Dragnet (1954) - full transcript

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 pm. 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.

LA. 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 heel,

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 about the shells? Anything on them?

- 12-gauge Western, four empties.

It's a double-barrel,

or two guns were used.

You can see by these blowups

that on two of the shells...

the firing pin hits

a little off center.

You can see a little better

in this one.

- That's about it, huh, Ray?

- 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

Lorna 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? Anything there?

Key ring.

Fifty-seven dollars 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.

Number one muscle man. A killer.

Claims he's a sick man.

No known legitimate occupation.

Think he pulled the

string? He knows how.

Here's some more

who might qualify.

Lee Reinhard.

Wesley Cannon.

Chester Davitt.

Walker Scott.

Check it out.

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.

You think one of

these four? 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

so 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 pm.

An immediate meeting was

called by Chief of Police W.H. Parker.

It was over at 8:05.

Present at the meeting were District Attorney,

8. Ernest Roll.

Chief of Detectives, Thad Brown.

From the Division of Occurrence, Lieutenant Ruiz,

Commander, 77th Street Division.

Captain. RA. Lohrman, Homicide Division.

The working team out of Homicide...

Sergeants Jack Gotchand William Tilden.

Captain James E. Hamilton, Intelligence Division.

All days off were canceled.

All officers in the divisions

concerned were 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 pm. 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 ensure maximum privacy,

one floor of an isolated wing 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...

and placed 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.

Did you see the X-rays

on Miller Starkie?

You know Maxie's only got half

a stomach. Draggin' him around?

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 custard and baby food.

Don't worry, Belle.

Most babies do.

All right, Miss Davitt.

What do you got there? Letters,

tax reports. Got 'em at his place.

In here, Troy.

Coroner's report.

Yeah? What do 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.

The fight 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.

You listen to me, cop. I pay your

salary. Sit down. I'm gonna earn it!

You already have,

the kind of money you make.

What do they pay you to carry that

badge around... 40 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.

I give 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, mister, you just

settle back in that chair...

'cause I'm gonna blow

about 20 bucks of it right now.

This is the statement taken from Max

Troy in Room 312 of the Crown Regent Hotel,

April 9, 9:55 pm.

Present are Frank Smith,

Joe Friday.

Put your own name in,

will you, Ken?

All right, state your true name.

- State your true name.

- You know my name.

- Tell us anyway.

- Max Troy.

- Your full name.

- That's it.

You got a middle name,

haven't you? Yeah, but I never use it.

- We do.

- Max Edward Troy.

Your address.

Huh?

- Where do you live?

- You've got it. You picked me up, didn't you?

You've been through all this

before. Just answer the questions.

Sure. Ask me something

you don't know. All right.

- Where's Miller Starkie?

- I heard he was dead.

You heard why? Bled to death,

didn't he?

- Starkie was a friend of yours.

- I got a lot of friends.

- Where are 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. 1951... $48.00.1952... $74.28.

1953... $61.00. And you're

driving a Cadillac Fleetwood.

- Who's lying to who?

- I got a good tax man.

You 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?

He must've run out of luck. Why?

We weren't that close.

Somebody was.

Want to know what I think?

Yeah, we'd like to know.

All right.

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 right after I heard about this thing.

Poor dame came all unglued.

Must've cried for 10 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. They

cut him 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.

- How about 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.

You're sure? I saw him at

the track. That's all I know.

- When?

- I told you. A couple of months ago.

- Pin it down.

- All right.

I saw him at the track.

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.

Now 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.

You know that.

I know you're a liar.

You've been in touch with Starkie.

You've been in touch with him this week.

Prove it.

Read it.

Why? Read it. Leave

it alone. Just read it.

All right, I read it.

What's it say?

What's it say?

It's a ticket.

What kind?

A fight ticket.

What fight?

Art Aragon.

When? 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 got half the place.

- Fred Kemp owns it.

- Yeah, it reads that way on the liquor license.

- But you got half the play.

- Sure. With the license in his name.

You're a loser. With your record,

they won't give you a license.

- 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 do I have to? It don't prove anything.

- You get all your 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 this afternoon.

You're five days closer

than anybody in town.

Let me put you

on the right street, cop.

I came down here to help,

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.

You take it downtown and they

won't let you in the washroom with it.

Now get off my back

and hand me that ashtray.

You got the Cadillac.

Drive over and get it.

10:00 pm. 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?

- All right, 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 down here.

- You know I got trouble.

- We'll have the doctor look at you.

- 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.

I know it's your job.

But you lean on a guy,

you get him all mixed up.

I can't help you on this thing,

but I'll keep my ear to the ground.

If I hear any rumbles,

I'll pass 'em along.

Good night, boys. 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 am.

Suspect was turned over...

to the deputy district attorney

for further interrogation.

...how it strikes you! How about an answer, Scott?

Walker Scott.

You were a friend of Miller

Starkie's. Why can't you answer that?

I'm trying to answer. I want to be

friends with you fellas, help you out if I can.

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

Starkie was a friend of mine.

I'm sorry he got himself killed.

Let's start again. Where'd you last see Starkie?

See how Reinhard's doing.

Let's get back to Starkie.

When's the last time

you saw him? I told you. Vegas.

When? I told you that too.

Four or five months ago. I don't remember.

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 had told him...

that the eyeball witness

had been located on Rachel Street,

a block from the scene of the crime.

The Homicide team was taking him

back to the office to look at mug shots.

Captain Hamilton told us that

Starkie's wife had been notified...

and that she was in a near state of collapse.

She was under sedation and she

could not be questioned until a later time.

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 name of the eyewitness was Jesse Quinn.

Pleased to know you.

I was saying to these fellas the

African water hole is my favorite.

- How's that, sir?

- Quinn works for the museum out at Exposition Park.

Oh, I see.

What do you do there, Quinn?

At present,

I'm in custodian work,

but I'd like to be an intermediate museum 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 pictures?

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. Lorna Vista near Third.

I was driving home,

driving slow. I always drive slow.

- Yes, sir. When was that?

- Today around 4:00.

- Was he alone?

- Yes, sir.

- You sure about that?

- I got good eyes.

One fella don't look

like two fellas.

- What was he doing? Do you remember?

- Just coming out of the field.

- Did you notice anything unusual about him?

- No, not that I recall.

Drove on past him.

Kept him in my rear view mirror.

Looked like he was carrying something

shiny in his hand. Piece of pipe.

- About how large was it?

- I don't know. About... so gross.

- Did it look like a gun?

- No, looked 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 air mail

special to Las Vegas, San Francisco,

and to the San Diego police departments.

Sunday, April 10.11:30 am. 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's 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 to his usual diet...

Canned baby food,

half-and-half and vanilla 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 they couldn't remember when.

They recognized most of the 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 pm. 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 am.

We had 36 hours in which to build

some kind of a case against Max Troy.

We met with Captain Hamilton.

Since the Red Spot Grillwas

a known hoodlum hangout,

we felt we might possibly 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?

This is Grace Downey.

Sergeant Joe Friday.

He and his partner are heading

the investigation from our end. I see.

Friday will work out the meets.

He'll be your contact.

Want to wire her for sound? I'll

have to have your gear, Miss Downey.

What? Gun, handcuffs,

badge and ID.

Surely.

And 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 Minifon... a miniature wire recorder.

- I see.

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?

Skipper give you a complete rundown

on the Red Spot and what we're after?

Yeah. You two have been there.

What do the women wear?

I don't know. 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 what I mean.

A few spangles, maybe some lace

around the armholes.

- Something simple.

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

Anything else?

A few pleats in the skirt

might look pretty good.

Maybe some kind of ribbon

or flower to set it off. Okay?

I better get going.

What time the skipper say

you ought to be there?

He said about 5:00,

but it looks like I'm gonna be a little late. Huh?

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

4:40 pm.

We had 30 hours to try to turn up

some kind of 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 pm.

In an effort 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 pm.

Frank and I drove out to check with

Lieutenant 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 about a 1934 license plate?

How much more

you got to go, Tex?

We've covered all this. We're

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 they all worked together, but you haven't

given us enough to show they murdered him.

Gotta release him.

Look, Alex.

They dug half a pound of lead

out of Miller Starkie's chest.

One of those five put it there

or knows who did.

We let them walk now,

they'll take what we got.

They'll work it over,

twist it around. 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.

We know that. That still

doesn't make him a killer.

You say Miller Starkie

ran with him.

That doesn't put Troy

in that field last Saturday.

You keep telling us they killed

Starkie. Find a motive. Why'd he die?

I know this bunch.

I've dealt with 'em before.

I can give you

chapter and verse.

We can't hold 'em unless you

give us something to hang it on.

Grand jury's not buying our

opinions. They 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. He

stood trial in Colorado.

One to 60,

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 Patton.

That's a drag.

Really flipped, huh?

Glad you got that guy.

He was really nowhere.

We're checking around, Roy. Wonder if you

might've heard any rumbles on Miller Starkie.

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

- You 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 up like somebody had worked him over.

Oh. When was that?

About a month ago. He was jumping

pretty steady with that Troy mob.

Yeah, Roy, 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 down there,

hit the wheel heavy

and wrote out some checks.

They must've got back here

and stopped payment...

because Starkie was in a couple

days 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 all about?

- No.

I didn't ask any questions.

If you 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 a 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?

Did 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,

Mrs. Starkie.

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,

Mrs. Starkie.

You 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 of that?

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.

Miss Starkie, on March 12,

your husband was treated at

Fairfax Emergency Hospital...

for injuries received

in a beating.

- You 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 a fight.

Three of 'em beat him.

That's all.

Till 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? Do you know, Miss Starkie?

- I don't know.

But one of 'em was Max Troy.

Miller told me.

- Why, Mrs. Starkie?

- Hmm?

I say, why was he beaten?

Miller wouldn't tell me.

He said not to talk

to anybody about it,

and I never did till now.

One more thing.

When you were here before

and you searched the place,

well, 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

along with us.

That's all right.

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 pm.

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 still felt that if we could find the why,

it would eventually lead us to the apprehension...

and conviction of Starkie's killers.

The 47th 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.

Well, I could ask her.

I'll see when she comes in.

Just take a seat, boys.

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

♪ Way down south in... ♪

Yes?

If 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 ♪

Well,

I'm gonna leave that record with you.

Fine. I'll take

good care of it.

♪ South America ♪

Bye, now.

♪ A lovely cabana ♪

♪ You'll like the rhythm if you dig,

dig, dig me later ♪

Yeah, but she can't sing.

♪ Along the old equator ♪

♪ Where life

is much greater ♪

♪ Way down south ♪

♪ In South America ♪♪

Olé!

Has maracas, will travel.

You're cops,

aren't you? Yes, sir.

Sergeant Friday.

My name's Smith.

Yeah. Not that many hats

in California.

You ever had any dealings

with a man named Miller Starkie?

- Once too often.

- Tell us about it, will you?

I got a little rich one night

and dropped $500 in a crap game.

The check was light, so they

sent Starkie around 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 of it.

- Yeah?

The money never reached

headquarters.

A week or so later, this fella comes in,

says when am I gonna make good?

I told him I was clean on it.

He didn't believe me.

Had me backed right into a

casket till I got my brother up here.

He showed a bank slip.

We finally convinced this fella.

When did all this happen?

Would you remember?

The week before

Starkie was killed.

That would make it around the first

of April. That right? Yeah, that's right.

- Say, there's no chance of this making the papers?

- No, sir.

Uh, 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 pm. We talked to Sergeant 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 Starkienot reporting his collections.

Monday, April 25.9:00 am.

A grand jury subpoena was served on the

Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company...

directing them to furnish a

record of all to" calls...

made from the telephones of known

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 a Myles Stricher...

at Superior 7-7599.

That's a Chicago, Illinois,

listing.

Length of the call was 20 minutes. All right,

sir.

How about that other call?

It was placed at 8:30

the morning of April 9...

from Hollywood 3-3449.

That's 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 pm.

You sure about that time?

Yes,

sir. 1:00 in the afternoon. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Yes, sir.

Well,

we got the whole enchilada. April 9, 1:00.

Takes three hours to

drive up to LA. Yeah.

Starkie was murdered

at 4:00.

Monday, April 25.4:00 pm.

Policewoman Grace Downey was

ready for her first report.

Kinda like opening a box of Cracker Jack,

isn't it?

You never know

what you're gonna get.

What'd you do,

slip it under Troy's plate? Almost, yeah.

1:00 this afternoon,

I was talking to Fred Kemp, the bartender.

Yeah?

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 askin" a lot questions.

You heard from Chet? Davitt... you heard from him?

Cops wanted to know too.

No, I ain't seem him

for a couple of weeks.

Fred, I want you

to do something for me. Yeah?

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 till

Wednesday. I loaned it to my nephew.

When did he take it? A week and a

half ago. Day or so 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.

All right, Max.

What do you think?

I don't know.

Let's get that package and

see. Car will be back Wednesday.

Think you can get to that glove

compartment before the bartender?

Any ideas? That's not too tough.

The car will 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 Minifon.

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,

didn't ya... tamales and sauerkraut.

But, Joe, I had lemon sherbet.

Keep your hats on. You got one to

roll on. Code 2. Here's the address.

What have you got? Part of

your first string. Chester Davitt.

They found him.

While a team of men remained

to thoroughly search the premises,

Chester Davitt was taken downtown where

he would be booked on suspicion of 187 RC.

The unlawful killing of a human

being with malice aforethought.

Tuesday, April 26.8:30 am.

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 Maron 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 veld 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 little

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.

Quinn, we've got Chester Davitt in

custody. I saw it 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, the animals gather

there at sunset for their daily drink."

Quinn,

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 that 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 then.

Say around 5:00 or 6:00?

Mr. Friday,

you'd 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.

I don't see

what all the fuss is.

Papers said the dead fella was a

criminal. He don't seem worth the trouble.

I'm sorry 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.

- What 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 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-facewitness, 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 am.

10:15.

Joe Friday?

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear that the

testimony you're about to give...

in the matter now pending

before this body will be the truth,

the whole truth and nothing but the 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 one Miller Starkie?

I am.

This is a list of telephone calls

subpoenaed by court order...

from the Pacific Telephone

and Telegraph Company.

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.

It was 11:57 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.

Sergeant Friday,

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 Sergeant

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 when they talked?

- 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 just 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 telephone

conversations? That's an invasion of privacy.

How do we know all you 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 would 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 look the barn door after the horse is stolen.

- Yes, sir, in this case.

We'd have had a court order to

maintain constant 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 would 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,

huh? Yeah, that's right.

We'll have a verdict

in a minute.

Want a match, Alex? No, thanks.

- Where do we stand?

- It's not easy. No murder weapon.

We made Davitt

on that footprint.

Put him at the scene of the

crime. We got him in that vacant 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.

All right.

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 am.

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

I'm late. I've got an

appointment. Out.

You've got no right to...

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.

You think it's real funny,

do you, junior?

Hands up on the wall. Not this

time. I've got friends with me.

Would you rather do it

downtown? 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" 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. Come on. 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?

- The back office.

Grace Downey covered while

the sound crew buried it.

- Where's the listening post?

- Basement right across the alley.

Get a pretty good view of the

office from there. Airport detail.

What's it say, Joe?

Chester Davitt. He left on Flight

516 for Cleveland. 10:00 am.

Too hot. Probably sent him

out of town to cool off.

- You notified Cleveland?

- Inspector MacArthur.

Talked to him a half hour ago.

Hamilton.

Yeah.

You did, huh?

What gauge?

All right.

I'll wait till it's clear.

I didn't hear you.

No, sit tight.

Grace Downey. She 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-.

Four missing.

The finding of the shotgun shells...

was another piece of corroborative evidence...

if we could overturn 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 pm.

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. Huh?

Keeler and Stevens tailed Troy

into the hospital 40 minutes ago.

Skipper said to fill you in.

It's Lee Reinhard.

The bartender's with him.

Hello.

Who?

Talk up a little louder.

I can't hear you.

Where?

Cleveland?

No, he's not here.

Wh-Who's calling?

Hiya, George.

It's Fred. Fred Kemp.

I don't know.

Yeah. Well, Max is

due back any minute.

Lee's here.

All 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 a little 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?

Just 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.

Well, Davitt was hotter than we

thought. He must've made a mistake.

His mistake was being Davitt.

This is Friday.

Yeah, Captain.

Yeah, we know about that.

We know he's dead.

Long-distance call

from Cleveland just now.

No. Used the name George.

Yeah, 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. 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.

Just 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, Mrs. Davitt?

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 KGB-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?

Yeah. Says he can give us a positive

make on that missing barrel section.

Latent prints. Lifted several good 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 about 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 major

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.