WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:03.000 Bragment. 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 have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:22.000 --> 00:26.000 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned the homicide detail. 00:26.000 --> 00:29.000 You've just completed an investigation on an East Los Angeles murder case. 00:29.000 --> 00:33.000 You get a hot shot call. A shooting at a liquor store on Pico Boulevard. 00:33.000 --> 00:36.000 Your job? Check it out. 00:41.000 --> 00:45.000 Bragment. The documented drama of an actual crime. 00:45.000 --> 00:49.000 For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, 00:49.000 --> 00:53.000 you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case 00:53.000 --> 00:56.000 transcribed from official police files. 00:56.000 --> 00:59.000 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, 00:59.000 --> 01:03.000 Bragment is the story of your police force in action. 01:07.000 --> 01:10.000 It was Wednesday, February 16th. It was cool in Los Angeles. 01:10.000 --> 01:12.000 We were working the day watch out of Homicide Division. 01:12.000 --> 01:14.000 My partner is Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Norman. 01:14.000 --> 01:17.000 My name is Friday. We were on our way back from the interrogation room 01:17.000 --> 01:20.000 and it was 8.46 p.m. when we got to room 42. 01:20.000 --> 01:23.000 Homicide. 01:23.000 --> 01:27.000 You think he'll cop, huh? I don't know. Probably won't make much difference anyway. 01:27.000 --> 01:30.000 Yeah. Mel keeping the gun, that was his big mistake. 01:30.000 --> 01:32.000 Yeah. I wonder why she gave him the chance. 01:32.000 --> 01:34.000 What do you mean? Well, he'd beaten her a couple of times before. 01:34.000 --> 01:36.000 And neighbors all said so. Yeah. 01:36.000 --> 01:38.000 You'd think she'd have walked out on him. 01:38.000 --> 01:40.000 Maybe that's what she was trying to do. 01:40.000 --> 01:43.000 Well, she should have tried sooner. 01:43.000 --> 01:45.000 You got any plans for dinner? No, not especially. Why? 01:45.000 --> 01:47.000 Well, I guess I'll grab a bite with you. 01:47.000 --> 01:49.000 If they said she's not gonna want any dinner, she'll fix something for the kids 01:49.000 --> 01:51.000 and tell me to eat downtown. 01:51.000 --> 01:53.000 That's a switch, isn't it? Sure is. 01:53.000 --> 01:56.000 To tell you the truth, Joe, she's kind of sore at me. 01:56.000 --> 01:58.000 This is her way of getting even. Is that so? 01:58.000 --> 02:01.000 Yeah. A woman expects a man to remember everything. 02:01.000 --> 02:03.000 Let him slip up just once, it's the end of the world. 02:03.000 --> 02:06.000 Is that right? Birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day, 02:06.000 --> 02:08.000 Christmas, Lincoln's birth, everything. 02:08.000 --> 02:11.000 What'd you forget this time? Valentine's Day. 02:11.000 --> 02:15.000 Oh, yeah. Well, I knew there was something eating her when I got home that night. 02:15.000 --> 02:18.000 She didn't say a word until the next morning. 02:18.000 --> 02:23.000 Then she hands me a tie, stripes like that brown and red one from last Christmas, 02:23.000 --> 02:25.000 only this one is maroon and gray. Yeah. 02:25.000 --> 02:27.000 Said she didn't want to give it to me on Valentine's Day 02:27.000 --> 02:29.000 because she knew how embarrassed I'd be. 02:29.000 --> 02:32.000 You know, on account of not having a present for her. 02:32.000 --> 02:35.000 Well, why don't you get her some flowers or some candy to make up for it? 02:35.000 --> 02:37.000 She told me not to, Joe. 02:37.000 --> 02:41.000 Said she didn't want anything unless I thought of it myself and on the right day. 02:41.000 --> 02:43.000 See, you don't understand women, Joe. 02:43.000 --> 02:46.000 You can't make up for a mistake. They won't let you. 02:46.000 --> 02:48.000 Watch out, I got it. 02:51.000 --> 02:53.000 For us? Liquor store out in Pico. Yeah. 02:53.000 --> 02:54.000 Dead body. 02:54.000 --> 03:01.000 We drove out to the Evendale Liquor Store on West Pico Boulevard. 03:01.000 --> 03:04.000 The owner, Cecil Evendale, was lying on the floor behind the counter. 03:04.000 --> 03:07.000 He'd been shot to the chest and was already dead when the body was discovered. 03:07.000 --> 03:11.000 A team from robbery detail and Sergeant J. Allen and a crew from the crime lab 03:11.000 --> 03:13.000 arrived a few minutes after we did. 03:13.000 --> 03:17.000 They began their investigation and we talked to the patrol car officers who found Evendale's body. 03:20.000 --> 03:23.000 We were just cruising by and we saw the front door standing wide open. 03:23.000 --> 03:27.000 No sign of Evendale, so we thought maybe we ought to look around. Yeah. 03:27.000 --> 03:30.000 Came inside, gave the place a once-over, spotted him just like he is now. 03:30.000 --> 03:32.000 You're sure he's the man who owned the store, huh? 03:32.000 --> 03:33.000 Oh, yeah, that's Evendale, all right. 03:33.000 --> 03:35.000 He's had trouble before. How's that? 03:35.000 --> 03:38.000 Couple of boys held him up, must be about a month ago now. 03:38.000 --> 03:40.000 We answered the call. I see. 03:40.000 --> 03:42.000 They picked up the same night. Evendale had their license number. 03:42.000 --> 03:44.000 You got a conviction? First degree robbery. 03:44.000 --> 03:46.000 Well, it can't be them if they're in the joint. 03:46.000 --> 03:48.000 I'll check on it, John. Right. 03:48.000 --> 03:51.000 There was another holdup that didn't get away with much. Oh? 03:51.000 --> 03:53.000 Cash register was open when we came in. 03:53.000 --> 03:56.000 Still full, $50, $75. That's my guess. 03:56.000 --> 03:58.000 Well, maybe something scared them off. 03:58.000 --> 04:00.000 The street was empty, no cars, nobody. 04:00.000 --> 04:02.000 Funny they left all that money just lying there in the drawer. 04:02.000 --> 04:04.000 That's not the only funny thing around here. 04:04.000 --> 04:07.000 Who you got, Jay? Found the casing. Take a look. 04:07.000 --> 04:08.000 It's 38, huh? Yeah. 04:08.000 --> 04:12.000 Slug went right through him in his chest out the back, right through, clean as a whistle. 04:12.000 --> 04:14.000 Sure got me, Buffalo. What do you mean? 04:14.000 --> 04:16.000 The slug. Yeah. 04:16.000 --> 04:17.000 Can't find a trace of it. 04:22.000 --> 04:25.000 Frank came back from the telephone with the information that the two men 04:25.000 --> 04:27.000 who had previously robbed the Evendale Liquor Store 04:27.000 --> 04:29.000 were now serving their sentences in San Quentin. 04:29.000 --> 04:32.000 While Sergeant Jay Allen and the crew from the crime lab 04:32.000 --> 04:35.000 continued to search for the missing slug and any other physical evidence, 04:35.000 --> 04:38.000 we canvassed the area for somebody who might have heard the shooting. 04:38.000 --> 04:42.000 9.53 p.m. We found a drug store in the next block that was still open for business. 04:43.000 --> 04:45.000 Fountain's closed. That's what you're after. 04:45.000 --> 04:47.000 No, sir, we'd like to talk to you for a minute. 04:47.000 --> 04:48.000 Talk? What about? 04:48.000 --> 04:50.000 We're police officers. It's Frank Smith. My name's Friday. 04:50.000 --> 04:52.000 Police, huh? That's right. 04:52.000 --> 04:56.000 Thought I heard sirens a while back. What's been going on around here? 04:56.000 --> 04:58.000 Well, there was some trouble at the liquor store down the street. 04:58.000 --> 05:00.000 C-7, Dale's Place? Yeah. 05:00.000 --> 05:03.000 You shouldn't have let it happen. Thank you, partner. 05:03.000 --> 05:05.000 You're police officers, ain't you? Yes, sir, we are. 05:05.000 --> 05:07.000 He was robbed just a few weeks ago. 05:07.000 --> 05:09.000 You should have figured somebody had tried again. 05:09.000 --> 05:11.000 You should have been watching him, making sure he was all right. 05:11.000 --> 05:13.000 Well, it's a pretty big town, sir. There's a lot to watch. 05:13.000 --> 05:16.000 Too big, if you ask me. Why don't they go home? 05:16.000 --> 05:17.000 What's that? 05:17.000 --> 05:19.000 All them folks who keep moving to L.A. 05:19.000 --> 05:23.000 25 years ago, I come here. Things were a lot different then. 05:23.000 --> 05:26.000 Man could drive down the streets, find a place to park his car. 05:26.000 --> 05:28.000 There was room to move around in. Elbow room. 05:28.000 --> 05:30.000 Mm-hmm. More people coming all the time. 05:30.000 --> 05:32.000 Getting so crowded, a man can't breathe. 05:32.000 --> 05:33.000 Yes, sir. 05:33.000 --> 05:35.000 You see anybody who might have done a shooting? 05:35.000 --> 05:37.000 Tonight, you mean? Yes, sir. Anybody suspicious? 05:37.000 --> 05:39.000 Nobody suspicious come in here. 05:39.000 --> 05:41.000 Not since I got back from supper at least ways. 05:41.000 --> 05:43.000 What was that? 730. Right around in there. 05:43.000 --> 05:44.000 Uh-huh. 05:44.000 --> 05:47.000 Don't think I've had more than a half a dozen customers since suppertime. 05:47.000 --> 05:51.000 Miss Jacobs, her youngsters got the crooks, sold her some cough syrup. 05:51.000 --> 05:53.000 I ought to relieve it some. 05:53.000 --> 05:56.000 Then there was a couple of boys, bought Coke, spread the magazine. 05:56.000 --> 05:59.000 How old were they? 10, 12, dust-shabers. 05:59.000 --> 06:00.000 Uh-huh. 06:00.000 --> 06:02.000 A fellow come in for a carton of cigarettes. 06:02.000 --> 06:04.000 Don't know his name, but he lives around here somewhere. 06:04.000 --> 06:06.000 Been in a half a dozen times before. 06:06.000 --> 06:08.000 Don't recall anybody else. 06:08.000 --> 06:10.000 Well, how about out on the street? 06:10.000 --> 06:13.000 Did anybody walk by or hang around who doesn't belong in the neighborhood? 06:13.000 --> 06:15.000 How the heck would I know? 06:15.000 --> 06:17.000 You can't even see the street from in here when it gets dark. 06:17.000 --> 06:19.000 Yes, sir. Black as pitch out there. 06:19.000 --> 06:22.000 Been after them for the last five years to put up a street lamp. 06:22.000 --> 06:24.000 Been begging them. What did they do? 06:24.000 --> 06:27.000 Just raise my taxes and spend the money on freeways and gadgets 06:27.000 --> 06:29.000 so as more strangers will come flooding in on us. 06:29.000 --> 06:32.000 Whole darn shooting could have took place right there on my sidewalk. 06:32.000 --> 06:34.000 I wouldn't have been able to see it. 06:34.000 --> 06:36.000 Yes, sir. Well, thanks anyway. 06:36.000 --> 06:38.000 I say, wait a minute. 06:38.000 --> 06:42.000 Come to think of it, I did spot a couple of fellas. 06:42.000 --> 06:45.000 Acted kind of funny, too, like they didn't want me to see them. 06:45.000 --> 06:47.000 You know what I mean? I think so. 06:47.000 --> 06:49.000 It was then when I was walking home to supper. 06:49.000 --> 06:52.000 No, no, it was when I was on my way back. 06:52.000 --> 06:54.000 That'll be about 7.30? 06:54.000 --> 06:56.000 Give or take a couple of minutes. 06:56.000 --> 06:58.000 Well, they were just standing there in the doorway, kind of. 06:58.000 --> 07:00.000 Turned their backs toward me as I walked past them. 07:00.000 --> 07:02.000 Could you describe them for us? 07:02.000 --> 07:04.000 I said they turned their backs. Yes, sir. 07:04.000 --> 07:06.000 Not that it made no never mind. 07:06.000 --> 07:08.000 It's darn dark out there. I couldn't describe them 07:08.000 --> 07:10.000 if they'd been coming at me head on. 07:10.000 --> 07:12.000 You got any idea how tall they were? 07:12.000 --> 07:14.000 Medium height, I guess. How were they dressed? 07:14.000 --> 07:16.000 Didn't notice. Except for one of them. 07:16.000 --> 07:18.000 Yes, sir. Jacket he was wearing. Notice that. 07:18.000 --> 07:21.000 Remember thinking it was so loud you could see it in the dark. 07:21.000 --> 07:23.000 Kind of plaid. You know, big crisscrosses? 07:23.000 --> 07:25.000 What color was it? Must have been light. 07:25.000 --> 07:29.000 Some kind of light color. Tan, maybe with green in it. Not sure. 07:29.000 --> 07:31.000 Now, is there anything else you can tell us about these two men? 07:31.000 --> 07:33.000 I think I've done pretty good to give you that much. 07:33.000 --> 07:35.000 Yes, sir, you have. Thank you. 07:35.000 --> 07:37.000 I'm not saying they had anything to do with shooting C. Sevensdale. 07:37.000 --> 07:39.000 You understand? Yeah, we understand. 07:39.000 --> 07:42.000 It's up to you to find out who did it and bring them to justice. 07:42.000 --> 07:43.000 Yes, sir. 07:43.000 --> 07:45.000 Don't know what's getting into this town. 07:45.000 --> 07:47.000 Man ain't safe in his own store. 07:47.000 --> 07:50.000 More crime all the time. More criminals. 07:50.000 --> 07:53.000 Wasn't like this 25 years ago. Maybe not. 07:53.000 --> 07:55.000 Why should there be more now? 07:55.000 --> 07:57.000 Well, you gave us the reason. 07:57.000 --> 07:59.000 More people. 08:04.000 --> 08:06.000 11.36 p.m. We went back to the liquor store. 08:06.000 --> 08:09.000 The body had been moved to the county morgue. 08:09.000 --> 08:13.000 J. Allen told us that he and his crew had searched the walls, the floor, the furniture. 08:13.000 --> 08:18.000 There was no physical evidence and still no trace of the slug that had killed C. Sevensdale. 08:18.000 --> 08:21.000 The next morning, February 17th, we again returned to the neighborhood 08:21.000 --> 08:23.000 and questioned shopkeepers in the vicinity. 08:23.000 --> 08:25.000 None of them had any leads. 08:25.000 --> 08:28.000 12.05 p.m. We went back to the office. 08:31.000 --> 08:33.000 Well, I guess you were right, Joe. 08:33.000 --> 08:34.000 What about? 08:34.000 --> 08:38.000 Faye, when I got home last night, she was expecting candy or flowers or something. 08:38.000 --> 08:40.000 I thought she told you not to buy her anything. 08:40.000 --> 08:43.000 Yeah, but that didn't keep her from being disappointed when she didn't get anything. 08:43.000 --> 08:45.000 Oh, what'd she say? 08:45.000 --> 08:47.000 She didn't say. She just looked. 08:47.000 --> 08:51.000 I got it. 08:51.000 --> 08:53.000 Homicide, Faye. 08:53.000 --> 08:55.000 Is this right? 08:55.000 --> 08:57.000 No, we're on that. 08:57.000 --> 09:00.000 When? 09:00.000 --> 09:02.000 Let me see. 09:02.000 --> 09:04.000 My tie in? Yeah. 09:04.000 --> 09:06.000 Give me the address. 09:08.000 --> 09:12.000 Okay, right. Thank you. 09:12.000 --> 09:14.000 The office just got a report from a clinic out on Wilshire. 09:14.000 --> 09:16.000 A man came in to see him this morning. 09:16.000 --> 09:18.000 Had a.38 slug in his chest. 09:22.000 --> 09:25.000 We drove out to a small medical center a few blocks west of Vermont Avenue 09:25.000 --> 09:28.000 and we went into the offices of Dr. J.Y. Springer. 09:30.000 --> 09:32.000 Good afternoon, gentlemen. 09:32.000 --> 09:33.000 Afternoon. Dr. Springer in? 09:33.000 --> 09:34.000 Do you have an appointment? 09:34.000 --> 09:35.000 With police officers. 09:35.000 --> 09:36.000 Oh. 09:36.000 --> 09:38.000 Is the doctor busy? 09:38.000 --> 09:40.000 Well, he does have a patient with him right now. 09:40.000 --> 09:41.000 I see. We'll wait. 09:41.000 --> 09:43.000 I'll tell him you're here. I'm sure it won't be long. 09:43.000 --> 09:46.000 Thank you. 09:46.000 --> 09:47.000 Might as well sit down. 09:47.000 --> 09:49.000 Yeah. 09:49.000 --> 09:51.000 You think we're on the right track, Joe? 09:51.000 --> 09:53.000 I don't know. 09:53.000 --> 09:56.000 That slug isn't in the liquor store, that's for sure. 09:56.000 --> 09:58.000 J. says there isn't a mark on the walls. 09:58.000 --> 09:59.000 Yeah. 09:59.000 --> 10:00.000 Sure had to hit something. 10:00.000 --> 10:01.000 Or somebody. 10:01.000 --> 10:03.000 Yeah. 10:03.000 --> 10:04.000 You want a magazine? 10:04.000 --> 10:06.000 No, no thanks. 10:09.000 --> 10:10.000 That's funny. 10:10.000 --> 10:11.000 What? 10:11.000 --> 10:12.000 There's a brand new issue. 10:12.000 --> 10:13.000 See right here? 10:13.000 --> 10:14.000 February. 10:14.000 --> 10:16.000 New magazine in the doctor's office. 10:16.000 --> 10:18.000 Mm-hmm. 10:18.000 --> 10:19.000 Oh. 10:19.000 --> 10:20.000 What's the matter? 10:20.000 --> 10:22.000 There's a medical journal. 10:22.000 --> 10:24.000 The doctor will see you now. 10:24.000 --> 10:26.000 Thank you. 10:26.000 --> 10:27.000 In here. 10:27.000 --> 10:30.000 Thank you. 10:30.000 --> 10:31.000 Dr. Springer? 10:31.000 --> 10:32.000 That's right. 10:32.000 --> 10:33.000 Police officers. 10:33.000 --> 10:34.000 This is Frank Smith. My name's Friday. 10:34.000 --> 10:35.000 How do you do? 10:35.000 --> 10:36.000 How do you do, sir? 10:36.000 --> 10:38.000 What can I do for you, gentlemen? 10:38.000 --> 10:40.000 Well, I understand you took a bullet out of a man's chest this morning. 10:40.000 --> 10:41.000 Oh, that. 10:41.000 --> 10:42.000 Mind telling us about it? 10:42.000 --> 10:43.000 No, no, not a bit. 10:43.000 --> 10:44.000 Young man came into the office. 10:44.000 --> 10:45.000 Must have been around 10 o'clock. 10:45.000 --> 10:46.000 Yes, sir. 10:46.000 --> 10:49.000 He told me that he and a friend had been looking at some guns last night. 10:49.000 --> 10:51.000 One of them went off accidentally. 10:51.000 --> 10:53.000 I examined the wound. It was quite superficial. 10:53.000 --> 10:55.000 The bullet had barely penetrated the skin. 10:55.000 --> 10:56.000 Mm-hmm. 10:56.000 --> 10:57.000 I removed it, put on a bandage. 10:57.000 --> 10:58.000 That's all there was to it. 10:58.000 --> 10:59.000 I see. 10:59.000 --> 11:00.000 Very superficial. 11:00.000 --> 11:01.000 Didn't even need instruments. 11:01.000 --> 11:03.000 He could have squeezed it out himself if he tried. 11:03.000 --> 11:05.000 Was he a regular patient of yours, doctor? 11:05.000 --> 11:06.000 No. 11:06.000 --> 11:07.000 No, I'd never seen him before. 11:07.000 --> 11:09.000 He said he was just passing through L.A. 11:09.000 --> 11:11.000 Were you describing him for us? 11:11.000 --> 11:14.000 Well, he was in his late teens or early 20s. 11:14.000 --> 11:17.000 Dark hair, stocky, weighed about 170, I'd judge. 11:17.000 --> 11:18.000 How tall? 11:18.000 --> 11:20.000 5'7", 5'8". 11:20.000 --> 11:22.000 Any distinguishing marks or scars that you recall? 11:22.000 --> 11:24.000 No, nothing like that. 11:24.000 --> 11:25.000 How was he dressed? 11:25.000 --> 11:28.000 Slacks, sports shirt, loud jacket. 11:28.000 --> 11:29.000 Loud? 11:29.000 --> 11:31.000 Yes, a plaid of some sort, green and brown. 11:31.000 --> 11:34.000 The shirt was open at the collar, no tag. 11:34.000 --> 11:37.000 When you called in, you reported that his name was Clyde Beaton? 11:37.000 --> 11:38.000 That's right. 11:38.000 --> 11:39.000 You think it might be his real name, doctor? 11:39.000 --> 11:40.000 I'm sure of it. 11:40.000 --> 11:41.000 Oh? 11:41.000 --> 11:43.000 You have to be very careful whenever you treat a bullet wound. 11:43.000 --> 11:44.000 I always ask for identification. 11:44.000 --> 11:45.000 Yes, that's a good idea. 11:45.000 --> 11:47.000 The young fellow was a little embarrassed at first. 11:47.000 --> 11:48.000 He didn't have any. 11:48.000 --> 11:49.000 No driver's license? 11:49.000 --> 11:51.000 He was in his other suit. 11:51.000 --> 11:53.000 I told him he'd have to stay here until I could contact the police. 11:53.000 --> 11:54.000 What did he do then? 11:54.000 --> 11:57.000 He fished through his pockets, found a letter he'd recently received. 11:57.000 --> 11:59.000 I took the name from the envelope, Clyde Beaton. 11:59.000 --> 12:02.000 Seems sufficient identification under the circumstances. 12:02.000 --> 12:03.000 Did you get Beaton's address? 12:03.000 --> 12:06.000 He said he was staying at the Crown Prince Hotel on Sunset. 12:06.000 --> 12:08.000 That what the letter said? 12:08.000 --> 12:10.000 I'm afraid I don't remember. 12:10.000 --> 12:11.000 It was the name I was chiefly interested in. 12:11.000 --> 12:12.000 I understand. 12:12.000 --> 12:13.000 Did you keep the slug, doctor? 12:13.000 --> 12:14.000 Hmm? 12:14.000 --> 12:15.000 The bullet that took out of his chest? 12:15.000 --> 12:16.000 No, I'm afraid not. 12:16.000 --> 12:17.000 He wanted it for a souvenir. 12:17.000 --> 12:19.000 The report said it was a.38. 12:19.000 --> 12:20.000 That's right,.38 caliber. 12:20.000 --> 12:21.000 You're sure of that? 12:21.000 --> 12:22.000 I've handled guns all my life. 12:22.000 --> 12:23.000 It's a hobby. 12:23.000 --> 12:24.000 I see. 12:24.000 --> 12:25.000 Is this a serious matter, Sergeant? 12:25.000 --> 12:26.000 I'm afraid we don't know yet. 12:26.000 --> 12:28.000 The wound was very superficial. 12:28.000 --> 12:29.000 Yes, sir. 12:29.000 --> 12:32.000 I remember telling him how lucky he was if the bullet hadn't gone in deeper. 12:32.000 --> 12:34.000 Now he could have been luckier. 12:34.000 --> 12:35.000 How's that? 12:35.000 --> 12:36.000 It hadn't hit him at all. 12:36.000 --> 12:46.000 We drove over to the Crown Prince Hotel. 12:46.000 --> 12:50.000 They told us that no one by the name of Clyde Beaton had been registered during the past month. 12:50.000 --> 12:53.000 They also told us that they had no guests who answered the suspect's description. 12:53.000 --> 12:55.000 We checked the name through R&I. 12:55.000 --> 12:56.000 They had nothing on them. 12:56.000 --> 12:58.000 We also checked the telephone books, city directors. 12:58.000 --> 13:00.000 We came up with two Clyde Beatons. 13:00.000 --> 13:03.000 The first one was an elderly man who lived on Highland Avenue. 13:03.000 --> 13:07.000 We interviewed him and learned that he suffered from arthritis and had been bedridden for the past two years. 13:07.000 --> 13:11.000 He had no living relatives except for a daughter who kept house for him. 13:11.000 --> 13:14.000 The second Clyde Beaton lived on Washington Boulevard. 13:14.000 --> 13:15.000 We drove out to the address. 13:15.000 --> 13:25.000 It was a two-story brick and stucco apartment house. 13:25.000 --> 13:26.000 Yes? 13:26.000 --> 13:27.000 Is Mr. Beaton in? 13:27.000 --> 13:28.000 No, he isn't. 13:28.000 --> 13:29.000 You know where we can find him? 13:29.000 --> 13:30.000 What for? 13:30.000 --> 13:31.000 With police officers. 13:31.000 --> 13:32.000 What? 13:32.000 --> 13:33.000 Miss Frank Smith, my name's Friday. 13:33.000 --> 13:34.000 Are you Mrs. Beaton? 13:34.000 --> 13:35.000 Yes. 13:35.000 --> 13:36.000 Mrs. Clyde Beaton? 13:36.000 --> 13:37.000 That's right. 13:37.000 --> 13:38.000 Could you tell us where your husband is, please? 13:38.000 --> 13:39.000 Well, he's not here. 13:39.000 --> 13:40.000 Yes, ma'am, where is he? 13:40.000 --> 13:41.000 Chicago. 13:41.000 --> 13:42.000 Oh. 13:42.000 --> 13:43.000 He's been there since last Friday. 13:43.000 --> 13:44.000 You sure of that? 13:44.000 --> 13:45.000 What's this all about? 13:45.000 --> 13:46.000 Police business. 13:46.000 --> 13:47.000 Do you mind if we come in for a minute? 13:47.000 --> 13:48.000 No, I guess not. 13:48.000 --> 13:49.000 We can't talk very loud. 13:49.000 --> 13:50.000 The baby's asleep. 13:50.000 --> 13:51.000 Yes, ma'am. 13:51.000 --> 13:52.000 You say your husband's in Chicago. 13:52.000 --> 13:53.000 Since last Friday. 13:53.000 --> 13:54.000 Business trip? 13:54.000 --> 13:55.000 Well, in a way. 13:55.000 --> 13:56.000 He's a plastic salesman. 13:56.000 --> 14:03.000 Company's having a convention. 14:03.000 --> 14:04.000 I see. 14:04.000 --> 14:08.000 He did a bigger gross last year than any other West Coast representative, and that's why 14:08.000 --> 14:09.000 they picked him to go. 14:09.000 --> 14:10.000 It's quite an honor. 14:10.000 --> 14:13.000 It's only been with him a couple of years, practically the youngest man in the force. 14:13.000 --> 14:14.000 Yes, ma'am. 14:14.000 --> 14:15.000 He even had a dinner last night. 14:15.000 --> 14:16.000 Gave him a plaque. 14:16.000 --> 14:17.000 Last night? 14:17.000 --> 14:18.000 He called me afterwards. 14:18.000 --> 14:19.000 Long distance. 14:19.000 --> 14:20.000 From Chicago. 14:20.000 --> 14:21.000 Don't you believe me? 14:21.000 --> 14:22.000 Yes, ma'am. 14:22.000 --> 14:23.000 Does your husband have a gun, Miss Beaton? 14:23.000 --> 14:24.000 Why? 14:24.000 --> 14:27.000 A pistol or a revolver. 14:27.000 --> 14:28.000 Well, I... 14:28.000 --> 14:29.000 Does he, Miss Beaton? 14:29.000 --> 14:30.000 Yes, he has a gun. 14:30.000 --> 14:31.000 Do you take it with him? 14:31.000 --> 14:32.000 No, of course not. 14:32.000 --> 14:33.000 Why would he take a gun to Chicago? 14:33.000 --> 14:34.000 Would you get it for us, please? 14:34.000 --> 14:35.000 It's in the bedroom. 14:35.000 --> 14:36.000 Bureau drawer, the baby's there. 14:36.000 --> 14:37.000 We'd like to see it, Miss Beaton. 14:37.000 --> 14:38.000 All right. 14:38.000 --> 14:39.000 Well, the convention in Chicago should be easy to check. 14:39.000 --> 14:40.000 Yeah, too easy. 14:40.000 --> 14:41.000 Mm-hmm. 14:41.000 --> 14:42.000 I'm sorry. 14:42.000 --> 14:43.000 I'm sorry. 14:43.000 --> 14:44.000 I'm sorry. 14:44.000 --> 14:45.000 I'm sorry. 14:45.000 --> 14:46.000 I'm sorry. 14:46.000 --> 14:47.000 I'm sorry. 14:47.000 --> 14:48.000 I'm sorry. 14:48.000 --> 14:49.000 I'm sorry. 14:49.000 --> 14:50.000 I'm sorry. 14:50.000 --> 14:51.000 I'm sorry. 14:51.000 --> 14:52.000 I'm sorry. 14:52.000 --> 14:53.000 I'm sorry. 14:53.000 --> 14:54.000 I'm sorry. 14:54.000 --> 14:55.000 I'm sorry. 14:55.000 --> 14:56.000 Yeah, too easy. 14:56.000 --> 14:57.000 Mm-hmm. 14:57.000 --> 14:58.000 I don't think that was setting up an alibi. 14:58.000 --> 14:59.000 He'd pick something tougher to crack, wouldn't he? 14:59.000 --> 14:59.980 You think we've struck out? 14:59.980 --> 15:03.380 Could be. 15:03.380 --> 15:04.720 Ah... 15:04.720 --> 15:06.320 I'm sorry. 15:06.320 --> 15:08.160 Well, the gun isn't there. 15:08.160 --> 15:09.160 No. 15:09.160 --> 15:10.360 I looked all through the bureau. 15:10.360 --> 15:12.160 I don't know what could have happened to it. 15:12.160 --> 15:14.160 Well, maybe your husband did take it with him. 15:14.160 --> 15:16.440 I packed all his things he couldn't have. 15:16.440 --> 15:19.800 Well, we've always kept it in the top drawer where it'd be handy. 15:19.800 --> 15:20.800 Mm-hmm. 15:20.800 --> 15:22.460 You know where your husband's staying, Miss Beaton? 15:22.460 --> 15:25.900 Waterfield Hotel I've never been in Chicago but it's right downtown some place 15:26.340 --> 15:30.880 what's the name of the company works for Federated Plastics can't you tell me why 15:30.900 --> 15:34.140 you're asking all these questions we just like to get in touch with them what about 15:34.620 --> 15:34.820 you have 15:34.820 --> 15:40.340 a picture we can take with us of Clyde yes but I suppose so but I'd like to know why 15:41.540 --> 15:45.020 if he had any trouble not if he's been in Chicago for the last few days of course 15:45.020 --> 15:50.380 that's where he's been I talked to him just last night we have the picture now see 15:50.380 --> 15:55.100 right and find a couple of snapshots in the desk with that beer I guess ma'am be 15:55.120 --> 15:59.860 fine when your husband do back day after tomorrow he's fine. 16:01.620 --> 16:03.940 I don't know which flight to the city so many programs. 16:07.260 --> 16:11.540 Took it last summer and have the occasion of Yellowstone my brother Tim's in it to 16:11.540 --> 16:23.100 let me get. That's right sitting on the rock. We took 16:23.100 --> 16:26.860 a picture with us and we stopped by Dr Springer's clinic his nurse told us he was 16:26.860 --> 16:32.580 operating at St Thomas hospital said she'd call as soon as he was free. We went back 16:32.580 --> 16:36.260 to the office we sent a teletype to the Chicago PD requesting information about 16:36.280 --> 16:40.980 Clyde Beaton supposedly registered at the Waterfield Hotel. Two hours later at 16:40.980 --> 16:44.800 five forty three PM Chicago reported that a man answering Beaton's description and 16:44.800 --> 16:48.800 using his name was staying at the Waterfield they also confirmed the fact that 16:48.820 --> 16:52.400 he'd attended a convention dinner the previous evening sure comes up looking good 16:52.680 --> 16:56.360 sure that we take him out well I better talk to him when he gets back in town. 17:00.160 --> 17:05.080 I'm a side Friday. How long we be there. 17:05.080 --> 17:11.840 I see what you have to know a place. Right away. Thank you. 17:13.520 --> 17:17.040 Doctors back in his office you still want to show him this picture so far it looks 17:17.040 --> 17:19.760 like we're on a percent wrong man can't get me worse. 17:24.440 --> 17:27.360 We drove out to Dr Springer's office and we showed him the snapshot of Clyde 17:27.360 --> 17:32.640 Beaton. That's him you sure don't no doubt about it that's a young man I treated 17:32.640 --> 17:37.600 this morning his wife says he's in Chicago. That's ridiculous absolutely ridiculous 17:37.720 --> 17:42.960 he does put your description even the coat coat. Well yes there is not the one you 17:42.960 --> 17:48.080 told us he was wearing see there plan but he isn't where. Oh I see what you mean 17:48.480 --> 17:52.160 what the other chap in the picture yes I believe that is the same code but it'll 17:52.160 --> 17:56.240 follow you Dr this is the young man who had the bullet in his chest the one standing 17:56.240 --> 18:00.120 up wearing the leather jacket but when he came to see me this morning yes he had on 18:00.120 --> 18:08.720 this other man's coat. Dr Springer was positive in his identification of Mrs 18:08.720 --> 18:14.920 Beaton's brother seven twenty eight p.m. We again interview Mrs Beaton. Oh you 18:14.920 --> 18:21.000 again. What do you want now just a couple more questions you got me so nervous 18:21.000 --> 18:25.160 before I just didn't know what to do I had to telephone Clyde all the way to 18:25.160 --> 18:29.480 Chicago make sure he was all right we're sorry about that man it cost us a 18:29.480 --> 18:33.600 fortunate phone bill he said the police back they had been bothering him to we 18:33.600 --> 18:37.000 couldn't imagine why we don't want to cause you any trouble that doesn't help 18:37.000 --> 18:43.440 any you take another look at this picture Miss Beaton. Yes ma'am. You said that the 18:43.440 --> 18:49.280 other man was your brother is that right what about him what's his name. His last 18:49.280 --> 18:54.280 name like him to mark him or not as the coat that your husband's wearing in the 18:54.280 --> 18:59.440 picture belong to him or to your brother. Of course he's wearing it is 18:59.440 --> 19:03.700 it in the house now no I don't know where it is cleaners I guess I was in here when 19:03.700 --> 19:08.880 I packed my bag last week your brother live in L.A. Yeah well he lived with us 19:08.880 --> 19:12.880 until a few weeks ago and then he and a friend of his took an apartment over on 19:12.880 --> 19:17.360 Bellwood Avenue you know the number two sixty one where what's his friend's name 19:18.120 --> 19:23.640 with the dressing him with the cards together. Why Tim came to California to 19:23.640 --> 19:28.340 go to school our folks live back in South Dakota I see did right the first 19:28.340 --> 19:32.420 couple of years but something happened last semester he just sort of lost interest 19:32.420 --> 19:37.660 and quit school both him and Bill got jobs and ran at this apartment I guess 19:37.660 --> 19:42.420 you're making good money it's a very nice place you know. It isn't him is it 19:42.860 --> 19:46.700 now for the reason you've been coming back and forth here all day we don't know 19:46.700 --> 19:51.700 yet anything happened it'll be my fault I'm supposed to be responsible for Tim 19:51.700 --> 19:54.420 while he's in California but the folks don't know he isn't going to school 19:54.420 --> 20:00.060 anymore they think he's still in with us baby the family just turned twenty one 20:00.660 --> 20:04.940 but I'd wait until mom and dad realized he's a grown man then I tell me on his 20:04.940 --> 20:08.460 own but I'd wait till then maybe you waited too long. 20:14.780 --> 20:18.300 Nine fifteen PM we went over to the Bellwood address Mrs Beaton had given us 20:18.300 --> 20:24.300 we found a card in one of the doors with the names beaten and dressing him on it. 20:28.300 --> 20:35.300 Open up. I'd get chance to get the wall police officers move. 20:39.300 --> 20:44.300 All right he's not happy to I want to name him like I'm but in your shirt for 20:44.300 --> 20:53.140 a floor your shirt on but yes. But you get the bandage I fell down come on where 20:53.140 --> 20:58.340 you get it all down I said see it I know I know it isn't serious it's getting 20:58.340 --> 21:02.500 better didn't see a doctor no we've got one we'd like you to see what are you 21:02.500 --> 21:11.340 talking about Dr Springer. I guess so well we were just horsing around 21:11.340 --> 21:16.900 a bill and make fun with the gun was bill so I live with going in gun went off well 21:16.900 --> 21:21.060 it caught me in the chest that's all where's the gun what difference does it 21:21.060 --> 21:24.020 make where is it closet are you stay put I'll say. 21:27.460 --> 21:33.500 Where were you last night with time all of it here all evening yes I don't know. 21:33.500 --> 21:42.220 38 on this to. This your coat locker no whose is it rather than once who's the 21:42.220 --> 21:48.420 gun belong to him they give it to you far the code to did yeah but where you last 21:48.420 --> 21:56.060 night I said before right here. And over on Pico lately no sure I'm sure this coat 21:56.060 --> 22:02.140 was on what you mean I come on so you might as well tell us and you want we got 22:02.140 --> 22:08.180 a shell casing yeah from a 38 we found it in the liquor store last night so you 22:08.180 --> 22:15.380 know when it was killed. Lots of thirty eights around be really easy to check 22:15.380 --> 22:21.540 your gun against the case you may find. Well. 22:24.540 --> 22:30.100 Come on like. You'll find out anyway I tell us I was there 22:30.100 --> 22:33.940 Devondale liquor store yeah me and Bill we was going to hold up the joint that's 22:33.940 --> 22:38.460 all just hold them up. Bill had the gun I didn't have nothing to do with that part 22:38.860 --> 22:41.740 he was holding the gun in the old geezer and I went around behind to get at the 22:41.740 --> 22:48.340 cash register. Something happened I don't know why maybe Bill was squeezing too 22:48.340 --> 22:53.740 hard in the trigger maybe got scared I don't know you know. Gun went off guy 22:53.740 --> 22:59.340 fell down same time I knew I felt a little pain here in my chest well it must 22:59.340 --> 23:04.860 have gone through him and hit me yeah Bill got all panicky turned around and 23:04.860 --> 23:10.660 started running I stuck right on his heels where's Bill down far down the street 23:11.420 --> 23:17.740 went out for a beer carrying a gun no sir this is the only one we got all right 23:18.100 --> 23:24.060 let's go. You understand that I didn't have nothing to do with the shoot you 23:24.060 --> 23:29.140 understand that don't you it was Bill to pull the trigger I didn't have nothing to 23:29.140 --> 23:35.820 do with I wasn't even involved. Now we don't see it that way huh you ended up 23:35.820 --> 23:36.420 with a slug. 23:44.420 --> 23:49.020 The story you just heard is true the names were changed to protect the innocent 23:49.420 --> 23:54.220 on June 14th trial was held in Department 93 Superior Court of the state of 23:54.220 --> 24:07.140 California in and for the county of Los Angeles. William Seton dressing ham and 24:07.140 --> 24:10.940 Timothy Wilkes Larkin were tried and convicted of murder in the first degree 24:11.420 --> 24:15.340 the jury returned a recommendation of leniency and the suspects are now 24:15.340 --> 24:19.140 serving life terms at the state penitentiary San Quentin California 24:19.140 --> 24:24.300 dragnet the story of your police force in action is a presentation of the United 24:24.300 --> 24:51.700 States Armed Forces radio service.