1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed 2 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:21,560 to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned the burglary detail. 3 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:28,560 During the last two weeks there have been a series of burglaries in the Valley Division. 4 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:35,560 You haven't got a lead. Your job, find one. Dragmen, the documented drama of an actual 5 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:49,040 crime. For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you 6 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:53,320 will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from 7 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:59,580 official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story 8 00:00:59,580 --> 00:01:06,580 of your police force in action. It was Wednesday, September 9th. It was hot in Los Angeles. 9 00:01:06,580 --> 00:01:09,600 We were working the day watch out of the burglary division. My partner is Frank Smith. The boss 10 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,680 is Captain Bernard. My name is Friday. We're on our way out to a recently completed housing 11 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,480 project in the Valley. It was 10.13 a.m. when we got to the corner of Moore Park and 12 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:24,480 Victory. Mayflower Homes. This is right here. Yeah. Two twenty four. I guess they haven't 13 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:31,880 sold them all yet. Five hundred bucks down. Not too bad. Pretty nice houses. You thinking 14 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,480 of getting a new place? I'm thinking. Kids are shooting up. We could use a little more 15 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:42,480 room. Just what they always wanted. House nobody else has lived in. Someday maybe. Yeah. 16 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:49,480 Yes sir. We're police officers. This is Frank Smith. My name is Friday. Oh how do you do? 17 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,240 Somebody reported a burglary at this address. Are you Sam Bikler? Yes sir. That's me. Would 18 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,720 you show us where he broke in please? Oh yes sir. It's in the front bedroom. Just this 19 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:03,720 right here. That's it. Just off the hall here. This window here you can see where he jimmied 20 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:09,240 it. I was careful not to touch it. You know fingerprints. That's good. Can you give us 21 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,560 a list of the things he took? No sir. Not for certain. We were just getting moved in 22 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,440 and we don't know for sure what's gone. A couple of silver trays and a pair of candlesticks 23 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,800 they're missing. Any cash? About twenty, twenty five dollars. When I changed to go out to dinner 24 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,160 last night I left it in my trousers. They were in the other bedroom on the back of a 25 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:29,920 chair. Pretty dumb place to leave money. Your family live here with you? My wife. I see. 26 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:33,400 We've only been married a couple of weeks. Things he stole they were wedding presents. 27 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:38,160 That's too bad. Sure is a heck of a way to start out. Being married I mean. They wanted 28 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:42,840 a house in the first place. Well it's their own fault. What do you mean? Sally's parents 29 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,760 insisted on giving it to us. The down payment part. Sally will never be able to manage a 30 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,360 big place like this. She's just a couple of years younger than I am. Just a kid. Apartment's 31 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:57,800 what we ought to have. No point in arguing with in-laws though. I found that out pronto. 32 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:02,800 Yeah. Any idea what time the burglary took place? Yes sir. Between six and ten last night. 33 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:07,160 Must have been then between six and ten. We went over to Sally's folks for dinner. Our 34 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:11,040 refrigerator hasn't been delivered yet. I see. The reason I'm so sure about the time 35 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:15,520 is I wanted to find out how long it would take to drive there. I told Sally it wouldn't 36 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:20,040 be more than fifteen minutes. First time she's ever been away from home. She kind of likes 37 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:24,920 to feel that her folks are handy. I understand. Hollywood Hills. That's where they live. Off 38 00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:29,760 of Mulholland. Took us fourteen minutes. Left here six o'clock exactly. News was just coming 39 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:34,440 on the radio. Got there six fourteen. I'm not so sure when we got home but it was right 40 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:38,880 around ten o'clock. That's close enough. Of course I didn't know about the burglary then 41 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,760 when we got home. We just went straight to bed. Didn't come in here. We used the back 42 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:47,240 bedroom. Yeah. It wasn't until this morning when I started looking in my pants for cash. 43 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:51,800 Is it possibly broke in while you were asleep? I might have slept through it but not Sally. 44 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,400 At least little thing wakes her up. She'd have heard of it. Must have happened while 45 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,680 we were out. Have you noticed anybody suspicious hanging around the last couple of days? No 46 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:04,280 sir. Of course we're brand new in the neighborhood. Most of the houses aren't even sold yet. We 47 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:08,560 wouldn't know who was suspicious and who wasn't. Be all right if we talk your wife? She couldn't 48 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:12,720 tell you anything I haven't. Is she here now? Over to mother's. This kind of thing. Well 49 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:17,240 it kind of threw her you know. You know how it is. It's just a kid. Yeah we understand. 50 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:21,800 Wish it had been me that found out about the bird. The bird? Well didn't I tell you? I 51 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:27,360 meant to. No. Darnedest thing. Parakeet. Somebody gave it to Sally when she was a girl. Taught 52 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:32,200 her how to talk. Talk real good too. Why should a burglar do a thing like that? What did he 53 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:40,840 do turn it loose? No sir he killed it. We talked to Mrs. Brighton at her parents home. 54 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:45,080 She was unable to add anything to what her husband had told us. One fifteen p.m. The 55 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:49,160 crime lab reported that there were no useful fingerprints on the Brighton window. Pictures 56 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:53,840 were taken of the Jimmy marks. There was no other physical evidence. September eleventh. 57 00:04:53,840 --> 00:04:57,920 Two more burglaries took place in a new housing tract near Sepulveda Boulevard. The burglar 58 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:02,520 had followed the same M.O. used on the Brighton house. One victim also told us that three 59 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:07,520 pet canaries had been killed. The other victim had no pets. By the end of the following week 60 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:11,280 four more burglaries had occurred in new housing developments. In each case where the home 61 00:05:11,280 --> 00:05:16,800 contained pet birds the bird was killed. Other pets were not disturbed. Circulars describing 62 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,760 the stolen articles were sent to all pawn shops in the city. September twenty first 63 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:27,360 eight oh five a.m. We checked in for work. Oh man. What's the matter? You still asleep? 64 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:34,360 Yeah I didn't get a wink last night. Things happened all night. It's my fault Joe. Never 65 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:38,160 should have told her about all those new houses going up nowadays. It was a big mistake. I 66 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,960 thought you told me you were considering a new house. Yeah I changed my mind. We've got 67 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:46,800 enough people staying with us as it is. Favre relatives. Brother-in-law Armand you know. 68 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:51,320 Oh him huh? Yeah he's down here. As long as he has to sleep on the living room couch he'll 69 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:55,440 take off after a day or two. Give him a real bed and he'll stay with us for the rest of 70 00:05:55,440 --> 00:06:04,200 his life. I get it. Burglary Friday. Yes sir when did it happen? I see. Just a minute 71 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:11,960 please. I'll go ahead. That's two fourteen south. Yes sir I've got it. Right. Well we 72 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:16,480 got another one. Yeah? Pet shop over near Lancashire Boulevard. The shop? Uh huh. That 73 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:27,560 doesn't sound like our boy. Might be if they sell birds. We left the office and drove out 74 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:32,080 to the Big's Pet Shop on a side street in North Hollywood. Nine oh seven a.m. We interviewed 75 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,800 Jasper Biggs the owner of the store. He told us that during the night the back door had 76 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:41,920 been forced open. Seventeen dollars was missing from the cash register. Money ain't important 77 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,440 you understand. Not that anybody likes being robbed. Yes sir we understand. Besides it's 78 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:48,680 happened before. That's why I keep this sign up here on the register. Tells them how to 79 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:52,720 open it. I see. A couple years ago a fella broke in wrecked the machine trying to get 80 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:59,320 it open. That cash register is worth a whole lot more than I keep in it. Shut up over there 81 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:06,360 all of you. Dang much racket in here a person can't even think. Now where was it? Oh yeah 82 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:10,760 about the money. Now like I said it don't matter the seventeen dollars. Yes sir. The 83 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:16,160 birds is different they do matter. Sir. Well he killed all of them every last one. I see. 84 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:20,960 Parakeets canaries parrots. Parakeets and canaries now they don't matter I can replace 85 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:25,320 them. Insurance will take care of it anyway. Them parrots is another story it's a different 86 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:29,360 story entirely. Yes sir. Two of them was on consignment worth over a hundred dollars a 87 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:34,200 piece. A hundred dollars. Bet you never figured birds run that high did you? No sir. Well 88 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:38,440 they do. Parrots anyway some of them. And once more my insurance don't cover birds on 89 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:42,240 consignment how do you like that? Huh? Check with the fellow who sold me the policy right 90 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,360 after I called the police. Says birds on consignment aren't covered loophole that's what it is 91 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:52,280 loophole. Yes sir. Probably somebody wanting to buy them parrots be just my luck. Big spec 92 00:07:52,280 --> 00:08:03,680 shop. Who? Oh yeah yeah they're still here just a minute. It's for you. Thank you. This 93 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:17,480 is Friday. Yeah. OK. I got. Right. We got another one tracked off Riverside Drive same 94 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:26,640 routine one thing's different there some lady song. We ended our interview with Mr Biggs 95 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,640 we drove out the address of a Mrs Nelly diver who had just reported a burglary Mrs diver 96 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:34,360 told us her house had been entered shortly after she left to do her marketing she discovered 97 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:38,240 she'd forgotten her grocery list and she came back for it when she returned the burger was 98 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:41,440 in the dining room he had entered through a side window the M.O. appeared to be the 99 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:45,520 same as in the other recent burglary. Every time such a surprise look on a man's face 100 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:50,000 in my life he just stood there like he was frozen solid for a minute or more and then 101 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:53,440 he let out through the back door and look at his flat. How long were you gone from the 102 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:58,480 house man five ten minutes soon as I remembered about my list I started back. I don't know 103 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:03,120 why I'm getting so forgetful old age must be catching up with me well it's a good thing 104 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:08,120 you did forget the diary. Oh you mean so he didn't get time to steal anything. Nothing 105 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:14,200 around here worth stealing. I happen to pick me if I lived up in Bel Air one of those 106 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:19,080 things one of us who we think it is he satisfied with small homes I mean he pulled this kind 107 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:24,720 of stunt before yes. You think you'd recognize the man if you saw him again I think I'm the 108 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:28,760 man who broke in here you said you got a good look at him real good today in the dining room 109 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:34,040 for a full minute maybe more than you'd recognize him would you I don't see why not it isn't 110 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:39,040 the first time we met up you understand how to tell him once before when was that last 111 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:44,080 week sometime I'm not certain when he was very few middle of the week and through there 112 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:49,480 you sure it was the same man but the same came right up to my door what do you want I'm not 113 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:54,160 certain of that either and back in my brain trying to remember the many fellows around 114 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:58,480 here last week to three milkman trying to sign me up a couple of people wanting me to take 115 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:03,440 newspapers three or four asking about dry cleaning somebody telling Rob and half my 116 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:11,280 time running to the door to help me I can't remember which one he was. No sure fate you 117 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,760 think you were just pretending to be a door to door salesman of some kind or other seems 118 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:18,600 to me they were all trying to sell something but always happens when you settle in a new 119 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:23,880 location where did mine coming downtown was for a while I wouldn't mind but I'd like to 120 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:28,200 show you some photographs you can pick them out for right now if you could get me just 121 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:32,600 give me a minute to get my hat and change Henry's water and Mike canary out in the kitchen 122 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:39,000 and you notice the way he's been funny man he's usually thinking of a blue street this 123 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:39,680 time of day. 124 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:48,720 They went into the kitchen with Mrs Diver and we found the dead bird she agreed to accompany 125 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:53,400 us downtown eleven oh five a.m. We pulled the mug shots of burgers who match the description 126 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,800 that she'd given us and show them to Mrs Diver she identified one of the photographs Stanley 127 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:02,520 a Bush and pushing it done time in the state penitentiary as a cat burger from his five 128 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:06,240 times we learned his acquaintances in the places he was known to frequent three thirty 129 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:13,360 six p.m. We located Bush in a bar on North Main. Stand by me yeah please often you don't 130 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:17,480 say I talk to you Bush and be my guest come on let's go what's the matter with right here 131 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:21,840 it's not don't get noisy until later on when I write here for you last night what time 132 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:25,600 all night and this morning eight o'clock this morning why do you want to know I want to 133 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:32,160 go well give me a chance to finish my beer will you. Look you boys want to know I was 134 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,680 last night all right I'll tell you I just want to know why that's all you've been up 135 00:11:35,680 --> 00:11:40,680 the valley lately. Well come on how about that's why after me I think I've been pulling 136 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:44,160 those house problems what do you know about what I read in the papers you know more than 137 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:47,880 that I do there was another one this morning that's news to me that's so yeah I bought 138 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:52,080 a paper yet today lady saw you right after you broke in me huh he says it's you what 139 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,760 she needs glass we don't think so but you'll never make it stick going to try I'm clean 140 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:59,240 not even on parole no more it won't be for all this time it won't be anything I'll come 141 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:03,480 on Bush and quit stall but don't get yourself in the broad take it easy you live longer 142 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:07,720 suppose I got an alibi I'll try for size for all night and this morning go on I was with 143 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:11,160 friends we got a lady who says different I got a lot of friends yeah we know your friends 144 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:15,200 will settle for the lady ten thirty last night till nine o'clock this morning with him every 145 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,320 minute where you ain't going to like it where were you going to look pretty full on a tab 146 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:29,840 of pushing grunt tank Lincoln Heights Jail. We verify Bush and alibi with a booking sergeant 147 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,720 of Lincoln Heights and we learned he was in the clear as far as the previous night was 148 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:39,400 concerned. Five or six PM we interviewed Mrs Diver again she wavered in her identification 149 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,520 of Bush's photo and she said she couldn't tell us anymore. Tell a type of the suspect's 150 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:47,400 description was set out the next day Tuesday September twenty second we had a meeting with 151 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:51,600 a skipper Captain Bernard Well where do we stand just about where we did when it started 152 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:56,240 it's not good is it. We thought we had him yesterday but it didn't pan out you got a 153 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:59,960 description well she's no better describing him and she is an identification it doesn't 154 00:12:59,960 --> 00:13:04,600 mean much we figure he pretends to be a salesman of some kind that alley cases the house as 155 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:09,040 far as we can tell you need a lot more than that you know it's got to be stopped it isn't 156 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:13,760 just the burglaries seems half of the people in L.A. keep that bird and all my kids have 157 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:19,200 a couple of canaries themselves you get attached to them like you do anything else. You've 158 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:23,840 always seen the mail on this thing. Letters from all over not just in town here all over 159 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,680 people are raising pain my own kids asked me when we're going to catch it and with any 160 00:13:27,680 --> 00:13:33,000 longer for a break we're going to make one you got any ideas. Just been working housing 161 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,960 projects except for that one pet store you know well let's forget the store and see if 162 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:41,840 we got a pattern out of the houses rather all new places folks are just moved in and 163 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:45,040 tracks one or two in each development when he moves on so far he stayed in the Valley 164 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:49,560 division when they're building up out that way he won't run out of target you know they 165 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:54,560 open any new projects last week or so yeah couple he tapped him yet no we alerted the 166 00:13:54,560 --> 00:13:58,280 owners told him to warn anybody who moves in probably won't do much good though Mike 167 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:08,600 if you do move. Wednesday September twenty third we go out to a new track just off Cold 168 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:13,040 Water Canyon Boulevard was called White Manor homes we found the track office near the main 169 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:19,240 entrance we went inside. I do for you interested in owning a new home for police officers Sir 170 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:25,000 this is Frank Smith my name's Friday police that's right sir. I don't think I've had any 171 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:31,160 parking tickets lately with murdering all about the bird man I suppose I think that's what 172 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:35,240 they call them in the papers you know the bird man yes it's about him he hasn't been 173 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:40,480 around here one else are not as far as we know well it's a relief after this makes much 174 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:44,920 difference you're in charge of this project I assume there's a my name's simple for a 175 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:52,800 simple I've got a card right here in the desk that's all right I own white man I see I guess 176 00:14:52,800 --> 00:15:00,040 I should say me and the bank we own it together. It's all going to belong to the bank though 177 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:05,160 the way things are going and open their week now I haven't sold a single house I haven't 178 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:10,800 even had a decent offer. What's the trouble sir? Now you know what's the trouble just 179 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:17,360 as well as I do bird man that's a trouble folks just aren't going to move into any new 180 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:23,080 developments under these costs. He sent me to the circular last week the police department 181 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:29,200 I'm supposed to warn anybody who buys from me put them on their guard. Yes sir. Don't 182 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:36,520 need any warning as scared off as it is. Three months ago I'd be house sold out by now. It 183 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:41,120 seems to be you fellows are dogging it. I'm not telling you your business mind you but 184 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:45,160 it seems to me you should have picked him up before this. Yes sir maybe you can help 185 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:49,120 us. How's that? Well the sign out in front says that two of your houses are furnished 186 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:53,920 is that right? Oh that's just more display. Westman's department store did it. Figures 187 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:59,400 it's good advertising. Yes sir. Of course I don't sell them furnished just for display. 188 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:04,400 We'd like to use one of them for a few days. Use one? Yes sir. I'm afraid I don't follow 189 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:08,400 you. Well sir you've got a sold sign that you can put up in the front yard haven't you? 190 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:12,960 Well I guess so. Well we'll see that nothing's disturbed. If anybody asks you tell them that 191 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:20,480 a new couple moved in. Oh I get you. Decoys huh? Yes sir something like that. Well I don't 192 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:26,000 know. The department store might not go for the idea. Well we'll clear it with them. Well 193 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:32,640 it's all right mother. Thank you. How long you suppose it'll take? How long? To catch 194 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:39,880 him. On your guess it's as good as ours. If it works at all. It better work. Pressure's 195 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,920 building up. You fellas don't know what it's like being under pressure. Oh the bank a lot 196 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:49,040 of money on this project. Figured I'd have at least half a dozen houses sold by now. 197 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:55,080 Least half a dozen. Interest to be paid is the principal and the you know the bank expects 198 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:59,680 it on time. You can't blame them for that. No sir. You know what it's like having the 199 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:05,480 pressure turned on. We get a little every once in a while. Oh well that's different. 200 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:10,960 Your boss rides you and tells you to get on the ball. You don't have to worry. He can't 201 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:16,720 fire you. Cops are civil servants. Pressure from your boss? Well that's different. It's 202 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:25,800 not coming from him. Well where is it coming from? Guy who kills birds. We telephoned the 203 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:29,040 Wesley department store and we talked to the manager. He gave us permission to use the 204 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:33,840 house that they decorated. At a neighborhood pet store we purchased a cage and two canaries. 205 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:38,160 It was eleven thirty a.m. when we got back to White Manor Homes. Mr. Simple was putting 206 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:49,480 up a sold sign in front of one of the houses. What you got there? Oh canaries huh? Yes 207 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:57,320 sir. Well here's the key. In case you want to lock up. The door is open now. Thank you. 208 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:01,840 Want me to spread the word? What's that sir? That I've sold this place? We'd appreciate 209 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:13,720 that. Okay I'll see that it gets robbed. Thank you. Man some layout huh? Yeah it's very 210 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:18,560 nice. Yeah great. You know anything about taking care of birds? I don't think there's 211 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:24,960 much to it. There's water and sea. Hey Joe get a load of that couch. Yeah. Why is it 212 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:30,840 eight feet long? Just about. If they ever see this place I'm dead. What'd you tell her? 213 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:36,640 Oh we were on a job I certainly didn't go into detail. Wonder what it would cost? It 214 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:41,600 takes a joint up like this how much it would cost? More than we make. Yeah. Yeah it probably 215 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:48,560 wouldn't be very comfortable anyway. Not like having your own stuff you're used to. No. 216 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:54,240 Boy they're really taking up the storm aren't they? Yeah. They're kind of cute too. Hey 217 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,800 you know Joe Faye might like a couple of birds. They're good company for when the kids are 218 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:01,920 in school. Well maybe you can have those. I never thought of that. If he doesn't get them 219 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:11,640 first. No one came by the house that afternoon or that evening. At six p.m. Frank went home. 220 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,920 I stayed through the night. Thursday September twenty fourth nine fifteen a.m. We had our 221 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:20,120 first visitor. Frank waited in the bedroom while I talked to her. She was a young lady 222 00:19:20,120 --> 00:19:23,680 who said that she represented the local chamber of commerce. She told me her job was to welcome 223 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:27,400 newcomers to the neighborhood. She gave me some maps and a book of coupons with the beach 224 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:31,760 jeans for free introductory gifts at various stores in the vicinity. During the rest of 225 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:35,520 the day we had four more callers. Two newspaper agents, a representative from a dry cleaning 226 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:39,240 establishment and a charity worker. As far as we could tell they were all genuinely fond 227 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:44,120 of birds. Four forty five p.m. A small old truck pulled up in front. Look coming up the 228 00:19:44,120 --> 00:19:49,680 wall. Pretty close to the diver's description. Yeah. Tell me to get out of here. I'm better 229 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:57,560 if you want to. I. Want to. 230 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:04,400 Have. What's it about. Why I take over your yard. 231 00:20:06,120 --> 00:20:10,600 Oh well I don't want to see about that. Ask a man for 232 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:15,200 a gardening job he says he'll do it himself weekends and after work and understand how 233 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,440 much work it will be wife knows better and knows the husband to who she's the one who 234 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:23,160 hires me well maybe I'm never a pretty big yard but I'm spending my weekends on the back 235 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:29,680 and I'm blaming one inside for me. How much would you charge for 236 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:35,360 a yard this size. I'm going to have a watering to know I guess we can take care of the water 237 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:39,400 well I come once a week then mow the lawn look after your flowers do we think planning 238 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,560 well we're pretty well landscaped now you'll want some of your own plants could use a couple 239 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:52,320 more roses alongside that possible. Man. 240 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:58,880 Just looking around small place again how much for the artworks I find my. Big yard 241 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:05,120 said so you know you'd only be here a couple hours a week you know. I find I can do you 242 00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:08,920 think it over I got to show them how about twenty times not worth me more than that if 243 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:13,400 we're going to try you know how do you think I know the job is making the woods I have to 244 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:19,480 drive all the way out here I get my finest and. I see how do you have to find us then 245 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:24,960 I heard about this project I thought my movie so I'm going to go to the issue the only people 246 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:30,960 who have been. Probably will be before all. I pick up any other customers and project 247 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,320 I might come down twenty five and I'm ready to cancel what you think it'll drop back there 248 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:40,920 so. I'm going to hear most of the time I got back Oh shut up what is. 249 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:46,680 I wasn't talking to you on there and get crazy. What's wrong with them but I knew since 250 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:51,440 they're always screeching to get on somebody's nerves. I guess you don't like birds well I 251 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:56,000 could do without these. Why don't you get rid of them. Or say I. 252 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:00,680 Cried enjoy you know he talks to him all the time baby talk yeah just like my only. 253 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:07,320 Bird. The way to birds to. Oh you know when I was 254 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:13,640 a kid cages all over the place. I had fifteen twenty birds I'm lucky to get you 255 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:19,560 lucky. I had a dog once yeah that's the doubt is name is I'm not only dog ever had 256 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:25,560 killed one of our parents I wasn't his father. I got loose. And I'm not very just 257 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:31,080 playing with it to me and kill it sure. I got right around my mom did. And why. 258 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:37,400 I don't want to. Have another dog at that. Let me just play. 259 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:43,640 Just lay awake at night listen don't think that's what you call it. I mean. 260 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:49,720 Couldn't cover them over that was cool to cover them over. As night long had a listen 261 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:55,520 to them. I said get on the phone with. My like he's. 262 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:01,880 Come on. I couldn't stay after that. 263 00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:06,840 Wish I could have stayed wish I could have seen her face next morning. 264 00:23:10,360 --> 00:23:13,680 Still keep hearing them. Keep coming over and over. 265 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:22,080 And. Put them in a cage like my. I don't feel sorry for something just because it's 266 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:23,480 like that you might. 267 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:35,480 The story you've just heard is true the names were changed to protect the innocent 268 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:40,400 on November 12th the hearing was held in Department 98 Superior Court State of 269 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:52,960 California in and for the county of Los Angeles. Philip James Bortch was examined 270 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:57,520 by six psychiatrists appointed by the court and found to be mentally incompetent he 271 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:01,320 was committed to the state mental hospital at Mendocino for an indefinite period of 272 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:10,640 time. Dragon is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces radio service. 273 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:35,280 The the the the the the the the the.