1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 The story you are about to hear is true. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:14,360 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 3 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:29,800 Fatima cigarettes, best of all king-size cigarettes, brings you dragnet on both radio and television. 4 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:31,360 You're a detective sergeant. 5 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:33,640 You're assigned a homicide detail. 6 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,600 A woman reports the disappearance of her 30-year-old brother. 7 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:41,360 He's been missing for only two days, but the manner of his disappearance was sudden, out 8 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:43,080 of the ordinary. 9 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:44,080 Your job? 10 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:45,080 Investigate. 11 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:53,600 Fatima, America's first largest selling blended cigarette. 12 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:57,800 Fatima, now best of all king-size cigarettes. 13 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,240 Prove it yourself today. 14 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,040 Compare Fatima with the king-size cigarette you are now smoking. 15 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:09,040 One, Fatima's length filters the smoke 85 millimeters for your protection. 16 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,240 Two, Fatima's length cools the smoke for your protection. 17 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:19,360 Three, Fatima's length gives you those extra puffs, 21% longer than standard cigarette 18 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:20,360 size. 19 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:27,480 And in Fatima, you get an extra mild and soothing smoke, plus the added protection of Fatima 20 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:28,480 quality. 21 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,760 Definitely the best quality in its class, but the same price as the cigarette you are 22 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:33,760 now smoking. 23 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:37,120 Buy Fatima in the bright, sunny yellow pack. 24 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,360 Best of all, king-size cigarettes. 25 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:49,200 DRAGNET, the document, a drama of an actual crime. 26 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:54,080 For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 27 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:58,720 travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 28 00:01:58,720 --> 00:01:59,720 police violence. 29 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:05,600 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, DRAGNET is the story of your police force 30 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:06,600 in action. 31 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,600 It was Wednesday, November 14th. 32 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:14,840 It was overcast in Los Angeles. 33 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,400 We were working the day watch out of homicide detail. 34 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:18,880 My partner's Ed Jacobs. 35 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:19,880 The boss is Captain Norman. 36 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:20,880 My name's Friday. 37 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:25,320 We were on our way out from the office and it was 8.56 a.m. when we got to the SNH paper 38 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,560 company on 4th Street, the rear entrance. 39 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:31,040 Where did we find her, Joe, upstairs? 40 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:32,040 No, main floor. 41 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,560 She told me we'd find her in the timekeeper's office. 42 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:35,560 She said it was near the back door entrance. 43 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:36,560 We couldn't miss it. 44 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,200 Let's give a look down the corridor. 45 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,200 Maybe one of the workers can tell us. 46 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,280 Yeah, right. 47 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,360 Looks like some kind of an office there, doesn't it, just beyond the time clock? 48 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:48,360 Let's see. 49 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:49,360 Paymaster Head Timekeeper. 50 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:50,360 Yeah, that's it. 51 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:51,360 The door is locked, Ed. 52 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:52,360 You want to wrap on the pay window? 53 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:53,360 Yeah. 54 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:54,360 Yeah? 55 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:55,360 Police, officers, ma'am. 56 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:56,360 We have an appointment with Miss Edith Tabert. 57 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:57,360 Oh, yes, officers. 58 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:58,360 I'm Edith Tabert. 59 00:02:58,360 --> 00:02:59,360 Just a moment, please. 60 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:00,360 I'll be in the buzzer. 61 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:01,360 Just push on the door. 62 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:02,360 All right, thank you, ma'am. 63 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:03,360 Go ahead, Ed. 64 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:04,360 All right. 65 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:05,360 Are you the one I talked to on the phone, Sergeant Friday? 66 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:06,360 Yes, ma'am, that's right. 67 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:07,360 This is my partner, Sergeant Jacobs. 68 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:08,360 They do. 69 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:09,360 How do you do? 70 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:10,360 I'm sorry. 71 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:11,360 I'm sorry. 72 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:12,360 I'm sorry. 73 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:13,360 I'm sorry. 74 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:14,360 I'm sorry. 75 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:15,360 I'm sorry. 76 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:16,360 I'm sorry. 77 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:17,360 I'm sorry. 78 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,360 I'm sorry. 79 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:21,360 This is about your brother, Miss Tabert. 80 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:22,360 Ralph Tabert, is that right? 81 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:23,360 Yes, that's right. 82 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:24,360 I know there must be something wrong. 83 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:25,360 Ralph's been gone since Sunday. 84 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:26,360 No one's seen him. 85 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:27,360 No one's heard from him. 86 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:28,360 I'm worried sick about it. 87 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:29,360 Last time you saw him was on Sunday? 88 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:30,360 No, I didn't actually see him. 89 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:31,360 I talked to him on the phone. 90 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:32,360 We made a date for dinner. 91 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:33,360 Ralph and I always have dinner together Sunday nights. 92 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:34,360 It's about the only time in the week we do get to see each other. 93 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:35,360 I see. 94 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:36,360 I believe you told me on the phone you already checked with most of his friends the places 95 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:37,360 he'd most likely be. 96 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:38,360 Is that right? 97 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:39,360 Yes, ma'am. 98 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:40,360 I've been to the hospital. 99 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:41,360 I've been to the hospital. 100 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:49,360 I've been to the hospital. 101 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,080 Your brother's never done anything like this before, Miss? 102 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:53,080 Going off without telling anyone? 103 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:54,080 No, never. 104 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:55,080 I'm very worried, Sergeant. 105 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,820 Can you think of any reason at all why he'd want to disappear of his own free will, I 106 00:03:57,820 --> 00:03:58,820 mean? 107 00:03:58,820 --> 00:03:59,820 No. 108 00:03:59,820 --> 00:04:00,820 No reason in the world for it. 109 00:04:00,820 --> 00:04:04,320 He seemed perfectly all right when I talked to him on the phone Sunday. 110 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:05,320 Everything was fine. 111 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,840 We made a date for the movies Tuesday night. 112 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:09,320 That was for last night. 113 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:10,800 The picture downtown will want to see. 114 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,720 He made a special point of it. 115 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,480 I just know something must have happened. 116 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:15,640 Mm-hmm. 117 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:17,480 I gather you know most of your brother's friends 118 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,560 you've kept in fairly close touch with him, Eric. 119 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,680 Yes, we get together at least once a week, as I say. 120 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:24,200 I'm four years older than Ralph. 121 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,200 I've looked after him since we were kids. 122 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:28,640 We've always been together, the last five or six years 123 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,320 especially, ever since mama died. 124 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,640 Your brother in a pretty stable mental condition, was he? 125 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:34,360 No financial worries, nothing of that kind? 126 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,200 No, sir, nothing I know about. 127 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,640 I'd like to double check this information 128 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:41,520 that you gave me on the phone, Miss Taber. 129 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:43,560 The name and address and his description, is that right? 130 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:45,400 Yes, sir. 131 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,320 The full name Ralph Lawrence Taber, 132 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,920 14316 Almaiden Street, male, white American, 133 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:52,680 occupation, interior decorator, is that it? 134 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:54,880 Yes, that's right. 135 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,400 Height, five foot, 11, 155 pounds, dark blonde hair, 136 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,560 gray eyes, fair complexion, birthmark on left side of neck. 137 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:02,680 Yes, that's all correct. 138 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:04,680 Your brother in the habit of carrying large sums of money 139 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:05,720 around with him, do you know? 140 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:07,240 No, not that I know of. 141 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,360 He has a good job, he's not getting rich at it though. 142 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,880 I don't think I've ever seen Ralph with more than 20, 143 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:14,480 30 dollars on him at a time. 144 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:15,640 Mm-hmm. 145 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,400 Who was the last person to see him, Miss, you any idea? 146 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,080 Well, I talked to Ralph's landlady. 147 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,240 She told me she saw Ralph and this friend of his, 148 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,920 Andy Howard, going into Ralph's apartment. 149 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:26,880 That was about six o'clock Sunday night. 150 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,160 Ralph was supposed to meet me at 7.30, never showed up. 151 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:31,880 Now this friend of your brother's, Miss Taber, 152 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:33,760 is Andy Howard, are you acquainted with him? 153 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:35,440 Yes, but I don't know him too well. 154 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:37,680 I only met him two or three times. 155 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,600 He lives in the apartment house next door to Ralph's, 156 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,960 so the two of them were friends in the Navy together 157 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:43,600 during the war, good friends. 158 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,360 You tried to get in touch with this Andy Howard? 159 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,000 Yes, I called Ralph's apartment when he didn't show up 160 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:49,960 for our dinner date Sunday night. 161 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,040 Wasn't any answer, so I looked up Andy's number 162 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:53,480 in the phone book and called him. 163 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:54,720 Mm-hmm, was he a ho? 164 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,840 Yes, tried to talk to him, but it didn't do much good. 165 00:05:58,840 --> 00:06:00,080 Strange. 166 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:00,920 How was that? 167 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:02,680 He pretended he didn't even know me. 168 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,560 He was a good friend of mine. 169 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,280 After we finished our interview with Edith Taber, 170 00:06:08,280 --> 00:06:10,280 Ed Jacobs and I started out to double check 171 00:06:10,280 --> 00:06:12,880 with all the known friends and associates of her brother. 172 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,720 We talked to his employer and the people he worked with. 173 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:17,240 None of them had seen him subsequent 174 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,080 to six o'clock Sunday night. 175 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:20,600 None of them could think of any good reason 176 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:21,920 why he suddenly would wanna pick up 177 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:24,280 and leave his job and friends. 178 00:06:24,280 --> 00:06:25,960 The people he knew outside of his work 179 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:27,560 told us the same thing. 180 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,480 Nobody could explain it. 181 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,160 Along the way, we inquired about Ralph Taber's friend, 182 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:33,520 Andy Howard. 183 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,120 Most of the people we talked to knew him 184 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:36,640 as a close friend of Taber's. 185 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:39,320 We checked at Howard's place of employment, 186 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:40,920 but they told us he hadn't shown up for work 187 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:42,840 since the previous Friday. 188 00:06:42,840 --> 00:06:45,520 We drove to Howard's apartment, checked with a manager, 189 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:46,720 and he said that Howard had moved 190 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:48,440 without notice late Sunday night. 191 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,760 We crossed over to the apartment house next door 192 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:53,600 where Taber lived and talked to the landlady, 193 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:54,760 Mrs. Higby. 194 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,200 She corroborated the story we'd gotten from Taber's sister 195 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,120 that Andy Howard was last seen entering Taber's apartment 196 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,320 at about six o'clock Sunday night. 197 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:03,640 Taber was with him. 198 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:05,560 Mrs. Higby was sure of that. 199 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:06,840 She showed us up to the third floor 200 00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:08,320 to Ralph Taber's apartment. 201 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:11,240 The two rooms and the adjoining kitchenette were immaculate. 202 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:12,560 There wasn't a thing out of place. 203 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,800 Need us a pen, Joe, not a thing out of order. 204 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,120 Yeah, it's the same in the bedroom. 205 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:18,160 Say, Mrs. Higby. 206 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:19,320 Yes, Sergeant. 207 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,400 Do you provide maid service with the apartments here? 208 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:22,680 No, we don't. 209 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,040 We've been thinking about it, though. 210 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:26,920 Haven't quite made up our minds. 211 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,920 Such a task, getting good, competent help these days. 212 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,040 And the tenants are responsible for the entire upkeep, huh? 213 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:33,120 Yes. 214 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:37,680 Everything, the painting, wallpapering, things like that. 215 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,200 Doesn't Mr. Taber keep things spotless, just spotless? 216 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:41,960 Yes, ma'am. 217 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:44,080 There's just one thing I wanted to ask you about. 218 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:45,800 It's over here by the window. 219 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:46,960 Yes. 220 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,560 Now, this wire here, apparently an aerial connection 221 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:51,560 for a television set. 222 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:52,400 Looks like it's there. 223 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:53,160 Yes. 224 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,120 Mr. Taber does have a television. 225 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:56,800 Why? 226 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,800 Well, I don't notice a set anywhere in the apartment. 227 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:00,840 Would you happen to recall if he sent it out for repairs, 228 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:01,840 anything like that? 229 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,680 No, not that I know of. 230 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:07,800 Besides, this doesn't seem like Mr. Taber at all. 231 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:09,000 What do you mean, Mrs. Higby? 232 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,320 He's always so neat, fast idiocy. 233 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:14,920 And that wire there, looks like it was torn off 234 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:16,680 the connection, doesn't it? 235 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,840 Along the windowsill, too, isn't that terrible? 236 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,200 Fasteners for the wire rip right out of the woodwork. 237 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,400 That certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Taber. 238 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,440 Does anyone else besides him have access to this apartment, ma'am? 239 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,520 No one that I know of. 240 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,280 No one besides myself, I mean. 241 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,560 I have duplicate keys to all the apartments. 242 00:08:36,560 --> 00:08:37,920 Well, I just happen to think. 243 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:38,840 Yes, ma'am? 244 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,000 If a repairman did move the set out, 245 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,240 it's possible my houseboy might know about it. 246 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:46,280 Sam, that's my houseboy. 247 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:47,680 How would he know about it? 248 00:08:47,680 --> 00:08:49,880 Well, it's the roof of the house, all furniture, 249 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:51,040 heavy things like that. 250 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,640 They have to be taken down in the freight elevator. 251 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,960 It opens right onto the alley in the back of the building. 252 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:56,920 That's very handy. 253 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:57,760 Yes, ma'am. 254 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,080 Sam's the only one who operates that elevator. 255 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,000 That's why I say it's possible he might know about it. 256 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:04,600 Would you like to have me ask him? 257 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:05,760 I wonder if you would, please. 258 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:08,280 Surely it won't take but a minute, and I'll be right back. 259 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,200 Thank you, Miss Higgins. 260 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:12,720 Joe, you want to have a look over here? 261 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:14,240 Yeah. 262 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:15,120 What do you got? 263 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:16,000 It's a walled bed here. 264 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:16,840 I tried to pull it down. 265 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:18,160 It's stuck. 266 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:19,320 Stand right here. 267 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,840 Over here. 268 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,280 See if you notice anything. 269 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:25,080 Yeah, I do. 270 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:26,080 Come on, give me a hand. 271 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:27,160 See if we can't get the bed down. 272 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:28,560 Yeah. 273 00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:29,960 Push it on your side there. 274 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:30,960 That's it. 275 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:31,960 OK. 276 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:32,960 It's coming down now. 277 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:38,000 Good Lord. 278 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:39,240 Yeah. 279 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:41,000 Table, you think? 280 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,200 The whole description seems to fit. 281 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,200 Beaten to death looks like, doesn't it? 282 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,560 Something's sticking out under the bed covers there. 283 00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:49,520 Yeah, it's a claw here. 284 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:51,880 My stains all over it. 285 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:52,960 Vicious. 286 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,040 Guess the killer wanted to make sure. 287 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:56,960 I don't know where Stives sing. 288 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:58,200 I feel sorry for the sister. 289 00:09:58,200 --> 00:09:59,440 She was pretty close to him. 290 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:00,800 It's going to be tough on her. 291 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:01,960 No tougher than it was for him. 292 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:06,640 2.38 PM. 293 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:08,560 We phoned the office, told them what we'd found, 294 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:10,520 and then we put in a call for Lieutenant Lee Jones 295 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:12,320 and the crime lab crew. 296 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,480 While we were waiting, we questioned the landlady again, 297 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:15,760 Mrs. Higby. 298 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:17,600 She said her houseman, Sam, told her 299 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,880 he knew nothing about a television set being moved out 300 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:21,640 of Ralph Taber's apartment. 301 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:23,080 However, it was possible somebody 302 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,280 could have taken the set down in the main elevator late 303 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,600 at night without being seen. 304 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,600 Mrs. Higby also told us that Taber had a car. 305 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,400 We checked the apartment garage, but it was gone. 306 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,000 All Mrs. Higby could tell us was that it was a late model car 307 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:40,120 and that Taber often loaned it to his friend, Andy Howard. 308 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:44,040 Sergeants Al Shambra and Joe LaMonica from Homicide arrived, 309 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,160 and together the four of us interviewed the employees 310 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,120 and the tenants in the apartment building. 311 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:50,320 They gave us little or nothing at all. 312 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,720 A few minutes before 3 PM, the crime lab crew 313 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,600 showed up and started their preliminary investigation. 314 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,600 We put in a call for the coroner. 315 00:10:57,600 --> 00:10:59,320 From the obvious lack of fingerprints 316 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:00,960 in usual places around the apartment, 317 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,380 it was apparent that the murderer had taken great precautions 318 00:11:03,380 --> 00:11:05,320 to cover his tracks. 319 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,080 3.35 PM, the deputy coroner arrived, 320 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:10,280 and after the preliminary investigation was finished, 321 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,920 the body was removed to the county morgue. 322 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:15,840 Ed and I went back to the office, checked our DMV, 323 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,200 and got out on all points on Taber's car 324 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,520 and also on the friend he was last seen with, Andy Howard. 325 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,640 R and I turned up a single entry for Howard's criminal record, 326 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:26,680 a drunk driving charge. 327 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:28,960 5.20 PM, we met with Edith Taber 328 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,560 and broke the news of her brother's death. 329 00:11:31,560 --> 00:11:32,800 When she recovered from the shock, 330 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:34,800 we interviewed her briefly. 331 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:35,760 It was Andy Howard. 332 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:36,600 I know it was him. 333 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:37,420 It had to be. 334 00:11:37,420 --> 00:11:38,640 Why do you say that, Miss Taber? 335 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:39,880 There's something about this man, Howard, 336 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:40,720 you haven't told us. 337 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:41,720 He's no good, Sergeant. 338 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:43,160 He's no good at all. 339 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:44,320 That's what I've been afraid of. 340 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,200 I've been afraid of it right along. 341 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:47,960 Well, just how do you mean, ma'am, he's no good? 342 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:49,800 He's a tramp, a bum. 343 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:50,620 Won't get a job. 344 00:11:50,620 --> 00:11:51,920 He's been living off my brother. 345 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:52,680 He isn't normal. 346 00:11:52,680 --> 00:11:54,360 There's something wrong with him. 347 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,080 Well, how is it your brother put up with him? 348 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,440 I told you, he and Ralph were friends in the Navy. 349 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,000 He did a big favor for Ralph once. 350 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,800 He's been living off it ever since, taking his clothes, 351 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,600 borrowing his car, money, never paying it back. 352 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,800 Why do you think he killed your brother, Miss? 353 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:08,480 I just know it. 354 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:08,980 That's all. 355 00:12:08,980 --> 00:12:09,760 He did it. 356 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:11,160 Did he ever fight with your brother? 357 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:11,800 Would you happen to know? 358 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:13,240 Did he ever threaten him? 359 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,720 They had a big fight one night, about two weeks ago, I think. 360 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:20,280 Andy kept sponging until Ralph got good and sick of it. 361 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:21,720 Told Andy to go out and get a job. 362 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:23,280 That's when the fight started. 363 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:24,480 You saw it, did you? 364 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,120 Ralph told me about it. 365 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,120 Fist fight in the alley back of the apartment. 366 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:30,320 Ralph knocked Andy down. 367 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:31,760 And he said he'd never forget it. 368 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:33,360 He'd pay Ralph back. 369 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,960 Couple of days after that, my brother said the two of them 370 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:36,800 made up. 371 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,640 Everything was all right. 372 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:40,880 Ralph should have known better. 373 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:42,120 He should have known better. 374 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:43,600 Mm-hm. 375 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:45,640 Just a few more questions, Miss Taber. 376 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:47,960 Can you tell us anything about Andy Howard's background, 377 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,960 where he's from, whose friends are, places he usually goes? 378 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:52,160 No. 379 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:53,400 I know much about him. 380 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,320 He's from the South, I think, Alabama. 381 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,680 Ralph's friends can tell you more about him than I can. 382 00:12:58,680 --> 00:13:00,320 All right. 383 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,320 Had you heard anything lately about Howard planning 384 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:03,600 to move out of his apartment? 385 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:05,000 Nothing. 386 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,320 When I heard that he did move and Ralph was missing, 387 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,160 I knew something was wrong. 388 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,080 That's why I called you. 389 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,120 If I'd only known before. 390 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:17,880 Poor Ralph, if I only knew. 391 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:19,080 Don't try to take it easy, man. 392 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:21,600 We'll arrange for a car to drive you home, all right? 393 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,520 It's so hard to understand. 394 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:27,200 Hard for anyone to kill Ralph like that. 395 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:29,360 Horrible. 396 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,160 He was so good. 397 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:32,360 Was my brother? 398 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,120 Yes, ma'am. 399 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:35,960 What do you say to a man who kills your brother? 400 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,000 How do you understand him? 401 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,480 What do you tell him? 402 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,080 Well, why even try? 403 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:41,980 What? 404 00:13:41,980 --> 00:13:42,920 Let the jury tell him. 405 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:43,680 All right. 406 00:13:47,680 --> 00:13:49,880 Before we had the victim's sister, Edith Tabor, 407 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,360 driven to her home, we asked her about the television set 408 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:53,660 in her brother's apartment, but she 409 00:13:53,660 --> 00:13:55,720 was unable to explain its absence. 410 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,280 Burglary detail had already been notified about the case 411 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:00,520 and the pawn shop detail alerted. 412 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:02,360 An APB had been gotten out containing 413 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:03,960 a complete description of the TV set 414 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,120 along with the serial numbers. 415 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,360 A few minutes after we got back from dinner that night, 416 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:09,840 we had an answer on it. 417 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:11,920 A pawn shop operator on West 7th Street 418 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,820 in with the information that he'd taken in a television set with identical description 419 00:14:15,820 --> 00:14:18,820 and serial numbers as that of Taber's. 420 00:14:18,820 --> 00:14:22,220 Ed and I drove out to the pawn shop and checked the operator's buy book. 421 00:14:22,220 --> 00:14:24,660 The set had been pawned the day after the murder. 422 00:14:24,660 --> 00:14:27,880 The serial numbers and description matched in every detail. 423 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:31,140 The description and signature of the man who pawned it matched perfectly with that of Ralph 424 00:14:31,140 --> 00:14:33,400 Taber's friend, Andy Howard. 425 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:37,940 The set was impounded and just on a chance, we had Dean Bergman dust it for latent fingerprints. 426 00:14:37,940 --> 00:14:38,940 Dean? 427 00:14:38,940 --> 00:14:39,940 Oh, hi Ed, Friday. 428 00:14:39,940 --> 00:14:41,740 How you making out, any luck? 429 00:14:41,740 --> 00:14:43,240 Not bad, have a look here. 430 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:44,240 Yeah. 431 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,080 Picked up four sets of prints off it all told. 432 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:47,080 These here are the dead man's. 433 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:48,080 Yeah. 434 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,480 These here, they belong to the pawn shop operator. 435 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:51,480 Mm-hmm. 436 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:53,720 These belong to his son, helps him in the shop. 437 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:54,720 Yeah. 438 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:57,440 Guess this is the one you're looking for, two plain index prints. 439 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:58,440 Did you classify them? 440 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,440 Checked them against prints from Andy Howard's package. 441 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:01,440 Yeah. 442 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:02,440 They match. 443 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:08,360 When we checked in for work the following morning, we got the coroner's report on Ralph 444 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:09,360 Taber. 445 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,160 The number of signs of death was listed as cerebral hemorrhage and multiple fractures 446 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:15,680 of the skull caused by blows from a heavy blunt object. 447 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,200 The other reports from the crime lab didn't give us much help. 448 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:23,280 The better part of the next three days, Ed and I, along with Al Shambra and Joe LaMonica, 449 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:27,340 held detailed interviews with the known friends and associates of the murder victim, Ralph 450 00:15:27,340 --> 00:15:30,880 Taber and the number one suspect, Andy Howard. 451 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:34,360 The information we picked up was incorporated in a supplementary all points bulletin and 452 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,480 gotten out immediately. 453 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:40,880 We found out that Andy Howard had a sailor's uniform in his possession and though unauthorized, 454 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:43,120 he wore it frequently. 455 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,440 It bore the insignia of a quartermaster first class on the sleeve. 456 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:51,000 We also found out Howard had identical tattoos on each forearm, the picture of an unfurled 457 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,100 American flag with the name Betty Dee below it. 458 00:15:54,100 --> 00:15:56,360 We had the city covered for the suspect. 459 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:58,280 Four days passed, no trace of him. 460 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:02,440 Saturday, November 24th, we got an urgent call from homicide commander, Lieutenant Mort 461 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:04,000 Gere in San Diego. 462 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,000 On the highway? 463 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:07,000 Uh huh. 464 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:08,000 When was that, Mark? 465 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:09,000 I see. 466 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,000 Hey, Joe, you got a pencil there? 467 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:12,000 Yeah, here you go. 468 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:13,000 Thanks. 469 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,000 Yeah, Mark, he's pretty sure, huh? 470 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:16,000 Uh huh. 471 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,000 Well, yeah, he seems to tie in all right. 472 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:20,000 How's that? 473 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:22,000 Well, I don't know for sure. 474 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,000 We'll check with Captain Lorman right now, let you know. 475 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,000 Yeah, thanks, Mark. 476 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:27,000 Goodbye. 477 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:28,000 Good break. 478 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,000 What do you have to say? 479 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,000 One of their traffic men down there, a fellow by the name of Jack Ladd, stopped a car on 480 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,000 the highway going out of town speeding. 481 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,000 Cool. 482 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:39,000 Ladd says the man answers Andy Howard's description perfectly, right down to the tattoo on the 483 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:40,000 forearm. 484 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,000 No doubt about the car the guy was driving was Taber's description and license number. 485 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:44,000 He even used Taber's identification. 486 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,000 Well, when did all this happen? 487 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:47,000 The day after the murder. 488 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,000 They were the hell of a men, they didn't have the information at the time. 489 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:50,000 That's a bum break. 490 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:52,000 Which way was Howard going, they tell you? 491 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:53,000 Yeah, into town. 492 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:54,000 They figure he's still there someplace. 493 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:55,000 What do you mean? 494 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,000 Found the car an hour ago, abandoned. 495 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:03,000 Ten minutes after the phone call from San Diego, Captain Lorman checked back in at the 496 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,000 office and Ed and I met with him. 497 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:09,000 We told him about the information San Diego had phoned in and he gave Ed and I an immediate 498 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,000 okay for the trip south. 499 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:15,000 We went down to the garage, picked up a car, and six hours later we checked in with Sergeant 500 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:17,000 Russ Ormsby, San Diego homicide. 501 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,000 What's this, another fishing trip or are we doing business this time? 502 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,000 Afraid it's all business Russ, the Andy Howard thing. 503 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:23,000 Walk gear around? 504 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:24,000 No, won't be back till later. 505 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,000 I can brief you on it though, McGuire and I have been working it on this end. 506 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:30,000 Well, how about Taber's car, you still got it staked out? 507 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:31,000 Yeah, no nipples yet. 508 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:35,000 What do you figure, if nothing happens, pull it in tomorrow, process it for prints? 509 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:36,000 Yeah. 510 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:39,000 We've had something warmer than that since Mordgier called you, it looks pretty good. 511 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:40,000 Yeah, what do you got? 512 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,000 Only came up with it a couple of hours ago. 513 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:46,000 Field interrogation card made out last night west end of town. 514 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:50,000 Beat officer by the name of Driscoll questioned a man and a girl parked in a car out that 515 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:51,000 way last night. 516 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,000 There's a description on the map. 517 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:54,000 Thanks Russ. 518 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:59,000 Yeah, Fitz Howard all the way in here, so couldn't get much closer. 519 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,000 They checked out the car they were in, belongs to the girl. 520 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:05,000 Yeah, what care Andy, still using Taber's identification. 521 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:06,000 Yeah. 522 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,000 All right, where's it go from here Russ, you got this Andy Howard spotted? 523 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,000 No, Beatman Driscoll, he didn't know the guy from Adam. 524 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:14,000 Yeah, where's that leave us? 525 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,000 The girl Howard was with, Driscoll knew her. 526 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:23,000 We contacted the Beat officer Driscoll, the girl who'd been spotted sitting in a parked 527 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:27,000 car the night before with murder suspect Andy Howard was identified as Helen McClung, a 528 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,000 waitress in a downtown cocktail bar. 529 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:33,000 A stakeout was placed in her apartment and she was brought in for interrogation. 530 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:36,000 He's not a good friend of mine, I don't know where he lives, don't know what he does, I 531 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:37,000 hadn't even known him Sergeant. 532 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,000 You were out for a drive with him the night before, is that right? 533 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:42,000 Sure, I don't deny that, we went out for a ride, that's all there is to it. 534 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,000 You sure you don't know where this man lives Helen? 535 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,000 Not exactly, no, he's staying at a hotel downtown I think. 536 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,000 We went for a ride and I dropped him off at the bus line, that's all there is to it. 537 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,000 Do you expect to see him again, do you have any dates with him in the next couple of days? 538 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:58,000 No, to tell you the truth I thought I had a date, didn't work out, nothing ever works out. 539 00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,000 Phone this morning called it off. 540 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:00,000 Did he tell you why? 541 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,000 He gave some lame excuse, I found out the real reason though. 542 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,000 What's that, do you mind telling us? 543 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,000 No, I don't mind, I got a date with my girlfriend instead, Claire Peterson. 544 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,000 Bring me up a little bit, I don't mind. 545 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,000 Where does your girlfriend live Helen? 546 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,000 You mean Claire? 547 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,000 Out on Rose Avenue, 1500 block, I'm not sure though. 548 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,000 Is he going to pick her up there? 549 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,000 I guess so, why? 550 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:19,000 When's the date 40 now? 551 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:31,000 Yeah, on Monday. 552 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:36,000 You are listening to Dragnet, authentic stories of your police force in action. 553 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:39,000 Compare Fatima with your present king size cigarette. 554 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:44,000 Yes, compare Fatima with the king size cigarette you are now smoking. 555 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:49,000 One, Fatima's length filters the smoke 85 millimeters for your protection. 556 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:53,000 Two, Fatima's length cools the smoke for your protection. 557 00:19:53,000 --> 00:20:00,000 Three, Fatima's length gives you those extra puffs, 21 percent longer than standard cigarette sides. 558 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:08,000 And in Fatima you get an extra mild and soothing smoke, plus the added protection of Fatima quality. 559 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:18,000 Friends, to show our confidence in Fatima, to convince you quickly, dramatically that Fatima is the best of all king size cigarettes, we make this money back guarantee. 560 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:25,000 Buy a pack of Fatimas, enjoy Fatima quality, extra mildness and superbly blended tobacco. 561 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:36,000 If you're not convinced Fatima is better than the king size cigarette you are now smoking, just return the pack and the unsmoked Fatimas before April 1st and we'll give you your money back plus postage. 562 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,000 Fatima, box 37, New York 1. 563 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:47,000 Remember, each king size Fatima gives you an extra mild and soothing smoke, plus the added protection of Fatima quality. 564 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:52,000 Switch to Fatima today. Best of all, king size cigarettes. 565 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:58,000 Music 566 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:09,000 Monday, November 26th, 10 a.m. After checking her name through San Diego R&I, we finally located the address of the girl Claire Peterson who was supposed to have a date with our murder suspect Andy Howard that night. 567 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:16,000 She lived in a small apartment house in the southeast end of town. The manager told us that she'd already left for work. We ran it down. 568 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:22,000 The Peterson girl was employed as a cutter in a shirt factory down in the industrial district. We questioned her at her work. 569 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:26,000 A tall, attractive girl, blonde, blue eyes, a small scar on her chin. 570 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,000 She kept working while we talked to her. 571 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,000 Yeah, I have a date with Ralph Tabert tonight. Something the matter? 572 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,000 Afraid so, Miss Peterson. The first place his name isn't Ralph Tabert. 573 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:39,000 No, I'm sorry. You must be wrong, officer. I was out with him just last Monday. 574 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:45,000 I know that's his name, son. Everything he has, his car, his wallet, all his business papers. I bet you must have made a mistake. 575 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:49,000 No, it's no mistake, ma'am. We checked it out pretty thoroughly. We'd like to talk to you about it if we could, please. 576 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,000 Well, there's not too much to tell. I just met him Monday night. 577 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:57,000 He was with my girlfriend, Helen. He wanted to go out with me, so I made a date. I didn't think there was anything wrong. 578 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:01,000 You said he used to meet you at your apartment, Miss Peterson. Did he give any specific time when he'd be there? 579 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:05,000 Eight or eight-thirty, he said. Hey, what's wrong? Do you know? 580 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,000 There's something wrong with the man. I ought to know, don't you think? 581 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,000 We want him for questioning, ma'am. You any idea where he lives? 582 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:15,000 No, no, I haven't. One of the hotels downtown, I think. Fifth Street or Sixth Street. I wouldn't know for sure. 583 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,000 Why do you want him? Can't you tell me, please? 584 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:22,000 We believe he's committed a murder, Miss Peterson. Matter of fact, we're sure of it. 585 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:23,000 What do you want me to do? 586 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:27,000 He calls up before your date tonight. Don't do anything to discourage him. Tell him to meet you. 587 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:32,000 If he wants to postpone the date, try and make him come tonight. If he can't do that, try and find out where he's staying. 588 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:33,000 Don't let him know we talked to you. 589 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:38,000 Well, all right, I can try. You'll be there when he comes to my apartment, I mean. 590 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,000 Yes, ma'am, I will be there. You'll be protected all the way. 591 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:41,000 Well, what do you do? 592 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:42,000 Ma'am? 593 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:47,000 What do you do? You say he's a murderer. He must be desperate. What do you do? 594 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:48,000 How do you arrest him? 595 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:50,000 It's his choice, ma'am. Any way he wants it. 596 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:59,000 As soon as we left the plant where the Peterson girl worked, we called Sergeant Tony McGuire at San Diego Homicide Detail, 597 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:02,000 and he made arrangements for an immediate stakeout at the girl's apartment. 598 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:10,000 At 7 p.m., Ed and I, along with Russ Ormsby and Tony McGuire, drove out to supplement the men on stakeout at the girl's apartment. 599 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:16,000 Eight o'clock, nine, nine thirty, ten p.m., still no sign of the suspect. 600 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:19,000 At midnight, our relief team showed up and we headed back for the office. 601 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:23,000 When we got there, there was a bulletin from the Highway Patrol reporting that earlier that night, 602 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:31,000 a man partially identified as Andy Howard had been seen heading north from San Diego on U.S. Highway 101 toward Los Angeles. 603 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:34,000 We got Captain Lorman on the phone, briefed him on the latest developments, 604 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,000 and told him that photographs of the suspect had been distributed to all officers. 605 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:41,000 The next ten hours failed to turn up anything new. 606 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:46,000 San Diego officers continued to cover their end. 11.15 p.m. the next day. 607 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:49,000 We drove back to Los Angeles and reported in at Homicide. 608 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:52,000 There was a note in the book from Lorman asking us to check in early the following morning, 609 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,000 so Ed and I signed out and went home to get some sleep. 610 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,000 The next morning, 1.45 a.m. 611 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:11,000 Hello, Friday talking. Sorry to wake you up, Friday. This is Hawkins down at the business office. Oh yeah, Hawkins. What do you got? 612 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:16,000 Beat Officer out in Wilshire called in two or three minutes ago. He figures he has your murder suspect for you, Andy Howard. Bring him in now. 613 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:21,000 Well, what about identification? He check that over? No, no identification. He's wearing a sailor's uniform. 614 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:27,000 What about insignia? His rating? Bordermaster first class. 615 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:34,000 After I hung up, I phoned Ed, got him out of bed, and the two of us drove down to the office where we picked up the suspect and took him to the interrogation room. 616 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:38,000 During the interrogation, we found a wallet concealed on his person. 617 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:42,000 It contained a driver's license, credit card, and half a dozen other means of identification. 618 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:47,000 All of them were made out to Ralph Tabor. After an hour of questioning, he'd still admit nothing. 619 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:55,000 He sat hunched over in his chair, tearing an old envelope into small pieces and dropping them on the floor in front of him. 620 00:24:55,000 --> 00:25:04,000 This will make the tenth time I told you. I don't know what happened to Ralph. I didn't take his car or his television set. I didn't leave the city. I wasn't in San Diego last week. 621 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:09,000 Now, if you don't believe me, you'll prove I'm lying. We didn't pull you in on the guess, Andy. We'll prove it. 622 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:16,000 You mind telling me how? We got three people on their way in here right now. Ralph Tabor's sister, his landlady, a man who let him a Sims, pawn shop dealer. 623 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,000 You mean anything to you? 624 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,000 It's my word against theirs. 625 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,000 Three to one, mister. I got the odds in their favor. 626 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:29,000 Look, why don't we straighten this out once and for all? You think I killed my friend Ralph. Why? Explain it to me. Why should I kill him? 627 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:33,000 Look, I wouldn't know, Andy. Maybe you'd like to tell us. His sister says he was pretty good to you. 628 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:39,000 She was good to me? I guess she didn't tell you what I did for him overseas when we were in the Navy together. 629 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,000 No, she didn't tell us. 630 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:47,000 She wouldn't. Stupid women. I haven't found one of them worth anything. Frustrated. She needs a husband. That's her trouble. 631 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:54,000 She claims her brother was paying the bills for you, Andy. He gave you clothes, money, his car. She says you were living off of him. 632 00:25:54,000 --> 00:26:01,000 Now, see, woman, that's all the thanks I get for all I did for Ralph. I bought a few dollars, you know. That's all. 633 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:05,000 Kept throwing it up to me, him and his sister, after all I did for him. 634 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,000 What are you trying to say, Andy? 635 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:12,000 Could have been different, Ralph and me. What do you want me to say? 636 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:16,000 Did you kill him? Did you kill him, Andy? 637 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:19,000 You can't explain it that way. It's not as simple as that. 638 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,000 It isn't? 639 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:28,000 No, it's all mixed up together. It's complicated. It's not simple at all. I mean, with your best friend, especially. 640 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:34,000 It's more of a mistake. I mean, morally, I didn't mean to kill him. I just did. 641 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:40,000 It's a mistake. A terrible mistake. 642 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,000 You want to give us a statement, Howard? 643 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,000 Mr. McAlister will take it down. 644 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,000 All right, in a minute. 645 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:52,000 I just want to make sure you understand, I mean, about Ralph and all I did for him. 646 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,000 Yeah. 647 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:57,000 No gratitude, no gratitude at all. 648 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:00,000 You blame me? I mean, after all I did for him, you blame me? 649 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,000 Well, you should have remembered, Andy, about gratitude. 650 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,000 Yeah? Doesn't mean much when you have to ask for it. 651 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:18,000 The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. 652 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:25,000 On February 4th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 89, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 653 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:29,000 In a moment, the results of that trial. And now here is our star, Jack Webb. 654 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:34,000 Thank you, George Fenomen. Friends, you've been listening to Dragnet for the past 28 minutes. 655 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:40,000 Now it will take you less than 28 seconds to prove that Fatima is the best of all king-size cigarettes. 656 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:43,000 Just compare Fatima with a king-size cigarette you're now smoking. 657 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:47,000 Fatima filters the smoke through a long distance of 85 millimeters. 658 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:51,000 Fatima's length cools the smoke for your protection. 659 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:56,000 Fatima's length gives you those extra puffs, 21 percent longer than standard cigarette size. 660 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:02,000 And in Fatima, you get an extra mild and soothing smoke, plus the added protection of Fatima quality. 661 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,000 Prove it today. Bye, Fatima. 662 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:17,000 Andrew Thomas Howard was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree. 663 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:21,000 He is now serving his term in the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, California. 664 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:25,000 Second degree murder is punishable by imprisonment from five years to life. 665 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:31,000 Ladies and gentlemen, right now inflation is America's number one menace on the home front. 666 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:34,000 It's the one enemy that can lick America. 667 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,000 We can help prevent this by working harder, working better. 668 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:43,000 The fight against inflation will succeed only if all of us get behind it. 669 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:56,000 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 670 00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:01,000 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 671 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:05,000 Heard tonight were Barney Phillips, Joyce McCluskey, and Virginia Gregg. 672 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:13,000 Script by Jim Moser, music by Walter Schuman, Hal Gibney speaking. 673 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:25,000 Fatima cigarettes, best of all, king-size cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles. 674 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:35,000 Next is David Harding and Counterspy on NBC.