WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:07.000 ["The Star-Spangled Banner"] 00:07.000 --> 00:11.000 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. 00:11.000 --> 00:14.000 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 00:14.000 --> 00:15.000 Tragment. 00:15.000 --> 00:23.000 ["The Star-Spangled Banner"] 00:23.000 --> 00:27.000 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to auto theft detail. 00:27.000 --> 00:31.000 You receive a report that a circus truck has been broken into. 00:31.000 --> 00:34.000 Several of the animals are missing. Some of them are dangerous. 00:34.000 --> 00:36.000 Your job, find them. 00:36.000 --> 00:41.000 ["The Star-Spangled Banner"] 00:41.000 --> 00:43.000 It was Monday, May 12th. It was cold in Los Angeles. 00:43.000 --> 00:46.000 We were working the day watch out of auto theft detail. 00:46.000 --> 00:49.000 My partner is Frank Smith, the boss of Chief of Detective Stad Brown. 00:49.000 --> 00:50.000 My name is Friday. 00:50.000 --> 00:55.000 I was on my way back from Superior Court and it was 1146 A.M. when I got to room 40. 00:55.000 --> 00:56.000 Auto theft. 00:56.000 --> 00:58.000 Hi. How'd it go? 00:58.000 --> 01:00.000 Well, his lawyer's got a continuous. 01:00.000 --> 01:01.000 Yeah? How come? 01:01.000 --> 01:03.000 I don't know. New evidence they want to introduce. 01:03.000 --> 01:05.000 What's the DA's office say? 01:05.000 --> 01:08.000 It was nothing they can say. It comes under the heading of due process, you know. 01:08.000 --> 01:10.000 Yeah. You think you're gonna nail him? 01:10.000 --> 01:13.000 Alex thinks so. The guy's admitted his guilt. Now he's claiming the confession is a lot of bunk. 01:13.000 --> 01:15.000 Says we got it out of him by force. 01:15.000 --> 01:17.000 Hmph. Why now? 01:17.000 --> 01:19.000 Prove he did it without the confession, I guess. 01:19.000 --> 01:21.000 It shouldn't be too hard. We got all the evidence. 01:21.000 --> 01:23.000 We get the chance to lay it out for the jury. 01:23.000 --> 01:25.000 Yeah. When you go back? 01:25.000 --> 01:28.000 Let's see. Set it off for a week, I guess. Yeah. 01:28.000 --> 01:30.000 Anything come in? 01:30.000 --> 01:32.000 No. Not big. 01:32.000 --> 01:34.000 Excuse me. 01:34.000 --> 01:36.000 Yes, sir? Something we can do for you? 01:36.000 --> 01:38.000 I could report something stolen. 01:38.000 --> 01:40.000 All right, sir. Just come on in. 01:40.000 --> 01:42.000 Sure gets nervous around here. 01:42.000 --> 01:44.000 All right, sir. 01:44.000 --> 01:46.000 Now, what kind of a car was it? 01:46.000 --> 01:47.000 Ain't no car. 01:47.000 --> 01:48.000 Big one? 01:48.000 --> 01:50.000 No car stolen. Stuff in the car. 01:50.000 --> 01:52.000 All right. What was it? 01:52.000 --> 01:55.000 Wasn't really a car anyway. A truck. 01:55.000 --> 01:57.000 That's what they stole it from. A truck. 01:57.000 --> 01:59.000 All right. If you'll give us a description. 01:59.000 --> 02:01.000 As far as I know, they might not have stole it anyway. 02:01.000 --> 02:03.000 Might just have opened it and let them all out. 02:03.000 --> 02:05.000 Yes, sir. Well, the sooner we get this report filled out, 02:05.000 --> 02:07.000 the faster we can start looking for the stolen merchandise. 02:07.000 --> 02:09.000 Yeah. Just out of that myself. 02:09.000 --> 02:11.000 Sure does. 02:11.000 --> 02:13.000 All right, sir. Now, what's your name? 02:13.000 --> 02:17.000 Clarence Hevel. H-A-V-I-L-L. 02:17.000 --> 02:19.000 No R. Most people put an R in it. 02:19.000 --> 02:21.000 Hevel. 02:21.000 --> 02:23.000 Where'd the theft take place? 02:23.000 --> 02:25.000 Corner Fountain, D. Longfrey. 02:25.000 --> 02:27.000 Right on the corner there. 02:27.000 --> 02:29.000 Yes, south of the red zone on Fountain. 02:29.000 --> 02:31.000 All right, sir. What was taken? 02:31.000 --> 02:34.000 You see, I got this call from one of the drivers 02:34.000 --> 02:36.000 who works for my brother and me. 02:36.000 --> 02:38.000 Drives one of our trucks. 02:38.000 --> 02:40.000 Called and said the machine broke down. 02:40.000 --> 02:42.000 Wanted me to bring another tractor over. 02:42.000 --> 02:44.000 Well, we can get to all that later, Mr. Hevel. 02:44.000 --> 02:46.000 Now, what were the stolen articles? 02:46.000 --> 02:48.000 Animals. 02:48.000 --> 02:49.000 Sir? 02:49.000 --> 02:51.000 Animals from our carnival. 02:51.000 --> 02:53.000 What kind of animals? 02:53.000 --> 02:56.000 Oh, a couple of monkeys, Cody Mundy, two raccoons. 02:56.000 --> 02:58.000 All right, sir. Anything else? 02:58.000 --> 03:00.000 Yeah. Here comes the bad part. 03:00.000 --> 03:02.000 This is what I was afraid of. 03:02.000 --> 03:04.000 What's that, sir? 03:04.000 --> 03:06.000 It's the reason I waited so long to report it. 03:06.000 --> 03:08.000 I thought maybe turn up. 03:08.000 --> 03:10.000 What's that, sir? 03:10.000 --> 03:12.000 A black panther. 03:12.000 --> 03:15.000 We got a description of the animals 03:15.000 --> 03:19.000 when the local broadcasters got out on them immediately. 03:19.000 --> 03:22.000 12.18 p.m. We continue to talk to Clarence Hevel. 03:22.000 --> 03:24.000 Friday night. That's when it happened. 03:24.000 --> 03:26.000 What time Friday night? 03:26.000 --> 03:29.000 About 7.05 or 7.10, right after the fights went on. 03:29.000 --> 03:31.000 That's when the phone rang. 03:29.000 --> 03:31.000 I see. 03:31.000 --> 03:34.000 I was kind of sure about being interrupted when the fights was on. 03:34.000 --> 03:36.000 Always watch them. 03:36.000 --> 03:38.000 Most of my friends know not to call me then. 03:38.000 --> 03:40.000 Yes, sir. 03:38.000 --> 03:40.000 Well, anyway, the phone rang. 03:40.000 --> 03:42.000 I got up and went over to answer it. 03:42.000 --> 03:44.000 It was Bert. 03:42.000 --> 03:44.000 It was Bert. 03:44.000 --> 03:46.000 Bert Newell. 03:46.000 --> 03:48.000 He's a driver. 03:46.000 --> 03:48.000 Oh, I see. 03:48.000 --> 03:50.000 Said he had a breakdown at Fountain D'Longcree. 03:50.000 --> 03:52.000 Asked me if I had an extra tractor. 03:52.000 --> 03:54.000 It happened, I did. 03:52.000 --> 03:54.000 Uh-huh. 03:54.000 --> 03:56.000 But he asked me to bring it over. 03:56.000 --> 03:58.000 Said he wanted to use it to get the show to Nevada. 03:58.000 --> 04:00.000 So you drove over then, huh? 03:58.000 --> 04:00.000 Not right away. 04:00.000 --> 04:02.000 How's that? 04:02.000 --> 04:04.000 Well, it looked like the fight wasn't going to last much longer, 04:04.000 --> 04:06.000 and I wanted to see the finish of it. 04:06.000 --> 04:08.000 So I stuck around for a couple more rounds. 04:08.000 --> 04:10.000 After that, I left. 04:08.000 --> 04:10.000 Uh-huh. 04:10.000 --> 04:12.000 Drove over and found Bert right on the corner, 04:12.000 --> 04:14.000 and I was standing there, 04:14.000 --> 04:16.000 not trying to do nothing about the breakdown, 04:16.000 --> 04:18.000 just standing there. 04:16.000 --> 04:18.000 Yes, sir. 04:18.000 --> 04:20.000 Well, you just bet I read him off. 04:20.000 --> 04:22.000 Told him the least he could have done was get out of the wrench or something, 04:22.000 --> 04:24.000 try to find the trouble. 04:24.000 --> 04:26.000 I read him off good. 04:24.000 --> 04:26.000 Yes, sir. 04:26.000 --> 04:28.000 Didn't do no good. 04:28.000 --> 04:30.000 He's shifflous, you know. 04:28.000 --> 04:30.000 Real shifflous. 04:30.000 --> 04:32.000 Yes, sir. 04:30.000 --> 04:32.000 You know Bert, do you? 04:32.000 --> 04:34.000 No, sir. 04:32.000 --> 04:34.000 Shifflous. 04:34.000 --> 04:36.000 You know him, you know that. 04:36.000 --> 04:38.000 You want to go on, please? 04:38.000 --> 04:40.000 Oh, yeah. 04:40.000 --> 04:42.000 I got the trailer on the hitch, and the tractor hooked up, 04:42.000 --> 04:44.000 only took a couple of minutes, and got it done, 04:44.000 --> 04:46.000 and Bert took off. 04:44.000 --> 04:46.000 Where was he going, you know? 04:46.000 --> 04:48.000 Over to Nevada. 04:48.000 --> 04:50.000 Going to play a show there, Overton. 04:50.000 --> 04:52.000 Going to play a show there. 04:50.000 --> 04:52.000 Yes, sir. 04:52.000 --> 04:54.000 Right by Lake Mead, Overton. 04:52.000 --> 04:54.000 Yes, sir. 04:54.000 --> 04:56.000 When did you find out the animals were missing? 04:56.000 --> 04:58.000 When I got the wire from my brother. 04:58.000 --> 05:00.000 That's when I got the first inkling. 05:00.000 --> 05:02.000 When was that? 05:00.000 --> 05:02.000 Last night. 05:02.000 --> 05:04.000 Company phoned me about, oh, I guess it was about 8.30. 05:04.000 --> 05:06.000 I see. 05:06.000 --> 05:08.000 You have the telegram? 05:06.000 --> 05:08.000 No. 05:08.000 --> 05:10.000 What did it say? 05:10.000 --> 05:12.000 Yes, the animals are gone from my brother. 05:12.000 --> 05:14.000 Said that the animals went on the truck when it got to Overton. 05:14.000 --> 05:16.000 Uh-huh. 05:16.000 --> 05:18.000 Told me about how the locks on a couple of the cages 05:18.000 --> 05:20.000 was busted and smashed, 05:20.000 --> 05:22.000 and the animals was gone. 05:22.000 --> 05:24.000 Well, now, sir, is it possible that the cages might have been 05:24.000 --> 05:26.000 broken into some other place than Los Angeles? 05:26.000 --> 05:28.000 Might be, yes. 05:28.000 --> 05:30.000 Might be, made likely. 05:30.000 --> 05:32.000 Why do you say that? 05:32.000 --> 05:34.000 The only reason I know of is, it ain't likely. 05:34.000 --> 05:36.000 Not only that, I got proof of it. 05:36.000 --> 05:38.000 How do you mean, sir? 05:38.000 --> 05:40.000 Well, as soon as I got the wire, I went down to Fountain D. Longcree, 05:40.000 --> 05:42.000 went right there and looked around. 05:42.000 --> 05:44.000 Uh-huh. 05:44.000 --> 05:46.000 Figured I might as well go down there and look around. 05:46.000 --> 05:48.000 I might find something, you know. 05:48.000 --> 05:50.000 Took a big four-cell flash and went down to the corner. 05:50.000 --> 05:52.000 I see. 05:52.000 --> 05:54.000 Yeah, I was right. That's where it happened. 05:54.000 --> 05:56.000 Yeah, that's where they got away. 05:56.000 --> 05:58.000 Found a spore, you know. 05:58.000 --> 06:00.000 How big a part? 06:00.000 --> 06:02.000 Spore, tracks. Found them all over the place. 06:02.000 --> 06:04.000 Oh, I see. Of the panthers? 06:04.000 --> 06:06.000 Of the raccoons. 06:06.000 --> 06:08.000 Not only that, I found something else. 06:08.000 --> 06:10.000 Yes, sir? Monkeys. Found them, too. 06:10.000 --> 06:12.000 Where were they? 06:12.000 --> 06:14.000 Phone pole, right up on the top, just sitting there, shivering. 06:14.000 --> 06:16.000 They're kind of little, you know. 06:16.000 --> 06:18.000 Get real cold, easy. 06:18.000 --> 06:20.000 We have them around the place. They wear little sweaters. 06:20.000 --> 06:22.000 Get chilly real easy. 06:22.000 --> 06:24.000 How about the rest of the animals? 06:24.000 --> 06:26.000 You see any sign of them? 06:26.000 --> 06:28.000 No, I went over to a little store near there and got a head of lettuce. 06:28.000 --> 06:30.000 Seventeen cents. 06:30.000 --> 06:32.000 Took it back to the phone pole, showed it to Caesar and Salome. 06:32.000 --> 06:34.000 Oh, they love lettuce. 06:34.000 --> 06:36.000 Is that the monkeys? 06:36.000 --> 06:38.000 Yeah, mama's a white-eared. 06:38.000 --> 06:40.000 Love lettuce. 06:40.000 --> 06:42.000 They came right down there, didn't they? 06:42.000 --> 06:44.000 Yeah, right down the pole, slithered right for the lettuce. 06:44.000 --> 06:46.000 And they were scared stiff. 06:46.000 --> 06:48.000 Being up there on that pole all night, 06:48.000 --> 06:50.000 should have had their sweaters. 06:50.000 --> 06:52.000 What about the other animals? 06:52.000 --> 06:54.000 Not a sign of them. 06:54.000 --> 06:56.000 Just the spore of the raccoons. 06:56.000 --> 06:58.000 Haven't got the slightest idea where they might have gone. 06:58.000 --> 07:00.000 No real problem, though, not them. 07:00.000 --> 07:02.000 How do you mean? 07:02.000 --> 07:04.000 Easy to replace. 07:04.000 --> 07:06.000 Just go up in the Hollywood Hills, lots of them there. 07:06.000 --> 07:08.000 Run all over the place, upsetting garbage cans. 07:08.000 --> 07:10.000 Imagine some of the people would be glad to have me come up there and take them away. 07:10.000 --> 07:12.000 Yeah, raccoons ain't no problem. 07:12.000 --> 07:14.000 Well, Mr. Havel, what about the panther? 07:14.000 --> 07:16.000 Well, he's a problem. 07:16.000 --> 07:18.000 Yes, sir. Can you give us a description of the animal? 07:18.000 --> 07:20.000 He's black. 07:20.000 --> 07:22.000 Yes, sir. 07:22.000 --> 07:24.000 Like the inside of a well, jet black. 07:24.000 --> 07:26.000 Even blacker than that ink they're talking about. 07:26.000 --> 07:28.000 About six inches. 07:28.000 --> 07:30.000 That's what I'm talking about. 07:30.000 --> 07:32.000 About seven feet long, oh, easy there. 07:32.000 --> 07:34.000 That's counting the tail, seven feet. 07:34.000 --> 07:36.000 Anything else about him that we should know? 07:36.000 --> 07:38.000 No, just a plain black panther, nothing special. 07:38.000 --> 07:40.000 Is he dangerous? 07:40.000 --> 07:42.000 Well, not unless he meets somebody. 07:42.000 --> 07:44.000 Dandy's got a temper. 07:44.000 --> 07:46.000 That's the name of the animal, is it Dandy? 07:46.000 --> 07:48.000 Yeah, namely that because he's blacker than the pitch of the inferno. 07:48.000 --> 07:50.000 Dandy. 07:50.000 --> 07:52.000 You're pretty sure he got out of that truck when the monkeys did, huh? 07:52.000 --> 07:54.000 Well, I ain't going to give you no written guarantee, but I'm sure of it. 07:54.000 --> 07:56.000 All right, sir, we'll start looking for him right away. 07:56.000 --> 07:58.000 Mr. Havill, where were these animals coming from? 07:58.000 --> 08:00.000 Winter quarters. 08:00.000 --> 08:02.000 The standard organ is going to be our first, just starting the season. 08:02.000 --> 08:04.000 Mm-hmm. 08:04.000 --> 08:06.000 Well, is there anything else you can tell us that will make it easier to find the panther? 08:06.000 --> 08:08.000 No, not a thing. 08:08.000 --> 08:10.000 Just be careful, that's all. 08:10.000 --> 08:12.000 Don't hurt him. 08:12.000 --> 08:14.000 He's really as gentle as a kitten when you get to know him, 08:14.000 --> 08:16.000 like a big overgrown cat. 08:16.000 --> 08:18.000 Gentle. 08:18.000 --> 08:20.000 That's something Clyde didn't understand. 08:20.000 --> 08:22.000 Who's Clyde, sir? 08:22.000 --> 08:24.000 My brother Clyde. 08:24.000 --> 08:26.000 Oh, I see. 08:26.000 --> 08:28.000 He didn't like Dandy, didn't understand him. 08:28.000 --> 08:30.000 That's what caused the trouble. 08:30.000 --> 08:32.000 What was that? 08:32.000 --> 08:34.000 Last winter, Clyde came to see the show, tell me about the bookings. 08:34.000 --> 08:36.000 Oh, I see. 08:36.000 --> 08:38.000 We discussed about how the best way to exhibit Dandy would be, 08:38.000 --> 08:40.000 and Clyde got too close to the cage. 08:40.000 --> 08:42.000 Yeah. 08:42.000 --> 08:44.000 Dandy almost killed him. 08:44.000 --> 08:52.000 All officers in the area where the panther had escaped were notified, 08:52.000 --> 08:56.000 and an additional team of men were called from metropolitan reserves to patrol the vicinity. 08:56.000 --> 09:01.000 The presence of the animal on city streets presented a very real menace to all citizens in the city. 09:01.000 --> 09:07.000 A team of detectives from auto theft detail were dispatched to the corner of Fountain and DeLongfray to talk to the people who lived in the area. 09:07.000 --> 09:11.000 However, they were unable to come up with any new information on the escaped panther. 09:11.000 --> 09:15.000 Frank and I talked to Chief of Detective Stad Brown and with Captain Nelson. 09:15.000 --> 09:18.000 It was decided to start a block-by-block search for the missing cat. 09:18.000 --> 09:23.000 Authorities from the Griffith Park Zoo were consulted as to the possible hiding places of the animal. 09:23.000 --> 09:30.000 When the afternoon newspapers hit the streets, calls began to flood the complaint board asking for additional information on the panther. 09:30.000 --> 09:35.000 Local radio and television broadcasts carried stories about the escape, and the number of calls went up. 09:35.000 --> 09:38.000 Additional men had to be called to care for the switchboard. 09:38.000 --> 09:40.000 The search went on. 09:40.000 --> 09:45.000 Frank and I worked in the field along with the other men from auto theft detail and officers from Metro Division. 09:45.000 --> 09:52.000 Every possible hiding place in the vicinity of Fountain and DeLongfray was searched without turning up any new information on the cat. 09:52.000 --> 09:59.000 It was the opinion of authorities that the panther might try to hide in the brush of the Hollywood Hills, and the search was moved to that vicinity. 09:59.000 --> 10:02.000 Tuesday, May 12, Frank and I got back to the office from the area. 10:02.000 --> 10:04.000 We'd been up all night looking for the animal. 10:04.000 --> 10:06.000 You want to check with the skipper? 10:06.000 --> 10:08.000 Anybody around here can bring in some coffee. 10:08.000 --> 10:10.000 I'll call Sal. He'll bring some over. 10:10.000 --> 10:13.000 That would be a good idea. 10:13.000 --> 10:15.000 I can send over a sandwich too. 10:15.000 --> 10:16.000 What kind do you want? 10:16.000 --> 10:18.000 I don't care. Just tell him to make sure the coffee's hot. 10:18.000 --> 10:21.000 Yes. 10:21.000 --> 10:22.000 Yes, sir? 10:22.000 --> 10:24.000 I'd like to talk to the men who are working on the panther thing. 10:24.000 --> 10:26.000 Yes, sir. Come right in. 10:26.000 --> 10:28.000 I'm at the end of the hall. I find it in here. 10:28.000 --> 10:30.000 Well, I'm Sergeant Party. Maybe I can help you. 10:30.000 --> 10:32.000 You working with the search party? 10:32.000 --> 10:34.000 Yes, sir. I'm partnering with them. I've been out with them. 10:34.000 --> 10:35.000 Have they caught up yet? 10:35.000 --> 10:36.000 No, sir. Not yet. 10:36.000 --> 10:37.000 They know where there is coffee? 10:37.000 --> 10:38.000 Well, no, sir. We don't. 10:38.000 --> 10:40.000 That's what I thought. I'm Sidney Norton. I live in this town. 10:40.000 --> 10:41.000 Yes, sir. 10:41.000 --> 10:42.000 Got a family. I pay taxes. 10:42.000 --> 10:43.000 Uh-huh. 10:43.000 --> 10:44.000 I just want to ask one question. 10:44.000 --> 10:45.000 Yes, sir. Go ahead. 10:45.000 --> 10:48.000 Now, according to the papers, it's Havel, or whatever his name is. 10:48.000 --> 10:49.000 He owns the panther. Is that right? 10:49.000 --> 10:50.000 His name's Clarence Havel. 10:50.000 --> 10:51.000 But he owns the cast. 10:51.000 --> 10:52.000 Yes, sir. That's right. 10:52.000 --> 10:53.000 Well, I want his address. 10:53.000 --> 10:54.000 Big pie? 10:54.000 --> 10:56.000 I want the number of his house. That's simple, isn't it? 10:56.000 --> 10:58.000 Well, we're not allowed to give that out. I'm sorry. 10:58.000 --> 11:01.000 All I want is his address so I can go over there and punch him right in the nose. 11:01.000 --> 11:02.000 You going to give it to me? 11:02.000 --> 11:03.000 No, sir. 11:03.000 --> 11:04.000 Who's your superior? 11:04.000 --> 11:05.000 Captain Millson. 11:05.000 --> 11:07.000 Well, what is he? I want to talk to him. 11:07.000 --> 11:08.000 He's in Chief Brown's office right now. 11:08.000 --> 11:09.000 Well, where is that? 11:09.000 --> 11:12.000 Down at the end of the hall, office number 26. 11:12.000 --> 11:13.000 All right. I'll talk to him. 11:13.000 --> 11:15.000 I want that man's address, and I want it now. 11:15.000 --> 11:18.000 Terrible thing for the law to allow a person to keep animals like that 11:18.000 --> 11:20.000 so they can get away and walk around killing anybody they meet. 11:20.000 --> 11:24.000 If you cops can't do anything about it, I can. You can just bet I can. 11:24.000 --> 11:27.000 Well, if you go out and cause Mr. Havel any trouble, you're liable for arrest, sir. 11:27.000 --> 11:28.000 By whom? 11:28.000 --> 11:30.000 Any policeman that he wants to call. 11:30.000 --> 11:33.000 Well, you protect him, but you don't care about me and my family, is that it? 11:33.000 --> 11:35.000 No, sir. You've both got rights of protection under the law. 11:35.000 --> 11:37.000 Now, if Havel's done anything, we'll take care of it. 11:37.000 --> 11:38.000 When? 11:38.000 --> 11:39.000 As soon as we find that panther. 11:39.000 --> 11:41.000 Well, you may just be wrong. 11:41.000 --> 11:42.000 I've been talking around. 11:42.000 --> 11:44.000 There are a lot of people who feel like I do, a lot of them. 11:44.000 --> 11:47.000 Enough, maybe, to decide to do things our way. 11:47.000 --> 11:48.000 Well, I wouldn't try it, Mr. Norton. 11:48.000 --> 11:50.000 Too late, mister. You can't do anything about it. 11:50.000 --> 11:52.000 We will. Me and my friends, we'll take care of it. 11:52.000 --> 11:54.000 It's out of your hands. We'll take care of Havel. 11:54.000 --> 11:55.000 We'll take care of him good. 11:55.000 --> 11:56.000 I wouldn't make book on that. 11:56.000 --> 11:57.000 He's going to stop us. 11:57.000 --> 11:59.000 It's like I told you, any cop that Havel calls. 11:59.000 --> 12:09.000 Frank and I talked to Sidney Norton, and we finally convinced him that any action he might take would not help the situation. 12:09.000 --> 12:12.000 We sent him home, and then we met with Captain Nelson and Chief Brown. 12:12.000 --> 12:18.000 The progress of the search was reviewed, and it was decided to continue it in the Lake Hollywood area and in the upper Griffith Park hills. 12:18.000 --> 12:23.000 All days off had been canceled, and additional officers were joining in the hunt for the panthers. 12:23.000 --> 12:27.000 After the meeting, Frank and I got some breakfast, and then we drove out to Clarence Havel's home. 12:27.000 --> 12:32.000 It was a large ranch house at the corner of Vickery Boulevard and Monterey Avenue out in the San Fernando Valley. 12:32.000 --> 12:37.000 We drove through the gate and parked the car. Clarence Havel was sitting on the large porch waiting for us. 12:37.000 --> 12:39.000 A small monkey was sitting on his shoulder. 12:39.000 --> 12:41.000 All right, come on up and sit down. 12:41.000 --> 12:42.000 Yes, sir. 12:42.000 --> 12:45.000 How's it going, Mr. Friday, Mr. Smith? 12:45.000 --> 12:46.000 All right, sir. Pretty good, sir. 12:46.000 --> 12:49.000 Get you anything? A glass of ginger beer, maybe? Got some cold in the any spot? 12:49.000 --> 12:51.000 No, sir, no, thanks. 12:51.000 --> 12:53.000 Heard from my brother this morning. 12:53.000 --> 12:54.000 All right. 12:54.000 --> 12:59.000 Well, in Nevada, got a telegram. Company phoned it to me again. Good news. 12:59.000 --> 13:00.000 What's that, sir? 13:00.000 --> 13:02.000 Well, it began to look like it's all a mistake. 13:02.000 --> 13:03.000 Sir? 13:03.000 --> 13:07.000 The whole thing. Looks like the animals didn't get away here in Los Angeles. 13:07.000 --> 13:08.000 Why do you say that? 13:08.000 --> 13:10.000 Well, a telegram from my brother. 13:10.000 --> 13:14.000 Said they found the Cody Mundy and one of the raccoons in Baker, California. 13:14.000 --> 13:17.000 Found them alongside the road, tired and hungry. 13:17.000 --> 13:19.000 Guess they're sorry now they got out of the truck. 13:19.000 --> 13:21.000 How about the panther? Any word on him? 13:21.000 --> 13:24.000 No, not yet, but Clyde sets some men out to look for it. 13:24.000 --> 13:26.000 Sure, Dandy will turn up. 13:26.000 --> 13:28.000 How can we get in touch with your brother, Hevel? 13:28.000 --> 13:29.000 Can't. 13:28.000 --> 13:29.000 What? 13:29.000 --> 13:33.000 Can't get in touch with him. Out in the desert looking for Dandy. How to touch. 13:33.000 --> 13:36.000 Can you give us the address of your winter quarters here in town? 13:36.000 --> 13:38.000 I can't do that, Mr. Friday. 13:38.000 --> 13:39.000 Why not? 13:39.000 --> 13:41.000 Don't know. 13:41.000 --> 13:44.000 Well, sir, you run a circus and you don't know where the animals are kept? 13:44.000 --> 13:46.000 Well, not really a circus, a carnival. 13:46.000 --> 13:48.000 Yes, sir, we understand, but what's the address? 13:48.000 --> 13:49.000 I don't know. 13:48.000 --> 13:49.000 You haven't any idea? 13:49.000 --> 13:50.000 Not the least. 13:50.000 --> 13:52.000 You can't tell us where to reach your brother? 13:52.000 --> 13:54.000 He's out looking for Dandy. 13:54.000 --> 13:57.000 Well, how about it, Hevel, something that you're not telling us? 13:57.000 --> 13:58.000 Hevel? 13:58.000 --> 14:00.000 Yeah? 14:00.000 --> 14:02.000 What was there? 14:02.000 --> 14:06.000 Well, we haven't got no regular winter quarters, not regular set up. 14:06.000 --> 14:08.000 That's why I can't tell you where it is. 14:08.000 --> 14:10.000 Ain't none. 14:10.000 --> 14:11.000 All right, go ahead. 14:11.000 --> 14:15.000 You see, the Hevel Amalgamated Combined Trolls is really a gypsy carnival. 14:15.000 --> 14:16.000 How do you mean that? 14:16.000 --> 14:20.000 Well, we ain't got no big operation, a couple of mangy animals. 14:20.000 --> 14:22.000 We don't have a license to keep them in the city. 14:22.000 --> 14:24.000 The only quarters we've got are vacant lots. 14:24.000 --> 14:29.000 We set up and stay there until the neighbors start to complain and we move on. 14:29.000 --> 14:32.000 Trucks for the shore are registered in states where the fee is smallest 14:32.000 --> 14:36.000 and we got about every deal we could to keep the cost of operation down. 14:36.000 --> 14:37.000 Now, what about the pants? 14:37.000 --> 14:38.000 Dandy? 14:38.000 --> 14:39.000 Yes, sir? 14:39.000 --> 14:41.000 When he real the traction we got. 14:41.000 --> 14:43.000 Man killer. 14:43.000 --> 14:46.000 I told you about how he almost got cried, didn't I? I told you that. 14:46.000 --> 14:47.000 Yes, sir. 14:47.000 --> 14:49.000 I don't understand, Dandy, or nothing works with him. 14:49.000 --> 14:50.000 Is that right? 14:50.000 --> 14:51.000 Might be something about Dandy. 14:51.000 --> 14:53.000 Could be our officer. We gave him this number. 14:53.000 --> 14:55.000 Yeah, yeah, just a minute. 14:59.000 --> 15:01.000 Hello. 15:01.000 --> 15:04.000 Yeah, this is number. Huh? 15:04.000 --> 15:07.000 Yeah, just a minute. 15:07.000 --> 15:09.000 It's for you, Mr. Pryde. Your office. 15:09.000 --> 15:14.000 Thank you. 15:14.000 --> 15:15.000 Thank you very much. 15:15.000 --> 15:17.000 No trouble at all. I'd like to do what I can. 15:17.000 --> 15:20.000 Yes, sir. Pryde. Yes, Cooper. 15:20.000 --> 15:22.000 That's right. 15:22.000 --> 15:24.000 Well, you want to give me that address? 15:24.000 --> 15:26.000 I checked out, didn't I? Uh-huh. 15:26.000 --> 15:29.000 Now we'll get right over. 15:29.000 --> 15:30.000 Frank, let's go. 15:30.000 --> 15:31.000 Good news? 15:31.000 --> 15:32.000 Well, we're not sure yet. 15:32.000 --> 15:33.000 Huh? 15:33.000 --> 15:39.000 I said they found the Panther. 15:39.000 --> 15:43.000 The address we'd gotten on the telephone was in the Hollywood Hills just off Beechwood Drive. 15:43.000 --> 15:49.000 Frank and I drove down the freeway, turned off at Gower, up Franklin to Beechwood, and we continued up to Ledgwood Drive. 15:49.000 --> 15:55.000 By the time we got there, other units had arrived in the immediate vicinity where the animal had been seen was surrounded. 15:55.000 --> 15:57.000 From one of the officers, we got the story. 15:57.000 --> 16:00.000 The Panther had been seen by one of the civilians searching the area. 16:00.000 --> 16:05.000 The animal had run between two houses and jumped through a window into a ground floor garage. 16:05.000 --> 16:08.000 We checked the house, but we found that the occupants were not there. 16:08.000 --> 16:14.000 Because of the danger of the Panther's presence and the difficulty of taking it alive, it was decided to try to shoot it. 16:14.000 --> 16:18.000 The officers involved in the search were armed with large caliber weapons. 16:18.000 --> 16:23.000 Frank and I took two sawed-off shotguns and we approached the door leading to the garage. 16:23.000 --> 16:24.000 Who's covering the window? 16:24.000 --> 16:28.000 Mac. 16:28.000 --> 16:32.000 Alright, I'll hit the door. Stand back, we'll try to see what's inside. 16:32.000 --> 16:35.000 Okay. I can't see anything from the window. 16:35.000 --> 16:37.000 Yeah, it might be behind those boxes at the rear there. 16:37.000 --> 16:38.000 Yeah. 16:38.000 --> 16:39.000 You all set? 16:39.000 --> 16:41.000 Yep. 16:41.000 --> 16:48.000 Now. 16:48.000 --> 16:49.000 See anything? 16:49.000 --> 16:51.000 No. 16:51.000 --> 16:54.000 Wait a minute. 16:54.000 --> 16:58.000 Back there behind the cases. Looks like something there. 16:58.000 --> 16:59.000 You can take that sign. 16:59.000 --> 17:00.000 Alright. 17:00.000 --> 17:01.000 Take it easy. 17:01.000 --> 17:06.000 Sure. You don't have to tell us. 17:06.000 --> 17:10.000 Alright, Frank. Right from where you are, can you tip those boxes over there? 17:10.000 --> 17:11.000 Yeah, I think so. 17:11.000 --> 17:13.000 Well, let's try it. Maybe it'll drive them out in the open. 17:13.000 --> 17:22.000 Alright. 17:22.000 --> 17:23.000 Well, there he is. 17:23.000 --> 17:28.000 Yeah, looks pretty mean. 17:28.000 --> 17:37.000 Black Tomcat. 17:37.000 --> 17:41.000 The event was similar to several that had happened during the hunt for the black panther. 17:41.000 --> 17:46.000 During the twenty-odd hours we'd been looking for the animal, there'd been several reports that seemed authentic enough to be checked out. 17:46.000 --> 17:49.000 All of them turned out to be false. 17:49.000 --> 17:53.000 By this time there were over three hundred officers engaged in the search. 17:53.000 --> 17:58.000 Frank and I went back to the office and put in a call to the telegraph company in an effort to find Clyde Habel. 17:58.000 --> 18:02.000 They checked through their files but they were unable to find any record of any wires. 18:02.000 --> 18:07.000 We then put in a call to the California-Nevada border station in an attempt to get information. 18:07.000 --> 18:11.000 Yes, sir, that's right. Habel Amalgamated Combined Show. 18:11.000 --> 18:12.000 What? 18:12.000 --> 18:14.000 Five, two, three. 18:14.000 --> 18:18.000 A. B. Victor. I. L. L. 18:18.000 --> 18:19.000 Habel. 18:19.000 --> 18:23.000 Well, what we got it should have come through Saturday the thirteenth. 18:23.000 --> 18:26.000 No, it might have been Sunday the fourteenth. 18:26.000 --> 18:28.000 You're pretty sure about that, are you? 18:28.000 --> 18:30.000 Was it possible? 18:30.000 --> 18:32.000 All right, I understand. 18:32.000 --> 18:34.000 Okay, thank you. If anything turns up, will you call us? 18:34.000 --> 18:38.000 Friday, extension 2507. That's all of that detail. 18:38.000 --> 18:42.000 Right. Thanks again. Bye. 18:42.000 --> 18:44.000 How about it? They got a record of the show going through? 18:44.000 --> 18:46.000 They never heard of it. 18:46.000 --> 18:53.000 We immediately put in a call to the authorities in Baker, California. 18:53.000 --> 18:57.000 We talked with members of the State Highway Patrol and from them we obtained the information 18:57.000 --> 19:01.000 that there had been no stray animals captured in the vicinity during the past few days. 19:01.000 --> 19:06.000 The conversation with them lengthened the possibility that the story we'd gotten from Clarence Habel was a lie. 19:06.000 --> 19:09.000 We checked his house but Habel wasn't there. 19:09.000 --> 19:11.000 From his neighbor we obtained the name of his sister. 19:11.000 --> 19:15.000 Six tens in, we drove out to the address of two families, Stucco Duplex. 19:15.000 --> 19:17.000 We rang the bell and we waited. 19:17.000 --> 19:18.000 Yes? 19:18.000 --> 19:19.000 Miss Habel? 19:19.000 --> 19:20.000 That's right. What is it you want? 19:20.000 --> 19:23.000 Well, police officers. Frank Smith, my name's Friday. 19:23.000 --> 19:24.000 Hello. 19:24.000 --> 19:25.000 How do you do, ma'am? 19:25.000 --> 19:26.000 What is it you want? 19:26.000 --> 19:27.000 Would you like to talk to you about your brother? 19:27.000 --> 19:28.000 Friday? 19:28.000 --> 19:30.000 No, ma'am, Clarence. 19:30.000 --> 19:33.000 Mr. Friday, I've done what I can for him. 19:33.000 --> 19:37.000 If he's in trouble again, he's just going to have to go it alone. 19:37.000 --> 19:39.000 What if we could talk inside? 19:39.000 --> 19:41.000 Well, come on in. 19:41.000 --> 19:43.000 Thank you very much. 19:43.000 --> 19:44.000 What's he done this time? 19:44.000 --> 19:45.000 Thank you, pardon? 19:45.000 --> 19:47.000 What's my brother done this time? 19:47.000 --> 19:49.000 Does your brother own a circus? 19:49.000 --> 19:50.000 Is this a joke? 19:50.000 --> 19:52.000 No, ma'am, it's pretty serious, does he? 19:52.000 --> 19:54.000 Sure, big one. 19:54.000 --> 19:56.000 How about the malcomated and combined shows? 19:56.000 --> 19:57.000 Travels all over the country. 19:57.000 --> 19:59.000 Animals, concessions. 19:59.000 --> 20:01.000 Even got a man eating black pasta. 20:01.000 --> 20:03.000 Yes, ma'am, that's one of the things we want to find out about. 20:03.000 --> 20:04.000 Dandy? 20:04.000 --> 20:05.000 You know the animal, do you? 20:05.000 --> 20:07.000 Oh, Clarence's friends do. 20:07.000 --> 20:09.000 Talked about him all the time. 20:09.000 --> 20:11.000 Do you know where the circus is right now? 20:11.000 --> 20:13.000 Same place it's always been. 20:13.000 --> 20:15.000 Never been anyplace else. 20:15.000 --> 20:16.000 Yeah. 20:16.000 --> 20:17.000 And Clarence's head. 20:17.000 --> 20:24.000 We continued to talk to Lillian Havel. 20:24.000 --> 20:26.000 From her we got the background of her story. 20:26.000 --> 20:30.000 She told us that her brother had been a press agent for one of the larger carnivals, 20:30.000 --> 20:32.000 but that he'd been discharged several years before. 20:32.000 --> 20:38.000 Since that time he talked of very little else but the day when he'd be able to start his own show starring Dandy, 20:38.000 --> 20:40.000 the man killing Black Panther. 20:40.000 --> 20:44.000 She went on to tell us that he'd spent most of his time in the hills of the San Fernando Valley 20:44.000 --> 20:48.000 trapping small animals preparing for the first tour of the carnival. 20:48.000 --> 20:50.000 We called the office and notified them. 20:50.000 --> 20:52.000 The search for the Black Panther was called off. 20:52.000 --> 20:54.000 8.46 p.m. 20:54.000 --> 20:57.000 We left the duplex and we drove out the freeway to the valley. 20:57.000 --> 21:00.000 When we got to Havel's he was sitting on the front porch reading. 21:00.000 --> 21:02.000 The monkey was still on his shoulder. 21:02.000 --> 21:04.000 Hey, come back, huh? 21:04.000 --> 21:05.000 Yes, sir. 21:05.000 --> 21:06.000 Found Dandy yet? 21:06.000 --> 21:07.000 Sure hope you come up with him. 21:07.000 --> 21:09.000 I hate to lose the main attraction. 21:09.000 --> 21:11.000 You haven't had any word of him yet, huh? 21:11.000 --> 21:12.000 No. 21:12.000 --> 21:14.000 He's a sly one, old Dandy. 21:14.000 --> 21:15.000 Sly. 21:15.000 --> 21:17.000 He knows if you find him he'll go back in the cage. 21:17.000 --> 21:19.000 You just keep looking though, he'll turn up. 21:19.000 --> 21:21.000 The search has been called off, Havel. 21:21.000 --> 21:22.000 Called off? 21:22.000 --> 21:23.000 That's right. 21:23.000 --> 21:24.000 You mean you quit looking? 21:24.000 --> 21:25.000 That's right. 21:25.000 --> 21:26.000 Well you can't do that, you can't. 21:26.000 --> 21:31.000 Dangerous animal like that loose in the city, all the people in dire danger, you can't call off the posse. 21:31.000 --> 21:32.000 Why don't you tell us about it? 21:32.000 --> 21:33.000 What do you mean? 21:33.000 --> 21:35.000 All right, Havel, tell us why you did it. 21:35.000 --> 21:36.000 Huh? 21:36.000 --> 21:38.000 Why'd you report the Panther being gone? 21:38.000 --> 21:41.000 He was, wanted to save all the people from dire danger. 21:41.000 --> 21:43.000 Why don't you tell us the truth? 21:43.000 --> 21:44.000 Huh? 21:44.000 --> 21:46.000 We've checked your story, it's a pack of lies, you know it. 21:46.000 --> 21:50.000 Now just a minute, ain't no man that says I tell lies, no man. 21:50.000 --> 21:53.000 You say you got two telegrams from your brother, is that right? 21:53.000 --> 21:54.000 Yeah, from Clyde. 21:54.000 --> 21:56.000 Well we checked with a telegraph company. 21:56.000 --> 21:58.000 They've got no record of any such messages. 21:58.000 --> 22:01.000 Hey, it's a big company, they might have lost him. 22:01.000 --> 22:03.000 No, I don't think they lost him. 22:03.000 --> 22:04.000 Might have. 22:04.000 --> 22:06.000 You told us the carnival truck went into Nevada, didn't you? 22:06.000 --> 22:07.000 Is that right? 22:07.000 --> 22:09.000 Well we checked at the border, they don't know anything about the show. 22:09.000 --> 22:12.000 Well, there are a lot of roads in the Nevada, maybe you called the wrong station. 22:12.000 --> 22:13.000 No, we talked to the right one. 22:13.000 --> 22:17.000 Big truck, red and yellow, Havel's combined amalgamated shows, 22:17.000 --> 22:20.000 letters about this big on the side, 22:20.000 --> 22:22.000 yellow letters, got a picture of Danny on the side, 22:22.000 --> 22:25.000 you know what I mean, you can almost count his teeth. 22:25.000 --> 22:29.000 You told us the truck was registered in your name, DMV has no record of it. 22:29.000 --> 22:31.000 Well it must be some mistake, it's gotta be wrong. 22:31.000 --> 22:35.000 We talked to your sister, she tells you don't have any kind of a show. 22:35.000 --> 22:37.000 Lillian said that? 22:37.000 --> 22:38.000 That's what she said. 22:38.000 --> 22:39.000 You here too? 22:39.000 --> 22:41.000 Yes, sir. 22:41.000 --> 22:45.000 Lillian told you I didn't have no show? Lillian told you that? 22:45.000 --> 22:47.000 Go and get your coat, Havel. 22:47.000 --> 22:48.000 Huh? 22:48.000 --> 22:50.000 A little cold out tonight, you might need a coat. 22:50.000 --> 22:52.000 We going someplace? 22:52.000 --> 22:54.000 Yes, sir, we're gonna have to take you downtown. 22:54.000 --> 22:55.000 Why? 22:55.000 --> 22:57.000 Well you had half the city on a wild goose chase here, 22:57.000 --> 22:59.000 caused a lot of people a lot of work, 22:59.000 --> 23:02.000 turns out there was no reason for it, we're trying to find out why you did it. 23:02.000 --> 23:03.000 Why? 23:03.000 --> 23:04.000 Yes, sir. 23:04.000 --> 23:06.000 You ever wanted anything bad, Sergeant? 23:06.000 --> 23:07.000 What? 23:07.000 --> 23:10.000 You ever wanted something so bad you'd almost taste it, 23:10.000 --> 23:13.000 get to a point where you think about it so much, 23:13.000 --> 23:19.000 pretty soon it don't come over like a dream anymore, it's real, honest and true real. 23:19.000 --> 23:21.000 You ever wanted anything like that? 23:21.000 --> 23:23.000 I wouldn't know. 23:23.000 --> 23:27.000 Well, that's the way it was with Havel's and Mel's combined shows. 23:27.000 --> 23:29.000 That's the way it was. 23:29.000 --> 23:33.000 I was weaned on sawdust, been around it all my life. 23:33.000 --> 23:37.000 The animals, side shows, the alley, all of it. 23:37.000 --> 23:39.000 Been my whole life. 23:39.000 --> 23:43.000 When I left it just seemed like I jumped into a big hole that didn't have no bottom. 23:43.000 --> 23:49.000 Wasn't anything to hang on to, nothing to tie down to, you know. 23:49.000 --> 23:52.000 Always I had in the back of my head that I could do it again. 23:52.000 --> 23:55.000 I was a good publicity man, good. 23:55.000 --> 23:56.000 Used to pack the man. 23:56.000 --> 23:59.000 Never no trouble getting the people in when I was there. 23:59.000 --> 24:03.000 When I left I knew I'd be back, I knew it with my own show. 24:03.000 --> 24:08.000 Havel's amalgamated combined shows, the biggest in the world. 24:08.000 --> 24:11.000 I guess I just got so I believed it too much 24:11.000 --> 24:16.000 and lost the line between what's real and what I was dreaming. 24:16.000 --> 24:18.000 You know, this morning when you was out here, 24:18.000 --> 24:21.000 remembered and tried to stop you from going on with it. 24:21.000 --> 24:26.000 Tried and then there was that phone call where they found Andy. 24:26.000 --> 24:31.000 Didn't seem right to stop things then, just didn't seem right. 24:31.000 --> 24:33.000 All right, you want to get your coat? 24:33.000 --> 24:34.000 Yeah. 24:34.000 --> 24:36.000 You going to take me downtown in a police car? 24:36.000 --> 24:37.000 That's right. 24:37.000 --> 24:39.000 Going to use a siren? 24:39.000 --> 24:40.000 For what sir? 24:40.000 --> 24:41.000 Siren. 24:41.000 --> 24:43.000 There's no reason for any siren. 24:43.000 --> 24:44.000 I suppose not. 24:44.000 --> 24:46.000 Used to have sirens when I come to town. 24:46.000 --> 24:49.000 Me and the chief of police ride down the street, siren going. 24:49.000 --> 24:52.000 Everybody knew I was in town, big to do. 24:52.000 --> 24:55.000 Everybody knew I was there. 24:55.000 --> 24:57.000 Things sure changed. 24:57.000 --> 24:58.000 Not very much. 24:58.000 --> 25:00.000 Things have changed. 25:00.000 --> 25:03.000 People used to know I was in town. 25:03.000 --> 25:05.000 They still do. 25:05.000 --> 25:13.000 Music 25:13.000 --> 25:18.000 Clarence Neil Habel was held over for a sanity hearing in superior court. 25:18.000 --> 25:22.000 On recommendation of the court, appropriate action was taken. 25:22.000 --> 25:29.000 The story of your police force in action is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service. 25:29.000 --> 25:58.000 Music 25:58.000 --> 26:08.000 Music