WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:08.000 Sound off for Chesterfield. 00:08.000 --> 00:15.360 Chesterfield, the first and only cigarette in America to give you premium quality in 00:15.360 --> 00:27.000 both regular and king size brings you Dragnet. 00:27.000 --> 00:30.880 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. 00:30.880 --> 00:41.640 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:41.640 --> 00:43.120 You're a detective sergeant. 00:43.120 --> 00:45.400 You're assigned the homicide detail. 00:45.400 --> 00:48.080 A young woman tells you that her mother has disappeared. 00:48.080 --> 00:50.000 There's no trace of her whereabouts. 00:50.000 --> 00:52.120 Foul play is suspected. 00:52.120 --> 00:55.120 Your job, investigate. 00:55.120 --> 01:00.320 First, we read you the six months report. 01:00.320 --> 01:02.200 Then the eight months report. 01:02.200 --> 01:06.800 Now here is 10 full months of scientific evidence on smoking Chesterfield. 01:06.800 --> 01:11.760 A medical specialist is making regular bi-monthly examinations of a group of people from various 01:11.760 --> 01:13.320 walks of life. 01:13.320 --> 01:18.880 45% of this group have smoked Chesterfields for an average of over 10 years. 01:18.880 --> 01:24.680 After 10 full months, almost a year now, the specialist reports he observed no adverse 01:24.680 --> 01:30.240 effects on the nose, throat, and sinuses of the group from smoking Chesterfield. 01:30.240 --> 01:31.440 That's the report. 01:31.440 --> 01:37.000 And Chesterfield is the first and only cigarette with premium quality throughout in both regular 01:37.000 --> 01:39.200 and king size. 01:39.200 --> 01:46.280 Fine tobaccos, the world's best, costly moistening agents to keep them always tasty, always fresh, 01:46.280 --> 01:49.160 and the finest cigarette paper money can buy. 01:49.160 --> 01:55.040 Yes, everything that goes into your Chesterfield makes it the premium quality cigarette. 01:55.040 --> 02:00.600 And it's the only cigarette that gives you the scientific evidence of real smoking pleasure. 02:00.600 --> 02:03.560 Try much milder Chesterfield today. 02:03.560 --> 02:06.560 They're best for you. 02:06.560 --> 02:14.800 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 02:14.800 --> 02:19.760 For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 02:19.760 --> 02:24.400 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 02:24.400 --> 02:26.120 police files. 02:26.120 --> 02:31.320 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 02:31.320 --> 02:32.320 in action. 02:32.320 --> 02:38.000 It was Tuesday, August 5th. 02:38.000 --> 02:39.440 It was hot in Los Angeles. 02:39.440 --> 02:41.600 We were working the day watch out of homicide detail. 02:41.600 --> 02:44.760 My partner's Frank Smith, the boss is Thad Brown, chief of detectives. 02:44.760 --> 02:45.760 My name's Friday. 02:45.760 --> 02:50.200 We were on the way out from the office and it was 1046 A.M. when we got to 4298 North 02:50.200 --> 02:51.200 Estrella Street. 02:51.200 --> 02:53.200 The front door. 02:53.200 --> 02:54.200 Hot. 02:54.200 --> 02:55.200 It sure is. 02:55.200 --> 02:56.200 Yes, Mrs. What's her name? 02:56.200 --> 02:57.200 Randall, L. Randall. 02:57.200 --> 02:58.200 Did she say what this was about? 02:58.200 --> 02:59.200 She said that her mother disappeared. 02:59.200 --> 03:00.200 She wanted to talk to us about it. 03:00.200 --> 03:01.200 Yes? 03:01.200 --> 03:02.200 Miss Randall? 03:02.200 --> 03:03.200 Yes, that's right. 03:03.200 --> 03:04.200 Police officers, ma'am. 03:04.200 --> 03:05.200 Oh, yes, come in, won't you? 03:05.200 --> 03:06.200 Thank you. 03:06.200 --> 03:07.200 It's warm out. 03:07.200 --> 03:08.200 I think I'll leave the door open. 03:08.200 --> 03:09.200 Hope the flies don't come in. 03:09.200 --> 03:10.200 My name's Friday, Mrs. Randall. 03:10.200 --> 03:11.200 I'm going to go to the office. 03:11.200 --> 03:12.200 I'll be right back. 03:12.200 --> 03:13.200 I'll be right back. 03:13.200 --> 03:14.960 My name's Friday, Mrs. Randall. 03:14.960 --> 03:16.240 This is my partner, Frank Smith. 03:16.240 --> 03:17.240 How do you do? 03:17.240 --> 03:18.240 How do you do, ma'am? 03:18.240 --> 03:19.600 Could you tell us just what it is you want to see us about? 03:19.600 --> 03:20.600 Well, of course. 03:20.600 --> 03:21.600 Sit down, won't you? 03:21.600 --> 03:22.600 Thank you, Mrs. Randall. 03:22.600 --> 03:23.880 Would you like some tea or something? 03:23.880 --> 03:24.880 I have some ready in the kitchen. 03:24.880 --> 03:25.880 No, thanks. 03:25.880 --> 03:27.880 Tell us what was it about your mother, Mrs. Randall. 03:27.880 --> 03:30.920 Now that you're here, I guess maybe I could be wrong about it. 03:30.920 --> 03:31.920 I was so sure. 03:31.920 --> 03:32.920 What just what is it, ma'am? 03:32.920 --> 03:33.920 Well, mama's gone. 03:33.920 --> 03:36.920 I don't know how long it's been, but she isn't with Papa. 03:36.920 --> 03:38.920 Well, what's your mother's name, Mrs. Randall? 03:38.920 --> 03:39.920 Bertha. 03:39.920 --> 03:40.920 Bertha Schroeder. 03:40.920 --> 03:43.400 Bertha Schroeder, what makes you think there might be something wrong? 03:43.400 --> 03:46.120 You said on the phone that you were pretty sure that something had happened to her. 03:46.120 --> 03:48.160 Well, yes, I guess I ought to start at the beginning. 03:48.160 --> 03:51.080 It's kind of a dull story, but maybe it's the best way. 03:51.080 --> 03:52.080 All right, ma'am. 03:52.080 --> 03:53.680 You sure you wouldn't like a glass of iced tea? 03:53.680 --> 03:54.680 No, thanks, ma'am. 03:54.680 --> 03:55.680 Thanks. 03:55.680 --> 03:56.680 Just the same. 03:56.680 --> 03:57.680 Mind if I get some? 03:57.680 --> 03:58.680 Just take a minute. 03:58.680 --> 03:59.680 All right. 03:59.680 --> 04:02.680 Hey, it's a nice place, huh? 04:02.680 --> 04:03.680 Yeah, it is. 04:03.680 --> 04:04.680 Very decorated nice. 04:04.680 --> 04:06.680 Hey, look at those trivets. 04:06.680 --> 04:07.680 What? 04:07.680 --> 04:08.680 Trivets. 04:08.680 --> 04:09.680 Those little things over the fireplace. 04:09.680 --> 04:10.680 Those brasses. 04:10.680 --> 04:11.680 Yeah. 04:11.680 --> 04:12.680 Faveman wanted some of those. 04:12.680 --> 04:16.120 He used to use them to hold irons, you know, they'd get hot and put them on the ironing 04:16.120 --> 04:17.120 boards so they won't burn the cloth. 04:17.120 --> 04:18.120 Put them on those things? 04:18.120 --> 04:19.120 Yeah. 04:19.120 --> 04:22.840 I brought a couple extra glasses in case you decided you wanted some. 04:22.840 --> 04:26.320 Well, if you'd just go ahead with the story, Mrs. Randall. 04:26.320 --> 04:29.920 Yes, well, to understand it really, you'd have to know Papa. 04:29.920 --> 04:33.040 He came over to this country when he was just a boy, only about 16 or so. 04:33.040 --> 04:35.560 Landed here and couldn't speak more than a dozen words of English. 04:35.560 --> 04:37.200 Went to work in New York. 04:37.200 --> 04:38.600 Worked as a construction man. 04:38.600 --> 04:39.600 Worked hard. 04:39.600 --> 04:41.080 Met Mama there and they got married. 04:41.080 --> 04:43.080 Right after that they moved out here. 04:43.080 --> 04:45.680 Bought a house and Papa went into business for himself. 04:45.680 --> 04:46.680 Yes, ma'am. 04:46.680 --> 04:48.880 Well, maybe it was the life he'd had when he got here. 04:48.880 --> 04:51.960 I don't know, but he always treated Mama like she was so much dirt. 04:51.960 --> 04:52.960 Mean. 04:52.960 --> 04:54.440 Time went on, he got meaner to her. 04:54.440 --> 04:57.520 I remember when us kids were in school, he used to yell at her all the time. 04:57.520 --> 05:00.760 Get in the mood and he wouldn't talk to any of us for days at a time. 05:00.760 --> 05:01.760 Is that so? 05:01.760 --> 05:02.760 I never knew how Mama took it. 05:02.760 --> 05:03.760 She never said anything. 05:03.760 --> 05:05.480 Just stand there and let him scream at her. 05:05.480 --> 05:08.320 And when he was finished, she'd just kind of shrug her shoulders and take his kids out 05:08.320 --> 05:11.240 of the house, walk around for a while and then go back to the house. 05:11.240 --> 05:13.880 By that time, Papa was so mad he wouldn't talk to anyone. 05:13.880 --> 05:14.880 Uh-huh. 05:14.880 --> 05:15.880 Go ahead. 05:15.880 --> 05:16.880 Well, all of us kids married young. 05:16.880 --> 05:17.880 I got married when I was 16. 05:17.880 --> 05:19.880 The rest of the kids weren't much older than that. 05:19.880 --> 05:21.200 Papa didn't want us around after that. 05:21.200 --> 05:23.280 Said for us to get out and make our own way. 05:23.280 --> 05:24.720 Said that we had to. 05:24.720 --> 05:26.720 So there's no reason that we shouldn't. 05:26.720 --> 05:30.760 You sure you don't want some of this? 05:30.760 --> 05:31.760 No, thank you, ma'am. 05:31.760 --> 05:32.760 Thank you very much, ma'am. 05:32.760 --> 05:33.760 Would you mind going ahead, Miss Rudd? 05:33.760 --> 05:34.760 Yeah, yes. 05:34.760 --> 05:37.040 A couple of months ago I tried to call Mama. 05:37.040 --> 05:38.800 The operator told me that the phone had been disconnected. 05:38.800 --> 05:40.200 May I make a pardon? 05:40.200 --> 05:43.240 The operator told me that the phone had been disconnected when I tried to get hold of Mama. 05:43.240 --> 05:44.240 I see. 05:44.240 --> 05:45.240 Now, I waited a couple of days. 05:45.240 --> 05:46.960 You know, I figured that maybe she'd call me. 05:46.960 --> 05:47.960 Yes, ma'am. 05:47.960 --> 05:48.960 Well, she didn't. 05:48.960 --> 05:51.400 You see, once we were out of the house, none of us went back. 05:51.400 --> 05:53.280 Papa's retired and none of us wanted to see him. 05:53.280 --> 05:55.720 It's a terrible thing to say, Mr. Friday, but it's true. 05:55.720 --> 05:56.720 Ma'am? 05:56.720 --> 05:57.720 We all hated him. 05:57.720 --> 06:00.440 All of us kids, for what he'd done to us, the beatings and all. 06:00.440 --> 06:01.960 But most for what he'd done to Mama. 06:01.960 --> 06:04.240 She was only 52 and she looked like she was 92. 06:04.240 --> 06:06.280 It was terrible the way he treated her. 06:06.280 --> 06:07.280 I see. 06:07.280 --> 06:10.320 Like I said, we'd never go over there, but Mama would come to see us whenever she could. 06:10.320 --> 06:13.320 She'd come over, visit for a little bit, you know, talk about the kids and things. 06:13.320 --> 06:14.320 Yes, ma'am. 06:14.320 --> 06:17.720 Well, I didn't hear from her and I got a little worried that maybe she was sick. 06:17.720 --> 06:18.720 She was. 06:18.720 --> 06:21.880 I know that Papa wouldn't tell us, so I went over to the old house and I rang the bell. 06:21.880 --> 06:25.960 I was kind of braced because I thought I'd see Papa and there'd be an argument, but there 06:25.960 --> 06:26.960 wasn't. 06:26.960 --> 06:27.960 Ma'am? 06:27.960 --> 06:28.960 No argument. 06:28.960 --> 06:29.960 Papa didn't answer the door. 06:29.960 --> 06:32.400 Some young woman answered it and I asked if I could see Mrs. Schroeder. 06:32.400 --> 06:34.640 Right away I knew there was something wrong. 06:34.640 --> 06:36.000 Well, how was that, ma'am? 06:36.000 --> 06:37.640 Well, I could see inside the front door. 06:37.640 --> 06:39.240 The living room had all been changed around. 06:39.240 --> 06:40.240 There was new furniture. 06:40.240 --> 06:41.920 It looked like the walls had been painted, too. 06:41.920 --> 06:44.360 What did the woman say when you asked for your mother? 06:44.360 --> 06:45.720 She said they didn't live there anymore. 06:45.720 --> 06:49.240 She said that they'd rented the house, you know, and that they'd been living there for 06:49.240 --> 06:50.240 the past month. 06:50.240 --> 06:53.680 Well, at first I don't think I believed her. 06:53.680 --> 06:56.360 I asked her who rented the house to her and she said Papa did. 06:56.360 --> 06:58.120 Then I asked her where he was. 06:58.120 --> 06:59.120 What'd she say to that? 06:59.120 --> 07:00.120 Well, she gave me his address. 07:00.120 --> 07:01.120 I went over there to talk to him. 07:01.120 --> 07:03.200 It was a little tiny apartment just off La Brea. 07:03.200 --> 07:04.800 He said that Mama was gone. 07:04.800 --> 07:07.840 I asked him where she'd gone and he said that she was on a vacation. 07:07.840 --> 07:11.320 Well, I know him well enough to know that he'd never let her go away. 07:11.320 --> 07:14.680 He'd be no one to dine in socks and keep the house clean. 07:14.680 --> 07:16.760 I wanted to know where she'd gone on this vacation. 07:16.760 --> 07:18.080 He said back to the old country. 07:18.080 --> 07:20.080 He said she wanted to see her family. 07:20.080 --> 07:23.320 He said that they'd gotten a letter from her sister that she was sick and wanted to see 07:23.320 --> 07:24.320 Mama. 07:24.320 --> 07:25.320 Well, right then I called him a liar. 07:25.320 --> 07:27.080 I told him right to his face that he was lying. 07:27.080 --> 07:28.880 I kind of thought that he'd hit the ceiling, but he didn't. 07:28.880 --> 07:32.000 He just smiled and said that I had no call to say anything like that. 07:32.000 --> 07:33.600 He asked me why I said it. 07:33.600 --> 07:34.880 What was that? 07:34.880 --> 07:35.880 You thought that he'd hit what? 07:35.880 --> 07:38.400 Well, I thought that he'd hit the ceiling when I said that to him, when I called him 07:38.400 --> 07:40.080 a liar, I mean, you know. 07:40.080 --> 07:43.160 I told him that if Mama had left, she'd have written, maybe not to me, but to one of the 07:43.160 --> 07:44.160 kids. 07:44.160 --> 07:48.400 I called around and when I didn't hear from her, none of the kids had either. 07:48.400 --> 07:49.400 They were all worried about her too. 07:49.400 --> 07:50.400 I see. 07:50.400 --> 07:51.960 Well, what do you say to that? 07:51.960 --> 07:55.640 He said he couldn't understand it so that he'd gotten a letter, that he'd gotten it 07:55.640 --> 07:59.920 not more than a day or so before, that she'd arrived safe and was having a wonderful time. 07:59.920 --> 08:00.920 This was a letter? 08:00.920 --> 08:02.600 Yes, this was a letter he'd gotten from Mama. 08:02.600 --> 08:04.360 Well, I told him I thought he was lying. 08:04.360 --> 08:06.560 Then he said that he'd show me the letter. 08:06.560 --> 08:07.560 Well, did he? 08:07.560 --> 08:11.080 Well, yeah, he showed me the letter, but he wouldn't show me the envelope, just the letter. 08:11.080 --> 08:12.960 He said he'd thrown the envelope away. 08:12.960 --> 08:15.040 Well, was the letter from your mother, ma'am? 08:15.040 --> 08:18.760 Well, sort of from the words it was, told all about her trip and how she was enjoying 08:18.760 --> 08:22.000 herself, said that she was with her sister and that she was getting better, and then 08:22.000 --> 08:24.240 she went on to tell how much she missed Papa and all. 08:24.240 --> 08:25.240 Uh-huh. 08:25.240 --> 08:27.240 Right away, I could tell that it wasn't Mama's handwriting. 08:27.240 --> 08:28.240 She never wrote that letter. 08:28.240 --> 08:29.240 May I be pardoned? 08:29.240 --> 08:32.160 I said that I knew it wasn't Mama's writing on that letter. 08:32.160 --> 08:33.160 Yeah, well... 08:33.160 --> 08:35.440 Well, that's when I thought about calling you. 08:35.440 --> 08:39.080 Then later I remembered something, and then I made up my mind about calling you. 08:39.080 --> 08:40.080 What was that, Miss Randall? 08:40.080 --> 08:42.840 Well, Mama only had one sister living. 08:42.840 --> 08:45.920 She died three years ago. 08:45.920 --> 08:49.940 11.13 a.m. 08:49.940 --> 08:51.720 We continued to talk to Ella Randall. 08:51.720 --> 08:55.620 She told us that she was sure that her mother would not have gone off of her own free will. 08:55.620 --> 08:58.880 She said that when she last saw Mrs. Schroeder, she appeared to be in good health and in good 08:58.880 --> 08:59.940 spirits. 08:59.940 --> 09:02.760 We got the names and addresses of the other children in the Schroeder family. 09:02.760 --> 09:05.640 We also got the address of the Schroeder relatives in Europe. 09:05.640 --> 09:08.680 Ella Randall told us that we could find her father at the apartment, and she gave us the 09:08.680 --> 09:09.680 address. 09:09.680 --> 09:10.680 12.15 p.m. 09:10.680 --> 09:12.560 Frank and I drove over to see him. 09:12.560 --> 09:14.320 This is ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. 09:14.320 --> 09:17.480 Well, maybe so, sir, but we'd like to see the letter that came from your wife. 09:17.480 --> 09:20.560 Well, officer, I'd like very much to show it to you, really. 09:20.560 --> 09:21.560 I would, but I can't. 09:21.560 --> 09:22.560 Why not, sir? 09:22.560 --> 09:24.880 There are a few reasons that I haven't got it anymore. 09:24.880 --> 09:27.520 I destroyed it, burned it a couple of days ago. 09:27.520 --> 09:28.960 Who was your wife staying with, sir? 09:28.960 --> 09:29.960 With her sister. 09:29.960 --> 09:30.960 Uh-huh. 09:30.960 --> 09:34.040 Well, from what we can find out, sir, your wife's sister died three years ago. 09:34.040 --> 09:36.120 How could your wife be staying with her? 09:36.120 --> 09:37.120 Oh, all right. 09:37.120 --> 09:39.880 I suppose I might as well tell you about it. 09:39.880 --> 09:41.680 It doesn't seem to be any other way. 09:41.680 --> 09:42.680 All right, sir. 09:42.680 --> 09:43.680 Go right ahead. 09:43.680 --> 09:46.280 First off, my wife is not in the old country. 09:46.280 --> 09:49.360 She's not with her sister, but you heard is true. 09:49.360 --> 09:50.360 Uh-huh. 09:50.360 --> 09:53.520 Officer, what I have to tell you is very hard to say. 09:53.520 --> 09:55.800 I find it hard to find the right words. 09:55.800 --> 09:56.800 That's all right, sir. 09:56.800 --> 09:57.800 You just go ahead. 09:57.800 --> 09:59.880 We've been married for 30 years. 09:59.880 --> 10:03.600 30 years, man and wife, and then she did this. 10:03.600 --> 10:05.760 Almost broke my heart, officers. 10:05.760 --> 10:07.080 Is one of you married? 10:07.080 --> 10:08.080 Oh, yes, sir. 10:08.080 --> 10:09.080 My partner here is. 10:09.080 --> 10:10.720 Then you would know what I mean. 10:10.720 --> 10:12.040 You'd know how it is. 10:12.040 --> 10:13.040 Sir? 10:13.040 --> 10:14.040 She left me. 10:14.040 --> 10:15.920 Back to things and left. 10:15.920 --> 10:17.120 Didn't give me any reason. 10:17.120 --> 10:19.280 Just said she didn't want to be my wife anymore. 10:19.280 --> 10:22.360 He said she didn't want to share my roof. 10:22.360 --> 10:23.360 Just left. 10:23.360 --> 10:24.360 30 years. 10:24.360 --> 10:26.480 All that time, and she left. 10:26.480 --> 10:29.320 What kind of terms were you and your wife on, sir? 10:29.320 --> 10:30.320 What do you mean, this term? 10:30.320 --> 10:32.280 Well, did you and your wife get along all right? 10:32.280 --> 10:33.280 Were you happy? 10:33.280 --> 10:34.280 Certainly. 10:34.280 --> 10:35.760 As I said, we were married 30 years. 10:35.760 --> 10:37.120 Yes, sir, I understand that. 10:37.120 --> 10:38.640 But did you ever have any quarrels? 10:38.640 --> 10:41.360 Sergeant, all married people have quarrels. 10:41.360 --> 10:42.680 Maybe the house isn't clean. 10:42.680 --> 10:44.720 Maybe dinner isn't big enough. 10:44.720 --> 10:46.680 Maybe the children get too loud. 10:46.680 --> 10:48.480 All married couples have quarrels. 10:48.480 --> 10:49.480 It's part of living together. 10:49.480 --> 10:52.360 Well, from what we understand, sir, some of the arguments you and your wife had were 10:52.360 --> 10:53.600 pretty serious. 10:53.600 --> 10:55.760 The people who said that are liars. 10:55.760 --> 10:56.760 They seem pretty sure. 10:56.760 --> 10:58.480 Liars, that's what they are. 10:58.480 --> 11:02.960 Oh, sometimes maybe I'd forget myself, get a little loud, but serious never. 11:02.960 --> 11:06.040 How'd you get along with your children, Mr. Shorter? 11:06.040 --> 11:07.040 My children? 11:07.040 --> 11:08.040 Yes, sir, that's right. 11:08.040 --> 11:09.040 How'd you get along with them? 11:09.040 --> 11:11.040 All right, they were a little wild. 11:11.040 --> 11:13.040 All children over here are like that, wild. 11:13.040 --> 11:16.520 They don't respect their elders, but I got along good. 11:16.520 --> 11:18.640 Seems to be a difference of opinion on that too, sir. 11:18.640 --> 11:21.320 We've heard that you and your children went on two friendly terms. 11:21.320 --> 11:22.800 And you believe this? 11:22.800 --> 11:24.960 You think that this is true? 11:24.960 --> 11:28.760 Mr. Fryley, Mr. Smith, these were my own flesh and blood. 11:28.760 --> 11:31.000 I loved them, still do. 11:31.000 --> 11:32.520 Maybe that sounds hard to believe. 11:32.520 --> 11:34.000 I can imagine what you've heard. 11:34.000 --> 11:35.000 I know. 11:35.000 --> 11:36.880 I've heard about this before. 11:36.880 --> 11:38.680 I know who told you. 11:38.680 --> 11:40.960 You didn't think I'd know, but I do. 11:40.960 --> 11:44.160 It was Ella, wasn't it? 11:44.160 --> 11:45.160 Wasn't it? 11:45.160 --> 11:46.160 Who told us isn't important, sir? 11:46.160 --> 11:47.160 But it is. 11:47.160 --> 11:51.240 You see, this is very hard for me to say. 11:51.240 --> 11:54.400 Thirty years married and it is all a mistake. 11:54.400 --> 11:55.720 I knew it from the start. 11:55.720 --> 11:57.200 She was a shrew, Mr. Fryley. 11:57.200 --> 11:59.280 I knew it right away, a shrew. 11:59.280 --> 12:00.280 Sir? 12:00.280 --> 12:04.520 My wife, Berta, almost from the day we were married, she was a nag. 12:04.520 --> 12:09.480 All I wanted in life was to do a day's work and come home and read the paper, maybe have 12:09.480 --> 12:10.920 a pipe of tobacco. 12:10.920 --> 12:14.020 Rest, work, and have my home. 12:14.020 --> 12:17.680 Maybe someday when the children were grown, they'd say, Papa was good. 12:17.680 --> 12:20.520 He gave us a good house and he was good. 12:20.520 --> 12:21.520 That's all I wanted. 12:21.520 --> 12:22.520 Yes, sir? 12:22.520 --> 12:23.840 Berta didn't want that. 12:23.840 --> 12:27.120 Always wanted more for the children, she said. 12:27.120 --> 12:31.480 When I wouldn't kill myself at work, she'd get angry, talk loud to me. 12:31.480 --> 12:32.920 All I wanted was peace. 12:32.920 --> 12:36.360 When the children came along, she taught them just like her. 12:36.360 --> 12:37.360 How do you mean, sir? 12:37.360 --> 12:40.480 She taught them what a mean man I was, turned them against me. 12:40.480 --> 12:43.960 My own children taught them to hate their father, their own father. 12:43.960 --> 12:44.960 Yes, sir. 12:44.960 --> 12:46.920 Well, why didn't you tell your children that your wife left you? 12:46.920 --> 12:48.800 No, Mr. Fryley, I couldn't. 12:48.800 --> 12:49.880 This would break their hearts. 12:49.880 --> 12:52.800 They might hate me, but I don't want them to hate their mother. 12:52.800 --> 12:54.280 I couldn't do that. 12:54.280 --> 12:56.260 The Lord would never forgive me for that. 12:56.260 --> 12:58.160 Have you heard from your wife at all since she left? 12:58.160 --> 12:59.160 Not a word. 12:59.160 --> 13:01.440 I made up that letter so the children wouldn't find out. 13:01.440 --> 13:02.440 I couldn't have that. 13:02.440 --> 13:04.440 Did she take any money with her, would you know that? 13:04.440 --> 13:05.440 Yes, she did. 13:05.440 --> 13:07.520 We have a joint account as a bank two blocks over. 13:07.520 --> 13:09.480 She made a large withdrawal the day she left. 13:09.480 --> 13:11.480 Well, Mr. Schroeder, why did you rent your house? 13:11.480 --> 13:13.080 It was sold by myself. 13:13.080 --> 13:14.400 The house was full of Berta. 13:14.400 --> 13:15.720 All the things were hers. 13:15.720 --> 13:18.040 Everywhere I looked, I saw her. 13:18.040 --> 13:19.120 It hurt me, Mr. Smith. 13:19.120 --> 13:21.880 I had to get out, so I came here. 13:21.880 --> 13:26.080 It's not much, but I can read the paper, and I'll send in a pipe of tobacco. 13:26.080 --> 13:27.080 It's peaceful. 13:27.080 --> 13:28.080 It's all I need. 13:28.080 --> 13:30.640 What did you do with your wife's personal effects? 13:30.640 --> 13:32.240 I don't think I understand, Sergeant. 13:32.240 --> 13:34.720 Her clothes, the furniture from the house, things like that. 13:34.720 --> 13:35.720 They're in storage. 13:35.720 --> 13:38.640 I had some men come out and take all of it away, stored it away. 13:38.640 --> 13:42.360 I thought that maybe someday Berta would come back and we could take up where we left 13:42.360 --> 13:43.360 off. 13:43.360 --> 13:45.880 Yes, could you give us the name of the storage company where you left the furniture? 13:45.880 --> 13:46.880 Certainly. 13:46.880 --> 13:47.880 It's out on Peacock. 13:47.880 --> 13:48.880 I can give you the address. 13:48.880 --> 13:49.880 Is that important? 13:49.880 --> 13:50.880 No, sir, not really. 13:50.880 --> 13:51.880 We ought to check. 13:51.880 --> 13:54.760 Don't you think it might be better if you told your daughter about all this or about what's 13:54.760 --> 13:55.760 happened? 13:55.760 --> 13:58.400 No, Mr. Smith, it wouldn't prove anything, nothing at all. 13:58.400 --> 13:59.720 Well, that's the way you want it, sir. 13:59.720 --> 14:00.920 There's nothing we can do about it. 14:00.920 --> 14:03.400 It's better, Mr. Friday, believe me, I know. 14:03.400 --> 14:07.360 If they hate me, there's not much I can do about it, but I don't want to bring them any 14:07.360 --> 14:08.360 unhappiness. 14:08.360 --> 14:09.360 I couldn't do that. 14:09.360 --> 14:10.360 Yes, sir. 14:10.360 --> 14:11.360 I'm 65 years old, Mr. Friday. 14:11.360 --> 14:14.440 I've worked hard all the time, harder than most men. 14:14.440 --> 14:15.440 Had four children. 14:15.440 --> 14:16.440 They're all grown. 14:16.440 --> 14:18.160 They have families of their own. 14:18.160 --> 14:20.160 All this, and I've got nothing. 14:20.160 --> 14:22.240 But lonely days and empty nights. 14:22.240 --> 14:23.240 Yes. 14:23.240 --> 14:25.240 It's an awful thing, just awful. 14:25.240 --> 14:26.240 Sir? 14:26.240 --> 14:29.800 To work all your life and have nothing to show for it. 14:29.800 --> 14:37.640 1.37 p.m. We got the address of the storage company from Henry Schroeder, and then Frank 14:37.640 --> 14:39.840 and I left to go back to the office. 14:39.840 --> 14:41.880 At this point, we had two stories. 14:41.880 --> 14:42.880 Both of them could be true. 14:42.880 --> 14:44.080 Both of them could be lies. 14:44.080 --> 14:45.680 There was no way of knowing. 14:45.680 --> 14:48.880 In the meantime, it was merely a matter of checking until it could be proved one way or 14:48.880 --> 14:49.880 the other. 14:49.880 --> 14:51.480 We had a little action we could take. 14:51.480 --> 14:55.400 2.15 p.m. Frank and I checked back into the office, and I put in a call to the storage 14:55.400 --> 14:56.400 house. 14:56.400 --> 14:57.400 Yes, sir. 14:57.400 --> 14:58.400 I'll wait while you're checking, huh? 14:58.400 --> 14:59.400 I don't know, Joe. 14:59.400 --> 15:01.360 It sure seems like the old guy is telling the truth. 15:01.360 --> 15:03.440 Oh, we checked this out while no one were the other. 15:03.440 --> 15:05.120 Such a nice little guy. 15:05.120 --> 15:07.000 Seems hard to believe that he'd do anything wrong. 15:07.000 --> 15:08.000 Yes, sir. 15:08.000 --> 15:09.000 Yes, sir, what was that? 15:09.000 --> 15:10.000 Uh-huh. 15:10.000 --> 15:11.000 Could you tell me when? 15:11.000 --> 15:13.000 What was the name? 15:13.000 --> 15:14.000 Mm-hmm. 15:14.000 --> 15:15.000 That's right. 15:15.000 --> 15:16.000 Yes, sir. 15:16.000 --> 15:17.000 All right. 15:17.000 --> 15:18.000 Uh-huh. 15:18.000 --> 15:19.000 Thanks very much. 15:19.000 --> 15:20.000 What's that? 15:20.000 --> 15:21.000 That's Joe Friday, F.R.I.D. 15:21.000 --> 15:22.360 Yeah, that's right. 15:22.360 --> 15:24.880 Michigan 5211, extension 2521. 15:24.880 --> 15:25.880 Right. 15:25.880 --> 15:28.000 All right, thanks again. 15:28.000 --> 15:29.720 How about it? 15:29.720 --> 15:31.040 He stored the furniture, all right? 15:31.040 --> 15:32.040 Yeah. 15:32.040 --> 15:33.040 I remembered him. 15:33.040 --> 15:34.040 Talked to him a couple of weeks ago. 15:34.040 --> 15:35.040 Uh-huh. 15:35.040 --> 15:40.480 Told him to sell everything. 15:40.480 --> 15:42.860 We drove out to the storage house and talked to the owner. 15:42.860 --> 15:45.820 He said that Schroeder had called them out to pack the furniture, and then he ordered 15:45.820 --> 15:46.820 it stored. 15:46.820 --> 15:50.560 A week later, he called back and told them to dispose of all the furnishings and personal 15:50.560 --> 15:51.880 effects. 15:51.880 --> 15:54.840 We called Schroeder's bank, and they told us that there'd been no large withdrawals 15:54.840 --> 15:56.360 on the date of her disappearance. 15:56.360 --> 15:59.040 Also, she'd drawn no checks since. 15:59.040 --> 16:02.040 We got in touch with the other children, and they verified their sister's story. 16:02.040 --> 16:05.760 They all said that the father was hard to live with and had on several occasions struck 16:05.760 --> 16:07.100 Mrs. Schroeder. 16:07.100 --> 16:10.500 They told us that it was possible that she had left her husband, but that she would certainly 16:10.500 --> 16:13.020 have gotten in touch with one of them if she had. 16:13.020 --> 16:16.680 They said that as far as they knew, Mrs. Schroeder was in good health, and she was in good condition 16:16.680 --> 16:18.000 mentally. 16:18.000 --> 16:21.180 One of the daughters said that they were planning on a shopping trip to buy school clothes for 16:21.180 --> 16:22.180 one of the grandchildren. 16:22.180 --> 16:25.680 The woman went on to say that as far as she knew, Mrs. Schroeder would not have left without 16:25.680 --> 16:29.760 saying something to her about not being able to keep the appointment. 16:29.760 --> 16:31.440 We got in touch with Ella Randall. 16:31.440 --> 16:34.520 She said that she would like to accompany us when we talked to the neighbors of the Schroeder 16:34.520 --> 16:35.520 woman. 16:35.520 --> 16:37.760 She said that she could point out her mother's friends and that she would be able to trace 16:37.760 --> 16:40.240 her mother's movements about the neighborhood for us. 16:40.240 --> 16:41.680 Four fifteen p.m. 16:41.680 --> 16:42.680 We picked her up. 16:42.680 --> 16:46.240 We talked to the neighbors, and they told us of hearing loud voices coming from the house. 16:46.240 --> 16:50.040 They said that Mr. Schroeder was always angry at his wife, and he made no attempt to hide 16:50.040 --> 16:51.040 it. 16:51.040 --> 16:52.400 Seven thirty p.m. 16:52.400 --> 16:54.680 We went on to talk to the people who had rented the Schroeder home. 16:54.680 --> 16:55.680 Come on in. 16:55.680 --> 16:58.080 Thank you very much, Mr. Armstrong. 16:58.080 --> 16:59.880 This is my partner, Frank Smith. 16:59.880 --> 17:00.880 This is Mrs. Randall. 17:00.880 --> 17:01.880 Yes, Mrs. Randall. 17:01.880 --> 17:02.880 I've met before. 17:02.880 --> 17:03.880 How are you, Mrs. Randall? 17:03.880 --> 17:04.880 How are you, Mr. Armstrong? 17:04.880 --> 17:05.880 What's this all about? 17:05.880 --> 17:10.400 We'd like to ask you some questions about the Schroeders, if we could. 17:10.400 --> 17:12.840 Well, Mrs. Randall here would be able to answer them better for you. 17:12.840 --> 17:13.840 They're her parents. 17:13.840 --> 17:16.440 Yes, sir, we'd like some information from you, if we could. 17:16.440 --> 17:17.440 All right, go ahead. 17:17.440 --> 17:20.160 I don't think there's much I can tell you. 17:20.160 --> 17:22.080 Did you see Mr. Schroeder when you rented the house? 17:22.080 --> 17:24.600 No, come to think about it, I didn't. 17:24.600 --> 17:27.600 Mr. Schroeder talked about her, but I didn't see her when we took the house. 17:27.600 --> 17:28.600 Uh-huh. 17:28.600 --> 17:30.920 How did Mr. Schroeder act when you rented the place? 17:30.920 --> 17:31.920 I don't think I understand. 17:31.920 --> 17:35.000 Well, did he seem upset, anything at all unusual about him? 17:35.000 --> 17:36.800 As a matter of fact, there was. 17:36.800 --> 17:37.800 What was that, sir? 17:37.800 --> 17:39.800 Well, the house was kind of old. 17:39.800 --> 17:42.600 You know, paint missing from some of the woodwork. 17:42.600 --> 17:44.800 Some of the paper was a little faded. 17:44.800 --> 17:47.840 We asked him if he planned to fix it up before we moved it. 17:47.840 --> 17:48.840 You know, if we could foot the bill. 17:48.840 --> 17:49.840 Yes, sir, we understand. 17:49.840 --> 17:52.640 All right, well, I can't expect an argument. 17:52.640 --> 17:54.800 He just seemed like that kind of a guy. 17:54.800 --> 17:56.680 You know, who wouldn't spend a nickel to get a half-to. 17:56.680 --> 17:57.680 Uh-huh. 17:57.680 --> 17:58.680 It wasn't like that. 17:58.680 --> 18:02.080 The smile, the same thing that we wanted, he'd have done. 18:02.080 --> 18:03.080 Real nice. 18:03.080 --> 18:04.840 Sure hasn't caused any trouble. 18:04.840 --> 18:06.880 Of course, there's no reason for him to. 18:06.880 --> 18:09.080 We'd pay the rent on time, take care of the lawn and the flowers. 18:09.080 --> 18:11.080 I think we're pretty good tenants. 18:11.080 --> 18:12.720 Sure is a difference. 18:12.720 --> 18:14.120 Never looked like this when we lived here. 18:14.120 --> 18:17.080 I remember that Mama would ask him to paint the place a little. 18:17.080 --> 18:18.080 Always raised the roof. 18:18.080 --> 18:19.720 Said there wasn't any reason to do it. 18:19.720 --> 18:23.240 Said to wait until the kids were grown and appreciated the house. 18:23.240 --> 18:24.240 Not like that with us. 18:24.240 --> 18:26.440 Well, he was with his own family. 18:26.440 --> 18:29.240 Even when we were gone, after we left the house, he said that there wasn't any reason 18:29.240 --> 18:30.240 to fix the place up. 18:30.240 --> 18:33.160 Said that Mama and him were the only people who ever saw the inside of it and it didn't 18:33.160 --> 18:34.160 matter to them. 18:34.160 --> 18:36.840 Like I said, couldn't ask for a better landlord. 18:36.840 --> 18:39.680 Well, I kind of hate to ask this. 18:39.680 --> 18:40.680 Yeah. 18:40.680 --> 18:43.120 Well, I wondered if I could see the rest of the house. 18:43.120 --> 18:45.760 I'd kind of like to see what he did to it. 18:45.760 --> 18:47.760 Well, I guess it's okay. 18:47.760 --> 18:50.520 If it won't take too long, I gotta eat pretty quick. 18:50.520 --> 18:51.520 Got a bowl tonight. 18:51.520 --> 18:53.520 The team's playing the league championship tonight. 18:53.520 --> 18:54.520 Just a look. 18:54.520 --> 18:55.520 I won't keep you. 18:55.520 --> 18:56.520 Okay. 18:56.520 --> 18:57.520 Well, you know the house. 18:57.520 --> 18:58.520 Yes. 18:58.520 --> 18:59.520 This is the living room. 18:59.520 --> 19:01.520 The bedrooms are down the hall. 19:01.520 --> 19:02.520 This is the dining room. 19:02.520 --> 19:03.520 Oh, pretty paper. 19:03.520 --> 19:07.040 It made Mama so happy to have this. 19:07.040 --> 19:08.040 Here's a bath. 19:08.040 --> 19:09.040 All new tile. 19:09.040 --> 19:10.040 Just beautiful. 19:10.040 --> 19:11.040 Yeah, makes it nice. 19:11.040 --> 19:14.880 It's a master bedroom. 19:14.880 --> 19:15.880 This was Papa's room. 19:15.880 --> 19:16.880 It sure is nice. 19:16.880 --> 19:17.880 Oh, look at the pretty curtains. 19:17.880 --> 19:18.880 Those are ours. 19:18.880 --> 19:23.320 We said he'd put drapes in every one of them, but Sally, it's her wife. 19:23.320 --> 19:24.320 She likes curtains. 19:24.320 --> 19:25.320 Uh-huh. 19:25.320 --> 19:26.320 You do too. 19:26.320 --> 19:30.640 Here's this, the oldest boy. 19:30.640 --> 19:31.640 This was Mom's room. 19:31.640 --> 19:32.640 Oh, it's just beautiful. 19:32.640 --> 19:34.640 That's a beautiful carpet. 19:34.640 --> 19:36.800 Yeah, he put that in too. 19:36.800 --> 19:39.480 Didn't even have to ask for that, it's own idea. 19:39.480 --> 19:40.480 Older world carpeting. 19:40.480 --> 19:41.480 Mama always wanted it. 19:41.480 --> 19:43.480 The only room in the house that has it. 19:43.480 --> 19:46.000 Do you have a cellar in this house, Mr. Armstrong? 19:46.000 --> 19:47.000 Yeah. 19:47.000 --> 19:48.000 We use it for the freezer. 19:48.000 --> 19:50.760 Sally puts up canned goods in the summer, keep them down there. 19:50.760 --> 19:52.240 I wonder if we could see it, please. 19:52.240 --> 19:54.800 Sure, but there isn't any change down there. 19:54.800 --> 19:56.080 He didn't do anything with the cellar. 19:56.080 --> 19:57.080 Yeah, sir. 19:57.080 --> 19:58.080 It's all right, though. 19:58.080 --> 19:59.080 We'd like to see it. 19:59.080 --> 20:00.080 Oh, sure. 20:00.080 --> 20:01.080 I'd like to make it fast, though. 20:01.080 --> 20:02.080 I gotta eat, you know. 20:02.080 --> 20:03.080 Yeah, sir, we understand. 20:03.080 --> 20:04.080 It won't take very long here. 20:04.080 --> 20:05.080 Sure is down this way. 20:05.080 --> 20:08.120 Had to run electricity down there for the freezer. 20:08.120 --> 20:11.760 I guess he'd have done it, but it was just an extension cord. 20:11.760 --> 20:14.800 Thought about having it done permanently, but no real reason to. 20:14.800 --> 20:15.800 I understand. 20:15.800 --> 20:17.800 I'll go ahead and get the light. 20:17.800 --> 20:18.800 Yeah, sir. 20:18.800 --> 20:19.800 You want to wait here, Miss Randall? 20:19.800 --> 20:20.800 Why? 20:20.800 --> 20:21.800 Well, no reason, ma'am. 20:21.800 --> 20:22.800 We just thought it might be better. 20:22.800 --> 20:24.800 Well, all right, I'll wait in the living room. 20:24.800 --> 20:25.800 All right, thank you. 20:25.800 --> 20:26.800 Come on, Frank. 20:26.800 --> 20:27.800 Yeah. 20:27.800 --> 20:33.200 Not very big, just room enough for the freezer and a few shelves. 20:33.200 --> 20:34.200 Uh-huh. 20:34.200 --> 20:35.200 Some ant floor, huh? 20:35.200 --> 20:36.200 Yeah. 20:36.200 --> 20:37.200 Frank? 20:37.200 --> 20:38.200 I'm gonna swing that light up here. 20:38.200 --> 20:39.200 I want to check something here. 20:39.200 --> 20:40.200 Oh, sure. 20:40.200 --> 20:41.200 What's this room under, Mr. Armstrong? 20:41.200 --> 20:42.200 I mean, what's above it? 20:42.200 --> 20:43.200 Let's see. 20:43.200 --> 20:44.200 That'd be the master bedroom about to there. 20:44.200 --> 20:45.200 Uh-huh. 20:45.200 --> 20:46.200 The room next to the beginning there. 20:46.200 --> 20:47.200 Uh-huh. 20:47.200 --> 20:48.200 That'd be Mrs. Schroeder's room, wouldn't it? 20:48.200 --> 20:49.200 Mm-hmm. 20:49.200 --> 20:50.200 From what Mrs. Randall said, yeah. 20:50.200 --> 20:51.200 Uh-huh. 20:51.200 --> 20:52.200 You got a piece of paper, sir? 20:52.200 --> 20:53.200 I'd like to get up on the freezer. 20:53.200 --> 20:54.200 I don't want to scratch it here. 20:54.200 --> 20:55.200 Why, something you want? 20:55.200 --> 20:56.200 Well, I just like to look. 20:56.200 --> 20:57.200 Have a piece of paper, cardboard, anything, cloth. 20:57.200 --> 20:58.200 I don't see any. 20:58.200 --> 20:59.200 Go ahead. 20:59.200 --> 21:00.200 Just don't scratch your foot. 21:00.200 --> 21:07.200 It'll be all right. 21:07.200 --> 21:08.200 All right, Frank. 21:08.200 --> 21:09.200 Swing the light around, will you? 21:09.200 --> 21:10.200 Yeah. 21:10.200 --> 21:11.200 What is it, John? 21:11.200 --> 21:12.200 I'm not sure. 21:12.200 --> 21:13.200 You got your flash? 21:13.200 --> 21:14.200 Yeah. 21:14.200 --> 21:15.200 Here you go. 21:15.200 --> 21:16.200 All right. 21:16.200 --> 21:17.200 Okay. 21:17.200 --> 21:18.200 What is it? 21:18.200 --> 21:19.200 What do you see up there? 21:19.200 --> 21:20.200 I better call the crime lab and get him out here. 21:20.200 --> 21:21.200 What is it? 21:21.200 --> 21:22.200 Seep through the floor. 21:22.200 --> 21:23.200 What's that? 21:23.200 --> 21:42.840 Looks like blood. 21:42.840 --> 21:49.040 You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action. 21:49.040 --> 21:54.480 All over America, smokers are changing to Chesterfield because Chesterfield is the first 21:54.480 --> 22:00.800 and only cigarette with premium quality throughout in both regular and king size. 22:00.800 --> 22:06.320 King size Chesterfield contains tobaccos of better quality and higher price than any other 22:06.320 --> 22:08.440 king size cigarette. 22:08.440 --> 22:11.520 That's certainly important to every king size smoker. 22:11.520 --> 22:15.160 Of course, it's the same fine tobacco as in regular Chesterfield. 22:15.160 --> 22:20.520 So remember, the modern way to sell cigarettes is the Chesterfield way. 22:20.520 --> 22:27.280 First and only cigarette with premium quality throughout in both regular and king size. 22:27.280 --> 22:29.920 Chesterfield is much milder. 22:29.920 --> 22:36.080 Chesterfield is best for you. 22:36.080 --> 22:46.120 814 p.m. The crime lab was called and they came out to go over the place. 22:46.120 --> 22:50.320 A benzidine test was run on the stains and it was proved that they were blood stains. 22:50.320 --> 22:54.080 The carpet in the bedroom was removed and additional stains were uncovered. 22:54.080 --> 22:57.120 Frank and I checked the cellar floor, but it was solid and there was no evidence that 22:57.120 --> 22:58.960 any part of it had been torn up. 22:58.960 --> 23:02.320 A preliminary check was made of the yard, but we found nothing. 23:02.320 --> 23:05.720 The next morning at 758 a.m. we called the crime lab. 23:05.720 --> 23:09.360 They'd finished their investigation and told us that the stains were made by human blood. 23:09.360 --> 23:13.320 810 a.m. Frank and I drove out to the house to continue our investigation. 23:13.320 --> 23:15.160 Boy, it's going to be a scorcher. 23:15.160 --> 23:16.160 Yeah, it looks that way. 23:16.160 --> 23:17.680 Did you check that corner of the yard over there? 23:17.680 --> 23:19.560 Yeah, doesn't look like anything's been disturbed. 23:19.560 --> 23:21.240 Well, let's talk to the neighbors again. 23:21.240 --> 23:23.240 There's got to be an answer someplace. 23:23.240 --> 23:24.240 Okay. 23:24.240 --> 23:29.720 You know, I'm going to tell Fay to get me some of those church with the holes in them. 23:29.720 --> 23:31.760 What do you mean holes in them? 23:31.760 --> 23:33.440 You know, like they were back east. 23:33.440 --> 23:35.340 Little bitty holes between the material. 23:35.340 --> 23:36.340 That way you don't get so hot. 23:36.340 --> 23:37.340 Yeah. 23:37.340 --> 23:38.340 Hey, wait a minute, Joe. 23:38.340 --> 23:39.340 What? 23:39.340 --> 23:41.520 There's something on the grass over there by the rose bed. 23:41.520 --> 23:44.680 Oh, it's probably a locket or something one of the kids dropped, a toy maybe. 23:44.680 --> 23:45.680 Yeah, I'll get it. 23:45.680 --> 23:46.680 Give it back to Armstrong. 23:46.680 --> 23:52.400 What do you got? 23:52.400 --> 23:53.880 Piece of dental bridge work. 23:53.880 --> 23:59.400 Looks like it's been on a fire. 23:59.400 --> 24:01.800 The crime lab was called and they went over the backyard. 24:01.800 --> 24:05.320 They checked the incinerator and under a large heap of ashes they found several pieces of 24:05.320 --> 24:06.320 bone. 24:06.320 --> 24:09.480 They took a sample of the ash back to the lab to examine it. 24:09.480 --> 24:11.560 We got in touch with the daughter, Mrs. Randall. 24:11.560 --> 24:13.920 We got the address of Mrs. Schroeder's dentist. 24:13.920 --> 24:15.280 Frank and I drove out to talk to him. 24:15.280 --> 24:19.240 We showed him the piece of dental bridge work that we'd found and he identified it as positively 24:19.240 --> 24:21.120 belonging to Mrs. Schroeder. 24:21.120 --> 24:25.000 He showed us the card from his files which gave the date that he'd installed the bridge. 24:25.000 --> 24:26.600 11 56 a.m. 24:26.600 --> 24:30.040 We called the crime lab and Lieutenant Lee Jones told us that the ash and the particles 24:30.040 --> 24:33.320 of bone that he'd recovered could be of human origin. 24:33.320 --> 24:34.920 12 15 p.m. 24:34.920 --> 24:38.040 We drove out to the apartment and took Henry Schroeder into custody. 24:38.040 --> 24:39.760 We talked to him in the interrogation room. 24:39.760 --> 24:41.520 I don't understand all this. 24:41.520 --> 24:42.920 None of it makes any sense. 24:42.920 --> 24:44.560 Well it's pretty simple Schroeder. 24:44.560 --> 24:47.440 Simple you say that I killed Bertha and you say it's simple. 24:47.440 --> 24:48.840 How can you say that? 24:48.840 --> 24:49.840 Why do you say that? 24:49.840 --> 24:50.840 You must have a reason. 24:50.840 --> 24:52.840 I told you all I know. 24:52.840 --> 24:55.360 A couple of things you didn't tell the truth about sir. 24:55.360 --> 24:56.360 What? 24:56.360 --> 24:59.360 You said that just before your wife left you she made a large withdrawal from your account 24:59.360 --> 25:00.360 didn't you? 25:00.360 --> 25:01.360 That's right she did. 25:01.360 --> 25:02.360 She did take some money. 25:02.360 --> 25:05.400 When we're checking your bank account we find no record of any such withdrawal. 25:05.400 --> 25:07.600 You've got no right to go through my bank account. 25:07.600 --> 25:08.600 You've got no right. 25:08.600 --> 25:10.520 This is a murder investigation Schroeder. 25:10.520 --> 25:11.960 We've got a right to clear it up. 25:11.960 --> 25:13.280 But she did take the money. 25:13.280 --> 25:14.280 She did. 25:14.280 --> 25:15.280 You've got to believe me. 25:15.280 --> 25:16.440 It's a little hard to do Schroeder. 25:16.440 --> 25:19.920 Since your wife disappeared she hasn't drawn any money out of your account. 25:19.920 --> 25:22.000 Before that she drew checks to pay the local store bills. 25:22.000 --> 25:23.320 Now how do you explain that? 25:23.320 --> 25:24.320 I can't. 25:24.320 --> 25:25.320 I can't. 25:25.320 --> 25:26.840 I don't know what you're trying to say. 25:26.840 --> 25:29.160 I don't know what you're trying to get me to say. 25:29.160 --> 25:31.080 We're trying to get you to say the truth that's all. 25:31.080 --> 25:32.360 But I am. 25:32.360 --> 25:33.360 I am. 25:33.360 --> 25:36.400 You said you put all the furniture from your house in storage now is that right? 25:36.400 --> 25:38.240 Yes I said that. 25:38.240 --> 25:41.560 You said you wanted to keep it in case your wife came back and you two started all over 25:41.560 --> 25:42.560 again? 25:42.560 --> 25:43.560 Yes that's the truth. 25:43.560 --> 25:45.000 We checked the storage company. 25:45.000 --> 25:47.120 They told us you called them and ordered everything sold. 25:47.120 --> 25:48.960 Told them to sell it as soon as possible. 25:48.960 --> 25:50.840 Now how do you explain that? 25:50.840 --> 25:53.320 You're getting me so confused I can't think. 25:53.320 --> 25:54.320 We checked the house. 25:54.320 --> 25:55.720 The one where you and your wife lived. 25:55.720 --> 25:56.720 We found blood stains. 25:56.720 --> 25:57.720 Lots of them. 25:57.720 --> 25:58.720 They're human blood. 25:58.720 --> 25:59.720 I don't know. 25:59.720 --> 26:00.720 I don't know. 26:00.720 --> 26:03.560 The people who live there now said that you put a carpet over the floor. 26:03.560 --> 26:04.880 Only room in the house that has a carpet. 26:04.880 --> 26:06.520 They say it was your idea. 26:06.520 --> 26:07.520 I can't think. 26:07.520 --> 26:09.960 I don't know what you're saying. 26:09.960 --> 26:12.360 Well here's a report here. 26:12.360 --> 26:13.360 Take a look at it. 26:13.360 --> 26:15.480 It's a list of the things we found in your incinerator. 26:15.480 --> 26:16.480 Things that were burned. 26:16.480 --> 26:19.800 Now do you want to read it or do you want me to read it to you? 26:19.800 --> 26:23.680 How about it Schroeder? 26:23.680 --> 26:27.040 Schroeder? 26:27.040 --> 26:29.120 I didn't mean it. 26:29.120 --> 26:31.320 Thirty years. 26:31.320 --> 26:33.200 Thirty years married. 26:33.200 --> 26:34.320 I didn't mean to do it. 26:34.320 --> 26:36.360 I came home late. 26:36.360 --> 26:37.360 Real late. 26:37.360 --> 26:39.480 I'd been drinking. 26:39.480 --> 26:41.560 We had words. 26:41.560 --> 26:43.320 I hit her. 26:43.320 --> 26:44.720 I don't know what happened. 26:44.720 --> 26:46.560 I knew what I was doing. 26:46.560 --> 26:49.320 I kept hitting her. 26:49.320 --> 26:51.680 Then she was dead. 26:51.680 --> 26:52.960 I didn't mean to do it. 26:52.960 --> 26:55.120 I didn't mean to. 26:55.120 --> 26:57.800 She turned the kids against me. 26:57.800 --> 27:01.000 She turned everybody against me. 27:01.000 --> 27:04.320 Thirty years married. 27:04.320 --> 27:06.360 She turned everybody against me. 27:06.360 --> 27:09.440 I'm afraid you got it wrong mister. 27:09.440 --> 27:18.520 You did that yourself. 27:18.520 --> 27:21.000 The story you have just heard was true. 27:21.000 --> 27:23.460 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 27:23.460 --> 27:27.760 On December 10th trial was held in Department 87, Superior Court of the State of California 27:27.760 --> 27:30.000 in and for the County of Los Angeles. 27:30.000 --> 27:31.840 In a moment the results of that trial. 27:31.840 --> 27:34.360 Now here is our star Jack Webb. 27:34.360 --> 27:35.720 Thank you George Fenomen. 27:35.720 --> 27:36.720 Friends remember this. 27:36.720 --> 27:41.200 Chesterfield is the first and only cigarette with premium quality throughout in both regular 27:41.200 --> 27:42.840 and king size. 27:42.840 --> 27:47.680 And Chesterfield is a cigarette that gives scientific evidence of real smoking pleasure. 27:47.680 --> 27:49.160 So try Chesterfield's today. 27:49.160 --> 27:51.720 Either way, regular or king size. 27:51.720 --> 27:53.520 Chesterfield is much milder. 27:53.520 --> 28:04.000 Chesterfield is best for you. 28:04.000 --> 28:07.680 Henry Rudolph Schroeder was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree. 28:07.680 --> 28:21.880 He was executed in the lethal gas chamber at the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, California. 28:21.880 --> 28:26.640 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 28:26.640 --> 28:29.160 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police W.H. 28:29.160 --> 28:31.660 Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 28:31.660 --> 28:36.320 Technical advisors Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher. 28:36.320 --> 28:39.840 Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, June Whitley, Harry Bartel. 28:39.840 --> 28:41.600 Script by John Robinson. 28:41.600 --> 28:42.920 Music by Walter Schuman. 28:42.920 --> 28:47.520 Hal Gibney speaking. 28:47.520 --> 28:50.840 For a million laughs, tune in Chesterfield's Martin and Lewis Show. 28:50.840 --> 28:53.800 Tuesday night on the same NBC station. 28:53.800 --> 28:57.640 And sound off for Chesterfield, regular or king size. 28:57.640 --> 29:01.360 You'll find premium quality Chesterfield's much milder. 29:01.360 --> 29:05.200 Chesterfield is best for you. 29:05.200 --> 29:28.920 Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles.