1 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:34,679 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. 2 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:38,479 This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're 3 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:43,359 going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But 4 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,359 first I want to encourage you, if you are enjoying 5 00:00:47,399 --> 00:00:52,200 the podcast, to please follow us using your favorite podcast software. 6 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,079 And today's program is brought you in part by the 7 00:00:55,079 --> 00:00:58,640 financial support of our listeners. You can support the show 8 00:00:58,719 --> 00:01:01,880 on a one time basis by mailing a donation to 9 00:01:02,079 --> 00:01:07,799 Adam Graham peelbox one five nine one three. That's peelbox 10 00:01:08,359 --> 00:01:13,319 one five nine thirteen Boise alahol eight three seven one five. 11 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:18,040 You can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters 12 00:01:18,359 --> 00:01:21,719 for as little as two dollars per month by going 13 00:01:21,799 --> 00:01:28,000 to Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net. Well now from 14 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:37,200 August thirtieth, nineteen fifty, here is the Big Crazy. 15 00:01:41,359 --> 00:01:44,359 Speaker 2: The story you were about to hear is true, only 16 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:56,280 the names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're 17 00:01:56,319 --> 00:02:00,480 a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide detail. Thirty year 18 00:02:00,519 --> 00:02:03,879 old woman is missing. Three months passed before a disappearance 19 00:02:03,959 --> 00:02:06,879 is reported. There's not a trace of the woman. No 20 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,680 leed to were whereabouts? Your job find her. 21 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,439 Speaker 3: Drag met the documented drama of an actual crime. While 22 00:02:24,479 --> 00:02:27,039 the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles 23 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,960 Police Department, you will travel step by step on the 24 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,639 side of the law through an actual case transcribed from 25 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:37,280 official police fiolence, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. 26 00:02:37,719 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 4: Dragnet is the story of your police. 27 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:46,479 Speaker 5: Force in action. It was Monday, June. Night was warm 28 00:02:46,479 --> 00:02:48,560 in Los Angeles. We were working a day watch out 29 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,639 of homicide detail. My partner's Ben Romero, the boss of 30 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:53,080 Stad Brown, chief of Detectives. 31 00:02:53,199 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 4: My name's Friday. 32 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,199 Speaker 5: I was on the way back from the Stat's office 33 00:02:56,199 --> 00:02:58,159 and it was ten eighteen am when I got to 34 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,560 room forty two on a side. 35 00:03:01,599 --> 00:03:04,199 Speaker 6: Hi you, Joe, I've been waiting for you. Hi, ma'am, 36 00:03:04,199 --> 00:03:06,319 I'd like to have you meet my partner, Sergeant Friday. 37 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 4: Joe. 38 00:03:06,759 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 6: This is miss Daily, Ruth Day. 39 00:03:08,319 --> 00:03:08,719 Speaker 7: How do you do? 40 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 4: Oh? 41 00:03:09,039 --> 00:03:11,039 Speaker 8: Yes, Daily came in to find a missing report and 42 00:03:11,039 --> 00:03:13,280 her sister, Joe. She already talked to missing persons and 43 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,479 they stand around to see. Yes, Oh, I have a 44 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:16,639 chair man, thank you. 45 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:20,159 Speaker 4: Well, what's it all about? Miss? 46 00:03:20,319 --> 00:03:26,159 Speaker 7: I just started to tell Sergeant Ramere is, ma'am, I'm sorry, Ramero. Well, 47 00:03:26,159 --> 00:03:29,080 it's about my sister, Bernice, Sergeant. She's missing. I wondered 48 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:30,719 if maybe you people could help me find her. 49 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:32,599 Speaker 4: Or what's your sister's name, Bernice? 50 00:03:33,159 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 7: I guess you want a married name, missus James Butler. 51 00:03:35,759 --> 00:03:38,479 Her description would be just about the way I look Bernice. 52 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,439 Speaker 4: Now a twin m where's your sister disappear? Lived in March? 53 00:03:41,919 --> 00:03:44,719 Speaker 7: The first weekend in March. She disappeared on a Saturday. 54 00:03:44,919 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 5: Well that's three months ago, miss Daily. How is it 55 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:48,240 this wasn't reported sooner? 56 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 7: Was anotter effect. I halfway expected her husband to report it. 57 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,479 I talked to him about it when Bernice was gone 58 00:03:53,479 --> 00:03:55,039 two weeks. He didn't seem too worried. 59 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 6: Is there any reason for him not to worry? 60 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 7: Well, there is no way. You see, Bernice has gone 61 00:03:59,439 --> 00:04:02,199 off before. About a year ago. She picked up mont 62 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,159 to Arizona without telling anybody. When she came back, she 63 00:04:05,199 --> 00:04:06,719 said she just wanted to get away for a while. 64 00:04:06,759 --> 00:04:08,120 She didn't want to be around here. 65 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 4: Well how long did she stay away that time? 66 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 7: Almost a month? 67 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,199 Speaker 4: Well, how about your sister's married life? She get along 68 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:13,759 with her husband. 69 00:04:13,759 --> 00:04:16,319 Speaker 7: All right, Well, first five years they were married, it 70 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:18,959 worked all right. Then it sort of turned sour. I 71 00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:20,600 don't know what happened. They used to be happy. 72 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 4: What was the trouble? Do you know? 73 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,319 Speaker 7: That's funny part. I don't wouldn't even know who to 74 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,639 blame for, Jimmy or Bernice. Both of 'em started drinking 75 00:04:27,639 --> 00:04:30,319 a lot pretty heavy seeing me. Around that time, Jimmy 76 00:04:30,319 --> 00:04:31,360 began to get a little funny. 77 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:33,959 Speaker 6: H See, has he ever been violent towards your sister, 78 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,199 miss Dale Emmy? Has he struck her or anything like that? 79 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:36,399 Speaker 1: Oh? 80 00:04:36,439 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 7: No, really, Jimmy's kind of a milk toast character, timid, 81 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:43,240 skinny most of the time, afraid to say boo. Yesterday 82 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,160 I went over to the house to visit Jimmy. I 83 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,240 tried to make a conversation. He just sat in his 84 00:04:47,319 --> 00:04:50,319 chair reading a book. Every time I mentioned Bernice, he'd 85 00:04:50,399 --> 00:04:51,600 kind of look up and growl at me. 86 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:53,079 Speaker 4: I got sick of it. 87 00:04:53,439 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 7: I put on my coat and started for the door. 88 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,079 Speaker 4: He followed me, Mmm, did you say anything at all? 89 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 7: Yes. When I opened the door, I he turned around 90 00:05:00,519 --> 00:05:03,800 say goodbye. We had this real horrible look on his face. 91 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,839 He said it right out loud by his days. He said, 92 00:05:08,519 --> 00:05:11,319 you'd be surprised if I killed her, wouldn't you? You'd 93 00:05:11,319 --> 00:05:12,000 be surprised. 94 00:05:15,199 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 5: Ten am we finished taking a complete statement from Ruth 95 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,879 Dailey regarding the disappearance of her married sister Bernice Butler. 96 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,920 Before she left, we got the business address of her 97 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,160 brother in law, A broadcast and a missing bulletin was 98 00:05:28,199 --> 00:05:30,399 gotten out, and then Ben and I drove Crosstown to 99 00:05:30,439 --> 00:05:32,160 have a talk with a husband of the missing woman, 100 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,319 James Butler. We located him at work in a job 101 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,800 printing shop on South Vermont, where he was employed as 102 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:38,639 a journeyman printer. 103 00:05:39,319 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 4: He was in his early thirties, thin blonde hair. 104 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 5: Light complexion, about five foot seven, one hundred and twenty 105 00:05:45,079 --> 00:05:48,600 five pounds. He wore a pair of rimless glasses. Ben 106 00:05:48,639 --> 00:05:51,079 and I introduced ourselves and began to interview him. He 107 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,199 was close, moud, and not too cooperative. Seemed to resent 108 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:56,560 every question we asked him. While we talked, he worked 109 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,199 over a paper cutting machine. 110 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 8: To admit, it's a little out of the ordinary, mister Buddery, 111 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,279 your wife missing three months, and you actually act he's 112 00:06:04,319 --> 00:06:05,319 been going three hours? 113 00:06:06,639 --> 00:06:07,639 Speaker 6: Did you hear me? Butler? 114 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 4: I heard you. 115 00:06:08,639 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 6: What about it? 116 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:18,879 Speaker 9: Just a minute? Well, you know it's not ordinary or 117 00:06:18,879 --> 00:06:20,240 going away. I'm married to her. 118 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 4: I know my own wife. 119 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 5: We talked to your wife's sister this morning, Ruth Daily. 120 00:06:23,439 --> 00:06:24,959 She seems to think you might know all about your 121 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:25,720 wife disappearing. 122 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,519 Speaker 4: He does. That's right in my way. I got to 123 00:06:28,519 --> 00:06:29,639 get that other side of cards. 124 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 6: Oh yeah, what do you think. 125 00:06:33,879 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 4: I don't know. There's something wrong with him. 126 00:06:35,319 --> 00:06:37,199 Speaker 6: She's got a big grudge for somebody here. 127 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 4: Say wonder what that girl meant? 128 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 6: What she called him? 129 00:06:39,199 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 8: Bashful and about as bashful as a wild born a plumb. 130 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 4: Thinking in my way, I gotta get in there. Yeah, 131 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:53,079 go ahead. I haven't got any spad time to talk. 132 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:54,680 I have to get this order out. I'll only take 133 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,040 a few minutes, if you'll be good enough to offer her. 134 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:58,839 I haven't got the time, and so it's almost your 135 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:00,279 lunch hour. Is it's supposed to talk? 136 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:00,519 Speaker 10: Then? 137 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,079 Speaker 4: Got no time then either? Why don't you talk to Ruth? 138 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,279 She seems to know. Well, let's about enough of this list. 139 00:07:05,519 --> 00:07:06,639 We ask you civil questions. 140 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:08,519 Speaker 5: We expect civil answers if you think this is an 141 00:07:08,519 --> 00:07:11,040 important change your mind. Your wife's been gone for three months. 142 00:07:11,079 --> 00:07:12,639 Nobody's seen or heard from her. It's all right, job 143 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:13,079 to check it. 144 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 4: Now. You can talk to us here downtown. You take 145 00:07:15,079 --> 00:07:17,480 your pick. I have to finish up this batch first. 146 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,160 We can talk about in the alley and back. I 147 00:07:19,279 --> 00:07:21,279 want everybody knowing my business. That's fine with us. You 148 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:25,800 do what you have to do. We'll wait for you. 149 00:07:26,279 --> 00:07:27,839 Speaker 6: Who is aching in an argument? 150 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:29,959 Speaker 4: Yeah? Well, what his big trouble is? 151 00:07:30,079 --> 00:07:32,959 Speaker 6: Maybe a hangover? Once you don't use that. There could 152 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:33,720 be he. 153 00:07:33,759 --> 00:07:35,879 Speaker 8: Had something to do with his wife's disappearing, and think 154 00:07:35,879 --> 00:07:37,319 you'd try to cover what he's acting. 155 00:07:37,319 --> 00:07:38,759 Speaker 6: He didn't seem to camill leave me. 156 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 4: Now, let's see what kind of a story is gotting. Okay, 157 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:50,839 it's this way out back and go ahead. Yeah, what's 158 00:07:50,879 --> 00:07:53,079 a big deal? Have you ever been arrested? Butler? 159 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:53,439 Speaker 9: Oh? 160 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:55,759 Speaker 4: Almost couple of times. They couldn't get me. 161 00:07:55,879 --> 00:07:57,079 Speaker 6: What kind of trouble were you in? 162 00:07:57,279 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 4: He said, they didn't get me. I'm not gonna put 163 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:00,639 myself in out of water. But to find out how 164 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:02,439 your wife was before she disappeared. 165 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 5: Do you know of any reason why she'd go off 166 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,279 the way she did, any reason why she'd stay away 167 00:08:06,319 --> 00:08:06,959 three months. 168 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:07,439 Speaker 4: Without any word? 169 00:08:07,519 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 10: No? 170 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 4: I don't know any rasons about your relatives, your friends. 171 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:12,079 You check to see if she might be with one 172 00:08:12,079 --> 00:08:14,319 of them. I'd call if she was. You never checked 173 00:08:14,319 --> 00:08:15,920 with him. Oh, I think, Ruth. 174 00:08:15,959 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 6: Did you have any big arguments with your wife, Butler? 175 00:08:18,319 --> 00:08:19,439 Other times you disappeared? 176 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,439 Speaker 4: I mean we had them all the time. She bothered me, 177 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,160 she was too fresh. Beat it out of her that too. 178 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,040 You got to give me a little freedom. Me thinking 179 00:08:26,079 --> 00:08:28,160 can take over. Nag didn't tell you what to do, 180 00:08:28,319 --> 00:08:30,439 what not to do, sick of We'd like a straight 181 00:08:30,439 --> 00:08:32,919 answer here, Butler. Did you want your wife out of 182 00:08:32,919 --> 00:08:34,879 the way? What do you mean by that? I mean, 183 00:08:34,879 --> 00:08:37,000 do you know why she's missing? There'd be a lot 184 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:38,559 of reasons, right, no one. 185 00:08:38,919 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 6: Did you kill your wife, Butler? 186 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 4: It'd be silly to tell you that, wouldn't they? 187 00:08:42,799 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 6: Yeah, did you kill her? 188 00:08:44,519 --> 00:08:46,399 Speaker 4: I mean one way, I'll say yes to that. You know, 189 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:47,320 would you prove it? 190 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 6: Well? 191 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,399 Speaker 4: It wasn't easy to understand from the way it started. 192 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:55,639 Our interview with James Butler would get us nothing. 193 00:08:55,879 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 5: We had no evidence against him, nothing to indicate definitely 194 00:08:58,519 --> 00:08:58,799 that his. 195 00:08:58,799 --> 00:09:00,919 Speaker 4: Wife had met foul play, nothing but. 196 00:09:00,879 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 5: A suspicious remark. He was supposed to have made to 197 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:04,559 his sister in law, Ruth Daley. 198 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 4: But once we'd left the print shop and got out 199 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:09,159 in the back alley where he couldn't be overheard, he 200 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:10,159 was full of information. 201 00:09:10,759 --> 00:09:13,279 Speaker 5: Besides telling us that he beat his wife, Butler also 202 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,240 admitted that he'd threatened her life on several occasions, twice 203 00:09:16,279 --> 00:09:17,399 in the presence of friends. 204 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 4: He seemed to take some kind of a peculiar pride 205 00:09:20,039 --> 00:09:22,240 in admitting how violent he'd been with his wife. 206 00:09:22,639 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 5: Ben and I took him downtown, questioned him further, and 207 00:09:25,039 --> 00:09:28,159 listened to him talk. He made veiled hints that he'd 208 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,000 been involved in various criminal activities in this country and 209 00:09:31,039 --> 00:09:33,519 also in Europe, that he was a close friend with 210 00:09:33,639 --> 00:09:36,600 half a dozen notorious Underworld gang leaders, That he was 211 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,200 ruthless and clever enough to dispose of his wife if 212 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:43,080 he wanted to and still avoid prosecution. While we were talking, 213 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:46,000 Ben had James Butler's name and description double checked to 214 00:09:46,039 --> 00:09:49,120 the Record Bureau files. There was no previous criminal record 215 00:09:49,159 --> 00:09:51,159 listed for him, as far as we knew. At no 216 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:53,759 time had he even been held under suspicion in a 217 00:09:53,759 --> 00:09:57,279 criminal investigation. The next day, together with Brian and Lopez 218 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,200 from homicide. Ben and I made the rounds of mister 219 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:03,519 miss Butler's frien and relatives and neighbors. Four twenty five 220 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:06,519 pm we got back to the office. Oh hi and 221 00:10:06,519 --> 00:10:09,519 open my Ben, Joe, what's doing nothing great? 222 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:10,639 Speaker 4: How'd you two make out? 223 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 11: It's a funny setup. To me, I'd say the guy's 224 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,120 are phony. Everybody we talk to, everybody who knows Butler, 225 00:10:16,159 --> 00:10:18,000 they all say the same thing. That's that I was 226 00:10:18,039 --> 00:10:20,799 afraid of his own shadow. He's a milk toast, nothing 227 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,639 to him. What'd you get about the same? 228 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 5: Every housewife around the neighborhood out where they live, they 229 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,000 all told us the same thing. 230 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,159 Speaker 9: The guy's a hen packed husband. His wife laid down 231 00:10:29,159 --> 00:10:31,960 the laws and he follows him psycho. Okay, it must be. 232 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 6: I don't know how else to explain it. 233 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 8: Every time I asked one of their friends if Butler 234 00:10:35,519 --> 00:10:37,679 beat up his wife, they laughed in my face, said 235 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:39,799 he wouldn't even dair case his check on. Beaty had 236 00:10:39,799 --> 00:10:42,240 to bring it home. If anybody got beat up and 237 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,039 must have been him. Yeah, he sure tells a great story. 238 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:47,320 He could make you believe he was a blue bed. 239 00:10:47,399 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 6: Did you get any different answers? It's all over. 240 00:10:49,519 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 4: Yeah one, maybe you want me take a look. 241 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 6: Uh, let's see. Yeah here, Uh missus Irene. 242 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:59,159 Speaker 11: Brady, she's an Animassus Butler. 243 00:10:59,279 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 6: Uh huh. 244 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 11: She said the same thing about Butler, about him being 245 00:11:02,519 --> 00:11:04,879 a real mouse and all. And she told us about 246 00:11:04,919 --> 00:11:06,799 the dizzy things have been doing the last couple of years. 247 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 4: You know what was that? 248 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 6: Four or five times? 249 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 7: She said? 250 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,279 Speaker 11: He just went out looking for trouble, go in a 251 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,639 neighborhood bar and saw some big steved or he get 252 00:11:13,639 --> 00:11:14,399 his face pushed in. 253 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 4: He always picked big guys. Didn't see the mind getting 254 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:18,799 beat up as long as he couldn't sell them. 255 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 6: Oh, not much dot. I guess the guy's ready for 256 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:21,840 the net for him. 257 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 4: Apparently he's got a. 258 00:11:22,919 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 5: Big beef with people who push him around. Maybe figured 259 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:26,919 if he could take care of just one of those people, 260 00:11:26,919 --> 00:11:29,279 he could even up the score. What do you mean, Joe, Well, 261 00:11:29,279 --> 00:11:31,960 missus Butler. The wife, she's probably the one who gave 262 00:11:32,039 --> 00:11:32,799 him the worst time. 263 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 4: He's a little bit off metally. That had make him 264 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:35,519 capable of. 265 00:11:35,519 --> 00:11:37,919 Speaker 6: Murder when he couldn't be. Yeah, maybe the wife poured 266 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,200 it on. He was wrong, wrote him do it crazy 267 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,120 as a cook. That too many movies, mystery book, I 268 00:11:43,159 --> 00:11:48,360 got it. I was side from now. Oh, yes, man, 269 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:54,000 how's that now? When was that? Yes, ma'am, yes as 270 00:11:54,039 --> 00:11:54,320 we can. 271 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 4: But that daddy wasn't. 272 00:11:57,279 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 8: That was a sister in law, Ruth Daily just told 273 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:01,240 me she's part of if Butler murdered his wife? 274 00:12:01,279 --> 00:12:03,039 Speaker 6: And what makes you think sure? Number one? 275 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 5: She says, Butler told her so, he admitted it to 276 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,039 her last night. It doesn't hold anymore water, And the 277 00:12:07,039 --> 00:12:08,399 rest of his stories I don't know. 278 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 8: And any girl says she spotted if she's got the 279 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:12,600 evidence to prove it, what's a murder weapon? 280 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 6: Bloodstains all over? 281 00:12:17,519 --> 00:12:18,879 Speaker 4: Four forty five PM. 282 00:12:18,919 --> 00:12:20,519 Speaker 5: Then and I got in the car and drove out 283 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:22,399 to the home of mister and Missus Butler, where we 284 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:24,600 found the missing woman's sister waiting for us on the 285 00:12:24,639 --> 00:12:27,240 front stairs. She told her she'd been doing some kind 286 00:12:27,279 --> 00:12:29,639 of checking of her own through the house that afternoon, 287 00:12:30,279 --> 00:12:32,080 and going over the attic, she said she'd found a 288 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,559 claw hammer hidden under a loose board in the attic floor. 289 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:35,399 Speaker 4: She said the. 290 00:12:35,399 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 5: Hammer was covered with what appeared to be dry bloodstains. 291 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 4: She took us inside, up the stairs to the attic. 292 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 7: Capul of the steps officers know how it's getting ready 293 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:45,960 to fall apart? 294 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 6: Watch your step here? 295 00:12:47,879 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm all right, go ahead. 296 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 7: Light couldn't right. That's how I happened to see the 297 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:56,879 loose boards over here? 298 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:01,039 Speaker 4: Did you pick up the hammer, miss day A? 299 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 7: Here? No? I started too, but then I remembered about 300 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:07,159 fingerprints and things just where I found it. Didn't touch it. 301 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 6: You want a pencil, Jill, Maybe you can get it 302 00:13:09,759 --> 00:13:10,279 claw there? 303 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 4: No, I think we can see it right where it is, 304 00:13:11,919 --> 00:13:15,080 and see, uh. 305 00:13:16,759 --> 00:13:19,639 Speaker 6: Couldn't be oh bloodstained? Well, it sure looks like it 306 00:13:19,799 --> 00:13:22,000 from the handle here all over the head of the hammer. 307 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 7: I knew it. I knew there was something wrong the 308 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:24,960 day she disappeared. 309 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:28,159 Speaker 6: He looked at this, Joe, I just noticed these stains 310 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,399 on the floor, whole trail of me. See, they'd right 311 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:32,679 for the door we met. 312 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 5: A got the crime lab on, and A have Lee 313 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,159 Jones on the benzadine test on him. What time does 314 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:37,840 he easily get home from work, miss Dailier by the 315 00:13:37,879 --> 00:13:39,000 more about six o'clock. 316 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:40,399 Speaker 7: Don't know about today though? 317 00:13:40,519 --> 00:13:42,159 Speaker 6: How do he means he worked late on Tuesday? 318 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,399 Speaker 7: No? But I wanted to make sure he wouldn't be 319 00:13:44,399 --> 00:13:46,320 home when I came over today. I called the print 320 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,919 shop where he works. He's not there. Called again this afternoon. 321 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:52,120 Jimmy hasn't been seen since last night. 322 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 4: M he in the habit of skipping work. 323 00:13:53,919 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 7: No, it never does. I called every one of his friends. 324 00:13:56,399 --> 00:13:59,639 I know of Bernice's friends too, I call them places 325 00:13:59,639 --> 00:14:02,320 he hangs around. Nobody's seen him nut since last night. 326 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,279 Speaker 4: Since you talked to him, you've got no idea where 327 00:14:04,279 --> 00:14:04,759 he might be. 328 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,799 Speaker 7: No, just like Bernice, he disappeared. 329 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,639 Speaker 3: You're in the statistician's office of a metropolitan police department. 330 00:14:21,759 --> 00:14:23,919 Speaker 6: Have you made the run on this one? 331 00:14:23,919 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 3: Five seven and sixty pounds suspect, his left handed operates 332 00:14:27,519 --> 00:14:27,919 on foot. 333 00:14:28,039 --> 00:14:29,919 Speaker 6: We've punched up the master of the cards in the machine. 334 00:14:29,919 --> 00:14:30,759 You'll make the run now? 335 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 3: Okay, fine, there are many suspects to choose problems. 336 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 4: You're looking for one, thank you? Yeah, this is the 337 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:49,799 one we want. 338 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 2: When you have a choice to make, you want to 339 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:52,559 be sure. 340 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,559 Speaker 5: Tuesday, June tenth, five twenty pm, Ben got on the 341 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:04,639 phone and called around town to check further on the 342 00:15:04,639 --> 00:15:07,200 whereabouts of James Butler, the husband of the missing woman. 343 00:15:07,679 --> 00:15:08,159 Speaker 4: No luck. 344 00:15:08,679 --> 00:15:10,679 Speaker 5: We called the office and they got out of broadcast 345 00:15:10,679 --> 00:15:13,399 and an APV on Butler. We drove downtown to the 346 00:15:13,399 --> 00:15:15,440 crime lab, gave him the claw hammer that we found 347 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:16,960 in the Butler's attic and asked him to run a 348 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,279 benzidine test on the stains. We'd also made arrangements for 349 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:22,440 Lee Jones to run similar tests on the stains we 350 00:15:22,519 --> 00:15:23,679 found on the floor of the attic. 351 00:15:24,519 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 9: Three days passed, Butler was gone. There was no sign 352 00:15:28,399 --> 00:15:30,559 of him. The search was intensified. 353 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 5: Another three days went by Monday, June sixteenth, we got 354 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,799 an answer on the APB, A phone call from the 355 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:39,799 chief of police in Hilario, California. 356 00:15:39,919 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 11: Yeah, James Michael Butler, WMA, thirty three years five at 357 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:45,639 seven and eight. 358 00:15:45,519 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 10: Pounds, blond here Hayes lines. 359 00:15:48,519 --> 00:15:50,519 Speaker 7: He got a North Hankochiet. 360 00:15:49,879 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: Address down there. 361 00:15:50,519 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 4: That right, Yeah, it sounds like the man we're looking for. 362 00:15:52,639 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 11: He's a real word. When Freddy caused a little trouble 363 00:15:55,279 --> 00:15:57,320 at one of the taverns up here last night, kept 364 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:58,879 picking fights with the biggest truck. 365 00:15:58,679 --> 00:15:59,519 Speaker 4: Drivers he could find. 366 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:00,639 Speaker 9: We'll locked them up. 367 00:16:00,679 --> 00:16:01,799 Speaker 3: After his third fight. 368 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,159 Speaker 4: Getter jailed in up all night wild what do you do? 369 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:06,720 Ill shouting all over the places? 370 00:16:06,799 --> 00:16:07,679 Speaker 7: Been doing anything with him. 371 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 6: Huh, he's telling everybody how smart you. 372 00:16:10,039 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 11: Yeah, he said he killed his wife, and nobody's ever. 373 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:12,759 Speaker 10: Going to find out. 374 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,679 Speaker 5: James Butler was returned to Los Angeles, where he underwent 375 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,480 further interrogation in addition to a psychiatric test. 376 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:22,399 Speaker 4: The test showed that he. 377 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 5: Was definitely abnormal, but he was still judgmentally competent. The 378 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:29,000 crime labs tests on the bloodstains found on the hammer 379 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:30,960 and on the floor of the attic in the Butler's 380 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,440 home revealed that the stains were made by animal blood, 381 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:36,679 not human. We questioned Butler about it, but we failed 382 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,399 to get him to even admit he knew anything about 383 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:40,960 the stains. He was released from custody, but he was 384 00:16:41,039 --> 00:16:46,000 kept under surveillance. The week passed, two weeks nothing developed. 385 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,279 Still no sign of the missing woman, Bernice Butler. Still 386 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,120 no definite sign of foul play in connection with her disappearance, 387 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:55,120 no definite sign that her husband was criminally involved in 388 00:16:55,159 --> 00:16:58,080 any way. Considering all the angles of the case, we 389 00:16:58,080 --> 00:16:59,840 were still incline to figure that he fitted in some 390 00:17:00,399 --> 00:17:02,600 he had some direct hand in his wife's disappearance. 391 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 4: We stayed on it. Nothing happened. On June twenty. 392 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:08,400 Speaker 5: Sixth, the twin sister of the missing woman Ruth Daley. 393 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:09,880 He met Ben and I at the office and laid 394 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:11,160 out a plan she had in mind. 395 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 4: She insisted, we try it. 396 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:14,680 Speaker 8: You mean you want to work on his emotional nature 397 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:16,480 and try to get some kind of an admission out 398 00:17:16,519 --> 00:17:16,799 of him. 399 00:17:16,839 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 6: Is that the whole idea? 400 00:17:17,839 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 7: That's it, Sergeant. I know what a nut he is 401 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:21,480 about being dramatic. I know it'll work. 402 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,079 Speaker 4: Its possible. Yah, How do you figure to set it up? 403 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,279 Speaker 7: It won't be very hard. For one thing, you know, 404 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:28,119 my sister Bernice and I look quite a bit alike. 405 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,519 People always take us for one another. You can get 406 00:17:30,599 --> 00:17:32,279 Jimmy out of the house at night for some reason 407 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:34,680 or another. I'll slip in and go upstairs and put 408 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:36,319 on one of the dresses Bernice used to wear all 409 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:39,119 the time. I'll sit there in the upstairs bedroom. Were 410 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,200 just a hall light on, just enough light so we 411 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,839 can see you when you bring him upstairs. I'll even 412 00:17:43,839 --> 00:17:46,680 bring over Bernice's pet cat, she had si of eat. 413 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:48,039 You always hated the cat. 414 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,680 Speaker 6: M I don't know, ma'am. I'm not quite sure about it. 415 00:17:50,839 --> 00:17:52,680 Speaker 4: Or it might be worth a chance. It's not too 416 00:17:52,759 --> 00:17:54,119 orthodox but maybe it'll work. 417 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 7: If I know, Jimmy, it'll work, Sergeant, if you can 418 00:17:56,599 --> 00:17:58,240 just warm him up to it ahead of time before 419 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,920 you bring him upstairs he sees me sitting in that 420 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,000 room with a cat. I know he'll think it's Bernice 421 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:05,640 bond to get some kind of reaction. That's better than 422 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:06,079 we're doing. 423 00:18:06,799 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 6: Yeah, yeah, what do you think sounds like a movie script? 424 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,359 I don't know. It's like she says, I guess we'd 425 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:13,359 bond and get a reaction. 426 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 7: I know it'll work. I'm sure of it. 427 00:18:15,839 --> 00:18:18,039 Speaker 6: Joh, all right, let's give it a try. 428 00:18:20,599 --> 00:18:23,079 Speaker 5: The following night, a few minutes before eight o'clock, Ben 429 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:25,160 and I got James Butler away from his house on 430 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,559 the pretext of taking him downtown for further interrogation. We 431 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:30,799 delayed long enough to make sure that Ruth Day, the 432 00:18:30,839 --> 00:18:32,680 sister of the missing woman, had plenty good time to 433 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,279 get into the house, change her clothes, and take her 434 00:18:35,319 --> 00:18:38,240 place in the upstairs room with her sister's pet, Siamese cat. 435 00:18:38,839 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 4: Then we started back for the house. We've made arrangements to. 436 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,559 Speaker 5: Have Brian and Lopez from Homicide standing by, concealed in 437 00:18:44,599 --> 00:18:45,920 the immediate vicinity of the house. 438 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 4: In case they were needed. Eleven o five pm. 439 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:51,400 Speaker 5: While we drove him back toward his home, Butler was 440 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,960 talking ve but not too relaxed. Was the same line 441 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:55,880 we'd heard before, how tough he could be when he 442 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:58,720 wanted to, the same hints that he was an undiscovered killer, 443 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:01,279 one of the more talent the professionals in the deadly 444 00:19:01,319 --> 00:19:01,839 circles of. 445 00:19:01,839 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 9: The underworld that came from Illinois, originally Cicero. You guys, 446 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:07,880 now it is back there. You have to stay right 447 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:08,599 up on your toes. 448 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 6: Yeah, how long you've been out here? 449 00:19:10,559 --> 00:19:10,640 Speaker 5: Now? 450 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 6: Brother? 451 00:19:11,279 --> 00:19:13,400 Speaker 4: You expect me to tell you that? And wise, the 452 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:14,960 way you guys work, you're not gonna get me on 453 00:19:15,079 --> 00:19:16,519 questions like that one. I'll understand. 454 00:19:16,559 --> 00:19:18,519 Speaker 9: You do quite a bit of reading, Jim, and come 455 00:19:18,519 --> 00:19:21,240 across anything good lately and nothing likely all the good 456 00:19:21,279 --> 00:19:25,119 books they've already been written, Edgar Allan, Poe, Stevenson, Demopus 457 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:27,160 on Go Go. They know how to tell a good 458 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:30,000 murder story. These new guys are wasted time reading. That's 459 00:19:30,039 --> 00:19:31,759 all reading. That's what I like to do, not that 460 00:19:31,839 --> 00:19:34,559 modern junk. Only the best. He takes some of poll 461 00:19:34,599 --> 00:19:35,640 and Stephenson. 462 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:35,559 Speaker 6: For instance. 463 00:19:35,599 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 9: I know those guys, ye sure, I know the stuff 464 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:40,279 well enough to tell you. I got whole pages memorized. 465 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:42,119 I'd like to hear some Stevenson. 466 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:43,400 Speaker 4: Maybe all right, go ahead. 467 00:19:44,559 --> 00:19:47,559 Speaker 9: I have to belign my nature. All men do. All 468 00:19:47,599 --> 00:19:50,599 men are better than this disguise that grows about and stifles. 469 00:19:51,519 --> 00:19:54,079 You see each dragged away by life, like one whom 470 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,119 bravos have seized and muffled in the cloak. 471 00:19:56,839 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 4: If they had their own. 472 00:19:57,799 --> 00:20:00,279 Speaker 9: Control, if you could see their faces, they would be 473 00:20:00,279 --> 00:20:03,799 altogether different. They would shine out for heroes and for saints. 474 00:20:04,559 --> 00:20:07,200 I am worse than most. Myself is more over laid. 475 00:20:07,759 --> 00:20:10,319 My excuse is known to me and to God. But 476 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:12,519 had I at the time I could disclose myself, that's 477 00:20:12,559 --> 00:20:14,400 out of steven See you, I'm a pretty smart fellow. 478 00:20:14,759 --> 00:20:16,759 Speaker 6: Yeah, sure, yeah, you got a pretty good memory. 479 00:20:16,839 --> 00:20:18,119 Speaker 4: I read those books all the time. 480 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 10: Nothing better. 481 00:20:19,799 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 4: This is the house, all right? Yeah, that's right. Well, 482 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:24,880 maybe i'll say you later. Huh, thanks to the right. 483 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 5: Well, I tell you we'd like to come in the 484 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:27,680 house with you if you don't mind, But one or 485 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:28,240 two things. 486 00:20:28,039 --> 00:20:29,519 Speaker 4: You'd like check over, if that's all right with you? 487 00:20:29,799 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 2: All right? 488 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,759 Speaker 9: Sure, I guess you ought to know by this time huh. 489 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:34,640 Nothing I'd hide in that house that you'd never want 490 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:41,559 to find. Come on, let's go. 491 00:20:42,279 --> 00:20:44,799 Speaker 6: Sure and dark got in there a little bit chilly. 492 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 9: Yeah, what do you want to check over in the house? 493 00:20:47,519 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 4: All this one or two things, just routine, Jim. We 494 00:20:49,519 --> 00:20:50,279 won't keep you along. 495 00:20:50,599 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 9: I guess I'll be a little burned at you cops 496 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,240 by now. Huh getting all this roused him? How about 497 00:20:55,319 --> 00:20:58,039 laying out pretty soon? Maybe I am getting a little burned. 498 00:20:58,400 --> 00:20:59,640 If you can prove something on old. 499 00:20:59,519 --> 00:21:01,079 Speaker 4: Jimmy butt, I prove it. If you can't do it, 500 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:01,680 let him along. 501 00:21:03,279 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 5: We're just tying up a few loose ends here, gym. 502 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:09,160 There's nothing to get excited about it. What's the matter 503 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:10,559 if you get your front dorky. 504 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 4: I got it my business. 505 00:21:12,319 --> 00:21:15,519 Speaker 3: You learn not to forget anything can't afford to forget. 506 00:21:21,279 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 8: Yeah, it's quite a big place, you got, brother. You 507 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:24,519 just stay here all by yourself. 508 00:21:24,759 --> 00:21:26,640 Speaker 4: That's the way I like it. By myself. 509 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:29,519 Speaker 9: But I look at anything you can look now when 510 00:21:29,519 --> 00:21:31,079 you throw. I got some bourbon in the cellar. I 511 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,680 keep a big booze selly. You know, all first rate stuff. 512 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,000 It's a manic or nothing, Jim, I thought I heard 513 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,440 a cat someplace? Did you no cats in this house? 514 00:21:40,559 --> 00:21:42,359 What do you mean you heard a cat? I hate 515 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:43,640 the lousy things. I wouldn't have one. 516 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 6: Wouldn't you tell us. 517 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:48,039 Speaker 4: Once your wife had a cat? I think it was you. 518 00:21:48,039 --> 00:21:48,839 Speaker 6: You didn't like it, bunch? 519 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,279 Speaker 4: Did you kill the lousy thing? Got nax and killed it. 520 00:21:52,079 --> 00:21:53,920 The wife of mine used to drive me crazy with 521 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:55,640 the cat hair all over the place, you know how 522 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:57,480 it is? Got an ax and killed it. 523 00:21:59,319 --> 00:22:01,759 Speaker 6: Yeah, and there it is. I thought I heard it, 524 00:22:02,599 --> 00:22:03,559 cause you got another one? 525 00:22:03,599 --> 00:22:05,640 Speaker 4: Now, bother, I'll get rid of that thing. I'll find him, 526 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:07,720 get rid of him right now, umstairs. 527 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:10,319 Speaker 5: I suppose the house makes you think of your wife 528 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,319 quite a bit down in the gym, well, I mean 529 00:22:12,319 --> 00:22:14,599 you spent so much time in it together, you and Bernice. 530 00:22:14,799 --> 00:22:17,160 It's got quite a few memories for you. I guess, huh, 531 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:19,319 find that thing. If it takes all night, I'll get 532 00:22:19,319 --> 00:22:20,480 the accent. I'll find any thing. 533 00:22:22,559 --> 00:22:26,920 Speaker 9: Except here, all right? Maybe down the hall that Bernice's room. 534 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:28,960 She had the cat. What's it doing here? There's no 535 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,960 reason for her could have wandered back in? Can we 536 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:33,559 get more light in this whole way? I can't see 537 00:22:33,599 --> 00:22:38,640 anything cat could be anywhere. What's it doing here alone? 538 00:22:39,079 --> 00:22:40,839 The cat was always with Bernice. 539 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:45,839 Speaker 4: Never left it. Oh, it sounds to me like it's 540 00:22:45,839 --> 00:22:48,279 just around here. Maybe through that door there, you think. 541 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 9: It's Bernice's room. I killed a lousy cat. He couldn't 542 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:51,839 be in there. 543 00:22:51,839 --> 00:22:53,400 Speaker 4: Oh, maybe it's just a cat out in the street 544 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:54,319 now on the side alley. 545 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,880 Speaker 9: Maybe, huh. Probably not even in the house. Take a 546 00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:58,680 look in the room here. 547 00:23:04,599 --> 00:23:09,519 Speaker 4: No, no, it ain't real. She's not there. She's not there. 548 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,319 Speaker 7: Don't hurt the cat, not the poor cat. Jimmy, don't 549 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,640 kill him, not both of us. Don't kill the cat. Please, 550 00:23:19,079 --> 00:23:20,200 don't kill two of us. 551 00:23:20,279 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 6: You go away, you go away. 552 00:23:22,519 --> 00:23:23,519 Speaker 4: You're not there. It's a fake. 553 00:23:23,559 --> 00:23:26,400 Speaker 7: You're not there, Bernie, Please, Jimmy, not both of us. 554 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:28,440 Don't kill both of us. Some kind of a trick me. 555 00:23:28,559 --> 00:23:30,799 Speaker 9: You go away, Bernie, your dad and I killed you. 556 00:23:30,799 --> 00:23:32,920 You're downstairs. You're in the ground. You're deep in the ground. 557 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 4: I killed you. You can't be sitting here. 558 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:35,799 Speaker 7: Please, Jimmy, please, all. 559 00:23:35,839 --> 00:23:36,599 Speaker 6: Right, butther come in. 560 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 4: No, get away, you get away from me. She's downstairs, 561 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:41,279 she's in the ground. I'll show you. You can't trick me. 562 00:23:41,319 --> 00:23:42,359 I'll show it. 563 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:43,839 Speaker 10: I cat, I can't. 564 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 4: Dear God, come on, Ben downstairs. Yeah. 565 00:23:53,799 --> 00:23:57,160 Speaker 8: I tried to grab him, tried to, he broke away. 566 00:23:58,759 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 7: We'll we'll be Do. 567 00:24:03,799 --> 00:24:05,279 Speaker 4: You see it? Love? Yeah? 568 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:07,319 Speaker 6: Good? Drop from the window. He came fast. 569 00:24:08,279 --> 00:24:10,559 Speaker 4: Yeah, not too pretty. 570 00:24:10,599 --> 00:24:14,759 Speaker 6: Huh, must be something. Huh. How about getting the doctor? 571 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 11: He lost the doctors when he hit that sidewalk. Only 572 00:24:19,759 --> 00:24:22,440 one thing left I know called a priest. 573 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 9: In his suicide leap from the top story of his house, 574 00:24:28,559 --> 00:24:31,000 James Butler died instantly on the pavement below. 575 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:33,480 Speaker 4: Afterwards, when the reports. 576 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:35,279 Speaker 5: Were made out and the deputy corner removed the body, 577 00:24:35,599 --> 00:24:37,920 a special detail of men was sent out to help 578 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,319 probe the grounds around the Butler home and also the 579 00:24:40,319 --> 00:24:43,839 ground directly beneath the house. The search was thorough, The 580 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,440 ground was dug up foot by foot. 581 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:46,400 Speaker 4: We found nothing. 582 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 5: Butler's last admission before his death that he killed his 583 00:24:49,519 --> 00:24:51,640 wife and buried her in the grounds adjoining the house, 584 00:24:51,759 --> 00:24:53,680 seemed to be as empty and worthless as some of 585 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,319 the other stories that he told us. The pains taking 586 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:58,519 search for the body of James Butler's wife went on. 587 00:24:59,319 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 4: We found nothing alive or dad. There was still no 588 00:25:02,079 --> 00:25:02,640 trace of her. 589 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:05,839 Speaker 5: Butler's friends and relatives held a modest funeral for him, 590 00:25:05,839 --> 00:25:07,839 and he was buried in a small cemetery south of 591 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:11,400 the city. In Missing Persons Bureau, there were still no 592 00:25:11,599 --> 00:25:13,240 leads on the case of Bernice Butler. 593 00:25:13,759 --> 00:25:14,559 Speaker 4: It was still open. 594 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:17,920 Speaker 5: Summer finally got to an end. The fall season came 595 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:20,480 and went, and then Christmas and the holidays, and then 596 00:25:20,559 --> 00:25:23,839 back into January and February. On the rainy morning early 597 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:25,680 in March, almost a year to the very day when 598 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:28,400 the case started, we got a communication from San Francisco. 599 00:25:29,039 --> 00:25:30,680 Speaker 4: It had come to the notice of the police to 600 00:25:30,799 --> 00:25:32,480 the County Health Department. 601 00:25:36,519 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 8: In regard to your apb of June so and so 602 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:41,720 last year. This is to inform me that missus Bernice 603 00:25:41,799 --> 00:25:44,839 Butler has been a patient in the tubercular Ward County Hospital, 604 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:49,119 San Francisco since June sixteenth of last year. Prently, her 605 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:51,640 case was considered critical from the day she was admitted 606 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:56,799 to hospital. Last Thursday, she succumbed to the owners. Identification 607 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:59,480 was established next to King notified, but no one famed 608 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:03,440 to bury. She was buried at kind the expense I trust. 609 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:07,079 This may aid you an establishing facts pertinent to her disappearance. 610 00:26:07,079 --> 00:26:13,440 Speaker 6: So well, how about that. It doesn't figure it sooner 611 00:26:13,559 --> 00:26:14,480 later you get him off. 612 00:26:14,759 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 8: How would you figure out that night we had but 613 00:26:16,599 --> 00:26:18,440 at the house, I mean we had his sister on 614 00:26:18,559 --> 00:26:20,880 in there, and he thought he saw his wi Who knows. 615 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 4: Suppose he really had himself talked into what he thought 616 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,279 he committed one hundred percent murdered. Yes, he thought about 617 00:26:25,319 --> 00:26:27,519 it long enough, fully convinced himself. Must have worked out 618 00:26:27,559 --> 00:26:28,880 something like that inside his mind. 619 00:26:29,519 --> 00:26:32,200 Speaker 8: Imagine he lived right through it. Figured he really killed her. 620 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:34,640 When he came for the punishment, he's ready to buy that. 621 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:37,519 There wasn't any way out, so young mixed up to 622 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:40,839 and get him. He's too bad all things considered. I 623 00:26:40,839 --> 00:26:42,119 guess he loved it quite a bit. 624 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 5: Well, it doesn't see the matter now, what he did 625 00:26:44,799 --> 00:26:47,200 wasn't much of a chance, he honey, mean, well. 626 00:26:47,079 --> 00:26:49,599 Speaker 4: A girl TV on one side, maybe murdered on the other. 627 00:26:50,039 --> 00:26:57,319 Speaker 6: Either way, she had to die. 628 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 2: The story you have just heard was true, only the 629 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:04,519 names were changed to protect the innocent. 630 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:07,200 Speaker 3: On March ninth, the meeting was held in the office 631 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,880 of Captain of Homicide Police Department, City and County of 632 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:10,960 Los Angeles, State. 633 00:27:10,759 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 4: Of California, in a moment the results of that meeting. 634 00:27:22,519 --> 00:27:25,319 Speaker 3: After locating missus Bernice Butler in the tubercular ward in 635 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:29,079 San Francisco County Hospital, final disposition was made of her case. 636 00:27:29,559 --> 00:27:32,240 Her late husband, James Butler, was cleared of any connection 637 00:27:32,319 --> 00:27:43,759 with her disappearance. You have just heard drag met a 638 00:27:43,839 --> 00:27:47,559 series of authentic cases from official file outs. Technical advice 639 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,160 comes from the Office of Chief of Police W. H. Parker, 640 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:51,839 Los Angeles Police Department. 641 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,920 Speaker 4: Say tuned for Counterspy next on NBC. 642 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:07,839 Speaker 1: Welcome Back. Who could have predicted that playing with the 643 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:11,720 head of a mentally unstable man could end badly? Well, 644 00:28:11,799 --> 00:28:16,119 a lot of people actually, I mean Ben Romero mentioned 645 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:20,640 this sounded like a movie plot, and it's generally a 646 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:24,559 good idea for the police to steer clear of borrowing 647 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:29,559 from bay movie detectives. So if you're one ever wondered, well, 648 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,599 why don't the police ever try anything like that in 649 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:36,440 real life? Well, this episode gives you an idea as 650 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:36,920 to why. 651 00:28:37,519 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 10: Now. 652 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:43,519 Speaker 1: These passage of Stevenson that was quoted was actually from Marcott, 653 00:28:43,759 --> 00:28:47,720 which is a story about a man who kills a 654 00:28:48,039 --> 00:28:52,640 pawnbroker and is subsequently haunted. And this may have been 655 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:58,960 an indication, given the husband's sort of weak grasp on reality, 656 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:03,359 that he believe that sort of thing was possible. We 657 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:06,519 turn now to listen her comments and feeback, and we 658 00:29:06,559 --> 00:29:10,960 have a comment regarding the being Winchester over on Facebook. 659 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:18,079 Alicia writes, chubby, matronly old woman of forty five. Uugh, 660 00:29:18,359 --> 00:29:21,599 my husband just turned forty five, and I'm not too 661 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,559 far behind trying to decide if I should be triggered 662 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,400 or not. Lull old might not have been part of 663 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:32,880 that description, but she sure sounded about eighty. Thanks for 664 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:38,519 the comment, Alicia. You know, I started doing podcast with 665 00:29:38,799 --> 00:29:42,759 Dragnett back when I was twenty six, and so these 666 00:29:42,799 --> 00:29:47,039 sort of descriptions just kind of went right over my head. 667 00:29:47,079 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 9: But some of them. 668 00:29:48,079 --> 00:29:51,279 Speaker 1: I am getting to the point where the old phrase 669 00:29:51,799 --> 00:29:56,920 I resemble that remark comes to mind. Now it should 670 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:00,039 be said that, and there have been plenty of me 671 00:30:00,319 --> 00:30:05,119 of this, and you know photographic evidence that people of 672 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:11,440 the same age and prior generations looked older for their age. 673 00:30:11,799 --> 00:30:18,839 There are things that led to more severe aging, both 674 00:30:19,119 --> 00:30:24,519 environmental and social factors. And they say that forty is 675 00:30:24,599 --> 00:30:28,240 the new thirty, they of course, being people like us 676 00:30:28,279 --> 00:30:31,720 in our forties trying to feel better about ourselves, but 677 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:34,920 nevertheless they say it, and so I will just go 678 00:30:35,039 --> 00:30:39,880 with that and just assume that people were older. Yes, well, 679 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,599 now it is time to thank our Patreon supporter of 680 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:46,000 the day, and I want to go ahead and ninth Kirk. 681 00:30:46,119 --> 00:30:50,160 Kirk has been one of our Patreon supporters since January 682 00:30:50,359 --> 00:30:54,039 of twenty twenty four, currently supporting the podcast at the 683 00:30:54,279 --> 00:30:58,000 rookie level of two dollars or more per month. Thanks 684 00:30:58,039 --> 00:31:00,240 so much for your support, Kirk, And that'll do it 685 00:31:00,279 --> 00:31:03,759 for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us 686 00:31:04,079 --> 00:31:08,599 using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate 687 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:12,519 and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We 688 00:31:12,559 --> 00:31:17,400 will be back next Thursday with another episode of Drag Nap, 689 00:31:17,519 --> 00:31:22,480 but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly. Johnny 690 00:31:22,559 --> 00:31:24,720 doll Or where that motive? 691 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 4: Motives? 692 00:31:26,559 --> 00:31:30,079 Speaker 10: I hadn't told you that Red, Well, the main thing 693 00:31:30,279 --> 00:31:33,400 is that that cutting open the flotation tanks was done 694 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:36,680 with some kind of a nack. I was asking about motive, 695 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,880 and I know that Elmer didn't have any axe on 696 00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:39,759 that boat. 697 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 6: Do you find the ex Johnny, No, no, no, read I'll. 698 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,519 Speaker 4: Tell you what he had in his boat beside his clothes. Well, 699 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:48,319 let's cover this motive thing. He had to anchor, of course, 700 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:49,720 that went with the bull red. 701 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 10: He had a nice new Sila flex rod with a 702 00:31:52,279 --> 00:31:55,599 Mitchell three hundred dollar. He had a long handled neck 703 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:58,319 that he picked up somewhere in LA and an old 704 00:31:58,319 --> 00:32:01,720 beat up McKenny tackle box for plugs and spoons. 705 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 4: On the fiet right. 706 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:06,039 Speaker 10: And that was all Johnny, no ax. That was all 707 00:32:06,039 --> 00:32:09,240 he had read. That bush shore beating around is getting 708 00:32:09,279 --> 00:32:09,880 pretty big. 709 00:32:10,519 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 1: I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime, 710 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:18,319 send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, 711 00:32:18,799 --> 00:32:22,720 follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us 712 00:32:22,759 --> 00:32:29,799 out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, slash Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho. 713 00:32:30,079 --> 00:32:32,839 This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.