1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:11,220 The story you are about to hear is true. 2 00:00:11,220 --> 00:00:13,640 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 3 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:15,320 Fatima cigarettes. 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:27,680 Best of all, king-size cigarettes brings you Dragnet on both radio and television. 5 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:29,120 You're a detective sergeant. 6 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:30,840 You're assigned a homicide detail. 7 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,680 A 39-year-old housewife disappears suddenly. 8 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:36,760 There's no explanation for it. 9 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:40,840 Five days later, evidence of possible foul play is uncovered. 10 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,920 Your job, investigate. 11 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:51,000 Fatima, America's first largest selling blended cigarette. 12 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,960 Now, best of all, king-size cigarettes. 13 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,520 Prove it yourself, today. 14 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,080 Compare Fatima with any other king-size cigarette. 15 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:05,000 One, Fatima's length filters the smoke 85 millimeters for your protection. 16 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,680 Two, Fatima's length cools the smoke for your protection. 17 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:14,720 Three, Fatima's length gives you those extra puffs, 21% longer than standard cigarette 18 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:15,720 size. 19 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:21,440 And in Fatima, you get an extra mild and soothing smoke, plus the added protection of Fatima 20 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:22,440 quality. 21 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:26,520 It's definitely the best quality in its class, but the same price as the cigarette you're 22 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:27,520 now smoking. 23 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,160 Bye, Fatima, in the bright, sunny yellow pack. 24 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:35,960 Best of all, king-size cigarettes. 25 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:43,000 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 26 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:47,920 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 27 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:52,480 travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 28 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,160 police violence. 29 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:59,320 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 30 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:04,840 in action. 31 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:06,040 Was Wednesday, September 15th. 32 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:07,640 It was hot in Los Angeles. 33 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:09,420 We were working the day watch out of homicide. 34 00:02:09,420 --> 00:02:12,480 My partner's Ed Jacobs, the boss is Thad Brown, chief of detectives. 35 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:13,480 My name's Friday. 36 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:18,080 I was on the way back from lunch and it was 12 56 p.m. when I got to room 42. 37 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:19,080 Homicide. 38 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:20,080 Hi, Joe. 39 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:21,080 Waiting for you. 40 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:22,080 Hi, Ed. 41 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:23,880 Al, here you got something for us, huh? 42 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:25,560 Here's the report right here. 43 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,760 A guard by the name of Abbott called in day before yesterday. 44 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,680 Chester Abbott said his wife disappeared from their home out in the valley Thursday 45 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:32,680 night. 46 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:33,680 He says he thinks she left him. 47 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:35,040 Well, it happens every day. 48 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:36,040 Not this way it doesn't. 49 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:37,880 Well, she and I went out to talk to the man yesterday. 50 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:39,240 His story doesn't make too much sense. 51 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:40,240 How you mean, Al? 52 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,400 None of his wife's clothes are missing, none of her luggage. 53 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:44,440 She even left her pocketbook behind full of money. 54 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:48,120 We found out from the neighbors the missing woman has a 17 year old boy by her former 55 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:49,120 marriage. 56 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:50,120 Does that mean anything? 57 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:51,120 He's an only child. 58 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:52,120 Mother dotes on the kid. 59 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:53,120 She didn't even say goodbye to him. 60 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,160 Well, how'd this Chester Abbott impression? 61 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,400 Pretty grouchy with Walsh and me, no cooperation. 62 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:58,400 Wants to find his wife, doesn't he? 63 00:02:58,400 --> 00:02:59,400 I don't know. 64 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:00,400 I'm not sure. 65 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:01,400 He's no help. 66 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:02,400 I can tell you that much. 67 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:03,400 Could I see that report out? 68 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:04,400 Yeah, here you are. 69 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:05,400 Thank you. 70 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,880 Florence Trumbull Abbott, age 39. 71 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:08,880 Abbott's her second husband. 72 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,680 First one died a little after the boy was born. 73 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:16,680 Disappeared Thursday night from the home, 546 Belasco Road between 7 and 8 o'clock. 74 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:18,760 Well, when did Abbott call in to notify you? 75 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:19,760 Monday afternoon. 76 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,240 Told us he thought his wife might have been spending the weekend with her sister. 77 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,600 When he found out she wasn't, he called us. 78 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:25,920 You meet the boy when you were out there? 79 00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:26,920 Yeah, that's another thing. 80 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:27,920 How do you mean? 81 00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:30,360 The kid came riding up on a bike when we were talking to one of the neighbors. 82 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,400 We tried to talk to him, but the old man came out and hustled the boy into the house. 83 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:34,920 Then he started showing us out. 84 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:36,080 Well, what's his trouble? 85 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,600 Told us it was our job to find his wife, not to go prying into his stepson's affairs. 86 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:40,600 That's a new slant. 87 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:42,560 Well, how about the woman's friends and relatives? 88 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:43,840 They been checked out yet, Al? 89 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:44,840 Well, she's on it now. 90 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,120 Don't think he's had much luck contacting him so far. 91 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,320 I'll tell you the truth, I don't like the looks of it. 92 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,000 Mrs. Abbott have any other relatives here? 93 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,240 I mean, besides the sister and two aunts? 94 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,240 Yeah, I got the list right over here. 95 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,840 Sure wish we had a chance to talk to that boy. 96 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,000 Notice anything else out of the way about Mr. Abbott, Al? 97 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:03,360 Well, I don't know. 98 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,080 Here's that list, Joe. 99 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,080 Oh, thank you. 100 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:08,080 Abbott was upset all right. 101 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:09,080 I don't know, though. 102 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,000 What he struck me as reacting the way a normal man reacts when his wife's disappeared. 103 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:13,760 Well, how about a copy of this report? 104 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:14,760 You got one to spare? 105 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:15,760 Yeah, sure. 106 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:16,760 Just a minute. 107 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:17,760 Yeah. 108 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:19,760 Missing persons, Barghetti. 109 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:21,760 That's right, this is Barghetti speaking. 110 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:22,760 Who's that? 111 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:23,760 Oh, yeah. 112 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:24,760 Yeah, sure. 113 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:25,760 About what? 114 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:26,760 All right, good. 115 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:27,760 Four o'clock? 116 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:28,760 Fine. 117 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:29,760 All right, son, goodbye. 118 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:30,760 That was the boy I was telling you about, Mr. Abbott's stepson. 119 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:31,760 What did he want? 120 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:32,760 He wants to talk to us. 121 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:33,760 Sounded like a good guy. 122 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:34,760 He's a good guy. 123 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:35,760 He's a good guy. 124 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:36,760 He's a good guy. 125 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:37,760 He's a good guy. 126 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:38,760 He's a good guy. 127 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:39,760 He's a good guy. 128 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:40,760 He's a good guy. 129 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:41,760 You know, I sounded worried about his mother. 130 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,160 I think something's happened to her. 131 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:49,480 In police work, missing persons detail is not a department separate in itself. 132 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,300 It's organized as a part of homicide division. 133 00:04:52,300 --> 00:04:56,420 When the possibility of homicide arises in the course of handling a case, missing persons 134 00:04:56,420 --> 00:05:00,060 immediately turns the matter over to homicide officers for investigation. 135 00:05:00,060 --> 00:05:04,660 When we got the call from the Abbott boy, we automatically took over. 136 00:05:04,660 --> 00:05:08,220 According to Al Barghetti, the boy said he suspected his stepfather and he didn't want 137 00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:12,000 him to know of any meeting between him and police officers. 138 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:16,800 At 315, Ed and I left the office and drove to the meeting place designated by the boy, 139 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:21,380 the Dairyland Fountain and Coffee Shop near the corner of Fairfax and Hollywood Boulevard. 140 00:05:21,380 --> 00:05:23,580 We got there at 3.50 p.m. 141 00:05:23,580 --> 00:05:26,980 At eight minutes past five, the Abbott boy still had not arrived. 142 00:05:26,980 --> 00:05:30,240 We waited another 15 minutes and then we left and drove out to the valley and pulled up 143 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:34,360 in front of the main gate to the Abbott nursery on Belasco Road. 144 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:38,260 The house itself was set well back on the property which covered about five acres of 145 00:05:38,260 --> 00:05:39,260 ground. 146 00:05:39,260 --> 00:05:43,200 The entire nursery was surrounded by a six-foot chain link fence and it looked like every 147 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:47,500 available foot of ground inside was planted with some kind of flower or shrub. 148 00:05:47,500 --> 00:05:49,180 Mr. Abbott met us at the gate. 149 00:05:49,180 --> 00:05:51,420 He had three full-grown mastiffs with him. 150 00:05:51,420 --> 00:05:52,420 He held them on a chain. 151 00:05:52,420 --> 00:05:53,420 Yes, what do you want? 152 00:05:53,420 --> 00:05:54,420 Police officers, you Chester Abbott? 153 00:05:54,420 --> 00:05:55,420 That's right, what do you want? 154 00:05:55,420 --> 00:05:56,420 Well, if you can get those dogs quiet for a moment, I'd like to ask you some questions. 155 00:05:56,420 --> 00:05:57,420 Pretty busy now. 156 00:05:57,420 --> 00:05:58,420 Can you come back tomorrow? 157 00:05:58,420 --> 00:05:59,420 No, it's important Abbott. 158 00:05:59,420 --> 00:06:00,420 We'd like to talk to you now. 159 00:06:00,420 --> 00:06:01,420 All right. 160 00:06:01,420 --> 00:06:04,420 If you have to, yes, time it. 161 00:06:04,420 --> 00:06:05,420 Get down now. 162 00:06:05,420 --> 00:06:06,420 You two go. 163 00:06:06,420 --> 00:06:07,420 Quiet now. 164 00:06:07,420 --> 00:06:08,420 I said quiet. 165 00:06:08,420 --> 00:06:09,420 All right, now what do you want? 166 00:06:09,420 --> 00:06:10,420 Mind if we come inside, sir? 167 00:06:10,420 --> 00:06:11,420 These what? 168 00:06:11,420 --> 00:06:12,420 The dogs are pretty vicious. 169 00:06:12,420 --> 00:06:13,420 We can talk here at the gate. 170 00:06:13,420 --> 00:06:17,180 All right, we've been assigned to look into your wife's disappearance, Abbott. 171 00:06:17,180 --> 00:06:18,460 This is my partner Sergeant Jacobs. 172 00:06:18,460 --> 00:06:19,460 My name's Friday. 173 00:06:19,460 --> 00:06:21,460 Find out anything about my wife yet? 174 00:06:21,460 --> 00:06:22,460 Nothing definite, no. 175 00:06:22,460 --> 00:06:23,460 I thought maybe you could help us. 176 00:06:23,460 --> 00:06:25,460 Mind telling us exactly what happened the night she disappeared? 177 00:06:25,460 --> 00:06:26,460 What do you mean what happened? 178 00:06:26,460 --> 00:06:27,460 When did you see her last? 179 00:06:27,460 --> 00:06:28,460 When did you first notice she was gone? 180 00:06:28,460 --> 00:06:32,460 Well, we had dinner the third of the night about seven o'clock, then I laid down for 181 00:06:32,460 --> 00:06:33,460 a nap. 182 00:06:33,460 --> 00:06:34,980 Florence went out on the front porch for some air. 183 00:06:34,980 --> 00:06:37,500 I woke up a little before eight o'clock and went outside to look for her. 184 00:06:37,500 --> 00:06:38,500 She was gone. 185 00:06:38,500 --> 00:06:39,500 No one saw her leave, Mr. Abbott? 186 00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:41,100 Not that I know of. 187 00:06:41,100 --> 00:06:42,900 Maybe one of our neighbors, you can ask them. 188 00:06:42,900 --> 00:06:44,140 They seem to know everybody's business. 189 00:06:44,140 --> 00:06:45,140 How about your stepson? 190 00:06:45,140 --> 00:06:46,140 Wasn't he home Thursday night? 191 00:06:46,140 --> 00:06:47,140 Bruce? 192 00:06:47,140 --> 00:06:48,740 No, he went out to a show with some other kids. 193 00:06:48,740 --> 00:06:50,020 When did he get back from the show, you remember? 194 00:06:50,020 --> 00:06:51,020 About ten o'clock, I think. 195 00:06:51,020 --> 00:06:52,020 Why? 196 00:06:52,020 --> 00:06:53,020 Where's the boy now, Abbott? 197 00:06:53,020 --> 00:06:54,020 Who are you looking for, my wife or stepson? 198 00:06:54,020 --> 00:06:55,020 Both of them. 199 00:06:55,020 --> 00:06:56,020 Where is he? 200 00:06:56,020 --> 00:06:57,020 Gone. 201 00:06:57,020 --> 00:06:58,620 He's been in the hospital, in Alhambra. 202 00:06:58,620 --> 00:06:59,620 He's been feeling bad since his mother disappeared. 203 00:06:59,620 --> 00:07:00,620 Figured the change would do him good. 204 00:07:00,620 --> 00:07:02,300 When did you take him over to your sister's? 205 00:07:02,300 --> 00:07:03,300 This afternoon. 206 00:07:03,300 --> 00:07:04,300 What's that got to do with it? 207 00:07:04,300 --> 00:07:05,300 I'd like to talk to him. 208 00:07:05,300 --> 00:07:06,300 No, you can't. 209 00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:07,300 You won't allow it. 210 00:07:07,300 --> 00:07:08,300 The boy's too upset right now and I can't allow it. 211 00:07:08,300 --> 00:07:09,300 I'm afraid you're going to have to allow it, Abbott. 212 00:07:09,300 --> 00:07:11,820 Listen, mister, you can get off this property right now if you're going to get fresh with 213 00:07:11,820 --> 00:07:12,820 me. 214 00:07:12,820 --> 00:07:13,820 No cop's giving me any, Sass. 215 00:07:13,820 --> 00:07:14,820 Get down there, honey. 216 00:07:14,820 --> 00:07:15,820 Quiet! 217 00:07:15,820 --> 00:07:16,820 Nobody's giving you, Sass. 218 00:07:16,820 --> 00:07:17,820 We want to talk to your stepson. 219 00:07:17,820 --> 00:07:18,820 That's all. 220 00:07:18,820 --> 00:07:39,820 I say you can't see the boy. 221 00:07:39,820 --> 00:07:42,660 Chester Abbott turned, made his way up the path and into the house. 222 00:07:42,660 --> 00:07:46,540 A few minutes later he came out, closed the gate behind him and got into our car. 223 00:07:46,540 --> 00:07:50,700 On the way back downtown he talked pleasantly about the weather, the nursery business and 224 00:07:50,700 --> 00:07:51,700 his dogs. 225 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:56,260 When we got to the office we found out the reason for his sudden change in temperament. 226 00:07:56,260 --> 00:07:58,300 His lawyer was waiting for us at the door. 227 00:07:58,300 --> 00:08:02,180 We tried to interrogate Abbott but the lawyer objected to just about every question we asked. 228 00:08:02,180 --> 00:08:05,080 It was hopeless and we knew it and so did the lawyer. 229 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:09,220 We released Abbott but not before we got the name and address of his sister in Alhambra 230 00:08:09,220 --> 00:08:12,460 where the stepson, Bruce, was supposedly staying. 231 00:08:12,460 --> 00:08:15,940 After Abbott and his lawyer left, Ed and I signed out of the office and drove to Alhambra 232 00:08:15,940 --> 00:08:16,940 to check on the boy. 233 00:08:16,940 --> 00:08:17,940 Oh, I get it. 234 00:08:17,940 --> 00:08:18,940 He sure had this one pegged. 235 00:08:18,940 --> 00:08:19,940 Real sleeper. 236 00:08:19,940 --> 00:08:20,940 Yeah. 237 00:08:20,940 --> 00:08:23,020 I'd like to know how the stepson missed that date with us this afternoon. 238 00:08:23,020 --> 00:08:25,980 If the boy called us from the house, the stepfather could have overheard him. 239 00:08:25,980 --> 00:08:26,980 That's possible. 240 00:08:26,980 --> 00:08:30,380 Sister's house ought to be along this block, shouldn't it? 241 00:08:30,380 --> 00:08:31,940 Let's see. 242 00:08:31,940 --> 00:08:34,460 1408, oh six, yeah. 243 00:08:34,460 --> 00:08:35,460 There it is. 244 00:08:35,460 --> 00:08:36,460 Great cottage, 1402. 245 00:08:36,460 --> 00:08:37,460 Okay, let's pull up here. 246 00:08:37,460 --> 00:08:43,660 All right. 247 00:08:43,660 --> 00:08:44,660 Nice looking place. 248 00:08:44,660 --> 00:08:45,660 Well kept. 249 00:08:45,660 --> 00:08:46,660 Nice neighborhood. 250 00:08:46,660 --> 00:08:47,660 I wonder how the lock prices run out here. 251 00:08:47,660 --> 00:08:48,660 I don't know. 252 00:08:48,660 --> 00:08:49,660 I'll get the bell. 253 00:08:49,660 --> 00:08:50,660 Yes, what is it? 254 00:08:50,660 --> 00:08:51,660 Police, officers, ma'am. 255 00:08:51,660 --> 00:08:52,660 You Miss Abbott? 256 00:08:52,660 --> 00:08:53,660 Yes, Helen Abbott. 257 00:08:53,660 --> 00:08:54,660 Why? 258 00:08:54,660 --> 00:08:56,660 Well, we talked to your brother earlier today, Miss Abbott. 259 00:08:56,660 --> 00:08:59,660 He said he brought his stepson, Bruce, over here to stay a while. 260 00:08:59,660 --> 00:09:00,660 We'd like to see him if we could. 261 00:09:00,660 --> 00:09:01,660 Bruce? 262 00:09:01,660 --> 00:09:02,660 Well, yes, he was here until about an hour and a half ago. 263 00:09:02,660 --> 00:09:03,660 I went to the store. 264 00:09:03,660 --> 00:09:04,660 When I came back, he was gone. 265 00:09:04,660 --> 00:09:05,660 Any idea where we can find him, Miss Abbott? 266 00:09:05,660 --> 00:09:06,660 Well, I telephoned him and he said he was here. 267 00:09:06,660 --> 00:09:07,660 He said he was going to the store. 268 00:09:07,660 --> 00:09:08,660 He said he was going to the store. 269 00:09:08,660 --> 00:09:09,660 He said he was going to the store. 270 00:09:09,660 --> 00:09:17,660 I telephoned my brother Chester just before you came to the door. 271 00:09:17,660 --> 00:09:18,660 Bruce isn't there. 272 00:09:18,660 --> 00:09:19,660 Yes, ma'am. 273 00:09:19,660 --> 00:09:20,660 Do you mind if we came and looked around, Miss Abbott? 274 00:09:20,660 --> 00:09:21,660 It won't take long. 275 00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:22,660 Well, why? 276 00:09:22,660 --> 00:09:24,660 I told you Bruce isn't here. 277 00:09:24,660 --> 00:09:25,660 It's the truth. 278 00:09:25,660 --> 00:09:26,660 There's no reason to lie about it, is there? 279 00:09:26,660 --> 00:09:27,660 Well, no, ma'am. 280 00:09:27,660 --> 00:09:28,660 It's not that. 281 00:09:28,660 --> 00:09:29,660 Well, then what is it? 282 00:09:29,660 --> 00:09:30,660 No reason for me to lie to you? 283 00:09:30,660 --> 00:09:31,660 How about your brother? 284 00:09:31,660 --> 00:09:36,660 We went in and looked the house over from one end to the other. 285 00:09:36,660 --> 00:09:37,940 There wasn't a trace of the boy. 286 00:09:37,940 --> 00:09:40,560 We drove back to the Abbott nursery and satisfied ourselves. 287 00:09:40,560 --> 00:09:41,780 The boy wasn't there. 288 00:09:41,780 --> 00:09:46,900 Meantime, the home of Chester Abbott's sister in Alhambra was kept under constant surveillance. 289 00:09:46,900 --> 00:09:48,400 No one came or went. 290 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:52,580 The next morning when Ed and I checked in for work as usual at 8 a.m., we met with Sergeant 291 00:09:52,580 --> 00:09:53,580 Al Barghetti. 292 00:09:53,580 --> 00:09:55,580 Well, I had half an idea there might be something wrong. 293 00:09:55,580 --> 00:09:56,580 What makes you so positive, though? 294 00:09:56,580 --> 00:09:58,220 It's just that we're not positive. 295 00:09:58,220 --> 00:09:59,980 It's the whole set up, I guess, smells bad. 296 00:09:59,980 --> 00:10:01,380 How do you mean, for instance? 297 00:10:01,380 --> 00:10:02,940 Well, Abbott's lawyer, for one thing. 298 00:10:02,940 --> 00:10:06,100 If a man's innocent, he doesn't have his lawyer sit with him and tell him not to answer any 299 00:10:06,100 --> 00:10:07,100 question. 300 00:10:07,100 --> 00:10:08,740 Number two, the kid's phone call. 301 00:10:08,740 --> 00:10:09,740 He didn't show up for that date. 302 00:10:09,740 --> 00:10:10,740 You figure. 303 00:10:10,740 --> 00:10:11,740 I don't know. 304 00:10:11,740 --> 00:10:13,380 Could be he doesn't get along with his stepfather. 305 00:10:13,380 --> 00:10:14,380 Happens, you know. 306 00:10:14,380 --> 00:10:16,180 Maybe he's trying to get back at him for something or other. 307 00:10:16,180 --> 00:10:17,180 Yeah, that could be. 308 00:10:17,180 --> 00:10:18,540 Why is Abbott hiding him out then? 309 00:10:18,540 --> 00:10:19,940 You're pretty sure he's hiding him out? 310 00:10:19,940 --> 00:10:22,380 Where the thing's been going, no other way to take it. 311 00:10:22,380 --> 00:10:25,540 Mrs. Abbott walked away from her home last Thursday night. 312 00:10:25,540 --> 00:10:26,540 Nobody saw her. 313 00:10:26,540 --> 00:10:27,540 She took nothing with her. 314 00:10:27,540 --> 00:10:28,540 No luggage, no clothes, no money. 315 00:10:28,540 --> 00:10:29,540 That's it. 316 00:10:29,540 --> 00:10:30,980 You checked with her family doctor? 317 00:10:30,980 --> 00:10:31,980 Yesterday. 318 00:10:31,980 --> 00:10:33,420 Told us Mrs. Abbott was in perfect health. 319 00:10:33,420 --> 00:10:36,460 Checked her bank statements, double-checked her name for Wanderers file, repeaters file, 320 00:10:36,460 --> 00:10:37,460 missing persons. 321 00:10:37,460 --> 00:10:38,460 Couldn't find it in either one. 322 00:10:38,460 --> 00:10:39,460 Her relatives too. 323 00:10:39,460 --> 00:10:40,460 How you talk to them? 324 00:10:40,460 --> 00:10:41,460 Some of them, yeah, hell. 325 00:10:41,460 --> 00:10:43,820 Got a few more to check out this morning. 326 00:10:43,820 --> 00:10:46,140 One thing's certain, no clothes, no money, no luggage. 327 00:10:46,140 --> 00:10:47,740 She couldn't have gone very far. 328 00:10:47,740 --> 00:10:49,020 You checked all the angles, huh? 329 00:10:49,020 --> 00:10:50,900 The sheriff's office, the jails, the hospitals. 330 00:10:50,900 --> 00:10:52,620 Sent out a teletype and an APV. 331 00:10:52,620 --> 00:10:54,780 She's been gone almost a week and nobody's seen her. 332 00:10:54,780 --> 00:10:55,780 Now how's that add up to you? 333 00:10:55,780 --> 00:10:56,780 Well, I got an idea. 334 00:10:56,780 --> 00:10:57,780 Yeah. 335 00:10:57,780 --> 00:10:58,780 I hope I'm wrong. 336 00:10:58,780 --> 00:10:59,780 8.45 a.m. 337 00:10:59,780 --> 00:11:06,380 Ed and I left the office and continued making the rounds of the missing woman's friends. 338 00:11:06,380 --> 00:11:11,900 We checked at the Western National Bank where Mrs. Abbott maintained another account. 339 00:11:11,900 --> 00:11:17,820 Her saving statement showed a total balance of $31,564.17. 340 00:11:17,820 --> 00:11:22,660 Her checking account had a balance of $842.71. 341 00:11:22,660 --> 00:11:26,180 At the Farmers Mutual, we found the record of an insurance policy issued to Florence 342 00:11:26,180 --> 00:11:27,180 Trumbull Abbott. 343 00:11:27,180 --> 00:11:32,540 It was a 20-pay life policy covering the insured in the amount of $30,000. 344 00:11:32,540 --> 00:11:37,340 The beneficiary was listed as the insured's son, Bruce Trumbull Abbott, if living upon 345 00:11:37,340 --> 00:11:41,980 receipt of such due proof, if not the insured's husband, Chester J. Abbott. 346 00:11:41,980 --> 00:11:46,220 By the time we finished checking the missing woman's financial status, we figured we had 347 00:11:46,220 --> 00:11:49,300 a fair suspect in the husband, Chester Abbott. 348 00:11:49,300 --> 00:11:53,580 From casual reports, we knew he was a frugal man, almost to the point of obsession. 349 00:11:53,580 --> 00:11:58,140 If he was greedy as well, if he wanted or needed money badly enough to kill, then he 350 00:11:58,140 --> 00:12:01,120 had all the motives necessary to murder his wife. 351 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:02,820 He was a stepson, too. 352 00:12:02,820 --> 00:12:03,820 6.40 p.m. 353 00:12:03,820 --> 00:12:05,580 Ed and I drove back to the office. 354 00:12:05,580 --> 00:12:06,580 Go ahead. 355 00:12:06,580 --> 00:12:07,580 Long day. 356 00:12:07,580 --> 00:12:08,580 Out of mileage. 357 00:12:08,580 --> 00:12:11,580 I wonder if Al's still around. 358 00:12:11,580 --> 00:12:12,580 Hey, Barghetti. 359 00:12:12,580 --> 00:12:13,580 Al? 360 00:12:13,580 --> 00:12:14,580 Yeah, hey. 361 00:12:14,580 --> 00:12:15,580 Is that you, Friday? 362 00:12:15,580 --> 00:12:16,580 Yeah. 363 00:12:16,580 --> 00:12:17,580 How'd you do? 364 00:12:17,580 --> 00:12:18,580 Get anything? 365 00:12:18,580 --> 00:12:19,580 A few things. 366 00:12:19,580 --> 00:12:20,580 Pretty fair luck. 367 00:12:20,580 --> 00:12:21,580 Good. 368 00:12:21,580 --> 00:12:22,580 I got some more for you. 369 00:12:22,580 --> 00:12:23,580 I just walked in here 10 minutes ago. 370 00:12:23,580 --> 00:12:24,580 Who's that? 371 00:12:24,580 --> 00:12:25,580 Bruce Abbott. 372 00:12:25,580 --> 00:12:26,580 He's waiting in the next room. 373 00:12:26,580 --> 00:12:31,180 We went into the next room and met the Abbott boy. 374 00:12:31,180 --> 00:12:35,500 He was small for a 17-year-old, dark-haired, thin, a little on the sickly side. 375 00:12:35,500 --> 00:12:37,220 He seemed nervous and upset. 376 00:12:37,220 --> 00:12:40,340 He told us that he wasn't able to keep the date he made with us on the phone because 377 00:12:40,340 --> 00:12:44,100 his stepfather did apparently overhear the conversation and drove the boy immediately 378 00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:46,580 to his sister's place in Alhambra. 379 00:12:46,580 --> 00:12:50,620 We asked the boy what made him so sure that his stepfather was responsible for his mother's 380 00:12:50,620 --> 00:12:51,620 disappearance. 381 00:12:51,620 --> 00:12:54,900 Well, for one thing, all three of us usually go to the early show on Thursday night, Chester, 382 00:12:54,900 --> 00:12:55,900 Mom, and me. 383 00:12:55,900 --> 00:12:56,900 Last Thursday we didn't go. 384 00:12:56,900 --> 00:12:57,900 Why was that, son? 385 00:12:57,900 --> 00:13:01,260 Chester said he wasn't feeling too good and he wanted Mom to stay home and take care of 386 00:13:01,260 --> 00:13:02,260 him. 387 00:13:02,260 --> 00:13:04,060 Then he told me to go on ahead to the show, so I did. 388 00:13:04,060 --> 00:13:05,060 What time did you get home, Bruce? 389 00:13:05,060 --> 00:13:06,060 About a quarter to 10, 10 o'clock. 390 00:13:06,060 --> 00:13:09,220 Did you notice anything unusual when you got home, son? 391 00:13:09,220 --> 00:13:10,540 Not so much, no. 392 00:13:10,540 --> 00:13:11,540 Mom wasn't there. 393 00:13:11,540 --> 00:13:12,540 I didn't think much about it then. 394 00:13:12,540 --> 00:13:14,540 I thought maybe she was over to one of the neighbors. 395 00:13:14,540 --> 00:13:16,020 You asked your stepfather where she was? 396 00:13:16,020 --> 00:13:17,020 Uh-huh. 397 00:13:17,020 --> 00:13:18,020 He said he didn't know. 398 00:13:18,020 --> 00:13:19,020 He said he thought she was over at one of the neighbors, too. 399 00:13:19,020 --> 00:13:21,420 What was your stepfather doing when he got home? 400 00:13:21,420 --> 00:13:23,540 Just sitting in the living room reading a paper. 401 00:13:23,540 --> 00:13:25,220 I usually don't talk to him too much. 402 00:13:25,220 --> 00:13:28,300 I just ask him where Mom was and he told me, and then I went back to my room and went to 403 00:13:28,300 --> 00:13:29,300 bed. 404 00:13:29,300 --> 00:13:31,380 Did you notice anything unusual about the way he acted? 405 00:13:31,380 --> 00:13:32,380 Anything different about him at all? 406 00:13:32,380 --> 00:13:33,780 Well, I'm not too sure. 407 00:13:33,780 --> 00:13:35,660 He did seem a little nervous, though. 408 00:13:35,660 --> 00:13:36,660 Jumpy. 409 00:13:36,660 --> 00:13:37,660 More than usual, I think. 410 00:13:37,660 --> 00:13:38,660 Uh-huh. 411 00:13:38,660 --> 00:13:39,660 Anything else? 412 00:13:39,660 --> 00:13:42,180 Well, when I came through the front yard, I noticed the dogs had mud all over their 413 00:13:42,180 --> 00:13:43,180 paws. 414 00:13:43,180 --> 00:13:44,180 Red, Jaime, and George, all three of them. 415 00:13:44,180 --> 00:13:46,180 They must have been out in the nursery plots. 416 00:13:46,180 --> 00:13:47,780 Anything unusual about that? 417 00:13:47,780 --> 00:13:49,220 In a way, yeah. 418 00:13:49,220 --> 00:13:52,220 You see, the dogs don't go out in the plots unless Chester's with them. 419 00:13:52,220 --> 00:13:54,260 He doesn't want them to trample the seedlings. 420 00:13:54,260 --> 00:13:56,420 I noticed Chester had mud on his shoes that night, too. 421 00:13:56,420 --> 00:13:59,300 You figure your stepfather was out digging somewhere in the nursery plots that night, 422 00:13:59,300 --> 00:14:00,300 huh? 423 00:14:00,300 --> 00:14:01,300 Yeah, that's right. 424 00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:02,300 Digging somewhere. 425 00:14:02,300 --> 00:14:03,300 He must have been. 426 00:14:03,300 --> 00:14:04,300 Can't figure out why, though. 427 00:14:04,300 --> 00:14:05,300 How do you mean, son? 428 00:14:05,300 --> 00:14:17,700 My stepfather never works at night. 429 00:14:17,700 --> 00:14:23,860 You are listening to Dragnet, authentic stories of your police force in action. 430 00:14:23,860 --> 00:14:27,420 Share Fatima with any other king-size cigarette. 431 00:14:27,420 --> 00:14:32,460 One, Fatima's length filters the smoke 85 millimeters for your protection. 432 00:14:32,460 --> 00:14:36,260 Two, Fatima's length cools the smoke for your protection. 433 00:14:36,260 --> 00:14:42,540 Three, Fatima's length gives you those extra puffs, 21% longer than standard cigarette 434 00:14:42,540 --> 00:14:43,540 size. 435 00:14:43,540 --> 00:14:49,540 And in Fatima, you get an extra mild and soothing smoke, plus the added protection of Fatima 436 00:14:49,540 --> 00:14:50,540 quality. 437 00:14:50,540 --> 00:14:55,860 Show our confidence in Fatima, we make this money back guarantee to every king-size cigarette 438 00:14:55,860 --> 00:14:56,860 smoker. 439 00:14:56,860 --> 00:14:57,860 Buy a pack of Fatima's. 440 00:14:57,860 --> 00:15:02,900 Enjoy Fatima quality, extra mildness and superbly blended tobaccos. 441 00:15:02,900 --> 00:15:07,820 If you're not convinced Fatima is better than the king-size cigarette you're now smoking, 442 00:15:07,820 --> 00:15:12,900 just return the pack and the unsmoked Fatima's before August 1st, 1952, and we'll give you 443 00:15:12,900 --> 00:15:14,980 your money back plus postage. 444 00:15:14,980 --> 00:15:18,220 Fatima, Fox 37, New York 1. 445 00:15:18,220 --> 00:15:23,420 Remember, each king-size Fatima gives you an extra mild and soothing smoke, plus the 446 00:15:23,420 --> 00:15:25,820 added protection of Fatima quality. 447 00:15:25,820 --> 00:15:28,340 Switch to Fatima today. 448 00:15:28,340 --> 00:15:32,860 Best of all, king-size cigarettes. 449 00:15:32,860 --> 00:15:41,140 Thursday, September 16th, 7.05 p.m. 450 00:15:41,140 --> 00:15:45,080 We continued talking to the missing woman's 17-year-old son, Bruce Abbott. 451 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:48,900 As the interview went on, it became more and more obvious that the boy and his stepfather, 452 00:15:48,900 --> 00:15:51,380 Chester Abbott, didn't get along at all. 453 00:15:51,380 --> 00:15:55,060 Apparently, the boy was jealous of him and he was jealous of the boy. 454 00:15:55,060 --> 00:15:59,660 Besides his prejudice, Bruce also contradicted himself during the course of the questioning. 455 00:15:59,660 --> 00:16:02,140 7.15 p.m., the interview went on. 456 00:16:02,140 --> 00:16:05,220 I understand that all right, son, but you say you can't think of any reason why your 457 00:16:05,220 --> 00:16:07,620 father would be out working the nursery plots that time of night? 458 00:16:07,620 --> 00:16:08,620 No, sir, I can't. 459 00:16:08,620 --> 00:16:10,220 I don't know how he'd get any work done. 460 00:16:10,220 --> 00:16:12,500 None of the plots are even lighted, only the greenhouses. 461 00:16:12,500 --> 00:16:15,940 Well, as possible, he could have gotten that mud on his shoes working in one of the greenhouses. 462 00:16:15,940 --> 00:16:17,940 No, sir, I don't see how. 463 00:16:17,940 --> 00:16:22,020 All the paths in the greenhouses are graveled, so my job is either kept graveled. 464 00:16:22,020 --> 00:16:24,580 I know they weren't muddy because I fixed them the day before. 465 00:16:24,580 --> 00:16:26,980 Well, what do you think it means, Bruce? 466 00:16:26,980 --> 00:16:27,980 I don't know. 467 00:16:27,980 --> 00:16:29,580 I don't want to think about it. 468 00:16:29,580 --> 00:16:31,180 I just know he's done something. 469 00:16:31,180 --> 00:16:32,180 He's done something to her. 470 00:16:32,180 --> 00:16:35,700 Is your father, that is your stepfather, giving any reason for keeping you away from the police 471 00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:38,500 officers that came to your house, me and the first two officers who showed up? 472 00:16:38,500 --> 00:16:40,620 No, he said people were getting nosy, that's all. 473 00:16:40,620 --> 00:16:43,260 He said it might be better for me over at my Aunt Helen's place. 474 00:16:43,260 --> 00:16:45,620 Do you think your Aunt Helen might know where your mother is? 475 00:16:45,620 --> 00:16:47,340 I don't think so. 476 00:16:47,340 --> 00:16:48,860 We hardly ever see Aunt Helen. 477 00:16:48,860 --> 00:16:49,860 We don't know her well at all. 478 00:16:49,860 --> 00:16:52,940 Well, do you know if your mother and stepfather argued very much, son? 479 00:16:52,940 --> 00:16:54,420 I mean big arguments. 480 00:16:54,420 --> 00:16:56,420 Sometimes, yeah, mostly about me. 481 00:16:56,420 --> 00:16:57,820 How do you mean? 482 00:16:57,820 --> 00:17:01,300 Chester's pretty tight, you know, doesn't like to spend money at all. 483 00:17:01,300 --> 00:17:04,620 He and Mom used to argue about whether I ought to get paid for the work I did around the 484 00:17:04,620 --> 00:17:05,620 nursery. 485 00:17:05,620 --> 00:17:06,620 Chester didn't want to pay me. 486 00:17:06,620 --> 00:17:07,620 That's so. 487 00:17:07,620 --> 00:17:09,700 Yeah, when I started working, he promised he'd pay me. 488 00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:13,740 I was saving up to buy a 31 Model A. After a couple of weeks, when he didn't pay me, 489 00:17:13,740 --> 00:17:14,940 I asked him about it. 490 00:17:14,940 --> 00:17:17,020 He told me I ought to be glad to work for him for nothing. 491 00:17:17,020 --> 00:17:18,820 And your mother argued with him about that? 492 00:17:18,820 --> 00:17:20,660 Sure, she got good and mad, too. 493 00:17:20,660 --> 00:17:21,660 She should have gotten mad. 494 00:17:21,660 --> 00:17:23,140 It was her money that bought the nursery anyway. 495 00:17:23,140 --> 00:17:25,500 Well, how'd you happen to get away from your Aunt's place, Bruce? 496 00:17:25,500 --> 00:17:26,820 It wasn't too hard. 497 00:17:26,820 --> 00:17:28,780 Helen had some shopping to do and she left me alone. 498 00:17:28,780 --> 00:17:30,340 She locked the door to my room. 499 00:17:30,340 --> 00:17:33,420 Even the screen over the window was nailed down, but I kicked it out and got away. 500 00:17:33,420 --> 00:17:35,740 I stayed at a friend's house last night. 501 00:17:35,740 --> 00:17:38,060 You thought much about where you were going to stay tonight, son? 502 00:17:38,060 --> 00:17:39,500 Well, I don't know. 503 00:17:39,500 --> 00:17:41,780 Sergeant Burgetti, I was talking to him. 504 00:17:41,780 --> 00:17:44,340 He asked me if I wanted to go out and have dinner and then stay at his house tonight. 505 00:17:44,340 --> 00:17:45,340 I don't know. 506 00:17:45,340 --> 00:17:46,900 Sounds like a good idea to me. 507 00:17:46,900 --> 00:17:47,900 I don't know. 508 00:17:47,900 --> 00:17:49,140 It's sure nice of him to ask me. 509 00:17:49,140 --> 00:17:50,700 I think it'd be a lot better for you, son. 510 00:17:50,700 --> 00:17:54,340 Why don't you check in the next office, see if Burgetti's ready to leave, huh? 511 00:17:54,340 --> 00:17:55,340 Yeah. 512 00:17:55,340 --> 00:17:56,340 Okay, Sergeant, thanks. 513 00:17:56,340 --> 00:17:57,340 You betcha. 514 00:17:57,340 --> 00:18:00,340 Joe, what do you think? 515 00:18:00,340 --> 00:18:02,420 It's hard to say. 516 00:18:02,420 --> 00:18:07,540 He might be lying. 517 00:18:07,540 --> 00:18:10,900 Before we signed out of the office that night, we met with Captain Lorman and outlined a 518 00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:14,740 plan to bring in the husband of the missing woman for questioning alone. 519 00:18:14,740 --> 00:18:19,340 We figured it had served two purposes, clarify the boy's position in the case and determine 520 00:18:19,340 --> 00:18:23,940 one way or another if the stepfather was withholding information about the disappearance of Mrs. 521 00:18:23,940 --> 00:18:24,940 Abbott. 522 00:18:24,940 --> 00:18:28,260 The big problem was to bring in Chester Abbott for interrogation without the knowledge of 523 00:18:28,260 --> 00:18:29,260 his lawyer. 524 00:18:29,260 --> 00:18:33,700 As we'd found out more than once, it was impossible to get anything out of Abbott with his lawyer 525 00:18:33,700 --> 00:18:34,800 present. 526 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:38,420 We set up a plan to call at the Abbott home early in the morning, get the suspect out 527 00:18:38,420 --> 00:18:41,940 of bed, and bring him in before his lawyer could be notified. 528 00:18:41,940 --> 00:18:46,260 At 3.30 the following morning, Ed and I met at the office and started for the Abbott place. 529 00:18:46,260 --> 00:18:49,460 We brought along a couple of pounds of fresh horse meat to keep the dogs quiet if they 530 00:18:49,460 --> 00:18:50,460 raised a fuss. 531 00:18:50,460 --> 00:18:54,460 At 10 minutes past 4 a.m., we parked our car a few hundred feet down the road from the 532 00:18:54,460 --> 00:18:56,580 Abbott nursery and made our way toward the gate. 533 00:18:56,580 --> 00:18:58,460 I reached in and tried to latch. 534 00:18:58,460 --> 00:18:59,460 The dogs started up. 535 00:18:59,460 --> 00:19:00,460 How about it, Joe? 536 00:19:00,460 --> 00:19:01,460 Open? 537 00:19:01,460 --> 00:19:02,460 No, it's padlocked. 538 00:19:02,460 --> 00:19:05,100 We're gonna have to climb the fence. 539 00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:08,100 Toss some of that meat over to them, will you? 540 00:19:08,100 --> 00:19:09,100 Okay. 541 00:19:09,100 --> 00:19:10,100 There. 542 00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:11,100 All right, that does it. 543 00:19:11,100 --> 00:19:12,100 All right, let's climb the fence. 544 00:19:12,100 --> 00:19:13,100 Keep an eye on the hounds. 545 00:19:13,100 --> 00:19:14,100 Looks like they could take a leg off. 546 00:19:14,100 --> 00:19:15,100 Yeah. 547 00:19:15,100 --> 00:19:16,100 Take it easy, Ed. 548 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:17,100 All right. 549 00:19:17,100 --> 00:19:18,100 Watch him. 550 00:19:18,100 --> 00:19:19,100 Here comes that other dog. 551 00:19:19,100 --> 00:19:20,100 Get some more of that meat ready. 552 00:19:20,100 --> 00:19:21,100 Yeah. 553 00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:22,100 There you are, boy. 554 00:19:22,100 --> 00:19:23,100 Go get it. 555 00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:24,100 Go on. 556 00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:25,100 All right, that's fine. 557 00:19:25,100 --> 00:19:26,100 Come on, let's hurry. 558 00:19:26,100 --> 00:19:27,100 All right. 559 00:19:27,100 --> 00:19:28,100 All right. 560 00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:35,100 Have a look, Joe. 561 00:19:35,100 --> 00:19:36,100 All right. 562 00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:39,100 Windows along the side of the house. 563 00:19:39,100 --> 00:19:40,100 Lights just went on. 564 00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:41,100 Yeah, come on. 565 00:19:41,100 --> 00:19:42,100 All right. 566 00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:43,100 Who is it? 567 00:19:43,100 --> 00:19:44,100 Who's there? 568 00:19:44,100 --> 00:19:45,100 Who is it? 569 00:19:45,100 --> 00:19:47,440 I'll set the dogs on you. 570 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:48,440 Police officers, Abbott. 571 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:49,440 Friday and Jacobs. 572 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:50,440 What kind of business is this? 573 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:55,440 What are you doing out here this time of night? 574 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:56,440 You're under arrest, Mr. Abbott. 575 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:57,440 What are you talking about? 576 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:58,440 You heard me. 577 00:19:58,440 --> 00:19:59,440 You're under arrest. 578 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:00,440 What kind of crazy thing is this? 579 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:01,440 You're going to pay for this. 580 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:02,440 I'll have your job. 581 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:03,440 You want to get your coat? 582 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:04,440 You cops are asking for a pack of trouble. 583 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:05,440 You know that. 584 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:06,440 Get your coat. 585 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:07,440 I'd like to know what you think you're doing. 586 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:08,440 Where's my stepson anyway? 587 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:09,440 What have you done with him? 588 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:10,440 I got a better one for you, mister. 589 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:11,440 Huh? 590 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,440 What have you done with your wife? 591 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:15,440 425 a.m. 592 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:20,340 Ed and I drove the suspect, Chester Abbott, back downtown to the office. 593 00:20:20,340 --> 00:20:21,860 He was quiet and sullen. 594 00:20:21,860 --> 00:20:23,660 We headed down the hall for the squad room. 595 00:20:23,660 --> 00:20:26,140 Lights still burning in the office. 596 00:20:26,140 --> 00:20:27,940 Now, probably Barghetti standing by. 597 00:20:27,940 --> 00:20:29,780 All right, Abbott, in there. 598 00:20:29,780 --> 00:20:30,780 You're going to pay for this. 599 00:20:30,780 --> 00:20:31,780 You can take my word on that. 600 00:20:31,780 --> 00:20:33,180 Ed, you want to take him in the office and stay with him. 601 00:20:33,180 --> 00:20:34,180 I'll check with Al. 602 00:20:34,180 --> 00:20:35,180 Okay. 603 00:20:35,180 --> 00:20:36,180 All right, Abbott, inside. 604 00:20:36,180 --> 00:20:39,180 Joe, you bring him in? 605 00:20:39,180 --> 00:20:40,180 Yeah. 606 00:20:40,180 --> 00:20:41,180 He's next door. 607 00:20:41,180 --> 00:20:42,180 Ed's with him. 608 00:20:42,180 --> 00:20:43,180 Tough. 609 00:20:43,180 --> 00:20:44,180 Somebody must have seen you. 610 00:20:44,180 --> 00:20:45,180 No, I don't think so. 611 00:20:45,180 --> 00:20:46,180 They must have. 612 00:20:46,180 --> 00:20:47,180 Why? 613 00:20:47,180 --> 00:20:48,180 What do you mean? 614 00:20:48,180 --> 00:20:49,180 Abbott's lawyer. 615 00:20:49,180 --> 00:20:50,180 He's sitting in the next room. 616 00:20:50,180 --> 00:20:51,180 Al, the lawyer had been notified. 617 00:20:51,180 --> 00:20:52,180 We couldn't be sure. 618 00:20:52,180 --> 00:20:53,180 Again, we drove the suspect back to the office. 619 00:20:53,180 --> 00:20:54,180 He was quiet and sullen. 620 00:20:54,180 --> 00:20:55,180 We headed down the hall for the squad room. 621 00:20:55,180 --> 00:20:56,180 We tried to question him. 622 00:20:56,180 --> 00:20:57,180 We tried to question Abbott. 623 00:20:57,180 --> 00:21:00,180 And again, on the advice of his attorney, he refused to answer practically every question 624 00:21:00,180 --> 00:21:01,180 we put to him. 625 00:21:01,180 --> 00:21:02,180 We released him. 626 00:21:02,180 --> 00:21:06,540 That day, Captain Lorman assigned two men to stake out on the nursery and report on 627 00:21:06,540 --> 00:21:08,820 all of Chester Abbott's movements. 628 00:21:08,820 --> 00:21:12,740 A little after 7 p.m., just after nightfall, we tried again to bring the suspect in for 629 00:21:12,740 --> 00:21:14,740 questioning without his lawyer's knowledge. 630 00:21:14,740 --> 00:21:15,740 It didn't work. 631 00:21:15,740 --> 00:21:19,500 The men assigned to stake out on the Abbott place reported definitely that someone was 632 00:21:19,500 --> 00:21:23,020 tipping off the attorney whenever unknown visitors showed up at the nursery and drove 633 00:21:23,020 --> 00:21:24,580 off together with Mr. Abbott. 634 00:21:24,580 --> 00:21:26,580 There was nothing we could do about it. 635 00:21:26,580 --> 00:21:29,020 The following morning, Al Barghetti came up with a lead. 636 00:21:29,020 --> 00:21:30,380 Had a long talk with the boy last night. 637 00:21:30,380 --> 00:21:31,780 Think he came up with a pretty fair lead. 638 00:21:31,780 --> 00:21:32,780 How's that? 639 00:21:32,780 --> 00:21:33,780 The old man's responsible. 640 00:21:33,780 --> 00:21:35,420 We know there's only one way we'll get a conviction. 641 00:21:35,420 --> 00:21:36,420 Yeah. 642 00:21:36,420 --> 00:21:37,860 Find the body and enough evidence to tie him in. 643 00:21:37,860 --> 00:21:39,740 Yeah, well, where do we start looking? 644 00:21:39,740 --> 00:21:40,740 In a new rose bed. 645 00:21:40,740 --> 00:21:42,740 It's next to one of the greenhouses in Abbott's nursery. 646 00:21:42,740 --> 00:21:43,940 The boy telling you this? 647 00:21:43,940 --> 00:21:44,940 Yeah. 648 00:21:44,940 --> 00:21:45,940 Seems to make sense. 649 00:21:45,940 --> 00:21:47,940 We know old man Abbott's crazy about saving a dollar. 650 00:21:47,940 --> 00:21:49,860 We found that out from the neighbors and the relatives. 651 00:21:49,860 --> 00:21:54,340 And on the nursery trade, especially in the limited area Abbott has to work in, he cultivate 652 00:21:54,340 --> 00:21:55,620 every foot of ground you have. 653 00:21:55,620 --> 00:21:57,260 You plant every foot of soil with something. 654 00:21:57,260 --> 00:21:58,660 Well, yeah, Al, what's the point? 655 00:21:58,660 --> 00:22:00,660 Well, Abbott's not the type to waste anything. 656 00:22:00,660 --> 00:22:03,380 He wouldn't let ground lie fallow when he could plant something that might bring in 657 00:22:03,380 --> 00:22:04,740 a few dollars next spring. 658 00:22:04,740 --> 00:22:05,740 Mm-hmm. 659 00:22:05,740 --> 00:22:08,380 Bruce tells me his stepfather has every inch of the property planted with something. 660 00:22:08,380 --> 00:22:11,180 Everything except the six by eight plot of ground in that rose garden. 661 00:22:11,180 --> 00:22:12,700 Well, what did the boy say? 662 00:22:12,700 --> 00:22:13,980 The plot been vacant for a long? 663 00:22:13,980 --> 00:22:16,740 Well, he says his stepfather got it ready for planting a week and a half ago. 664 00:22:16,740 --> 00:22:17,740 It's still vacant. 665 00:22:17,740 --> 00:22:18,740 Be worth checking out. 666 00:22:18,740 --> 00:22:19,740 How do we do it? 667 00:22:19,740 --> 00:22:20,860 We can order up a crew from the crime lab. 668 00:22:20,860 --> 00:22:23,340 They can take probings through the plot, all around it. 669 00:22:23,340 --> 00:22:25,780 We ought to be able to tell us how deep the ground's been worked over lately. 670 00:22:25,780 --> 00:22:26,780 Okay. 671 00:22:26,780 --> 00:22:27,780 What are you figuring tonight? 672 00:22:27,780 --> 00:22:28,780 I think so, yeah. 673 00:22:28,780 --> 00:22:29,780 Maybe 11, 12 o'clock. 674 00:22:29,780 --> 00:22:30,780 What about old man Abbott? 675 00:22:30,780 --> 00:22:32,540 Do you think he's going to sit still for it? 676 00:22:32,540 --> 00:22:33,540 The hunch pays off. 677 00:22:33,540 --> 00:22:36,700 He's going to sit still a long time. 678 00:22:36,700 --> 00:22:42,060 It was 10 minutes past 11 that night when we got to the Abbott nursery. 679 00:22:42,060 --> 00:22:46,740 Lee Jones and the crime lab crew, Al Barghetti, Ed, and two other men from homicide. 680 00:22:46,740 --> 00:22:50,260 The men on stakeout told us Chester Abbott, along with his attorney, had left the house 681 00:22:50,260 --> 00:22:53,260 a half hour before in his car, a dark blue coupe. 682 00:22:53,260 --> 00:22:54,260 They hadn't returned. 683 00:22:54,260 --> 00:22:58,740 Ed brought along another supply of fresh horse meat for the dogs so we didn't have any trouble 684 00:22:58,740 --> 00:22:59,740 there. 685 00:22:59,740 --> 00:23:03,340 We located the vacant plot of ground in the rosebed next to one of the greenhouses, as 686 00:23:03,340 --> 00:23:05,940 Bruce Abbott had described it to Barghetti. 687 00:23:05,940 --> 00:23:07,900 The crime lab crew started probing. 688 00:23:07,900 --> 00:23:12,180 The ground, obviously, had been worked over recently, and to some depth, they started 689 00:23:12,180 --> 00:23:13,180 digging. 690 00:23:13,180 --> 00:23:18,180 Anderson, get that light over here, will you? 691 00:23:18,180 --> 00:23:19,180 Thanks. 692 00:23:19,180 --> 00:23:22,180 Joe, see anything? 693 00:23:22,180 --> 00:23:25,980 No, let's keep digging. 694 00:23:25,980 --> 00:23:28,700 It's right over here. 695 00:23:28,700 --> 00:23:29,700 Yeah. 696 00:23:29,700 --> 00:23:31,020 You know, this is it. 697 00:23:31,020 --> 00:23:32,300 He wasn't taking any chances. 698 00:23:32,300 --> 00:23:34,780 Down a good four or five feet now, wouldn't you say? 699 00:23:34,780 --> 00:23:35,780 Yeah, at least that. 700 00:23:35,780 --> 00:23:36,780 Anderson, more light, huh? 701 00:23:36,780 --> 00:23:37,780 All right, let's go at it. 702 00:23:37,780 --> 00:23:38,780 All right, wait a minute. 703 00:23:38,780 --> 00:23:39,780 Yeah. 704 00:23:39,780 --> 00:23:40,780 A woman's shoe here. 705 00:23:40,780 --> 00:23:41,780 Come on. 706 00:23:41,780 --> 00:23:52,780 Just a matter. 707 00:23:52,780 --> 00:23:59,820 Yeah, that's it. 708 00:23:59,820 --> 00:24:00,820 Shoulder there. 709 00:24:00,820 --> 00:24:01,820 It's a body. 710 00:24:01,820 --> 00:24:03,220 Now, it paid off, Al. 711 00:24:03,220 --> 00:24:04,220 The boy had it figured. 712 00:24:04,220 --> 00:24:10,500 Yeah, too bad he was right. 713 00:24:10,500 --> 00:24:21,360 It's just too bad they had to try again. 714 00:24:21,360 --> 00:24:24,680 Come here. 715 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:33,480 Now, well, Cor deve very quickly. 716 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:38,360 looked around. In one bedroom we found clothes scattered over the bed and on the floor. There 717 00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:43,040 was only one old suit left in one closet. On the table next to the bed we found an airline's 718 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:47,760 timetable. We got to the phone and notified communications to alert all special details 719 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:53,080 at railroad stations, bus terminals and airports, and then to get out an APB. After that we 720 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,880 checked with the airlines. One of them told us a man answering after his description had 721 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:01,480 booked passage to Mexico City that night under the name of Charles Frazier. The plane was 722 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:06,920 scheduled to leave at 1.52 a.m. at the Burbank Airport. We called the detail at the airport 723 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:11,520 and alerted them. Then we drove over to the field to follow through on it. It was 1.32 724 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:15,920 a.m. when Ed and I took up our positions just inside gate three where passengers were boarding 725 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:21,200 flight 72 for Mexico City. There was no sign of the suspect either on the plane or in the 726 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:28,200 waiting room. Thank you, Shel. I don't know. Where's Spaghetti? Over there by the cocktail 727 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:35,200 lounge. See him? Oh, yeah. What time he got now? 1.38. The plane's due to take off in 728 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:42,560 another four minutes, isn't it? Any sign of him now? No, nothing. Just made the rounds. 729 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:46,160 Checked with Stevens and Cummings if he got in. He came in somebody's suitcase. Couldn't 730 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:50,080 have possibly gotten through without one of us seeing him. Well, he hasn't got much more 731 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:53,960 time. Maybe it's a dead end, huh? You don't see how he could have gotten wise, do you? 732 00:25:53,960 --> 00:26:00,960 Over there. No, no. By the ticket counter there. You see him? Yeah. That's him. Come on. 733 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:05,240 All right. Just a minute, Abbott. I haven't got time now. I'll miss my plane. If you have 734 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,080 anything more to say to me, you can wait till I get back. Right now, Abbott. And take it 735 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:11,440 up with my lawyer. I'm in a hurry. We found your wife's body. How's that? In the rose 736 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,160 bed next to the greenhouse. I don't know what you mean. You must be mistaken. No mistake. 737 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,640 Hands behind your back. What's this all about? I haven't done anything. All right. Let's 738 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:22,600 go. No, no. Just a minute. You got it wrong. I don't know anything about it. We think you 739 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:28,200 do. Now, come on. It wasn't my fault. I didn't know what I was doing. I plead insanity. She 740 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:31,080 drove me to it. We were arguing about the boy and she slapped me. I didn't mean to do 741 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:40,080 it. All right. Let's go, Abbott. Can you wait just a minute more? What for? A plane. 742 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:48,200 One from Mexico City. Funny, isn't it? What's that? I was so close. Just missed it. Not by 743 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:53,320 more than one minute. No, you're wrong about that, Abbott. Just one minute. That's all. 744 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:57,640 You missed it before you ever bought your ticket. How do you figure? When you first 745 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:10,080 decided to kill your wife. Come on. The story you have just heard was true. The names were 746 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:15,520 changed to protect the innocent. On December 19th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 747 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:19,800 89, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of 748 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:25,680 that trial. Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. Thank you, George Fenomen. Friends, I'm holding 749 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:30,080 two sets of fingerprint cards. Now, on one, prints found at the scene of a crime. On the 750 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:34,040 second, a suspect's taken from the files. Now, the only way in the world you can tell 751 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:39,480 they're made by the same suspect is by comparison. If you'll compare Fatima with any other king-size 752 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:44,880 cigarette, you'll find Fatima's length filters the smoke, 85 millimeters, for your protection. 753 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:50,200 Fatima's length cools the smoke for your protection. Fatima's length gives you those extra puffs, 754 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:55,160 21 percent longer than standard cigarette size. And you get an extra mild and soothing 755 00:27:55,160 --> 00:28:09,000 smoke, plus the added protection of Fatima quality. Prove it today. Buy Fatima. 756 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:13,520 Chester Vernon Abbott was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree. The jury failed 757 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:18,640 to recommend clemency. Abbott was executed in the lethal gas chamber at the State Penitentiary, 758 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:33,520 San Quentin, California. You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from 759 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:38,720 official files. Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, 760 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:44,760 Los Angeles Police Department. Technical advisors Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Winn, 761 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:50,160 and Sergeant Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Barney Phillips and Herb Ellis. Script by 762 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:59,640 Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schuma. Hal Gibney speaking. 763 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:04,640 Fatima cigarettes. Best of all, king-size cigarettes has brought you Dragnet, transcribed from 764 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:15,160 Los Angeles. Now it's Counterspy on NBC.