WEBVTT

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The story you are about to hear is true.

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Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

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Fatima cigarettes.

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First of all, long cigarettes brings you dragnet.

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You're a detective sergeant.

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You're assigned to homicide detail.

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A well-known businessman in your city disappears suddenly from his home.

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He's seen driving away from the house in the company of two unidentified men.

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There's no explanation for it.

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Your job?

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Find him.

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How does Fatima compare with other king-size cigarettes?

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Fatimas are the same length and circumference.

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Eighty-five millimeters long, one and one sixty-fourths inches around.

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And Fatima filters the smoke exactly the same long distance as any other king-size cigarette.

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Tell me then, how is Fatima different from other king-size cigarettes?

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In Fatima, the difference is quality.

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Fatima gives you extra mildness, a much different, much better flavor and aroma.

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Remember, Fatima has all the advantages of extra length plus Fatima quality, which no

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other king-size cigarette has.

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So insist on the best.

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Smoke king-size Fatima.

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Best of all, long cigarettes.

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Tragnet, the documentary drama of an actual crime.

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For the next thirty minutes in cooperation of the Los Angeles Police Department, you

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will travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from

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official police files.

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From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Tragnet is the story of your police force

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in action.

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Was Wednesday October tenth that was mild in Los Angeles.

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We were working the night watch out of homicide detail.

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My partner is Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Lorman. My name's Friday.

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I was on the way back from the record bureau and it was 10.38 p.m. when I got to room 42.

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Homicide.

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Hey, Ben. Romero.

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Right here, Joe. Captain's office.

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Oh, yeah.

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Captain.

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Joe, sit down.

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Thank you.

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I got your call. What's it all about?

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You're closer to it than I am, Skipper. You want to brief him?

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It's a man by the name of Tony Richmond. He disappeared from his house tonight, Joe. Looks like it might be foul play.

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Tony Richmond. Name sounds so familiar, doesn't it?

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Runs a couple of garages around town and promotes sports events on the side.

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Oh, yeah. Sure. Sure.

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What's the story on him?

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Here's the way we got it from Richmond's wife. He was at home tonight.

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Whole family was sitting in a back room looking at television. Richmond, his wife, two children, and his father-in-law.

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Yeah.

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About nine o'clock, the doorbell rang. Richmond went to answer it. He hasn't been seen since.

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Yeah.

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That's right. Mrs. Richmond said she thought she heard a little loud talking at the front door and didn't pay any attention to it.

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When her husband didn't come back, she went to have a look. Front door was wide open. Her husband was gone.

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No explanation for it at all.

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One of the Richmond's neighbors was sitting by a front window at the time, a Mrs. Sanford.

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She said she saw Mr. Richmond come down the front steps about that time, one man on either side of him.

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She got the idea Richmond didn't want to go with him.

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Was there any description on the two men?

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Not really complete. The neighbor said she wasn't sure, but it looked to her like the two men pushed Richmond in a dark-colored sedan and drove off.

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Not much description on the car either, Joe.

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Well, where does that leave us?

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Well, we're not positive there's anything wrong yet. There's a possibility. It's nothing more than a misunderstanding.

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How do you figure?

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We got a couple of men out at the Richmond's house now. The wife told them that Mr. Richmond had a business appointment at ten o'clock tonight.

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She didn't know where or with whom. Could have been with those two men.

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It doesn't sound quite right though, does it? I mean walking out without even telling his wife.

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No. Something else to consider. Wife said that when Richmond went to answer the front door, he was in his shirt sleeves.

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When the neighbor saw him come down the stairs with the two men, she said he had his coat on.

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If those two guys were going to grab him off, they wouldn't wait for him to get his coat.

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Yeah. How's it stand now?

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Got out of broadcast on a description of the two men in the car. Not an awful lot to go on, no license number.

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Anybody in particular who might have had it in for Richmond? Is there anything like that?

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No. Not that we know of so far. He dressed pretty well. Obviously had money. Wore quite a bit of jewelry.

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Well, what have you got lined up for, Skipper?

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I've got Barrett and Tommy Bryan standing by at the Richmond's house now.

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Still checking around with Richmond's friends, some of his business associates. Nothing so far.

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Excuse me.

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Sure.

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Out of sight, Lorman.

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Yeah, Tom. How's that? Uh-huh. When?

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Yeah, right away. You know what to do. Keep in touch. Right?

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Well, that takes it out of the guessing stage.

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Hmm?

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That was Bryan out at the Richmond house. Mrs. Richmond just got a phone call a few minutes ago.

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Yeah.

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Man's voice, he told her they were holding her husband.

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Well, what's her pitch?

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If she wants him back alive, it'll cost $20,000.

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As in all cases involving abduction to extort ransom, the investigating police officer is faced immediately with a dozen problems.

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But first and foremost is the safe return of the victim.

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When that's accomplished and the danger of death or bodily harm to the victim is removed,

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the officers then have the freedom to openly hunt down the abductors.

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But until the time the victim is safely returned,

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apprehending the criminal suspects remains a secondary consideration.

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Ten forty-five p.m.

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Together with Captain Lorman, Ben and I left the office and drove out to the Richmond's home,

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out in North Hollywood, the scene of the abduction.

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We parked our car several blocks away and entered the house from a back street.

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It was a large sprawling ranch style home, richly landscaped.

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We went inside and checked with the two men from Homicide on Duty, Barrett and Bryan.

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They told us that there'd been no more phone calls, anonymous or otherwise.

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They also told us that so far the victim's wife, Adele Richmond, had been hostile and uncooperative.

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The abductors had warned her on the telephone about calling in the police.

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Now she was all for paying the $20,000 ransom and handling the case without the police.

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While Ben, Tommy, Bryan and Barrett rechecked the neighborhood for other possible witnesses to the abduction,

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Captain Lorman and I went inside and met the victim's wife and the victim's father-in-law, Fred Wellman.

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The wife was an attractive brunette in her early thirties.

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Can't you understand? I just don't want the policemen here.

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They're gonna be watching the house right now. They'll kill Tony if they know you're here.

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No, honey, there's no use getting upset like this. It isn't gonna do any good.

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Your father's right, ma'am. I know it's hard on you, but getting all worked up isn't gonna help much.

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Well, I wish I'd never called you in the first place. I can handle this. I'll pay them the money.

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I'll pay them anything as long as they bring my husband back safe.

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Yes, ma'am, that's possible.

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What makes you think you can trust those men? How do you know you'll get your husband back after you pay the $20,000?

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That's what they told me. I talked to them on the phone. That's what they promised me.

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Well, they promised other people too, ma'am. You give them $20,000, they'll want $40,000.

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Give them just one opening, they're gonna run it into the ground.

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They'll take everything they can get and you still won't have your husband back.

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Well, there's no other way. I have to take the chance. I have to.

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There is another way, Miss Richmond. That's why we're here.

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What if it gets in the papers, publicity? Those men are bound to hear about it.

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There won't be a line in the newspapers, I promise you that.

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As far as we're concerned, the only men who'll know about it will be the officers working the case.

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We'll do everything we can, ma'am, but we're gonna have to have your cooperation.

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I don't know. If anything happens to Tony...

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I've got to sit down. I can't even think. I'm so worried.

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That's it, honey. Here, you sit here. I'll get you some coffee.

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Good hot cup of coffee.

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Would you see how the children are, Dad? See if they're covered.

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Yeah, sure, honey. You just rest. You care for some coffee, officers?

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No, sir. No, thank you.

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All right.

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Now, how about that phone call that you got, Miss Richmond?

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They told me $20,000. If they get it, they'll let Tony go.

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What else did they tell you?

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That's all. They had Tony, and that if I wanted to see him again alive, we'd have to pay $20,000.

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Well, what about the arrangements for delivering the money? Did you discuss that at all?

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No, all he said was get $20,000 in small bills.

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He said that, too. He said he'd contact me later about delivering the money.

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Officer, I can't get that much money together tonight.

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I don't think you'll have to, ma'am. I'm pretty sure the abductors know that, too.

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Now, how about the voice on the phone, Miss Richmond?

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Is there any chance that you might have recognized it?

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No, I haven't any idea who it was.

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Well, did he give you any hint at all as to about how much time it should be allowed to get the money together?

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Well, he said he'd call later on.

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I got the idea he meant later on tonight. He told me he'd have more instructions for me then.

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I'd like to ask you once more, Mrs. Richmond, can you think of anyone who might try something like this on your husband?

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Maybe somebody who needed money who carried a grudge against Mr. Richmond.

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No one at all. Tony always got along very well in business.

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He works hard. He works awfully hard.

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I'm sorry, Officer. I can't help thinking I...

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The whole thing would be better all around if I just paid the money and make them let my husband go.

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No, no. It's just the point, ma'am, like we said. How do you know they're going to let him go?

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If they can make $20,000 overnight, it's a good bet they're not going to let him go that easy.

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You can't make those kind of deals with them. They'll believe us.

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Tony, what can I do if anything?

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I brought your coffee, Del. Good hot coffee.

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I looked in on the children. They were covered. Now you try some of this coffee now.

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Thank you, Dad.

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Well, what are we going to do, Officer, is we can't just sit here and wait?

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There's a few things I'd like to brief you on to start with.

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Yes?

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There'll be a couple of our men stationed here at all times. Another thing, do you have more than one telephone in the house?

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Yes, sir, we do. There's one here in the den, one in the kitchen. Then we have a plug-in extension for the living room.

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Fine. The next time the phone rings, you answer it, Mrs. Richmond. One of us will be listening in on the extension.

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The one in the kitchen, that'd be closest.

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All right. Now if it's one of your husband's abductors calling, you tell them it's going to take you time to raise the money. Tell them at least two days.

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Well, suppose they insist, but they say they want it sooner. They could kill my husband tonight.

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Well, they could, ma'am, but I don't think they will. It's a pretty good bet that they've planned on some waiting.

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Most people don't keep $20,000 around the house, and they know as well as you do that the banks don't open until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

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Something else, Mrs. Richmond, make it clear to them that you won't have any direct hand in the transaction paying the ransom.

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Tell them you're too sick, you're too upset, and that your brother will take care of everything.

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You mean one of your officers?

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Yes, ma'am. Sergeant Friday here can take care of that, eh?

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Well, they believe me. Don't you think they'll get suspicious?

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Well, maybe, but you have to remember, ma'am, suspicious or not, their only interest is in getting the money and then getting away.

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Our first problem is to get your husband home safe. When we've got that done, we can worry about the abductors.

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I see. All right, officer, I'll do all I can to help.

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Fine, Mrs. Richmond, I think you'll find it's the best way. Joe, you and Romero will be on duty here for the night.

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Right.

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You'll monitor all the incoming calls. We'll try and get a tracer on him if you can keep the guy talking on the line long enough.

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I'll make arrangements for another phone line in here and the use of the neighbor's phone next door.

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Okay, fine. Do you know if the people next door are home now, sir?

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Yes, sir, I think their name's Thompson. Almost positive they're home.

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All right, Mrs. Richmond, you want to take that? Don't pick it up till I tell you.

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Joe, over here at this extension.

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Both of you pick up your receivers at the same time. You ready, Joe?

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Right.

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Mrs. Richmond, now.

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Hello?

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Is this Mrs. Richmond?

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Yes, this is she.

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This call's about your husband, Mrs. Richmond. Here's your instructions about the money. If you want your husband back alive, follow him.

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I want to tell you something. I can't handle this alone. I have my...

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Don't try to stall him, lady. Just listen. Here are the instructions. I'm only going to say them once.

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Twenty thousand small bills by tomorrow, fives, tens, and twenties. Bring the cops in on this or we'll kill your husband tonight. Now remember it.

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We'll get the rest of the instructions tomorrow.

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Please listen. Count my brother here. Hello?

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That's a fast one. Wouldn't even give her a chance to talk.

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What'd you say, Sergeant? What was it?

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Let's go back in there.

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Yeah.

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Did you hear him, Officer? He wouldn't let me talk. It was just like the last time. I couldn't even tell him.

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Yes, ma'am, we heard. Now why don't you sit down right here?

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Said not to call the police. Said they'd kill him tonight. They'd kill Tony...

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Grab her, Jack. I got her.

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Poor Del.

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Alright, you want to clear the sofa off?

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Yes, sir. Poor Del is too much for her.

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Alright. There we go.

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Yeah.

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Think you ought to call your family doctor, sir. Said it might help her quite a bit. Get her a little rest anyway.

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I already did, Sergeant. I could see this coming. I'll get a blanket.

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Well, what do you think?

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I only want 20,000 by tomorrow. Fives, tens, twenties. Said more instructions coming. Threaten to kill Richmond if we moved in.

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How'd he sound?

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Like he meant it.

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12.35 a.m. Captain Lorman and I remained by the phone. The family doctor arrived, gave Mrs. Richmond a sedative, and she lay down for a rest in her room.

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Barrett, Tom Bryan, and Ben came back to the house just before 1 a.m.

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They had a few more details on the description of the car used by the abductors which they'd gotten from residents in the neighborhood.

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The information was relayed to communications and a supplementary broadcast and an APB were gotten out.

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Ben and I stood watch at the house for the rest of the night, but there were no more calls.

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In the early morning, stakeouts were set up at the victim's place of business and also at the banks where he maintained his accounts and safety deposit boxes.

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That night, Ben and I still were at the Richmond place standing by at the phone.

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There'd been no contact from the abductors during the day.

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We waited. Midnight. 3 a.m. 6 a.m. No word. Another day passed. And then another. Still no contact. No trace of Mr. Richmond or his abductors.

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Saturday, October 13th, hope for the victim began to fade. Ben and I stayed on at the Richmond house.

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Say, could I get you off or something to eat maybe? Nice piece of cold beef in the icebox. Could make you a sandwich.

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No, no, thank you.

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I was just the same, sir.

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How's Mrs. Richmond tonight, sir? She feeling any better?

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My daughter, no. No better. She took a couple of pills the doctor gave her trying to get a few winks of sleep, poor girl.

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Well, there's no use you sitting up with us, sir, if you'd like to get a little sleep yourself.

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No, I'd just as soon sit up. Couldn't sleep anyway.

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Hey, I don't suppose either you would care for a little nip?

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No, no, thank you.

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No, thanks.

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Guess you wouldn't mind if I had one myself. Seems lately that's the only thing that relaxes me.

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You can go right ahead. When you get to be my age, a little bit of help's now and then.

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Oh, there's some new magazines on the table there. Might help to pass the time for you.

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Thank you, sir.

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Three days now. Not even a word about Tony. What do you really think, officer?

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Well, it's pretty hard to tell, Mr. Wellman. We're doing everything possible to find your son-in-law. There's not much to go on so far.

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Funny thing about Tony, young fella, ambitious. Look what happens.

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Yes, sir.

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Wouldn't mind if I turn on the radio here, would you? I'll keep it low.

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No, it's fine. Go right ahead, sir.

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Yeah, it's a funny thing about Tony. The day he married my daughter, I knew he was gonna make it.

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Bright fella, Tony. Sure been good to me.

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Is that so?

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Sure thing. Took me in right after the wife died. I was out of work at the time.

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Been with him ever since. Attended the garden, kind of clean up things. Tony's always been real good to me.

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No in-law trouble, nothing like that. Look what happens. Young fella starts with almost nothing.

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Builds a good business, family, nice home. Just look what happens.

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Oh, there's no need to give up yet, sir? There's a good chance he's still all right?

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I don't know. I guess I just got a feeling about it.

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How do you mean?

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About Tony, he's a fine young man. Things like this, they always happen to the fine young man.

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You take me, for instance, I wouldn't make money the way Tony does.

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Build a big business the way he has, I guess that's why I'd never be in the trouble he's in.

15:50.860 --> 15:52.860
I don't think I follow you.

15:52.860 --> 15:56.860
Guess I never wanted it, sergeant. Couldn't get interested in making money.

15:56.860 --> 16:00.860
You break your back like Tony does, you work and you work, you get a big bank account.

16:00.860 --> 16:05.860
You get the home, the big car and the swimming pool. You work for it like Tony did, you work hard.

16:05.860 --> 16:10.860
You get your big checkbook and everything you want.

16:10.860 --> 16:14.860
Just look what happens. Poor Tony works night and day for the money right now.

16:14.860 --> 16:17.860
He's no better off than the guy who's only worth a dime.

16:17.860 --> 16:20.860
They don't hold beggars for ransom, do they?

16:20.860 --> 16:23.860
Excuse me, sir, I wonder if you have an extra book of matches around. I believe I'm out.

16:23.860 --> 16:26.860
Sure thing, sergeant. I got some in the kitchen.

16:26.860 --> 16:28.860
Sure you wouldn't care for a little nip?

16:28.860 --> 16:29.860
No, sir, no thanks.

16:29.860 --> 16:33.860
I think I might. A little bit helps now and then.

16:33.860 --> 16:34.860
Ben?

16:34.860 --> 16:37.860
Yeah. I wonder what he means by every now and then.

16:37.860 --> 16:39.860
You want to grab the extension out in the kitchen?

16:39.860 --> 16:40.860
Right.

16:40.860 --> 16:42.860
Wait till I say, huh?

16:42.860 --> 16:44.860
Now.

16:44.860 --> 16:46.860
Hello.

16:46.860 --> 16:48.860
Is this Sunset 18046?

16:48.860 --> 16:50.860
Yeah, that's right.

16:50.860 --> 16:51.860
Was Mrs. Richmond there?

16:51.860 --> 16:55.860
No, not right now. This is her brother talking. Is there any message?

16:55.860 --> 16:57.860
I want to talk to Mrs. Richmond.

16:57.860 --> 16:59.860
Well, she's not here. You got a message for her?

16:59.860 --> 17:00.860
Would you say this is?

17:00.860 --> 17:04.860
Well, this is her brother talking. If you'd like to leave a message for Mrs. Richmond, I'll see.

17:04.860 --> 17:07.860
This isn't her brother talking. I know his voice. Who is this?

17:07.860 --> 17:09.860
Well, maybe you can tell me who you are.

17:09.860 --> 17:10.860
This is Tony Richmond. Where's my wife?

17:10.860 --> 17:11.860
Richmond, where are you?

17:11.860 --> 17:12.860
Who is this?

17:12.860 --> 17:13.860
Where are you?

17:13.860 --> 17:17.860
I got away from her. Way out in the valley, a dairy range near Sepovedah.

17:17.860 --> 17:18.860
Are you a cop?

17:18.860 --> 17:19.860
Where can we find you?

17:19.860 --> 17:23.860
About a mile from Telegraph Avenue in Sepovedah. A road in the middle of a dairy farm.

17:23.860 --> 17:26.860
Your cop, she would drive out with the red light on and honk the horn.

17:26.860 --> 17:27.860
How soon can we meet you?

17:27.860 --> 17:33.860
Half hour. You get out of your car and stand right in front of the headlights. I'll be watching. I want to get a good look at you.

17:33.860 --> 17:34.860
All right, half an hour.

17:34.860 --> 17:38.860
Something else, I got hold of a gun. And if you're not cops, I'll know what to do.

17:48.860 --> 17:53.860
You are listening to Dragnet, authentic cases from official police files.

17:53.860 --> 17:56.860
Now, let's look at our Fatima files.

17:57.860 --> 17:59.860
Listed under H.

17:59.860 --> 18:01.860
Hardwick.

18:01.860 --> 18:04.860
Cedric Hardwick, distinguished actor. He says,

18:04.860 --> 18:08.860
I find Fatima a very pleasing cigarette. It has a distinctly better flavor.

18:08.860 --> 18:10.860
Listed under M.

18:10.860 --> 18:11.860
Morley.

18:11.860 --> 18:14.860
Maggie Morley, television actress. She says,

18:14.860 --> 18:20.860
I like a long cigarette. And I like it extra mild. That's why it's Fatima for me.

18:20.860 --> 18:25.860
Friends, our files show Fatima sales are going up. Up every day.

18:25.860 --> 18:31.860
The reason for Fatima's ever increasing popularity can be summed up in two words.

18:31.860 --> 18:33.860
Fatima quality.

18:33.860 --> 18:39.860
Fatima gives you extra mildness. A much different, much better flavor and aroma.

18:39.860 --> 18:42.860
If you smoke a king size cigarette, remember this.

18:42.860 --> 18:48.860
Fatima has all the advantages of extra length, plus Fatima quality,

18:48.860 --> 18:51.860
which no other king size cigarette has.

18:51.860 --> 18:55.860
In Fatima, the difference is quality.

18:55.860 --> 18:57.860
So, insist on the best.

18:57.860 --> 19:00.860
Insist on king size Fatima.

19:00.860 --> 19:05.860
Next time, buy Fatima in the distinctive golden yellow package.

19:05.860 --> 19:15.860
One thirty a.m.

19:15.860 --> 19:20.860
After we got the call from the man who identified himself as the victim of the abduction, Tony Richmond,

19:20.860 --> 19:22.860
we put in a call for Captain Warman.

19:22.860 --> 19:27.860
We told him about the phone call from the victim, his request for us to pick him up,

19:27.860 --> 19:30.860
and also about the conditions he stipulated that we follow.

19:30.860 --> 19:38.860
The captain ordered three cruiser cars and a car to pick up Ben and me and take us to the location specified in the phone conversation.

19:38.860 --> 19:44.860
Two a.m. With the red light turned on, we pulled up at the approximate location indicated.

19:44.860 --> 19:49.860
It was a lonely spot on a lonely road a little more than a mile off the nearest highway.

19:49.860 --> 19:52.860
We waited. We didn't know what to expect.

19:52.860 --> 19:57.860
It could be that the phone call supposedly from Tony Richmond had actually been made by one of the abductors.

19:57.860 --> 20:02.860
It could be that it was nothing more than a diversionary action intended to distract our attention

20:02.860 --> 20:09.860
while the abductors carried out their plans to obtain the ransom money from the victim's wife and make good their escape.

20:09.860 --> 20:11.860
We kept waiting.

20:11.860 --> 20:14.860
Ben sounded the horn at frequent intervals.

20:14.860 --> 20:18.860
Captain Warman and myself stood up in front of the car in the glare of the headlights.

20:18.860 --> 20:21.860
Ten minutes went by. Fifteen minutes.

20:21.860 --> 20:27.860
Finally, a half a dozen yards down the road, we spotted a man climbing up the side of the drainage ditch and onto the road.

20:27.860 --> 20:31.860
He walked slowly toward us into the glare of the headlights.

20:31.860 --> 20:34.860
In his right hand, he held a gun.

20:34.860 --> 20:36.860
You can put the gun down, mister.

20:36.860 --> 20:38.860
You're the police. Show me.

20:38.860 --> 20:42.860
Here's our car. Here's our identification.

20:42.860 --> 20:46.860
Here you are. It's badge, ID card.

20:46.860 --> 20:53.860
Thank God. Thank God. Thank God.

20:53.860 --> 20:58.860
The first thing we did was to notify the victim's wife and family that he'd been found and that he was unharmed.

20:58.860 --> 21:01.860
Then we called the office and told them what had happened.

21:01.860 --> 21:05.860
We offered to drive Richmond to his home immediately, but he told us that he was all right

21:05.860 --> 21:09.860
and insisted that he show us where the abductors had held him captive.

21:09.860 --> 21:14.860
We got in the car and started driving north along a dirt road that led off Sepulveda.

21:14.860 --> 21:17.860
On the way, Richmond briefed us on what had happened.

21:17.860 --> 21:21.860
He said that he'd been taken at gunpoint at the front door of his home four nights before,

21:21.860 --> 21:25.860
forced into a car by two men that he'd failed to recognize,

21:25.860 --> 21:30.860
and then driven to an abandoned shack in a deserted area in the San Fernando Valley.

21:30.860 --> 21:33.860
The two men had tied him hand and foot, partially stripped him,

21:33.860 --> 21:37.860
gagged him and placed him under a floor of the shack and left him there.

21:37.860 --> 21:40.860
One of the men returned each day to give him something to eat.

21:40.860 --> 21:45.860
That night, Richmond told us that his captor failed to re-tie his hands securely.

21:45.860 --> 21:49.860
When the man left, Richmond succeeded in freeing himself from the ropes,

21:49.860 --> 21:52.860
made his way to a phone and called his house.

21:52.860 --> 21:55.860
Outside of shock and exposure, he seemed to be all right.

21:55.860 --> 21:59.860
After pointing out the shack he'd been held captive in and after we'd checked through it,

21:59.860 --> 22:02.860
Richmond was taken home in one of the cruiser cars.

22:02.860 --> 22:05.860
Ben and I remained on stakeout at the shack.

22:05.860 --> 22:07.860
Pretty dark.

22:07.860 --> 22:09.860
Can you see the shack all right from here?

22:09.860 --> 22:12.860
Just about, yeah. Keep an eye field on the road, huh?

22:12.860 --> 22:14.860
Yeah. Want a smoke?

22:14.860 --> 22:16.860
Thanks.

22:24.860 --> 22:27.860
We waited. Nothing happened.

22:27.860 --> 22:29.860
3 a.m.

22:29.860 --> 22:31.860
3.30.

22:31.860 --> 22:33.860
No sign of the suspects.

22:33.860 --> 22:35.860
4.30.

22:35.860 --> 22:37.860
5 a.m.

22:37.860 --> 22:40.860
5.12 a.m.

22:40.860 --> 22:44.860
Ben spotted the headlights of a car at least a mile down the road.

22:44.860 --> 22:46.860
We watched them come toward us.

22:46.860 --> 22:50.860
When it got close enough, we saw it was a dark-colored late model sedan.

22:50.860 --> 22:53.860
It fitted the description of the abductor's car perfectly.

22:53.860 --> 22:57.860
It swung off the dirt road and pulled to a stop near the shack.

22:57.860 --> 22:59.860
One man got out.

22:59.860 --> 23:03.860
All right, let's go.

23:03.860 --> 23:05.860
All right, Mr. Police officers, hold it right there.

23:05.860 --> 23:07.860
Down, Joe.

23:07.860 --> 23:08.860
See him, Ben?

23:08.860 --> 23:10.860
Yeah, he ducked behind his car.

23:10.860 --> 23:11.860
All right, throw out your gun.

23:11.860 --> 23:13.860
I'll give it back.

23:13.860 --> 23:15.860
We got some good cover, Joe.

23:15.860 --> 23:17.860
All right, let's go. Come on, move in.

23:17.860 --> 23:18.860
Easy.

23:18.860 --> 23:20.860
All right, let's go.

23:20.860 --> 23:22.860
All right, let's go.

23:22.860 --> 23:24.860
All right, let's go.

23:24.860 --> 23:26.860
All right, let's go.

23:26.860 --> 23:29.860
We got some good cover, Joe.

23:29.860 --> 23:31.860
All right, let's go. Come on, move in.

23:31.860 --> 23:33.860
Easy.

23:33.860 --> 23:35.860
All right, all right.

23:35.860 --> 23:37.860
Here's my gun.

23:37.860 --> 23:39.860
Not from behind the car, hands behind your head.

23:39.860 --> 23:41.860
Cover me, Joe. I'll shake him down.

23:41.860 --> 23:43.860
Right.

23:43.860 --> 23:45.860
All right, hold it right there.

23:45.860 --> 23:47.860
Okay, Joe, he's clean.

23:47.860 --> 23:49.860
All right, hands behind you.

23:49.860 --> 23:52.860
Sure like to play it safe, don't you? Hand cuffs.

23:52.860 --> 23:54.860
They work pretty good, mister.

23:54.860 --> 23:56.860
I bet it and roped.

23:59.860 --> 24:03.860
We called the office, and a relief team came out to replace us on stakeout,

24:03.860 --> 24:07.860
and we took the suspect downtown to the interrogation room.

24:07.860 --> 24:12.860
He was checked through R&I and identified as Gerald Adams, a one-time loser.

24:12.860 --> 24:15.860
Together with Barrett and Brian, we questioned the suspect.

24:15.860 --> 24:20.860
For three hours, he refused to admit that he had any part in the abduction of Tony Richmond.

24:20.860 --> 24:22.860
We gave up for the time being,

24:22.860 --> 24:26.860
took him to the main jail where he was booked on suspicion of kidnapping.

24:26.860 --> 24:28.860
A little after 11 a.m.,

24:28.860 --> 24:31.860
Gerald Adams' partner showed up out of the shack in the valley.

24:31.860 --> 24:33.860
He was taken into custody.

24:33.860 --> 24:36.860
He was brought downtown, confronted with the evidence against him,

24:36.860 --> 24:39.860
and he gave us a full statement admitting his guilt.

24:39.860 --> 24:42.860
Late that afternoon, we went back to the main jail,

24:42.860 --> 24:44.860
signed out Adams for investigation,

24:44.860 --> 24:47.860
and brought him back to the interrogation room.

24:48.860 --> 24:50.860
Have a seat, Adams.

24:50.860 --> 24:52.860
Yeah.

24:52.860 --> 24:54.860
Okay, what is it this time?

24:54.860 --> 24:56.860
Same as before, Adams. What do you say?

24:56.860 --> 24:58.860
You gonna tell us about it?

24:58.860 --> 25:00.860
I told you my story this morning, mister. You got it all.

25:00.860 --> 25:03.860
Thought maybe you'd like to know. We picked up your partner.

25:03.860 --> 25:05.860
He gave us a signed statement.

25:05.860 --> 25:07.860
Here's a copy of it. Have a look.

25:07.860 --> 25:09.860
Darling, black and white.

25:09.860 --> 25:12.860
Your partner says you were in it with him all the way.

25:12.860 --> 25:14.860
What'd he say, Adam?

25:14.860 --> 25:17.860
Doesn't mean anything to me. You probably forced it on him.

25:17.860 --> 25:19.860
Well, that's not what he says.

25:19.860 --> 25:21.860
He says something on you. He says you set up the deal,

25:21.860 --> 25:24.860
you gave the orders, you made the phone calls for the ransom money.

25:24.860 --> 25:26.860
Says that's the way he's gonna tell it in court.

25:26.860 --> 25:28.860
He's gonna need a lot of proof.

25:28.860 --> 25:30.860
He gave it to us. He showed us your apartment,

25:30.860 --> 25:32.860
a couple of ransom notes you'd written,

25:32.860 --> 25:34.860
showed us the typewriter you wrote him on,

25:34.860 --> 25:36.860
showed us the clothes you wore the night you grabbed Mr. Richmond.

25:36.860 --> 25:38.860
He's a liar.

25:38.860 --> 25:40.860
Not according to our crime lab, he's not.

25:40.860 --> 25:43.860
They checked over the clothes, found particles of dirt and pollen in the trouser cuffs.

25:43.860 --> 25:46.860
They match up with samples we took from that field out by the shack.

25:46.860 --> 25:49.860
Well, it ain't true. None of it's true. You guys are liars.

25:49.860 --> 25:51.860
Well, there's your statement, Adam.

25:51.860 --> 25:53.860
It's all there.

25:53.860 --> 25:56.860
If you got any corrections in the story, now's the time to make them.

25:56.860 --> 25:58.860
Adams?

25:58.860 --> 26:00.860
There's only one thing I want to know.

26:00.860 --> 26:01.860
Yeah?

26:01.860 --> 26:03.860
How'd it happen? How'd you get a line on us?

26:03.860 --> 26:07.860
Richmond got away from the shack. We staked out on it till you came along.

26:07.860 --> 26:10.860
I couldn't have gotten away. I had it all worked out.

26:10.860 --> 26:11.860
Your partner didn't.

26:11.860 --> 26:13.860
I showed him just what to do, how to handle a thing.

26:13.860 --> 26:15.860
I showed him where to hide, Richmond.

26:15.860 --> 26:17.860
Couldn't have goofed up. I showed him the whole routine.

26:17.860 --> 26:19.860
Well, there's one thing you didn't show him.

26:19.860 --> 26:20.860
Yeah?

26:20.860 --> 26:21.860
How to tie a knot.

26:21.860 --> 26:31.860
The story you have just heard was true.

26:31.860 --> 26:34.860
Only the names were changed to protect the innocent.

26:34.860 --> 26:37.860
On December 18th, trial was held in Superior Court,

26:37.860 --> 26:40.860
Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California.

26:40.860 --> 26:42.860
In a moment, the results of that trial.

26:42.860 --> 26:44.860
And now here is our star, Jack Webb.

26:44.860 --> 26:45.860
Thank you.

26:45.860 --> 26:47.860
I'd like to speak for a few seconds to our good friends,

26:47.860 --> 26:49.860
the cigarette dealers all over the country.

26:49.860 --> 26:53.860
Our latest reports show national Fatima sales are still going up.

26:53.860 --> 26:58.860
Every day of the week, more and more smokers are enjoying king-size Fatima.

26:58.860 --> 27:02.860
Now as a result, every so often we receive letters from listeners

27:02.860 --> 27:04.860
telling us that their dealer is out of Fatimas.

27:04.860 --> 27:06.860
So I'd like to suggest this.

27:06.860 --> 27:09.860
You can do yourself and your customers a big favor

27:09.860 --> 27:12.860
by making sure you always have enough Fatimas

27:12.860 --> 27:14.860
to meet the ever-increasing demand.

27:14.860 --> 27:19.860
Put them out on the counter and watch how your customers go for Fatima quality.

27:19.860 --> 27:22.860
Fatima, best of all, long cigarettes.

27:22.860 --> 27:24.860
Thank you.

27:24.860 --> 27:32.860
Music

27:32.860 --> 27:35.860
Gerald Adams and his accomplice in the abduction of Tony Richmond

27:35.860 --> 27:38.860
were tried and convicted in Superior Court of kidnapping.

27:38.860 --> 27:42.860
The state penal code stipulates that kidnapping for the purpose of extorting money

27:42.860 --> 27:47.860
is punishable either by death or by imprisonment in the state penitentiary

27:47.860 --> 27:49.860
from 25 years to life.

27:49.860 --> 27:55.860
Both Adams and his partner are now serving life terms in the state penitentiary, Folsom, California.

27:55.860 --> 28:03.860
Ladies and gentlemen, one of the first contributions to the special $5 million Red Cross flood relief appeal

28:03.860 --> 28:10.860
was $2.07 in pennies and nickels from two nine-year-old playmates in Kansas City, Missouri.

28:10.860 --> 28:14.860
Stepping up to the reception desk in the Kansas City Red Cross chapter,

28:14.860 --> 28:18.860
the pair proudly offered their earnings gained from touring neighborhood streets,

28:18.860 --> 28:21.860
reciting, and singing nursery rhymes.

28:21.860 --> 28:25.860
The money the Red Cross provides for rebuilding a house or refurnishing it,

28:25.860 --> 28:29.860
or for helping a family find the means to help itself,

28:29.860 --> 28:32.860
will be given outright, not lent.

28:32.860 --> 28:35.860
These were the words of President Truman

28:35.860 --> 28:41.860
in asking the American public to contribute at least $5 million to the Red Cross

28:41.860 --> 28:47.860
to aid the disaster-stricken people of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Illinois.

28:47.860 --> 28:50.860
Won't you help through your local Red Cross chapter?

28:50.860 --> 29:03.860
You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files.

29:03.860 --> 29:11.860
Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department.

29:11.860 --> 29:15.860
Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes,

29:15.860 --> 29:20.860
has brought you Dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles.

29:20.860 --> 29:24.860
Stay tuned for Counterspine next over NBC.

29:24.860 --> 29:51.860
stopwatch.com