WEBVTT 1 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:34.640 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boiseidah. 2 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:39.679 This is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, 3 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:44.159 email it to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, 4 00:00:44.759 --> 00:00:48.880 Follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and become one 5 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:53.479 of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com Slash Radio Detectives. 6 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:57.520 Before we get started, I want to dedicate this program 7 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:02.600 to the memory of Dragnet cast member and most notably 8 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:07.120 the star of Adam twelve, Martin Milner, who passed away 9 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:10.920 on September sixth at the age of eighty three. We'll 10 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:14.760 talk more about mister Milner after the program. Now it's 11 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:18.640 time for today's episode of Dragnet. The original air dates 12 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:22.599 September the seventh of nineteen fifty. In the title The 13 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:23.879 Big Poison. 14 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:36.239 The story you are about to hear is true, only 15 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:40.000 the names have been changed to protect the innocent Dragnet. 16 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:53.719 You're a detective sergeant here assigned the homicide detail. An 17 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:56.799 old couple suddenly disappeared from one of the fashionable neighborhoods 18 00:01:56.799 --> 00:02:00.239 in your city. There's no trace of them, not to 19 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:06.280 their whereabouts. Foul play is suspected. Your job find. 20 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:19.360 Them Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. For 21 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:22.319 the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles 22 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:25.240 Police Department, you will travel step by step on the 23 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:27.560 side of the law through an actual case from official 24 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:31.719 police folence, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. 25 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:34.879 Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 26 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:40.759 It was Saturday, September thirtieth. Was warm in Los Angeles. 27 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:43.439 We were working the day shift out a homicide. My 28 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:46.400 partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Blaine Steed. My 29 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:49.159 name is Friday. Was three forty five pm when I 30 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:52.479 got to room sixty seven to eight missing persons. 31 00:02:53.639 --> 00:02:56.879 Hi, Jim, Hi, where's al next door? I'll be back 32 00:02:56.879 --> 00:02:57.360 in a minute. 33 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:01.520 The phone message for you and the book from your wife? 34 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.680 What is it this time? She didn't say it have 35 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:08.400 been a bad week. Oh, what's the matter? Lou see him? 36 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:14.199 Who our cat again? Kittens? 37 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:16.520 Had to let them them by the time I left 38 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:20.400 the house. Who was a healthy kid? Yeah? And what 39 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:23.919 I'm gonna do with him? Hey, your mother likes cats, 40 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:24.759 doesn't it you? 41 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:26.680 You gave us two from the last letter. We still 42 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:29.560 got him as healthy as their mother. Yeah, never pass 43 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:30.080 up a meal. 44 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:34.560 Hi, Joe Hill, sorry to keep you away, Just getting 45 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:35.560 this report straightened up. 46 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:41.199 Ego, mister and missus Walter Aperson, how long they've been missing? 47 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:44.879 Well, today's the fourth day. They're an notaly couple. One 48 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:46.719 of their next door neighbors got a little worried when 49 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:49.360 he didn't see him around the house. Came in yesterday 50 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:53.719 and filed at three sixteen on him. See Clarence Stokely. 51 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:54.719 Is that the neighbor? 52 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:57.080 Yeah, this is here. 53 00:03:57.120 --> 00:03:59.800 He lived next to the Appersons for twenty eight years. 54 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:03.000 Never known who to take off like this. Checked Aperson's 55 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.400 cottage out there, dirty dishes on the kitchen table. Not 56 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:08.599 the way an old couple leave the house normally. How 57 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:12.240 about friends and relevants, Stokely called him. None of them 58 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:15.400 seen or heard from the abersence for a week. Checked 59 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:17.879 two of their three living relatives, cousin of Eagle Rock, 60 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:18.759 and he's to know Hamburg. 61 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:19.759 I don't know thing. 62 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:23.680 I wonder if I can see that man? Yeah, thank you? Well, 63 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:25.839 how about the third route team, nephew? 64 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:26.519 Is that it Joe? 65 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:27.680 Yeah? 66 00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:30.959 Frank Apperson says here he goes to a private college 67 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:32.720 out near MONROEVI I haven't. 68 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:34.439 Been able to contact the kiddies away on a vacation. 69 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:36.839 Possibly old couple might be with him. 70 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:40.600 Not, according to Stokely, says the Apperson seldom spending time 71 00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:41.319 away from their home. 72 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:44.240 That's all we've got to go on. Huh just the 73 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:45.000 neighbor's story. 74 00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:47.560 Yeah, well, he says he checked the garage too. Of 75 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:48.720 the absence car's gone. 76 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:49.639 How does that die in? 77 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.399 Well, mister Apperson. 78 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:52.879 Hasn't driven the car for the last year and a half. 79 00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:55.879 He has a nephew or some friend drive whenever he 80 00:04:55.879 --> 00:04:56.879 wants to go out. 81 00:04:57.560 --> 00:04:59.600 One more thing may mean something, may not. 82 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:02.079 Want missus Afferson's an invalid. 83 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:05.279 You know, she has left the neighborhood in ten years. 84 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:07.319 Four PM. 85 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:09.279 Then and I left the office and drove out the 86 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.720 interview the neighbor of the missing couple. After checking at 87 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.079 his home, we finally located him at his place of business, 88 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:17.920 a small barber shop at the corner of fifty fourth Street. 89 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:18.639 In Laxford Place. 90 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:22.120 The chip gold lettering on the window read Jim Dandyton 91 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:25.360 Sorroyl Parlor. Smaller lettering in the right hand corner of 92 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:28.560 the window read the proprietor, Clarence Stokely. Except for a 93 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:30.920 man in a white barber's smock sitting in the first chair. 94 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:32.519 The shop was empty. 95 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:40.879 Dear gentlemen, Oh yeah, you clar Stoven. That's right police officers, 96 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:42.480 meter Stope. I'd like to talk to you about the 97 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:45.600 missing person's report you filed yesterday. Oh yes, God to 98 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:46.879 help you find out anything. 99 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:48.920 Yet you know the appers pretty well, do you? 100 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:53.279 Mister Stoker twenty eight years sure worried about Boiler and Kate. 101 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:56.720 Never known him to do anything like this. Say, I 102 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:58.600 couldn't be of service to you, could I? 103 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:01.399 Well, I just had her good few days ago. How 104 00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:04.240 about you, Joe, like you could stand a trim? 105 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:06.199 We could talk it over while I cut your hair. 106 00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:08.800 Don't think we'd be disturbed? Nice to look? 107 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:12.279 Well? Yeah, okay, fine, yeah, I'll take a coat. 108 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:14.199 Thank you. As Jay. 109 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:25.720 M and missus Apperson didn't mention anything about going away 110 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:26.720 on a trip, didn't they? 111 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:30.240 Not a word? That's what makes it so strange. And 112 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:32.000 let me fix this around your next year. 113 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:37.040 Oh yeah, play cards with them twice a week usually, Katie. 114 00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:40.240 A person's a fine whisp player. Want me to take 115 00:06:40.279 --> 00:06:41.600 some off the sides here, officer? 116 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:42.160 Yeah? 117 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:45.000 Please, not not too much though, when did you first 118 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:46.360 notice the Appersons weren't. 119 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:49.879 Home Tuesday night? We thought we might go over and 120 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:54.360 play some cards. I see, got enough off right here, officer, 121 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:55.519 let me see. 122 00:06:56.120 --> 00:06:57.000 Yeah, that's fine. 123 00:06:57.560 --> 00:06:59.600 I was if you waited until yesterday to report the 124 00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:00.560 appers is missing. 125 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:03.680 Wife and I are great friends of Walk and Katies, 126 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:06.160 but it's certainly none of our business if they want 127 00:07:06.199 --> 00:07:09.959 to go off for a few days. Besides, he thought 128 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.399 if anything was wrong, Buzz would have said something. Oh 129 00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:15.800 was Budd Anderson's nest for Bud name is Frank? Would 130 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:18.680 ever called him Buzz? I thought he was away at 131 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:20.000 school placed out in near Monrovia. 132 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:23.879 Yeah, Stanley College, private school, and then he stays that 133 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:26.439 part of the time. It's usually home, Honey. 134 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:29.240 In the week, we were under the impression of this nephew, 135 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:30.759 Buzz was on a vacation. 136 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:37.279 That's so, that's the first time I've heard honey, Walk 137 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:38.560 and Katy would have told us. 138 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:44.439 Boom, sorry, there's a little dumb head down. 139 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:50.240 You think the nephew might account for the air person's 140 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:51.120 car being missing. 141 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:53.639 I think he might have taken it on his vacation. 142 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:57.120 Possible, I guess, But I think what would have mentioned it? 143 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.000 The car was over, but he was particular about it. 144 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:03.759 Maybe sit it out on top here a little. 145 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:07.319 All right, fine, do you know the nephew at all? 146 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:10.199 Pretty well? My young fellow. 147 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:12.759 He got along with his aunt and uncle, all right, 148 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:14.959 just indeed I was. 149 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:17.240 Loved them both. Do you have any idea where the 150 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:21.279 abersence might be, mister Stelphan, No, I don't either does 151 00:08:21.319 --> 00:08:24.600 my wife. That's why we called you people. You don't 152 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:28.319 mean to be Bardinski's, but we're worried. Maybe just a 153 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:29.639 little more off the top officer. 154 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:33.360 No, it's fine, it's okay. You have no idea where 155 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:35.679 we might find the nephew, Buzz not. 156 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:38.960 If he's away on vacation. Might check with the school. 157 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:40.879 Buzz might have gone off with a couple of his friends. 158 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:51.279 There something to dampen that down. Yeah fine, Yeah, that 159 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:54.600 porch lighted theirs burning for three nights and three days. 160 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:57.240 It really kicks up the old electric bill. 161 00:08:57.600 --> 00:08:59.240 Maybe the a persons may have overlooked it. 162 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:05.879 Maybe, all right, sir, that's a good looking haircut, if 163 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:06.759 I say so myself. 164 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:10.679 Yeah, it's fine. 165 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:16.440 Here you go, thank you. Oh, here's our card, mister Stokely. 166 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:17.240 We'll be checking, will you. 167 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:19.039 Bye? 168 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:28.440 Bye, Can I borrow your comb? Barber never combs your 169 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:32.039 hair right, that's not gonna help you. Huh, it's the 170 00:09:32.039 --> 00:09:32.840 way you cut it. 171 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:33.639 What do you mean? 172 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:39.519 He put the part on the other side. 173 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:43.960 After we left Clarence Stokely's barber shop, we go out 174 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:46.240 to the Apperson home on fifty fourth Street, just below 175 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:49.399 Seaboard Avenue. We checked the house from top to bottom. 176 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:52.600 The closets and the bedrooms were well stocked with clothes. 177 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:55.519 None of the luggage seemed to be missing. In the basement, 178 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:57.480 back on one of the covered shelves, we found a 179 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:00.480 bottle of cyanide. It was half filled. In the kitchen 180 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:02.799 we found dirty dishes still lying on the table. We 181 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:04.440 put in a call to Raye Pinker at the crime 182 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:06.720 lab and he came out and took sample scrapings from 183 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:09.120 each of the three plates and specimens from each of 184 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:11.600 the half filled cups of coffee on the table. He 185 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:13.759 also took along the bottle of cyanide to examine it 186 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:16.480 for fingerprints. Ben and I called the record bureau just 187 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:18.360 as a matter of routine and asked for any making 188 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:21.360 warrants on the nephew Frank buzz Afersen R and I 189 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:23.679 called back with the information that Frank Aperson had been 190 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:27.000 arrested for grand theft auto six weeks before his trial 191 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:30.519 was pending. We checked back with the barber, Clarence Stokely, 192 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:33.759 he knew nothing about the trouble. The next morning, Sunday, 193 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:36.919 with the help of school authorities at Stanley College near Monrovia, 194 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:38.799 we got in touch with the parents of two of 195 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:42.000 buzz Aperson's friends. They told us, as far as they knew, 196 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:44.759 Aperson was on a camping trip with their sons. They 197 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:47.799 were expected back in the next day around noontime. From 198 00:10:47.799 --> 00:10:50.039 one of the boarding students at Stanley College, we got 199 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:53.360 the name of buzz Averson's girlfriend, of missus Norma Louise Bernard. 200 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:56.519 She lived in San Marino. Sunday night, we drove out 201 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:57.080 to interviewer. 202 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:00.639 I don't know what I can tell you, Sergeant. Buzzy's 203 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:02.679 on a camping trip with two of the fellas from school. 204 00:11:02.679 --> 00:11:03.240 That's all I know. 205 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:04.480 When did he leave? Do you know? 206 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:05.080 Miss nine? 207 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:07.279 Last Monday morning they left from school, said they'd be 208 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:09.279 gone for a week. They're coming back tomorrow. 209 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:11.799 You know a buzz Aferson pretty well? 210 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:14.360 Yes, I do, as well as anyone I guess what 211 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:14.720 is he? 212 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:15.799 Just a casual date? 213 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:18.000 Oh, Buzzy and I've been going steady for almost a 214 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:18.519 year now. 215 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:20.360 I see how old are you? 216 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.399 I'm nineteen. 217 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:24.399 Have you ever met the apersons? His aunt and his. 218 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:25.360 Uncle just once? 219 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:26.440 They're awfully sweet. 220 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.799 How did Buzz get along with him? 221 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:28.039 You know? 222 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:28.720 Well? 223 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:31.679 Fine, I guess the only argument Buzz ever told me 224 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:34.519 about was a month ago he wanted more allowance and 225 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:35.320 his uncle said no. 226 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:38.840 Was Buzz ever in any trouble to your annollege, Miss Vernine? 227 00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:41.120 I don't think I know what you mean. What kind 228 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:41.559 of trouble? 229 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:43.200 Well, I mean, was he ever in any trouble at 230 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:44.840 the college or with a law in any way? 231 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:49.320 Oh you mean that car Buzz took about two months ago. Yeah, 232 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:51.360 we were supposed to go to this school dance and 233 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:53.720 Buzz didn't have a car. I guess he was ashamed. 234 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:56.360 He said he knew the fella he borrowed the car from. 235 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:58.440 But the day after the dance the cops came. 236 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:01.279 How did his uncle react, Well, there was a. 237 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:04.879 Terrible row, Buzz said, I really shouldn't be telling you 238 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:06.000 Bud Masby's promise. 239 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:09.440 How were feelings between the boy and his uncle before 240 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:10.120 he left on the trip. 241 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:11.399 Did he mentioned anything to you about that? 242 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:15.440 Well, we had a date last Sunday night. I asked 243 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:17.120 him how things were at home. He didn't seem to 244 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:18.039 want to talk about it. 245 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:20.480 Last time you saw him was Monday morning? 246 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:23.320 All right, Yes, just before he left on the camping trip. 247 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:24.720 And you're sure he went on that trip? 248 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:28.000 Well, of course, I'm sure. How do you mean, he said, No, 249 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:30.000 matter who asked you, I went on a camping trip, 250 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:31.320 he said it a couple of times. 251 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:32.519 Do you offer any explanation? 252 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:34.519 No, but I knew everything was all right. 253 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:36.840 Oh? Was that so I could tell? 254 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:37.919 Wade kissed me. 255 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:45.960 The next morning, Monday? Then and I checked with missing persons. 256 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:49.000 There was no additional information on the missing couple. We 257 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:51.559 phoned the barber, Clarence Stokely, he had seen or heard 258 00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:54.639 nothing further of mister and missus. Apperson went down to 259 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:56.559 the bank where the Apersons had their account. 260 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:58.600 With the help of the manager, we found. 261 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:00.879 That three checks had been passed on the apperson Checking 262 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:03.919 accounts since the previous Wednesday, a full day after the 263 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:06.840 missing cup had been last seen. One check was for 264 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:09.200 one hundred dollars and two for fifty dollars each. 265 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.279 All of them had. 266 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:12.440 Been cashed in Los Angeles and all bore the signature 267 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:16.440 Walter Apperson. After examination was found each signature had been 268 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:21.440 carefully forged. Ten forty five am went back to the office. 269 00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:25.279 Hire you too, going sumblers? Oh hi, Ray, now just coming? 270 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:27.559 You finished checking it stuff as a crime man? 271 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:30.159 Yeah, I was passing over this way. I thought i'd 272 00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:32.399 drop off the report for you. Got it right here? 273 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:32.879 How to go? 274 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:37.080 Finger Prints on that bottle of cyanide Latin prince gotta make. 275 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:40.600 Here's the name on it. Frank was Aperson. 276 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.399 You look over those dirty dishes we found in the 277 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:45.559 Aperson house, checked them through nothing. 278 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:47.799 How about the samples you took from those cups. 279 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:49.759 Whoever drank that cuffee is in trouble. 280 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:50.480 It's loaded. 281 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:52.480 Yeah, enough sinid to kill a horse. 282 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:05.919 You are listening to Dragnet the case history of a 283 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:12.840 police investigation presented in the Public Interest. 284 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:16.600 Monday, one pm. 285 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:19.600 We obtained a specimen of Frank buzz Aferson's signature and 286 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:21.960 we had Don Myers and handwriting check it out against 287 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:25.480 the signatures on the three checks. Both styles of handwriting 288 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:29.600 matched in every detail. At one thirty pm, the parents 289 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:31.919 of buzz Aperson's two friends called to tell us that 290 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:35.200 their sons were back from their camping trip. We checked 291 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:37.799 the Aperson home. The nephew wasn't there. We drove out 292 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:40.440 to see his two friends. Under questioning, one of them 293 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:42.879 finally broke and admitted that buzz Aferson had not gone 294 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:45.360 with him on the camping trip. In the process of 295 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:47.200 questioning the boys, one of them told us that he 296 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:49.200 had been with a suspect two days before the trip 297 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:51.840 when he purchased some medicine at the campus drug store. 298 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:54.480 We went to the drugstore and checked the prescription book. 299 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:57.279 It showed Frank buzz Aferson had purchased and signed for 300 00:14:57.320 --> 00:14:59.639 a bottle of cyanide two days before the disappearance of 301 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:02.399 his ants. Uncle Ben and I drove back to the 302 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:05.840 Apperson house. When we arrived, the officers on steakeout had 303 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:06.720 the boy in custody. 304 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:11.120 No, I'm sorry, officers, I wish I could help you out, 305 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:13.440 but well, maybe it's not as bad as you think. 306 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:16.200 When did you last see your aunt and uncle Monday 307 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:18.320 before I left on the camping trip. You in the 308 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:20.679 habit of going off like this other? Oh? Sure, Aunt 309 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:22.799 Kate and Uncle Walter have friends all over. They go 310 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.840 on trips all the time. 311 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:24.279 Is that so? 312 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:24.279 So? 313 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:27.600 How do they get there? They drive, both of them. 314 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:30.799 They've been driving for years. Talk to your uncle's friend, 315 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:33.639 mister Stokely next door. He says, your aunt and uncle, 316 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:35.159 I haven't been driving for least a year and a half. 317 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:39.080 Stokely the barber. He's one of the neighborhood cranks. Sergeant, 318 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:42.399 anybody around here can tell you that mind's everybody's business 319 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:44.720 but his own. You don't seem too worried about your 320 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:47.720 aunt and uncle. I think they're all right. Well, we'dn't 321 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:49.639 heard by now if they weren't, don't you think, sir? 322 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:53.240 They probably took off on a trip that's just about 323 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.159 the size of it. I think. 324 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:58.720 How about this trip of yours, sir, Well, this camping 325 00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.919 trip that you just come from. 326 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:02.799 Oh, a couple of fellas from school. We went camping 327 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:05.639 up by Big Bear for a week. Pretty good fishing 328 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.000 for September. You ever been up there? 329 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:08.000 Yeah? 330 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:11.159 Have you for sure? I just said that's where we've 331 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:16.000 been camping. So I'm a little thirsty. There's a couple 332 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:18.000 of bottles of ale and the refrigerator. Care for a bottle? 333 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:21.919 Would you mind if I had one? Sure could use it? 334 00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:23.159 No, you go right ahead? Would you talk? 335 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:27.559 In the kitchen places in kind of a mess, so 336 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:28.919 I'll have to go in clean it up. 337 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:31.440 You your rent usually leave in a hurry like that. 338 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:35.200 Not usually no dishes all over the place. She probably 339 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:37.200 figured she'd wait till she got back to clean up. 340 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:44.600 Aunt Kate does things like that once in a while. 341 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:52.080 That's him. Yeah, she's like that sometimes. Well happy days? 342 00:16:52.320 --> 00:17:01.399 Yeah, okay, Buzz, you want to tell us where are they? 343 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:02.840 Your aunt and uncle? What happened? 344 00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:03.759 Say? 345 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.920 I don't think I know what you're talking about. What's 346 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:06.400 the trouble? 347 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:08.640 Come on, Buzz, you know what the trouble is. Let's 348 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:11.599 have a straight story. I'm gonna save a lot of time, sir. 349 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:14.079 We can draw it out as long as you lie. 350 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.960 It be a lot easier if you co operate. 351 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:19.200 Look, I don't know what you're thinking, sergeant, but whatever 352 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:21.279 it is, I don't understand you. What are you getting at? 353 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.279 Something's happened to your aunt and uncle. We're pretty sure 354 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:25.160 you know what it is. Well, how could I I've 355 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.440 been away in this camping trip. 356 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:28.079 You've been away, but not on a camping trip. 357 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:30.920 Sir. We've checked you out from the day you came 358 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:33.279 to live with your aunt and uncle. Boy, you're gonna 359 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:35.839 make us spell out the whole record. Boy, But I've 360 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:38.640 been away. I just got back. I don't know what's happened. 361 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:40.839 We found a bottle of cyanide in the basement covered. 362 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.079 Your fingerprints are all over it. 363 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:44.480 Well, sure that figures. We use it for bug poison 364 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:46.000 in the garden. I take care of the garden. I 365 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:48.599 use it all the time, use it in coffee, sir. 366 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:50.720 The police chemist checked what was left, and two of 367 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:53.240 the cups that were on the table there cyanide in 368 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:53.599 both of them. 369 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:54.759 And have to kill six people. 370 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:58.640 Hell, look, boy, we've talked to your neighbors, your teachers, 371 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:01.400 your girlfriend Norma, those two pals you were supposed to 372 00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:01.960 go camping with. 373 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:03.519 Now we can drag all of them out if we 374 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.839 have to. They're going to make a liar on. 375 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:07.319 You, Sir. I think you got it the first time. 376 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:10.279 Well, there couldn't be any cyanide in those cups. Why 377 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:12.440 should there be? We think you didn't tell us that. 378 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:15.079 But I can't. I don't know anything about this. I 379 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:17.359 have any idea what you're talking about it? Is this 380 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:19.839 some kind of a gag? You know better than men? 381 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:23.759 How about those checks buzz, sir, the ones you forged 382 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:25.559 your uncle's signature on. You need the money? 383 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.000 That bad? 384 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:28.720 I didn't forge any checks. I was away on a 385 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:31.599 camping trip. David Willie were with me. They can tell 386 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:33.519 you you've got in a row with your uncle. 387 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:35.240 Maybe about that stolen cars. 388 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:37.000 That how it happened, It had nothing to do with it. 389 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:39.359 I want to see Norma. I want to talk to 390 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:40.559 David Willy. They'll tell you. 391 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:43.480 How about the man at the campus drugst Sir, when 392 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:45.279 you bought the cyanide from you? Want to talk to 393 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.680 him too? 394 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:46.359 Look? 395 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:48.799 Are you two fellas kidding me? This must be some 396 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.839 kind of a gag. 397 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:52.079 Is it your aunt and uncle are missing? There's evidence 398 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:53.720 of foul play? Now does that sound like a joke? 399 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:56.839 Well? How should I know where they are? I wasn't there. 400 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:00.279 I want to talk to Norma. I want to see 401 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:03.119