 who are about to hear a story suggested by actual events So that no innocent person shall suffer names and places have been changed Autolight and its 96,000 dealers bring you a story transcribed from the front pages of our great metropolitan newspapers a story taken from life tonight's presentation of Suspense Tonight Autolight presents mr. Gregory Peck who's going to tell you the truth about Jerry Baxter a Story of juvenile use of narcotics in the United States today Hey a hap do you remember starting your car engine by a hand crank sure do Harlow I work like a horse Well, you'd work like three horses to start today's modern engines hap But now electricity does it and other jobs like running your heater radio lights and horn Electricity is pretty important to a car. It's vital app And that's where auto light comes in because auto light designs and builds complete electrical systems used as original Factory equipment on many leading makes of our finest cars trucks and tractors why my cars auto light equipped Harlow And that means all the auto light units including the coil distributor generator starting motor and their thousands of component parts Related by auto light engineering design and manufacturing skill it's sort of a family team Hey Harlow right hap a family team working together to give you the smoothest performance money can buy So friends take a tip from me and insist on auto light original factory parts when your auto light equipped car needs replacements because only auto light original factory parts can assure you the balance and perfect timing Built into your cars auto light electrical system right on the assembly line Remember, you're always right with auto light And now with the truth about Jerry Baxter and the performance of mr. Gregory Peck Auto light hopes once again to keep you in Suspends no shut up. I've got the gun They come in this room. I'll kill you. You make a sound. I'll kill you just down the hall now You know, they'll come in here. Come on get do as I say Can't read open the door No, don't get me Get me I want you I gotta kill them all in a sick feeling I Could hear him crying and I knew that I had to try and do something before he started shooting That would be the end then sounds faded away and I Remembered everything that happened as if it was a dream only it wasn't a dream. It happened. All right With Jerry is started at home a mother and father who didn't have time who didn't care next in high school Smoking a smoke that wasn't a cigarette Then keep up with the gang until it was costing him nearly $50 a day To escape reality for a few hours It was all in your newspapers a few weeks ago How they arrested Jerry Baxter and sent him to a correction school for peddling narcotics in the high school yard That was only the beginning I'm a juvenile investigator state of California, but this could have happened in any state. My name McIntyre. I Know Jerry better than his parents, which is bad I got talking to him in correction school and asked him to tell me what happened after he'd been arrested. I Want to talk about it. Why not Jerry go just like remembering what happens when you die That's what it's like when all of a sudden they don't let you had this stuff. Well, I want to know Jerry What do you want to know? Yeah, you go nuts. They tie it down because you want to kill anybody yourself You want to try it for six months then see what happens when you can't get any more you were 16 when you started using narcotics, won't you? Yeah, when did you start peddling? When I didn't have enough money to buy any more Felling high school put me on to someone. I Got all I wanted by selling marijuana to the kids. That's when they arrested you Yeah, you got into a fight here a few months ago. Yeah, do you want to tell me don't kid me that you know I'd like to hear your side. Why did you fight? The other kid was getting out Kept talking about it Sent me crazy. I guess so you beat him up. No He had a knife and I got cut They sent me the infirmary to treat you all right there Guess so I Don't know Why don't they let me alone let you alone? Who everybody just let me alone I haven't been able to locate your family Jerry neither of I They threw me out of the house two years ago, and I haven't seen him since have you tried did you look ah who needs him? He told me a lot more and I got to know him well That's when I was sure that this was a sick kid not an habitual criminal But he'd learned to hate it was in his face his manner It was a furious hate the stuff killings made her that's what I wanted to stop so I took him before the parole board I've been telling these people about you Jerry Yeah, mr. McIntyre feels that yours is a special case Jerry the fact that you gave evidence against the man who supplied you with Narcotics even though we couldn't prove anything against him Still it's in your favor so However, we feel you should know that we don't all together agree with mr. McIntyre your record here hasn't been very promising Let's get it over with The recommendation has been made that you be released from correction school now if we grant a parole Mr. McIntyre has arranged for you to work in a department store in Oakland. I didn't ask a favor In view of the boys attitude mr. McIntyre I know he's got a chip But isn't that enough for you to see what I meant in my report we have a responsibility to the citizen to the community I don't say the boys in courage. Then give him a chance. You know the background. He's lived with punishments all his life More of it won't cure anything. Let's try a little understanding and kindness very well, mr. McIntyre the board will make its decision this afternoon Jerry Baxter was released the following week and after being warned about association with former friends was given $50 to get to Oakland and rent a room I Arranged a weekly report date with him and gave him $20 more for luck He left the correction school at 1030 And five minutes later was in the worst trouble he'd ever found in his life Get in Thanks Go on as far as Oakland sure swell saves me first fair You live in Oakland. I got a job there. I used to live in San Francisco Big hop across the bay. Yeah Do you mind driving fast? I don't mind. I'm in a hurry. Okay with me Jerry sat in the car and tried to watch the countryside flashing by He didn't want to look at a woman. He said that she was pretty well dressed Wearing a reddish fur coat He knew she had plenty of money would have been easy to make her stop the car put her out and take whatever she had Would have been easy But he didn't do it. Just sad That's what he said he did Well, we'll be in Oakland in a couple of more miles I'm gonna stop at the drugstore in the next corner make a phone call. Okay. All right with me Gee parking is getting awful. Look at this. There's a place right outside the story. Oh, no, that's not good It's prior plug. Oh, that's all right. I won't be a minute. You slide over behind the wheel You can drive can't you sure but I it's okay if you get a ticket. It's on me I'll be right back He was alone in the car the keys were in the ignition. It would have been easy If you ever thought of doing it that was the time but he didn't think of it. He said he didn't He was just sitting there waiting for her to come out when the squad car came around the corner and stopped To patrolmen got out Mark son. Yeah, how about moving it work? I don't see no fires There's no place else in the block. It's just for a minute better move it anyway Your car. Oh something in the store making a call. How come you're driving? She asked me to sit behind the wheel stolen. Yeah, better get out kid. What for haven't done anything. Come on I tell you it's not mine ass curse. He's right in the drugstore red fur coat and yellow hair rasker. What's your name Jerry? Baxter what do you live? I'm An oakland address. I haven't got one yet. I got a job. Oh, listen, what do you got glove compartment loaded 38 in this package That's that ain't mine. I never even seen it. Sure. Hey This is for the narcotics squad. What is this that stuff belongs to her? Why don't you go in the store and get her? I was only hitching a ride. I don't know anything about work. Okay. Give me a break. Will you she picked me up? I don't know about a gunner of that stuff Okay, let's go find her manager didn't see any woman in a fur coat come in There I tell you she did you come with me now. You drive this car, right? They brought Jerry into Oakland and locked him up. They kept him there all night I was notified in the next morning was in the office with two detectives when they brought him in The McIntyre how do you feel Jerry sit down? I Didn't do it. I didn't maybe you didn't they locked me up. They didn't give me a chance You'll get a chance. Have you seen this gun before? I Guess so it was in the car. I told you narcotics to just in the car. Yeah, what about this woman Jerry? I don't know. She didn't say her name. I was hitching a ride and she picked me up on my way to Oakland Why didn't you take the bus? Oh? Maybe because like you said I was on my own I was free Anyhow, I thought I'd save a couple of bucks. You didn't tell the officers yesterday. You were just out of correction school Okay, I didn't look we know it was a stolen car. We find narcotics and a gun Didn't take you long to get back to peddling did it. I'm not I didn't Was the woman she had a red fur coat and blue shoes and yellow hair. Why don't you look for her? Where were you taking it? Who sold it to you? Jerry I'm not lying mr. McIntyre But I got a record. They won't believe me. You're telling the truth. I'll believe you Lock him up. We'll check his story Gonna lock me up. I'll take it easy Jerry easy You ever been locked up. I gotta find that woman She framed me You gotta let me find this. She'll tell you I I'll try I'll do what I can yeah, and I wrought You got me. That's all you want. No sense talking to him. Come on Put the gun down back all of you Listen to me Jerry don't try it not even you mr. McIntyre I Mean it you crazy little dope get away from that door. I'm going out You try and stop me I'll kill you is bringing you mr. Gregory Peck in the truth about Jerry Baxter tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills Suspends Harlow what is it course for all that electricity my car? Practically nothing pal because it's produced stored and supplied right under the hood of your auto light equipped car by your cars Auto light electrical system, but all those parts are all those parts including the coil distributor Generator and the starting motor work together like a team Hap to give you the smoothest performance money can buy That's why auto light electrical systems are used as original factory equipment on many leading makes of our finest cars Trucks and tractors you sold me Harlow fine and friends Insist on auto light original factory parts when your auto light equipped car needs replacements You can get them at your nearest authorized auto light service station listed in the classified section of your phone book Under automotive electrical service or at the car dealer who sells your make-of-car or wherever you see the auto light Original factory parts sign and remember you're always right with auto light and now Auto light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Mr. Gregory Peck in Elliot Lewis's production of the truth about Jerry Baxter a Tale well calculated to keep you in suspense He got away And that was all headlined in the afternoon editions teen age addict breaks out for details see page 2 Details a frightened boy ran away. He didn't want to be locked up for something. He said he hadn't done He had a loaded gun and that was bad, but there was something else that was worse Any news sergeant no That kid knows the city is gonna be tough. He knows it's San Francisco to he was born there He's got a gun. He's gonna try and get narcotics. Maybe not Are you kidding? You want a crazy kid running around Lou shooting up the town? No Sergeant Holly Where? Wait a minute. Bannister get this. Yeah. Yeah, okay. Give it to me again Right be right over Bannister got across the bay. We're going over you coming back. All right. Oh, Holly They won't shoot will they I don't know We got to get him We crossed the bridge to San Francisco a drugist on Market Street had reported that a boy answering Jerry's description and held him up Forced him to hand over a supply of drugs. I Stayed with sergeant Holly because I wanted to be there if they found him. I wanted to find him myself Night came and we kept on looking the search Always led us to the South City was narrowing down as we got calls and we knew that he must be nearby Anything in there Bannister? We'll try the warehouse across the street Check in the car see if anything's come in. Okay He's got friends down here Holly has a million places to hide. Yeah, I know it I'm just wondering if he told the truth. What do you mean about that woman? I Got him a parole because I believed in him. So we all make mistakes. Oh, you don't understand suppose He wasn't lying suppose he did hit your ride and it was the truth. It's a lot of coincidence Mac He's got a record of peddling. He's picked up in a stolen car dope in the glove compartment What does that sound like? Yeah, sure Now there's another alley around the side. I'll take a look be careful. It's yelling run if you see him All right, I missed the Mac Jerry. I got a gun Don't you call those cops out there because I feel bad if I had to kill you And I don't want to feel bad. Give me the gun Jerry, you know, they'll get you nobody can get me Why did you run away? I told you I'd help you you would help. I'll give me the gun Jerry I'll stand by you. You trust me. Don't you he didn't believe me when I told you about that thing. You didn't believe me Well, I know who she is now a friend told me she's a friend of a friend. What's her name? Oh, no No, I'm too smart You know something I Think maybe I'm going up that kill myself a dame Oh, Jerry. No, give up. Let the police take care of it. They'll have to believe you now Have a shot one of these Kind of heavy, huh kid. Come on come with me. I gotta go get her then you'll believe me Jerry Let me come with you. Don't go out there alone. Don't start anything. Mr. Mac. I Don't want to hurt you You know I was hoping when we got on the street that Holly or banister would be there But they weren't only the prowl car across at the corner empty I couldn't take a chance not only for my own skin, but Jerry's that'd be shooting so I walked with him I wasn't able to get near enough to grab the gun as we passed under a street lamp I saw his face pale and tight, but his eyes were clear. I knew he'd taken none of the stolen narcotics He hadn't taken it yet We didn't go far he stopped at a rundown hotel and signaling me to walk ahead went up the back stairs. I Remember the smell of that place old and rotten like 306 How come you want your kind of job mr. Mac you should have been something else and a nice guy like you Give me the gun Jerry. Don't do it. Don't be scared. You kidding go open up or I shoot for the door Okay, what do you want you? I'm gonna talk to you. Hi Peggy Hey, you're the kid. Get inside Drop it Jerry drop it move over there you too, mister Here's the loudest pedal to stuff for me mr. Mac Remember Harry Richards. I told you about him his wife's house, too Didn't know you were married Harry Didn't think you'd get away with it. Did you kid? Business has been bad since you squeal. I had to lay low and it's cost me plenty this your wife Yeah, you send her on to pick up Jerry and frame him. That's it smart little punk to find us now dumb I Think I'll kill you too Harry. Oh, sure you I don't know what you're going to do Richards But a narcotics ramp is better than murder. I'll be safe on both counts Jerry You kill him you mister I'm gonna shoot her Stick you both in the closet and put the gun in little Jerry's hand when he wakes up He can explain it all your pals. What about us Harry? They'll figure something's wrong. You got a better idea What do I do? Let this guy go and get sent up for life? No, we're gonna take a long trip by the time they figure it out We can be in Mexico anywhere now go on get packed woman threw things into a suitcase and Harry Richards leaned against the wall Didn't take his eyes off me Jerry groaned once but didn't come out of it. There was a bad cut on his head with the barrel of the gun that hit him Then they were ready He dragged the boy to a closet put him in turned around to me and all right, mister turn around Turn around I said Minister Holly down the hall I try to talk to the boy But he was almost out of his mind with fear And when I tried to get the gun he hit me way off that sound It faded had to get my head clear before they came in Jerry tried to shoot it out with Open up It's not locked. I'm out with your hands up. Come out Yeah, he didn't do it No, you didn't do anything Richards did Jerry listen to me don't you see you're cleared now I can tell them about Richards You're all right. We're gonna take care of you Not in a cell no more cells. I give you my word a Hospital where it's clean and quiet They won't tie you down. You can rest Listen to me Jerry. Don't take care of you When you feel better you can try again from scratch That'll be it won't it Holly Won't it? Oh sure Sure kid. We're not lying That'll be it Mac sure Jerry sure. I got you You're okay We took him with us not to a cell but to a hospital room where he could get rest and quiet We caught the Richards that same night at the airport We caught the Richards, but two days later. I had another youngster to talk to This time a 16 year old girl Her mother was with her and wouldn't believe it when I showed her the marijuana we'd taken from her daughter She'd bought it from a friend in school She told me all about it And as I listened I thought of Jerry And I wondered where it would end tonight star mr. Gregory Peck Today we honor our flag symbol of American freedom and On this day it is appropriate that we also honor an American city which typifies the heritage of our great country That city is Detroit which this year celebrates its 250th anniversary since July 24th 17-1 on Antoine de la Moth Cadillac First set his standard on the shore of Ville de Troyes Detroit has never ceased to progress Here was developed our greatest tool the automobile and From this arsenal of democracy came many of the sinews of defense which helped keep our country free through two world conflicts And as surely as Detroit has achieved in material sense So has it contributed to international understanding and to the cultural and spiritual life of America Auto light is proud to have known and worked with the people of Detroit and gladly takes this opportunity to extend to them Best wishes on their 250th anniversary of their fine city Next week on suspense mr. James Mason in another story suggested by actual events The story of a man whose life was more fantastic than any fiction a story We call the greatest thief in the world presented on suspense Suspense is transcribed and directed by Elliott Lewis with music composed by Lucian more awake and conducted by Led Bluskin the truth about Jerry Baxter was written for suspense by Anthony Ellis from a story by Forrest Barnes and Roxy Roth In tonight's play William Tracy was heard as Jerry and John Denner as Sergeant Holly Featured in the cast or a Clayton post Joan Banks, Shep Mankin, high ever back and Joseph Kearns Gregory Peck will soon be seen in the Warner Brothers picture Captain Horatio Hornblower Oralite standard type or resistor type spark plugs or a light stateful batteries or a light electrical parts at your neighborhood Oralite dealers switch to all right. Good night and remember next week mr. James Mason in a tale We call the greatest thief in the world This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system