1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,720 The story you are about to hear is true. 2 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:21,880 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 3 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:22,880 You're a detective sergeant. 4 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,720 You're assigned the homicide detail. 5 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:30,640 A small boy is reported missing from his home, his age nine years. 6 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,920 Foul play is suspected. 7 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,640 Your job, find him. 8 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:43,680 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 9 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:48,520 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 10 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:53,000 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 11 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,000 police files. 12 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:59,720 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 13 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:05,160 in action. 14 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:06,160 Was Thursday, December 22nd. 15 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:07,160 It was cold in Los Angeles. 16 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:10,160 We were working the night watch out of homicide. 17 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,680 My partner's Ben Ramell, the boss is Thad Brown, Chief of Detective. 18 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:14,680 My name's Friday. 19 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:19,880 I was on the way into work and it was 3.55 p.m. when I got to room 42. 20 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:20,880 Homicide. 21 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:21,880 Hi, Joe. 22 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:22,880 Ben. 23 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:27,880 Well, here's the file on the Webster case. 24 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,880 And brought all the file ups in there? 25 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:31,880 Yeah. 26 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:32,880 I'll get it. 27 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:33,880 Homicide Friday. 28 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:34,880 This Levenson, unit 113J. 29 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:35,880 Got something for you. 30 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:36,880 Yeah, Harry, what's doing? 31 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:42,360 Now, Dorothy and I are out here on Comis Avenue, 4656, trying to track down a nine-year-old 32 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:43,360 boy. 33 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:44,360 Yeah, what's the story? 34 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:45,360 The kid's missing, suspicion of foul play. 35 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:46,360 How long has he been gone? 36 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:47,360 About two hours. 37 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:48,360 Looks like a job for homicide. 38 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:49,360 How do you figure? 39 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:50,360 The kid was last seen playing in the backyard of his home. 40 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,800 Yeah? 41 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:54,800 We checked over the yard. 42 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:55,800 Did you find anything? 43 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:56,800 Blood stains, lots of them. 44 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:57,800 They looked new. 45 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:04,240 Ben and I left a message for Chief of Detective, Stad Brown. 46 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,120 Then we went over to the crime lab, picked up Lieutenant Lee Jones, and drove out the 47 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,320 Arroyo Seco freeway to Collis Avenue. 48 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,720 It was an average neighborhood. 49 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:18,520 Number 4656 was a one-story green stucco residence situated on the corner of Collis Avenue and 50 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:19,520 Harrison Drive. 51 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:24,960 Beyond the backyard was a tract of undeveloped land covered with scrub oak. 52 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,720 Harry Levinson from Highland Park Juvenile was waiting for us in front of the house. 53 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:30,240 I'll get my bag. 54 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:35,360 Who notified you that the boy was missing, Harry? 55 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:36,360 The mother. 56 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:38,960 Said she went out to do some Christmas shopping about 11 this morning. 57 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:39,960 Left the boy home. 58 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:41,960 She came back about two this afternoon. 59 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:42,960 He was gone. 60 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:43,960 What's the name? 61 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:44,960 Johnstone. 62 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:47,280 The kid's name is Stanley, nine years old. 63 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,240 Was this gate open like this when you got here? 64 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:51,840 Yeah, I haven't touched the thing yet. 65 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,800 I hear the stains over here, Lieutenant Jones, along the edge of the walk. 66 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:56,800 See? 67 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:57,800 Yeah. 68 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:58,800 Let me see. 69 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,800 Quite a few stains, huh? 70 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:02,800 Yeah. 71 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:08,240 Looks like it might be blood. 72 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:09,720 Ties of benzidine on them. 73 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:11,720 There we are. 74 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:13,720 See what happened. 75 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,720 Where's the kid's mother now, Harry? 76 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:17,720 In the house. 77 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:18,720 Dory's talking to her. 78 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:20,760 Did you talk to any of the neighbors? 79 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:22,800 People next door are the ones on this side. 80 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:23,800 They couldn't tell us anything. 81 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:24,800 There it is, fellas. 82 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:25,800 Yelly. 83 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,200 These spots I covered with benzidine, they're turning blue. 84 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:29,200 Blood stains all right. 85 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,400 Can't say definitely whether it's human or animal blood. 86 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:33,560 You have to go back to the lab to run it through. 87 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,560 Yeah, biological precipitant test. 88 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,560 Hand me one of those glass files on my bike, will you? 89 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:39,560 Yeah, sure. 90 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,560 Okay, here you go. 91 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:43,560 Thanks. 92 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,920 I'll scrape some flakes off her test. 93 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:48,920 There we are. 94 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,720 How soon can you tap the blood for us, Lee? 95 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:53,320 Precipitant test won't run more than 20 minutes. 96 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:58,200 It'll take three or four hours to run a blood grouping, though. 97 00:03:58,200 --> 00:03:59,880 That's it. 98 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:00,880 Anything else you want to check? 99 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:01,880 Levinson? 100 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:02,880 Anything else? 101 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:03,880 Oh, yeah. 102 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:04,880 Right here in my handkerchief. 103 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:05,880 Empty show. 104 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,880 That marker over there by the rose bush, that's where I found it. 105 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:10,880 From a.22, huh? 106 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:11,880 Yeah. 107 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:12,880 Might tie in, might not. 108 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:13,880 Mark it and dump it in this envelope, will you? 109 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:14,880 Mm-hmm. 110 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:15,880 Here you go. 111 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:16,880 There you go. 112 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,880 Did you get a missing broadcast on the boy here? 113 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,880 I already did about a half an hour ago. 114 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:23,880 Here's a description here. 115 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:24,880 Thank you. 116 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:25,880 Does your mother know about the bloodstain? 117 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:26,880 No, we didn't tell her. 118 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:27,880 She's worried enough already. 119 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:28,880 She has no idea what might have happened to her boy, huh? 120 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:29,880 No more than we do. 121 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:30,880 She checked all her friends and relatives. 122 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:31,880 We're covering the neighborhood in a craze so far. 123 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:32,880 Not much to go on. 124 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:33,880 Bloodstain. 125 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:42,880 Empty cartridge. 126 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:54,880 Yeah, it could mean a hundred things. 127 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:55,880 Any ideas for me? 128 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:56,880 Just one, and I don't like it. 129 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:57,880 4.30 p.m. Thursday, December 22nd. 130 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,880 The neighborhood search for nine-year-old Stanley Johnstone continued. 131 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:06,880 Lee Jones went back to the crime lab to start the precipitant test and the blood grouping. 132 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,880 Levinson and his partner, Dorothy, from Highland Juvenile, stood by. 133 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,880 We called Chief of Detectives Thad Brown, and he ordered up a special detail to aid in 134 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:16,880 the search for the missing boy. 135 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:21,880 Ben and I questioned the boy's mother, Mrs. Ruth Johnstone, a woman in her early 40s. 136 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,880 She seemed fairly calm under the circumstances. 137 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,880 Miss Johnson, is your boy Stanley in the habit of wandering off without telling you where 138 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:28,880 he's going? 139 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,880 No, he's not in the habit of wandering off, but he has done it before. 140 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,880 Well, when was the last time Miss Johnson? 141 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:35,880 You don't have any children, do you, Sergeant Fidey? 142 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:36,880 No, they might not marry. 143 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,880 Well, there comes a time in every young boy's life when he feels it is time to leave home, 144 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:41,880 go out on his own. 145 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:42,880 Usually it happens somewhere around eight to ten. 146 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:43,880 I think I know what you mean. 147 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:44,880 I have a boy. 148 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:45,880 Well, then you know how it is. 149 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,880 My husband and I scolded Stanley one afternoon after school, and he was quite put out about 150 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:49,880 it. 151 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:50,880 But George and I were unfair. 152 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:51,880 Patrick filled his things and left. 153 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:52,880 Well, how long was he gone? 154 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:53,880 Oh, no time at all. 155 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:54,880 About two hours. 156 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:59,880 I was worried about him, but my husband said to leave him alone, but every boy had to go 157 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:00,880 through that stage. 158 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,880 Well, then you think that he's run away from home again this time? 159 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:04,880 Yes, I think so. 160 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:05,880 He's been gone about four hours now. 161 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:06,880 I have a funny feeling about it. 162 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:07,880 Did you and his father have some misunderstanding with the boy recently? 163 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:08,880 That's just it. 164 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:09,880 We haven't. 165 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:10,880 I don't mind telling you now that we're talking about it. 166 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:11,880 I am getting worried. 167 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,060 Well, is there any place around that he might like to visit, a hobby shop, a 168 00:06:15,060 --> 00:06:16,060 shop that he likes? 169 00:06:16,060 --> 00:06:17,060 Well, I don't know. 170 00:06:17,060 --> 00:06:18,060 I don't know. 171 00:06:18,060 --> 00:06:19,060 I don't know. 172 00:06:19,060 --> 00:06:20,060 I don't know. 173 00:06:20,060 --> 00:06:21,060 I don't know. 174 00:06:21,060 --> 00:06:22,060 I don't know. 175 00:06:22,060 --> 00:06:23,060 I don't know. 176 00:06:23,060 --> 00:06:24,060 I don't know. 177 00:06:24,060 --> 00:06:25,960 Is there any place around that he might like to visit, a hobby shop, playground, some place 178 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:26,960 he might be? 179 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,960 Yes, there's Jensen's model shop, Little Sharon Burroughs. 180 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,960 But I've already called there and he hasn't been seen all day. 181 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,120 I've called all his friends and they have no idea who he is either. 182 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,960 We'd like a list of all of his friends and the places that he was known to frequent. 183 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:39,960 Yes, all right. 184 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:40,960 I'll get into it. 185 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:42,960 Where do you suppose he is? 186 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:44,960 Where's your husband now, Miss Johnson? 187 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:45,960 At work. 188 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:46,960 George works for the city. 189 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:47,960 He's a fireman. 190 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:48,960 What house is he staying at? 191 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:49,960 Engine Company 12. 192 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:50,960 He's working the A-partoon. 193 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:51,960 He'll be home tomorrow morning. 194 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,960 I haven't told him his family's gone. 195 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,360 Is there any chance the boy might be down at the firehouse with his father? 196 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,360 No, he seldom goes down there anymore. 197 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:05,360 Nor I don't think he's there. 198 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:06,360 I'm awfully worried. 199 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:07,360 May I call my husband? 200 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:08,360 Certainly, go ahead. 201 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,360 I know George will be worried. 202 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,360 Engine Company 12, please. 203 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:22,360 The family's been gone too long. 204 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:23,360 Hello? 205 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:27,360 May I please speak with George Johnson? 206 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:28,360 This is Mrs. Johnson. 207 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:29,360 Thank you. 208 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:30,360 I hate to call George at his work. 209 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:31,360 Yes, ma'am. 210 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:32,360 Does your husband own the gun? 211 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:33,360 Yes, he does. 212 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:34,360 What caliber do you know? 213 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:35,360 It's a.45 automatic. 214 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:36,360 You've got to knock. 215 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:37,360 George? 216 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:38,360 This is Ruth. 217 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:39,360 George, just hand me down the door. 218 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:40,360 I'm going to go get George. 219 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:45,360 Oh, no, I can't find him anywhere. 220 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:52,360 He wasn't here when I came home from doing my shopping. 221 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,360 There are two policemen here. 222 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,360 No, I said there are two policemen here. 223 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,360 No, dear, I'll call you if we don't find him soon. 224 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,360 All right, dear. 225 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,360 Yes, you too. 226 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:05,360 Goodbye. 227 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:09,360 I didn't think he'd be with George. 228 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,360 That.45, is that the only gun in the household? 229 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:13,360 Yes. 230 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:14,360 Why are you asking about guns? 231 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:16,360 Has anything happened that you're not telling me about? 232 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:17,360 No, ma'am, just routine checking. 233 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,360 We'll have to take a look at that.45 if you don't mind. 234 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:24,360 Maybe I should tell you we do have another gun in the house, but it's all wrapped up. 235 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,360 George bought it for Stanley's Christmas present. 236 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:27,360 What if we could see it, please? 237 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,360 Yes, well, will you have to unwrap it? 238 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,360 Yes, ma'am, I'm afraid so. 239 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:34,360 In the closet. 240 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:40,360 They had to hide it. 241 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:42,360 Let me see. 242 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:46,360 Well, it says the paper was wrapped in and Stanley must have found it. 243 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:47,360 It's gone. 244 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:51,360 You see, here's the gift card and the box of gun came in, the rifle. 245 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,360 I wonder if I could look at that box, ma'am. 246 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,360 Thank you. 247 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:57,360 How about it, Jim? 248 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:01,360 22 caliber. 249 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:06,360 Thursday, December 22nd, 5 15 p.m. 250 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:08,360 It was getting dark. 251 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:10,360 The search for the missing boy continued. 252 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,360 We checked the list of Stanley Johnstone's friends. 253 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:17,360 None of them or their parents had any idea of his whereabouts. 254 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,360 We talked with Levinson again. 255 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,360 He'd been in touch with the detail combing the neighborhood. 256 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:23,360 They'd found nothing. 257 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:28,360 We went down to Collis Avenue and 10th Street, the service station on the corner. 258 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:29,360 One neck on you. 259 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,360 Oh, I got it. Will you watch the fan? 260 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:32,360 Yeah. 261 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:48,360 Okay. 262 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:49,360 City Hall? 263 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:50,360 2667, please. 264 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:54,360 2667? 265 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:55,360 Crime Lab, Jones. 266 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:56,360 Hi, Ali. Joe Friday. 267 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,360 Yeah, Joe. Any sign of the Johnson kid? 268 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:00,360 No, not yet. How are you coming? 269 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:02,360 Finished the precipitant test. It's human blood. 270 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:03,360 Yeah? 271 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:04,360 Working on the blood group now. 272 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:06,360 You know what type the Johnson boy had? 273 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:07,360 Well, I didn't want to upset his mother. 274 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,360 I thought I'd wait until the last thing we're in the neighborhood. 275 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,360 Check with the family physician. That way you won't disturb him. 276 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:13,360 Yeah, I figured on that. 277 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:14,360 Just a minute, Lee. 278 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:15,360 Yeah? 279 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:16,360 Yeah, ma'am. 280 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:17,360 Most is pulled up. 281 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:18,360 Okay. 282 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,360 Thad Brown's out here now. I'll check you later, Lee, huh? 283 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:21,360 All right, Joe. 284 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:22,360 Bye-bye. 285 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:23,360 All right. 286 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:27,360 Oh, here's the way, Jim. 287 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:28,360 How's it going? 288 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:30,360 We just checked with Lee Jones. 289 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:32,360 Yeah, I know. It's human blood. What do you think? 290 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,360 We talked with the boy's mother, Mrs. Johnstone, found a gun missing. 291 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:36,360 Yeah? 292 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,360 Calibers the same as the empty casing Levenson found. It's.22. 293 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:40,360 You said the gun was missing? 294 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:43,360 Yeah, the Johnstones were going to give it to the boys as a Christmas present. 295 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:44,360 They had it hidden, but it's gone. 296 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:45,360 Any idea who took it? 297 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,360 Well, they left the Christmas wrapping behind. I think it was the kid. 298 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:54,360 .22 rifle. Nine-year-old boy. When is he going to learn? 299 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:58,360 First, it's carbide cannons on the Fourth of July. The city issued ordinance after ordinance. 300 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:04,360 A few thousand kids around the country had to lose their eyes, fingers, hands before their parents had given us their full cooperation to outlaw them. 301 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:05,360 I know what you mean. 302 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,360 Sure you do. You and every other cop in the country became the heavies trying to clamp down on them. 303 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,360 It's the same story. This time it's guns for Christmas. 304 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,360 Well, I know what you're thinking, but we're not sure yet. 305 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:16,360 Listen, Friday. There's a city ordinance against giving a gun to a kid. You know that. 306 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:17,360 Yeah, I know, man. 307 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:21,360 There's a missing boy and a missing gun. There's blood on the ground and an empty shell. That's enough for me. 308 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,360 You're only going to stay with it. Something's got to break. 309 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,360 Yeah, and I hope it's not the hearts of that kid's parents. 310 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:27,360 Hi, Chief. 311 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:29,360 Been looking for you, Friday. What do you got, Harry? 312 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,360 Found the gun. New.22 rifle. I'd say it's been fired recently. 313 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:33,360 Where'd you find it, Levinson? 314 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:39,360 Back up there in that scrub oak behind the Johnstone house. Mr. Johnstone identified it. Luckily he took it down the crime line. 315 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:41,360 Thanks, Harry. Is Ms. Johnstone okay? 316 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,360 Pretty sick now. Dirty. Came up with something else. What's that? 317 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:50,360 There's another one missing. An eight-year-old boy. 318 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:55,360 Six-thirty p.m. We talked with Officer Dougherty about the other missing boy. 319 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:59,360 He told us that his name was Stephen Morrheim, eight years old. 320 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:06,360 His family had just moved into the neighborhood. It seemed that no one besides the Morrheim family knew that the boys played together. 321 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:13,360 Mrs. Morrheim told us that Stephen told her that he was going out to play and that he'd be home by six o'clock for dinner. 322 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:18,360 She told us that he was an unusually prompt boy and almost never overstayed his playtime. 323 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:22,360 We got a description of the Morrheim boy and put out a missing broadcast. 324 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:27,360 We called the Johnstone's family doctor. He told us that Stanley's blood was type O. 325 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,360 At seven p.m. we talked again with Mrs. John Morrheim. 326 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:34,360 Are you sure Mrs. Johnstone doesn't know where the boys are? 327 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,360 She has no idea, Mrs. Morrheim. 328 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:40,360 Oh, this is terrible. Just awful. 329 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,360 I feel there's more to this thing. Something you're not telling me. 330 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:45,360 It doesn't always upset you until we know a few things for sure. 331 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:47,360 Then you're holding back something. 332 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:53,360 Please try not to worry, Mrs. Morrheim. There are certain things that we're going to have to ask you, routine questions, in any kind of investigation. 333 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:55,360 Is there anything else you want to know? 334 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,360 Yes, ma'am. What is your boy's blood type? 335 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:01,360 It's a funny question. Do you think anything's happened to him? 336 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:03,360 Have you found him and you're not telling me? 337 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,360 No, ma'am, we haven't found him and we don't think anything's happened to him. 338 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:07,360 His blood type? 339 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,360 Yes, ma'am. 340 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:14,360 I think I have it written down in Stevie's baby book. 341 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:18,360 Here it is. It's type O. 342 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,360 Thank you. I wonder if I might use your phone. 343 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:22,360 Yes, of course. It's in the hall. 344 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,360 I'll be right back then. 345 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:36,360 City Hall. 346 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:37,360 2667, please. 347 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:40,360 2667. 348 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:42,360 Grand Lab, thank you. 349 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:44,360 Hello, Ray. This is Joe Fridays. Lee there? 350 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:45,360 Just a minute, Joe. 351 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:46,360 Take two, Lee. 352 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:48,360 All right. 353 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:49,360 John speaking. 354 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:50,360 Checking back, Lee. 355 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,360 Did you get the blood types on the two missing boys? 356 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:53,360 Yeah, both type O. 357 00:13:53,360 --> 00:14:14,360 So are the stains, Joe. Type O. 358 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:20,360 Eight p.m. Thursday, December 22nd. Still no sign of either of the missing boys. 359 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:24,360 Chief of Detective Thad Brown went back to headquarters to direct the search from there. 360 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:29,360 He dispatched another detail of 50 men to aid in the hunt for the missing youngsters. 361 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,360 Eight thirty p.m. was getting a little colder. 362 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:36,360 The citrus growers were warned to expect a freeze. 363 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:39,360 We went up the block to see Mrs. Johnstone. 364 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,360 Her husband had quit work early and returned home. 365 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:43,360 We talked with him for a while. 366 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,360 He could tell us nothing more than we already knew. 367 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:51,360 We still had not informed either of the families about the blood stains and the empty cartridge casing, 368 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,360 which had been discovered in the backyard of the Johnstone home. 369 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:58,360 It was more than possible that they had a right to know about our findings, 370 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:04,360 but Ben and I felt that there was no cause to add to the distress of the two families at this time. 371 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,360 If the two missing boys were found alive and well, 372 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:11,360 then the blood stains and the cartridge would be of no concern to the relieved parents. 373 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:17,360 At eight forty p.m., Ben and I left the Johnstone house and went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Morheim. 374 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,360 Mrs. Morheim, you said your husband worked in the market. 375 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,360 Yes, he telephoned about fifteen minutes ago, said he's closing up right away. 376 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,360 He'll be here any minute. 377 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,360 It was Steve who called, come home. 378 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:31,360 It's so cold out tonight. 379 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:33,360 All he had on was thin cotton jacket. 380 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:36,360 Well, try not to worry. We're doing everything we can. He'll be all right. 381 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:40,360 Steve's father is such a sensitive man. He and the boy are so close. 382 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:42,360 I know he's terribly upset. 383 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,360 Are you sure there's no place that you might have forgotten, some place where the boy might be? 384 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,360 No, no place. No. 385 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,360 If anything happens to the boy, he'll just kill John. 386 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:56,360 No. You sit still. I'll get him, Mrs. Morheim. 387 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:57,360 Joe? 388 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:58,360 Larry. 389 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:00,360 The Johnstone kid, he's been found. 390 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:18,360 He's home, Sergeant. He's come home. Thank God he's all right. 391 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:20,360 Where's he been, did he tell you? 392 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,360 No, no he didn't. His clothes are all dirty and he's acting strange. 393 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:25,360 I've never seen him like this. 394 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:26,360 How do you mean, Miss Johnstone? 395 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:33,360 Well, he just came to the front door and said, hello, Mom. He sat down in chairs, there at the floor, and would talk to his father and me. 396 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,360 Would you mind if I talk to him? 397 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:39,360 No, go ahead. I asked him about the little Morheim boy, but he wouldn't tell me a thing. 398 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:40,360 Where is he now? 399 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:44,360 Right over there in the living room. 400 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:45,360 Looks all right. 401 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:56,360 Is he in there? 402 00:16:56,360 --> 00:17:01,360 Yes. Son, this is a police officer. He wants to talk to you. Don't be afraid, dear. He only wants to ask you some questions. 403 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:05,360 Son. 404 00:17:05,360 --> 00:17:07,360 You see, Sergeant? 405 00:17:07,360 --> 00:17:14,360 Stanley, order me, son. Come on, youngster, get your head up there. That's better. 406 00:17:14,360 --> 00:17:17,360 You're rather pretty worried, you know that. You want to tell us where you've been? 407 00:17:17,360 --> 00:17:20,360 We should try to get him to eat a little something. 408 00:17:20,360 --> 00:17:25,360 You hear that, son? Want something to eat? 409 00:17:25,360 --> 00:17:33,360 Stanley, there's another little boy up the studio who hasn't come home. You know where he is? His father and mother are worried about him, too. It's like your folks were. 410 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:35,360 We're going to ask you to help us find him. 411 00:17:35,360 --> 00:17:43,360 I killed him. I killed Steve with the 22. We were only playing, but I killed him. 412 00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:46,360 How do you know you killed him? Maybe he's only hurt now, isn't it? 413 00:17:46,360 --> 00:17:53,360 No, he's dead. I know he's dead. The gun went off. We forgot we put bullets in there. 414 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:55,360 Where is he, Stanley? 415 00:17:55,360 --> 00:18:00,360 I hit him. I was scared. I didn't want anybody to find him. 416 00:18:00,360 --> 00:18:01,360 Where did you hide him, son? 417 00:18:01,360 --> 00:18:06,360 In a cave up on the hill. I didn't mean it. He was my pal. 418 00:18:06,360 --> 00:18:08,360 You want to show us where Stanley is? 419 00:18:08,360 --> 00:18:18,360 Yes, I'll show you. Please, don't send me to jail. 420 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:28,360 Nine fifteen p.m. Thursday, December 22. Nine-year-old Stanley Johnstone led the way up the hill behind the backyard of his home. 421 00:18:28,360 --> 00:18:34,360 He showed us the wagon that he moved the body in. His father came along with us. 422 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:39,360 Fifty feet from the crest of the hill, the boy pointed to a thicket of scrub oak. 423 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:43,360 There we found a small cave holding the body of Stephen Morhaime. 424 00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:47,360 There was a single bullet wound in his chest just below his heart. 425 00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:50,360 It was dead. We covered the body. 426 00:18:50,360 --> 00:18:52,360 Stanley, how did it happen? 427 00:18:52,360 --> 00:18:58,360 I knew my folks were going to give me the gun for Christmas. I knew where it was, and I got it. 428 00:18:58,360 --> 00:19:00,360 There was a box of bullets with it. 429 00:19:00,360 --> 00:19:02,360 Were you pointing the gun at Stevenson? 430 00:19:02,360 --> 00:19:07,360 No, sir. No, sir, I wasn't. It was Steve's turn to play with it. 431 00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:12,360 I was chasing him. He tipped over that stump there and he fell. 432 00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:15,360 The gun hit him in the stomach and it went off. 433 00:19:15,360 --> 00:19:18,360 Well, why do you think you killed him if you're telling us the truth? 434 00:19:18,360 --> 00:19:21,360 I'm telling the truth? That's the truth. 435 00:19:21,360 --> 00:19:24,360 Well, I believe you, son, but why do you think you killed him? 436 00:19:24,360 --> 00:19:28,360 It was my gun. If Steve had still been alive, I didn't go and get it. 437 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:33,360 I should have waited till Christmas. It's all my fault. 438 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:35,360 Where have you been all this time? 439 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:38,360 In the cave of Steve. 440 00:19:38,360 --> 00:19:40,360 What were you doing in there, son? 441 00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:45,360 I was praying. I was praying for God to make him alive again. 442 00:19:45,360 --> 00:19:56,360 After a thorough investigation, Ben and I were convinced that the shooting of Stephen Morhaime was accidental. 443 00:19:56,360 --> 00:20:02,360 Lieutenant Lee Jones' findings substantiated the John Stone Boy's story even to the smallest detail. 444 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:07,360 We put in a call to the coroner's office and we acquainted him with the facts. 445 00:20:07,360 --> 00:20:15,360 He designated a local mortuary to handle the body, pending autopsy, and granted us permission to remove the body to the Morhaime home. 446 00:20:15,360 --> 00:20:20,360 Mrs. Morhaime collapsed. The family doctor was called. 447 00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:25,360 Ben and I sat in the living room to wait for John Morhaime, the dead boy's father. 448 00:20:25,360 --> 00:20:28,360 He was killed. 449 00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:31,360 Edith? Edith? 450 00:20:31,360 --> 00:20:32,360 Mr. Morhaime? 451 00:20:32,360 --> 00:20:33,360 Yeah, Hugh the police? 452 00:20:33,360 --> 00:20:34,360 Yes, sir. 453 00:20:34,360 --> 00:20:38,360 Where's Edith? Where's my wife? 454 00:20:38,360 --> 00:20:41,360 Did my boy come home? 455 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:42,360 Have you found him? 456 00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:43,360 Yes, sir. 457 00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:46,360 Where is he? 458 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:48,360 Steve? 459 00:20:48,360 --> 00:20:51,360 Steve, hey? 460 00:20:51,360 --> 00:20:54,360 Where's Steve? 461 00:20:54,360 --> 00:20:56,360 He's hurt, isn't he? 462 00:20:56,360 --> 00:20:58,360 Yes, sir, he is. 463 00:20:58,360 --> 00:21:00,360 Where is he? I want to see him. 464 00:21:00,360 --> 00:21:03,360 He's hurt bad, Mr. Morhaime. 465 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:07,360 Where is he? I want to see him. 466 00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:09,360 How bad? 467 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:12,360 Pretty bad. 468 00:21:12,360 --> 00:21:17,360 He's dead. 469 00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:19,360 All right, I go in. 470 00:21:19,360 --> 00:21:21,360 Yes, sir, if you want. 471 00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:23,360 Will you go with me? 472 00:21:23,360 --> 00:21:27,360 Don't make it any harder on yourself, Mr. Morhaime. 473 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:34,360 I want to see my boy. 474 00:21:34,360 --> 00:21:44,360 Mr. Morhaime? 475 00:21:44,360 --> 00:21:47,360 It wasn't to be, sir. 476 00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:52,360 We got you a lot of nice things for Christmas. 477 00:21:52,360 --> 00:21:55,360 Everything you wanted. 478 00:21:55,360 --> 00:21:59,360 I got you the three new cars for the train. 479 00:21:59,360 --> 00:22:05,360 That one with the searchlight on it really works, son. 480 00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:08,360 I got you that new switch you wanted. 481 00:22:08,360 --> 00:22:11,360 A lot more drink. 482 00:22:11,360 --> 00:22:15,360 Oh, now you can have a big lay out. 483 00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:20,360 And you know that new baseball mitt we saw? 484 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:23,360 I got it for you. 485 00:22:23,360 --> 00:22:29,360 The cowboy outfit you wanted. 486 00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:31,360 Mr. Morhaime. 487 00:22:31,360 --> 00:22:34,360 Come on, Joe. 488 00:22:34,360 --> 00:22:36,360 What happened? 489 00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:38,360 It was an accident. 490 00:22:38,360 --> 00:22:40,360 He was playing with a Johnstone boy up the street. 491 00:22:40,360 --> 00:22:42,360 Playing with a gun. 492 00:22:42,360 --> 00:22:45,360 It went off. 493 00:22:45,360 --> 00:22:47,360 What was the other boy's name? 494 00:22:47,360 --> 00:22:49,360 Stanley Johnstone. 495 00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:52,360 Mr. Morhaime, where are you going? 496 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:56,360 I want to see that boy. 497 00:22:56,360 --> 00:23:00,360 We had no idea what the dead boy's father had in mind. 498 00:23:00,360 --> 00:23:03,360 We didn't feel that we should try to restrain him. 499 00:23:03,360 --> 00:23:11,360 Ben and I went along with him up the street to the Johnstone home. 500 00:23:11,360 --> 00:23:14,360 I'm Stevie's father. 501 00:23:14,360 --> 00:23:16,360 Where's your boy? 502 00:23:16,360 --> 00:23:18,360 I'm sorry. 503 00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:20,360 We bought the rifle. 504 00:23:20,360 --> 00:23:23,360 We were going to have time not to use it unless his father was with him. 505 00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:25,360 Until he learned how to treat firearms. 506 00:23:25,360 --> 00:23:27,360 Where's your boy? 507 00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:29,360 Right here. 508 00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:31,360 Would you come in? 509 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:38,360 It's all right with Johnstone. 510 00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:40,360 You're the boy that was with Stevie? 511 00:23:40,360 --> 00:23:42,360 Yes, sir. 512 00:23:42,360 --> 00:23:43,360 What's your name? 513 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:45,360 Stanley. 514 00:23:45,360 --> 00:23:49,360 I know it wasn't your fault, Stanley. 515 00:23:49,360 --> 00:23:51,360 I wonder if you'd do something for me. 516 00:23:51,360 --> 00:23:53,360 Yes, sir. 517 00:23:53,360 --> 00:23:57,360 We've got a lot of nice presents for Stevie. 518 00:23:57,360 --> 00:24:00,360 I know he'd want you to have them. 519 00:24:00,360 --> 00:24:03,360 I want to give them to you Christmas Eve. 520 00:24:03,360 --> 00:24:05,360 Mom? 521 00:24:05,360 --> 00:24:08,360 I think that would be a fine idea, son. 522 00:24:08,360 --> 00:24:19,360 Come on, Ben. 523 00:24:19,360 --> 00:24:33,360 Well, once it all proved, you know, you don't give a kid a gun for Christmas. 524 00:24:33,360 --> 00:24:35,360 The story you have just heard was true. 525 00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:38,360 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 526 00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:42,360 On December 24, 1948, a coroner's inquest was held in the county morgue, 527 00:24:42,360 --> 00:24:45,360 city and county of Los Angeles, state of California. 528 00:24:45,360 --> 00:24:55,360 In a moment, the results of that inquest. 529 00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:58,360 At the coroner's inquest, it was officially recorded that Stephen 530 00:24:58,360 --> 00:25:01,360 Morheim's death was the result of an accident. 531 00:25:01,360 --> 00:25:15,360 Stanley Johnstone was absolved of any legal responsibility for his friend's death. 532 00:25:15,360 --> 00:25:19,360 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 533 00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:31,360 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department.