1 00:00:28,359 --> 00:00:35,560 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This 2 00:00:35,759 --> 00:00:40,799 is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it 3 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:47,280 to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net. Follow us on Twitter at 4 00:00:47,399 --> 00:00:52,200 Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, 5 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:57,280 slash Great Detectives. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your 6 00:00:57,399 --> 00:01:00,560 favorite podcast software. Today's program, Graham is brought to you in part by 7 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:04,560 the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one 8 00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:11,000 time basis by mailing a donation to Adam Graham pill box one five nine one 9 00:01:11,159 --> 00:01:17,799 three. That's pill Box one five nine thirteen, Boise, Idaho eight three 10 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:23,439 seven one five. You can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for 11 00:01:23,599 --> 00:01:29,599 as little last two dollars per month by going to Patreon dot Great Detectives dot 12 00:01:29,719 --> 00:01:34,680 net. Well, now it's time for this week's episode of Dragnat to the 13 00:01:34,799 --> 00:01:40,959 original air at eight December the twenty second, nineteen forty nine, and the 14 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:56,640 title is twenty two Rifle for Christmas Ladies and Gentlemen. The story you're about 15 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:01,519 to hear is true, only the names have and changed to protect the innocent. 16 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:17,039 Dragnet. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide detail. A 17 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:23,439 small boy is reported missing from his home. His age nine years Foul play 18 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:35,680 is suspected. Your job find him. Dragnet the documented drama of an actual 19 00:02:35,719 --> 00:02:39,039 crime. For the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police 20 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:43,719 Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through 21 00:02:43,759 --> 00:02:49,039 an actual case from official police files, from beginning to end, from crime 22 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:55,080 to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. For 23 00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:00,360 was Thursday, December twenty second, was cold in Los Angeles. We were 24 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,039 working the night watch out of homicide. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss 25 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,199 is Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives. My name is Friday. I was 26 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:08,759 on the way into work and it was three fifty five pm when I got 27 00:03:08,759 --> 00:03:15,280 to Room forty two homicide. All right, Joe, Ben, what's doing? 28 00:03:15,439 --> 00:03:17,560 Oh pretty boy? How's your mother? I went Cole still hanging on 29 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:22,039 bad cough docs. Is nothing serious. My kid's got the same thing. 30 00:03:22,159 --> 00:03:24,599 Must be some kind of a virus going around. Yeah, is that a 31 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:29,360 new suit you got on? Oh? Yeah, My figured I needed once 32 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:31,719 let me see. Oh yeah, that's a nice shade of blue. Where'd 33 00:03:31,759 --> 00:03:37,560 you get quinc east down south? Figure? Look? Okay, uh oh 34 00:03:37,639 --> 00:03:40,120 yeah that's good fit. Did you get all the reports on the Webster chase? 35 00:03:40,159 --> 00:03:46,840 Yeah, all taken care of. Let me get it. Homicide Friday 36 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,560 and this is Livingston. You don't win thirteen Jane got it? Yeah, 37 00:03:50,599 --> 00:03:53,840 Harry, what's doing? Dirty? And I are out here in Colis Avenue 38 00:03:53,879 --> 00:03:57,560 four six five six, kind of tracked down min year old boy. What's 39 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:00,680 the story? Cats? Missing, suspicion of bow play? How long has 40 00:04:00,719 --> 00:04:03,439 he been gone? About two hours? It's like a Jaffrey homsite. How 41 00:04:03,439 --> 00:04:06,479 do you figure Kidd was last scene playing in the backyard of his home. 42 00:04:06,719 --> 00:04:12,000 Yeah. We checked over the yard, find anything bloodstains? Lets him he 43 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:18,000 look now, Ben and I left a message for Chief of Detective stad Brown. 44 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:20,920 Then we went over to the crime lab, picked up Lieutenant Lee Jones, 45 00:04:20,959 --> 00:04:25,439 and drove out the Arroyo Seco Freeway to Collis Avenue. It was an 46 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:30,319 average neighborhood. Number forty six fifty six was a one story green stucco residence 47 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:34,199 situated on the corner of Collis Avenue and Harrison Drive. Beyond the backyard was 48 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:39,279 a tract of undeveloped land covered with scrub oak. Harry Levinson, from a 49 00:04:39,319 --> 00:04:43,279 Highland park juvenile was waiting for us in front of the house back this way, 50 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:48,120 Fellas commonly, wait, I got my back, okay? Who notifies 51 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,360 that the boy was missing? Harry? The mother said she went out to 52 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:55,920 do some Christmas shopping about eleven this morning, left the boy home, came 53 00:04:55,959 --> 00:04:59,560 back about two this afternoon. He was gone. What's his name? Johnstone? 54 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,600 Kids name is Stanley, nine years old? Was this gate open like 55 00:05:02,639 --> 00:05:04,800 this when you got here? Oh? Yeah, I haven't touched the thing. 56 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,560 H Here are the stains over here, Lieutenant Jones, along the edge 57 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,480 of the walk. See yeah, let me see quite a few stains. 58 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,839 Uh, looks like it might be blood tie some benzeteine on these spots here 59 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:27,639 there. Yeah, see what Hambl's where's the kid's mother now in the house. 60 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,000 Darty's talking to her. Did you talk to any of the neighbors? 61 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,519 People next door? Ones on this side? They couldn't tell us anything. 62 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,560 It is, Fellas, Gelly. These spots are covered with benzetine. The're 63 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,759 turning blue blood stains, all right? Can't say definitely, whether it's human 64 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,240 or animal blood. You have to go back to the lab to run it 65 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:46,040 through. Yeah, biological precipitum test. Hand me one of those glass vials 66 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:53,480 from my back. Yeah, hey, here you are you thinks great? 67 00:05:53,639 --> 00:05:58,800 Some of these flakes are for a test? Yeah? How soon can you 68 00:05:58,879 --> 00:06:01,199 tap the blood? Force? Lee preciplion test won't run more than twenty minutes. 69 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:06,600 It'll take three or four hours to run a blood grouping. Go anything 70 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,560 else you want to check Levinson? Anything else? Oh? Right here, 71 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:15,360 my handkerchief, empty shell, that marker over there by the rose bush. 72 00:06:15,519 --> 00:06:18,600 That's where I found it from A twenty two. Huh yeah, might tie 73 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,199 in, might not market and dump it in this end, blok with it? 74 00:06:21,319 --> 00:06:28,319 Oh yeah, show here you go. Did you get out a missing 75 00:06:28,319 --> 00:06:30,759 broadcast and the boy Darty did about half hour ago? Oh, here's a 76 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:35,120 description here, Rank Joe. Mother know about the blood stains. No, 77 00:06:35,199 --> 00:06:39,920 we didn't tell her. She's worried enough already and she has no idea what 78 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,639 might have happened to her boy. No more than we do if she checked 79 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:46,040 all our friends relatives. We're covering the neighborhood. No trace so far, 80 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,600 much to go on bloodstains, empty cartridge could mean a hundred things, any 81 00:06:50,639 --> 00:06:54,120 ideas, Friddy, Yeah, just one, and I don't like it. 82 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:02,399 No. Four point thirty Thursday December twenty second, the neighborhood searched for nine 83 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,480 year old Stanley Johnstone continued, Lee Jones went back to the crime lab to 84 00:07:06,519 --> 00:07:11,439 start the precipitate test in the blood. Gooding. Levinson and his partner Dougherty 85 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:15,439 from Highland Juvenile stood by. We called Chief a Detectives, Dad Brown, 86 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,240 and he ordered up a special detail to aid in the search for the missing 87 00:07:17,279 --> 00:07:21,000 boy. Ben and I questioned the boy's mother, Missus Ruth Johnstone, a 88 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:26,000 woman in her early forties. She seemed fairly calm under the circumstances, Missus 89 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:30,040 Johnstone, is your boy's stand in the habit of wandering off withoutdaring you where 90 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,160 he's going? No, he's not in the habit of wandering off, but 91 00:07:32,319 --> 00:07:35,720 he has done it before. When was the last time, Miss Johnstone? 92 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:40,000 You don't have any children, do you, Sergeant Friday, No, I'm 93 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,360 not married. Well, that comes that time in every young boy's life when 94 00:07:43,399 --> 00:07:46,160 he feels it it's time to leave home to go out on his own. 95 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,720 Usually happens somewhere around eight to ten. I think I know what you mean. 96 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:51,560 I've got a boy. Well, then you know how it is. 97 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,839 My husband and I scolded Stanley one day after school. He was quite put 98 00:07:57,839 --> 00:08:01,680 out about it. Thought George and I run fits, were packed a few 99 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:03,399 of these things and left. How long was he gone? Oh, no 100 00:08:03,519 --> 00:08:07,879 time at all, about two hours. I was worried about him, but 101 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:09,959 my husband said to leave him alone, said every boy, I had to 102 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,399 go through that stage. Well, when you think he's run away from home 103 00:08:11,439 --> 00:08:16,120 again this time? Yes, I think so. He's been gone about four 104 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,279 hours now, and I have a funny feeling about it. Did you and 105 00:08:18,319 --> 00:08:22,000 his father have some misunderstanding with the boy recently? Well, that's just it. 106 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:26,480 We haven't. I don't mind telling you now that we're talking about it. 107 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:28,800 I'm I am getting worried. Any place around that he might like to 108 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:33,279 visit, hobby shop, playground where he might be, Yeah, there's some 109 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:37,440 Jensen's Model shop and Little Shanna Burrows. But I've already called him and he 110 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,600 hasn't been seen all day. I called all his friends. They have no 111 00:08:41,639 --> 00:08:43,360 idea where he is either. We'd like a list of all his friends and 112 00:08:43,399 --> 00:08:46,000 the places that he was known to frequent Oh you a all right, I'll 113 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,919 get him to you. What do you suppose he is? Where's your husband 114 00:08:48,919 --> 00:08:52,600 now, Miss Johnstone? Oh, he's at work. George works for the 115 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,360 city. Is a farman. What house is he stationing there? Engine Company 116 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,879 twelve? You it's working the eight platoon. He'll be home tomorrow morning. 117 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:03,159 I haven't told him that Stanley's gone. Was there any chance that the boy 118 00:09:03,279 --> 00:09:07,600 might be down at the firehouse with his father? No? No, he 119 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:13,480 seldom goes down there anymore. No, I don't think he's there. I'm 120 00:09:13,519 --> 00:09:22,200 awfully worried. May I call my husband certainly right ahead. I know George 121 00:09:22,159 --> 00:09:28,679 would be worried. Stanley's been gone too long. Hello. May I speak 122 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:35,360 with Georgia Johnstone. This is missus Johnstone. Thank you. I hate to 123 00:09:35,399 --> 00:09:39,159 call George at his work. Yes, ma'am. Does your husband known again? 124 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:41,720 Yes? He does. What caliber do you know? Well, it's 125 00:09:41,759 --> 00:09:46,799 a forty five automatic? He got it? George. This is Ruth. 126 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:52,279 George is standing down there with you? By any chance? Oh? No, 127 00:09:52,399 --> 00:09:54,639 I can't find him anywhere. He hasn't been here when I came home 128 00:09:54,679 --> 00:10:01,159 from my shopping. The two policemen here no, there are two policemen here. 129 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,240 Oh no, dear, I'll call you if we don't find him soon. 130 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:11,840 All right, dear, yes you too, goodbye. I didn't think 131 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:15,600 he'd be with George. I had forty five? Is not the only gun 132 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,960 in the household? Wait? Yes, why are you asking about guns? 133 00:10:18,039 --> 00:10:22,080 Is? Does anything happen that you're not telling me about? No, ma'am, 134 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,120 just routine checking. We'll have to take a look at that forty five 135 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,600 or if you don't mind, maybe I should tell you we we do have 136 00:10:28,639 --> 00:10:31,480 another gun in the house. But it it's all wrapped up. George Butifer 137 00:10:31,519 --> 00:10:35,279 Stanley's Christmas present? May we see it? Please? Oh? Yes? 138 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:41,279 Well? Will you have to unwrap it? Yes, I'm afraid so I 139 00:10:41,279 --> 00:10:43,519 think I can reach it. We we had to hide it. Now let 140 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:50,320 me see. Good, here's the paper it was wrapped in. Stanley must 141 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,320 have found it. It's gone. See. Here's the gift card and the 142 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,360 box of the gun came in rifle. Can I look at that box? 143 00:10:56,399 --> 00:11:03,679 Man? Thank you? How about it? Jim twenty two caliber. Thursday 144 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:09,480 December twenty second, five point fifteen pm was getting dark. The search for 145 00:11:09,519 --> 00:11:13,759 the missing boy continued. We checked the list of Stanley Johnstone's friends. None 146 00:11:13,799 --> 00:11:16,080 of them or their parents had any idea of his whereabouts. We talked with 147 00:11:16,159 --> 00:11:20,399 Levinson again. He had been in touch with the detail combing the neighborhood. 148 00:11:20,519 --> 00:11:24,200 They had found nothing. We went down to Collis Avenue and Kent Street service 149 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:28,639 station on the corner one nicklad Joe, No, I got one. You 150 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:54,440 watched with that? Huh? Yeah? Two six sixty seven please Jones, 151 00:11:54,519 --> 00:11:58,639 high Ley, Joe Friday, Joanie Sennel, Johnson Kidd, No, not 152 00:11:58,759 --> 00:12:01,559 yet. How are you coming? Finished? Preciment? The tested human blood? 153 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:03,360 Yeah, working in the blood group. Now do you know what type 154 00:12:03,639 --> 00:12:07,000 Johnson boy had? No, we didn't want to upset his mother. I 155 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,720 thought we'd wait a little last thing. We're still in the neighborhood. Checked 156 00:12:09,759 --> 00:12:11,240 with the family physician. That way you won't disturb. Yeah, we figured 157 00:12:11,279 --> 00:12:16,200 on the just a minutely. Yeah, Ben Mors just pulled. Okay, 158 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:26,240 uh, fat browns out here now I'll check youlatedly hunter, goodbye, gentlemen. 159 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,279 Howt's going? Just checked with Lee Jones. Yeah, I know it's 160 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,120 human blood. What do you think We talked with the boy's mother, Missus 161 00:12:31,159 --> 00:12:35,919 Johnston found a gun masson Yeah, caliber is the same as the empty casement 162 00:12:35,039 --> 00:12:39,399 Levinson found twenty two. You said the gun was missing. Yeah, the 163 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:41,000 Johnstons were gonna give it to the boy as a Christmas present. They had 164 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,320 it, hid him and it's gone now. Any idea who took it? 165 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:48,159 We left the Christmas wrapping behind. I think it was the kid twenty two 166 00:12:48,279 --> 00:12:52,519 rifle. Huh, nine year old boy? When are they gonna learn first? 167 00:12:52,519 --> 00:12:54,759 It's carboyd Cannons. On the fourth of July, he said, is 168 00:12:54,799 --> 00:12:58,039 should ordinance after ordinance with a few thousand kids around the country had to lose 169 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:03,360 their eyes, fingers, hands for the parents. Gives us their full cooperation 170 00:13:03,399 --> 00:13:05,759 to outlaw them. I know what you mean, Sure you do. You 171 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:09,480 and every other cop in the country became the heaviest trying to clamp down on 172 00:13:09,519 --> 00:13:13,799 them. It's always the same story. This time it's guns for Christmas. 173 00:13:13,919 --> 00:13:16,960 I know what you're thinking, but we're not sure yet unlesson Friday there's a 174 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,720 city ordinance against giving a gun to a kid. You know that. Yes, 175 00:13:18,759 --> 00:13:22,919 I know that there's a missing boy and a missing gun. There's blood 176 00:13:22,919 --> 00:13:24,360 on the ground and an empty shell. That's enough for me. I'm going 177 00:13:24,399 --> 00:13:28,600 to stay with it. Something's got to break. Yeah, I hope it's 178 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,679 not the hearts of that kid's parents. Oh, hi, Chief, I've 179 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:33,279 been looking for you Friday. What do you got? Harry found the gun, 180 00:13:33,799 --> 00:13:37,840 new twenty two rifle. Strong smell of cordite. I'd say it's been 181 00:13:37,879 --> 00:13:39,799 recently fired. Would you find it? Livinson? Back up there in that 182 00:13:39,799 --> 00:13:45,600 square boat up behind the Johnston house. Missus Johnstone identified it. Buckley took 183 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:48,600 it down the crime lab. Thanks, Herry, it's miss Johnston. Okay, 184 00:13:48,799 --> 00:13:50,559 I'm pretty sick now. Kilby came up with something else. What's that? 185 00:13:50,879 --> 00:13:58,320 There's another one missing, an eight year old boy. Six thirty pm, 186 00:13:58,639 --> 00:14:01,039 we talked with Officer Killoby the other missing boy. He told us that 187 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:05,600 his name was Stephen Moreheim, eight years old. His family had just moved 188 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,919 into the neighborhood, and it seemed that no one besides the Morheim family knew 189 00:14:09,919 --> 00:14:13,960 that the boys played together. Missus Moreheim told us that Stephen told her that 190 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,440 he was going out to play and that he'd be home by six o'clock for 191 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,799 dinner. She told us that he was an unusually prompt boy and almost never 192 00:14:18,879 --> 00:14:22,519 overstayed his playtime. We got a description of the Morheim boy and put out 193 00:14:22,519 --> 00:14:28,000 a missing broadcast. We called the Johnstones family doctor. He told us that 194 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,279 Stanley's blood was type old. At seven pm, we talked again with Missus 195 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,240 john Moreheim. Are you sure, Missus Johnstone doesn't know where the boys are? 196 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,279 He has no ide, Miss Moreheim. It's terrible, it's just awful. 197 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:45,120 I feel there's more to this thing, something you're not telling me. 198 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,000 There was no use to upset you until we know a few things for sure, 199 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:50,080 and you are holding back something. I'll please try not to worry Ms 200 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,639 Moreheim. There are certain questions we'll have to ask routine questions in any kind 201 00:14:54,639 --> 00:14:58,840 of investigation. Is there anything else you want to know? Yes, ma'am. 202 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:03,399 What is your boy's blood type? That's a funny question. Do you 203 00:15:03,399 --> 00:15:07,039 think anything's happened to him? Have you found him and you're not telling him? 204 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:09,679 Oh? Man, we haven't found him. We don't think anything's happened 205 00:15:09,679 --> 00:15:13,360 to him. It's blood type. You think I haven't written down Stevie's baby 206 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:20,799 book? Yes, here it is, thank you. What if I might 207 00:15:20,879 --> 00:15:22,200 use your phone? Please? Yes, of course it's in the hall. 208 00:15:22,399 --> 00:15:37,360 Be right back then, you know, okay to six six seven? Please 209 00:15:41,559 --> 00:15:46,559 m h Hell, alright, this is Friday Lee there just a minute, 210 00:15:46,639 --> 00:15:56,000 Joe Man j speaking checking backley. Did you get the blood types and the 211 00:15:56,039 --> 00:16:10,080 two missing boys? Yeah? Both boys type O sell the stands Joe Type. 212 00:16:10,279 --> 00:16:14,840 You are listening to Dragnet for the solution to an actual case from official 213 00:16:14,879 --> 00:16:26,000 police files. Eight pm, Thursday, December twenty second, still no sign 214 00:16:26,039 --> 00:16:30,480 of either of the missing boys. Chief of Detective's Thad Brown went back to 215 00:16:30,559 --> 00:16:33,559 headquarters to direct the search. From there, he dispatched another detail of fifty 216 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:37,279 men to aid in the hunt for the missing youngsters. Eight point thirty PM 217 00:16:37,559 --> 00:16:41,600 was getting colder. The citrus growers were warned to expect to freeze. We 218 00:16:41,639 --> 00:16:45,200 went up the block to see missus Johnstone. Her husband had quit work early 219 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,279 and returned home. We talked with him. He could tell us nothing more 220 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:52,320 than we already knew. We still had not informed either of the families about 221 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:56,879 the bloodstains and the empty cartridge casing which had been discovered in the backyard of 222 00:16:56,879 --> 00:17:00,759 the Johnstone home. Was more than possible that they had a right to know 223 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,039 about our findings, but Ben and I felt that there was no cause to 224 00:17:03,279 --> 00:17:07,359 add to the distress of the two families at this time. If the two 225 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:11,599 missing boys were found alive and well, then the bloodstains and the cartridge case 226 00:17:11,599 --> 00:17:15,400 would be of no concern to the relieved parents. At eight forty pm, 227 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,359 Ben and I left the Johnstone house and went to the home of mister and 228 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:22,079 missus John Moreheim. Miss Moreheim, you said your husband worked at a market. 229 00:17:22,279 --> 00:17:26,960 Yes, he telephoned about fifteen minutes ago and said he was closing up 230 00:17:26,039 --> 00:17:30,880 right away. He'll be here any minute. I wonder wish Steved would call 231 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:37,039 her come home. So cold out tonight, well I had on was a 232 00:17:37,039 --> 00:17:40,440 thin cotton jacket. Please try not to worry. We're doing everything we can. 233 00:17:40,599 --> 00:17:42,200 It's going to be all right, stevee. It's father's such a sensitive 234 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:47,680 man, and the boy are so close. I know he's terribly upset. 235 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,240 You're sure there's no place you might have forgotten, some place where the boy 236 00:17:51,319 --> 00:17:56,400 might be. No, no place, no copped to the boy that just 237 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,839 killed him. No, you sit still, I'll get it, Miss more 238 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:17,519 Joe. Hi, Harry a john Stone kid. He's been fought. Oh 239 00:18:17,599 --> 00:18:21,359 he's home, Sergeant, he's come home. Thank God, he's all right. 240 00:18:21,839 --> 00:18:25,920 Where's he? No, No, he didn't his clothes were all dirty, 241 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,599 and he's acting strange. I've never seen him like this. Well, 242 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,039 he just came in the front door and said hello, mom, and then 243 00:18:32,039 --> 00:18:34,240 he sat down a chair and stared at the floor. Oh, talk to 244 00:18:34,279 --> 00:18:40,000 his father? Me. I talked to him. I asked him about the 245 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:41,920 little Moreheim boy. He wouldn't tell me a thing. Where is he now 246 00:18:42,279 --> 00:18:53,039 in the living room? Looks all right? Yes, son, Son, 247 00:18:53,559 --> 00:19:00,200 this is a police officer. He wants to talk to you. Don't be 248 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:07,039 afraid, dear. He only wants to ask us some questions. Son, 249 00:19:08,599 --> 00:19:15,440 you see sergeant Stanley. Come on, look at me, Son, get 250 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,559 your head up, youngster. Come on, now, that's better. I 251 00:19:18,599 --> 00:19:22,359 had your mother pretty worried. You know that you want to tell us where 252 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:26,400 you've been. I wish you'd try to get him to eat a little something. 253 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:32,599 Do you hear that? Son? Want something? Indeed, Stanley, 254 00:19:32,599 --> 00:19:33,759 there's another little boy up this Tete who hasn't come home. Do you know 255 00:19:33,799 --> 00:19:37,799 where he is? His father and mother worried about him too, just like 256 00:19:37,839 --> 00:19:44,440 your folks were. You've got to help us find him. Son. I 257 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:48,839 I killed him. I killed to you with the twenty two. We were 258 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:53,519 only plain, but I killed him. How do you know you killed him? 259 00:19:53,559 --> 00:19:59,319 Maybe he's only hurt. Why isn't that it? No, he's dead. 260 00:19:59,599 --> 00:20:03,599 I know he was dead. The gun went off. We forgot we 261 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:07,039 put bullets in there. Where is he? Stanley? I shouldn't. I 262 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:11,359 was scared. I didn't want anybody to find him. Where did you hide 263 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:17,119 him? Son? In a chief upon the hill? I didn't mean it. 264 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:19,920 It was my pal. Do you want to show us where? Yes, 265 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:29,880 I'll show you. Please don't send me to jail. Nine fifteen pm, 266 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:33,519 Thursday December twenty second. Nine year old Stanley Johnstone led the way up 267 00:20:33,559 --> 00:20:37,640 the hill behind the backyard of his home. He showed us the wagon, 268 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:41,640 he moved the body, and his father came along with us. About fifty 269 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,039 feet from the crest of the hill, a boy pointed to a thicket of 270 00:20:44,039 --> 00:20:48,359 scrub oak. There we found a small cave holding a body of Stephen Moreheimen. 271 00:20:48,839 --> 00:20:51,480 There was a single bullet wound in his chest, just below his heart. 272 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:56,119 He was dead. We covered the body. Stanley, Stanley, how 273 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:59,440 did it happen? I knew my folks were going to give me the gun 274 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:03,240 for Christmas. I knew where it was, and I got it there was 275 00:21:03,279 --> 00:21:07,400 a box of bullets with it. Were you pointing the gun at Stephen? 276 00:21:07,839 --> 00:21:11,839 No, sir, No, sir, I wasn't. It was Steve's turing 277 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:15,359 to play with it. I was chasing him. He tripped over the stump 278 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:22,279 there in our backyard and fell. The gun hit him in the stomach and 279 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:26,279 it went off. Why do you think you killed him? If you're telling 280 00:21:26,319 --> 00:21:29,920 us the truth, I'm telling the truth, honest. That's the truth, 281 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,759 all right, I believe, he said, But why do you think you 282 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:37,200 killed him? It was my gun? Steve would still be alive if I 283 00:21:37,279 --> 00:21:41,240 didn't go and get it. I should have waited till Christmas. It's all 284 00:21:41,319 --> 00:21:47,559 my fault. Where have you been all this time in the cave with Steve? 285 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:52,440 What were you doing in there? Son? I was praying. I 286 00:21:52,640 --> 00:22:00,559 was praying for God to make him alive again. After a thorough investigation, 287 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:04,400 Ben and I were convinced that the shooting of Stephen Moreheim was accidental. Lieutenant 288 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:10,319 Lee Jones finding substantiated the Johnstone Boy's story even to the smallest detail. We 289 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:12,480 put in a call to the coroner's office and acquainted him with the facts. 290 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:18,400 He designated a local mortuary to handle the body pending on autopsy and Grantidus's permission 291 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,160 to remove the body to the Morheim home. Missus Moreheim collapsed. The family 292 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:26,359 doctor was called Ben and I sat in the living room to wait for John 293 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:36,759 Moreheim, the dead boy's father, Edith Edith, mister Moreheim, Yes, 294 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:40,240 you the police? Yes, sir? Where's Edith? Where's my wife? 295 00:22:41,839 --> 00:22:45,720 How's my boy come home? Have you found him? Yes, sir? 296 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:56,279 Where is he? Steve? Stevie? Where Steve? He's hurt? Isn't 297 00:22:56,279 --> 00:22:57,480 me? Yes, sir? Oh? Where is he? I want to 298 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,680 see him. He's hurt, bad, mister Morhim. Where is he? 299 00:23:00,759 --> 00:23:07,880 I want to see him. He's in his room? How bad? Pretty 300 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:21,599 bad? Yes, he's dead? All right? If I going? If 301 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:30,480 you want to, will you go with me? Sure? Don't make it 302 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:33,799 any harder on yourself, mister Morhim. I want to see my boopet. 303 00:23:48,319 --> 00:23:52,240 Listen to me, sir. We've got you a lot of less thanks but 304 00:23:52,480 --> 00:24:02,880 Christmas, but I got you a three new car for the train with the 305 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:15,799 search really works. Yeah, so you you guess that twitch you wanted to 306 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:37,160 do it? That boy track. You can have a big up. You 307 00:24:37,279 --> 00:24:51,880 know that a new baseball, But yourself but I didn't want the cowboy act 308 00:24:52,160 --> 00:25:18,559 you wanted to get to. Come on, Joe, it was an accident. 309 00:25:18,599 --> 00:25:25,400 He was playing with Johnstone boy upstreet, playing with a gun. He 310 00:25:25,519 --> 00:25:33,400 went off. I like to see the other boys name Stanley Johnstone. It 311 00:25:33,559 --> 00:25:40,480 was an accident. Tomorrow him. Where are you going? I want to 312 00:25:40,519 --> 00:25:47,480 see that. We had no idea what the dead boy's father had in mind. 313 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,000 We didn't feel that we should try to restrain him. We went along 314 00:25:51,039 --> 00:26:02,400 with him up the street to the Johnstone home. Stevie's father. Where's your 315 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:07,519 boy? I'm sorry, where's your boy? He's right here. Won't you 316 00:26:07,559 --> 00:26:18,720 come in? That's all right, missus Chanston. You you're the boy that 317 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:33,079 was with Stevie. Yes, sir, what's your name? Stanley? Stanley? 318 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:40,279 I know it wasn't your fault, Stanley. I wouldn't if you'd do 319 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:48,440 something for me, Yes, sir. I've got a lot of nice presents 320 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:56,440 for Stevieah. I know it wants you to have them. I want to 321 00:26:56,480 --> 00:27:07,440 give them to you Christmas, ma'am. I think that would be a fine 322 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:22,480 idea. Son. Come on, Ben, what does it all prove? 323 00:27:22,599 --> 00:27:33,960 Jo know you don't give a hit a gun for Christmas. The story you 324 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:40,119 have just heard was true, only the names were changed to protect the innocent. 325 00:27:40,519 --> 00:27:44,480 On December twenty fourth, nineteen forty eight, a coroner's inquest was held 326 00:27:44,519 --> 00:27:48,000 in the County Morgue City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. 327 00:27:48,319 --> 00:28:00,519 In a moment the results of that inquest. At the coroner's inquest, it 328 00:28:00,559 --> 00:28:04,160 was officially recorded that Stephen Morheim's death was the result of an accident. Stanley 329 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:08,839 Johnstone, age nine, was absolved of any legal responsibility for his friend's death. 330 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:18,440 You have just heard Dragnets, a new series of authentic cases from official 331 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:22,400 files. Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Acting Chief of Police 332 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:27,039 W. A. Wharton, Los Angeles Police Department. Dragnet honors Hennepin County, 333 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:32,319 Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, and the men of the Hennepin County Sheriff's 334 00:28:32,319 --> 00:28:37,599 Office, another of America's great law enforcement agencies. One of these men Sheriff 335 00:28:37,759 --> 00:28:42,480 Ed Ryan, veteran police officer and department administrator who dedicates his life to making 336 00:28:42,519 --> 00:28:48,839 yours more secure. A Fatima Cigarettes, the best of all along cigarettes, 337 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:52,920 has brought you Dragnet. Portion transcribed from Los Angeles. Be sure to hear 338 00:28:53,000 --> 00:29:03,559 songs by Martin Downey tonight don NBC Welcome Back. This is one of my 339 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:07,920 least favorite episodes. Now. It is not a judgment on the quality at 340 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:12,720 all. It is wonderfully written and produced, and really the series had hit 341 00:29:12,799 --> 00:29:18,960 its stride in terms of the quality of its storytelling. But it is such 342 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:25,839 a heavy episode. Between times I've watched the TV version and times I've listened 343 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:30,160 to the radio version, I think I've experienced this about half a dozen times, 344 00:29:30,319 --> 00:29:37,319 but this is my first time experiencing it as a parent, and this 345 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:44,799 hits so much harder. And also to give it proper historical contacts, it 346 00:29:44,839 --> 00:29:52,279 requires that I discuss a controversial issue that was a bit controversial then and now 347 00:29:52,519 --> 00:29:57,119 is very controversial. And I will try to talk about this late forties early 348 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:07,640 fifties contra without getting into where the whole debate on this issue has evolved now. 349 00:30:07,799 --> 00:30:12,519 There was controversy surrounding the ending, but I think it has to be 350 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:21,920 said that the public reception of the episode was overall quite strong and it was 351 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:30,920 viewed quite favorably. The main objection came from the National Rifle Association that didn't 352 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:41,039 like Friday's conclusion. Jack Webb actually handed their complaint over to the LAPD, 353 00:30:41,599 --> 00:30:48,440 which defended the episode and promised ten more episodes on what they called the folly 354 00:30:48,559 --> 00:30:52,640 of giving rifles to children. Dragonett did not actually do that. I don't 355 00:30:52,680 --> 00:31:00,359 know to what degree the LAPD actually pushed Web on that, particularly in the 356 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:10,400 nineteen fifties. Web wasn't trying to make Dragnet monolithically about some particular issue. 357 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:18,640 However, the episode was re aired every Christmas, and according to Claudiac Calhoun's 358 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:26,640 book, only the names have been changed. This was due to popular demand. 359 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:33,160 When it was adapted to television, the NRA actually asked for a copy 360 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:40,880 of the film to use for educational purposes, and according to Michael Hayes's book 361 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:47,480 My Name Is Friday, Web happily complied with their request. That doesn't mean 362 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:57,240 that the NRA still didn't disagree with Friday's conclusion, and Claudia Calhoun actually tracked 363 00:31:57,279 --> 00:32:07,799 down a editorial in The American Riffleman addressing this episode. It praised Dragnet for 364 00:32:07,839 --> 00:32:14,200 a dramatic and effectively presented program, but disagreed with the lesson, pointing out 365 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:19,319 that a lot of young people hunt safely, and when they're drafted, they're 366 00:32:19,359 --> 00:32:24,079 handed a gun. The American Rifleman wrote, instead of denying the boy the 367 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:28,960 rifle he wants for Christmas, the wise father will give it to him. 368 00:32:29,079 --> 00:32:34,519 At the same time he will see to it the boy is properly taught to 369 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:38,160 respect it. And even if you do look at the incident from a gun 370 00:32:38,319 --> 00:32:45,400 safety standpoint, there was a lot that was lacking. A gun is not 371 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:50,920 just any old Christmas present that you can hide like any other present, and 372 00:32:51,039 --> 00:32:55,319 putting the gun near the bullets really was the key to the whole strategy. 373 00:32:55,519 --> 00:33:02,039 At the same time, the Johnstone boy was treating it essentially lack a toy, 374 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:07,960 even though it was a loaded weapon, and those sort of approaches are 375 00:33:07,039 --> 00:33:13,640 the things that any good gun safety course is going to push back. Again 376 00:33:14,079 --> 00:33:22,119 on the other side, this episode is a reminder that Dragnet reflects the feelings 377 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:29,319 and sentiments of the LAPD, and not just because the LAPD as an institution, 378 00:33:29,839 --> 00:33:36,440 favored gun control. One thing that I've found reading about Jack Webb is 379 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:42,279 that he spent a lot of time with police officers, and his way of 380 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:50,160 thinking was influenced very strongly by their view of the world and what their life 381 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:57,599 experiences were, and you can hear that reflected in Thad Brown's conversation, the 382 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:05,000 sort of frustration and heartbreak that police officers have to deal with, and how 383 00:34:05,079 --> 00:34:14,639 much utterly needless, pointless tragedy end up witnessing because people ignore laws and ignore 384 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:21,679 common sense, and there is something that is so affecting at being that close 385 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:25,960 to these sort of tragedies. And we hear a little of that reflected in 386 00:34:27,039 --> 00:34:31,480 this episode in a few subtle ways, but that does tend to color and 387 00:34:31,639 --> 00:34:37,800 form the opinion of the officer on the street. So both reached conclusions that 388 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:45,280 things have gone wrong here, but they disagree on what the exact problem is 389 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:50,679 or the exact solution, And I think that's a situation we can very much 390 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:57,719 relate to today. Beyond the controversy, the episode had a slow burn build 391 00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:04,840 up as we got hints as to the shape of the tragedy and realized the 392 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:12,559 sheer scope of sadness and horrid what happened. Stanley is brilliantly portrayed, capturing 393 00:35:12,599 --> 00:35:16,320 the sadness and terror of a boy who's sorry for what he did and scared 394 00:35:16,519 --> 00:35:22,599 of what the consequences will be. That he'll face. While Dragonet is often 395 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:29,760 considered stiff or unemotional, William Johnstone's performance as the Dead Boy's father is beautiful 396 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:35,400 and probably one of the most intense roles I've heard him, given this was 397 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:40,920 not the typical William Johnstone role. The roles I most tend to associate William 398 00:35:42,039 --> 00:35:49,880 Johnstone with are The Shadow and of course Ben Guthrie on The Lineup, which 399 00:35:50,199 --> 00:35:57,360 was a police procedural show that would be launched by CBS in nineteen fifty and 400 00:35:57,400 --> 00:36:02,559 then he played a lot of heroes from American history on the Cavalcade of America 401 00:36:02,599 --> 00:36:10,280 program and also did quite a few character guest performances during the Jimi del vi 402 00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:16,000 era on Johnny Dawler, and the roles I associated with him are these sort 403 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:22,840 of very strong, authoritative characters, and so Johnstone is not the first person 404 00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:28,159 you would think of for this sort of role, but web had a talent. 405 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:31,800 Michael Hayde mentioned a couple of other instances I believe in his book My 406 00:36:31,880 --> 00:36:38,360 Name Is Friday, where he saw someone and basically decided he wanted to cast 407 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:43,880 them in something that was completely against top and it worked brilliantly, and it 408 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:50,840 certainly does here, and I think Johnstone finds the right tone because the lines 409 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:55,360 themselves are a lot and it would be easy for it to become too much, 410 00:36:55,519 --> 00:37:02,400 but Johnstone just brings so much believability. He's sitting there weeping and rambling 411 00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:08,920 to his son, struggling to deal with the fact that his world has broken 412 00:37:09,320 --> 00:37:17,880 and he has no idea how he's going to go on and what is next 413 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:24,599 for him, or any conception of what his world looks like anymore. And 414 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:30,039 I know that people like to say that Dragnet it was just totally stiff if 415 00:37:30,079 --> 00:37:36,239 you think that you haven't heard this episode, because it's a lot and it's 416 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:44,000 quite raw. There's also a really subtle bit right after he breaks down that 417 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:50,960 I hadn't noticed before, but it was really interesting to me because it's one 418 00:37:51,039 --> 00:37:58,159 of only a couple of moments I've recognized where Friday being the younger, less 419 00:37:58,199 --> 00:38:07,400 experienced partner is emphasized. Because Friday starts to interrupt and Romero just says, 420 00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:12,000 come on, Joe, and I think as a younger man, Friday is 421 00:38:12,119 --> 00:38:17,000 trying to do something or say something, or find some way to mitigate this 422 00:38:17,119 --> 00:38:24,760 sort of breakdown. It's painful, it's uncomfortable. But Romero is a father. 423 00:38:25,519 --> 00:38:30,159 He doesn't most likely know what it was like to lose a child, 424 00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:37,000 but he has at least an idea of the sort of grief that this father 425 00:38:37,199 --> 00:38:40,360 is feeling, and he knows you can't just wave it away. You can't 426 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:45,679 make it better or make it less awkward. There's nothing you can say. 427 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:53,079 You've got to let the man grieve. And that sort of realization takes maturity 428 00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:59,199 again, a really great subtle touch. Now, as great as it is 429 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:04,719 as an APIs, I am in full sympathy with Richard Breen, who back 430 00:39:04,719 --> 00:39:07,960 when we did the Christmas episode, I mentioned that he thought this episode was 431 00:39:08,039 --> 00:39:15,840 not appropriate for the festive Christmas season. It's such a hard episode to listen 432 00:39:15,920 --> 00:39:21,239 to, but it definitely has its point, and I was reflecting a little 433 00:39:21,320 --> 00:39:27,280 bit on why it would be so popular that people would want it back. 434 00:39:27,599 --> 00:39:30,679 I mean, if I go another ten years without listening to this one again, 435 00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:35,920 I think I would be good. And I got a little bit of 436 00:39:36,119 --> 00:39:46,280 insight into maybe why the episode was popular and also why some certain seemingly depressing 437 00:39:47,159 --> 00:39:55,719 films or even educational films or TV programs would be shown Because people of my 438 00:39:55,880 --> 00:40:02,639 generation and definitely younger look at that and say, what was up with you 439 00:40:02,679 --> 00:40:08,320 guys watching this stuff, producing this stuff that is such a downer? And 440 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:15,400 I came across it in one article where a columnist said that he believed that 441 00:40:15,519 --> 00:40:21,440 the episode would save lives. And I think that that belief may have been 442 00:40:22,159 --> 00:40:29,239 quite wide spread. And I think that there was a material produced that was 443 00:40:29,639 --> 00:40:37,440 very downbeat, but it was viewed positively because it was viewed as cautionary. 444 00:40:37,679 --> 00:40:45,039 By showing something sad and horrible happening as a result of a mistake, as 445 00:40:45,079 --> 00:40:51,320 a result of an action, as a result of carelessness, the people who 446 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:57,679 watched the films would be forewarned, and that sad feeling would lead to happier 447 00:40:57,760 --> 00:41:04,199 lives because they would not have horrific things happen to them in real life. 448 00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:09,840 I think that in the twenty first century, we tend to avoid things that 449 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:16,679 are unpleasant that might have a pleasant effect on our futures, And ironically, 450 00:41:16,719 --> 00:41:24,360 the stuff that gets so sought out as downers are things that are very friends 451 00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:31,400 or unlikely to happen. Like you had that whole youth dystopian trend a few 452 00:41:31,480 --> 00:41:37,320 years ago, where this whole depressing scenario was set up, but it was 453 00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:43,679 the most incredibly unlikely thing to happen, like May's Runner is not going to 454 00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:49,119 happen. But we somehow seek out these sad but very improbable things. While 455 00:41:49,119 --> 00:41:55,159 I think that fire generations tended to venerate things that were sad but would ultimately 456 00:41:55,400 --> 00:42:00,679 lead to positive outcomes if we heeded the advice in all right, Well, 457 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:05,400 now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want 458 00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:09,159 to go ahead and thank Paul. Paul has been one of our Patreon supporters 459 00:42:09,199 --> 00:42:15,920 since March of twenty sixteen, currently supporting the podcast at the rookie level of 460 00:42:16,039 --> 00:42:20,960 two dollars or more per month. Thank you so much for your support, 461 00:42:21,039 --> 00:42:23,960 Paul, And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, 462 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:29,760 please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Be sure to rate and 463 00:42:29,800 --> 00:42:34,400 review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Saturday with 464 00:42:34,440 --> 00:42:38,719 another episode of Dragonet, but join us back here on Monday for the Adventures 465 00:42:38,719 --> 00:42:44,960 of the Falcon where I'm looking for Michael Waring. Well, you've come to 466 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:46,920 the right place, are you? The one they call the Falcon when they 467 00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:52,320 can't think of anything worse? Come on and miss Davis. Ruth Davis, 468 00:42:53,199 --> 00:42:58,480 so down? Thanks? No, what can I do for you? I'm 469 00:42:58,519 --> 00:43:01,400 not quite sure. Did you happen to notice an item in this morning's paper 470 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:06,920 about a man being killed in a hit and run accident last night? Yeah? 471 00:43:07,199 --> 00:43:10,000 That man was my father. Oh, I'm sorry. I want you 472 00:43:10,079 --> 00:43:15,000 to find the driver of that car. Why isn't it obvious that man murdered 473 00:43:15,000 --> 00:43:17,480 my daddy? Murdered him just as surely as if he used a gun. 474 00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:22,760 I don't care what it costs, Angel, I'd be lying if I didn't 475 00:43:22,760 --> 00:43:24,159 tell you that anything you invest in a case like this is to be money 476 00:43:24,199 --> 00:43:28,239 thrown down the sewer. As I recall, the police don't have a single 477 00:43:28,280 --> 00:43:30,239 lead. We yes, they do. There was a man named Arthur Crane 478 00:43:30,239 --> 00:43:34,800 who witnessed the accident. He might know more than these tools. I hope 479 00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:37,199 you'll be with us then. In the meantime, do send your comments to 480 00:43:37,280 --> 00:43:43,679 Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot nat, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, 481 00:43:43,679 --> 00:43:47,760 and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives 482 00:43:47,800 --> 00:43:52,800 from Boise Aldohol. This is your host, Adam Grahamson and all