 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a juvenile detail. You get a report that a teenage boy has been found in a downtown alley. He's in critical condition. Your job? Check it out. The documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was Wednesday, November 16th. It was cool in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out a juvenile detail. My partner's Frank Smith, the boss's captain powers. My name's Friday. We're on our way into the office. It was 9.17 p.m. when we got to the second floor of Georgia Street Juvenile. Squad room. I don't know, Joe. What? You see a kid like that? You start wondering. Yeah. 15 years old trying to hold up a liquor store. Kind of worries a guy. What do you mean? About your own kids. How are they gonna turn out? Almost of them turn out, okay. Can't help worrying, though. Well, you're a father. Maybe you're better off, Joe, not having the worries. You really believe that? I guess so. Then why don't you stop trying to marry me off? Oh, say that reminds me. Yeah. You know the Phillips? Live down the street from us? I don't think I do. They were over for dinner the same night you were? Yeah. Last summer, Faye made fried chicken? Oh, yeah. Remember? I remember the chicken. Go ahead. You're gonna spend Christmas with us, aren't you? Christmas. Faye told me to be sure and remind you. It's only a month or so off. That's soon, huh? Yeah. Can we count on you? Yeah, if we're not working. Well, I'll let Faye know. What's this got to do with the Phillips? Nothing. Mm-hmm. It's got nothing to do with them, Joe. Why are you so darn suspicious? Which one of them has the sister? Huh? Come on, Mr. or Mrs. Which One? Both of them, for all I know. Well, Which One has a sister who's coming out here for the holidays? Which One? Mrs. Phillips. And they're all gonna be at your place for Christmas dinner, is that it? Well, Faye hasn't asked them yet. She wanted to be sure that you... Mm-hmm. Okay to ask them? They're your friends. You won't regret it, Joe. Mrs. Phillips is darn nice looking. Good talker to her for sisters, anything like she is. Just tell me one big favor, will you? What's that? Christmas is still five weeks away. Don't start selling me now. I wouldn't try to sell you on any girl. Do you know that? You bet. I never even met this one. I was just thinking that sometimes you can kind of sort of judge a person by family and... June or Friday. Where's that? I see. Yeah. Found a kid lying on an alley off Sheridan Street. He's hurt pretty bad. An accident? Knife in his back. Frank and I drove out to the address where the victim had been found. It was a dark alley that opened under Sheridan Street in the block between 5th and 6th. An ambulance had been called and the boy had already been moved to George Street receiving hospital. 9.42 p.m. We talked to one of the patrol car officers who had discovered the body. We're only a couple of blocks away. We headed right over. Where'd you find him? Hey, I'll show you. Right here against that wall. Mm-hmm. He must have lost a lot of blood. Yeah. Knife's still in him? Mm-hmm. Smaller than the back. Looks like you've been beat up, too. Well, he mumbled something. We couldn't understand him, and then he passed out. How old would you say he was? Oh, 15, 16, maybe. Mm-hmm. He's a good-looking kid, about 5'8", black hair, blue eyes, regular features. What kind of clothes? A jeans and a jacket, windbreaker type. Did you see anybody around who might have done it? No, not a soul. The street was deserted. Mm-hmm. My partner's out looking. Now I'll give him a hand. All right. Who filed a complaint? I don't know. I would check the board. I'm afraid that won't help. Mm-hmm. Well, they don't know either. While a patrol car officer searched the neighborhood for suspects, Frank and I canvassed the area for the person who'd reported the crime. 10.16 p.m. We talked to the patrons in the nearby barn grill. They denied having any knowledge of the assault. 10.42 p.m. We entered a small tobacco shop on the corner of Sheridan in 8th. Evening, gents. How are you, sir? How are you, sir? All right. What can I do for you? We're police officers. This is Frank Smith. My name's Friday. Sam Crest here. Mr. Crest. Something troubling you fellas? I'd like to talk to you for a minute. That's all. Done anything I shouldn't? No, sir, not as far as we know. Well, you never can tell, you know. The way they keep making up new laws nowadays, a person can be a criminal without even half trying. Too many rules. That's what's wrong with this country. Too darn many rules. Yes, sir. It ought to be just one. How's that? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Golden rule. That ought to be more insufficient. Yeah. Don't work out that way, though. A man could live up to it every day of his life and still wouldn't keep him out of jail. Golden rule don't say nothing about paying income taxes or taking out licenses or filing social security reports. Well, does it? No, doesn't seem to. But you're in jail if you don't do them. Yeah. A man could live but the golden rule don't make no difference. It makes a difference. Oh, some maybe, but not enough. Have you been here all evening, Mr. Crest? Since upper time. When was that? 6.30. Eat at the drugstore over on Soto Street. Stop serving food at 7. What time do you get back to the store, do you remember? Oh, five out, maybe. And you've been here ever since? Sure. Ain't doubt my word. No, sir. I tell the truth, you know. Yes, sir. I may not get all my government forms figured out right, but I'm a truthful man. Anybody suspicious come in here tonight? Suspicious? Mm-hmm. I'm afraid you'll have to explain that. You see, I ain't no policeman. Folks don't look suspicious to me. They just look like folks. Well, let me strangers then. Sure, lots of strangers. 8 or 10, maybe. I see. Strangers to me, at least, Wade. I don't get acquainted with folks easy. Uh-huh. And comes, buys a pack of cigarettes or some tobacco. Don't make him a friend. Well, now, sir, at most of tonight's customers have been in before. Oh, some of them had, yeah. Some of them hadn't. I don't keep track. I see. Did you hear anything out on the street? Traffic. Folks walking by. You fellas sure ain't very specific. Well, anything like a fight? In front of my place? In the neighborhood. Well, I didn't hear no fight. Somebody get the mixin' it up? Looks that way. Oh, yeah, that's the trouble with this world. People always squabblin' wherever you go, whatever you do, it ends up in squabblin'. Who was it? We don't know yet. Anybody hurt? Yes, sir. Well, probably bung it on himself. Maybe. Were there any youngsters hangin' around your place tonight, Mr. Crast? Youngsters? Teenagers. Well, if there was, I didn't notice them. Kids, huh? Yes, sir. Well, I just don't know what we're comin' to. Thank you very much, sir. Sure. All right. Good night, sir. Say, there was one. How's that? One young fella. He didn't hang around, though. He was in a big rush. You know him? No, I don't think I ever saw him before. Could you describe him for us? Oh, just an ordinary kid. How big was he? Well, not big. He'd come up to about here on me. Probably don't have his full growth yet. All right, see. You recall how he was dressed? Well, I didn't pay much attention, only in the shop a couple of minutes. What color was his hair? Light, reddish, or bondish. Nice lookin' boy. Oh, no better or worse than most. What times you see him? Must be nearly a couple of hours ago, or long about nine o'clock. Come chargein' in all out of breath. Asked if I had a phone. I pointed out the booth over there in the corner. Go ahead. Well, there's nothing more to tell. He run over the booth, made a call. Wasn't on the phone more than a few seconds. Then he come out and left the shop. Anything else you can tell us about him? I don't think so, no. Except that when he was leavin', he wasn't in a hurry like when he come in. He sorta peered out the door first. Seemed as though all the steam had gone out of him. He looked back over his shoulder. Yeah, I see. Dog gauzed expression on his face. What do you mean? Like he was scared to death. While we were in the tobacco shop, we telephoned Georgia Street receiving hospital and talked to Dr. Sebastian. He told us that the victim was in a critical condition and had been moved to General Hospital. He also told us that they'd not been able to identify the boy. We called General and asked to be notified when he was able to talk. 11.31 p.m., Frank and I went back to the office. Homicide was notified. Patrol car officers who discovered the body reported that they had not found any suspects in the vicinity of the crime. 11.46 p.m., we checked with the crime lab. An examination of the weapon and revealed no useful fingerprints. It was a spring blade knife with an 8-inch blade. 12.02 a.m., Frank and I went off duty and another team of detectives continued the investigation. The next morning, Thursday, November 17th, 8.12 a.m. Morning, Joe. Hi. Anything new? No, not so far. How about missing persons? Nobody's reported them. It's funny. You'd think somebody would be looking for him by now as folks or somebody. Yeah, you would. Any coffee in that thing? Yeah, help yourself. All right. It's probably cold by now. Better than nothing. Did you miss breakfast? Yeah, I wasn't hungry. Oh. Oh, you're right. It's cold. Yeah. Hey, Joe. Mm-hmm. About Christmas? What about it? Well, we won't invite Mrs. Phillip's sister if you don't want us to. Mm-hmm. You know, I got to think in the last night, people shouldn't force a guy to get married and raise a family if it's against his best judgment. Well, who's getting married and raising a family? It's just a Christmas dinner, isn't it? Yeah, I bet you know Faye. Well, you know me. I got it. Juvenile Friday. Yes, sir. All right, sir. Thank you very much. General Hospital, a boy's coming, too. Yeah? Can we talk to him? Yeah, for a minute or two. We better get a move on. Frank and I drove out to General Hospital. A doctor in charge of the case was waiting for us in the hall outside the patient's room. Smith's inviting? Yes, sir. Is it all right to go in? Don't stay too long. All right. Are you going to be all right, doc? It's too soon to tell. If the wound was an inch higher, I could give you an answer. Yeah? He'd be dead. We went on into the room. The shades were drawn, and the victim was in semi-darkness. His eyes were open, but he closed them as soon as he saw us enter. I had feelings, son. Son? I'm okay. I'd like to talk to you for a couple of minutes. No way stopping you, sir. What's your name, son? What's yours? Smith, Frank Smith. My partner's Joe Friday. Cops? That's right. Well? Well, what? How about telling us who you are? I forgot. Well... You know, amnesia. Yeah. How'd you get hurt, kid? I forgot that, too. We're trying to help you, son. Not my fault if I don't remember nothing. You know you're pretty sick. Sure. But it's not amnesia. You a duck? No. And you tell what's wrong with me. Who knifed you? Now, what happened? Come on. What's your name? Abraham Lincoln. You guys can call me Abe. All right. We'll find out. Go ahead. What were you doing on Sheridan Street last night? Now, where I was. You want him to get away with it? Who? The fellow that stuck a shiv in your back? Now, who would do a thing like that? That's what we want you to tell us. Hey, you know what? Hmm? It's all starting to come back to me. Tell us about it. There was this black sedan, see? Mm-hmm. Great big job. Yeah. I was walking along the street, sedan pulled up beside me. 12 guys jumped out. Yeah. Told you it was a big job. Mm-hmm. Six of them tried to grab me. All right. That's enough. Thought you wanted to know what happened. It was all wearing masks. I said that's enough. Sure. Now, you listen to me, son. We're going to find out who you are and who stabbed you. Sorry, I ain't in a position to offer a reward. You want your face in all the newspapers? Well, before, I ain't important. I said we're going to find out who you are. Well? Okay, if you want to play detective. What's happened? Tom. Tom what? Mark Cutt. Where do you live? Diamond Street. What number? Parkman House, corner of Diamond Olympic, second floor in the back. I suppose you tell us what happened last night. Guy jumped me. That's all I know. Who was he? I don't know. I never saw him before. You sure about that? Yeah. What do you look like? I don't know. It was dark. Somebody your own age? Heck no. How old was he? 35. Why did he pick you? I don't know. Must have thought I had some dough. You never saw him before. That's what I said. How tall was he? I don't know. Did you get a look at his face? Uh-uh. Can you tell us anything about him? Nope. But you know how old he was. I got a feeling that's all. Yeah. Where do you go to school? Taylor High. What year? 10th. Any gangs in your school? I don't know. You don't belong to one, do you? Nope. You had any kind of trouble lately? What kind of trouble? With the other kids at the school. Did you guys get anything straight or wasn't a kid? Who do you live with, Marker? My old man. Where's your mother? Under a tombstone. Who got in touch with your dad? With Ford. He might be worried about you. I want to bet. We're unable to get any additional information from the victim. We went back to the office and checked the name Tom Marker through R&I. They had nothing on him. 9.47 a.m., Frank and I drew out to the address he had given us. Two-story stucco apartment house, badly in need of repair. We went up the second floor. Must be this one. Yeah. I don't hear anybody. Hang it easy, will you? It's all a pound and four. Marker? Yeah. We're police officers. Frank Smith, my name's Friday. Well, what do you want? Come in for a minute. If you don't, I'm going to fall flat on my face. My head's coming apart in shreds. Kind of tied one on last night. That's so. You haven't got an aspirin, have you? No, sir. Right not. Can a beer? That's what I really need. Usually keep a couple in the refrigerator for an emergency like this. But that kid of mine's been guzzling them again. But I talked to you about your son, Mr. Marker. Yeah? You know, he didn't come home last night. Didn't he? No. No way of me knowing it. I work nights. Drive a hack. Don't get home before five. He leaves for school before I wake up. I see. What'd you pick him up for? He's not under arrest. Huh? He's in the hospital. Hospital? That's right. He was stabbed last night. Huh? He's going to be all right, ain't he? They don't know yet. Oh. We thought you might be able to help us. Help you? Yeah. Find out who did it. You know who your son's friends are. I don't know nothing about them. We don't... Well, we aren't very close. I see. Has he been worried lately about anything? Upset? No more unusual. How's he doing school? Lousy. Well... Always asked me to come down and talk to him. Principal. His teacher. What do they say about him? I don't go. I went a couple of times when he first came to live with me. Is that so? I can't change him. Anything I tell Tom just rubs him the wrong way. So he's on his own. How long has your son lived with you? Three years. How about before that? He was with his mom. Yeah. She divorced me a couple of years after he was born. Took him with her. When she died, there was nobody else to look after him. He had to come back to me. Yeah. I get to get me a glass of water and only take a second. Yeah. Looks like the kid was right, huh? Yeah. About his father. Maybe. She doesn't seem very upset. No. He's got his stuff. He's drinking. Yeah. He used to feel like this when I was younger. Right. He'd go on a bat for two, three days, come out of it, and feel okay. Can't take it anymore. Well, sir, we'll be leaving. If you'd like to see your son, he's a general hospital. Tom asked to see me. He's pretty sick, Market. You talked to him, didn't you? That's right. He asked to see me? No, he didn't. You think so? I guess I can't blame him for hating me. He figures I didn't want him after his mom died. Figured I had to take him. Yeah. Tried to tell him different. He didn't believe me. We just can't talk, Tom and me. Father and son living in the same apartment like we speak a different language. Think I ought to go down to see him? Well, that's up to you. He didn't ask for me. That's funny. Live with somebody who hates you, your own son. Well, maybe you're wrong about him. Yeah, you see it in his face, his eyes away, he talks. Every time I look at him, I can see it. Tom's the one who's wrong. Fair. It's not his fault, but he's wrong. You wouldn't believe it on the stack of Bibles, even you guys don't. What's that? That I love him. Frank and I drove out to the Taylor High School on Grand Avenue. 10.57 a.m., we interviewed the principal, James Wingor. He told us that Tom Market was a poor student and that he was difficult to manage. He also told us that the boy had a good mind and was capable of much better work than he performed. He was unable to throw any light on the knife and suggested that we talk with a victim's homeroom teacher, Miss Nora Rollins. 11.16 a.m., we interviewed Miss Rollins in a small room which had joined the principal's office. I'm supposed to be giving an English examination during this period, Sergeant? Yes, ma'am. It'll only take a couple minutes. You have a student named Tom Marcott. Certainly, he's in my homeroom. What kind of a boy is he? Noisy, lazy, impossible to discipline, similar to a number of the others. He's absent today, though. Yes, ma'am, we know. Did something happen to Tom? He's had an accident. An accident or a fight? Why do you say that? It'll be the first time. Has he had any fights lately? He came to school with a cut lip two or three weeks ago. Does Tom have any particular enemies? I really don't know. There are over 75 students in my homeroom. It's a little difficult to know very much about any of them. Yes, ma'am. How about friends? Who's he pal around with, you know? Nobody in particular, as far as I can tell. No, wait a minute. There's one boy. Ma'am. Arthur Jollett. What does he look like? Well, he's small. He had a head. Almost as troublesome as Tom. Is he in school today? I believe so. Ma'am, is there anything else you can tell us about Tom? No. Except that I don't have much hope for him. How's that? Well, I've asked his father to come in and see me several times. So far he's always declined the invitation. Real. Has Tom badly heard? Yes, ma'am, pretty bad. What was it? Knife wound. No. 17 years ago when I first started teaching, that would have shocked me. I see. Was a very naive young lady, Sergeant. Is that right? I thought all a person had to do to become a teacher was to take the right courses, get a degree in the credential. Mm-hmm. It seems such a simple matter. I wanted to teach English literature, so I studied English literature. Shakespeare, Chaucer, Browning, Keats, Shelley. Yes, ma'am. As I continue in the profession, I discovered that I omitted one essential course. What's that? Judo. We asked Mr. Wingor if we could interview a student named Arthur Jollett. He asked his secretary to have the boy sent into us. Sounds like he's the one who called in the report. Well, must have been with Markott when it happened, huh? Come in. You want to see me? That's right. Come in, son. You're Arthur Jollett, huh? Ain't that who you asked for? Sit down, son. We're police officers. This is Smith. My name's Friday. You have a friend named Tom Markott? I know him. Pretty good friend of yours, is he? He's a friend. You've been with him lately? When? Yesterday, day before? Sure. Where? At some of the same subjects. How about after school? Uh-huh. You saw him after school, did you? Not before last. Last night, too? Uh-huh. Where were you last night? Movie. Well, who'd you go with? Went along. What movie? Double Bill in Hollywood. What'd you do afterward? It's to write, huh? Spend any time around Sheridan Street? Where's that? You want us to show you? Huh? Come on, we'll take you over there. What for? I like to have you meet a man who runs a tobacco shop on that part of town. You kidding or something? A young fellow came into his place last night. So? The way he described him, it could be you. He must be blind or something. Well, let's find out. Come on. Come on, son. Okay, so maybe I was in his neck of the woods. What's the beef? Your friend, Mark, it was around there, too, wasn't he? Coincidence. Yeah. What's the matter with Tom, anyhow? Why? He ain't been in school today. He's in the hospital. Oh. It's a good thing you called us when you did. You might be dead by now. Who says I called you? A man who runs the tobacco shop? Oh, there. Tell it. Well, I mean, who I was calling. All right, Jollop. Give us the whole story now, will you? What story? Come on, let's get it over with. It's about Tom asking him. We're asking you. You want us to take you in? Of course not. It's up to you. Ain't much to tell. Just walking around, Tom and me. Yeah. The fellow jumped out from an alley. He came at us with a knife. Go ahead. Took a swing at Tom. I ducked off. Yeah. Called the cops. That's all I know. Who was it, Jollop? Your guess is as good as Mark. We don't think so. Suit yourself. Tom was a friend of yours. He is. Well, we want to know who stabbed him. What do you expect me to do? Dream up a name? How big was he? Medium size. How old? 19, 20. Tom says he was about 35. Tom ought to know. He's a lot closer to him. All right. Let's go down to the juvenile bureau. Before I told you everything I know. I want to show you some mug shots. Forget it. I wouldn't recognize this picture. Let's give it a try anyway. I'll take it easy, will you? What's the matter? I don't want to be seen leaving with you guys. Is that right? I wouldn't do my reputation any good. Well, you're afraid of? I ain't afraid. The guy who knifed your buddy, is that who you're afraid of? Look, if Tom wanted you to know, he'd have told you, wouldn't he? Tom ain't dead. All right. Come on, Jollett. Let's go. Give me a naturally. Is Tom okay or not? Does that make any difference to you? Sure it makes a difference. It doesn't look like it to us. I'm no squealer. All right. You've had your chance. Now you've got to go in. Come on. You can't arrest me. A boy was stabbed last night. You saw it. As far as we know you're the only other person who was there. Now you figure it out. I didn't have nothing to do with it. Tom will tell you so. Throw me in jail. My old man will kill me. Well, that's tough. I ain't going to take the rap. It's up to you. Okay. Okay, it was Jerry. Jerry who? Longer. He go to the school? Yeah. What was it all about? Tom tried to date Jerry's girl. Jerry heard about her. Followed us last night. I'll get a hold of Longer. All right. Hey, wait a minute. Yeah. Jerry finds out I squealed on him. He'll do even worse to me. He ain't going to find out, is he? We won't tell him. If it tumbles, you can start sending flowers. Jerry's the big man around school. Yeah. What's six foot? Lots of muscle. Lots of shove. Well, that doesn't make him a big man, does it? Huh? He needs a knife. The story you've just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On December 2, a hearing was held in juvenile departments, Superior Court, State of California, in and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that hearing. Petitions were filed on both the victim and the subject. The victim, Thomas Markott, was placed under 24-hour supervision in a foster home. The subject, Jerome Longren, due to a previous juvenile record and the viciousness of the attack, was sentenced to a juvenile correctional establishment. You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department.