Original subtitles

Ladies and gentlemen,

the story you are about to see is true.

The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

It was Saturday, April 9.

We were working the day watch out of Intelligence Division.

The boss is Captain Hamilton. My partner's Frank Smith. My name's Friday.

It was 7:29 p.m. The second floor of the Old City Jail Building.

The Crime Lab.

That'll do it, Ray. We know he's dead.

What have you got on him, Jim? Looks like a gangland killing. Joe.

Miller Starkie. W.M.A. 44. L.A. number 106484.

He's an ex-con.

"Bookmaker, gambler, procurer. No known legitimate occupation."

One of his last jobs was collecting bad checks for Vegas. It's not in the book yet.

What have you got, Ray?

One impression, right foot. Size nine and a half.

Wide last. Rubber heal. What appears to be a metal cleat on the toe.

- Only got the one? - The rest weren't good enough to lift. Ground was too hard.

- Can you make him on that? - When you find the shoe.

- How 'bout the shells? Anything on them? - 12-gauge Western, 4 empties.

It's a double-barrel or two guns were used.

You can see by these blowups that two of the shells the firing pin hits off center.

You can see better in this one.

- That's about it? - All except the other man.

- You figure two? - That's right.

What can you tell us about him? Nothing, but he was there.

According to the physical evidence, two men, one of them the victim,

entered the field near Loma Vista and Third Avenue. They proceeded diagonally.

Another man entered from up here, Wentworth and Rachel.

He proceeded in a straight path to that small hill.

The victim had nice friends. He was ambushed.

What about the stuff found on the body?

Key ring.

$57 in cash.

Pocket comb.

Ticket to the Art Aragon fight. Looks like a phone number on the back.

Hollywood 3-3449.

Tilden? We'll run it down.

What do you think, Jim? These are his friends.

"Bernard Wall. Reputed leader West Coast organization.

"Answers only to the syndicate. Narcotics and bookmaking.

Old-time rum-runner. No known legitimate occupation."

If it was for business reasons, you can bet it cleared through him.

"- Max Troy. - " High up in the West Coast operation.

Close associate of Bernard Wall. #1 muscle man. A killer.

Claims he's a sick man. No known legitimate occupation.

Think he pulled the string? He knows how.

There's some more who might qualify.

Lee Reinhard.

Wesley Cannon.

Chester Davitt.

Walker Scott.

Check it out. For the past five years, over 50 arrests, two convictions.

Pick your charge. C.C.W., bookmaking, procuring,

narcotics, murder, A.D.W., rape and extortion.

One of these four, huh? Maybe.

Unless Troy sent for an out-of-state killer.

I've got a copy of your book. Sixty-one men in here.

Most of them have been up on the same charges. What makes this half dozen special?

They're the first team. Anybody gets in trouble, they squeeze 'em.

You run intelligence. You keep tabs on these boys. Yeah.

What about the victim? You think Starkie was in trouble?

He was at 4:00 this afternoon.

Saturday, April 9, 7:48 p.m.

An immediate meeting was called by the Chief of Police W.H. Parker.

It was over at 8:05.

Present at the meeting were District Attorney S. Ernest Roll;

Chief of Detectives Thad Brown;

Capt. R.A. Lohrman, Homicide Division;

the working team out of Sergeants Jack Gotch and William Tilden;

Capt. James E. Hamilton, Intelligence Division.

All days off were cancelled. Officers in the divisions concerned placed on standby.

Homicide Division was in charge of the investigation.

It appeared to be a gangland killing.

Since procuring and cataloging of information concerning this type of criminal subject...

is the sole responsibility of the Intelligence Division,

we were directed to work with Homicide.

8:55 p.m. As a result of our preliminary investigation,

it was decided that all suspects and their known associates be brought in for questioning.

Arrests were made quickly in order to avoid possible collusion.

To insure maximum privacy, one floor of one of the city's larger hotels...

was secured for interrogation purposes.

Frank and I were assigned to pick up Max Troy.

It was 9:07 when we arrived at the hotel.

The suspect was sullen and uncooperative.

Twice on the way in he requested we stop so he could make telephone calls.

We refused.

Deputy District Attorney Adolph Alexander...

was assigned by the District Attorney's office in charge of the interrogation.

We were told to question Max Troy in room 312.

I asked Alexander if there was any further word on the missing suspect Chester Davitt.

Got his house staked. Bringing his wife in for questioning.

About ready to have a go at Lee Reinhard.

Want a match?

All right, state your true name. Lee Reinhard.

Address. 1623 Fargo Place.

Maxie!

Belle, you all right, honey? Yeah, I'm fine.

You're out of line draggin' him up here! He's sick! See the X rays on Starkie?

You know Maxie's only got half a stomach.

How'd you like to be held together with platinum wire?

- I can't afford it. - You got a smart mouth.

Maxie's sick. Trying to stay alive on baby food!

Don't worry, Belle. Most babies do.

All right, Mrs. Davitt.

What've you got there? Letters, tax reports. Got 'em at his place.

In here, Troy.

Coroner's report. Yeah? What've you got?

Shotgun, extreme close range.

Recovered 28 pellets, Double-O.

Starkie was hit four times. First two cut him in half.

Second two turned him into a crowd.

Flight ticket found on the body. On the back.

It's the phone number of the Red Spot Grill. Troy's place.

Ties in. Starkie must've got out of step somewhere along the line.

We're in the right neighborhood. And if our theory's right, we know who.

Find out why, and we're in business. Give it a try.

This gonna take long? You got the time.

Mine's worth money! Yours isn't. Send in a bill.

I asked you a question. You're here to answer 'em, not ask 'em.

Cop, I pay your salary. Sit down. I'm gonna earn it!

You already have. What do they pay you? Forty cents an hour?

You sit down!

That badge pays $464 a month. That's what the job's worth. I knew that when I hired on.

$67.40 comes out for withholding, $27.84 for pension...

and 12 bucks for widows and orphans.

That leaves me $356.76. That badge is worth $1.82 an hour.

So just settle back 'cause I'm gonna blow about 20 bucks of it now!

This is the statement taken from Max Troy in room 312 of the Crown Regent Hotel,

April 9, 9:55 p.m.

Frank Smith, Joe Friday.

Put your own name in, will ya, Ken?

State your true name.

State your true name!

- You know my name. - Tell us anyway.

- Max Troy. - Full name.

That's it. You've got a middle name, haven't you?

- Yeah, but I never use it. - We do.

Max Edward Troy. Your address.

- Where do you live? - You've got it. You picked me up.

You've been through this. Answer the questions.

Ask me something you don't know. All right. Where's Miller Starkie?

I heard he was dead. You heard why?

Bled to death.

- Starkie was a friend of yours. - I got a lot of friends.

- Where're you working? - You know I can't work.

How do you get by? I make a dollar here and there.

- Pin it down. - Look, I'm paying taxes!

Yeah, sure you are! $48.00. $74.28.

$61.00. And you're driving a Cadillac Fleetwood.

- Now who's lying to who? - I got a good tax man.

Listen. A man was murdered at 4:00 this afternoon. You're in it up to your ears.

Don't sit there and try to sell us cute answers. Sit down!

I want to get the ashtray. You already got one. Let's try it again.

What did Miller Starkie do to get himself killed? Run out of luck.

You want to know what I think? Yeah, we'd like to know.

You know about Starkie. He had hound blood. Ran with every dame in town.

Him married and a lot of them married too.

Marie knew all about them other dames, and her such a fine dame herself.

I'm gonna admit this to you. I called Marie up after I heard about this.

Poor dame came all unglued. Must've cried for ten minutes.

I didn't know what to tell her, but I can tell you. Dig into it.

All those dames' husbands and Starkie taking part of the action.

Or one of the dames herself. They get sore too, you know.

That's all there is about Starkie. He knocked on a wrong door.

He was found dead in a field. They could've dumped him there.

He said good-bye there, cut apart with a shotgun.

- A lot of people know how to use a shotgun. - You boys invented it.

- All right, somebody wanted to make sure. - Yeah, they killed him twice.

Keep your seat.

Tell me something, Troy. Where'd you sleep last night?

I'm a sick man. I'm always home.

- Miller Starkie. When's the last time you saw him? - A couple of months ago.

- Where? - I don't know. The racetrack maybe.

- You haven't seen him, talked to him since? - No. I saw him at the track.

- When? - I told you. A couple of months ago.

- Pin it down. - All right!

I saw him at the $10.00 window. Third race. Dorothy "B" won. Paid $6.40.

That's the last I heard of Miller Starkie.

You're a liar.

It's your machine.

Listen, big money, before you get out of here, you're gonna pick a base.

You're gonna stop runnin' between third and home. I'm trying to help.

I know you're a liar. You've been in touch with Starkie this week.

Prove it. Read it.

Why? Read it! Leave it alone. Just read it.

I read it. What's it say?

What's it say? It's a ticket. A fight ticket.

What fight? When? Art Aragon. How do I know? It's on there.

Then you oughta be able to read it. April 4.

- What's that on the back? - Looks like a phone number.

- That's right. Whose? - Not mine.

- Could be the Red Spot. - Yeah, that's what it is.

- What was Starkie doin' with it? - Maybe he liked to eat there.

So do you. The price is right. You've got half the place.

- Fred Kemp owns it. - That's on the liquor license. But you got half the play.

Sure. With the license in his name.

You're a loser. With your record, you can't get a permit to breathe.

- You're full of rumors. - When's the last time you talked to Miller Starkie?

- I told you. A couple of months ago. - Explain the fight ticket.

-Why? It don't prove anything. -You get calls there. He called within the last five days.

- That doesn't mean a thing. - Puts you closer to him than 60 days.

- You say two months. We say five days. - You got nothing to show.

Somebody was in that field with Starkie. You're five days closer than anybody in town.

Let me put you on the right street. I came to help you, but you won't let me.

You won't get off my back so I'm gonna tell you.

You got nothing to take to court. You got a phone number. It don't prove up.

I can write down Eisenhower and it don't prove up for 20 cents.

That's all the evidence you got. Take it downtown and they won't let you in the washroom.

Now get off my back, and hand me that ashtray!

You got the Cadillac. Drive over and get it.

10:00 p.m. We stayed at it.

We asked him again about the Red Spot Grill.

We questioned him about Chester Davitt, Walker Scott, Lee Reinhard,

the other hoodlums that Troy was known to associate with.

It went slow.

2:00 a.m. The interrogation went on.

His answers became more evasive.

Slop. Huh?

If you've gotta eat sardines, why don't you find a closet =?

Let's go over it again.

No more. You got all you're gonna get. Type it up and go home.

You got no right to keep me. You know I got trouble.

- We'll have the doctor look. - No jail house quack's gonna look at me!

He won't mind. Why was Miller Starkie killed?

I'm tired. You two talk it over. I've been here four hours.

I'm checkin' out. I'm not talkin' to you anymore.

All right. We're through.

I don't mind talking to you guys, but four hours is a long time.

Sorry I blew up. It's your job, but you lean on a guy you get him mixed up.

I can't help you on this, but if I hear any rumbles, I'll pass 'em along.

Good night. If you want me you know where to find me.

You called it. Down the hall, room 307. What do you mean?

We got your name and address. They want to ask you some questions.

2:00 a.m. Suspect was turned over to the Deputy District Attorney...

for further interrogation.

How 'bout an answer, Scott?

Walker Scott. You were a friend of Starkie's. Why can't you answer that?

I'm trying to answer. I want to be friends. Help you if I can.

Did you have a fight. No, sir, we didn't.

Starkie was a friend. I'm sorry he got himself killed.

Where'd you last see Starkie?

See how Reinhard's doing.

When's the last time you saw Starkie? I told you. Vegas.

When? I told you that too. Four our five months ago.

Same play, different names.

Got a call from Jack McCreadie.

Anything? Yeah, they just found an eyeball witness.

Frank went on to say that McCreadie told him...

that the eyeball witness had been located on Rachel Street, a block from the crime.

The Homicide team was taking him back to the office to look at mug shots.

Capt. Hamilton told us that Starkie's wife had been notified.

She was in a near state of collapse, under sedation and could not be questioned.

Still no word on the missing suspect Chester Davitt.

All automobiles of the suspects in custody were impounded at the police garage...

and gone over for physical evidence.

Other teams were searching their homes.

We had a shotgun to turn.

2:35 a.m. We arrived at the City Hall.

McCreadie had checked in five minutes before Frank and I. The eyewitness was Jesse Quinn.

Pleased to know you. I was saying the African Water Hole is my favorite.

- How's that, sir? - Quinn works for the museum at Exposition Park.

Oh, I see. What do you do there, Quinn?

I'm in custodian work, but I'd like to be a guide, African wing.

Pulled the mugs, Joe. Mr. Quinn, I wonder if you could help us.

I didn't say I was sure. Yes, sir. What if you take a look at these?

What happened out there? Some kind of ruckus? Yes, sir.

Would you look at the pictures? Didn't say I wouldn't.

That looks like it might be him. Yeah.

Quite a bit like this fellow I saw getting into the car.

- Where was that? - Out near the field. Loma Vista near Third.

- I was driving home. I always drive slow. - Yes, sir. When?

- Today around 4:00. - Was he alone? - Yes, sir.

-You sure? -Of course. I got good eyes. One fellow don't look like two.

- What was he doing? - Just coming out of the field.

- Notice anything unusual about him? - No, not that I recall.

Drove on past him. Kept him in my rearview mirror.

Looked like he was carrying something shiny in his hand. Piece of pipe.

- About how large? - I don't know. About so gross.

- Look like a gun? - No, like a piece of pipe.

Could've been a gun, I suppose. I'm not sure.

Mac, you got a stand-up mug on Davitt? Yeah.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

I'm positive. That's him.

Arrangements were made to have the "want" on Chester Davitt...

broadcast every 30 minutes during the rest of the night and hourly thereafter.

The mugs of Davitt were sent airmail special to Las Vegas, San Francisco,

and to the San Diego Police Departments.

Sunday, April 10, 11:30 a.m. We began to check out Troy's alibi.

We knew what to expect at the Red Spot.

It was a standard stop for touts, past-posters and girls who couldn't keep an address.

It was early. They were just getting ready to open up for the day.

The bar boy worked the morning shift cleaning and stacking.

He got off at 1:15 so he could tell us nothing about the previous afternoon.

The bartender identified himself as Fred Kemp.

His name was on the liquor license. He said he was the boss.

He told us substantially the same story we'd gotten from Max Troy.

That Troy was in the bar Saturday, April 9, the day Miller Starkie was killed.

He couldn't be sure of the exact hours.

The waitress' name was Ethel Dawson.

She could add little to what the bartender told us.

She stated that Max Troy was in the place. She wasn't sure of the time.

The chef told us his name was Emil Porter. He remembered Max Troy being there.

He said Troy stuck canned baby food, half-and-half, custard.

He wasn't sure of the time. Saturday's a busy day.

Mug shots were shown to all of 'em.

They recognized Miller Starkie as having been in the place, but couldn't remember when.

They recognized most suspects. They couldn't place them in the Red Spot at any specified time.

They knew nothing of Chester Davitt's whereabouts.

A thorough search of the Red Spot was made in an effort to turn up anything...

which might connect Max Troy with Starkie's death.

We found nothing.

12:03 p.m., Sunday, April 10. By lunchtime the business office...

had received writs of habeas corpus for the suspects we had in custody.

Unless we obtained a continuance,

the writs were returnable Tuesday in Department 41 at 9:30 a.m.

We had 36 hours in which to build some kind of case against Max Troy.

We met with Capt. Hamilton.

Since the Red Spot Grill was a known hoodlum hangout,

we felt we might pick up a lead from conversations passed inside the place.

It was a job that could best be performed by a policewoman.

She could pose as a customer and her presence would go unnoticed.

1:15 p.m. We were working against time.

Friday?

Grace Downey, Sgt. Joe Friday.

He and his partner are heading the investigation from our end.

Friday will work out the meets. He'll be your contact.

Want to wire her for sound? I'll have to have your gear. What?

Gun, handcuffs, badge and I.D. Surely.

Your cap device. Oh.

These will be returned when you finish the assignment.

Want to step this way, Miss Downey?

Grace Downey, Frank Smith. Hello.

This is a Minafon, miniature wire recorder.

This spool can handle two and a half hours without a reload.

It's battery driven, good for 20 hours.

To put it in operation, you trip this little button like this.

Seems simple enough. Just that one button, huh?

Sure is small and compact.

Must be good when you want to record someone and not have them know it.

Seems simple enough. Just that one button, huh?

Sure is small and compact.

Must be good when you want to record someone and not have them know it.

Here's the microphone. Plugs in here.

The entire thing should fit in your purse. I see.

You can't listen to what you've got without a headset. The wire's too fragile.

We listen on the transfer to tape. Any questions?

No, I don't think so. I won't need any other special equipment, will I?

Do you have any questions?

The Skipper give you a rundown on the Red Spot and what we're after?

Yeah. You've been there. What do the women wear?

The usual thing. Just don't hide yourself.

You know the sort of thing. That weavey kind of cloth.

Puff sleeves. Some bead work.

You know. A few spangles, maybe some lace around the armholes.

- Something simple. - Yeah, yeah. You've got the right idea.

- Anything else? - Few pleats in the skirt might look good.

Maybe some kind of ribbon or flower to set it off. Okay?

I better get going.

What time did Skipper say you ought to be there?

He said about 5:00, but I'm gonna be late now. Huh?

I'll need a marcel, won't I?

4:40 p.m. We had 30 hours to try to turn up substantial evidence...

or release all suspects.

We added up our findings. It wasn't much.

Part of Troy's alibi was a lie, but we still couldn't place him at the murder scene.

4:45 p.m. To locate the missing suspect Chester Davitt, we again questioned his wife.

You have no idea where your husband might be? They asked me at the hotel.

I had the same answer for them as I've got for you now. Go sit in a hole.

5:00 p.m.

Frank and I drove out to check with Lt. Stevens and the sapper crew,

who were going over the area in an effort to turn up the murder weapon.

How's it goin', Tex?

Can you use an old doorknob?

Rusty bicycle chain? Paint can?

How 'bout a 1934 license plate?

How much more you got to go, Tex?

We've covered all this. Working on this section now.

Lieutenant?

Space gun.

We know Troy's lying. But we don't know he's a killer.

Starkie, Chester Davitt, Lee Reinhard. They all worked for Troy.

Sure. But you haven't given us enough to show they murdered him.

Gotta release him.

They dug half a pound of lead out of Starkie's chest.

One of those five put it there or knows who did. We let them walk, we'll never unwind it.

- Maybe. - Seems to me we've got enough.

I'll tell you what you've got. You say Max Troy's a liar. That doesn't make him a killer.

You say Miller Starkie ran with him. That doesn't put Tory in that field Saturday.

You keep telling us they killed Starkie. Why? Find a motive. Why'd he die?

I know this bunch. I've dealt with 'em before.

We can't hold 'em unless you give us something to hang it on.

Grand Juries ask questions. We gotta get the answers from you.

You got an eyewitness. You haven't got the man for him to identify.

You got a footprint. It doesn't fit anyone.

Turn up Davitt. Maybe he can give us something.

You heard it in there. We asked for a continuance. Their lawyers turned us down.

We don't like it any more than you do.

Ernie Roll told you, I'm telling you. Release 'em.

Yeah. Why does the law always work for the guilty?

Because the innocent don't need it.

*

*

*

*

Take five.

Hi, Joe, what do you say?

Roy, you know my partner Frank Smith. Roy Cleaver, Frank.

What do you say, man? Let me get some timber.

Joe, last time I saw you was on that Breslin thing. What'd he get?

Three counts. One to sixty, terms to run consecutive.

Only 60 years? No, 180.

Should've given him life.

What about that chick Ruth? She still around? State hospital at Patten.

That's a drag. Really flipped, huh?

Glad you got that guy. He was nowhere.

Just checking. Wondered if you might've heard rumbles on Miller Starkie.

- Yeah, I've been diggin' it in the papers. - Heard anything?

No. He was in about a month or so ago.

Walked in with this big hunk of wallpaper, his head wrapped for mailing.

- How's that? - His head was bandaged like somebody'd worked him over.

Oh. When was that?

About a month ago. He was jumping pretty steady with that Troy mob.

We know.

Far as I know he was vigorish on six-for-five loans.

Used to ring the doorbell with a piece of pipe.

I guess you heard he was handling bad paper out of Vegas.

Some of the boys in the band were there, hit the wheel heavy and wrote out some checks.

They must've got back here and stopped payment...

because Starkie was in later for the "make good."

They paid up quick. Starkie didn't want any cousins.

You say he had his head in a sling. Any idea what that was about?

No.

I didn't ask any questions.

If you should hear anything, let us know, will ya?

Yeah... but I ain't gonna try.

You know Max Troy, Chester Davitt, Walker Scott, Lee Reinhard, the whole bunch.

Well, that's them... and that's me.

Dig ya.

Acting on Cleaver's information,

we made a canvass of all metropolitan clinics and hospitals.

We asked if Miller Starkie had reported in for treatment during the past 30 days.

On March 12, we found that he'd checked into Fairfax Emergency...

with head lacerations and slight concussion.

He was released two days later.

From the doctor we obtained a copy of the hospital record,

and we drove over to interrogate Ethel Starkie, the wife of the murdered man.

You figure it was a warning?

It was a hint. He got out of line.

Suppose Troy did handle the beating. Does it mean much?

I don't know. It didn't to Starkie.

Come in.

What's the matter? You wanna see someone? Yes, ma'am.

Police officers. This is my partner Frank Smith. My name's Friday.

I already talked to you once.

Sure I did. Right after the funeral.

Or was it before?

It's the only funeral Miller ever had.

No, ma'am, it wasn't us. It was the men from Homicide.

What's the matter? Didn't you believe what they told you?

We want to talk to you about something else.

You'll have to excuse the place.

We don't have all our furniture yet.

This is modern.

We're gonna fix it up really nice.

Yes, ma'am.

Don't you think you've had enough?

Is there enough?

I wanted Miller Starkie.

But nobody asked me.

I wanted to do his laundry.

Wash his socks.

Cook his breakfast. Eggs basted.

Fix his dinner.

French fried potatoes.

Keep his clothes to the cleaners so he'd always have something nice to wear.

Keep him happy, and be a good wife.

But somebody threw Miller Starkie away without askin'.

I wonder if you'd mind taking a look at this. Tell us what you know about it.

I'm gonna tell you something.

I never talk to police.

Miller don't either.

We didn't want no truck with 'em.

I'm going to tell you something.

I've been right here since he was buried.

People are the way they are because... they are.

I've been married to Miller for 17 years.

That's a long time.

I wanted him to leave me six months after we were married.

"No, sir" he said. "No, sir."

I've been here since he was buried.

And that's more than 17 years.

So I talk to police now.

I'm glad you came back.

I'll tell you this time.

Max Troy! Max Troy!

Max Troy!

Oh, thank you. You're very kind.

What's the matter? I didn't break it, did I?

Yes, ma'am. There's a hole in the top.

Mrs. Starkie, on March 12 your husband was treated at Fairfax Hospital...

for injuries received in a beating. Want to tell us about it?

- Max Troy. - How do you know?

Miller told me.

He came home so sick he threw up, and then he told me.

- Why'd he have the fight with Troy? - It wasn't no fight.

Three of 'em beat him. That's all.

'Til he couldn't stand up.

Then you know what they did?

Max Troy and his two friends?

They drove him to the hospital.

They let him out a block from there.

He had to walk the rest of the way.

Who were the other two men?

I don't know. But one of 'em was Max Troy. Miller told me.

Why, Mrs. Starkie? Why was he beaten?

Miller wouldn't tell me.

He said not to talk to anybody about it, and I never did 'til now.

One more thing.

When you were here before and you searched the place,

you couldn't find it.

I put it in the mail. Sent it to myself.

It's all right. Open it.

Starkie's workbook.

Miller worked for Max Troy. Ask Max Troy. He'll tell you about it.

- We'll have to take that book. - You can keep it.

- Is there anything else you can tell us? - No. That's all I know.

You've been very kind.

If you will, on the floor please.

I'll see you to the door. That's all right, Mrs. Starkie.

Thursday, April 21, 2:00 p.m.

Starkie's workbook listed 55 names and addresses. We began to check 'em out.

Without exception, each of the people were gambling debtors.

Since Starkie's job working under Troy was to make bad debts good,

these names represented his clientele, his workbook.

After five hours of legwork and 22 names later,

we were no closer to finding why Starkie was murdered.

We felt that if we could find the "why"...

it would lead us to the apprehension and conviction of Starkie's killers.

The forty-seventh name in the book was Fabian Gerard,

a theatrical agent whose office was located on Sunset Boulevard.

Yes, she'll be there at 4:00. No, she doesn't sing.

I think so. I could ask her. I'll see when she comes in.

Take a seat. I'll be right with you.

What? Oh, yes, she can get by in a chorus.

Ciro's in Norfolk, Virginia, last July. Right. Bye.

Now, you're the dance team. Which one of you is Delcy?

No, ma'am. Police officers. Is Mr. Gerard in?

* Down, down, down in Rio *

* Where things are seldom free-o *

* Oh, come along with me-o *

Yes? Mr. Gerard, two gentlemen out here to see you.

Delcy and Swift? Have 'em wait.

No, Mr. Gerard. This is important. Okay, be right out.

He'll be right out. Thank you.

* In South America

I'm going to leave that record with you.

I'll take good care of it.

Bye, now.

* You'll like the rhythm if you dig, dig, dig *

Yeah. But she can't sing.

* Along the old equator

* Where life is mucho greater *

* Way down south

* In South America

Has maracas, will travel.

You're cops, aren't you? Yes, sir.

Sgt. Friday. My name's Smith. Not that many hats in California.

Ever had dealings with Miller Starkie?

- Once too often. - Tell us about it.

I got a little rich one night, and dropped $500 in a crap game.

- The check was light so they sent Starkie to collect. - Did he?

This says he did. Pushed me around. Pulled a tooth for me.

I had to phone my brother. He went for me on the $500. I thought that was the end.

The money never reached headquarters. Later this fella says when am I gonna make good?

I told him I was clean on it. He didn't believe me.

Had me backed into a casket until I got my brother up here.

He showed a bank slip. We finally convinced this fella.

- When did this happen? - The week before Starkie was killed.

That'd make it around the first of April. Yeah.

- There's no chance of this making the papers? - No, sir.

I just wondered.

Right kind of mention never hurts. Lets people know you're around.

Saturday, April 23. We started to put together a pattern.

We felt sure we knew why Miller Starkie was killed.

In an effort to get sufficient evidence to take before the Grand Jury,

we began to put together what small pieces we had.

9:00 p.m. We talked to Sgt. Hank Wild, Airport Detail,

who was on duty at the International Terminal on April 4.

That's right, Joe. April 4, 11:15. United Airlines.

Flight 649 from Vegas. Wesley Cannon.

Wesley Cannon, one of the suspects.

Hoodlum and known associate of Max Troy.

Our guess was that he knew about Miller Starkie not reporting his collections.

Monday, April 25, 9:00 a.m.

A Grand Jury subpoena was served on the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company...

directing them to furnish a record of all toll calls...

made from the telephones of suspects from April 1 to April 10.

We contacted the office of the chief special agent.

According to our records, a long-distance call was placed on April 5...

from Hollywood 3-3449,

listed as the Red Spot Grill.

Person-to-person from a Max Troy to Myles Stricher...

at Superior 7-7599.

That's a Chicago, Illinois listing.

Length of the call was 20 minutes. All right, sir.

How 'bout that other call? It was placed at 8:30 the morning of April 9...

from Hollywood 3-3449, the Red Spot Grill.

Person-to-person from a Max Troy to a Chester Davitt.

That was Skyline 5-1699.

Routed through San Diego, Del Mar, California. The Turf-Royal Hotel.

Yes, Mr. Davitt was with us a week.

Checked in on April 2. Checked out April 9, 1:00 p.m.

You sure about that time? Yes, sir. 1:00 in the afternoon.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. Yes, sir.

We got the whole enchilada. April 9. 1:00

Takes three hours to drive up to L.A. Starkie was murdered at 4:00.

Monday, April 25, 4:00 p.m.

Policewoman Grace Downey was ready for her first report.

Like opening a box of Crackerjack, isn't it? You never know what you'll get.

Did you slip it under Troy's plate? Almost. Yeah.

1:00 this afternoon I was talking to Fred Kemp, the bartender.

Max Troy walked in. First time I'd seen him in the place. Ordered something to eat.

- Where was he sitting? - Two stools away.

I reached in my bag for telephone money. That's when I turned it on.

You on record? Yeah.

I don't know. Maybe all we got is eight miles of dirt road.

I left my purse on the bar, started for the phone booth.

What's been goin' on? That's Troy.

Not much. Couple of boys from downtown, asked a lot questions.

Heard from Chet? Davitt. You heard from him?

Cops wanted to know. No, I ain't seem him for a couple of weeks.

Fred, I want you to do something for me.

In the glove compartment of your car, there's a package. Get rid of it.

What is it? Get rid of it.

I'll take care of it in a couple days. Better do it today.

I won't have the car back 'til Wednesday. I loaned it to my nephew.

When did he take it? A week and a half ago. Day after you borrowed it.

When's he coming back? I told you Wednesday.

Take care of that first thing, Fred. Here's the money for the food.

I'll see you around. Right, Max.

What do you think? I don't know. Let's get that package and see.

Car'll be back Wednesday. Get to that glove compartment before the bartender.

Any ideas? That's not tough. The car'll be back Wednesday.

Find out what make it is, where he parks it.

You know what hours he works. Go right to it. You make it sound easy.

Sure. Like barbecuing a chunk of ice.

Here's your Minafon. Thanks, Frank.

See you later, Grace.

Grace?

Yes? Be careful on this one.

I will, Joe. Don't lose your way.

You sound concerned. Line of duty?

I just want to see you make sergeant.

I'm not kidding, Joe. I don't see how you do it. Hmm?

Fish and ice cream. What's wrong with that?

Everybody knows it's the worse combination you can put in your stomach.

You put away a real beauty! Tamales and sauerkraut.

But, Joe, I had lemon sherbet.

Keep your hats on. You got one to roll on. Code two. Here's the address.

What've you got? Part of your first string. Chester Davitt.

They found him.

While a team of men remained to search the premises,

Chester Davitt was taken downtown where he would be booked on suspicion of 187l-P.C.

the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought.

Tuesday, April 26, 8:30 a.m.

We continued to question Davitt. He stuck to his story of the night before.

He refused to admit complicity in the killing of Miller Starkie.

We confronted him with the phone call from Max Troy to Del Mar on the day of the murder.

He said it was a social call.

We showed him the plaster impression of the footprint taken at the scene of the crime.

We showed him the exemplar made from his own right shoe.

They matched. Davitt had no comment.

He won't cop out. He can smell the gas.

We've still got enough to take to the Grand Jury. I think so.

Get that eyeball witness.

"An interesting fact about the African lion...

"is its love of family life.

"Its habits are nocturnal.

It roams the belt of Kenya and British East Africa."

The lion family after a kill.

Sure real lookin', huh, Joe? Yeah.

Sorry about being late. When the fella said you was here, I was fixing up a Klipspringer.

That's all right, Quinn. They're over there.

Klipspringer. That charming animal is called the "chamois of Ethiopia."

Good thing for Patterson too. Patterson?

New Jersey. That's where they make leather goods.

Be flat broke if it wasn't for Klipspringers.

We've got Chester Davitt in custody. I saw in the morning papers.

See? That's what I was telling you fellas about. The water hole... at sundown.

There she is.

You can read it right off the chart.

"A typical sand river in East Africa during dry season...

"formed by an underlying strata of rock which causes...

"the water to rise in small pools.

In dry seasons, animals gather there at sunset for their daily drink."

- We'd like you to come downtown for a show-up. - What's that like?

We stand up a group of men, see if you can pick out the man you saw leaving the vacant lot.

- After that, we go to the Grand Jury. - What happens there?

You testify under oath. Tell them where you were on April 4, what you did and what you saw.

I see.

- How's 1:00, Quinn? - 1:00?

- Yes, sir. For the show-up. - No, I don't think so.

When you finish work, around 5:00 or 6:00?

Mr. Friday, you just as well know now. I'm not gonna do it.

You already have. You identified Chester Davitt.

- That was a picture. I'm not sure anymore. - Come for a show-up at least.

No, that wouldn't do any good. I just don't remember.

What is all the fuss? The dead fella was a criminal, not worth the trouble.

You'd like a dead archbishop. We don't have one. We've got a small-time hoodlum.

And a bunch of other hoodlums that killed him. That's what the paper said.

All them fellas are criminals. No telling what they'd do to somebody.

- You afraid to testify, Quinn? - I just don't remember.

Is it your family, your wife and children?

I don't have no family. I'm it. The whole kit 'n' caboodle.

But I don't want to go downtown and get mixed up in something.

You'll have to go before the Grand Jury. They'll subpoena you.

Then I'll have to say I'm not sure. I don't remember too good.

It's not fair to talk somebody into something. You've got no business doing that.

No, sir.

Mr. Friday, I'd like to ask you a question.

If you was me, would you do it?

- Can I wait a while? - Huh?

Before I'm you?

Wednesday, April 27.

We took the case before the Grand Jury.

All suspects were subpoenaed. Lee Reinhard.

Wesley Cannon.

Chester Davitt.

Max Troy.

In spite of the reluctance of our only face-to-face witness, Jesse Quinn,

we had a halfway good chance of gaining indictments on both Chester Davitt and Max Troy.

I was there to testify as one of the investigating officers.

Forensic chemist Ray Pinker took the stand at 9:23 a.m.

10:15.

Joe Friday?

Raise your right hand. Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give...

in the matter now pending before this body will be the whole truth, so help you God?

I do. Be seated.

State your name. Joe Friday.

You're employed by the city of Los Angeles as a police officer.

You're assigned to Intelligence Division and hold the rank of sergeant.

Is that correct? That's correct.

Are you one of the investigating officers in this matter,

a murder case, the deceased being Miller Starkie?

I am.

This is a list of calls subpoenaed by court order from Pacific Telephone and Telegraph.

A chart has been made up showing these calls from point of origin to terminus.

This has been designated as Grand Jury exhibit seven.

Sgt. Friday, will you explain the significance of the chart? I will.

The next hour was spent acquainting the jurors with every detail of the case,

from the finding of the body up through the apprehension of Chester Davitt.

Each phone call was pointed out.

Each individual placing a call or receiving one was identified...

in an attempt to demonstrate to the members of the Grand Jury...

that the various telephone calls formed a probable pattern of murder.

57 a.m. when I finished testifying.

Jesse Quinn?

Chester Davitt.

Each suspect was called.

Each spent no more than five minutes in the hearing room.

All of them threw away a four-by-six inch scrap of yellow paper.

Joe Friday.

Be seated, Sergeant.

Let the record show this witness has already been sworn.

You've been recalled for the purpose of clarifying certain details...

on the matter pending before this body.

I have a point I'd like Sgt. Friday to explain. Yes, ma'am.

- Uh, the phone calls you told us about. - Yes, ma'am.

How do we know exactly what those men said to each other?

- We don't. - But you indicated what each of them said.

No, ma'am. I indicated the contacts between the suspects and their association.

The point Mrs. Caldwell is trying to make is the point that's troubling all of us.

The conversation you say these men had is guesswork, isn't it?

No, sir. All these calls are a matter of telephone record.

We know all that, but you can't say what was in those calls.

But we can be pretty sure from the sequence of calls, the time, date and people involved.

Sgt. Friday, each of those men has a telephone, each uses it. There's no crime in that.

Each one of those men is a suspect in a murder case.

All of them have criminal records dating as far back as 1933.

We know that too, but you're asking for a true bill.

You want this case tried in a court of law. I can't see how that can be granted...

unless you're in a position to tell us exactly what was in those phone calls.

I'm sorry. To do that, we'd have to be able to wiretap.

You mean cut in on private phone conversations? That's an invasion of privacy.

How do we know all policemen wouldn't be listening to all our conversations?

We would, if you talked murder. As a police officer,

I can tell you that none of us want the responsibility of being able to wiretap at will.

It'd have to be by court order. Doesn't make much difference in this case.

If you had the right to wiretap, what good would it have done?

You can't lock the barn door after the horse is stolen.

Yes, sir, in this case. We'd've had a court order to maintain telephone surveillance...

on every one of those hoodlums from the minute he checked into Los Angeles and set up shop.

- We might have saved the horse. - Not quite, Sgt. Friday.

Even if you could wiretap, that system'd never work. Choke off their telephones,

you'd have 'em plotting murder on every street corner.

That's all right. There'd be a cop on it.

That's all, Sergeant.

How's it going? It's hard to tell. I've been up twice.

They recalled you? Yeah, that's right.

We'll have a verdict in a minute.

Want a match? No, thanks.

Where do we stand? It's not easy. No murder weapon.

We made Davitt on the footprint. Put him at the scene of the crime. We got him in that lot.

They want to know when. That witness of yours could've told them. He didn't.

Phone call pattern's circumstance. Not enough.

Troy's crowd must've been well-rehearsed.

If you clocked 'em, you'll notice they stayed five minutes apiece.

Yeah. Why?

We didn't get the necessary 12 votes. No indictment.

An original and three carbons.

Bumper-to-bumper tail. Put 'em to bed at night and get 'em up in the morning.

Bumper-to-bumper tail. A systematic,

constant surveillance of criminal suspects maintained around the clock.

Other teams were assigned to Chester Davitt, Lee Reinhard and Wesley Cannon.

We knew the men were guilty. We still had to prove it.

Thursday, April 28, 8:00 a.m.

We began the operation at Max Troy's front door.

I'm late. I've got an appointment. Out!

You've got no right--

Put your hands up on the car.

All right, take everything out of your pockets, put it on the fender.

What now? Put it back.

Hot milk. Hot milk.

Hot milk.

You think it's real funny, do you, junior?

Hands up on the wall. Not this time. I've got friends with me.

Get off my back. You know I'm clean. Are ya?

Hands up on the wall.

All right, take everything out of your pockets.

Where am I gonna put it? The ground'll hold it.

Your mother sure didn't do much for a living.

That's all right. She didn't bark.

Good night, Max.

That's gin, Carl. Nine. Couldn't pick up a nine last time.

This time you got nine.

I can't play with them in here.

Get out. Come on, Carl. It's your deal.

Did you hear me, fat gut?

Put that out.

Are you his keeper? You and that toad get outta here.

We've got no beef with you. I'll help you up.

Hey! Hey! Hold it! Hold it!

Don't worry. You and your stomach can sit this one out.

Well, I called 'em. I'm the manager here.

And you're all gonna be arrested.

Close the door.

You look fine. Georgia Street called. Said you were in for medical treatment.

Yeah. Joe caught a cold.

Who's tailing Troy now? 2X59. Keeler and Stevens. Anything new?

- Did you have to fight? - It was a gin game. I tried to play Troy's hand.

While you were making a name for yourselves, we finally got a bug in the Red Spot Grill.

- Where? - Back office. The sound crew buried it.

- Where's the listening post? - Basement across the alley.

Get a good view of the office from there. Airport detail.

What's it say, Joe?

Chester Davitt left on flight 516 for Cleveland. 10:00 a.m.

Too hot. Sent him out of town to cool off.

- You notified Cleveland? - Inspector MacArthur. Talked to him a half hour ago.

Hamilton. Yeah.

You did? What gauge? All right. I'll wait 'til it's clear.

I didn't hear you. No, sit tight.

Grace Downey. She's turned a box of shotgun shells in the bartender's car.

- Yeah. - As she hung up, she said Troy was moving toward the booth.

He was walkin' heavy. Keeler and Stevens are out there.

If that place starts to jump, it's too big for one team. Back them up. Get her out.

- Right. - Sounds like she's been burned.

2X50 to 2X59.

2X50 to 2X59.

Keeler, you and Stevens want to cover the back? Right, Joe.

*

*

Take that somewhere. You know Sgt. Keeler, don't you, Max?

Unless you're growing, sit down.

Ready to go home?

Around back.

In there.

This is what caused all the trouble. The package in the bartender's car.

Twelve gauge double-O. Four missing.

The finding of the shotgun shells was another piece...

of corroborative evidence if we could ever turn the murder weapon.

Policewoman Grace Downey was relieved of her assignment, and went back to regular duty.

Tuesday, May 3. For the next four days, Frank and I...

along with the other teams of men assigned...

helped maintain the 24 hour surveillance at the listening post.

4:30 p.m.

Look at that, Joe? Huh?

It's a real waste. Somebody will come up with an answer.

What are you talking about? A use for old Kleenex.

Just make millions.

Hi, Gene, Phil. Gene.

Not much goin' on. Troy must've dropped a stack.

The Burbank book's been trying to get in touch with =him. Called three times last hour.

They oughta try All Saints. Keeler and Stevens trailed Troy to the hospital 40 minutes ago.

Skipper said to fill you in.

It's Lee Reinhard. The bartender's with him.

Hello. Who?

Talk louder. I can't hear you.

Where? Cleveland?

No, he's not here.

Who's calling?

Hiya, George.

It's Fred. Fred Kemp.

I don't know.

Yeah. Max is due back any minute.

Lee's here. Right. Hold on.

Lee.

Yeah? Yeah, this is Lee Reinhard.

Yeah. I'll run him down.

You did, huh?

Max'll be glad to know that.

He did, huh?

Well, he had some good times.

Is that right?

Oh, sure. Max'll get back to you today. What?

Pretty good. And you?

A little on the cool side. May get rain today or tomorrow.

Right, George. Bye, bye.

Any idea where Max is? No.

Called this morning, said he'd drop by this afternoon.

You don't need to order that German beer no more.

He ain't gonna be around to drink it. What do you mean?

Davitt. He ran out of breath this afternoon.

Somebody kill him? 4:00 Cleveland time.

Kind of funny at that. 'Course you never know what a guy's gonna do.

Huh? Cried like a baby.

If Max comes in, ask him to wait. All right.

I'll try to run him down.

Oh, forgot to tell you.

You remember that mouth of Chet's? Guess what he said.

What?

As he was goin' down he said,

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph."

That's what he said.

They sent him a long way to die, didn't they?

It's always a long way.

Davitt was hotter than we thought. He must've made a mistake.

His mistake was being Davitt.

This is Friday. Yeah, Captain.

We know about that. We know he's dead.

Long distance call from Cleveland just now.

No, used the name George. That's our guess too.

Every word of it. Yeah. No, there's no doubt about the other end of the call.

Lee Reinhard laid it out for the bartender. That's right. It's all there.

Right. What's that address again?

Is that South Ardmore? Right.

Can Phelps meet us out there with playback equipment?

Right. You ready?

Where to? Davitt's wife.

As he was goin' down he said,

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph."

That's what he said.

We're sorry, Mrs. Davitt.

We didn't want to play it. You wouldn't let us do it any other way.

I know.

I used up any favors.

You want Max Troy to stand for this one?

And one more. Miller Starkie.

In the closet.

Behind the clothes.

Where the plumber fixes the pipes. Toolbox.

In the bottom, wrapped up in a piece of cloth.

Part of a shotgun. Troy bought it in Albuquerque.

Do you remember the name of the store? Yeah. I can give it to you.

Him and Chet sawed off the barrel right in this room.

Hacksaw there.

When was the gun purchased? Do you remember?

Six, seven months ago.

We was travelin' back from Chicago.

Where is the gun?

Echo Park Lake.

You can get it. I'll show you where they threw it in.

Max called Chet at Del Mar.

Told him where to be, what time.

You willing to come downtown, give us a statement?

On my hands and knees.

Teletype from Albuquerque.

"NR-65 KOB-34. P.D. Los Angeles, California.

R-228, KMA-89 S-&-R double-barrel shotgun, 12-gauge.

"Serial 178365. Purchased Finney's Hardware this city October 15 last.

"Sold to Max Taylor, nonresident.

P.D. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1743 KOB-34."

Joe, take two. Right. Thank you.

This is Friday. Yeah, Lee. Mm-hmm.

You can, huh? How soon do you figure?

Right. Yeah. Thank you very much.

Lee Jones with the crime lab. Anything?

As soon as they bring up the gun, he can give us a positive make on that barrel section.

Latent prints. Lifted several partials from that hacksaw. Good enough to make Troy.

That's an artificial lake at Echo Park. Salvage crew will have the murder gun by morning.

You've got the signed statement from Davitt's wife right there.

How 'bout it, Alex?

You got him.

You'll need your raincoats.

Light that, will you, Alex?

Which room does Max Troy have?

Mr. Troy went in for surgery at 4:00 this afternoon. How's he doing?

Gastric cancer. He died on the table.

I'm sorry. Was Mr. Troy a friend of yours?

No, sir. We hardly knew him.