1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,680 The story you are about to hear is true. 2 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:15,440 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 3 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,320 Fatima cigarettes. 4 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:19,720 Best of all, king-sized cigarettes. 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:29,720 Brings you Dragnet. 6 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:30,720 You're a detective sergeant. 7 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,120 You're assigned a traffic investigation. 8 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,400 Hit run felony detail. 9 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,400 An elderly woman and her nine-year-old grandson are struck down in a pedestrian crosswalk 10 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,200 by a speeding truck. 11 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:43,160 The woman is killed instantly. 12 00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:45,440 Witnesses fail to get the license number. 13 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:47,440 The hit run driver escapes. 14 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,000 Your job? 15 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,320 Find him. 16 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:58,800 The latest Fatima sales report shows thousands and thousands of king-sized cigarette smokers 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,880 are switching to Fatima. 18 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:08,680 For the month of October, coast-to-coast actual figures show Fatima sales are up 110 percent 19 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:10,200 or more than double. 20 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:11,200 Fatima. 21 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,600 Best of all, king-sized cigarettes. 22 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:18,040 Definitely the best quality in its class, but the same price as the cigarettes you are 23 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:19,040 now smoking. 24 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:24,640 Remember, thousands of Americans are switching to extra-mild Fatima. 25 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,360 Next time, insist on the best. 26 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:33,080 King-sized Fatima in the distinctive golden yellow package. 27 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,520 Dragnet. 28 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:40,600 The documented drama of an actual crime. 29 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:45,600 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 30 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:50,200 travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 31 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:51,800 police files. 32 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:57,040 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 33 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:58,040 in action. 34 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,520 It was Tuesday, December 21st. 35 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:05,760 It was windy in Los Angeles. 36 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,000 We were working the night watch out of traffic division hit-and-run felony detail. 37 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:10,680 My partner is Ben Romero. 38 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,360 The boss is Captain Calfee, Commander AID. 39 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:14,360 My name is Spridey. 40 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:18,560 It was 10.51 p.m. when we got to the Carlton Theater, the box office. 41 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:19,560 Thank you. 42 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:20,560 How many, please? 43 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:21,560 Police officers, ma'am. 44 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:22,560 I'd like to talk to you for a minute, if you could. 45 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:23,560 Oh, yes. 46 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:24,560 I'd like to talk to you for a minute, if you could. 47 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,560 Oh, yes. 48 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:28,560 You mean about the accident? 49 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:29,560 Yes, ma'am. 50 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:31,960 One of the officers in the traffic car across the street, he told us you're one of the people 51 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:32,960 who saw it happen. 52 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:33,960 Yes, that's a terrible thing. 53 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:34,960 It was an old lady and a grandson, you know. 54 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:35,960 Yes, ma'am. 55 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:36,960 Would it be possible for you to get a relief for a little while? 56 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:37,960 A few questions we'd like to ask you about it. 57 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:38,960 It won't take very long. 58 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:39,960 Well, I'll be off duty at 11. 59 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:40,960 That's when the box office closes. 60 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:41,960 Eight minutes to 11 now. 61 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:42,960 Would you like to wait? 62 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:43,960 All right, ma'am. 63 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:44,960 Fine. 64 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:45,960 Cold wind out there. 65 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:46,960 Would you like to wait in here? 66 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:47,960 Right on back here. 67 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:48,960 I'll open the door for you. 68 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:49,960 All right, ma'am. 69 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:54,960 Thank you. 70 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,960 Yeah, it's nice and warm. 71 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:00,960 Did anybody get the license number? 72 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:01,960 Do you know, officer? 73 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:02,960 I mean on that truck that ran them down. 74 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:04,400 No, not that we know of. 75 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,040 We understand the officers in the traffic car talked to you. 76 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:08,040 You didn't see the number either? 77 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:09,040 No, I'm sorry. 78 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:10,040 I didn't. 79 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:11,040 The whole thing happened so fast. 80 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,080 I saw the old lady grab the little boy, pull him next to her. 81 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:15,080 It was an awful thing. 82 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:16,080 The truck hit them both together. 83 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:17,080 It's funny the things you notice. 84 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,440 The boy was carrying a little box of candy. 85 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,800 I heard this terrible thud when the truck hit them. 86 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,520 I looked and the candy was spilled all over the street. 87 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:26,520 I just couldn't help it. 88 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:27,520 I got sick to my stomach. 89 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:28,520 Yes, ma'am. 90 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:29,520 I can understand. 91 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,520 Now about this truck that ran them down, do you think you'd know it if you ever saw it 92 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:33,520 again? 93 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:34,520 Well, I'm not sure. 94 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:35,520 I think I might, yes. 95 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:36,520 It was one of those delivery trucks, you know. 96 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:38,520 I think you'd call it a panel truck. 97 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,480 There was a light tan color all over and there was black lettering on the side. 98 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:44,280 Could you make out any of the lettering at all? 99 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,640 Well, I think there were three or four words painted on the side and I know one of them 100 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:48,640 was bakery. 101 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:49,640 I'm sure of that. 102 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:51,080 Did you recognize what make of truck it was, ma'am? 103 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:52,080 Did you hear the model? 104 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:53,080 It was a late model. 105 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:54,080 I'm pretty sure of that. 106 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:55,880 Either a Chevrolet or a Ford, I'd say. 107 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,480 One of those regular delivery trucks like some bakeries use. 108 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,440 You sure about that word you saw lettered on the side? 109 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:01,440 It said bakery. 110 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:02,440 Yes, I'm positive of that. 111 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,840 Now, anything else out of the ordinary that you might have noticed about the truck, ma'am? 112 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:07,480 Anything outstanding that might have caught your eye? 113 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:08,480 No, I'm sorry, officer. 114 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,920 That's about all I can tell you. 115 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:11,920 How is the old lady? 116 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:12,920 Do you know her and the little boy? 117 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:13,920 Could they tell you anything? 118 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:14,920 Yes, ma'am. 119 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:15,920 The woman's dead. 120 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:16,920 She was killed instantly. 121 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:18,800 They've taken the youngster over to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital. 122 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,320 Afraid he's in pretty bad shape, too. 123 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:22,320 Terrible shame. 124 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:23,320 Poor old lady. 125 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:24,320 She lives right here in the neighborhood, you know. 126 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,320 I've seen her shopping in the market next door here, Saturday afternoon. 127 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:28,320 It's just tragic. 128 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:29,320 Yes, ma'am, it is. 129 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:30,320 Boy's her grandson, you know. 130 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,320 Somebody said he was down visiting her for the Christmas vacation. 131 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,520 He seemed like a nice kid, well behaved. 132 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,160 He seemed so proud of him. 133 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,240 It should be a sad Christmas for the family. 134 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:41,240 Just one more question, ma'am. 135 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,440 When the boy and his grandmother were crossing the street, would you say the visibility was 136 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:45,440 good? 137 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,200 I mean, is there any reason why it would have been hard for a driver to see them? 138 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:49,200 No reason in the world, officer. 139 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:50,720 It's a clear night. 140 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,720 You can see how well the intersection's lighted up. 141 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:54,760 All the Christmas lights strung up along here. 142 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,440 The lights from the theater marquee. 143 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,760 It was just as well lighted then as it is now. 144 00:04:58,760 --> 00:04:59,760 Yeah, I see. 145 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:01,280 The intersection was perfectly clear. 146 00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:02,280 No other cars around. 147 00:05:02,280 --> 00:05:03,880 The boy had a white sweater on. 148 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,160 The old lady was wearing a light colored coat. 149 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:07,720 Certainly easy to see the traffic light, too. 150 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:08,720 It said, stop. 151 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,400 I can't understand why that driver didn't see him. 152 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:12,680 No, ma'am, neither can we. 153 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,120 How could anybody do such a thing? 154 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,000 It just isn't any excuse for it. 155 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:17,360 No excuse in the world. 156 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:18,360 Downright murder. 157 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:19,640 Well, maybe that explains it. 158 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:20,640 Why? 159 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:21,640 That's why I kept going. 160 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:22,640 11.35 p.m. 161 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:30,480 Ben and I finished interviewing the cashier in the theater box office, and then we called 162 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,360 the office and had them get out a supplementary broadcast and an APB on the description of 163 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:36,160 the hit and run vehicle. 164 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,240 We went back across the street to the scene of the accident where the officers in the 165 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:44,560 tea car, along with the crew from the crime lab, were finishing up their preliminary investigation. 166 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:48,320 We interviewed two more witnesses to the hit run accident, but they were unable to tell 167 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,640 us anything that we didn't already know. 168 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,960 When we got back to the office, we put in a call to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital 169 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,680 where they told us the nine-year-old boy struck down to the hit run driver was still in a 170 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:58,680 critical condition. 171 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:03,720 The husband of the 64-year-old woman, who had been killed instantly, was brought downtown 172 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,440 to the morgue where he identified the body. 173 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,760 The next morning, we got out a special bulletin to all garages, auto repair, and paint shops 174 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:15,440 throughout the city to be on the lookout for a late model tan panel truck, black lettering 175 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,400 on the side with damage to the front end. 176 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:19,400 8.30 a.m. 177 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:22,960 I checked with communications, and then I went back to the office. 178 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:23,960 Hi. 179 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:25,960 Just checked with Georgia Street, Joe. 180 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:26,960 Asked him about the boy. 181 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,440 The old 80s grandson, how's he doing? 182 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:29,440 About the same, critical condition. 183 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:30,440 That's about all they'll say. 184 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,440 That's a lousy shame. 185 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,160 Did you get any kickback on the old points yet? 186 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:36,160 No, nothing at all. 187 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:37,440 Did you get in touch with the crime lab? 188 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,240 Yeah, they're not gonna be able to help much. 189 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,120 What'd they find out there, anything at all? 190 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:42,120 Just what we saw. 191 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,120 Two small pieces of glass, probably from one of the headlights on the truck. 192 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,840 They don't think they're gonna be able to do much with them. 193 00:06:47,840 --> 00:06:49,320 There's not enough where to go on. 194 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,120 That's the only physical evidence they got, huh? 195 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:52,120 That's all. 196 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,920 Might be able to tie it down a little tighter if we could find that panel. 197 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:55,920 Yeah. 198 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,160 Did you start checking on that bakery truck angle yet? 199 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,800 McGowan and I called every bakery in town and got it pretty well narrowed down. 200 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:06,280 There's only two companies that use 10 late model panels for delivery trucks. 201 00:07:06,280 --> 00:07:09,000 Only one of them uses black lettering on the sides of the truck. 202 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,800 Other companies say they use red lettering. 203 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:11,800 Which one has the black? 204 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:13,800 I got it right here. 205 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,120 An outfit called Nielsen's Wholesale Bakery. 206 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,920 They got a fleet of 100-dollar black lettering on both sides, late model Ford delivery truck. 207 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,240 Did they tell you whether or not any of their drivers could have been making deliveries 208 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:25,920 that time of night, 10, 30, 11 o'clock? 209 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,840 Yeah, there were about a dozen of them out on deliveries. 210 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:31,320 More up into account for it than that, though. 211 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:32,320 How do you mean? 212 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,160 All their drivers are allowed to take the trucks home with them when they are off duty if they 213 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:36,160 want to. 214 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:37,160 Yeah. 215 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:38,840 I'm afraid he's going to mean checking out every one of them, Joe. 216 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:40,640 Well, we might as well get moving on it. 217 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,960 They're going to give us some kind of a list to work with, are they? 218 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:44,960 Yeah, got it all set up with them. 219 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:45,960 Again? 220 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:46,960 Uh-huh. 221 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:48,960 Accident Investigation of Merrill. 222 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:50,960 Oh, yes, sir. 223 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:51,960 That's him. 224 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:52,960 Uh-huh, I see. 225 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:53,960 You're right, thank you. 226 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:54,960 Rotten deal. 227 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:55,960 Yeah, what's the matter? 228 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:56,960 That young kid, the grandson. 229 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:57,960 Yeah. 230 00:07:57,960 --> 00:07:58,960 He just died. 231 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:09,200 Many times and on many different occasions, the police officer has it proved to him that 232 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,880 there can be very little difference between a crime of neglect and a crime that's been 233 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,080 willfully premeditated. 234 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,440 If you look at it closely enough, you can judge it for yourself. 235 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:22,200 How much difference, for example, as far as moral guilt is concerned, is there between 236 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:23,200 the following. 237 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:28,080 Number one, a man who plans a killing, takes up a gun, finds his victim, and shoots him 238 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:29,080 to death. 239 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:33,680 Or number two, the man who thinks he has to look out for no one's welfare but his own, 240 00:08:33,680 --> 00:08:38,200 gets behind the wheel of a car, disregards the ordinary rules of safety, and proceeds 241 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,680 to commit homicide with a motor vehicle. 242 00:08:40,680 --> 00:08:44,440 Oftentimes, the crime masquerades under the guise of an accident. 243 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:48,360 Morally, no matter how you spell it, it adds up to murder just as surely as if the person 244 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,360 had taken a gun and shot the victim down. 245 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,880 The way it looked to us, the hit and run killing of the elderly woman and her grandson was 246 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:56,880 a prime example. 247 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,160 In Principal Nilsen's house, a heavy train r longe of 9 Yankees, about 80 yards away, 248 00:09:00,160 --> 00:08:58,440 arrived at his files, asking him to find the elimination spoiled 249 00:08:58,440 --> 00:08:59,440 out. 250 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,520 There were men armed with steelworks who had a cattle magazine and subject to a joint 251 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:02,520 killing. 252 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:03,520 Over. 253 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,820 we located one of the trucks with recent damage to the front end. 254 00:09:06,820 --> 00:09:10,320 We checked and found the driver's name was Arthur V. Singer. 255 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,220 We drove out to his home to interview him. 256 00:09:12,220 --> 00:09:15,220 No, I wasn't working last night, officer. I was off. What's it all about? 257 00:09:15,220 --> 00:09:17,820 Did you spend the night at home, Mr. Singer, or were you out? 258 00:09:17,820 --> 00:09:21,120 I was home part of the time. After dinner, I went downtown to a little bowling. 259 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:22,920 Our neighborhood team bowls every Tuesday night. 260 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:24,120 Where is that, sir? 261 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,320 Place downtown. It's on West 7th. Got a pretty good team. 262 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:29,420 Did you drive down, Mr. Singer, or did you take the bus? 263 00:09:29,420 --> 00:09:31,620 No, I drove down, had the company truck with me. 264 00:09:31,620 --> 00:09:33,820 I'd excuse them when we're off duty. We pay for the gas. 265 00:09:33,820 --> 00:09:36,320 Did you drive down by yourself, or was there someone else with you? 266 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:38,620 No, I was alone. The other boys had their cars. 267 00:09:38,620 --> 00:09:40,620 When did you leave the bowling alley, you remember? 268 00:09:40,620 --> 00:09:42,920 Hmm, about 10, 10.15, I'd say. 269 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,720 How'd you drive home, Mr. Singer? I mean, what route did you take? 270 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,220 Oh, I drove straight out West 7th. 271 00:09:48,220 --> 00:09:51,320 Got the Carnato, came over Carnato to the house here. 272 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:52,220 Why do you want to know? 273 00:09:52,220 --> 00:09:53,520 What time did you get home? 274 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:55,320 About quarter to 11. 275 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,120 It wouldn't be about that little scrape I had last night, would it? 276 00:09:58,120 --> 00:09:59,220 What was that? 277 00:09:59,220 --> 00:10:02,320 Down at 7th and Grandview, right by Westlake Park there. 278 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,620 Old guy in the car, had he stopped fast right in front of me. 279 00:10:04,620 --> 00:10:05,420 He didn't even signal. 280 00:10:05,420 --> 00:10:06,320 Oh, right. 281 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:07,820 Yeah, I almost plowed right into him. 282 00:10:07,820 --> 00:10:10,820 Lucky I was watching. I slammed on the brakes, turned in toward the curb. 283 00:10:10,820 --> 00:10:14,320 Should have seen it. I clipped the headlight in the right fender against the telephone pole. 284 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,420 Had to take the truck in this morning, get it fixed up. 285 00:10:16,420 --> 00:10:18,620 Are there any witnesses to this accident that you had, Mr. Singer? 286 00:10:18,620 --> 00:10:20,220 Yeah, half a dozen people saw it. 287 00:10:20,220 --> 00:10:21,820 Did you get any names and addresses? 288 00:10:21,820 --> 00:10:25,820 Well, no, I didn't. I was so teed off about the whole thing, I guess I didn't think about it. 289 00:10:25,820 --> 00:10:28,920 Is there anyone at all we can check with, anybody to corroborate your story? 290 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:32,920 Just the old guy in that car. Sure a lousy driver. I really chewed him out. 291 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:34,420 You get his name and address? 292 00:10:34,420 --> 00:10:36,420 No, but I took down his license number. 293 00:10:36,420 --> 00:10:38,920 Wasn't going to pay for that damage. He admitted it was his fault. 294 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,120 I see. Do you mind giving us that license number? 295 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:44,720 No, if I can find it. Wrote it down on the back of an old envelope. 296 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,620 Thought I'd put it in my jacket when I looked this morning. Wasn't there. 297 00:10:47,620 --> 00:10:51,420 It's around someplace, sir. I'll check around again before I leave for work. It's bound to turn up. 298 00:10:51,420 --> 00:10:54,520 I'd like to have you look for it now, Mr. Singer. If you would, it's pretty important. 299 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,920 Well, I think I get it, officer. What's this all about, anyway? 300 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:00,620 Preliminary investigation. Want to see if you can find that number for her? 301 00:11:00,620 --> 00:11:05,220 Why? What does it have to do with an investigation? I didn't do anything. That old man was his fault. 302 00:11:05,220 --> 00:11:09,920 Well, a bakery truck was involved in a serious accident last night. The same kind that you were driving. 303 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,420 I'm afraid you're going to need some kind of an alibi, Mr. Singer. 304 00:11:12,420 --> 00:11:15,220 Alibi? I don't know what you mean. Why do I have to have an alibi? 305 00:11:15,220 --> 00:11:17,120 Well, just take my word for it. You're going to need one. 306 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:18,120 Why do I need one? 307 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:19,020 Two reasons. 308 00:11:19,020 --> 00:11:19,420 Yeah? 309 00:11:19,420 --> 00:11:21,320 A nine-year-old boy and his grandmother. 310 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:32,520 We continued questioning the suspect, Arthur Singer, but he denied any knowledge of the hit-run accident the night before at the intersection of Drexel and Pico Boulevard. 311 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:39,620 We stayed with him while he searched his home for the license number of the car, which he said caused him to have his accident the night before. 312 00:11:39,620 --> 00:11:46,720 After half an hour of looking, he came up with a number scribbled on a scrap of paper, which he'd found back in one corner on the floor of his closet. 313 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:54,620 We put in a call to our DMV, and they came back with the information that the license number was registered to a Mr. Thomas Foley on Lancashire Boulevard. 314 00:11:54,620 --> 00:11:58,420 We drove out to the address to check with Mr. Foley, but there was nobody home. 315 00:11:58,420 --> 00:12:02,820 We left our car, along with a message to contact us as soon as possible. 316 00:12:02,820 --> 00:12:08,420 Four fifteen p.m. Ben and I got back to the office. At four thirty-five, Mr. Foley returned our call. 317 00:12:08,420 --> 00:12:10,220 Yes, sir, that's right. 318 00:12:10,220 --> 00:12:11,820 Oh, you did, huh? 319 00:12:11,820 --> 00:12:14,420 I see. Well, what time was that, do you remember? 320 00:12:14,420 --> 00:12:18,620 Oh, well, all right, Mr. Foley, thank you very much. We may be contacting you later. 321 00:12:18,620 --> 00:12:20,020 All right, bye. 322 00:12:20,020 --> 00:12:20,720 What'd you get? 323 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:22,320 Thought this was starting out too easy. 324 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:23,320 Why would he say it? 325 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:28,220 Apparently, this Arthur Singer's telling us the truth. Mr. Foley says he did have a little scrape with a bakery truck last night. 326 00:12:28,220 --> 00:12:29,920 Describe Singer as a driver of the truck. 327 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:32,420 Well, what about the location? Is Foley pretty sure about that? 328 00:12:32,420 --> 00:12:38,820 Grandview and West 7. Said it happened about ten thirty-five last night. That puts Singer about three miles from the scene of the hit run. 329 00:12:38,820 --> 00:12:39,620 It's impossible, Joe. 330 00:12:39,620 --> 00:12:40,120 Yeah. 331 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,520 This Mr. Foley's right, Singer couldn't have done it. Wasn't anywhere near the scene. 332 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:45,420 Sure thought he was there, didn't you? 333 00:12:45,420 --> 00:12:47,620 We can drive out and double check with Foley. 334 00:12:47,620 --> 00:12:50,020 Can't think of any reason why he'd lie about it, can you? 335 00:12:50,020 --> 00:12:52,120 All right, just I'll get it. 336 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,220 Accident investigation, Friday. 337 00:12:54,220 --> 00:12:55,420 Yeah, Ted. 338 00:12:55,420 --> 00:12:56,820 Where? 339 00:12:56,820 --> 00:12:57,920 Yeah. 340 00:12:57,920 --> 00:12:59,120 Nobody, huh? 341 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:00,920 Yeah, right away, thanks. 342 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,220 It's moving a little fast. Got a piece of luck here. 343 00:13:03,220 --> 00:13:03,720 Who was it? 344 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,220 Ted Zimmerman. He and McLendon are down south into town. 345 00:13:06,220 --> 00:13:06,620 Yeah? 346 00:13:06,620 --> 00:13:08,620 The hit and run truck. They think maybe they found it. 347 00:13:08,620 --> 00:13:17,920 Four twenty-eight p.m. Ben and I left the office and drove to the south end of the city where we met with Sergeant Zimmerman and McLendon, 348 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,420 a block from where the tan panel bakery truck had been located. 349 00:13:21,420 --> 00:13:24,820 As soon as the truck had been discovered, an immediate stakeout was placed on it. 350 00:13:24,820 --> 00:13:34,420 A code five was broadcast on the vehicle's location, warning all units to stay away so as not to discourage the suspect in case he decided it was safe to return and get the truck. 351 00:13:34,420 --> 00:13:39,020 Ben and I drove down the side street where the truck was parked and got a good look at the front end of it. 352 00:13:39,020 --> 00:13:42,020 The right headlight was damaged and so was the right fender. 353 00:13:42,020 --> 00:13:50,920 While Zimmerman and McLendon remained on stakeout, Ben and I contacted the Nielsen bakery people again, gave them the number of the truck, and they traced down the driver's name for us. 354 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:56,320 He was listed as Daniel Miller. He'd been employed by the bakery for the past three years and he had a good record. 355 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,520 They told us this was his day off. 356 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:02,920 Five thirty p.m. We checked at his home address, but his wife told us he wasn't there. 357 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:07,820 She said that besides driving a truck for the bakery, he also had a part-time job at night. 358 00:14:07,820 --> 00:14:12,020 He worked as a counterman at a small coffee shop out on Wilshire Boulevard. 359 00:14:12,020 --> 00:14:15,220 We drove out to the coffee shop and interviewed him on the job. 360 00:14:15,220 --> 00:14:17,720 No, I'm sorry. I don't know where the truck is. I wish I did. 361 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:19,620 What happened, Mr. Miller? Was he stolen? 362 00:14:19,620 --> 00:14:24,320 No, no, not exactly. A fellow that comes in here quite a bit, his name's Paul. Good customer. 363 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:28,020 He borrowed the truck from me last night. Said he'd only be gone an hour. I haven't seen him since. 364 00:14:28,020 --> 00:14:30,520 Where does this man live, this friend of yours, Paul? 365 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:35,520 Well, to tell you the truth, I don't know. Good customer. He comes in quite a bit at night when I'm working. 366 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:40,720 Got to know him pretty well. He asked to borrow the truck for an hour. Didn't think much about it. Let him have it. 367 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:41,720 Is there anything wrong? 368 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:43,820 What's this Paul's last name, you know? 369 00:14:43,820 --> 00:14:47,020 No, I guess I don't. Never thought to ask him, as a matter of fact. 370 00:14:47,020 --> 00:14:48,520 Guess I never had any reason to. 371 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,120 About what time was it last night that you loaned him the truck? 372 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:57,120 Little after eight o'clock, I think it was. He said he wanted to take his television set over to a guy he knew and get it fixed. 373 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:00,020 He told me he'd be back by ten o'clock at the latest. 374 00:15:00,020 --> 00:15:02,720 You don't know where this man lives? You have no idea at all how to get in touch with him? 375 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:04,520 No, I guess I don't, Sergeant. Why? 376 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:06,720 You're in the habit of lending the truck to strangers? 377 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:11,320 No, not usually. Well, what's your beef anyway? What's this all about? 378 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,920 What are your hours here at the coffee shop, Norr? When do you check in for work and when do you leave? 379 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:20,020 I check in at seven o'clock. I go straight five hours to midnight. That's when we close out midnight. 380 00:15:20,020 --> 00:15:23,120 You worked that shift last night, did you? Seven p.m. straight through to midnight? 381 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,920 That's right. Monday through Saturday. Six days a week. That's the schedule. 382 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:31,820 Just a part-time job for me, extra dough, you know. My regular job is driving the truck for the bakery. 383 00:15:31,820 --> 00:15:35,020 Was anyone around last night when your friend Paul came in to borrow the truck? 384 00:15:35,020 --> 00:15:37,920 Maybe another customer, a waitress, somebody we could double-check with? 385 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:43,120 No, there were a couple other customers in the place. Don't know who they were, though. 386 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:48,120 Why do you have to double-check anyway? I haven't done anything. I loaned Paul a truck, that's all. 387 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,420 Well, have you any way at all of proving you were here from seven to twelve last night? 388 00:15:51,420 --> 00:15:53,820 Must have been some customers you waited on that you remember. 389 00:15:53,820 --> 00:15:57,720 I'm sure there are at least half a dozen of them. They'll tell you I was here. 390 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,220 I'd like to have their names and addresses if you don't mind, Miller. 391 00:16:00,220 --> 00:16:03,220 Yeah. Excuse me a minute, huh? Got a customer waiting on me. 392 00:16:03,220 --> 00:16:04,620 Sure, come on in. 393 00:16:04,620 --> 00:16:06,320 Hi, Dan. I missed you last night. 394 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:07,720 Hi, Fred. What do you have? 395 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,920 Coffee. A couple of those doughnuts back there, powdered sugar ones. 396 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:12,220 Okay. 397 00:16:12,220 --> 00:16:16,420 Yeah, me and the missus dropped in for a sandwich after the show last night. We were looking for you. 398 00:16:16,420 --> 00:16:17,320 That so? 399 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:30,620 You know about ten-thirty? Where were you, Dan? 400 00:16:30,620 --> 00:16:36,520 You are listening to Dragnet, authentic stories of your police force in action. 401 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:41,520 If you smoke king-size cigarettes, listen to Fatima's amazing new offer. 402 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:47,120 Buy a pack of Fatimas. 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We continued questioning the hit-run suspect, Daniel Miller, for a full hour. 414 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:53,020 But he seemed to be unable to account for his time the previous night. 415 00:17:53,020 --> 00:18:00,120 His first story was that he'd been on duty behind the counter in the coffee shop without a break between the hours of 7 p.m. and midnight. 416 00:18:00,120 --> 00:18:06,820 Then after the customer entered and disclosed that he was in the coffee shop at 10 30 the night before and that Miller was nowhere about, 417 00:18:06,820 --> 00:18:08,720 the suspect switched his story. 418 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:14,720 He said he thought he left the coffee shop briefly for about 15 minutes between 10 30 and 10 45 p.m. 419 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:19,820 to run down the street to a hotel to say goodbye to some friends of his who were leaving for New York. 420 00:18:19,820 --> 00:18:23,520 We checked at the hotel, but they didn't know Miller and they hadn't seen him the night before. 421 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:24,820 They were sure of it. 422 00:18:24,820 --> 00:18:30,720 We returned to the coffee shop and took up the questioning of the suspect all over again, but he made little or no sense at all. 423 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:37,420 Apparently, he was piling up lie after lie in an effort to cover his tracks before and after the hit-and-run murder the night before. 424 00:18:37,420 --> 00:18:44,120 7 48 p.m. Ben and I pulled Miller off the job at the coffee shop and took him downtown to the interrogation room. 425 00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:45,520 I'm telling you, it's the truth. 426 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:47,220 I wasn't in that truck last night. 427 00:18:47,220 --> 00:18:48,520 I wasn't in an accident. 428 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:49,920 I don't know what you're talking about. 429 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:51,520 Well, then give us something to go on Miller. 430 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:55,020 You've ended three different stories so far, not one of them strong enough to hold water. 431 00:18:55,020 --> 00:18:56,520 I'm telling you the truth. 432 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,620 What are you trying to hang this on me for? 433 00:18:58,620 --> 00:19:01,320 I didn't have a wreck and I didn't kill anybody. 434 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:02,320 Why are you picking on me? 435 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:03,720 Because you don't make sense, mister. 436 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,320 You're trying to sell us a story and you haven't got one ounce of proof to back it up. 437 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:11,620 That bakery truck you're responsible for is the same truck that killed the old woman and the little boy. 438 00:19:11,620 --> 00:19:13,920 Now you come up with a solid story that we can check on it. 439 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:15,720 You're going to be resting your back in the main jail. 440 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,320 No wonder they call you cops dumb. 441 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,220 I wasn't in that truck last night. 442 00:19:20,220 --> 00:19:21,720 Can't you get that through your heads? 443 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:22,720 I wasn't in the truck. 444 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:23,920 I didn't have an accident. 445 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:25,320 Then prove it to us, Mr. Miller. 446 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:27,120 That's all we're waiting for. 447 00:19:27,120 --> 00:19:28,420 Listen, call Bill Coulter. 448 00:19:28,420 --> 00:19:29,320 He's a good customer. 449 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:30,620 He was in last night, I think. 450 00:19:30,620 --> 00:19:31,520 He'll tell you. 451 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:32,620 Go ahead and call him. 452 00:19:32,620 --> 00:19:33,920 He'll back up what I say. 453 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:35,420 What's his number? Do you know? 454 00:19:35,420 --> 00:19:36,720 Yeah, I got it. 455 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:39,520 Yeah, right here in my wallet. 456 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:40,720 Bill can tell you. 457 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:42,120 Yeah, here it is. 458 00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:44,320 Thank you. 459 00:19:52,620 --> 00:19:54,520 Hello, William Coulter there, please. 460 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:56,620 Yes, ma'am. It's important. 461 00:19:56,620 --> 00:19:59,120 All right, will you have him call Michigan 5211? 462 00:19:59,120 --> 00:20:01,120 Yeah, 5211. 463 00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:03,720 That's extension 2512. 464 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:05,420 Right, thank you very much. 465 00:20:05,420 --> 00:20:07,020 Well, he's busy. He'll call back in a minute. 466 00:20:07,020 --> 00:20:08,020 He'll tell you the truth. 467 00:20:08,020 --> 00:20:09,920 I was in the coffee shop all night. 468 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,020 Just those couple of minutes, I ran down to the hotel 469 00:20:12,020 --> 00:20:13,920 to say goodbye to those friends of mine. 470 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:15,520 That's the only time I left the place. 471 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:18,420 How come you couldn't tell us that to begin with, man? 472 00:20:18,420 --> 00:20:20,220 You say you've got nothing to hide. 473 00:20:20,220 --> 00:20:21,820 Why do you have to handle three different stories? 474 00:20:21,820 --> 00:20:23,220 Which one are we supposed to believe? 475 00:20:23,220 --> 00:20:24,620 I got nervous, that's all, 476 00:20:24,620 --> 00:20:27,620 when you first come in and started to ask questions. 477 00:20:27,620 --> 00:20:28,920 I didn't know what was all about. 478 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:30,520 I didn't know there was any trouble. 479 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,120 I just loaned the truck to this guy, Paul, as a favor. 480 00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:35,020 How'd I know what he was going to do? 481 00:20:35,020 --> 00:20:36,720 Getting himself in a jam like that. 482 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:39,220 All right, now try to look at it from where we stand, Miller. 483 00:20:39,220 --> 00:20:40,820 You loan out your truck to a man. 484 00:20:40,820 --> 00:20:43,320 You don't know his last name, you don't know where he lives. 485 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:44,920 You say he must have been driving the truck 486 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:46,520 when the lady and the boy were killed. 487 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:48,920 Sure he must have been driving it. I wasn't. 488 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,720 I was back at the coffee shop. I was there until midnight. 489 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:53,120 All right, then prove it to us. 490 00:20:53,120 --> 00:20:54,820 If you know the man well enough to loan him the truck, 491 00:20:54,820 --> 00:20:56,520 you ought to be able to find him. 492 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,020 They must be Bill Coler. He'll tell you. 493 00:20:59,020 --> 00:21:02,320 Go ahead, see what he said. 494 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:04,120 Interrogation room, Friday. 495 00:21:04,120 --> 00:21:05,520 Oh, yeah, Mr. Coler. 496 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:09,320 My name is Sergeant Friday, LAPD, accident investigation. 497 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:10,820 Friday, yes, sir, that's right. 498 00:21:10,820 --> 00:21:14,120 I wonder if you'd tell me if you know a Daniel Miller. 499 00:21:14,120 --> 00:21:15,120 Mm-hmm. 500 00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:17,920 When's the last time you saw him? Do you remember? 501 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:19,620 I see. 502 00:21:19,620 --> 00:21:21,620 The place where he works, the coffee shop? 503 00:21:21,620 --> 00:21:23,820 Were you in there last night by any chance? 504 00:21:23,820 --> 00:21:26,120 Did you see Miller in there? 505 00:21:26,120 --> 00:21:28,420 You're sure? 506 00:21:28,420 --> 00:21:29,620 Yes, sir. 507 00:21:29,620 --> 00:21:31,220 No, sir, that's all for now. Thank you very much. 508 00:21:31,220 --> 00:21:32,820 We're going to contact you later on. 509 00:21:32,820 --> 00:21:34,420 Thank you, goodbye. 510 00:21:34,420 --> 00:21:36,320 Well, how about it? He told you, didn't he? 511 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:37,420 Is that enough for you? 512 00:21:37,420 --> 00:21:41,420 He says he hasn't been in the coffee shop for three days. 513 00:21:41,420 --> 00:21:43,120 9.45 p.m. 514 00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:47,020 Our interrogation of the hit-and-run suspect Daniel Miller went on. 515 00:21:47,020 --> 00:21:49,420 At his suggestion, we called half a dozen people 516 00:21:49,420 --> 00:21:51,720 who he figured might substantiate his alibi, 517 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,620 but none of them were able to. 518 00:21:53,620 --> 00:21:57,020 Miller continued to deny any knowledge of the hit-run killing, 519 00:21:57,020 --> 00:21:58,920 but he still couldn't account for his whereabouts 520 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:03,120 at the exact hour the nine-year-old boy and his grandmother were run down. 521 00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:05,920 The time element especially didn't work in his favor. 522 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:07,820 Nothing worked in his favor. 523 00:22:07,820 --> 00:22:09,120 11.30 p.m. 524 00:22:09,120 --> 00:22:11,320 Ben and I took Daniel Miller over to the main jail 525 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,820 where he was booked in on suspicion of 480 V.C. 526 00:22:14,820 --> 00:22:17,620 The following afternoon, his lawyer obtained a writ, 527 00:22:17,620 --> 00:22:19,120 and he was released from custody. 528 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:21,520 The writ was returnable in five days. 529 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:25,320 He came immediately to the office to plead with Ben and I to help him find Paul, 530 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:27,820 the man who'd borrowed his truck and thus clear himself. 531 00:22:27,820 --> 00:22:29,020 We took him up on it. 532 00:22:29,020 --> 00:22:31,420 Either way, we figured we'd get to the bottom of it. 533 00:22:31,420 --> 00:22:35,620 If Miller dreamed up the character Paul to escape blame for the hit-and-run killing, 534 00:22:35,620 --> 00:22:37,720 we were bound to find out sooner or later. 535 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:41,020 If Miller was telling the truth, we had little reason to believe he was, 536 00:22:41,020 --> 00:22:44,220 and a man named Paul had borrowed the truck the night of the hit-and-run killing, 537 00:22:44,220 --> 00:22:46,220 we were bound to find that out too. 538 00:22:46,220 --> 00:22:48,520 In any event, we had to investigate. 539 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:53,220 It's the job of the police officer to prove guilt or innocence, not guilt alone. 540 00:22:53,220 --> 00:22:55,620 Two days passed, and then another two. 541 00:22:55,620 --> 00:22:59,920 The Monday following the Christmas weekend, we were ready to call a halt. 542 00:23:01,120 --> 00:23:04,420 I don't know what else we can do. I think we've given enough time, don't you? 543 00:23:04,420 --> 00:23:08,320 The deeper we get into it, the more it looks like Miller's army, and I still can't make up my mind. 544 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,720 Why do you have to be stubborn about it? We've checked every possible angle on this story. 545 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:15,220 We still haven't announced the proof that this guy Paul he talks about even exists. 546 00:23:15,220 --> 00:23:16,920 We can't string along with Miller forever. 547 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:20,120 I suppose you're right. We've given him a square enough break on it. 548 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:23,420 I still got that funny hunch. It's possible he might be telling the truth. 549 00:23:23,420 --> 00:23:28,320 We've gone four straight days on it, Joe, having come across one lead to back up his story. 550 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,120 Too much for me. I can't buy it anymore. Go ahead. 551 00:23:32,120 --> 00:23:32,920 Sergeant. 552 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:34,120 Oh, how are you, Miller? 553 00:23:34,120 --> 00:23:36,720 I'm okay. Glad to see you. I've been looking for you. 554 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:39,720 We've been looking for your friend, Miller. Still haven't found a trace of him. 555 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:41,520 That's why I came down to see you. 556 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:45,420 A friend of mine called me this morning. He knows this guy Paul I told you about. 557 00:23:45,420 --> 00:23:49,020 He says he saw him last night, going into a hotel down on South Flower. 558 00:23:49,020 --> 00:23:51,320 How come we haven't heard from this friend of yours before? 559 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:53,920 We've checked through twice on the list of everybody you know. 560 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,620 This fellow's been out of town, just got back yesterday. 561 00:23:56,620 --> 00:24:00,520 When he heard about the jam I was in, he called me about seeing Paul. 562 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:04,020 This hotel Paul was supposed to have been seen going into. Have you got the address of that? 563 00:24:04,020 --> 00:24:06,620 Yeah, it's over on South Flower, right near 12th. 564 00:24:06,620 --> 00:24:11,120 Want to go over there with me right now? This friend of mine wouldn't kid me. Paul must be there. 565 00:24:11,120 --> 00:24:11,920 You sure about that? 566 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:14,020 He must be there. I'll bet a month's pay on it. 567 00:24:14,020 --> 00:24:16,020 You might be low, mister. 568 00:24:16,020 --> 00:24:16,720 What? 569 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:22,020 It's going to cost you a lot more than that. 570 00:24:22,020 --> 00:24:27,220 We went up to the third floor, room 318, but the man registered as Paul Barton wasn't in. 571 00:24:27,220 --> 00:24:30,220 He'd left no word at the desk as to when he'd return. 572 00:24:30,220 --> 00:24:33,320 We sent Miller home and told him to wait for our call. 573 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:35,820 Ben and I went on stakeout at the hotel. 574 00:24:35,820 --> 00:24:40,420 At 725 that night, Paul Barton returned to his room and we began questioning him. 575 00:24:40,420 --> 00:24:46,020 He showed no signs of being upset. His answers were quick, straightforward, and they seemed to make sense. 576 00:24:46,020 --> 00:24:50,920 The interview went on, a half hour, an hour, and Barton began to grow a little nervous. 577 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:58,020 He contradicted himself. Big holes began to show up in his story as to how and where he'd spent his time the night of the hit run killing. 578 00:24:58,020 --> 00:25:01,520 8.45 p.m. Ben and I took Barton back to the office. 579 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:07,120 We found Zimmerman in the squad room and had him phone Miller at his home and ask him to come downtown as soon as possible. 580 00:25:07,120 --> 00:25:13,520 Meantime, we checked Paul Barton through R&I, and then we took him to the interrogation room where the questioning went on. 581 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:18,320 You're a little mixed up about that, aren't you, Mr. Barton? I thought you said you went to that bar downtown about 10 p.m. 582 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,220 and then you went to visit at your sister's house. 583 00:25:20,220 --> 00:25:24,020 Now you tell us you went to your sister's house first and then you went to the bar downtown. Now, which is it? 584 00:25:24,020 --> 00:25:27,720 Well, that's getting a little high-handed, isn't it? Why do I have to account for my time to you? 585 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:30,120 If it wasn't important, we wouldn't be asking you. I think you know that. 586 00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:35,320 Well, I don't know anything of the kind. You're trying to take advantage of me. That's the only impression I can get. 587 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:37,720 I think I've answered enough of your questions. I'm going back to the hotel. 588 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,220 Just a minute, Barton. There's one more thing. 589 00:25:40,220 --> 00:25:44,320 Last time you were arrested for a traffic violation, you want to tell us what the charge was? 590 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:45,620 What? 591 00:25:45,620 --> 00:25:47,020 I think you heard me. 592 00:25:47,020 --> 00:25:52,020 Well, that was a year ago. I was driving a little too fast going out Beverly Boulevard. What's that got to do with it? 593 00:25:52,020 --> 00:25:55,720 Our record bureau says the charge was for drunk driving. Your license was revoked, isn't that right? 594 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,120 Well, so what? I haven't been driving. I haven't been near a car. 595 00:25:58,120 --> 00:25:59,420 How about last Tuesday night? 596 00:25:59,420 --> 00:25:59,720 Huh? 597 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:01,320 Last Tuesday night. Did you do any driving then? 598 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:02,620 No, no. Of course not. 599 00:26:02,620 --> 00:26:03,820 Are you sure about that? 600 00:26:03,820 --> 00:26:06,020 If you're not trapping me, I answer all your questions. I'm getting out of here. 601 00:26:06,020 --> 00:26:08,620 No, you better stay right where you are, mister. Stay put. 602 00:26:08,620 --> 00:26:10,520 Ben, you want to check next door and see if Miller's come in with you. 603 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:12,220 Yeah, okay. 604 00:26:12,220 --> 00:26:14,820 You can't make me stay here. It's illegal. You got nothing to hold me on. 605 00:26:14,820 --> 00:26:17,220 All right, then there's nothing to worry about. This won't take very long. 606 00:26:17,220 --> 00:26:19,820 We got a man by the name of Miller coming in. He says he thinks he knows you. 607 00:26:19,820 --> 00:26:22,620 Miller? I don't know any Millers. 608 00:26:24,620 --> 00:26:27,520 Nice going, Paul. Why you been? 609 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:29,620 I said, why you been? What'd you do with the truck? 610 00:26:29,620 --> 00:26:30,420 I'm getting out of here. 611 00:26:30,420 --> 00:26:31,620 Grab him, Ben. Grab him. 612 00:26:31,620 --> 00:26:32,820 Got him. Got him. 613 00:26:32,820 --> 00:26:34,020 You. 614 00:26:34,020 --> 00:26:34,920 All right. All right. 615 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:35,620 Now let me go. 616 00:26:35,620 --> 00:26:36,920 Settle down, settle down. 617 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,420 Come on, mister. Settle down. 618 00:26:39,420 --> 00:26:42,420 I didn't do it. I didn't do a thing. I... 619 00:26:42,420 --> 00:26:44,720 Well, look, you can't prove it. You can't prove I did. 620 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:47,520 They're gonna prove it, Paul. I'm gonna help them prove it. 621 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:49,620 You sure been a real good friend. 622 00:26:49,620 --> 00:26:53,720 Look, give me a break, Danny. I didn't mean it. Honestly, I didn't mean it. 623 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:57,520 I loan you the truck. You get boozed up. You run down a little kid and a grandmother. 624 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:00,820 Then you take off and leave me holding the sack, like I did it. 625 00:27:00,820 --> 00:27:04,120 Well, I didn't mean it, Danny. It was an accident. I wasn't boozed up. 626 00:27:04,120 --> 00:27:06,320 Yeah, you're a real good friend. 627 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:09,820 I hope you get it in the neck. I hope you get it with both bowels. 628 00:27:09,820 --> 00:27:13,220 Look, Sergeant, that's not true. I wasn't boozed up. I only had two drinks. 629 00:27:13,220 --> 00:27:15,420 Now believe me, that's all I had. 630 00:27:15,420 --> 00:27:19,420 I couldn't have been drunk. It doesn't affect me that way. Two drinks never hurt me. 631 00:27:19,420 --> 00:27:21,320 A couple of drinks never hurt anybody. 632 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:23,720 They killed a little boy and his grandmother. 633 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:34,220 The story you have just heard was true. 634 00:27:34,220 --> 00:27:37,020 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 635 00:27:37,020 --> 00:27:41,120 On February 28th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 87, 636 00:27:41,120 --> 00:27:43,720 City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 637 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:45,720 In a moment, the results of that trial. 638 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:47,520 Now here is our star, Jack Webb. 639 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:50,920 Thank you. Friends, we made Fatima's money back radio offer 640 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:54,120 for the first time on Dragnet over a month and a half ago. 641 00:27:54,120 --> 00:27:57,220 Thursday, September 20th. Here's what happened. 642 00:27:57,220 --> 00:28:00,320 Over 10 million listeners heard Fatima's famous offer. 643 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:04,820 That's right. Millions heard it, yet only 44 have written. 644 00:28:04,820 --> 00:28:09,620 Now if you haven't smoked Fatima's yet, remember what we said back in September still goes. 645 00:28:09,620 --> 00:28:15,020 Buy a pack of Fatima's. Enjoy their extra mildness and superbly blended tobacco. 646 00:28:15,020 --> 00:28:19,020 If you don't like Fatima's better than the king-size cigarette you're now smoking, 647 00:28:19,020 --> 00:28:24,020 return the pack with the unused Fatima's and we'll give you your money back plus postage. 648 00:28:24,020 --> 00:28:27,720 Thousands of Americans are switching to Fatima, so why wait? 649 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:32,020 Switch to Fatima today. Best of all, king-size cigarettes. 650 00:28:32,020 --> 00:28:59,720 Paul Barton was filed on for violation of the state vehicle code section 480, a hit and run felony, and also for manslaughter two counts. 651 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:06,720 one nor more than five years. 652 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:15,600 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 653 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:19,400 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, 654 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,600 Los Angeles Police Department. 655 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:27,080 Fatima cigarettes, best of all king-size cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet, 656 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:31,640 transcribed from Los Angeles. 657 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:38,640 Stay tuned for Counter Spy next on NBC.