WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:12.000 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. 00:12.000 --> 00:23.000 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:23.000 --> 00:27.000 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide detail. 00:27.000 --> 00:32.000 A small boy is reported missing from his home. His age, nine years. 00:32.000 --> 00:36.000 Howe Play is suspected. Your job, find him. 00:36.000 --> 00:59.000 Dragnet, the documentary drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law to an actual case transcribed from official police files. 00:59.000 --> 01:10.000 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 01:10.000 --> 01:20.000 It was Thursday, December 22nd. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of homicide division. My partner is Frank Smith, the boss of Sad Brown Chicken Detective. My name is Friday. 01:20.000 --> 01:25.000 I was on the way into work and it was 3.55 p.m. when I got to room 42. Homicide. 01:25.000 --> 01:26.000 Hi, John. 01:26.000 --> 01:28.000 Frank, what's going on? 01:28.000 --> 01:30.000 Oh, nothing. Pretty quiet. How's your mother? 01:30.000 --> 01:34.000 Oh, her cold is still hanging on. Bad cough. The doctor said it's nothing serious though. 01:34.000 --> 01:37.000 My kid's got the same thing. Must be some kind of a virus going around. 01:37.000 --> 01:41.000 Yeah, maybe so. Did you get all the reports on that Webster case yet? 01:41.000 --> 01:46.000 Yeah. All taken care of. I'll get it. 01:46.000 --> 01:47.000 Homicide, Friday. 01:47.000 --> 01:50.000 This is Levin. City Unit 11, J1. Got something for you. 01:50.000 --> 01:51.000 Yeah, Harry, what's going? 01:51.000 --> 01:55.000 Darnie and I are out here on Hollis Avenue, 4656, trying to track down a nine-year-old boy. 01:55.000 --> 01:56.000 What's the story? 01:56.000 --> 01:58.000 Kid's missing. Suspicion of foul play. 01:58.000 --> 01:59.000 Yeah? How long has he been gone? 01:59.000 --> 02:01.000 About two hours. Looks like a job for homicide. 02:01.000 --> 02:02.000 How do you figure? 02:02.000 --> 02:04.000 A kid was last seen playing in the backyard of his home. 02:04.000 --> 02:05.000 Yeah? 02:05.000 --> 02:06.000 He was attacked over the yard. 02:06.000 --> 02:07.000 Did you find anything? 02:07.000 --> 02:09.000 Lots of days, lots of minutes, no. 02:12.000 --> 02:15.000 Frank and I left a message for Chief Detective Sad Brown. 02:15.000 --> 02:21.000 Then we went over to the crime lab, picked up Ray Pinker, and drove out the Arroyo Sequel freeway to Hollis Avenue. 02:21.000 --> 02:23.000 It was an average neighborhood. 02:23.000 --> 02:30.000 Number 4656 was a one-story green stucco residence situated on the corner of Hollis Avenue and Harrison Drive. 02:30.000 --> 02:35.000 Beyond the backyard was a tract of undeveloped land covered with scrub oaks. 02:35.000 --> 02:39.000 Harry Levinson from Holland Park Juvenile was waiting for us in front of the house. 02:40.000 --> 02:41.000 It's back this way, fellas. 02:41.000 --> 02:42.000 You coming, Ray? 02:42.000 --> 02:44.000 I'm gonna get my bag. 02:44.000 --> 02:46.000 Who told you the boy was missing, Harry? 02:46.000 --> 02:48.000 The mother said she went down to do some Christmas shopping. 02:48.000 --> 02:50.000 About 11 this morning left the boy home. 02:50.000 --> 02:52.000 Came back about 2 this afternoon. He was gone. 02:52.000 --> 02:53.000 What's the name? 02:53.000 --> 02:55.000 Johnstone. The kid's name is Stanley, 9 years old. 02:55.000 --> 02:57.000 The gate opened like this when you got here? 02:57.000 --> 02:59.000 Yeah, we haven't got the stain. 02:59.000 --> 03:01.000 There's a stain over here, Mr. Pinker, along the edge of the walk there, you see? 03:01.000 --> 03:03.000 Yeah, let me see. 03:03.000 --> 03:05.000 Quite a few stains. 03:07.000 --> 03:09.000 Looks like it might be blood. 03:09.000 --> 03:11.000 Try some benzidine on him. 03:13.000 --> 03:15.000 There we are. 03:15.000 --> 03:16.000 See what happened. 03:16.000 --> 03:18.000 Why's the kid's mother not here? 03:18.000 --> 03:19.000 She doesn't know how his daughter's talking to him. 03:19.000 --> 03:20.000 She talked to you in Geneva? 03:20.000 --> 03:22.000 Yeah, the people next door, the ones in the shed. 03:22.000 --> 03:24.000 They couldn't tell us anything. 03:24.000 --> 03:25.000 There it is, fellas. 03:25.000 --> 03:26.000 Harry. 03:26.000 --> 03:28.000 These spots that covered the benzidine, they're turning blue. 03:28.000 --> 03:30.000 What stains are they? 03:30.000 --> 03:32.000 Can't tell you definitely, whether it's human or animal. 03:32.000 --> 03:34.000 You have to go back to the lab to know it through? 03:34.000 --> 03:36.000 Yeah, my life's got a citizen test. 03:36.000 --> 03:38.000 Anyone want those bright smiles from the bag, will you? 03:38.000 --> 03:39.000 One of these? 03:39.000 --> 03:40.000 Mm-hmm. 03:40.000 --> 03:41.000 Here you are. 03:41.000 --> 03:43.000 Thank you. 03:43.000 --> 03:46.000 Split some of these plates off for tech. 03:47.000 --> 03:49.000 There we are. 03:49.000 --> 03:51.000 How soon can you tie the blood for us, Ray? 03:51.000 --> 03:53.000 The pre-substance tests won't run more than 20 minutes. 03:53.000 --> 03:55.000 It'll take three or four hours to run a blood grouping, though. 03:57.000 --> 03:59.000 That's it. 03:59.000 --> 04:01.000 That's it. 04:01.000 --> 04:02.000 Anything else you want to check? 04:02.000 --> 04:03.000 What is this, radio? 04:03.000 --> 04:05.000 Yeah, right here under this tin can. 04:05.000 --> 04:07.000 Empty shell. 04:07.000 --> 04:09.000 22, huh? 04:09.000 --> 04:10.000 Yeah, I might tie in right now. 04:10.000 --> 04:12.000 Mark it and dump it in the sand well, will you? 04:12.000 --> 04:14.000 Sure. 04:14.000 --> 04:15.000 There you go. 04:15.000 --> 04:17.000 You got a lifting broadcast for the boy, Harry? 04:17.000 --> 04:19.000 Yeah, I did. He did about half an hour ago. 04:19.000 --> 04:20.000 Here's a description right here. 04:20.000 --> 04:21.000 Thanks. 04:21.000 --> 04:22.000 Mother know about the blood stains? 04:22.000 --> 04:23.000 No, we didn't tell her. 04:23.000 --> 04:24.000 She's weighed enough already. 04:24.000 --> 04:26.000 She has no idea what might happen to her boy, huh? 04:26.000 --> 04:27.000 No more than we do. 04:27.000 --> 04:28.000 Check all the friends or relatives 04:28.000 --> 04:29.000 who are covering the neighborhood. 04:29.000 --> 04:30.000 No trace so far. 04:30.000 --> 04:31.000 Not much to go on. 04:31.000 --> 04:33.000 Blood stains, empty cartridge. 04:33.000 --> 04:34.000 It could mean a hundred things. 04:34.000 --> 04:35.000 Any ideas, Freddy? 04:35.000 --> 04:37.000 Just warn them. I don't like it. 04:37.000 --> 04:41.000 430 p.m., Thursday, December 22nd. 04:41.000 --> 04:45.000 The neighborhood search for nine-year-old family Johnstone continued. 04:45.000 --> 04:48.000 Ray Pinker went back to the crime lab to start the precipitant test 04:48.000 --> 04:49.000 and the blood grouping. 04:49.000 --> 04:53.000 Eleven symphony's partner, Dorothy, from Highland Juvenile, stood by. 04:53.000 --> 04:55.000 We called Chief of Detective Thad Brown, 04:55.000 --> 04:59.000 and he ordered up a special detail to aid in the search for the missing boy. 04:59.000 --> 05:02.000 Frank and I questioned the boy's mother, Mrs. Ruth, 05:02.000 --> 05:04.000 and we found that she was not in the room. 05:04.000 --> 05:07.000 We asked her where she was going. 05:07.000 --> 05:09.000 She said she was going to the bathroom. 05:09.000 --> 05:11.000 We asked her about the boy. 05:11.000 --> 05:14.000 Frank and I questioned the boy's mother, Mrs. Ruth Johnstone, 05:14.000 --> 05:16.000 a woman in her early 40s. 05:16.000 --> 05:18.000 She seemed fairly calm under the circumstances. 05:18.000 --> 05:21.000 Mrs. Johnstone, is your boy Stanley in the habit of wandering off 05:21.000 --> 05:22.000 without telling you where he's going? 05:22.000 --> 05:26.000 No, he's not in the habit of wandering off, but he has done it before. 05:26.000 --> 05:27.000 When was the last time, Mrs. Johnstone? 05:27.000 --> 05:29.000 You don't have any children, do you Sergeant Friday? 05:29.000 --> 05:30.000 No, ma'am. 05:30.000 --> 05:33.000 Well, there comes that time in every young boy's life 05:33.000 --> 05:35.000 when they know what you mean, I'm a boy. 05:35.000 --> 05:36.000 Then you know how it is. 05:36.000 --> 05:39.000 My husband and I scolded Stanley one afternoon after school, 05:39.000 --> 05:41.000 and he was quite put out about it. 05:41.000 --> 05:44.000 But George and I were in fear, packed a few of his things and left. 05:44.000 --> 05:45.000 How long was he gone, ma'am? 05:45.000 --> 05:47.000 No time at all, about two hours. 05:47.000 --> 05:49.000 I was worried about him, but my husband said, 05:49.000 --> 05:52.000 believe him alone, said every boy had to go through that stage. 05:52.000 --> 05:55.000 Well, then you think he's gone away from home again this time, do you? 05:55.000 --> 05:56.000 Yes, I think so. 05:56.000 --> 05:58.000 He's been gone about four hours now. 05:58.000 --> 06:00.000 Now, I have a funny feeling about it. 06:00.000 --> 06:03.000 Did you and his father happen to have some misunderstanding with the boy recently? 06:03.000 --> 06:05.000 That's just it, we haven't. 06:05.000 --> 06:07.000 I don't mind telling you now that we're talking about it. 06:07.000 --> 06:08.000 I'm getting worried. 06:08.000 --> 06:11.000 Any place around that you might like to visit, a hobby shop or a playground, 06:11.000 --> 06:12.000 something like that where you might be? 06:12.000 --> 06:15.000 Yes, there's Johnson's Model Shop, little Helen Woods, 06:15.000 --> 06:18.000 but I've already called there and he hasn't been seen all day. 06:18.000 --> 06:21.000 I've called all of his friends and they have no idea either. 06:21.000 --> 06:25.000 We'd like a list of all of his friends and the places that he would know to frequent, ma'am. 06:25.000 --> 06:27.000 That's all right, I'll give them to you. 06:27.000 --> 06:29.000 Where do you suppose he is? 06:29.000 --> 06:31.000 Where's your husband now, Mrs. Johnston? 06:31.000 --> 06:34.000 At work. George works for the city, he's a fireman. 06:34.000 --> 06:36.000 Uh-huh. What house is he stationed at? 06:36.000 --> 06:38.000 One's in his company, 12. He's working the 8th of June. 06:38.000 --> 06:40.000 He'll be home tomorrow morning. 06:40.000 --> 06:42.000 I haven't told him that the family's gone. 06:42.000 --> 06:44.000 Was there any chance that the boy might be down at the firehouse with his father? 06:44.000 --> 06:46.000 No, he's telling me he was down there in the hall. 06:46.000 --> 06:49.000 No, I don't think he's there. 06:49.000 --> 06:51.000 I'm awfully worried. 06:51.000 --> 06:52.000 May I call my husband? 06:52.000 --> 06:59.000 I'll tell him when you get out of here. 06:59.000 --> 07:01.000 I know George will be worried. 07:01.000 --> 07:05.000 The family's been gone too long. 07:05.000 --> 07:07.000 Hello, may I speak with George Johnston? 07:07.000 --> 07:09.000 This is Mrs. Johnston. 07:09.000 --> 07:11.000 Thank you. 07:11.000 --> 07:13.000 I hate to call George at his work. 07:13.000 --> 07:15.000 Yes, sir. 07:15.000 --> 07:17.000 Does your husband know me, young man? 07:17.000 --> 07:18.000 Yes, he does. 07:18.000 --> 07:19.000 What caliber would you know? 07:19.000 --> 07:22.000 45 automatic. He's got it in him. 07:22.000 --> 07:23.000 George? 07:23.000 --> 07:24.000 Well, this is Ruth. 07:24.000 --> 07:28.000 George is standing down there with you by any chance. 07:28.000 --> 07:30.000 Oh, no, I can't find him anywhere. 07:30.000 --> 07:33.000 He wasn't here when I came home from doing my shopping. 07:33.000 --> 07:35.000 There are two policemen here. 07:35.000 --> 07:38.000 No, I said there are two policemen here. 07:38.000 --> 07:42.000 No, dear, I'll call you if we don't find him soon. 07:42.000 --> 07:45.000 Oh. All right. 07:45.000 --> 07:48.000 Yes, you too. Bye. 07:48.000 --> 07:50.000 I didn't think he'd be with George. 07:50.000 --> 07:52.000 Oh, that 45, is that the only gun in the house, old? 07:52.000 --> 07:53.000 Yes. 07:53.000 --> 07:54.000 Why are you asking about guns? 07:54.000 --> 07:56.000 Has anything happened that you're not telling me about? 07:56.000 --> 07:58.000 No, ma'am, just routine second. 07:58.000 --> 08:00.000 We'll have to take a look at that 45 if you don't mind. 08:00.000 --> 08:04.000 Maybe I should tell you we do have another gun in the house, but it's all wrapped up. 08:04.000 --> 08:05.000 George got it at the family's Christmas crib. 08:05.000 --> 08:07.000 What if we could look at it for you? 08:07.000 --> 08:08.000 Yes, will you have to unwrap it? 08:08.000 --> 08:16.000 I'm afraid so. 08:16.000 --> 08:19.000 I think I can reach it. 08:19.000 --> 08:23.000 You have to hide it, let me see. 08:23.000 --> 08:26.000 Oh, here's the piece that was wrapped in. 08:26.000 --> 08:28.000 It's standing right the farm as it's gone. 08:28.000 --> 08:32.000 You see, here's the gift card and the box of the containment rifle. 08:32.000 --> 08:35.000 Uh-huh, could I look at the box, ma'am? 08:35.000 --> 08:37.000 Thank you. 08:37.000 --> 08:39.000 How about it, Joe? 08:39.000 --> 08:42.000 22 caliber. 08:42.000 --> 08:46.000 Thursday, December 22nd, 5 15 p.m. 08:46.000 --> 08:47.000 It was getting dark. 08:47.000 --> 08:49.000 The search for the missing boy continued. 08:49.000 --> 08:52.000 We checked the list of Stanley Johnstone's friends. 08:52.000 --> 08:55.000 None of them or their parents had any idea of his whereabouts. 08:55.000 --> 08:57.000 We talked with Levinson again. 08:57.000 --> 09:00.000 He'd been in touch with the detail combing the neighborhood. 09:00.000 --> 09:01.000 They'd found nothing. 09:01.000 --> 09:07.000 We went down to Hollop Avenue and 10th Street, service station on the corner. 09:07.000 --> 09:08.000 Do you want a dime, Joe? 09:08.000 --> 09:10.000 No, I got one. You watch the chief there on us. 09:10.000 --> 09:12.000 Yeah. 09:30.000 --> 09:31.000 There you go. 09:31.000 --> 09:32.000 2667, please. 09:32.000 --> 09:35.000 2667. 09:35.000 --> 09:37.000 How am I, uptaker? 09:37.000 --> 09:38.000 How are you, Joe Friday? 09:38.000 --> 09:40.000 Yeah, Joe. Any sign of Johnstone, kid? 09:40.000 --> 09:42.000 No, not yet. How are you coming? 09:42.000 --> 09:44.000 He's coming to serve us in terms of human blood. 09:44.000 --> 09:45.000 Uh-huh. 09:45.000 --> 09:46.000 We're not a blood group now. 09:46.000 --> 09:48.000 You know what type of Johnstone boy he is? 09:48.000 --> 09:49.000 Well, he didn't want to upset his mother. 09:49.000 --> 09:51.000 He thought I'd riddle the last thing we're in the neighborhood. 09:51.000 --> 09:53.000 Check with a family physician. That way you won't disturb her. 09:53.000 --> 09:55.000 Yeah, we figured on that. 09:55.000 --> 09:57.000 Just a minute, Ray. 09:57.000 --> 09:58.000 Yeah, thanks. 09:58.000 --> 09:59.000 The box is cold. 09:59.000 --> 10:01.000 The box is really cold. 10:01.000 --> 10:03.000 Ray, say I'm bound down here now. Check you later, huh? 10:03.000 --> 10:04.000 Right, Joe. 10:04.000 --> 10:05.000 Right. 10:05.000 --> 10:08.000 Okay. 10:14.000 --> 10:15.000 Jenny? 10:15.000 --> 10:16.000 How's it going? 10:16.000 --> 10:18.000 Where's the chick with Ray Pinker? 10:18.000 --> 10:20.000 Yeah, I know. It's human blood. What do you think? 10:20.000 --> 10:22.000 We talked with the boy's mother, Mrs. Johnstone. 10:22.000 --> 10:23.000 Sounded a gun missing. 10:23.000 --> 10:24.000 Yep. 10:24.000 --> 10:26.000 Caliber's the same as the empty case in Levenson. 10:26.000 --> 10:27.000 Sounded 22. 10:27.000 --> 10:28.000 He said the gun was missing. 10:28.000 --> 10:31.000 Yeah, the Johnstones are going to give it to the boy's Christmas present. 10:31.000 --> 10:32.000 My head is hidden, but it's gone now. 10:32.000 --> 10:34.000 Any idea who took it? 10:34.000 --> 10:37.000 Well, over at work. They left the Christmas wrapping behind. I can leave it with the kid. 10:37.000 --> 10:41.000 22-year-old boy. What are we going to learn? 10:41.000 --> 10:43.000 First it's carbide cannons on the 4th of July. 10:43.000 --> 10:47.000 The city issued ordnance after ordnance, but a few thousand kids around the country had to lose their eyes, 10:47.000 --> 10:51.000 fingers, hands, for the parents to give us their full cooperation to outlaw them. 10:51.000 --> 10:52.000 I know what you mean. 10:52.000 --> 10:53.000 Sure you do. 10:53.000 --> 10:56.000 You and every other cop in the country became the heavy trying to clamp down on them. 10:56.000 --> 10:59.000 Now it's the same story. This time it's gun for Christmas. 10:59.000 --> 11:01.000 I know what you're thinking, Chief, but we're not sure yet. 11:01.000 --> 11:04.000 Listen, Friday, there's a city ordnance against giving a gun to a kid. Now you know that. 11:04.000 --> 11:05.000 Yeah, I know that. 11:05.000 --> 11:09.000 There's a missing boy and a missing gun. There's blood on the ground and an empty shell. That's enough for me. 11:09.000 --> 11:11.000 We're going to stay with it, Chief. Something's got to break. 11:11.000 --> 11:14.000 Yeah. I hope it's not the house of that kid's parents. 11:14.000 --> 11:16.000 Hi, Chief. I've been looking for you, Friday. 11:16.000 --> 11:17.000 Yeah, what have you got here? 11:17.000 --> 11:19.000 Found a gun, a new.22 rifle. I'd say it's been fired recently. 11:19.000 --> 11:21.000 Where'd you find it, Levinson? 11:21.000 --> 11:25.000 Back up there in that scrub oak behind the Johnstone house. Mrs. Johnstone identified it. 11:25.000 --> 11:26.000 Buckley took it down to crime lab. 11:26.000 --> 11:28.000 Thanks, Harry. Is Miss Johnson okay? 11:28.000 --> 11:29.000 She's pretty sick now. 11:29.000 --> 11:33.000 Chilby came up with something else. He said there's another one missing, an eight-year-old boy. 11:38.000 --> 11:42.000 Six thirty p.m. We talked with Officer Chilby about the other missing boy. 11:42.000 --> 11:45.000 He told us that his name was Steven Martin, eight years old. 11:45.000 --> 11:48.000 His family had just moved into the neighborhood. 11:48.000 --> 11:52.000 It seemed that no one besides the Martin family knew that the boys played together. 11:52.000 --> 11:58.000 Mrs. Martin told us that Steven told her that he was going out to play and he'd be home by six o'clock for dinner. 11:58.000 --> 12:03.000 She told us that he was an unusually prompt boy and almost never overstayed his playtime. 12:03.000 --> 12:07.000 We got a description of the Martin boy and put out a missing broadcast. 12:07.000 --> 12:09.000 We called the Johnstone family doctor. 12:09.000 --> 12:12.000 He told us that Stanley's blood was type O. 12:12.000 --> 12:15.000 At seven p.m. we talked again with Mrs. John Martin. 12:15.000 --> 12:18.000 Are you sure Mrs. Johnson doesn't know where the boys are? 12:18.000 --> 12:20.000 She has no idea, Mrs. Martin. 12:20.000 --> 12:23.000 Oh, this is terrible. Just awful. 12:23.000 --> 12:25.000 I feel there's more to this thing, something you're not telling me. 12:25.000 --> 12:28.000 Well, there's no use to upset you until we know a few more things for sure, ma'am. 12:28.000 --> 12:29.000 Then you are holding something back. 12:29.000 --> 12:31.000 Well, please try not to worry, Mrs. Martin. 12:31.000 --> 12:35.000 There are certain questions we have to ask, routine questions in any kind of investigation. 12:35.000 --> 12:36.000 Is there anything else you want to know? 12:36.000 --> 12:38.000 Yes, ma'am. What's your boy's blood type? 12:38.000 --> 12:40.000 Funny question. 12:40.000 --> 12:42.000 Do you think anything's happened to him? 12:42.000 --> 12:44.000 Have you found him and you're not telling me? 12:44.000 --> 12:47.000 No, ma'am. We haven't found him and we don't think anything's happened to him. 12:47.000 --> 12:49.000 His blood type, huh? 12:49.000 --> 12:51.000 Yes, ma'am. 12:51.000 --> 12:55.000 Well, I think I have it written down in Stevie's baby book. 12:58.000 --> 13:02.000 Yes. Yes, here he is. The type is O. 13:02.000 --> 13:04.000 Type O, thank you. What if I use your phone? 13:04.000 --> 13:06.000 Oh, yes, of course. It's in the hall. 13:06.000 --> 13:22.000 Be right back, Frank. Yeah. 13:22.000 --> 13:23.000 Here you go. 13:23.000 --> 13:25.000 2667, please. 13:25.000 --> 13:30.000 2667. 13:30.000 --> 13:31.000 Cramalatt Pinker. 13:31.000 --> 13:33.000 Hi Ray, this is Frank. 13:33.000 --> 13:35.000 Yeah, did you get the blood types on the two missing boys? 13:35.000 --> 13:37.000 Yeah, both type O. 13:37.000 --> 13:39.000 So was the stage, Joe. Type O. 13:49.000 --> 13:54.000 You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action. 13:54.000 --> 14:02.000 The modern way to sell cigarettes is the Chesterfield way, both regular and king-sized, and we're the only one that does it. 14:02.000 --> 14:09.000 We tell you what Chesterfields are made of to give you premium quality in both popular sizes. 14:09.000 --> 14:12.000 Our scientists select the best materials. 14:12.000 --> 14:22.000 They select for Chesterfield the world's best tobaccos, blend them just right, and they keep Chesterfields tasty and fresh with the best of moistening agents. 14:22.000 --> 14:26.000 Now here's something else that's completely modern about Chesterfield. 14:26.000 --> 14:36.000 People smoke. 14:36.000 --> 14:39.000 Eight p.m. Thursday, December 22nd. 14:39.000 --> 14:41.000 Still no sign of either of the missing boys. 14:41.000 --> 14:46.000 Chief of Detective Thad Brown went back to headquarters to direct the search from there. 14:46.000 --> 14:50.000 He dispatched another detail of 50 men to aid in the hunt for the missing youngsters. 14:50.000 --> 14:53.000 Eight thirty p.m. It was getting colder. 14:53.000 --> 14:56.000 The citrus growers were warned to expect a freeze. 14:56.000 --> 14:58.000 We went back up the block to see Mrs. Johnstone. 14:58.000 --> 15:01.000 Her husband had quit work early and returned home. 15:01.000 --> 15:02.000 We talked with him. 15:02.000 --> 15:04.000 He could tell us nothing more than we already knew. 15:04.000 --> 15:12.000 We still had not informed either of the families about the blood stains and the empty cartridge casing which had been discovered in the backyard of the Johnstone home. 15:12.000 --> 15:20.000 It was more than possible that they had a right to know about our findings, but Frank and I felt there was no cause to add to their distress at this particular time. 15:20.000 --> 15:27.000 If the two missing boys were found alive and well, then the blood stains and the cartridge would be of no concern to the released parents. 15:27.000 --> 15:32.000 At eight forty p.m., Frank and I left the Johnstone house and went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Martin. 15:32.000 --> 15:34.000 Mrs. Martin, you said your husband worked at the market. 15:34.000 --> 15:35.000 Yes. 15:35.000 --> 15:38.000 He telephoned about fifteen minutes ago and said he was closing up right away. 15:38.000 --> 15:40.000 He'd be there any minute. 15:40.000 --> 15:43.000 I do wish Stevie would call or come home. 15:43.000 --> 15:46.000 It's so cold out tonight. All he had on was a thin cotton jacket. 15:46.000 --> 15:48.000 Try not to worry. We're doing everything we can. 15:48.000 --> 15:49.000 Stevie, are you all right? 15:49.000 --> 15:51.000 Stevie's father's such a sensitive man. 15:51.000 --> 15:53.000 And the boy was so close. 15:53.000 --> 15:55.000 I know he's terribly upset. 15:55.000 --> 16:00.000 Yes, ma'am. Are you sure there's no place you might have forgotten? Someplace where the boy might be. 16:00.000 --> 16:06.000 No. No place. No. If anything's happened to the boy, it'll just kill John. 16:06.000 --> 16:09.000 Mrs. Martin, you just sit still. I'll get it. 16:09.000 --> 16:11.000 Thank you. 16:11.000 --> 16:17.000 Joe, here, Harry. Johnstone case has been found. 16:30.000 --> 16:34.000 He's home, Sergeant. He's come home. Thank God he's all right. 16:34.000 --> 16:36.000 Well, where's he been, did he tell you? 16:36.000 --> 16:42.000 No. No, he didn't. His clothes were all dirty and he was acting strange. I've never seen him like this. 16:42.000 --> 16:44.000 How do you mean, Mrs. Johnstone? 16:44.000 --> 16:48.000 He just came in the front door and said, hello, Mom, and then he sat down and cheered and stared at the floor. 16:48.000 --> 16:50.000 He talked to his father and then he... 16:50.000 --> 16:52.000 Do you mind if I talk to him? 16:52.000 --> 16:57.000 No, go ahead. I asked him about the little Martin boy. He wouldn't tell me a thing. 16:57.000 --> 16:58.000 Where is he now? 16:58.000 --> 16:59.000 Right over there in the living room. 16:59.000 --> 17:02.000 Oh, yeah. Looks all right. 17:02.000 --> 17:10.000 Yes. Son, this is a police officer. He wants to talk to you. 17:10.000 --> 17:14.000 Don't be afraid, Danny. He only wants to ask you some questions. 17:14.000 --> 17:19.000 Son, you see, Sergeant? 17:19.000 --> 17:26.000 Yes, ma'am. Stanley? Come on, boy, look at me. Come on, you have to get your head out. 17:26.000 --> 17:30.000 Oh, that's better. You know, your mother's pretty worried, you know that. 17:30.000 --> 17:32.000 You want to tell us where you've been? 17:32.000 --> 17:34.000 I wish I could try to get in to eat a little something. 17:34.000 --> 17:38.000 You hear that, son? You want something to eat? 17:38.000 --> 17:41.000 Stanley, there's another little boy up the street who hasn't come home. 17:41.000 --> 17:46.000 Do you know where he is? His father and mother are worried about him, too, just like your folks were. 17:46.000 --> 17:48.000 You've got to help us find him, son. 17:48.000 --> 17:57.000 I killed him. I killed Steve with the 22. We didn't only kill him, but I killed him. 17:57.000 --> 18:00.000 How do you know you killed him? He's only hurt, not him? 18:00.000 --> 18:08.000 No, he's dead. I'm really dead. The gun went off. We forgot we put bullets in it. 18:08.000 --> 18:10.000 Where is he, Stanley? 18:10.000 --> 18:15.000 I hit him. I was scared. I didn't want anybody to find him. 18:15.000 --> 18:17.000 Where did you hide him, son? 18:17.000 --> 18:23.000 In a cave up on the hill. I didn't mean it. He went my way. 18:23.000 --> 18:25.000 Do you want to show us where he's standing? 18:25.000 --> 18:29.000 Yes, sir. I'll show you. Please don't show me the jail. 18:29.000 --> 18:38.000 9.15 p.m., Thursday, December 22nd. 18:38.000 --> 18:43.000 Nine-year-old Stanley Johnstone led the way up the hill behind the backyard of his home. 18:43.000 --> 18:47.000 He showed us the wagon he'd moved the body in. His father came along with us. 18:47.000 --> 18:52.000 About 50 feet from the crest of the hill, a boy pointed to a thicket of scrub oats. 18:52.000 --> 18:56.000 There we found a small cave holding the body of Stephen Martin. 18:56.000 --> 18:59.000 There was a single bullet wound in his chest just below his heart. 18:59.000 --> 19:03.000 He was dead. We covered the body. 19:03.000 --> 19:06.000 Stanley, how did it happen? 19:06.000 --> 19:09.000 Well, some other folks had been giving me a drink for Christmas. 19:09.000 --> 19:14.000 We were at Redmond Garden. There was a box of books with it. 19:14.000 --> 19:16.000 Were you pointing again at Stephen, son? 19:16.000 --> 19:24.000 Not much, but I was. It was past Christmas. I was chasing a big ship with a gun in his throat. 19:24.000 --> 19:27.000 The gun hit him in the stomach and it went off. 19:27.000 --> 19:30.000 Well, why do you think you killed him if you're telling us the truth here? 19:30.000 --> 19:33.000 I'm telling the truth. Honest. It's the truth. 19:33.000 --> 19:36.000 All right, I believe you, son. Well, why do you think you killed him? 19:36.000 --> 19:41.000 My gun. It's giving me life, but I didn't go get it. 19:41.000 --> 19:46.000 I said a little bit of Christmas. It's all my fault. 19:46.000 --> 19:48.000 Where have you been all this time? 19:48.000 --> 19:51.000 In the cave with Steve. 19:51.000 --> 19:54.000 What were you doing in there, son? 19:54.000 --> 20:00.000 I was training. I was training for the dog and the gull. 20:05.000 --> 20:10.000 After a thorough investigation, Frank and I were convinced that the shooting of Stephen Martin was accidental. 20:10.000 --> 20:16.000 Ray Pinker's findings substantiated the John Stone boy's story even to the smallest detail. 20:16.000 --> 20:19.000 We put in a call to the coroner's office and acquainted him with a fact. 20:19.000 --> 20:26.000 He designated a locomotivary to handle the body pending autopsy and granted us permission to remove the body to the Martin home. 20:26.000 --> 20:30.000 Mrs. Martin collapsed. The family doctor was called. 20:30.000 --> 20:35.000 Frank and I sat in the living room to wait for John Martin, the dead boy's father. 20:35.000 --> 20:40.000 Peter? Peter? 20:42.000 --> 20:43.000 Mr. Martin? 20:43.000 --> 20:46.000 Yes. You're the police? 20:46.000 --> 20:47.000 Yes, sir. 20:47.000 --> 20:48.000 Where's Peter? 20:48.000 --> 20:50.000 Where's my wife? 20:52.000 --> 20:54.000 Has my boy come home? 20:56.000 --> 20:58.000 Well, have you found him? 20:58.000 --> 20:59.000 Yes, sir. 20:59.000 --> 21:01.000 Where is he? 21:01.000 --> 21:06.000 Steve? Steve-y? 21:06.000 --> 21:08.000 Where's Steve? 21:11.000 --> 21:13.000 He's hurt, isn't he? 21:13.000 --> 21:14.000 Yes, sir. 21:14.000 --> 21:16.000 Where is he? I want to see him. 21:16.000 --> 21:18.000 He's hurt pretty bad. 21:18.000 --> 21:20.000 Where is he? I want to see him. 21:24.000 --> 21:26.000 How bad? 21:26.000 --> 21:31.000 Pretty bad. 21:31.000 --> 21:36.000 He's... he's dead. 21:39.000 --> 21:41.000 All right, if I go in? 21:41.000 --> 21:44.000 Yes, sir, if you want to. 21:46.000 --> 21:47.000 Will you go with me? 21:47.000 --> 21:49.000 Yes, sir. 21:49.000 --> 21:51.000 Don't make it any harder on yourself, Mr. Martin. 21:51.000 --> 21:53.000 I want to see my boy. 21:59.000 --> 22:01.000 I promise. 22:04.000 --> 22:07.000 My... my... my... 22:11.000 --> 22:13.000 My... my... 22:14.000 --> 22:16.000 Steve-y? 22:16.000 --> 22:19.000 Listen to me, son. 22:19.000 --> 22:22.000 Think about all the nice things for Christmas. 22:22.000 --> 22:24.000 Do anything you want to. 22:24.000 --> 22:28.000 Think about the three new cars for the train. 22:28.000 --> 22:32.000 The horn with the switch light on it really works, son. 22:32.000 --> 22:35.000 Think about the switch you want it. 22:35.000 --> 22:38.000 You know what's going to happen. 22:40.000 --> 22:43.000 I want to see my son. 22:43.000 --> 22:46.000 My son. 22:46.000 --> 22:48.000 Steve-y. 22:59.000 --> 23:01.000 Look at him. 23:01.000 --> 23:03.000 Look at Steve-y. 23:03.000 --> 23:05.000 Look at him. 23:05.000 --> 23:07.000 Look at him. 23:07.000 --> 23:13.000 Uncle, it's my wife. 23:16.000 --> 23:18.000 Mr. Martin. 23:23.000 --> 23:25.000 I'm sorry. 23:32.000 --> 23:34.000 What happened? 23:34.000 --> 23:36.000 It was an accident. 23:36.000 --> 23:38.000 He was playing with a Johnstone boy up the street. 23:38.000 --> 23:40.000 Playing with a gun. It went off. 23:40.000 --> 23:44.000 What... what would the other boys need? 23:44.000 --> 23:46.000 Family, Johnstone. 23:46.000 --> 23:48.000 It was an accident. 23:48.000 --> 23:50.000 Mr. Martin, where are you going? 23:50.000 --> 23:52.000 I want to see that boy. 23:54.000 --> 23:56.000 We had no idea what the dead boy's father had in mind. 23:56.000 --> 23:58.000 We didn't feel that we should try to restrain him. 23:58.000 --> 24:04.000 We went along with him up the street to the Johnstone home. 24:06.000 --> 24:08.000 I'm Steve-y's father. 24:08.000 --> 24:10.000 Where's your boy? 24:10.000 --> 24:12.000 I'm sorry. 24:12.000 --> 24:14.000 Where's your boy? 24:14.000 --> 24:16.000 He's right here. 24:16.000 --> 24:18.000 Won't you come in? 24:18.000 --> 24:22.000 It's all right, Miss Johnstone. 24:22.000 --> 24:26.000 You're the boy that was with Steve-y. 24:26.000 --> 24:28.000 What's your name? 24:28.000 --> 24:30.000 Daniel. 24:32.000 --> 24:34.000 I'm sorry, Mr. Martin. 24:36.000 --> 24:40.000 I know it wasn't your fault, Stanley. 24:40.000 --> 24:44.000 I wonder if you'd do something for me. 24:44.000 --> 24:46.000 Yes, sir. 24:46.000 --> 24:50.000 I've got a lot of nice presents for Steve-y. 24:50.000 --> 24:54.000 I know he'd want you to have them. 24:54.000 --> 24:56.000 I would have given them to you. 24:56.000 --> 24:58.000 Christmas Eve. 25:02.000 --> 25:08.000 Mom, I think that'd be a fine idea, son. 25:08.000 --> 25:10.000 Come on, Frank. Here. 25:10.000 --> 25:14.000 Well, what's it all prove, Joe? 25:14.000 --> 25:18.000 You don't give a kid a gun for Christmas. 25:26.000 --> 25:28.000 The story you have just heard was true. 25:28.000 --> 25:30.000 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 25:30.000 --> 25:34.720 On December 3rd, the 25:34.720 --> 25:40.720 coroner's inquest was held in the County Mord County of Los Angeles, State of California. 25:40.720 --> 25:44.720 In a moment, the results of that inquest. 25:50.720 --> 25:56.720 At the coroner's inquest, it was officially recorded that Stephen Martin's death was the result of an accident. 25:56.720 --> 26:00.720 Stanley Johnstone was absolved of any legal responsibility for his friend's death. 26:00.720 --> 26:04.720 You have jumped her dragnet. 26:04.720 --> 26:08.720 A series of authentic cases from official files. 26:08.720 --> 26:14.720 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 26:14.720 --> 26:18.720 Technical advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher. 26:18.720 --> 26:27.800 The 26:27.800 --> 26:31.800 tonight were Ben Alexander, William Johnstone, Sammy Ogg. 26:31.800 --> 26:35.800 Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schuman. 26:35.800 --> 27:03.800 Hal Gibney speaking.