uh...
ladies and gentlemen
story or about to hear it
the names have been changed to protect the innocent
your detective sergeant
you're assigned a homicide detail
a howling dog causes a man to check his neighbor's house
defined the brutally beaten body of an elderly woman
she's been killed by person or persons unknown
your job
investigate
it was tuesday june ten
warm in los angeles we're working tonight watch out homicide detail my
partner's frank smith the boss's captain warman my name is friday
has only way back in from the alley and at seven twenty six p m i got to ninety
seven eighty two green oak drive
front door
by anything
no sign of anybody out back to call a crime lab yeah i thought the leaves on
the way that's good
call hollywood division two they're going to send out some more men to help us
outside chance might come up with something
whoever did it you're much in wild
i don't think i ever thought killing a brutal attack
pre-release
i think there are a couple of dozen times
first watch is broken
might have raised her arm to try and stop some of the blows
crystal smashed up pretty bad tired of a look like
real for them
what the neighbor says that have to be the fact that
defining looks like a murder weapon
nothing out in the open
ought to be better crime lab check the place first
about the other of the as bad as the one out front
that's all scattered around or called out contents all over
where it was your one to think it was robbery
well let's check the neighbor
yeah he's got street
but he wanted to go home and take some help quiet him down
but i'm quite a shock to the old guy
approach our prime and look at what we
root
lights on
a sit down drink. Yes. Which is our
wall sort of behind the whatnot. Kind of feel right.
Turned out the lights out my head. Oh my God.
You don't have to have a couple of aspirin on it do you know I'm sorry I don't
know well I guess you don't mind much. Yes this will do just as good what if you
tell me just what happened here I'm glad to I want to help all I can sure I'd like
to see you get the guy what did this apple why do you think it was a man huh
well you said guy what makes think it was a man well I didn't mean it like you know
not special but come right down to it almost got to be a man can't imagine the
woman doing a thing like that at least no woman I have on you got to be a man.
I'm I. Have a lot of trouble. I will have
a convention all the people come. My partner Mr Brody Oh another policeman
I guess I'll set Joe they're going to call us from the crime lab to get here. How
are you Mr Brody people all over the place I never saw a car come so fast when
the sirens come in. He might have been attached to mushrooms just sprung up out
of the ground. Oh yeah I'm fine fine. Wonder if you'd mind leaving that alone
until we ask you a few questions. Oh you mean before I have another drink yes if
you would want for us glad to buy our weight I mean you don't have to worry
about me though not all the world brody. Oh my little kid you got that oil is
a regular tanker don't ever show on the world. Well if you just tell us about
finding a body well I was out in the front watering the lawn always do it at
the same time you say the hot sun burns it up you don't want to you know you've
got to do that yes well that's what I was doing wasn't alone. I said you want to go
on. To your brother all of us are going to go back to our home no thanks. Well.
All of a sudden I hear me you will make it all. Who's that. That's a silly name
with it who is it little bit old Pete. He called it near all always seen me if
you're going to call it dog the road should be a big dog here you wrote the
dog what happened then. Well first off I didn't think much of things just get
right on the lawn and only roll kept it up right on the other how about it I
think it must be something wrong it must be all right going on so I turned off
the water and water go away you know check up yes sir Mr. Brody by what time
was it I know it was funny that will not come out and make a new road shut up.
Oh well about six o'clock. Did you see anyone around the house when you went
over not a soul no sir there's nobody so I went around back to the patio.
Wasn't anybody there either and I knocked at the door all this time little old
Nero is still raising old dead. Stop the breed hardly.
Knocked on the door things one right up one of the option oh so I called out for
a call a couple of times I didn't get no answer I couldn't see nothing so door
opens only kind of little service for it I didn't see a thing. Then I went in
walked right into the kitchen there she was lying on the floor stuff scattered
all over in little Nero sitting right beside her just going crazy you call the
police right away that I run out of the house over to my place and call the
operator dialed over and told the center policeman right away. Yeah right away I
called. Have you seen Miss Lawrence at all today yeah I saw this new guy and she
was out to get the mail we said hello you know just as cheerful like like what
time did you say hello I picked up the mail went right back into the house just
like she didn't have no idea what was going to happen or about one thirty
male comes there. Did you see anyone around her house this afternoon no no no
oh well of course now I was out in the back most of the afternoon you see you
see you out there working the flowers so I can't I don't say that there wasn't
anybody over you know where we can get the touch of Mr Lawrence he works in the
garage down Pico I think I have to name the place around someplace I used to
think my car down to him before him and Mrs Lawrence got a divorce how long have
they been divorced. Three years I guess well I'm not really sure about that how
they get along you know any trouble between them I guess there's some who
say that he was right I mean the practice not to get involved in those things
religion politics marriage troubles I don't I don't get meddled up in them oh
they yeah they fought all the time yeah as Mr Lawrence been at his wife's house
lately not that I've seen I guess they won't see each other but I I understand
what that will said it was at the lawyers used to try to tell me about it but I
just wouldn't listen I don't believe in it religion politics marriage stuff and
all those things that separate said yes a alimony it was always fighting about
Alamo always you know what the disagreements were about besides down on
I'll tell you you better talk to Mr Lawrence about that he's the one that
thinks you're right on I go telling you and I'm liable to say something wrong you
see and I wouldn't be right I would you better talk to you all right sir if you'll
just give us the address for you. To look at my checkbook see if I can find it you
talk to him you don't give you all the scoop and maybe I can help you out a
little all right Mr Burdick thank you. And the more questions you've got to ask me
right now well if you don't feel well so we can talk to you later I don't feel
good just right I can I will start you know. But it's all you know all.
Well there may be some more things I want to check with the other night. Everybody
says it's all the road to hold is like everybody says that you can ask them if
you want to. Harder day goes by somebody don't say. If you'll get Mr Lawrence's
address for right away right away. When I was going to take all this all in years
of battle and. Now. You're going to have no more trouble because of her that's not
quite right huh he's not going to have a lot more.
Earl Broody look through his desk and he found a cancel check bearing the address
of the garage where the victim's husband was employed while he was looking for
the check stub Frank and I interrogated him further on the relations between
Ethel Lawrence and her husband he refused to tell us any more than he had
explaining that if the answers we got from the husband weren't adequate we could
come back and see him six forty eight p.m. We returned to the victim's house
and we talked with Lieutenant Lee Jones he told us that the crew from the crime
lab had been unable to find the murder weapon but that they had been able to
lift several good fingerprints from the kitchen he went on to say that these had
been checked with those of the victim they were not the same little other
physical evidence was found in the house however an impression of a shoe had been
found in the softer at the site of the house and the plaster cast had been made
of it he asked Lieutenant Jones to take the fingerprints of the neighbor who had
found the body and check them with the impressions left in the victim's house
nine forty six p.m. the coroner arrived and removed the body and attached the
paper seal to the front door Frank and I went back to the office and checked the
name of the victim and her husband through the record bureau we found that
Bernard Lawrence had been arrested four years previously on a wife beating charge
but that he'd been released when his wife refused to prosecute we checked the name
Earl Broody he had no record ten fifty four p.m. we drove over to the garage
where the victim's husband was employed the place was closed but there was a card
on the door giving an emergency address Frank and I drove out to the house a low
rambling land style building the garage owner Arnold Norton met us at the door
yeah Mr. Norton that's right what can I do for you please talk to you yeah I guess
it's okay I don't know what it's about but I guess it's okay what do you want
might be better if we talked inside you mind if I see your identification no sir
here's my ID card that's my partner Frank Smith my name's right yeah come in
thank you thank you just a minute I'll come out the TV we don't like the body
Mr. Norton shouldn't take us too long doesn't matter just a fight movie I've
never seen it before I get a kick out of seeing him again what is it you want to
know you have an employee named Bernard Lawrence working for you yeah Barney's
been with me for about seven years why you have a home address for him I suppose
so but can you tell me what this is all about just a routine investigation we'd
like to talk to him all right out the address for you ever hear about Lars
and his wife having any quarrels or disagreements I'm not quite sure how I
should answer that only me I don't know why you're asking the question it's a
little rough to ask me to comment on the way Barney gets along with his wife I
don't want to lay anything on him you know them for quite a while had it yeah I
told you he's been with me for seven years best carburetor man I've got you
must have heard him discussing his home life one time or another haven't you I
went through the same thing before you know I got myself right in the middle
before I don't want it to happen again I don't understand when they got the
divorce all the time lawyers come around asking questions trying to get me to
take sides I'm not going to do it if Barney's trying to bring the thing up
again he should be the one to tell me not have you fellas come around and do it
I'm not going to get in the middle again I've known both of them for a long time I
think a lot of them Ethel and Barney and me been pretty close in the years but I
have had it all the questions about how much Barney makes what was working hours
who do you see you run around with any girls no I'm not going to answer any more
questions what's isn't a civil matter Mr. Martin this has nothing to do with
divorce no sir I'm not going to be called as a witness we can't say the
bathroom well you fellas are going about this routine thing makes me think that
it's a lot more important than just a traffic ticket or anything like that
well it is did you see Lawrence today you mean the garage yes yeah he can't work
today just like he always does he was there all day eight to five that's what
he works does he have occasion to leave the garage at all during the day I don't
understand what you mean well does he have to leave to go pick up parts and
like that yeah once in a while he does we got a fellow who does that kind of thing
but when he's out on a call and Barney something fast he maybe runs down the
street and gets it he leave the garage this afternoon yeah he had a good time
pick up some rebuilds you know what time he left hard to pin it down to an exact
time I I don't much keep tabs on Barney comes and goes as he pleases pretty
important that we get an idea of when he was gone well I can check with the other
boys in the shop should be able to find out when he left I know he got back about
four thirty though you're pretty sure about the time yeah he came back and did
a job on a rush one that we had and he took off with five I was the acting when
he came back what do you mean did he seem upset about anything no not
particularly seems pretty happy though kept talking about what a beautiful day
it was and how good he felt you know come right down to a bar he was happier
than he's been in some time just seemed like all his troubles were gone we know
you feel about this Mr. Norton but it's pretty important did you ever hear Mr.
Lawrence threaten his wife I'm going to have to take your word for it being
pretty important Mr. Friday I've got no way of knowing but if you guys get me in
the middle of anything I'm going to be pretty sore about it don't worry about
that well and they'll answer your question Barney and Ethel didn't get along
very well I guess you knew that divorce and all that little accusing Barney are
running around they had some pretty big argument Barney was pretty mad at the
judge when he got the alimony he had to pay out of one hundred and fifty a month
made a pretty sore but the judge said to pay it or go to jail after we're just as
soon to see him in jail Barney used to talk to me about it we'd stop down the
street and have a beer we closed up the shop Barney would say there was only two
ways you get out of the alimony payments well one was if I forgot married again
and Barney always said she was so mean that no sane man would have her what
about the other way that was for her to die I guess that was about the only
threat he ever made so I could hear it what's that he wouldn't mind helping her
out
1147 p.m. we drove over to the address we'd gotten for Bernard Lawrence was a
modern apartment building in the Wilshire district we rang the bell to his
apartment but we got no answer Frank and I talked to the manager of the building
and he led us into the suspect's apartment in a preliminary search of the
place we found nothing to tie the man in with his wife's death however from the
clothes and the other personal effects in the place we were reasonably sure that
he'd returned to the apartment the manager told us that Lawrence had come
home after work changed his clothes and left saying that he'd return later we
put in a call to the office and we told them where we were and we made arrangements
to be relieved the next morning in the event the suspect hadn't returned Frank
and I settled down in our car which is parked across the street from the
apartment to wait for long at 1 30 Frank went down to the corner and called Faye
to tell her he'd be a little late we brought back a carton of hot coffee and
some sandwiches the stakeout continues to 30 still no sign of the suspect three
thirty four at five thirty a.m. the landlord came to the porch of the
apartment house and yelled at us indicating he wanted to tell us something
Frank went over to see him while I waited in the car a couple of minutes later Frank
came running back Joe Joe yeah manager just got
a call from Lawrence what about one I want to have his stuff packed and sent
down to the people here that he's leaving town 542 a.m. we called the business
office and had arrangements made to check the reservation lists on trains
going we also set up stakeouts on the depots and on the airline terminals in
the event the suspect changed his mind about taking the train two officers came
out and relieved us at the apartment the manager of the apartment was instructed
to notify the officers on stakeout in the event he heard from Lawrence 612 a.m.
Frank and I drove back downtown we went to the business office and got out a
local and an APB on the suspect we checked out of the office to go home and
change our clothes and at 846 a.m. we met back in the squad room you made it fast
I don't yeah the coffee there if you want some no thanks that's upbeat on the way
and no any word no not yet Lawrence still hasn't showed up at the apartment
there's nothing from the depot stakeout like to get some sleep I'm with you
there you know say sure sore what about last night yeah had it all planned we
were going to a movie tonight always plans it on my day off you know we have
dinner get out of the neighborhood and a nice she looks forward to it what's that
got to do with last night well this is my day off right yeah that's what says in
the schedule and I'm working right yeah well I worked all last night too huh
yeah gonna be no movie tonight I don't follow you
well I'm gonna sleep as I get home I'm gonna climb right into the shower
drop in the bed and sleep the clock around yeah that's why we got to talk to
skipper this movie the end yet yeah he's down to Browns on you fill them in a
little bit he goes along with us well let's check our and I want to look at
that arrest report on Lawrence see if any of his friends of us didn't remember
we had a lead on him better find out if he made that call he was supposed to have
made when he was gone from work yeah the way it looks he's still in town well that
doesn't do us a lot of good unless we know where no we can go out and talk to
the fellow that found the body he might be able to come up with something put a
stake out on the garage where Lawrence worked too he might show up there right
I'll get Norton on the phone don't let us know if he hears anything
you know the whole thing looks pretty clean all we got to do is put Lawrence
at his wife's house this afternoon we got it made there's only one trouble yeah
we got to find him before we can put him there after putting in the call to the
garage where the suspect was employed and arranging for a stakeout on the place
Frank and I checked the arrest record that had been made out four years
previously and obtained a list of his friends and relatives we contacted each
one of them but they could give us no information on Lawrence that morning we
met with Captain Lorman and we went over the evidence with him the fingerprints
found at the scene of the murder had been eliminated when they were compared
with those of the neighbor Earl Broody other physical evidence netted us
nothing the murder weapon still had not been found the only piece of evidence
that we had to attempt to identify the killer was the plaster cast of the
footprint found to the side of the house however Lee Jones said that it would be
of little use other than to identify the size of the shoe it was a size 10 with a
leather sole and a leather heel there were no distinguishing marks on the
impression two days went by and we still hadn't found Lawrence we talked to the
many worked with but none of them could supply us with any information as to as
possible where about we checked the bar as he was known to frequent without
result apparently the suspect had disappeared without a trace on Saturday June
14 three days after the murder Frank and I got back to the office after lunch.
I want to check the book yeah.
Look I find Joe Friday I'm him I'm Barney Lawrence we've been looking for you I
want you to get off my back leave me alone you mind telling us where you've been for
the past three days none of your business the only reason I'm here now is I want to
tell you to stop going around asking a lot of questions causing me embarrassed
what do you mean by that you know what I mean I don't mind telling you I'm pretty
sure about the things you said behind my back you probably didn't think I'd find
out about but I did not tell you to stop I take it easy large you keep your nose
out of this cop I'm talking to him I got a few things for you to before I leave
yeah I don't think you're going to leave what's that supposed to mean just what it
sounded like you're under arrest for what special emergency you figured I killed
that you look good for it and you better get a pair of glasses cop I'm walking out
of here and if you're smart you want to stop I wouldn't try it long. Long.
You haven't done anything wrong you got nothing to worry about come on back here
you know something what's that I've always wanted to get a cop. On your feet
keep your hands off me just keep your hands off me sit down right here. We're
investigating a murder someone beat your wife to death we're trying to find out
what it was and make you got a funny way of showing it. The suspect was booked in
at the main jail on suspicion of murder Lawrence put in a call to his lawyer and
arrangements were made to have him released on bond Frank and I attempted to
interrogate him before he was booked but he refused to answer any questions we put
to him the following morning we met with him his lawyer again we ran into the same
stubborn silence at eleven thirty a.m. we met with Captain Warman and Chief
Detective Stad Brown we laid out the evidence we had from all appearances we
had the guilty man in custody but it might be difficult to prove in a court
of law the one thing we've been unable to establish was Lawrence's presence in
the house at the time of the murder was decided that without being able to prove
this we would have little chance of getting a complaint from the district
attorney's office Frank and I started requesting the neighbors none of them
could tell us any more than they already had we re-questioned the man who found
the body Earl Broody he came up with the additional information that there had
been a crew of carpenters working on a house the day of the killing the building
was located next door to him directly across the street from the place where
the murder had been committed we questioned the carpenters none of them
could tell us anything however there was one man who had been working on the
construction that we were unable to reach it took us several days before we
were able to find him on Wednesday June 18th we got to his house at 730 a.m.
just before he left for work he asked us to talk to him in the kitchen of his
home I just haven't breakfast fix you guys up me no thanks Mr. You don't want
to take up much of your time don't worry about that what's this about anyway we
understand that you were working on
a job on Green Oak Drive on the 10th of June that right. Yeah yeah ninety seven
hundred block yeah I was there why you work there all day today that's right.
Let's place around five thirty say this about that woman it was murder yes you
got the fellow did it but we think we know where he is you guys like a cup of
coffee yeah fine we'll join you yeah thank.
You should know no thanks I'm sorry I can drink coffee without it I was used to
with myself. That's good.
But say if you know did the killing how come you're in jail we need a little more
evidence for you take in the court that's why talking to me that's right
something you might be able to straighten us out on. Why me well we've talked to
the other men in the crew seems like you're the only one left. Comes right back
to me. Yeah.
The matter here. Got to sit down.
Wrong you're sick. Poison. Poison and sugar.
I've been expecting thank you but yeah what kind of poison you're what kind there's
nothing you can do now. I know this is wrong taking poison. I killed the only.
I killed her. Ambulance on the way Joe don't hurry.
Who's dead.
At the inquest it was ruled that the suspect Murrell Patrick Hewitt died of
self administered poison and his death was listed as a suicide the victims
husband Bernard Jerome Lawrence was released from custody. Dragon it is a
presentation of the United States Armed Forces radio service.
On