Dragnet: Big Poison - Cyanide in the Coffee Cups

Sergeants Joe Friday and Ben Romero catch a case that starts quietly: an elderly Los Angeles couple, Walter and Kate Apperson, hasn't been seen in four days. Their next-door neighbour, barber Clarence Stokely, insists the pair never travels without saying a word - and something about the untouched house, the porch light burning for three straight nights, and a half-empty bottle of cyanide in the basement cupboard tells Friday and Romero this is more than a missing persons report.

The trail leads to the Appersons’ nephew, Frank “Buzz” Apperson - a college student with a stolen car charge pending and an alibi that unravels the moment his so-called camping buddies open their mouths. Forged cheques, a fingerprint match on the cyanide bottle, and a girlfriend who unknowingly backs up his lie all tighten the net, until a long, quiet drive across the city ends at a San Pedro pier and a confession that changes everything.

Episode Quotes

“Come on, Buzz. You know what happened. You’re gonna have to face it sooner or later.” - Sergeant Friday

“Only one thing missing, Buzz. A reason. Why’d you do it?” - Sergeant Friday

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Transcript

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Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case from official police pilots. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

SPEAKER_08 2:14

It was Saturday, September 30th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working a day shift out of homicide. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Blaine Steed. My name's Friday. It was 3 45 p.m. when I got to room 67A. Missing persons. Hi, Jim. Hi. Where's Al? Next door. Be back in a minute. Oh? Here's a phone message for you in the book. It's from your wife. What is it this time? She didn't say. It'll been a bad week. Oh, what's the matter? Lucille. Who?

SPEAKER_06 2:47

Our cat. Again? Kittens.

SPEAKER_08 2:52

Had a level of them by the time I left the house. It was a healthy cat, for don't know what I'm gonna do with him. Hey, your mother likes cats, doesn't you, Joe? You gave us two from the last letter. We still got them. They're as healthy as their mother.

SPEAKER_06 3:06

Yeah?

SPEAKER_08 3:06

Never pass up a meal. Hi, Joe. Hi, El.

SPEAKER_06 3:10

Sorry to keep the weight. Just getting this report straightened up.

SPEAKER_08 3:14

Mm-hmm. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Afferson. How long have they been missing? Well, today's the fourth day. They're an elderly couple. One of their next door neighbors got a little worried when he didn't see him around the house. Came in yesterday and filed a 316 on him.

SPEAKER_06 3:30

Clarence Stokely. Is that the neighbor? Yeah. Yes, here he lived next to the Appersons for 28 years.

SPEAKER_08 3:38

Never known him to take off like this. Checked Appersons' cottage out there, dirty dishes on the kitchen table. Not the way an old couple leave a house normally. And how about friends and relatives? Stokely called him. None of them have seen or heard from the Appersons for a week. Uh checked out two of the three living relatives, cousin of Eagle Rock, niece in O'Hambra. They don't think. Wonder if I can see that bit. Thank you. Well, how about the third relative? Nephew, Daddy Joe? Yeah. Frank Apperson. Says here he goes to a private college out near Monrovia. Yeah, I haven't been able to contact the kid he's away on a vacation. Possibly old couple might be with him? Not according to Stokely. Says the Appersons seldom spend any time away from their home. That's all we've got to go on, huh? Just the neighbors' story? Yeah. Oh, he says he checked the garage, too, the Apperson's car time. How does that tie in? Well, Mr. Apperson hasn't driven the car for the last year and a half. He has a nephew or some friend drive whenever he wants to go out. Uh, one more thing. May mean something, may not. What's how? Mrs. Apperton's an invalid. Yeah. She hasn't left the neighborhood in ten years. 4 p.m. Den and I left the office and drove out to interview the neighbor of the missing couple. After checking at his home, we finally located them at his place of business, a small barber shop at the corner of 54th Street in Lanksford Place. The chip gold lettering on the window read Jim Dandy Tonsorial parlor. Smaller lettering in the right-hand corner of the window read the proprietor Clarence Stokely. Except for a man in the white barber smock sitting in the first chair of the shop was empty. You tharn Stoker? That's right. Police officers matched. They'd like to stoke to you about the missing persons report you filed yet today. Oh, yes. Glad to help. Did you find out anything yet? You know the apple's pretty well, do you, Mr. Stoker?

SPEAKER_07 5:28

Twenty-eight years. Sure worried about Walter and Kate. Never known them to do anything like this. Say I couldn't be of service to you, could I? Well, I just had it here a good few days ago.

SPEAKER_08 5:39

How about you, Joe? Would like you to stand a trim. We could talk it over while I cut your hair. Don't think we'd be disturbed. They still look for. Yeah. Okay, fine. Yeah, I'll take a code. Thank you. Just J that grabbed me.

SPEAKER_06 6:00

Mr. or Mrs.

SPEAKER_07 6:01

Apperson didn't mention anything about going away on a trip, did they? Let me fix this around your neck, sir. Sorry to think. I play cards with them twice a week, usually. Kitty Apperton's a fine wisp player. Want me to take some off the sides here, officer?

SPEAKER_08 6:19

Yeah, flea. Not too much, though. When did you first notice the Appersons weren't home?

SPEAKER_07 6:25

Uh, Tuesday night. I thought we might go over and play some cards. I see. Better enough off right here, officer? Let me see.

SPEAKER_08 6:34

Yeah, that's fine for me. How is it you waited until yesterday to report the Appersons missing?

SPEAKER_07 6:39

Wipe and I are great friends who walk and kiddies, but it's certainly none of our business if they want to go off for a few days. Besides, we thought if anything was wrong, Buzz would have said something. Or is Bud. The Anderson's next to a burst. Name's Frank, but every call is little Buzz. But he was away at school, a place out near Monrovia. Yeah, Stanley College, private school. He only stays there part of the times. We were under the impression that this nephew, Bud, was on a vacation. No, not so. That's the first I've heard. Tell me Walt and Kitty would have told us. No, that's all right. Paper's a little dumb. Head down.

SPEAKER_08 7:24

You of think the nephew might account for the Afferson's car being nothing? You think he might have taken another one as vacation?

SPEAKER_07 7:32

Possible, I guess, but I think Walt would have mentioned it. That car was old, but he was particular about it. Maybe sit it out on top here a little.

SPEAKER_08 7:42

Mm-hmm. All right, fine. Do you know the nephew at all? Pretty well. Nice young fella. He got along with his aunt and uncle all right, didn't he? Yes, indeed. I love them both. Do you have any idea where the Africans might be, Mr. Stauffin?

SPEAKER_07 7:58

No, I don't. Here does my wife. That's why we called you people. We don't mean to be Barinsky's, but we're worried. Maybe just a little more off the top officer?

SPEAKER_08 8:08

No, I think that's okay. You have no idea where we might find the nephew of Buzz. Well, if he's away on vacation, might check with the school.

SPEAKER_07 8:17

Buzz might have gone off with a couple of his friends. Do something to dampen that town? Yeah, fine. Yeah, that porch lighted theirs. Burning for three nights and three days. That really kicks up the old electric film.

SPEAKER_08 8:36

Maybe the Africans may have overlooked it. Maybe.

SPEAKER_07 8:40

All right, sir. Yeah, it's a good looking haircut if I say so myself.

SPEAKER_08 8:45

Yeah. Fine. Here you go. Thank you. Oh, uh here's our card, Major Stokely. We'll be checking with you. Bye. Bye. Can I borrow your comb? Barber never combs your hair right. That's not gonna help you. Huh? It's the way he cut it. What do you mean? He put the part on the other side. After we left Clarence Stokely's barber shop, we drove out to the Afferson home on 54th Street just below Seaboard Avenue. We checked the house from top to bottom. The closets and the bedrooms were well stocked with clothes. None of the luggage seemed to be missing. In the basement, back on one of the cupboard shelves, we found a bottle of cyanide that was half-filled. In the kitchen, we found dirty dishes still lying on the table. We put in a call to ray thinker at the crime lab, and he came out and took sample scrapings from each of the three plates and specimens from each of the half-filled cups of coffee on the table. He also took along the bottle of cyanide to examine it for fingerprints. Ben and I called the record bureau just as a matter of routine and asked for any making warrants on the nephew, Frank Buzz Apperson. R and I called back with the information that Frank Apperson had been arrested for grand theft auto six weeks before his trial was pending. We checked back with the barber, Clarence Stokely. He knew nothing about the trouble. The next morning, Sunday, with the help of school authorities at Stanley College near Monrovia, we got in touch with the parents of two of Buzz Apperson's friends. They told us, as far as they knew, Apperson was on a camping trip with their sons. They were expected back in the next day around noontime. From one of the boarding students at Stanley College, we got the name of Buzz Apperson's girlfriend, a Miss Norma Louise Bernard. She lived in San Marino. Sunday night we drove out to interview her.

SPEAKER_01 10:37

I don't know what I can tell you, Sergeant. Fuzzy's on a camping trip with two of the fellas from school. That's all I know.

SPEAKER_08 10:42

When did he leave? Do you know much from us?

SPEAKER_01 10:44

Flash Monday morning. They left from school, said they'd be gone for a week. So they're coming back tomorrow's. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_08 10:49

You know Buzz Apperson pretty well?

SPEAKER_01 10:50

Yes, I do as well as anyone, I guess.

SPEAKER_08 10:53

What is he, just a casual date?

SPEAKER_01 10:54

Oh, Buzzy and I have been going steady for almost a year now.

SPEAKER_08 10:57

I see. How old are you?

SPEAKER_01 10:59

I'm nineteen.

SPEAKER_08 11:01

Have you ever met the Appersons, his aunt and his uncle?

SPEAKER_01 11:04

Just once. They're awfully sweet.

SPEAKER_08 11:05

How did Buzz get along with him, do you know?

SPEAKER_01 11:07

Well, fine, I care. The only argument Buzz ever told me about was a month ago. He wanted more allowance and his uncle said no.

SPEAKER_08 11:14

Was Buzz ever in any trouble, to your knowledge, Miss Bernard?

SPEAKER_01 11:18

I don't think I know what you mean. What kind of trouble?

SPEAKER_08 11:21

I mean, was he ever in any trouble at the college or with the law in any way?

SPEAKER_01 11:24

Oh. You mean that car Buzz took about two months ago?

SPEAKER_08 11:27

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 11:28

We were supposed to go to this school dance, and Buzz didn't have a car. I guess he was ashamed. He said he knew the fellow he borrowed the car from, but the day after the dance the cops came.

SPEAKER_06 11:38

How did his uncle react to that?

SPEAKER_01 11:39

Well, there was a terrible row, Buzz said. I really shouldn't be telling you. Bud Maysby's promise.

SPEAKER_08 11:45

Uh, how were feelings between the boy and his uncle before he left on the trip? Did he mention anything to you about that?

SPEAKER_01 11:51

Well, we had a date last Sunday night. I asked him how things were at home. He didn't seem to want to talk about it.

SPEAKER_08 11:57

The last time you saw him was Monday morning, is that right?

SPEAKER_01 12:00

Yes, just before he left on the camping trip.

SPEAKER_08 12:02

You're sure he went on that trip?

SPEAKER_01 12:04

Well, of course I'm sure.

SPEAKER_08 12:05

How do you mean?

SPEAKER_01 12:06

He said no matter who asked you, I went on a camping trip. He said it a couple of times.

SPEAKER_08 12:10

Do you offer any explanation?

SPEAKER_01 12:12

No, but I knew everything was alright.

SPEAKER_08 12:14

Oh, is that so? How?

SPEAKER_01 12:15

I could tell. Way he kissed me.

SPEAKER_08 12:20

That the next morning, Monday, Ben and I checked with missing persons. There was no additional information on the missing couple. We phoned the barber, Clarence Storpley. He had seen or heard nothing further of Mr. and Mrs. Apperson. We went down to the bank where the Appersons had their account. And with the help of the manager, we found that three checks had been passed on the Apperson checking account since the previous Wednesday, a full day after the missing couple had been last seen. One check was for $100 and two for $50 each. All of them had been cashed in Los Angeles and all bore the signature Walter Apperson. After examination, it was found each signature had been carefully forged. 10 45 a.m. We went back to the office. Are you two going scrumples? Oh, hi, Ray. I just coming. You finished checking your stuff through the crime labs? Yeah. I was passing over this way. I thought I'd drop off the report for you. Got it right here. How'd it go? Fingerprints on that bottle of cyanide. Leafing print you ought to make. Here's the name on it. Frank Boys Amerson. You look over those dirty dishes we found in the Amerson house? Checked them through. Nothing. How about the samples you took from those cups? Whoever drank that coffee's in trouble. It's loaded. Here? Enough cyanide to kill a voice.

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The best of all long cigarettes. Monday, 1 p.m. We obtained a specimen of Frank Buzz Apperson's signature, and we had Don Myers in handwriting check it out against the signatures on the three checks. Both styles of handwriting matched in every detail. At 1.30 p.m., the parents of Fuzz Apperson's two friends called to tell us that their sons were back from their camping trip. We checked the Apperson home. The nephew wasn't there. We drove out to see his two friends. Under questioning, one of them finally broke and admitted that Buzz Apperson had not gone with him on the camping trip. In the process of questioning the boys, one of them told us that he had been with a suspect two days before the trip when he purchased some medicine at the campus drugstore. We went to the drugstore and checked the prescription book. It showed Frank Buzz Apperson had purchased and signed for a bottle of cyanide two days before the disappearance of his aunt and uncle. Ben and I drove back to the Apperson house. When we arrived, the officers on stakeout had the boy in custody. No, I'm sorry, officers. I wish I could help you out, but well, maybe it's not as bad as you think. When did you last see your aunt and uncle? Monday? Before I left on a camping trip. They were in the habit of going off like this, Artie? Oh, sure. Aunt Kate and Uncle Walter have friends all over. They go on trifts all the time. Is that so? How do they get there? They drive, both of them. They've been driving for years. You talk to your uncle's friend, this Mr. Stokely next door. He says your aunt and uncle haven't been driving for at least a year and a half. Stokely, the barber? He's one of the neighborhood cranks, Sergeant. Anybody around here can tell you that. Minds everybody's business but his own. You don't seem too worried about your aunt and uncle. Think they're all right? Well, we'd have heard by now if they weren't, don't you think, sir? They probably took off on a trip. That's just about the size of it, I think. How about this trip of yours? Sir? Well, this camping trip that you just come from. Oh, a couple fellows from school. We went camping up by Big Bear for a week. Pretty good fishing for September. Ever been up there? Yeah, have you? Well, sure. I just said that's where we've been camping. Say, uh, I'm a little thirsty. There's a couple bottles of ale in the refrigerator. Careful, Bo? No thought about nothing. Well, would you mind if I had one? Sure could use it. Well, you go right ahead. We can talk in the kitchen. Place is in kind of a mess, I guess I'll have to go in and clean it up. Is your aunt usually leave in a hurry like this? Not usually, no. Dish is all over the place. She probably figured she'd wait till she got back to clean up. Aunt Kate does things like that once in a while. That's so? Yeah, she's like that sometimes.

SPEAKER_06 17:51

Well.

SPEAKER_08 17:53

Happy days. Yeah. Okay, Buzz, you want to tell us? Where are they? Your aunt and uncle, what happened? Say, I don't think I know what you're talking about. What's the trouble? Come on, Buzz. You know what the trouble is. Let's have a straight story. Gonna save a lot of time. Sir? We can draw it out as long as you like. It'll be a lot easier if you cooperate. Look, I don't know what you're thinking, Sergeant, but whatever it is, I don't understand. You what are you getting at? Something's happened to your aunt and uncle, and we're pretty sure you know what it is. Well, how could I? I've been away on this camping trip. You've been away, but not on a camping trip. Sir? We've checked you out from the day you came to live with your aunt and uncle, boy. You're gonna make us spell out the whole record boy? But I'd been away. I just got back. I don't know what's happened. We found a bottle of cyanide in the basement cupboard. Your fingerprints are all over it. Well, sure, that figures. We use it for bug poison in the garden. I take care of the garden. I use it all the time. You use it in coffee? Sir? Police chemists checked what was left in two of the cups that were on the table there. Cyanide in both of them enough to kill six people. Now look, boy, we've talked to your neighbors, your teachers, your girlfriend Norma, and those two pals you were supposed to go camping with. Now we can drag all of them out if we have to. They're gonna make a liar out of you. Sir? I think you got it the first time. Well, there couldn't be any cyanide in those cups. Why should there be? We think you can tell us that. But I can't. I don't know anything about this. I haven't any idea what you're talking about. Is this some kind of a gag? You know better than men. How about those checks, Buzz? Sir? The ones you forged your uncle's signature on. You need the money that bad? I didn't forge any checks. I was away on a camping trip. Dave and Willie were with me. They can tell you. You got in a row with your uncle. Maybe about that stolen car. Is that how it happens? It had nothing to do with it. I want to see Norma. I want to talk to Dave and Willie. They'll tell you. How about the men at the campus drugstore? Sir? One you bought the cyanide from. You want to talk to him, too? Fuck, are you two fellas kidding me? This must be some kind of a gag, is it? Your aunt and uncle are missing. There's evidence of foul play. Now, does that sound like a joke? Well, how should I know where they are? I wasn't there. I want to talk to Norma. I want to see Dave and Willie. They'll tell you. Why don't we drive over and see him now? It's all right with us. Wanna get your coat? Sure. Norma's the girl I'm engaged to. Dave and Willie are my best friends. They know everything about me. A couple of real nice guys. Think so? Sure. Let's go, babe. Yeah. Abe and Willie have been all through school with me, thinking about it for me. Yes? Sure. You can take their word, too, we will. 5 50 p.m. We left the Apperson house, drove across town, and headed over the Arroyo Seco toward the home of the suspect's friend, Dave Killifer. 6 33 p.m. We took a right turn off the preeway, headed south for another mile, and finally pulled up in front of the Killifer home. Buzz Apperson's friend Dave met us at the front door. What's it all about, anyway, Buzz? What's the pitch? Well, that's what I want to know. Look, is this some kind of a gag you guys cooked up on me? We were on the trip, Buzz. I don't know anything about any gag. What's all this about your aunt and uncle? I don't know. That's what these officers want to find out. I'd like to have you tell us again, Dave. Um, was Buzz here with you on that camping trip? Sure, that's why we came over. I'd tell him about it, you know. All right, let's have it, Dave. Was he with you on that trip? These officers aren't kidding, Buzz. They want the truth. Well, tell him, I was with you and Willie. We went to Big Bear. Looking for your aunt and uncle. I'm not gonna lie now. You didn't go to Big Bear with us. All right, Dave, thanks. Well, he's lying, officers. Who put you up to this stunt, Dave? They'll throw you in a jug for a gag like this. Who's behind it? You're the guy who said it was a gag? You told us to tell everybody you rubbed at the big bear with Willie and me. How about leveling? What's it about? He's lying. What's it about? About? You got nothing to hide. Have you? He's lying. You can tell that, can't you? Let's go talk to Willie. He'll tell you the truth.

unknown 22:12

All right.

SPEAKER_08 22:12

Thank you, Dave. That's all. All right, Sergeant. Sure there isn't anything I can do? No, thanks, just the same. Good night. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 22:19

Good night.

SPEAKER_08 22:24

Anybody could tell he was lying, isn't that right, Sergeant? Well, he's your friend, Buzz. Why do you say that? He was just plain lying, that's all. Couldn't you tell? No, I couldn't. How about you, Ben? Lovely. Why would you lie, Buzz? You told us he was your fellow. Some kind of a stupid gag they're pulling. A gang in the fraternity I belong to, Dave's one of them. They've done it before. I don't know why they're lying, but they are. Where's your friend Willie live? Sir? You said you wanted to drive over and have us talk to Willie? Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 22:59

Where does he live?

SPEAKER_08 23:00

Look, would you mind very much, Hugza? I got a terrible headache. Would you mind very much just driving around a while? If I could clear my head a little, I can't figure this thing out. All right. Why don't you roll down the window there, Buzz? Okay. Sure is hot out there. And thereof. Been a pretty long summer, hasn't it? Yeah, it has. Say, uh, I guess maybe we ought to forget about going over to Willie's place. He strings along with the rest. He'd probably lie too. You said you wanted to wanted just to have a talk with him. Yeah, but I've been thinking about it. He'd only lie. It'd be better if we drove over to see Norma. That's the girl I'm engaged to. Yeah, that's what we understand. If anybody can give you a straight story, Norma can. She doesn't live far. Straight down the road here in the San Marino. Yeah, we know. Oh. Sure would appreciate it if you'd drive over there. Okay. Norma can straighten this thing out. Well, girl, we're gonna get married as soon as we can. Oh? Yeah. She saw me leave on that trip to Big Bear. She won't lie to you. Sure wish my aunt and uncle had left a note where they were going. All this trouble. You mind if I lay out a couple things for you, Buzz? Ah, what do you mean? When a police officer picks somebody up, he's got a good reason for it. Yeah, but Dave was lying, Sergeant. You know that. It's a lot more than what Dave had to say. Now you've done something wrong. We don't know what exactly, but we've got an idea and we're gonna find out. You can't prove anything. I got that cyanide for the garden. We used it around the house for different things. You don't use it in coffee cups. What happened, boy? Where's your aunt and uncle? Next turn for Norma's house up by the signal, turn left from down. Come on, Buzz. You know what happened. You're gonna have to face it sooner or later. If it's not tonight, then tomorrow morning or tomorrow night or the night after. But I don't know what happened. The facts say you do. And they're not gonna disappear. Now you made the problem. It's gonna stick out in front of you until you find an answer. How about us? Norma'll know what to do. Wait till I talk to Norma. Why don't you stand up and face it, boy? Getting your girl mixed up in this isn't gonna help. She'll know what to do. Can she find your aunt and uncle? Can't she? How about the three checks? How about them? Can she explain those signatures that you forged? Maybe those fingerprints on the cyanide bottle. Can she help you out there? Oh look, Buzz, I believe you. You love the girl. Do you want her mixed up in all this? Okay. That's the right house, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah, that's Norma's house. Alright, what's it gonna be? Do we go in? She'd cry, she'd only cry. Norma thinks a lot of me, yeah? She's well, girl. I don't want to have to tell her. She'd only cry.

unknown 26:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 26:19

I killed my aunt and uncle.

SPEAKER_03 26:23

Some of us.

SPEAKER_08 26:25

8 p.m. Buzz Apperson directed us to drive to San Pedro to the west basin of the Los Angeles Harbor. We got out of the car and followed him to the end of one of the piers. He told us his story and we put in a call to the office. Within half an hour, a spireboat and a barge were on the scene, and a diver was sent down into the water a few yards from the edge of the pier. We stood by and watched. Buzz Apperson, Finn, and I. I put quite a bit of cyanide in the coffee. I had to be sure. How'd you manage to get both of them in the car? I waited till way after dark, and then I dragged him off. Drove down to the end of the pier right here. Put the car in low. He went over. Right where the diver went down to this end of the barge.

SPEAKER_07 27:09

All right. There was light up there.

SPEAKER_06 27:18

You better stand by can't be out here. Okay, sir. Let's go. Bud. Yeah. I am. Only one thing missing, boy. Sir. A reason. Why'd you do it?

SPEAKER_08 27:42

I'm not sure anymore. Stolen car trouble, I guess. That trial was coming up, all that trouble. I didn't want my aunt and uncle to go through all that. You mean that's why you killed him? I think so.

SPEAKER_06 27:58

I didn't want him to be ashamed of me.

SPEAKER_08 28:01

That must sound funny. Nobody's gonna believe you.

SPEAKER_06 28:04

Suppose I don't.

SPEAKER_08 28:06

Would it make any difference?

SPEAKER_06 28:12

I want to find a fan.

SPEAKER_05 28:15

The story you just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent.

SPEAKER_04 28:20

On December 15th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 92, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial.

SPEAKER_08 28:28

And now, here is our star, Jack Webb. Thank you. To successfully prosecute a criminal suspect, the working detective gathers all available physical evidence. In the crime lab, this evidence is carefully selected and screened to determine its worth. Throw with a cigarette. The makers of Fatima select and buy the finest tobaccos, both Turkish and domestic. And these tobaccos are skillfully blended to make Fatima extra mild. Best of all, long cigarettes. Pack after pack, they're extra mild. If you're a long cigarette smoker like I am, smoke Fatima.

SPEAKER_04 29:07

Frank Buzz Apperson was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life imprisonment. He is now serving his term in the state penitentiary. You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the office of Chief of Police W. H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department.

SPEAKER_08 29:28

Fatima Cigarettes, the best of all long cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet from Los Angeles. Coming up, Stuffy's Tavern, be sure to hear Theater Guild Sunday on MBC.

SPEAKER_00 29:39

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