400 Ben and I got in the car and drove out Sunset Boulevard to the Bel Air District. 03:11.400 --> 03:16.400 We pulled up in front of a large two-story home near the corner of Brookline Avenue and Knightsbridge Drive. 03:16.400 --> 03:22.400 It was a white-frame colonial mansion set back in the middle of well-landscaped lawns and gardens. 03:22.400 --> 03:26.400 The other homes in the neighborhood were just as large, $50,000 and up. 03:26.400 --> 03:31.400 It was the last place in the city that you'd expect to find neighborhood children begging food. 03:31.400 --> 03:36.400 5.20 p.m. We went around to the rear entrance of the colonial mansion as we'd been instructed on the phone. 03:36.400 --> 03:40.400 We located the woman who'd called in the complaint, a Miss Jeanette Bajan. 03:40.400 --> 03:43.400 She was employed as laundress and cook by the owners of the house. 03:43.400 --> 03:46.400 She was busy fixing dinner. 03:46.400 --> 03:56.400 They're from next door, officer. The children. 03:56.400 --> 04:01.400 As I explained on the phone, a boy about seven years, a girl about five years old, I guess. 04:01.400 --> 04:04.400 Which side do they live on, Miss Bajan? The house on the corner? 04:04.400 --> 04:09.400 No, the other side. Up here. Brown and White House. Just up the street next door. 04:09.400 --> 04:11.400 Mm-hmm. Are there children there now? Do you know that? 04:11.400 --> 04:16.400 No, but they were here this afternoon again. Here to the back door asking for something to eat. 04:16.400 --> 04:18.400 I don't understand it. Something must be wrong. 04:18.400 --> 04:20.400 When have they been around often, Miss Bajan? 04:20.400 --> 04:23.400 Two or three days. Maybe four days. 04:23.400 --> 04:28.400 At first I thought they were fooling, but they were not. I gave them some cookies, sandwiches. 04:28.400 --> 04:31.400 They were very hungry. They ate them like they were starving. 04:31.400 --> 04:34.400 The little girl saved her cookies. She took them with her. 04:34.400 --> 04:36.400 How about their parents? Are they at home? 04:36.400 --> 04:43.400 Excuse me. Let's ask. 04:43.400 --> 04:46.400 There. That's there. 04:46.400 --> 04:51.400 No, I haven't seen the mother the last few days. I understand they are divorced. 04:51.400 --> 04:54.400 The mother, she lives there with the children. The father, I don't know. 04:54.400 --> 04:55.400 What's their name, Dina? 04:55.400 --> 05:01.400 Kessler. Madame, the woman I work for, she says there are three children in the Kessler family. 05:01.400 --> 05:05.400 But I don't know. I have only seen the two. The boy and the girl. 05:05.400 --> 05:08.400 I would go over and see what is wrong, but I do not know the Kessler. 05:08.400 --> 05:11.400 It is not my place. That's why I called you, Officer. 05:11.400 --> 05:13.400 All right, Miss Bajan. Well, thank you very much. 05:13.400 --> 05:17.400 Not at all, Officer. You understand, I do not mind giving the children food. 05:17.400 --> 05:20.400 Well, I think only something is wrong if they do not get it at home. 05:20.400 --> 05:23.400 Well, thank you very much for notifying us. We're going to check into it. 05:23.400 --> 05:27.400 I'm just a little curious, Miss Bajan. What set you make? 05:27.400 --> 05:29.400 This? Napoleon. 05:29.400 --> 05:30.400 How's that? 05:30.400 --> 05:33.400 Napoleon. You know, Napoleon, pastry. 05:33.400 --> 05:38.400 Oh, oh yeah. Sure smells good. Well, thanks again. 05:38.400 --> 05:42.400 Certainly, Officer. If there is anything I can do, you will let me know? 05:42.400 --> 05:44.400 Yes, ma'am, we will. Goodbye. 05:44.400 --> 05:45.400 Goodbye. 05:45.400 --> 05:51.400 Goodbye. 05:51.400 --> 05:52.400 It's a beautiful place. 05:52.400 --> 05:53.400 Yes. 05:53.400 --> 05:56.400 Those Swedish women make pretty good cooks, don't they? 05:56.400 --> 05:58.400 I don't know. She sounded French to me. 05:58.400 --> 06:02.400 Huh? Maybe so. Most good at cooking, anyhow. 06:02.400 --> 06:04.400 Yes. 06:04.400 --> 06:07.400 Yes, the Brown and White House next door, that must be it, huh? 06:07.400 --> 06:11.400 Is that name Kessler? They're fairly prominent around town, society? 06:11.400 --> 06:15.400 I don't know. There's quite a few of them. Could be. Any way you look at it, it's hard to figure, isn't it? 06:15.400 --> 06:21.400 Kids have been at it for four days. If it's on a level, they really must be in a bind. 06:21.400 --> 06:25.400 Garage door is open back there. No sign of a car. 06:25.400 --> 06:27.400 Kids' bicycles, huh? 06:27.400 --> 06:29.400 Let's try the front door, huh? 06:29.400 --> 06:38.400 Mm-hmm. 06:38.400 --> 06:41.400 I guess we better try again, huh? 06:41.400 --> 06:45.400 Yeah. 06:45.400 --> 06:46.400 Yes, sir? 06:46.400 --> 06:48.400 Hello, son. Your name's Kessler, is that right? 06:48.400 --> 06:53.400 Yes, I'm Richard. My mother's not home right now. Maybe you can come back tomorrow. 06:53.400 --> 06:57.400 We're police officers, Richard. If you're not busy, we'd like to talk to you for a minute. Is that all right? 06:57.400 --> 07:00.400 Oh, yes, sir. That'd be all right. Would you come in, please? 07:00.400 --> 07:03.400 Thank you. 07:03.400 --> 07:07.400 Richard Kessler was a blond-haired, wiry boy, polite, well-mannered. 07:07.400 --> 07:11.400 He told us that he was eight years old and he attended the neighborhood grammar school. 07:11.400 --> 07:15.400 He showed us back to the kitchen where he was warming a can of soup that he borrowed from a neighbor. 07:15.400 --> 07:19.400 It was a large house, richly furnished, but it hadn't been cleaned for weeks. 07:19.400 --> 07:23.400 Dust was piled up thick on the furniture, and children's books and toys were scattered around the rooms 07:23.400 --> 07:27.400 along with scraps of dried bread, half-eaten. 07:27.400 --> 07:29.400 The house was cold and musty. 07:29.400 --> 07:35.400 On a small bar in the dining room, there were three half-filled cocktail glasses, a plate full of cigarette butts. 07:35.400 --> 07:37.400 Evidently, they'd been standing there for days. 07:37.400 --> 07:43.400 On the sink in the kitchen, there were a few pieces of stale bread and an open bottle of milk that had turned sour. 07:43.400 --> 07:46.400 Next to it were a half a dozen empty whiskey bottles. 07:46.400 --> 07:49.400 The Kessler boy was well dressed except for the shirt that he had on, 07:49.400 --> 07:51.400 as if he'd been wearing it for a week. 07:51.400 --> 07:54.400 What did you want to talk to me about, officer? I haven't done anything wrong. 07:54.400 --> 07:58.400 Oh, we know that, son. We'd just like to find out how you've been getting along. 07:58.400 --> 08:03.400 I've been getting along all right. Two A's and four B's on my report card last month. 08:03.400 --> 08:05.400 Where's your sister, Dick? 08:05.400 --> 08:08.400 Judy, she's down the street. She'll be back in a minute. 08:08.400 --> 08:10.400 How about your mother? Where's she? 08:10.400 --> 08:12.400 She's out too. She'll be back. 08:12.400 --> 08:14.400 When do you expect her to come? 08:14.400 --> 08:17.400 Pretty soon. She's coming back pretty soon. 08:17.400 --> 08:20.400 Your sister, Judy, she's younger than you are, isn't she, Dick? 08:20.400 --> 08:23.400 Yes. Judy's only six. I made. 08:23.400 --> 08:25.400 Any other grownups live here with you beside your mother? 08:25.400 --> 08:29.400 No. Mom takes care of us. She'll be back pretty soon. 08:29.400 --> 08:32.400 We'd like to have you tell us the truth now, Dick. How long has she been gone? 08:32.400 --> 08:35.400 I don't know. Probably important. 08:35.400 --> 08:40.400 She's been here a long time. She can come back tomorrow. She'll probably be here then. 08:40.400 --> 08:43.400 When was the last time you saw her, son? 08:44.400 --> 08:45.400 Son, how about that? 08:45.400 --> 08:47.400 A couple of days ago. 08:47.400 --> 08:50.400 Well, this is Tuesday. You mean she left the house Sunday? 08:50.400 --> 08:53.400 No, before that. Last Friday night she went out. 08:53.400 --> 08:55.400 Said she'd be back. I don't know. 08:55.400 --> 08:57.400 Did your mother say where she was going, Dick? 08:57.400 --> 08:59.400 No. Her boyfriend was here. 08:59.400 --> 09:04.400 I don't know his last name. Mom went out with him to a party, I think. 09:04.400 --> 09:07.400 I don't know where. She'll be back all right. 09:07.400 --> 09:09.400 Did you leave anyone to take care of? 09:09.400 --> 09:11.400 No, we can take care of ourselves. 09:11.400 --> 09:15.400 I'm going to be sick of cooking, though. I don't know how yet. 09:15.400 --> 09:17.400 I'd better look at the soup on the stove. 09:17.400 --> 09:19.400 I'll take care of it, son. Go ahead. Sit down. 09:19.400 --> 09:22.400 Has your mother ever left you like this before, son? 09:23.400 --> 09:25.400 Maybe once or twice. 09:25.400 --> 09:28.400 She never stayed away this long, though. 09:28.400 --> 09:30.400 I don't know. 09:30.400 --> 09:32.400 What's the matter, Dick? 09:32.400 --> 09:35.400 Well, Johnny, officer. My little brother. 09:35.400 --> 09:37.400 He hasn't eaten much for a while. 09:37.400 --> 09:40.400 Must be hungry by now. I was fixing the soup for him. 09:40.400 --> 09:42.400 Where's Johnny? 09:42.400 --> 09:44.400 He's upstairs in the nursery. 09:44.400 --> 09:46.400 He's been sick with a bad cold. 09:46.400 --> 09:48.400 Mom knew Johnny was sick. 09:48.400 --> 09:50.400 That's why I wondered. 09:50.400 --> 09:53.400 She hasn't come back yet. I don't think Johnny's feeling good. 09:53.400 --> 09:55.400 Do you want to take us up to the inside? 09:55.400 --> 09:57.400 Yeah, all right. If you want. 09:57.400 --> 09:59.400 Yeah. 09:59.400 --> 10:02.400 How long has Johnny had this cold, Dick? 10:02.400 --> 10:05.400 A couple of days before Friday. Before Mom left. 10:05.400 --> 10:07.400 How old is he? 10:07.400 --> 10:11.400 Johnny's just a little kid. He won't be two years old until July. 10:11.400 --> 10:13.400 I've been wondering about him. 10:13.400 --> 10:15.400 He coughed a lot at first. 10:15.400 --> 10:17.400 He's been giving him milk and cookies. 10:17.400 --> 10:19.400 I said Judy in my head. I don't know. 10:19.400 --> 10:21.400 Has the doctor been to see Johnny? 10:21.400 --> 10:23.400 No, I thought of calling him. 10:23.400 --> 10:25.400 I didn't know the doctor's name. 10:25.400 --> 10:27.400 I was waiting until Mom got home. 10:27.400 --> 10:29.400 Oh, no, this is Johnny's room here. 10:29.400 --> 10:31.400 Mm-hmm. 10:31.400 --> 10:33.400 They're in the crib, Officer. 10:33.400 --> 10:35.400 That's my brother Johnny. 10:35.400 --> 10:37.400 Pretty cold in here. 10:37.400 --> 10:39.400 Yeah, let's have a look. 10:39.400 --> 10:41.400 Hey, there you go, son. 10:41.400 --> 10:43.400 Hi, Johnny. You hungry now? 10:43.400 --> 10:45.400 Yeah, look at his eyes. 10:45.400 --> 10:47.400 Yeah, I want to get to a phone doctor and ambulance. 10:47.400 --> 10:49.400 Tell them to hurry, all right? 10:49.400 --> 10:51.400 What's the matter, Officer? 10:51.400 --> 10:53.400 What about Johnny's eyes? 10:53.400 --> 10:55.400 They're not that big. 10:55.400 --> 10:57.400 He's been acting awful quiet, but... 10:57.400 --> 10:59.400 hardly moved around at all. 10:59.400 --> 11:01.400 Most of the time, he's jumping up and down 11:01.400 --> 11:03.400 his crib like anything. 11:03.400 --> 11:05.400 Has anyone at all been in here to see him since Friday? 11:05.400 --> 11:07.400 Yes, sir, my sister Judy and I. 11:07.400 --> 11:09.400 We changed his diapers and gave him something to eat. 11:09.400 --> 11:11.400 I see. 11:11.400 --> 11:13.400 She...she wished Mommy would get home. 11:13.400 --> 11:15.400 I'd like to talk to her. 11:15.400 --> 11:17.400 Yeah, so would I. 11:17.400 --> 11:19.400 I'm sorry. 11:21.400 --> 11:23.400 5.48 p.m. We put in a call to the office 11:23.400 --> 11:25.400 for a policewoman, and then we got in touch with 11:25.400 --> 11:27.400 Lieutenant Lee Jones at the crime lab, 11:27.400 --> 11:29.400 and he sent out a man to photograph the condition of the Kessler home 11:29.400 --> 11:31.400 and the children. 11:31.400 --> 11:33.400 The doctor and the ambulance arrived, and little Johnny Kessler 11:33.400 --> 11:35.400 was taken to the general hospital in critical condition. 11:35.400 --> 11:37.400 The 22-month-old boy 11:37.400 --> 11:39.400 was in a coma. 11:39.400 --> 11:41.400 Richard Kessler and his sister Judy were taken to 11:41.400 --> 11:43.400 Georgia Street Juvenile Bureau and then transferred 11:43.400 --> 11:45.400 to Juvenile Hall and placed under protective custody 11:45.400 --> 11:47.400 Section 700 sub B 11:47.400 --> 11:49.400 Welfare and Institution Code. 11:49.400 --> 11:51.400 The two of them were given a bath and something to eat. 11:51.400 --> 11:53.400 Judy Kessler was interrogated 11:53.400 --> 11:55.400 separately by a policewoman. 11:55.400 --> 11:57.400 Ben and I talked to the boy, Richard. 11:57.400 --> 11:59.400 After a few minutes, he broke down and admitted 11:59.400 --> 12:01.400 that his mother had gone off and left the three children alone 12:01.400 --> 12:03.400 on at least a half a dozen occasions. 12:03.400 --> 12:05.400 He told us his parents were divorced. 12:05.400 --> 12:07.400 He rarely saw his father, 12:07.400 --> 12:09.400 but his mother had had two or three boyfriends at the house 12:09.400 --> 12:11.400 during the past year. 12:11.400 --> 12:13.400 He also told us his mother drank quite a bit. 12:13.400 --> 12:15.400 But she's never been gone this long before, Sergeant. 12:15.400 --> 12:17.400 Maybe she's out somewhere 12:17.400 --> 12:19.400 and has nowhere to get home. 12:19.400 --> 12:21.400 We'll find her all right, son. Don't you worry about it. 12:21.400 --> 12:23.400 This boyfriend of your mother's, Dick, 12:23.400 --> 12:25.400 his first name was Larry. Is that all you can tell us? 12:25.400 --> 12:27.400 Yes, sir. I don't know his last name. 12:27.400 --> 12:29.400 Are you going to keep us here all night, 12:29.400 --> 12:31.400 Judy and me? 12:31.400 --> 12:33.400 Just for a day or so. That'll take good care of you, huh? 12:33.400 --> 12:35.400 Where did you take Judy? 12:35.400 --> 12:37.400 Well, she's just next door, Dick. You can see her in just a minute now. 12:37.400 --> 12:39.400 And how about Johnny? 12:39.400 --> 12:41.400 I always take care of him. 12:41.400 --> 12:43.400 He's always got him over at the hospital, Dick. 12:43.400 --> 12:45.400 They're going to take good care of him now. 12:45.400 --> 12:47.400 You can count on that. 12:47.400 --> 12:49.400 I don't know, Officer. I'd better see him. 12:49.400 --> 12:51.400 He might get awful fussy. 12:51.400 --> 12:53.400 All right. We'll fix that up for you. 12:53.400 --> 12:55.400 Do you have any relatives in Los Angeles, son, 12:55.400 --> 12:57.400 aunts, uncles, anyone like that? 12:57.400 --> 12:59.400 No, just my father, but I don't know where he lives. 12:59.400 --> 13:01.400 Well, we had a nurse who used to take care of us, 13:01.400 --> 13:03.400 Mrs. McIntosh. 13:03.400 --> 13:05.400 She was well. 13:05.400 --> 13:07.400 My mom fired, you know. 13:07.400 --> 13:09.400 Oh, how'd that happen? Do you know? 13:09.400 --> 13:11.400 I'm not quite sure. 13:11.400 --> 13:13.400 Maybe my mom was drinking. 13:13.400 --> 13:15.400 Mrs. McIntosh got mad at her. 13:15.400 --> 13:17.400 Had a big fight, and mom fired her. 13:17.400 --> 13:19.400 Oh, well, this Mrs. McIntosh, you know where we can find her? 13:19.400 --> 13:21.400 No, sir, I don't. 13:21.400 --> 13:23.400 How about some of the other boyfriends 13:23.400 --> 13:25.400 that your mother had, Dick? 13:25.400 --> 13:27.400 Do you remember any of their names? 13:27.400 --> 13:29.400 No, one of them was George something. 13:29.400 --> 13:31.400 I don't remember the other one. 13:31.400 --> 13:33.400 Joe, take you a minute. 13:33.400 --> 13:35.400 Yeah, Mac, you want to stay with the boy, huh, Dad? 13:35.400 --> 13:39.400 Yeah. 13:39.400 --> 13:41.400 Hospital calls, it's a lousy thing. 13:41.400 --> 13:43.400 What's that? 13:43.400 --> 13:45.400 The Kessler boy, little Johnny. 13:45.400 --> 13:47.400 He just died. 13:47.400 --> 13:53.400 John Albert Kessler, white male American, age 22 months. 13:53.400 --> 13:57.400 All the pertinent facts and data would be listed on the crime report. 13:57.400 --> 14:01.400 And if and when the case was closed, the report would be filed away. 14:01.400 --> 14:09.400 Wouldn't be any different from a thousand other dead body reports, same size, same color, same number up in the left-hand corner. 14:09.400 --> 14:13.400 In the course of 10 or 20 years on the job, a police officer sees a lot of them. 14:13.400 --> 14:15.400 Most of them he forgets. 14:15.400 --> 14:17.400 Few of them he never forgets. 14:17.400 --> 14:19.400 The next morning, the body was posted to the county morgue. 14:19.400 --> 14:23.400 It was found that the youngster had been suffering from malnutrition, 14:23.400 --> 14:26.400 but the cause of death was listed as a basal skull fracture. 14:26.400 --> 14:28.400 Homicide detail was notified. 14:28.400 --> 14:32.400 The search for the mother, Mrs. Jean Kessler, went on. 14:32.400 --> 14:35.400 We talked to her neighbors, all of her friends that we could locate. 14:35.400 --> 14:39.400 We checked out an address book that was found in Mrs. Kessler's effects at her home. 14:39.400 --> 14:41.400 We got out a broadcast and an APB. 14:41.400 --> 14:43.400 No luck. 14:43.400 --> 14:44.400 Thursday, April 29th. 14:44.400 --> 14:46.400 How about the youngster's brother and sister Ben? 14:46.400 --> 14:48.400 You think it could have happened that way? 14:48.400 --> 14:49.400 How do you mean? 14:49.400 --> 14:50.400 Well, we were taking care of the little fella. 14:50.400 --> 14:52.400 They might have had an accident with him. 14:52.400 --> 14:53.400 They're afraid to own up to it. 14:53.400 --> 14:54.400 I don't think so, Joe. 14:54.400 --> 14:55.400 Well, that's not very likely, Mac. 14:55.400 --> 14:57.400 We talked to him quite a bit last night. 14:57.400 --> 14:59.400 A couple of pretty honest kids. 14:59.400 --> 15:01.400 Pretty sure they wouldn't lie about something like that. 15:01.400 --> 15:02.400 Where does that leave it, the mother? 15:02.400 --> 15:03.400 Good possibility. 15:03.400 --> 15:05.400 We know Mrs. Kessler drinks quite a bit. 15:05.400 --> 15:07.400 She could have lost patience with the little boy. 15:07.400 --> 15:09.400 More chance of an accident than death. 15:09.400 --> 15:11.400 I get it. 15:11.400 --> 15:13.400 You're a little friday. 15:13.400 --> 15:15.400 Yeah, Bert. 15:15.400 --> 15:16.400 Where's that? 15:16.400 --> 15:18.400 Uh-huh. Right there. 15:18.400 --> 15:19.400 Yeah? 15:19.400 --> 15:23.400 A woman answering Mrs. Kessler's description checked into the hotel down on South Hope last night. 15:23.400 --> 15:24.400 Still registered? 15:24.400 --> 15:27.400 Checked out early this morning and found a woman's sport coat in the room. 15:27.400 --> 15:28.400 What about it? 15:28.400 --> 15:29.400 Blood stains on it. 15:29.400 --> 15:45.400 You are listening to Dragnet for the step-by-step solution to tonight's authentic case history. 15:45.400 --> 15:52.400 Here, step-by-step, are the actual reasons why Fatima is the quality king-size cigarette. 15:52.400 --> 15:55.400 Why in Fatima, the difference is quality. 15:55.400 --> 15:57.400 Quality of tobacco. 15:57.400 --> 16:00.400 The finest domestic and Turkish variety. 16:00.400 --> 16:07.400 Extra mild and superbly blended to give you a much different, much better flavor and aroma. 16:07.400 --> 16:09.400 Quality of manufacture. 16:09.400 --> 16:11.400 Smooth, round, perfect cigarette. 16:11.400 --> 16:14.400 Rolled in the finest paper money can buy. 16:14.400 --> 16:18.400 Manufactured in the newest and most modern of all cigarette factories. 16:18.400 --> 16:23.400 Quality even to the appearance of the bright, clean, gold and yellow package. 16:23.400 --> 16:29.400 Carefully wrapped and sealed to bring you Fatima's rich, fresh, extra mild flavor. 16:29.400 --> 16:32.400 Compare Fatima yourself. 16:32.400 --> 16:37.400 Fatima's now cost the same as other long cigarettes, but your first puff will tell you. 16:37.400 --> 16:39.400 Ah, not different. 16:39.400 --> 16:44.400 Yes, in Fatima, the difference is quality. 16:44.400 --> 16:47.400 Start enjoying Fatima's quality yourself. 16:47.400 --> 16:49.400 Insist on Fatima. 16:49.400 --> 16:52.400 The quality king-size cigarette. 16:52.400 --> 16:55.400 Best of all, long cigarettes. 16:55.400 --> 17:02.400 ["The Star-Spangled Banner"] 17:02.400 --> 17:04.400 Friday, April 30th. 17:04.400 --> 17:08.400 We were still without a lead at the whereabouts of the missing mother, Mrs. Jean Kessler. 17:08.400 --> 17:15.400 The blood-stained coat which had been found in the South Hope Street Hotel was shown to Mrs. Kessler's friends and to her children, Richard and Judy. 17:15.400 --> 17:18.400 They identified it as belonging to the missing woman. 17:18.400 --> 17:22.400 Routine investigation of the hotel room failed to uncover any further leads. 17:22.400 --> 17:27.400 We got out a supplementary APB and then we started rechecking with the Kessler woman's friends and acquaintances. 17:27.400 --> 17:28.400 Nothing. 17:28.400 --> 17:32.400 We rechecked a dozen taverns and cocktail lounges that she'd been known to frequent. 17:32.400 --> 17:35.400 No sign of her, no sign of her boyfriend. 17:35.400 --> 17:42.400 In rechecking her personal effects, we found a cancel check payable to their former nurse, Mrs. McIntyre. 17:42.400 --> 17:44.400 The endorsements carried her abject. 17:44.400 --> 17:45.400 We checked it out. 17:45.400 --> 17:46.400 She'd moved. 17:46.400 --> 17:48.400 We traced it to the forwarding address. 17:48.400 --> 17:53.400 There we were told that she had a new job as a nurse maid with a wealthy family living in the Los Feliz district. 17:53.400 --> 18:00.400 We crawled there and talked to Mrs. McIntyre, and she told us that she was just leaving the house with the three children for an outing at the park and the zoo. 18:00.400 --> 18:04.400 We made arrangements to meet with her out there, 1.30 p.m. 18:04.400 --> 18:10.400 Ben and I located her at the head of the path leading to the main part of the Griffith Park Zoo. 18:10.400 --> 18:15.400 I read about it in the paper, Sergeant, about Johnny. I didn't know you wanted to talk to me. I would have called in if I did. 18:15.400 --> 18:20.400 We're still trying to locate the mother, Mrs. McIntyre. Can you help us out there at all? 18:20.400 --> 18:24.400 I don't know if you asked at those places she used to go to all the time where she used to drink. 18:24.400 --> 18:26.400 Yes, ma'am, we have. They couldn't help us. 18:26.400 --> 18:30.400 Did you know any of Miss Kepler's boyfriends or ones that had come to the house? 18:30.400 --> 18:31.400 Yes, I knew all of them. 18:31.400 --> 18:36.400 Donald, don't you wander off now. Same for you, Patsy. You stay close. 18:36.400 --> 18:40.400 The boy, Richard, he was telling us about one of the boyfriends, ma'am, fellow named Larry. 18:40.400 --> 18:45.400 Oh, yes. Donald, you heard what I said. You stay close. 18:45.400 --> 18:47.400 Yes, I knew Larry. 18:47.400 --> 18:49.400 Do you remember what his last name was, ma'am? 18:49.400 --> 18:53.400 Yes, Barthel, some kind of an actor in the movies, I think. 18:53.400 --> 18:56.400 Larry Barthel. Do you know where he lives? 18:56.400 --> 19:00.400 No, I think he had an apartment in Hollywood. I wouldn't know the address. 19:00.400 --> 19:04.400 What kind of a man was this Barthel? I mean, he's kept him in these things like that. 19:04.400 --> 19:10.400 Well, I think he was kind of lazy. I think that Miss Kepler was giving him money. 19:10.400 --> 19:12.400 Do the two of them ever argue or have any fights? 19:12.400 --> 19:15.400 All the time. He had a terrible temper. 19:15.400 --> 19:17.400 Do you ever strike, Miss Kepler? 19:17.400 --> 19:23.400 Yes, I saw it happen several times. Not too close to the cage, Donald. Back a little. 19:23.400 --> 19:26.400 How did this Barthel act toward the children, Mrs. McIntyre? 19:26.400 --> 19:30.400 Different, I guess. Annoying sometimes. 19:30.400 --> 19:33.400 Well, that was after that you had the argument with Miss Kepler? 19:33.400 --> 19:37.400 Yes, it was about her drinking and her boyfriend and all the rest. 19:37.400 --> 19:40.400 I just got sick of it and I told her what I thought. 19:40.400 --> 19:43.400 She didn't want to admit she was getting old. 19:43.400 --> 19:48.400 She was not caring for the children. She turned into a still woman in her twenties. 19:48.400 --> 19:51.400 Well, do you have any idea where my little teetha pot is? 19:51.400 --> 19:55.400 Well, they divorced, you know. They had salesmen for lumber concerned downtown. 19:55.400 --> 19:58.400 He inherited most of his money. 19:58.400 --> 20:01.400 I have the name of the company at home. You can have it if you like. 20:01.400 --> 20:03.400 Yes, ma'am. We'd appreciate that. 20:03.400 --> 20:06.400 You know, it's the children I feel sorry for. 20:06.400 --> 20:07.400 Yes, ma'am. 20:07.400 --> 20:12.400 Three beautiful children. And that poor little Johnny, I just can't understand. 20:12.400 --> 20:14.400 What's that? 20:14.400 --> 20:17.400 How could anyone deserve a helpless baby like that? 20:17.400 --> 20:19.400 Well, ask his mother. 20:19.400 --> 20:26.400 Friday, 5 p.m. Mrs. McIntyre called us at the office and gave us the business address 20:26.400 --> 20:29.400 of the missing woman's ex-husband, Richard Lane Kepler. 20:29.400 --> 20:32.400 They were there, but they told us Kepler was away on a week's vacation. 20:32.400 --> 20:36.400 They had no idea where to contact him, but he was expected back in a few days. 20:36.400 --> 20:41.400 We called Central Casting and asked them to check their talent list for a bit player by the name of Larry Bartel. 20:41.400 --> 20:43.400 They had no such name listed. 20:43.400 --> 20:48.400 Saturday, 8 a.m. The Kepler children, Richard and Judy, remained in the custody of juvenile authorities. 20:48.400 --> 20:50.400 The search for their mothers continued. 20:50.400 --> 20:55.400 All day Saturday, Ben and I ran down what few leads we had. They went nowhere. 20:55.400 --> 21:01.400 The doctors, the morgues, the city hospitals, and the drunk tank at the main jail still failed to turn up the missing woman. 21:01.400 --> 21:04.400 We checked again at the different drinking places we used to pat the man. 21:04.400 --> 21:06.400 No one had seen her. 21:06.400 --> 21:10.400 5.30 p.m. We went back to the office. 21:10.400 --> 21:12.400 A lot of molly today. 21:12.400 --> 21:14.400 Yeah, there's not much to show for it. 21:14.400 --> 21:17.400 Not going to be much fun for those Kepler kids this Sunday. 21:17.400 --> 21:18.400 Why? What do you mean? 21:18.400 --> 21:19.400 First Sunday in May. 21:19.400 --> 21:20.400 Huh? 21:20.400 --> 21:21.400 Mother's Day. 21:21.400 --> 21:23.400 Oh, yeah. 21:23.400 --> 21:25.400 Hi, Mac. 21:25.400 --> 21:26.400 Got a piece of news for you. 21:26.400 --> 21:27.400 Yes? 21:27.400 --> 21:29.400 Kepler woman's boyfriend, Larry Bartel. 21:29.400 --> 21:30.400 What about him? 21:30.400 --> 21:31.400 He's been located. 21:31.400 --> 21:43.400 When he'd seen his name mentioned the previous night in the newspaper stories concerning the case, Larry Bartel had contacted the office to let us know that he didn't consider himself a fugitive. 21:43.400 --> 21:45.400 That links that with his story. 21:45.400 --> 21:48.400 He called just a few minutes before we got back to the office. 21:48.400 --> 21:52.400 He left word that he could be found at a Wilshire address all day Sunday. 21:52.400 --> 21:57.400 In the meantime, he'd be at the Spotlight Club, the club for theatrical people located in West Hollywood. 21:57.400 --> 22:01.400 6.25 p.m. Ben and I located him at the club back in the billiards room. 22:01.400 --> 22:04.400 He was tall, dark-haired, dressed extensively. 22:04.400 --> 22:07.400 I told the cop when I called in you weren't supposed to contact me. 22:07.400 --> 22:08.400 That was important. 22:08.400 --> 22:11.400 That little Kepler boy's dead, Bartel. We think that's pretty important. 22:11.400 --> 22:16.400 I didn't know anything about that. You didn't have to interrupt me. That's an important man I was playing with. Now what do you want to know? 22:16.400 --> 22:17.400 Where is this Kepler? 22:17.400 --> 22:18.400 Why ask me? I don't know. 22:18.400 --> 22:21.400 You're a pretty good friend of hers. You were the last person seen with him. 22:21.400 --> 22:25.400 I met a girl. We went out to a party last Friday night. I haven't seen her since the following Monday. 22:25.400 --> 22:28.400 Yeah, last Monday. I'm through with her anyway. 22:28.400 --> 22:29.400 What about the room? 22:29.400 --> 22:34.400 I just got sick of her. That's all. Pawing all over me, asking me to marry her. I just got sick of her. It wasn't worth it. 22:34.400 --> 22:36.400 You accepted money from her? 22:36.400 --> 22:38.400 Just a time ago. She had plenty of it. Why not? 22:38.400 --> 22:39.400 Where'd you last see her? 22:39.400 --> 22:43.400 At Pizza Horses and I would like to get around the club. 22:43.400 --> 22:46.400 There's a hotel downtown on South File Rock, Kitty Jandy. 22:46.400 --> 22:49.400 Were you at another hotel with Miss Kepler last week? 22:49.400 --> 22:52.400 Yeah. Yeah, on South Hope Run, Main Street, I think. 22:52.400 --> 22:55.400 Oh, that's where you found a coat, huh? You got an explanation for that? 22:55.400 --> 22:56.400 Bud's thing? Sure. 22:56.400 --> 22:58.400 Crazy thing. 22:58.400 --> 23:02.400 Tell her I threw it, then she tried to hit me in the bottle. Cut herself. 23:02.400 --> 23:04.400 Boy, I tell you, it just wasn't worth it that time. 23:04.400 --> 23:06.400 I guess you can prove everything you're telling yourself. 23:06.400 --> 23:08.400 Of course I can prove it. It's the truth. 23:08.400 --> 23:10.400 And what about the little boy? How'd that happen? 23:10.400 --> 23:12.400 I didn't have anything to do with it. It wasn't my fault. 23:12.400 --> 23:13.400 Well, how'd it happen? 23:13.400 --> 23:15.400 That Friday night, just before we left the house. 23:15.400 --> 23:19.400 The old lady was downstairs having a few drinks. She put the little kid to bed, and he went to bed. 23:19.400 --> 23:22.400 He was getting up out of bed and running downstairs crying. 23:22.400 --> 23:23.400 Yeah, I can't remember. 23:23.400 --> 23:27.400 Ah, she finally took the kid to him, a good spanking, threw him back in bed. 23:27.400 --> 23:29.400 I think he hit his head and wanted to force the crew. 23:29.400 --> 23:30.400 Why didn't you do something about it? 23:30.400 --> 23:33.400 Well, I told her, but she said there was nothing that didn't matter. 23:33.400 --> 23:36.400 Got a coat for us, that's all. Kids are all riding with less. 23:36.400 --> 23:38.400 You mean all the time you and Mrs. Kepler went out, 23:38.400 --> 23:41.400 you knew those children were being left all alone in that house? 23:41.400 --> 23:43.400 Oh, what? I'd have cheesed them, other than me. 23:43.400 --> 23:46.400 I gotta get back. I got that game being on. 23:46.400 --> 23:48.400 I'm gonna wait a little longer. Come on. 23:48.400 --> 24:14.400 The bar was taken downtown and held for questioning on suspicion of 702WIC, contributing to negligence of minors. 24:14.400 --> 24:18.400 They had an old-fashioned player piano going full volume in the bar. 24:18.400 --> 24:23.400 The sound followed us up the stairs. 24:23.400 --> 24:25.400 Tenants, you sure must like their music. 24:25.400 --> 24:26.400 Yes. 24:26.400 --> 24:28.400 Like the fairies, in 250? 24:28.400 --> 24:39.400 Yeah. 24:39.400 --> 24:40.400 We better try it. 24:40.400 --> 24:43.400 Yeah. 24:43.400 --> 24:47.400 Let's have a look. 24:47.400 --> 24:50.400 Who's that? Who is it? 24:50.400 --> 24:52.400 You and Mrs. Jean, Kepler? 24:52.400 --> 24:54.400 What is it? Who are you? 24:54.400 --> 24:56.400 Police officer. I'd like to talk to you. 24:56.400 --> 24:59.400 I haven't done anything. What do you want with me? 24:59.400 --> 25:01.400 I want to talk to you about your children, Miss Kepler. 25:01.400 --> 25:06.400 But I didn't do anything. Donnie was sick, that's all. I didn't do anything. 25:06.400 --> 25:07.400 That's not what Bartell said. 25:07.400 --> 25:11.400 Larry, have you seen him? Is he coming back to me? 25:11.400 --> 25:13.400 You better get up, lady. Get your coat. 25:13.400 --> 25:17.400 I gotta have Larry back. He's everything to me. 25:17.400 --> 25:19.400 I love him. Is he coming back? 25:19.400 --> 25:23.400 You've been gone over a week. Aren't you a little worried about your children? 25:23.400 --> 25:27.400 They're all right. I'm too young to spend my life on children. 25:27.400 --> 25:29.400 I need Larry. Where is he? 25:29.400 --> 25:31.400 See if you can find a coat. Will you bet? 25:31.400 --> 25:37.400 Yeah, all right. 25:37.400 --> 25:41.400 I've been taking no sick. I felt terrible. 25:41.400 --> 25:42.400 Yeah? 25:42.400 --> 25:49.400 I need Larry so bad. He's young like me. I love him. I gave him all my love. 25:49.400 --> 25:51.400 I gave him everything I could. 25:51.400 --> 25:52.400 Yeah, you gave him too much. 25:52.400 --> 25:53.400 What? 25:53.400 --> 25:55.400 You didn't have any left for your kids. 25:55.400 --> 26:07.400 The story you have just heard is true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. 26:07.400 --> 26:13.400 On July 2nd, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 26:13.400 --> 26:15.400 In a moment, the results of that trial. 26:15.400 --> 26:17.400 Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. 26:17.400 --> 26:24.400 Thank you. Friends, if you're with us week to week, you've heard me say, in Fatima, the difference is quality. 26:24.400 --> 26:28.400 It's a difference that you can prove just by buying a pack and smoking them. 26:28.400 --> 26:33.400 You'll find Fatima's extra mild with a rich, better flavor and aroma. 26:33.400 --> 26:37.400 Stop in at the store in the corner and buy a pack of Fatima the first chance you get. 26:37.400 --> 26:42.400 You'll find in Fatima's, the difference is quality. 26:42.400 --> 26:48.400 Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to take a moment to thank all of you for your very fine response to our program, Dragnet. 26:48.400 --> 26:56.400 Since the first show went on the air about a year and a half ago, your cards and letters have been a constant source of encouragement and guidance. 26:56.400 --> 27:01.400 In the field of radio presentations, we felt that we were attempting something a little different. 27:01.400 --> 27:05.400 We were not altogether sure that it would meet with your approval. 27:05.400 --> 27:13.400 Possibly, we were sure that our approach to this type of presentation was a sound one, but the final approval had to rest with you. 27:13.400 --> 27:19.400 As you may judge by your response, you've placed Dragnet high among the programs that you enjoy most. 27:19.400 --> 27:22.400 For this, we're indeed grateful. 27:22.400 --> 27:28.400 We've tried to bring you, first of all, an adult program worthy of the 30 minutes that you spend with us each week. 27:28.400 --> 27:33.400 We've tried to bring you an honest and authoritative report on the work of your police force. 27:33.400 --> 27:39.400 We've tried to bring before you documented police cases that were informative as well as entertaining. 27:39.400 --> 27:44.400 In forthcoming weeks, we sincerely hope that Dragnet remains one of your favorite shows. 27:44.400 --> 27:48.400 Your letters have been read by all members of the Dragnet production staff. 27:48.400 --> 27:56.400 So if you like to listen to Dragnet, it's because you, our listeners, have helped to guide us in presenting the kind of entertainment that you want. 27:56.400 --> 27:59.400 And for this, our thanks. 27:59.400 --> 28:12.400 Mrs. Jean Kessler was filed on and found guilty in Superior Court, charge of manslaughter. 28:12.400 --> 28:16.400 She was sentenced to one year in the county jail and deprived of the custody of her children. 28:16.400 --> 28:32.400 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 28:32.400 --> 28:44.400 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 28:44.400 --> 28:54.400 Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet, portion transcribed from Los Angeles. 28:54.400 --> 29:14.400 Now stay tuned for Cover Spy, then it's Screen Director's Playhouse on in.