1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,180 The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 2 00:00:13,180 --> 00:00:19,440 Fatima cigarettes. Best of all, king-sized cigarettes brings you dragnet on both radio 3 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:28,720 and television. 4 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:33,920 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide, special detail. There are rumors 5 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:38,800 of an impending war between juvenile gangs in your city. Reportedly, members of both 6 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,320 gangs are well supplied with homemade weapons. You don't know when the fighting will break 7 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:50,120 out. You don't know where. Your job? Stop it. 8 00:00:50,120 --> 00:01:00,080 Fatima, America's first largest selling blended cigarette, now king-size. See the difference, 9 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:06,040 taste the difference, smoke the difference. And in Fatima, the difference is quality. 10 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:12,800 See the difference. Fatimas are 21% longer. Taste the difference. Enjoy Fatima's extra 11 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:18,680 mildness. Much different, much better flavor and aroma. Smoke the difference. Get all the 12 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:25,640 advantages of extra length plus Fatima quality, which no other king-size cigarette has. Yes, 13 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:31,920 in Fatima, the difference is quality. Definitely the best quality in its class, but the same 14 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:38,080 price of the cigarette you're now smoking. So why wait? Switch to Fatima today. Each 15 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:44,320 king-size Fatima gives you a long extra mild and soothing smoke with the added protection 16 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:51,320 of Fatima quality. Bye, Fatima. 17 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:59,880 DRAGNET, the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation 18 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:04,280 with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step-by-step on the side of the 19 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:10,080 law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, 20 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:19,280 from crime to punishment, DRAGNET is the story of your police force in action. 21 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:23,280 It was Tuesday, October 14th. It was cloudy in Los Angeles. We were working a special 22 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:27,760 detail out of Homicide Division. My partner is Ed Jacobs. The boss is Captain Lorman. 23 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:32,760 My name is Friday. It was 1.18 p.m. when I got to 2015 East First Street, the second 24 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,160 floor, Hollenbeck Juvenile Division. 25 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:36,160 Joe? 26 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:37,640 Hi. What'd you find out? 27 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:41,560 Nothing yet. Gardner had to go next door. He'll be back in a minute. He gives a rundown 28 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:42,560 on a thing. 29 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:43,560 Friday. Ed? 30 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:44,560 Hi, Gardner. 31 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:45,560 Hi. How you doing? 32 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:46,920 Good to see you. How are things going downtown? 33 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:49,320 Oh, not bad. A little slow. Here, you got problems? 34 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,680 A lot of them. Captain Briefy on any of it? 35 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,120 No. He told us to check with you. You'd fill us in. Said maybe you could use some help. 36 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,440 All we can get. We're sitting on top of a bomb out here. We don't know when it's gonna 37 00:02:58,440 --> 00:02:59,440 go off. 38 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:00,440 What's the pitch, Gardner? 39 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,640 Juvenile gangs, five of them this time. The way we get it, they're ready for trouble, 40 00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:04,640 all of them. 41 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:05,640 High school kids? 42 00:03:05,640 --> 00:03:06,920 Most of them. Some of them are in junior high. 43 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:09,360 Well, how come five gangs? What are they planning, a free-for-all? 44 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,360 It's a long story. They've been building up to this thing for months, all Eastside kids. 45 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:14,920 We hear it's supposed to be an open war. 46 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:15,920 Mm-hmm. 47 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:18,640 Here's a list of the different gangs involved. 48 00:03:18,640 --> 00:03:19,640 Thanks. 49 00:03:19,640 --> 00:03:24,200 You can see there, same crowds we've been riding her down for the last couple of years. 50 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:25,200 Mm-hmm. 51 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:30,320 We've got the Purple Heart Gang, the Blue Devils, the Apaches, Happy Valley, Rose Hill. 52 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:35,160 Here's the breakdown on each one of them. Hard to get exact figures, but we think it's 53 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:36,160 fairly accurate. 54 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:37,160 Yeah. 55 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:42,320 Purple Heart Gang, 26 members, leader Harold Frye, 17, Blue Devils, 18 members, leaders 56 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:47,480 Jack Holland, age 17, and Bertram Willis, 16. The Apaches, 22 members, leader Robert 57 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,000 Lawson, 17. They're supposed to be the strongest ones. 58 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,000 Wow. 59 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:55,120 Happy Valley Gang, 20 members, leaders Roy Martin, 16, and Joseph Villanueva, 16. Rose 60 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,000 Hill Gang, 16 members, leader Thomas Resnick, 18. 61 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,920 Yeah. Well, what's behind it, Gardner? I mean the gang war that they're supposed to be planning. 62 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,840 A lot of factors enter into it, I guess. It's my own idea. The Apache Gang's been most of 63 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:06,840 the promoting. 64 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:07,840 What's the object, anyway? 65 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:12,040 The usual big shot idea some high school kids get. The Apaches figure they're going to run 66 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,720 the whole East Side. They've already scared the Happy Valley Gang and the Blue Devils 67 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:16,720 into joining up with them. 68 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:17,720 Well, how they manage that? 69 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:19,200 I'd like to find out myself. 70 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,480 Well, how about the other two crowds? They're Rose Hill and the Purple Heart Bunch? 71 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:27,240 The story I get is they won't come in with the Apaches. That's supposed to be the reason 72 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:31,120 for the war. Either they join up with the Apaches or they fight them. That's a warning 73 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:32,120 they got. 74 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:33,840 Hmm. They'll be playing it big time, huh? 75 00:04:33,840 --> 00:04:38,040 All the way. Sixteen, seventeen year olds. They got gang lieutenants. They got their 76 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,360 own cards, their own hideout. Some of them even have their girlfriends running with them. 77 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,160 Same age. None of them over seventeen. 78 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,160 Where'd you get your information, Bill? 79 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:50,560 Half a dozen, kid. Most of them from the Blue Devils and the Happy Valley Gang. They were 80 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,280 mixed up in a couple of after school fights in Hollenbeck Park. The stories they gave 81 00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:55,560 us are enough to curl your hair. 82 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:56,560 Yeah, how do you mean? 83 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:00,280 About the big war they're going to have. One of the girls we picked up gave us most of 84 00:05:00,280 --> 00:05:04,000 it. Fifteen year old. Says her boyfriend's one of the big shots for the Blue Devil. 85 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,000 What'd she have to say? 86 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,280 Talked about it like it was some kind of a game they were playing. 87 00:05:08,280 --> 00:05:09,280 Well. 88 00:05:09,280 --> 00:05:12,200 Said the Rose Hill and the Purple Heart gangs were teaming up so they could stand up against 89 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,200 the other three. They've been getting ready for the war for six weeks. They're really 90 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:17,200 organized. 91 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,520 I don't get it. Who's doing the organizing? Who's promoting it? 92 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:24,400 I'll get an idea about that and get to it in a minute. 93 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,400 Take a look at these over here. 94 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:28,400 Yeah. 95 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,160 These are all samples of the different weapons the gangs are getting together for the big 96 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:32,160 fight. 97 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:33,160 Crazy kids. 98 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:39,520 Grass knuckles. Homemade saps. All kinds. 99 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:40,520 What's this here, Garland? 100 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:47,440 Have a look. Homemade stiletto. Good six inch blade. Kids are supposed to have dozens of 101 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:53,960 them. Another one here. Look at this. Ice pick. Anything you can think of, you name it, 102 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:54,960 we got it. 103 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,400 It's going to be wholesale murder if we can't find a way to stop it. 104 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,640 You've been able to figure what the real trouble is, Bill. 105 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:04,760 I got an idea, yeah. You asked about the gangs teaming up a minute ago. 106 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,920 We figure we got a young Hitler on our hands. A kid by the name of Robert Lawson. He was 107 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,240 supposed to be the ringleader of the Apache gang. He moved in about a year ago from the 108 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:13,240 Middle West. 109 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:14,240 How much you know about him? 110 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:18,080 Wrote a letter to the city he originally came from. Nothing but trouble back there. Bad 111 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:22,800 juvenile record. We talked to the boy a couple of times. His parents, too, didn't do much 112 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,320 good. Never had enough to file a petition on him and bring him to the attention of a 113 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:32,000 juvenile court. We know he's responsible for a lot of the trouble we got, but he always 114 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,760 has some other kid do it for him. Never does it himself. 115 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,480 You think he's responsible for working up the gang, all right, is that it? 116 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:41,960 We figure he's our biggest problem. We've tried everything to reach the Lawson kid and 117 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:46,520 settle him down. Checked for the teachers at his school, the principal, vice principal. 118 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:49,960 They can't handle him. They figure on expelling him if he doesn't straighten out. 119 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,840 How about the other youngsters in these gangs? I mean, besides this Lawson boy here. 120 00:06:53,840 --> 00:06:57,600 We've got notifications out for them and their parents. They're supposed to be in here tomorrow 121 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:01,120 night at 7.30. Maybe we can break Lawson's hold on these kids. 122 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:05,120 Sure got me. What's the matter with this Lawson boy's parents? I don't know what's going on. 123 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:06,440 Can't they control him? 124 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:10,520 We tried to talk to the parents. They think we're wrong. They're proud of the kid. He's 125 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,920 in a high IQ. They think he's a natural born leader. 126 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:14,920 Oh, sure. Yeah. 127 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,520 The mother says people just don't understand the boy. 128 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:26,400 Maybe you should have told them. San Quentin's full of people we don't understand. 129 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:30,720 The following night, Wednesday, October 15th, the members and ringleaders of the various 130 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:36,240 juvenile gangs along with their parents showed up at Hollenbeck Juvenile Division as requested. 131 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:40,000 In questioning each of the youngsters, we definitely confirmed the reports we had of 132 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:44,720 the impending gang war. The interviews also revealed that if and when the fighting did 133 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:49,880 start, it would be more serious than we had first figured. For one thing, there were more 134 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:54,520 youngsters involved than we thought. The gangs had been recruiting new members by the dozen 135 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:59,220 in preparation for the street fights. For another thing, we found out the teenagers 136 00:07:59,220 --> 00:08:03,600 weren't carrying around eight inch knives and brass knuckles just for show. If fighting 137 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:08,000 started, they were ready and willing to use them. We weren't sure how much we could count 138 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:12,120 on it, but after interviewing the parents and advising them how serious the situation 139 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:17,520 was, they promised their full cooperation. Most of them agreed they'd maintain strict 140 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:21,840 check on their youngsters and keep them out of all neighborhood gang activities. Some 141 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:25,760 of the parents took a resentful attitude. They insisted the gangs were harmless. They 142 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:30,360 accused us of picking on the youngsters. A few of the parents didn't even show up at 143 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:35,320 the meeting. Among these were the parents of 17-year-old Robert Lawson, the boy who 144 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,920 seemed to be promoting most of the trouble. The following morning, my partner, Ed Jacobs, 145 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:43,800 and I drove out to his home and we talked with his mother. She was friendly but not 146 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:47,480 too cooperative. I don't know how you say that, Sergeant. I appreciate you worrying 147 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,840 about my boy, but I'm sure it's not as bad as you think. I don't mean to contradict you, 148 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,520 Mrs. Lawson, but I'm afraid it is a lot worse than you think. It's what the other officers 149 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:58,560 said too, but you really don't have any proof, do you? I mean, a few idle rumors, you certainly 150 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:02,160 can accuse Robert on that basis. We're not accusing Robert of anything, ma'am. It's not 151 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,320 the point. What we're trying to do is to head off the trouble before it starts. You were 152 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,640 living in the Middle West before you came to Los Angeles, is that right, ma'am? Yes, 153 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,520 that's right, Nebraska. Well, wasn't your boy in some kind of trouble back there? Yes, 154 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:16,440 but it didn't amount to anything. Could have been avoided so easily. They just didn't understand 155 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:21,960 Robert. That was the whole trouble. Is he an only child, ma'am? Yes, just Robert. But 156 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:26,480 he's not spoiled. I know it's a great temptation with an only child, but we didn't spoil him. 157 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,720 Robert just isn't like that. Uh-huh. You allow him quite a bit of freedom, do you, ma'am? 158 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:35,440 I mean, does he go out at night very often? Well, he is 17 years old, going on 18. Yes, 159 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:39,320 my husband and I line to go out as often as he likes, as long as he keeps up with his 160 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:43,840 studies. Robert's always done very well. He always tops in his class. Do you know where 161 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:48,880 he spends his time when he goes out at night? He's usually down at the gym or at the library. 162 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:54,400 You know that for a fact, do you? I trust Robert, if that's what you mean. He tells 163 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:58,360 me that's where he's going. I believe him. A mother can't believe her own son. Who can 164 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:02,320 she believe? How about the company your boy keeps? You know any of his friends, Mrs. Lawson? 165 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:08,520 Few, yes. There's the Miller boy and Jack Holland. They seem to be fine boys. Miller 166 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:13,800 and Holland? Yes. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with them. Well, there is, ma'am. 167 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:18,600 What? Both of them have juvenile records. Both of them belong to your son's gang. Really, 168 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:25,560 Sergeant, how can you say that? It isn't fair. Wouldn't it be better to try and understand 169 00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:30,880 these boys instead of picking on them, persecuting them? I don't know how we're going to make 170 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:35,400 you understand, Mrs. Lawson. We're not picking on them. We're not persecuting them. We know 171 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,680 there's a gang problem. We know your boy's one of those at the bottom of it. If something 172 00:10:38,680 --> 00:10:41,840 isn't done, there's going to be trouble. We're going to stop it before it begins. We're going 173 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:47,120 to have to have your help. I'm perfectly willing to cooperate, you know that. That must be 174 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:54,080 Robert now. Excuse me. Robert? Bob, is that you? Yeah. Would you come in here a minute, 175 00:10:54,080 --> 00:11:00,800 Bob? We're in the living room. Yeah. What do you want? These are police officers, Bobby. 176 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:06,200 This is Sergeant Friday. Sergeant Jacobs, is that right? Yes, ma'am. How are you? How 177 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:11,280 do you do? Hi. How about something to eat? I'm sure. Anything ready? I wasn't expecting 178 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:14,760 you, Bob. Won't take me a minute, though. You sit down there. I'll go out and get a 179 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:20,200 snack together for you. Can I fix you a sandwich, officer? A cup of coffee? No, thank you. No, 180 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:24,200 thanks very much. Won't be a minute, Bob. We were just talking about you when you came 181 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:28,000 in. What's it about, Sergeant? You want to see me or you just want to talk to my mother? 182 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,560 As long as you're here, we'd like to talk to both of you, Bob. I got to take off pretty 183 00:11:31,560 --> 00:11:37,000 fast. Just came home to get something to eat. What's it about? It's about Geronimo. That's 184 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,400 the gang's code word for the war you're setting up, isn't it? I don't know what you're talking 185 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:44,040 about. Your gang bombed the Apaches. We talked to half a dozen of them last night down at 186 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:47,200 the juvenile division. Is that right? Now look, son, we've got the names of everybody 187 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,280 in your gang. We know the whole setup. You go ahead with your idea and you're going to 188 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:54,480 buy a lot of trouble. A couple of cops were here last week. I said the same thing. I don't 189 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:58,600 know any more about it now than I did then. Honest. What's the pitch anyway? You know 190 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,560 what the pitch is, youngster. I don't, honest. You're trying to say I'm in a gang, is that 191 00:12:02,560 --> 00:12:06,360 it? You're in it up to your neck, son. Now why don't you come off it? We've got you pegged 192 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,600 and everybody that runs with you. That includes the girlfriends you got in a gang. You're 193 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:13,440 not fooling anybody. You must be a little crazy. I'm not in any gang. I never even heard 194 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:18,240 of one around here. Why don't you listen to me, boy. You can take this as a warning or 195 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:22,200 a piece of advice either way. You and your friends keep on playing punk gangsters and 196 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:26,240 they're going to lean on you. You understand? What is this? Trying to scare me? If it'll 197 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:30,560 make you change your mind, yeah. If this street work comes off, there's going to be big trouble. 198 00:12:30,560 --> 00:12:34,720 What do you think's going to happen when 200 kids tangle in a fight with knives and brass 199 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:40,280 knuckles? Now use your head. Here we are, Bob. I had to melt an actual hot soup. Baten 200 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:47,840 with tomato sandwiches. You always make the soup too hot. Oh, I didn't mean to. Let it 201 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:52,840 cool off for a minute then. Bob has to eat and hurry along. Is there anything else you 202 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:57,440 want to talk to him about? No, I think you've heard everything we have to say. I wish you'd 203 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:02,560 think it over, Mrs. Lawson. You too, Bob. Nothing to think over? They're trying to say 204 00:13:02,560 --> 00:13:07,800 I'm in a gang. They think I'm the leader. You told them, didn't you, Sam? Sure. They 205 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:13,440 don't believe me. I wish I could make you understand, Sergeant. He's not a gang leader. 206 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:19,440 Robert's telling the truth. I'm afraid he isn't, ma'am. Well, he is. I know he is. I 207 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:23,720 mean, after all he's my son, I'm in a position to know him better than you do. Yes, ma'am. 208 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:28,760 If he was lying, I'd know it. I wish I could make you understand. Mother is the only one 209 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:40,000 who really knows her, boy. I know Robert's telling the truth. Aren't you, Robert? Robert? 210 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:46,360 Uh-huh. That's so, isn't it? You're telling the truth, aren't you? Sure. How about some 211 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:55,480 more soup? Before we left the house, we tried again to talk to Robert Lawson and his mother, 212 00:13:55,480 --> 00:14:00,000 but it was no use. She believed every word he said, and he apparently refused to believe 213 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:05,160 the possible consequences of the war he was planning for his gang of juveniles. We drove 214 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:10,560 downtown and had an interview with the boy's father at his work. He was even less cooperative. 215 00:14:10,560 --> 00:14:14,000 He took on a belligerent attitude, accused us of persecuting his son, and ordered us 216 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:19,440 out of the office. Along with Sergeant Bill Gardner and Frank Kerber, we spent the rest 217 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:23,040 of the afternoon and most of the following day checking with parents of youngsters who 218 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:27,320 had been recently recruited into one of the various Eastside gangs. Most of them were 219 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:33,180 cooperative. Late that afternoon, Bill Gardner, Ed, and myself met with Captain Stein back 220 00:14:33,180 --> 00:14:37,400 at Hollenbeck Juvenile. Strict curfew all over the area. We can start tonight. What 221 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:41,120 do you figure, just on the weekends? Every night. Sunday to Sunday. I'll get some more 222 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,040 men in to help out. Every youngster out in the street after 10 o'clock gets stopped. 223 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:49,000 Mm-hmm. Everyone of them caught with knives, saps, brass knuckles, or anything like them, 224 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,960 they're going to be pulled in and filed down. No exceptions. Be a lot safer in custody than 225 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:57,320 mixing in the gang fight. Yeah, a lot of help. Might teach some of the parents a lesson anyway. 226 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:07,320 Excuse me. Jovan of the Vision Stein. Where was that? When? Oh, yeah, right away. Let's 227 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:11,080 hustle at Evergreen Avenue out near the cemetery. Now what is it? Curfew is a good idea. We 228 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:18,040 got it too late. Huh? Gang warrants already started. Before we left the office, we had 229 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:22,960 communications notify all J cars on the special detail to proceed at once to the scene of 230 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:28,240 the major 415 call. Ten cars were ordered to cruise the area surrounding the actual 231 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:32,680 scene of the fight and to pick up any and all members of the juvenile gangs who showed 232 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:36,920 any evidence of having been in the fight or had in their possession any deadly weapon. 233 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:41,840 Captain Stein, Bill Gardner, Ed, and myself left the office on a code three and drove 234 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:46,920 out to the scene of the gang fight. When we got there, all the J cars and three radio 235 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:52,080 crews had the area blocked off. An ambulance crew was treating more than a dozen youngsters 236 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:56,440 who had been injured during the fight. One of the youngsters had a lacerated eye. He'd 237 00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:02,240 been blinded. Most of the other victims would carry scars for the rest of their lives. The 238 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,280 juveniles who had taken part in the battle and who had been lucky enough to escape without 239 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:09,940 serious injury were being loaded into the J cars and the radio cars. They were to be 240 00:16:09,940 --> 00:16:16,080 removed to juvenile headquarters at 1335 Georgia Street for further investigation. Together 241 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:20,880 with Bill Gardner and Frank Kerber, Ed and I began covering the area, collecting dozens 242 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:25,280 of homemade weapons used in the gang fight. They'd be turned over to Pete Brown, Hollenbeck 243 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:34,600 juvenile to be booked as evidence. Joe? Yeah Ed. Come here a minute. Over here. Yeah. Have 244 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:42,000 a look. Piece of chain bloodstained on it. Lousy helpers. They're just gonna get it. 245 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:53,240 Come on. Right. Across the street there. The car in the driveway. Yeah. Help me. Somebody 246 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:57,720 help him Bobby. What's the trouble? Bobby he was in the fight with the gang. They stabbed 247 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:06,320 him. He's in the car. Come on. What is it Joe? Take a look. A Lawson boy huh? Yeah. 248 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:21,120 Knife in his chest. Want me to get the doctor? Yeah call the coroner too. You are listening 249 00:17:21,120 --> 00:17:28,360 to Dragnet. Authentic stories of your police force in action. Fatima. America's first largest 250 00:17:28,360 --> 00:17:34,560 selling blended cigarette. Now king size. See the difference. Taste the difference. 251 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:40,680 Smoke the difference. And in Fatima the difference is quality. Yes you get all the advantages 252 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:46,600 of extra length plus Fatima quality which no other king size cigarette has. That's 253 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:54,440 why week in week out year after year more smokers are switching to Fatima. 1950. Fatima 254 00:17:54,440 --> 00:18:01,600 sales higher than ever before in Fatima history. 1951 another record year. Fatima sales up 255 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:08,120 and up. Why in one month alone Fatima sales up 110 percent coast to coast. Friends in 256 00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:15,400 the first months of 1952 to show our confidence in Fatima we are making a special money back 257 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:23,360 guarantee to every king size cigarette smoker. Buy a pack of Fatimas. Enjoy Fatima quality. 258 00:18:23,360 --> 00:18:28,140 Extra mildness and superbly blended tobacco. If you are not convinced Fatima is better 259 00:18:28,140 --> 00:18:33,600 than the king size cigarette you are now smoking just return the pack and the unsmoked Fatimas 260 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:40,320 before April 1st and we'll give you your money back plus postage. Fatima box 37 New York 261 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:47,200 1. Remember each king size Fatima gives you a long extra mild and soothing smoke with 262 00:18:47,200 --> 00:19:03,520 the added protection of Fatima quality. Buy Fatima. Best of all king size cigarettes. 263 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:09,720 Thursday October 16th 5.35 p.m. After the discovery of Robert Lawson's body in the car 264 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:14,080 parked in the driveway adjoining the cemetery grounds Ed brought the doctor over from the 265 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:20,120 ambulance the 17 year old Lawson boy was pronounced dead. The doctor made out the prescribed form 266 00:19:20,120 --> 00:19:25,160 and marked it the O.A. While we waited for the crime lab crew in the corner to get there 267 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:30,240 Ed and I questioned the girl who'd led us to the body. She identified herself as Ann 268 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:36,160 Porter age 16. She told us she was Bob Lawson's girlfriend. She readily admitted accompanying 269 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,560 him to the scene of the gang fight that afternoon. I knew what it was going to be like I knew 270 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:45,360 right then came closer Bob told the kids to get ready. There were little ways from us 271 00:19:45,360 --> 00:19:50,120 when they stopped the other gang the Purple Hearts. Yeah go ahead. There's a kid by the 272 00:19:50,120 --> 00:19:55,120 name of jumpy he's the leader stepped out in front of them and called the Bob called 273 00:19:55,120 --> 00:19:59,520 him a bad name said bad things. This boy you called jumpy he knows real name and no jumpy 274 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,760 is only his nickname. I know him when I see him though I didn't point him out. Well what 275 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:07,360 happened after he called Bob. I don't know what I know I'm not sure everything seemed 276 00:20:07,360 --> 00:20:12,160 to happen at once. Bob swore at me pushed me back told me to get out of the way. Then 277 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:16,160 he walked up to this kid jumpy right in front of their whole gang. I screamed at Bob I screamed 278 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:20,600 at him not to. Why'd you scream what did you do. He had a chain under his coat. It was 279 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:26,560 kind of short whipline. Bob had it doubled up. Yeah. When he went up to jumpy Bob had 280 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:30,560 a cigarette in his mouth. He told jumpy to light it for him. It's supposed to mean he's 281 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:34,600 chicken if he does it. Jumpy laughed at him. Bob took out the chain and hit him across 282 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:40,320 the face with it. It was always Mike. It knocked jumpy down laying on the sidewalk. His face 283 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:45,680 was cut bad. Bob had the chain kept hitting him with it. Then somebody gave a yell and 284 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:50,760 both the gang started fighting. Were you close to Bob Lawson most of the time. No not first. 285 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:55,080 There was a lot of yelling and kicking and fighting going on. I ran around and was looking 286 00:20:55,080 --> 00:21:00,160 for him. Finally saw Bob. I'm not sure it happened so fast. What happened then. I'm 287 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:07,400 not sure. I thought I saw jumpy pull a knife on Bob. Long and thin maybe an ice pick. Yeah. 288 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:12,840 Bobby was still hitting with the chain. It looked like jumpy hit Bob and the chest with 289 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:18,120 something right over the heart. Bobby stopped. Jumpy did it again. Bobby got why he looked 290 00:21:18,120 --> 00:21:26,120 sick. He turned around and started to run. What happened then. Bobby kept running. I 291 00:21:26,120 --> 00:21:30,760 knew he was hurt. I went after him. I saw him fall but he got up. He kept running. Then 292 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:35,320 one of the other gang grabbed me. They hit me. It's all right. We understand. I didn't 293 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:40,280 find Bob until a fight was over. I heard the cops cars coming sirens coming around from 294 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:45,560 everywhere. I felt sick. I finally found Bob though he was laying in the back seat of the 295 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:53,040 car just laying there. That's when you called out. Yes. I guess I knew it. As soon as I 296 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:59,560 looked at him dead white as a sheet. Amy. Not when you find somebody dead not somebody you 297 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:04,120 love. All right. It'll be all right. It'll be all right. You're lying. You know that 298 00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:10,080 it won't be all right. Take it easy. I love Bob. Didn't you know that. When he graduated 299 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:16,400 the first thing we were going to get married. Soon as he got out of school we were married. 300 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:29,240 And. Yeah. How old are you. I'm sixteen. Why. Nothing. It happens to break everybody. 301 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:38,400 People seem to make a lot of mistakes when they're sixteen. Six thirty p.m. The crime 302 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:42,760 lab crew arrived took pictures of the entire scene along with all physical evidence and 303 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:47,640 dusted the murder weapon and eight inch knife for fingerprints. The coroner arrived and 304 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:52,640 after we'd completed our investigation he removed the body to the county morgue. Along 305 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:57,320 with a police woman we took Robert Lawson's girlfriend sixteen year old and Porter down 306 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:01,880 to Georgia Street juvenile division to the assembly room. There a special show up was 307 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:07,080 held of all the boys involved in the afternoon's fight. The Porter girl identified a seventeen 308 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:11,920 year old with the name of Warren Stone named jumpy is the boy who'd stabbed Robert Lawson 309 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:17,560 to death. At least a dozen other subjects in the case identified the boy by his nickname 310 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:23,040 jumpy. Three members of either gang involved in the fight declared and sworn statements 311 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:28,160 that Warren Stone was the boy who'd attacked the Lawson boy with a homemade knife. Statements 312 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:33,120 were taken from all concerned and the ringleaders of the gangs were detained. The other subjects 313 00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:37,120 were released to their parents custody after being notified that they would be filed on 314 00:23:37,120 --> 00:23:43,080 and a hearing held in juvenile court. Ann Porter was returned home by a policewoman. Seven 315 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:47,620 fifty five p.m. at Jacobs and I took the subject Warren Stone to the captain's office where 316 00:23:47,620 --> 00:23:51,720 we tried to question him about the murder. He refused to say anything. I told you the 317 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,320 truth I told you the whole story I don't have to tell you again. We're pretty sure you didn't 318 00:23:55,320 --> 00:24:00,120 tell us the truth Warren. We know you tangled with Bob Lawson in that fight this afternoon. 319 00:24:00,120 --> 00:24:03,960 No I didn't. We've got statements from a dozen kids son they say Lawson had a piece of chain 320 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:07,360 he kept slugging you with it they say you pulled a knife and stabbed him. How do they 321 00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:11,200 know a lot of kids had knives anybody could have stabbed him. Why are you picking on me. 322 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:15,760 It was your knife. It was your knife that killed him your initials on it. I lost a knife 323 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:19,120 in the fight somebody could have picked it up used it. No that won't do youngster the 324 00:24:19,120 --> 00:24:24,000 handle of the knife's been processed your fingerprints are all over it. How about it 325 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:33,880 son. Warren come on now what do you got to say. 326 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:44,640 Nothing. I killed him. 840 p.m. Warren Stone was booked in at Georgia Street jail on suspicion 327 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:49,240 of one eighty seven p.c. murder. Ed and I got in the car and drove out to the home of 328 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:54,080 the murder victim to notify his parents Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lawson. Mr. Lawson wasn't 329 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:58,400 home from work yet. We broke the news of her son's death to Mrs. Lawson as gently as we 330 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:03,640 could. She became hysterical and we called the family doctor who gave her sedatives. 331 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:08,360 Later when she recovered herself a bit she asked for the full story. We told her how 332 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:14,680 could it happen. Bobby. How could it happen. Sorry ma'am there's not much we can say we 333 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:20,400 tried everything we could to stop it. You didn't stop it. You let them kill Bobby. You 334 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:27,880 let them kill him. No ma'am. We tried to warn him. We tried to warn all of them. We're sorry. 335 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:37,800 You're not sorry. You didn't try. Bob's dead. Everything I had. He's seventeen years old 336 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:43,400 and he's dead. I can thank you for that. My only baby. We're sorry you feel that way 337 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:50,040 Mrs. Lawson. Why shouldn't I feel that way. You call yourselves policemen. That boy who 338 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:56,960 killed Bobby. You should have had him in jail in the first place. Young killer. Running 339 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:01,080 around loose you as guilty as he is. I'm not defending a man but he wasn't a young killer. 340 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:04,560 Didn't even have a juvenile record. I don't care anything about records. He's a killer. 341 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:09,560 He took a knife and he killed Bob and you let him do it. You let him. I think we better 342 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:16,400 be going in. Yeah. You or your husband will have to identify the body. Tomorrow morning 343 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:22,160 he'll be alright. The county morgue. Dear God. You'll have to be at the coroner's inquest 344 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:28,440 too. You'll be notified about the time of the day. I hope you have to live with this. 345 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:33,120 I hope you live with it like I have to live with it. I hope it drives you crazy. I know 346 00:26:33,120 --> 00:26:37,400 how you feel man but you're wrong. I think you'll realize that. They murdered Bob. You 347 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:43,040 let them kill him. I'll always remember that. Alright. Then you remember something else. 348 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:48,720 The last time we came here to your house we tried to make you understand. You didn't know 349 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:54,520 Bobby. You didn't understand him. I was the only one. I always knew what he was thinking, 350 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:58,040 what he wanted, what he was going to do. I was the only one. No ma'am there was somebody 351 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:12,360 else. What? The boy who killed him. The story you have just heard was true. The names were 352 00:27:12,360 --> 00:27:16,960 changed to protect the innocent. On November 7th the hearing was held in juvenile court 353 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:21,440 department 38 city and county of Los Angeles state of California. In a moment the results 354 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:26,720 of that hearing. And now here is our star Jack Webb. Thank you George Fenorman. Friends 355 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:31,160 just as a hobby I've been collecting early jazz records, blues and two beat music like 356 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:34,960 Leon Vicks Beiderbecke used to play and of course just about everything Benny Goodman 357 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:41,440 has done. I've always tried to build my collection on quality. Now in my opinion that's the only 358 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:47,440 rule to follow in choosing a king size cigarette. Choose for quality. Believe me I know that's 359 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:51,840 what you'll find in Fatima. I know because I smoke them. If you haven't here's what I'd 360 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:57,000 like you to do. Get a pack tomorrow and compare them. When you see the difference, taste the 361 00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:01,280 difference and then smoke that difference I'm convinced that you'll switch to Fatima 362 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:06,920 because in Fatima the difference is quality. Each king size Fatima gives you a long extra 363 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:14,120 mild and soothing smoke with the added protection of Fatima quality. Next time buy Fatima. Best 364 00:28:14,120 --> 00:28:25,480 of all king size cigarettes. 365 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:31,200 Seventeen year old Warren Ernest Stone was filed on alleging violation of 187 PC murder. 366 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:36,600 The rest of the juvenile gang ringleaders were filed on alleging 242 PC battery. They 367 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:41,200 were all made wards of the juvenile court and placed in detention homes under the supervision 368 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:55,640 of the state youth authority. They are still confined in state institutions for juveniles. 369 00:28:55,640 --> 00:29:01,120 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice 370 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:06,040 comes from the office of chief of police W. H. Parker Los Angeles police department. Heard 371 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:11,640 tonight were Barney Phillips, Charles Smith and Eddie Firestone. Script by Jim Moser. 372 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:20,960 Music by Walter Schuman. Hal Gibney speaking. 373 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:26,640 Fatima cigarettes. Best of all king size cigarettes has brought you Dragnet transcribed from Los 374 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:40,320 Angeles. Next it's David Harding and counter spy on NBC.