WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:02.000 Brings you drag, man. 00:02.000 --> 00:13.000 The story you are about to hear is true. 00:13.000 --> 00:23.000 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:23.000 --> 00:24.000 You're a detective sergeant. 00:24.000 --> 00:26.000 You're assigned to homicide details. 00:26.000 --> 00:31.000 A small boy is reported missing from his home. His age, nine years. 00:31.000 --> 00:43.000 Howe play is suspected. Your job, find him. 00:43.000 --> 00:46.000 Dragman, the documented drama of an actual crime. 00:46.000 --> 00:50.000 For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, 00:50.000 --> 00:56.000 you will travel step by step on the side of the law to an actual case transcribed from official police violence. 00:56.000 --> 01:07.000 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 01:07.000 --> 01:10.000 It was Thursday, December 22nd. It was cold in Los Angeles. 01:10.000 --> 01:12.000 We were working the night watch out of Homicide Division. 01:12.000 --> 01:15.000 My partner is Frank Smith, the boss is Fab Brown, two detectives. 01:15.000 --> 01:16.000 My name is Fred. 01:16.000 --> 01:20.000 I was on the way into work and it was 3.55 p.m. when I got to room 42. 01:20.000 --> 01:21.000 Homicide. 01:21.000 --> 01:22.000 Hi John. 01:22.000 --> 01:23.000 Frank. 01:23.000 --> 01:24.000 What's going? 01:24.000 --> 01:25.000 Oh nothing, pretty quiet. 01:25.000 --> 01:26.000 How's your mother? 01:26.000 --> 01:29.000 Oh, her cold is still hanging on. Bad cough. Doctor has never treated her. 01:29.000 --> 01:32.000 My kid's got the same thing. Must be some kind of a virus going around. 01:32.000 --> 01:34.000 Yeah, maybe so. 01:34.000 --> 01:36.000 Did you get all the reports on that Webster case yet? 01:36.000 --> 01:37.000 Yeah. 01:37.000 --> 01:38.000 Yeah, I'll take care of it. 01:38.000 --> 01:40.000 I'll get it. 01:40.000 --> 01:41.000 Homicide Friday. 01:41.000 --> 01:44.000 This is Levinson, unit 11J1. Got something for you. 01:44.000 --> 01:45.000 Yeah, I got everything. 01:45.000 --> 01:49.000 Darnie and I are out here on Hollis Avenue, 4656, during the track down of 9 year old boy. 01:49.000 --> 01:50.000 What's the story? 01:50.000 --> 01:52.000 Kid's missing, suspicion of foul play. 01:52.000 --> 01:53.000 Yeah, how long has he been gone? 01:53.000 --> 01:55.000 About two hours, looks like a job for homicide. 01:55.000 --> 01:56.000 How do you figure? 01:56.000 --> 01:58.000 A kid was last seen playing in the backyard of his home. 01:58.000 --> 01:59.000 Yeah? 01:59.000 --> 02:00.000 He was checked over the yard. 02:00.000 --> 02:01.000 Did you find anything? 02:01.000 --> 01:48.160 Blood stains, lots of 02:02.000 --> 02:03.000 They look new. 02:05.000 --> 02:08.000 Frank and I left the message for Chief of Detectives Fab Brown. 02:08.000 --> 02:13.000 Then we went over to the crime lab, picked up Ray Pinker and drove out the Arroyo Sequel freeway to Hollis Avenue. 02:13.000 --> 02:15.000 It was an average neighborhood. 02:15.000 --> 02:21.000 Number 4656 was a one story green stucco residence situated on the corner of Hollis Avenue and Harrison Drive. 02:21.000 --> 02:26.000 Beyond the backyard was a tract of undeveloped land, covered with scrub oaks. 02:26.000 --> 02:30.000 Harry Levinson from Highland Park Juvenile was waiting for us in front of the house. 02:31.000 --> 02:32.000 Back this way, fellas. 02:32.000 --> 02:33.000 You coming, Ray? 02:33.000 --> 02:34.000 I got my bag. 02:34.000 --> 02:36.000 Who notified you the boy was missing, Harry? 02:36.000 --> 02:38.000 My mother said she went down to do some Christmas shopping. 02:38.000 --> 02:40.000 About 11 this morning, left the boy home. 02:40.000 --> 02:42.000 Came back about two this afternoon, he was gone. 02:42.000 --> 02:43.000 What's the name? 02:43.000 --> 02:44.000 Johnstone. 02:44.000 --> 02:45.000 The kid's name is Stanley, nine years old. 02:45.000 --> 02:47.000 The gate opened like this when you got here? 02:47.000 --> 02:48.000 Yeah, we haven't touched a thing. 02:48.000 --> 02:51.000 There's a stain over here, Mr. Pinker, along the edge of the walk there, you see? 02:51.000 --> 02:52.000 Yeah, I see. 02:53.000 --> 02:55.000 Quite a few stains, huh? 02:56.000 --> 02:58.000 Looks like it might be blood. 02:58.000 --> 03:00.000 Try some benzidine on him. 03:02.000 --> 03:03.000 There we are. 03:03.000 --> 03:04.000 See what happened. 03:04.000 --> 03:06.000 Where's the kid's mother now, Harry? 03:06.000 --> 03:07.000 She's in the house, Dorothy's talking to her. 03:07.000 --> 03:08.000 She talking to any of the neighbors? 03:08.000 --> 03:10.000 Yeah, the people next door, the ones on this side. 03:10.000 --> 03:12.000 They couldn't tell us anything. 03:12.000 --> 03:13.000 How'd it go, fellas? 03:13.000 --> 03:14.000 Yeah, Harry? 03:14.000 --> 03:16.000 These spots, I covered a benzidine, they're turning blue. 03:16.000 --> 03:17.000 Blood stains are. 03:17.000 --> 03:19.000 Can't say for sure whether it's human or animal. 03:19.000 --> 03:21.000 You have to go back to the lab to look through? 03:21.000 --> 03:23.000 Yeah, my lab's got a precipitant test. 03:23.000 --> 03:25.000 Anyone have a glass of vial in my bag, will you? 03:25.000 --> 03:26.000 One of these? 03:26.000 --> 03:27.000 Mm-hmm. 03:27.000 --> 03:28.000 Here you are. 03:28.000 --> 03:29.000 Thanks. 03:30.000 --> 03:32.000 Take some of these flakes off the test. 03:34.000 --> 03:35.000 There we are. 03:35.000 --> 03:37.000 How soon can you type the blood for us, Ray? 03:37.000 --> 03:39.000 The precipitant test won't run more than 20 minutes. 03:39.000 --> 03:41.000 It'll take three, four hours for any blood grouping, though. 03:45.000 --> 03:46.000 That's it. 03:46.000 --> 03:48.000 Anything else you want to check? 03:48.000 --> 03:49.000 Let me see, anything else? 03:49.000 --> 03:51.000 Yeah, right here under this tin can. 03:51.000 --> 03:52.000 Anti-shell. 03:53.000 --> 03:54.000 22, huh? 03:54.000 --> 03:55.000 Yeah, it might die, it might not. 03:55.000 --> 03:57.000 Mark it and dump it in the sand well, will you? 03:57.000 --> 03:58.000 Sure. 03:59.000 --> 04:00.000 There you go. 04:00.000 --> 04:02.000 You got a missing blood catheter, little boy, Harry? 04:02.000 --> 04:03.000 Yeah, Dorothy did, about half an hour ago. 04:03.000 --> 04:04.000 Here's a description right here. 04:04.000 --> 04:05.000 Thanks. 04:05.000 --> 04:06.000 Mother know about the blood stains? 04:06.000 --> 04:07.000 No, we didn't tell her. 04:07.000 --> 04:08.000 She's weighed enough already. 04:08.000 --> 04:10.000 She has no idea what might have happened to her, boy, huh? 04:10.000 --> 04:11.000 No more than we do. 04:11.000 --> 04:12.000 Checked all the friends, relatives. 04:12.000 --> 04:13.000 We're covering the neighborhood. 04:13.000 --> 04:14.000 No trace so far. 04:14.000 --> 04:15.000 Not much to go on. 04:15.000 --> 04:16.000 Blood stains, empty cartridge. 04:16.000 --> 04:18.000 That could mean a hundred things. 04:18.000 --> 04:19.000 Any ideas, Freddy? 04:19.000 --> 04:21.000 Just one, and I don't like it. 04:26.000 --> 04:29.000 4.30 p.m. Thursday, December 22nd. 04:29.000 --> 04:32.000 The neighborhood search for nine-year-old Stanley Johnstone continued. 04:32.000 --> 04:36.000 Ray Pinker went back to the crime lab to start the precipitant test and the blood grouping. 04:36.000 --> 04:40.000 Levenson and his partner, Dorothy, from Highland Juvenile, stood by. 04:40.000 --> 04:46.000 We called Chief Detective Thad Brown, and he ordered up a special detail to aid in the search for the missing boy. 04:46.000 --> 04:50.000 Frank and I questioned the boy's mother, Mrs. Ruth Johnstone, a woman in her early forties. 04:50.000 --> 04:52.000 She seemed fairly calm under the circumstances. 04:52.000 --> 04:56.000 Mr. Johnstone, is your boy Stanley in the habit of wandering off without telling you where he's going? 04:56.000 --> 04:59.000 No, he's not in the habit of wandering off, but he has done it before. 04:59.000 --> 05:01.000 When was the last time, Miss Johnstone? 05:01.000 --> 05:03.000 You don't have any children, do you, Sergeant Friday? 05:03.000 --> 05:04.000 No, ma'am. 05:04.000 --> 05:09.000 Well, there comes that time in every young boy's life when he feels that it's time to leave home, go out on his own. 05:09.000 --> 05:11.000 Usually happens somewhere around eight to ten. 05:11.000 --> 05:14.000 Yes, ma'am. I think I know what you mean. I'm a boy. 05:14.000 --> 05:15.000 Well, then you know how it is. 05:15.000 --> 05:19.000 My husband and I scolded Stanley one afternoon after school, and he was quite put out about it. 05:19.000 --> 05:22.000 But George and I were unfair, packed a few of his things and left. 05:22.000 --> 05:23.000 How long was he gone, ma'am? 05:23.000 --> 05:25.000 No time at all, about two hours. 05:25.000 --> 05:28.000 I was worried about him, but my husband said to leave him alone. 05:28.000 --> 05:30.000 Said every boy had to go through that stage. 05:30.000 --> 05:32.000 Well, then you think he's gone away from home again this time, do you? 05:32.000 --> 05:36.000 Yes, I think so. He's been gone about four hours now. 05:36.000 --> 05:38.000 I have a funny feeling about it. 05:38.000 --> 05:41.000 Did you and his father happen to have some misunderstanding with the boy recently? 05:41.000 --> 05:43.000 That's just it. We haven't. 05:43.000 --> 05:46.000 I don't mind telling you now that we're talking about it. I'm getting worried. 05:46.000 --> 05:50.000 Any place around that you might like to visit, a hobby shop or a playground, something like that, where you might be? 05:50.000 --> 05:55.000 Yes, there's Jensen's model shop, Little Helen Woods, but I've already called there and he hasn't been seen all day. 05:55.000 --> 05:58.000 I called all of his friends and they have no idea either. 05:58.000 --> 06:01.000 We'd like a list of all of his friends and the places that he was known to frequent, ma'am. 06:01.000 --> 06:03.000 Yes, all right. I'll give them to you. 06:03.000 --> 06:05.000 Where do you suppose he is? 06:05.000 --> 06:07.000 Where's your husband now, Mrs. Downstown? 06:07.000 --> 06:09.000 At work. George works for the city. He's a fireman. 06:09.000 --> 06:11.000 Uh-huh. What house is he stationed at? 06:11.000 --> 06:15.000 Engine Company 12. He's working the A platoon. He'll be home tomorrow morning. 06:15.000 --> 06:17.000 I haven't told him that Stanley's gone. 06:17.000 --> 06:19.000 Was there any chance that the boy might be down at the firehouse with his father? 06:19.000 --> 06:23.000 No. He's telling them he's down there anymore. No, I don't think he's there. 06:23.000 --> 06:26.000 I'm awfully worried. May I call my husband? 06:26.000 --> 06:31.000 Yes, certainly. You go right ahead. 06:31.000 --> 06:38.000 I know George will be worried. Stanley's been gone too long. 06:38.000 --> 06:44.000 Hello. May I speak with George Downstown? This is Mrs. Downstown. Thank you. 06:44.000 --> 06:46.000 I hate to call George at his work. 06:46.000 --> 06:49.000 That's all right. Does your husband own the gunman? 06:49.000 --> 06:50.000 Yes, he does. 06:50.000 --> 06:52.000 What caliber would you know? 06:52.000 --> 06:57.000 The 45 automatic. He's got it in the... George? Well, this is Ruth. 06:57.000 --> 07:00.000 George, is Stanley down there with you by any chance? 07:00.000 --> 07:05.000 No, I can't find him anywhere. He wasn't here when I came home from doing my shopping. 07:05.000 --> 07:10.000 There are two policemen here. No, I said there are two policemen here. 07:10.000 --> 07:14.000 No, dear, I'll call you if we don't find him soon. 07:14.000 --> 07:19.000 All right. Yes, you too. Bye. 07:19.000 --> 07:21.000 I didn't think he'd be with George. 07:21.000 --> 07:23.000 Oh, that 45, is that the only gun in the house, home? 07:23.000 --> 07:27.000 Yes. Why are you asking about guns? Is anything happening that you're not telling me about? 07:27.000 --> 07:31.000 No, ma'am, just routine checking. We'll have to take a look at that 45 if you don't mind. 07:31.000 --> 07:34.000 Lady, I should tell you, we do have another gun in the house, but it's all wrapped up. 07:34.000 --> 07:36.000 George bought it for Stanley's Christmas present. 07:36.000 --> 07:37.000 Would you look at it, please? 07:37.000 --> 07:38.000 Yes, will you have to unwrap it? 07:38.000 --> 07:45.000 I'll do it myself. 07:45.000 --> 07:52.000 I think I can reach it. We had to hide it, let me see. 07:52.000 --> 07:55.000 Well, here's the paper it was wrapped in. 07:55.000 --> 08:00.000 It sounded like a found at the store. You see, here's the gift card and the box the gun came in. 08:00.000 --> 08:01.000 Rifle. 08:01.000 --> 08:04.000 Uh-huh. Could I look at the box, ma'am? 08:04.000 --> 08:06.000 Thank you. 08:06.000 --> 08:07.000 How about it, John? 08:07.000 --> 08:11.000 22 caliber. 08:11.000 --> 08:14.000 Thursday, December 22nd, 5.15 p.m. 08:14.000 --> 08:17.000 It was getting dark. The search for the missing boy continued. 08:17.000 --> 08:20.000 We checked the list of Stanley Johnstone's friends. 08:20.000 --> 08:23.000 None of them or their parents had any idea of this whereabouts. 08:23.000 --> 08:25.000 We talked with Levinson again. 08:25.000 --> 08:29.000 He'd been in touch with the detail combing the neighborhood. They'd found nothing. 08:29.000 --> 08:34.000 We went down to Hollis Avenue and 10th Street. Service station on the corner. 08:34.000 --> 08:35.000 You want a dime, John? 08:35.000 --> 08:37.000 No, I got one. You watch the chief's browner. 08:37.000 --> 08:56.000 There you go. 08:56.000 --> 08:57.000 2667, please. 08:57.000 --> 09:00.000 2667. 09:00.000 --> 09:01.000 Graham Labticker. 09:01.000 --> 09:02.000 Hi, Ray. Joe Friday. 09:02.000 --> 09:04.000 Yeah, Joe. Any sign of Johnstone, kid? 09:04.000 --> 09:06.000 No, not yet. How are you coming? 09:06.000 --> 09:07.000 Nice to see you. 09:07.000 --> 09:09.000 Nice to see you. 09:09.000 --> 09:11.000 We're not a blood group, now. 09:11.000 --> 09:13.000 You know what type the Johnstone boy had? 09:13.000 --> 09:14.000 Well, he didn't want to upset his mother. 09:14.000 --> 09:16.000 He thought I'd wiggled the last thing in the neighborhood. 09:16.000 --> 09:18.000 Check with the family physician. That way you won't disturb her. 09:18.000 --> 09:19.000 Yeah, we figured on that. 09:19.000 --> 09:21.000 Take a minute, Ray. 09:21.000 --> 09:22.000 I'll be out, Ray. 09:22.000 --> 09:23.000 The box is full. 09:23.000 --> 09:25.000 I'll be right out. 09:25.000 --> 09:27.000 Ray, it's half-bound out here now. Check you later, huh? 09:27.000 --> 09:28.000 Right, Joe. 09:28.000 --> 09:37.000 I'll be right out. 09:37.000 --> 09:39.000 Gentlemen, how's it going? 09:39.000 --> 09:41.000 I just checked with Ray Pinker. 09:41.000 --> 09:43.000 Yeah, I know. It's human blood. What do you think? 09:43.000 --> 09:45.000 We talked with the boy's mother, Mrs. Johnstone. 09:45.000 --> 09:46.000 Sounded a gun missing. 09:46.000 --> 09:47.000 Yep. 09:47.000 --> 09:49.000 Caliber's the same as the empty case in Levenson's, found 22. 09:49.000 --> 09:51.000 You said the gun was missing. 09:51.000 --> 09:53.000 Yeah, the Johnstones are going to give it to the boy's Christmas present. 09:53.000 --> 09:55.000 My head is hidden, but it's gone now. 09:55.000 --> 09:56.000 Any idea who took it? 09:56.000 --> 09:59.000 Well, over at work, they left the Christmas wrapping behind. I think they did it with the kid. 09:59.000 --> 10:02.000 22 riflemen, nine-year-old boy. When are they going to learn? 10:02.000 --> 10:04.000 First, it's carbide cannons on the Fourth of July. 10:04.000 --> 10:09.000 The city issued ordnance after ordnance, but a few thousand kids around the country had to lose their eyes, fingers, hands, 10:09.000 --> 10:12.000 before the parents could give us their full cooperation to outlaw them. 10:12.000 --> 10:13.000 I know what you mean. 10:13.000 --> 10:17.000 Sure you do. You and every other cop in the country became the heavies trying to clamp down on them. 10:17.000 --> 10:19.000 That was the same story. This time it's guns for Christmas. 10:19.000 --> 10:21.000 Oh, no, it's your thing, you thief, but we're not sure yet. 10:21.000 --> 10:24.000 Listen, Friday, there's a city ordnance against giving a gun to a kid. Now you know that. 10:24.000 --> 10:25.000 Yeah, I know that. 10:25.000 --> 10:29.000 There's a missing boy and a missing gun. There's blood on the ground and an empty shell. That's enough for me. 10:29.000 --> 10:31.000 We're going to stay where it is, Chief. Something's got to break. 10:31.000 --> 10:33.000 Yeah, I hope it's not the house or that kid's parents. 10:33.000 --> 10:35.000 Hi, Chief. Have a good look before you Friday. 10:35.000 --> 10:36.000 Dale, what have you got here? 10:36.000 --> 10:38.000 Found a gun, a new 22 rifle. I'd say it's been fired recently. 10:38.000 --> 10:39.000 Where did you find it, Levinson? 10:39.000 --> 10:43.000 Back up there in that scrub oak behind the Johnstone house. Mrs. Johnstone identified it. 10:43.000 --> 10:44.000 Probably took it down to crime lab. 10:44.000 --> 10:46.000 Thanks, Harry. Is Miss Johnstone okay? 10:46.000 --> 10:47.000 She's pretty sick now. 10:47.000 --> 10:48.000 Tell me you came up with something else. 10:48.000 --> 10:49.000 What's that? 10:49.000 --> 10:55.000 That's another one missing, an eight-year-old boy. 10:55.000 --> 10:59.000 Six thirty p.m. We talked with Officer Killaby about the other missing boy. 10:59.000 --> 11:05.000 He told us that his name was Stephen Martin, eight years old. His family had just moved into the neighborhood. 11:05.000 --> 11:09.000 It seemed that no one besides the Martin family knew that the boys played together. 11:09.000 --> 11:14.000 Mrs. Martin told us that Stephen told her that he was going out to play and he'd be home by six o'clock for dinner. 11:14.000 --> 11:19.000 She told us that he was an unusually prompt boy and almost never overstayed his playtime. 11:19.000 --> 11:22.000 We got a description of the Martin boy and put out a missing broadcast. 11:22.000 --> 11:27.000 We called the Johnstone family doctor. He told us that Stanley's blood was typo. 11:27.000 --> 11:30.000 At seven p.m. we talked again with Mrs. John Martin. 11:30.000 --> 11:32.000 Are you sure Mrs. Johnson doesn't know where the boys are? 11:32.000 --> 11:34.000 She has no idea, Mrs. Martin. 11:34.000 --> 11:40.000 Oh, this is terrible. Just awful. I feel there's more to this thing, something you're not telling me. 11:40.000 --> 11:42.000 There's no use to upset you until we know a few more things for sure, ma'am. 11:42.000 --> 11:44.000 Then you are holding something back. 11:44.000 --> 11:49.000 Well, please try not to worry, Mrs. Martin. There are certain questions we have to ask, routine questions, and any kind of investigation. 11:49.000 --> 11:50.000 Is there anything else you want to know? 11:50.000 --> 11:52.000 Yes, ma'am. What's your boy's blood type? 11:52.000 --> 11:56.000 Funny question. Do you think anything's happened to him? 11:56.000 --> 11:58.000 Have you found him and you're not telling me? 11:58.000 --> 12:01.000 No, ma'am. We haven't found him and we don't think anything's happened to him. 12:01.000 --> 12:02.000 His blood type, huh? 12:02.000 --> 12:04.000 Yes, ma'am. 12:04.000 --> 12:08.000 Well, I think I have it written down in Stevie's baby book. 12:08.000 --> 12:14.000 Yes, yes, here it is. The card is old. 12:14.000 --> 12:16.000 Typo, thank you. I wonder if I can use your phone. 12:16.000 --> 12:18.000 Oh, yes, of course. It's in the hall. 12:18.000 --> 12:20.000 Be right back, Frank. Yeah. 12:34.000 --> 12:35.000 Hello? 12:35.000 --> 12:36.000 2667, please. 12:36.000 --> 12:38.000 2667. 12:41.000 --> 12:42.000 Greenlight finger. 12:42.000 --> 12:43.000 Hi, Ray. It's Friday. 12:43.000 --> 12:45.000 Yeah, did you get the blood types on the two missing boys? 12:45.000 --> 12:47.000 Yeah, both Typo. 12:47.000 --> 12:49.000 So were the stains, Joe. Typo. 12:59.000 --> 13:03.000 You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action. 13:03.000 --> 13:09.000 The modern way to sell cigarettes is the Chesterfield way, both regular and king size, 13:09.000 --> 13:11.000 and we're the only one that does it. 13:11.000 --> 13:17.000 We tell you what Chesterfield are made of to give you premium quality in both popular sizes. 13:17.000 --> 13:20.000 Our scientists select the best materials. 13:20.000 --> 13:25.000 They select for Chesterfield the world's best tobaccos, blend them just right, 13:25.000 --> 13:29.000 and they keep Chesterfield tasty and fresh with the best of moistening agents. 13:29.000 --> 13:33.000 Now here's something else that's completely modern about Chesterfield. 13:33.000 --> 13:34.000 People smoke... 13:42.000 --> 13:45.000 8 p.m. Thursday, December 22nd. 13:45.000 --> 13:47.000 Still no sign of either of the missing boys. 13:47.000 --> 13:51.000 Chief of Detective Thad Brown went back to headquarters to direct the search from there. 13:51.000 --> 13:55.000 He dispatched another detail of 50 men to aid in the hunts of the missing youngsters. 13:55.000 --> 14:01.000 8.30 p.m. It was getting colder. The citrus growers were warned to expect a freeze. 14:01.000 --> 14:03.000 We went back up the block to see Mrs. Johnstone. 14:03.000 --> 14:06.000 Her husband had quit work early and returned home. We talked with him. 14:06.000 --> 14:09.000 He could tell us nothing more than we already knew. 14:09.000 --> 14:13.000 We still had not informed either of the families about the blood stains and the empty cartridge casing 14:13.000 --> 14:16.000 which had been discovered in the backyard of the Johnstone home. 14:16.000 --> 14:19.000 It was more than possible that they had a right to know about our findings, 14:19.000 --> 14:24.000 but Frank and I felt there was no cause to add to their distress at this particular time. 14:24.000 --> 14:26.000 If the two missing boys were found alive and well, 14:26.000 --> 14:30.000 then the blood stains and the cartridge would be of no concern to the released parents. 14:30.000 --> 14:35.000 At 8.40 p.m., Frank and I left the Johnstone house and went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Martin. 14:35.000 --> 14:37.000 Mrs. Martin, you said your husband worked at the market. 14:37.000 --> 14:41.000 Yes. He telephoned about 15 minutes ago and said he was closing up right away. 14:41.000 --> 14:43.000 He'd be here any minute. 14:43.000 --> 14:46.000 I do wish Stevie would call or come home. 14:46.000 --> 14:49.000 It's so cold out tonight. All he had on was a thin cotton jacket. 14:49.000 --> 14:52.000 Try not to worry. We're doing everything we can. You'll be all right. 14:52.000 --> 14:54.000 I don't know why his father's such a sensitive man. 14:54.000 --> 14:58.000 And the boy was so close. I know he's terribly upset. 14:58.000 --> 15:01.000 Yes, ma'am. Are you sure there's no place you might have forgotten? 15:01.000 --> 15:03.000 Someplace where the boy might be? 15:03.000 --> 15:08.000 No. No place. No. If anything's happened to the boy, it'll just kill John. 15:08.000 --> 15:10.000 Mrs. Martin. 15:10.000 --> 15:11.000 This is the door. I'll get it. 15:11.000 --> 15:13.000 Thank you. 15:15.000 --> 15:16.000 Joe? 15:16.000 --> 15:17.000 Yeah, Harry? 15:17.000 --> 15:22.000 Yes, ma'am. 15:30.000 --> 15:32.000 He's home, Sergeant. He's come home. 15:32.000 --> 15:34.000 Thank God he's all right. 15:34.000 --> 15:35.000 Where's he been, did he tell you? 15:35.000 --> 15:37.000 No. No, he didn't. 15:37.000 --> 15:41.000 His clothes are all dirty. He's acting strange. I've never seen him like this. 15:41.000 --> 15:43.000 How do you mean, Mrs. Johnston? 15:43.000 --> 15:47.000 He just came in the front door and said, hello, Mom, and then he sat down in a chair and stared at the floor. 15:47.000 --> 15:49.000 He talked to his father and me. 15:49.000 --> 15:50.000 Mind if I talk to him? 15:50.000 --> 15:55.000 No, go ahead. I asked him about the little Martin boy. He wouldn't tell me a thing. 15:55.000 --> 15:56.000 Where is he now? 15:56.000 --> 15:57.000 Right over there in the living room. 15:57.000 --> 15:59.000 Oh, yeah. 15:59.000 --> 16:00.000 Looks all right. 16:00.000 --> 16:02.000 Yeah. 16:02.000 --> 16:08.000 Son. Son, this is a police officer. He wants to talk to you. 16:08.000 --> 16:12.000 Don't be afraid, dear. He only wants to ask you some questions. 16:12.000 --> 16:16.000 Son, you see Sergeant? 16:16.000 --> 16:19.000 Yes, ma'am. Stanley? 16:19.000 --> 16:23.000 Come on, boy, look at me. Come on, now, get your head up. 16:23.000 --> 16:26.000 That's better. You had your mother pretty worried, you know that. 16:26.000 --> 16:28.000 You want to tell us where you've been? 16:28.000 --> 16:30.000 I wish I could try to get him to eat a little something. 16:30.000 --> 16:34.000 You hear that, son? You want something to eat? 16:34.000 --> 16:36.000 Stanley, there's another little boy up the street who hasn't come home. 16:36.000 --> 16:38.000 You know where he is? 16:38.000 --> 16:42.000 His father and mother are worried about him, too, just like your folks were. 16:42.000 --> 16:44.000 You've got to help us find him, son. 16:44.000 --> 16:52.000 I killed him. I killed Steve with the 22. We were only 20, but I killed him. 16:52.000 --> 16:55.000 How do you know you killed him? Maybe he's only hurting his eyes, ma'am. 16:55.000 --> 17:02.000 No, no, he's dead. I know he's dead. The gun went off. We forgot we put bullets in it. 17:02.000 --> 17:04.000 Where is he, Stanley? 17:04.000 --> 17:09.000 He was scared. I didn't want anybody to find him. 17:09.000 --> 17:11.000 Where did you hide him, son? 17:11.000 --> 17:16.000 In a cave up on the hill. I didn't mean it. He was my pal. 17:16.000 --> 17:18.000 Do you want to show us where, Stanley? 17:18.000 --> 17:22.000 Yes, sir. I'll show you. Please don't send me to jail. 17:22.000 --> 17:35.000 9.15 p.m. Thursday, December 22nd. Nine-year-old Stanley Johnstone led the way up the hill behind the backyard of his home. 17:35.000 --> 17:39.000 He showed us the wagon he'd moved the body in. His father came along with us. 17:39.000 --> 17:43.000 About 50 feet from the crest of the hill, a boy pointed to a thicket of scrub oats. 17:43.000 --> 17:47.000 There we found a small cave holding the body of Stephen Martin. 17:47.000 --> 17:51.000 There was a single bullet wound in his chest just below his heart. He was dead. 17:51.000 --> 17:53.000 He covered the body. 17:53.000 --> 17:56.000 Stanley, how did it happen? 17:56.000 --> 18:01.000 I knew my folks were going to give me a bone for Christmas. I knew where it was and I got it. 18:01.000 --> 18:04.000 There was a box of bolts with it. 18:04.000 --> 18:06.000 Were you pointing the gun at Stephen, son? 18:06.000 --> 18:10.000 No, sir. No, sir, I wasn't. It was Stephen's turn to play with it. 18:10.000 --> 18:17.000 I was chasing him. He tripped over that stump and he fell. The gun hit him in the stomach and it went off. 18:17.000 --> 18:20.000 Now why do you think you killed him if you're telling us the truth here? 18:20.000 --> 18:22.000 Honest, it's the truth. 18:22.000 --> 18:25.000 All right, I believe you, son. Why do you think you killed him? 18:25.000 --> 18:30.000 My gun. He's giving me life and I'm going to get it. 18:30.000 --> 18:34.000 I said a little bit of Christmas. It's all my fault. 18:34.000 --> 18:36.000 Where have you been all this time? 18:36.000 --> 18:39.000 In the cave with Steve. 18:39.000 --> 18:41.000 What were you doing in there, son? 18:41.000 --> 18:47.000 I was cleaning. I was cleaning for God to make me a lie again. 18:47.000 --> 18:57.000 After a thorough investigation, Frank and I were convinced that the shooting of Stephen Martin was accidental. 18:57.000 --> 19:02.000 Ray Pinter's findings substantiated the Johnstone boy's story even to the smallest detail. 19:02.000 --> 19:05.000 We put in a call to the coroner's office and acquainted him with the facts. 19:05.000 --> 19:11.000 He designated a local mortuary to handle the body pending autopsy and granted us permission to remove the body to the Martin home. 19:11.000 --> 19:15.000 Mrs. Martin collapsed. The family doctor was called. 19:15.000 --> 19:22.000 Frank and I sat in the living room to wait for John Martin, the dead boy's father. 19:22.000 --> 19:27.000 Ada? Ada? 19:27.000 --> 19:28.000 Mr. Martin? 19:28.000 --> 19:30.000 Yes. 19:30.000 --> 19:31.000 You're the police? 19:31.000 --> 19:32.000 Yes, sir. 19:32.000 --> 19:33.000 Where's Ada? 19:33.000 --> 19:36.000 Where's my wife? 19:36.000 --> 19:40.000 Has my boy come home? 19:40.000 --> 19:42.000 Well, have you found him? 19:42.000 --> 19:44.000 Yes, sir. 19:44.000 --> 19:45.000 Where is he? 19:45.000 --> 19:49.000 Steve? Stevie? 19:49.000 --> 19:54.000 Where's Steve? 19:54.000 --> 19:56.000 He's hurt, isn't he? 19:56.000 --> 19:57.000 Yes, sir. 19:57.000 --> 19:59.000 Where is he? I want to see him. 19:59.000 --> 20:01.000 He's hurt pretty bad, Mr. Martin. 20:01.000 --> 20:06.000 Where is he? I want to see him. 20:06.000 --> 20:08.000 How bad? 20:08.000 --> 20:13.000 Pretty bad. 20:13.000 --> 20:21.000 He's... he's dead. 20:21.000 --> 20:23.000 All right, if I go in? 20:23.000 --> 20:27.000 Yes, sir, if you want to. 20:27.000 --> 20:28.000 Will you go with me? 20:28.000 --> 20:35.000 Yes, sir. 20:35.000 --> 20:37.000 Don't make it any harder on yourself, Mr. Martin. 20:37.000 --> 20:45.000 I want to see my boy. 20:45.000 --> 20:46.000 Stevie? 20:46.000 --> 20:55.000 Stevie? 20:55.000 --> 20:58.000 Stevie? 20:58.000 --> 21:00.000 Listen to me, son. 21:00.000 --> 21:04.000 I've got a lot of nice things for Christmas. 21:04.000 --> 21:07.000 Everything you wanted. 21:07.000 --> 21:10.000 I could just have three new cars for the train. 21:10.000 --> 21:11.000 No one would have searched that. 21:11.000 --> 21:13.000 It really works, son. 21:13.000 --> 21:16.000 I could just have been the street you wanted. 21:16.000 --> 21:20.000 No one would have tried. 21:20.000 --> 21:35.000 I'm sorry, I'm sorry. 21:35.000 --> 21:52.000 I'm sorry. 21:52.000 --> 21:59.000 Mr. Martin. 21:59.000 --> 22:09.000 What happened? 22:09.000 --> 22:10.000 It was an accident. 22:10.000 --> 22:12.000 He was playing with a Johnstone boy up the street. 22:12.000 --> 22:13.000 Playing with a gun. 22:13.000 --> 22:14.000 It went off. 22:14.000 --> 22:19.000 What... what would the other boy have made of it? 22:19.000 --> 22:20.000 Family Johnstone. 22:20.000 --> 22:22.000 It was an accident. 22:22.000 --> 22:24.000 Mr. Martin, where are you going? 22:24.000 --> 22:27.000 I want to see that boy. 22:27.000 --> 22:30.000 We had no idea what the dead boy's father had in mind. 22:30.000 --> 22:32.000 We didn't feel that we should try to restrain him. 22:32.000 --> 22:39.000 We went along with him up the street to the Johnstone home. 22:39.000 --> 22:40.000 I'm Stevie's father. 22:40.000 --> 22:42.000 Where's your boy? 22:42.000 --> 22:43.000 I'm sorry. 22:43.000 --> 22:44.000 Where's your boy? 22:44.000 --> 22:46.000 He's right here. 22:46.000 --> 22:50.000 Won't you come in? 22:50.000 --> 22:54.000 All right, Miss Johnson. 22:54.000 --> 22:57.000 You're the boy that was with Stevie? 22:57.000 --> 22:58.000 Yes, sir. 22:58.000 --> 23:01.000 What's your name? 23:01.000 --> 23:04.000 Dan. 23:04.000 --> 23:08.000 I'm sorry, Mr. Martin. 23:08.000 --> 23:12.000 I know it wasn't your fault, Stanley. 23:12.000 --> 23:16.000 I wonder if you'd do something for me. 23:16.000 --> 23:18.000 Yes, sir. 23:18.000 --> 23:22.000 I've got a lot of nice presents for Stevie. 23:22.000 --> 23:25.000 I'd like one for you to have. 23:25.000 --> 23:27.000 I want to give them to you. 23:27.000 --> 23:32.000 Christmas Eve. 23:32.000 --> 23:38.000 Well, Mom, I think that'd be a fine idea, son. 23:38.000 --> 23:39.000 Come on, Frank. 23:39.000 --> 23:48.000 Here. 23:48.000 --> 23:52.000 Well, what's it all prove, Joe? 23:52.000 --> 24:02.000 We don't give a kid a gun for Christmas. 24:02.000 --> 24:04.000 The story you have just heard was true. 24:04.000 --> 24:06.000 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 24:06.000 --> 24:10.000 On December 24th, the coroner's inquest was held in the county morgue, 24:10.000 --> 24:12.000 county of Los Angeles, state of California. 24:12.000 --> 24:20.000 In a moment, the results of that inquest. 24:20.000 --> 24:25.000 At the coroner's inquest, it was officially recorded that Stephen Martin's death was the result of an accident. 24:25.000 --> 24:40.000 Stanley Johnstone was absolved of any legal responsibility for his friend's death. 24:40.000 --> 24:44.000 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 24:44.000 --> 24:49.000 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 24:49.000 --> 24:54.000 Technical advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher. 24:54.000 --> 24:58.000 Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, William Johnstone, Sammy Ock. 24:58.000 --> 25:00.000 Script by Jim Moser. 25:00.000 --> 25:01.000 Music by Walter Schuman. 25:01.000 --> 25:11.000 Hell, get me speaking.