Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to see is true.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
This is the city.
Los Angeles, California.
I work here.
I'm a cop.
It was Tuesday, February 3rd.
It was cold in Los Angeles.
We were working the night watch on a homicide detail.
My partner's Frank Smith.
The boss is Captain Norman.
My name's Friday.
It was 18 minutes past 2 a.m. when we got to number 15 San Jose Street, the Green Light
Tavern.
A killer was loose in the city.
His weapon, a.38 caliber revolver.
His objective, robbery and murder.
Ambulance on the way, George?
Can't use it.
They're both dead, wife and husband.
Did you call the crime lab?
They're on the way.
Okay, we better take a look at that back room.
Right.
Is this the way you found them, Collie?
Nothing's been touched.
Safe was open when we got here, cleaned out.
Shot twice through the back, both of them.
They both dead when you got here?
The old man was.
She wasn't.
Did she say anything?
She said the whole lab guy wanted all the money in the safe.
The old man gave it to him, pleaded with him not to shoot.
Yeah.
While I was handing over the money, the old man dropped a $10 bill.
He said he was sorry, stooped to pick it up.
Guy shot him through the back.
Mm-hmm.
The woman said she turned to grab her husband.
Guy shot her through the back.
Did she get a description?
She didn't last that long.
Tough luck.
What were their names?
Mr. and Mrs. Enrique Cotero.
They ran the place.
Good people.
They always are.
How much money did the guy get?
Not enough to pay the check.
Sergeant Allen and the crew from the crime lab arrived and went to work.
They dusted for fingerprints, took pictures of the back room, the safe, the victims.
Every object that could have any possible tie-in with the crime was photographed.
Captain Norman was with them.
Looks like that job over on the east side last month, Skipper.
Same M.O.
Kid with Ramsey.
He the witness?
Yeah, he worked for the Coteros, didn't he?
Yeah, bar boy.
Handyman, you know.
Ramsey's getting no place with him.
What's the matter?
Spanish.
Can't speak English.
Well, how's your Spanish, Frank?
Still high school Spanish.
All right.
Let's give it a try.
Was he the only one here?
When we got here, yeah.
Trabaja aquí como bar boy, they're done?
Si, señor.
Three months.
Mr. Cotero era muy bueno conmigo.
Como se llama?
Juan Pedillo.
Vivo al otro lado de la barra, en la casa de huéspedes.
What's he saying, Frank?
Well, his name's Juan Pedillo.
He's been working here for about three months.
He lives next door in the rooming house, claims he got along fine with Mr. Cotero.
Ask him to tell us how it happened, everything.
Juan, queremos saber exactamente cómo pasó esto.
Díganos de todo lo que se acuerda.
El tiempo, que tanta gente había.
Quienes eran.
Todos los detalles.
Toma su tiempo.
Si.
Eran como cinco minutos para las dos.
Tiempo de cerrar.
Mr. Cotero apenas había cerrado la puerta de enfrente.
He says it happened around closing time, five minutes to two.
Mr. Cotero had locked up the front door.
Siga, Juan.
Si.
Yo estaba detrás de la barra, igualmente la señora Cotero.
Estábamos limpiando los vasos y poniéndolos en su lugar.
Solo estaba un marchante en la barra.
Estaba sentado a la orilla de la barra.
Allí.
Juan was behind the bar with Mrs. Cotero.
They were cleaning up the glasses and putting them away.
There was only one customer left.
He was sitting at the end of the bar.
Let's do him back there.
Yeah, go ahead, Frank.
Siga, Juan.
El marchante creo que se llama Pete.
Estuvo aquí anoche y la noche anterior.
Siempre se quedaba hasta que cerrábamos.
He says the customer's name was Pete.
He was in last night and the night before.
Always stayed until closing time.
Buena, Juan.
Siga.
La señora Cotero recogió el dinero del registro y se fue al cuarto de atrás.
La oficina está allí.
El señor Cotero se sentó con el marchante y bebió con él.
Este hombre, Pete...
Un minuto.
He says about two o'clock, Mrs. Cotero took the money from the cash register and went
into the back room.
La oficina.
Yeah, the office.
And Mr. Cotero sat down and had a drink with this guy, Pete.
All right.
What happened then?
Luego, ¿qué pasó?
Bueno, yo limpié los vasos y como unos cuantos minutos después de las dos, llevé
una caja de botellas vacías a la bodega.
Estuve allí creo que como cinco minutos.
Cuando oí el ruido, bang, bang.
¿Qué hizo entonces?
Dejé caer las botellas y oí de nuevo, bang, bang.
Entonces corrí a ver.
Mi señora Mrs. Cotero estaba entendidos en el suelo.
Había sangre.
Este hombre, Pete, salía por la puerta de enfrente.
What's he saying, Frank?
He says a couple of minutes passed till we went back to the storeroom with a case of
empty bottles.
He was back there about five minutes when he heard gunshots.
He ran out and saw Cotero and his wife on the floor.
This guy, Pete, was going out the door.
La puerta de enfrente.
Yeah, the front door.
Just a minute.
Puede conocer a este hombre, Pete?
¿Si lo ve de nuevo?
Oh, sí, señor.
Sí lo conocería.
He says he'd know Pete if he saw him again.
Does he know anything about him?
Where he lives?
Where he hangs out?
¿Sabes dónde vive Pete, Juan?
¿Dónde come?
¿Dónde se mantiene?
No, estuvo aquí hoy, anoche y ante noche.
Es todo lo que sé, señor.
Pete was in here for the past three nights.
That's all he knows.
Ask him if he remembers what Pete was drinking, will you?
Yeah.
Juan, say a few words.
¿Lo que estaba bebiendo?
Oh, sí, señor.
Scotchy water.
Plain water.
Toda la noche lo mismo.
Scotch and water.
He drank the same thing all night.
Same guy?
Well, it ties in with that other job over on the east side.
Wherever the guy works, unconsciously, he seems to order the same thing to drink, doesn't
he?
Dispenseme, dispenseme, señor oficial.
Hay algo más que me acuerdo de él.
Algo más que él hizo.
Wait a minute.
You remember something else.
¿Qué fue eso, Juan?
¿De qué más se acuerda?
Cada noche, él tocaba la máquina de música.
Allí.
La tocaba mucho.
Todo el tiempo pedía cambio.
He says Pete played the jukebox a lot.
Sí, señor.
La misma melodía.
Toda la noche.
De vuelta y de vuelta.
¿Cuál era esa, Juan?
¿Se acuerda?
Sí, señor.
Me acuerdo.
Venga acá, le enseñaré.
What's he doing?
He wants to show us the jukebox.
He said Pete played the same tune all night.
Aquí, señor oficial.
Esta.
La número catorce.
La tocaba toda la noche.
De vuelta y de vuelta.
Funny man.
That's the one.
Number fourteen.
The tune might be another one of his habits.
Let's play it.
Go ahead.
You got a dime?
All right.
All right, ver updates.
The.
C.S.I.
He says that someone must be in every jukebox in town what is that proof it's not going to be very much help a lot of people like that too only one man can miss murder to. Ten minutes past three a.m.
Tuesday February third Captain Norman Frank and I left the Greenlight Tavern and we took one video the young bartender back to the office with us with the help of an interpreter police stenographer took down
a statement and then we showed him three volumes of coming out mugshots the deal and Frank started looking through. Captain Norman and I went across the street to the old city jail building the crime lab to see Russ camp and ballistics.
I was going to ask. For the first time what's the matter. Right here this is a bullet to kill that east side bar owner last month from a thirty eight cold special we know that the metal piercing bullet. Was like some good shape weren't that lucky tonight I mean.
Well here's the four bullets they fired in the back room of the Greenlight Tavern tonight what happened to them must have had a heavy load it penetrated the bodies and buried themselves in the wall and floor badly deformed yeah it's going to take some work can't tell you much right now what can you tell us.
Well I checked the bullets examined the lands markings I got left hand twist and they came from a cold 38 cold special same type gun killed that man last month it's not enough to go to court with it's enough for us right now we should get a make on one of these four bullets take a little time.
And you see these two slugs lands groups stations are pretty badly mutilated there's no chance for any fancy work there but. We still have a good bit left down here at the base of the bullet with any kind of a break you can match.
I believe you know I got. My friend. Yeah. I don't want. Smith yeah one for the I just identified the killer.
There's this picture. There's this package. It's one sure that's the right man.
This is a. Well according to his our card Albert J. Stacy white male American five foot eleven hundred seventy pounds brown hair blue eyes is a red flag and his index card violation of parole out of San Quentin eighteen months ago burger auto theft armed robbery.
He's used a gun before that makes him number one.
By four a.m. and a P.B. and a radiogram on Albert Stacy had been dispatched the manhunt got underway at ten o'clock that morning Sergeant Allen reported on his findings at the scene of the murder no fingerprints no additional physical evidence we counted on getting the suspects prints from the glass that he was drinking from at the bar but either Mrs.
Cotera or one had unknowingly given the killer his first big break all the glasses have been washed wiped and neatly put away before the shooting the prints have been destroyed in the process.
Just after lunch Russ camp and ballistics came up with an answer the bullets which killed Mr and Mrs. Cotera came from the same gun which killed the East Side bar owner a month before a thirty eight cold special.
Homicide lawman yes Carly.
Good thanks.
I just picked up Stacy or bring him in.
Six p.m. Tuesday February 3rd Albert Stacy was booked at the main jail on suspicion of one eighty seven P.C. murder on his person was found a thirty eight cold special the gun was immediately taken to the crime lab for examination.
Stacy was brought to the interrogation room Frank and I questioned him for four hours he denied any connection with the two robberies and the murders.
At ten o'clock that night we set out for coffee and sandwiches Stacy ate hardly he was worried but he didn't have the attitude of a trap murderer questioning went on midnight came Stacy hung on to his story he refused to say where he was at the time of the killing.
He had nothing to do with the robberies nothing to do with the murders at four a.m.
Frank and I took time out for a smoke he's bound to break he's got to.
Believe me he's a great actor I'm tired he doesn't strike me as a guilty man I'm with you but what about his record the mugshot the kid thinks.
How's it going nothing else can't just call about Stacy's gun yeah maybe we found the right man got the wrong gun.
Eleven a.m. Wednesday February 11th we were refused to complain against Albert Stacy by the district attorney's office on the grounds that we were unable to present sufficient evidence against him.
We then filed on Stacy for violation of the state penal code chapter three thirty nine statutes of nineteen twenty three as amended nineteen forty seven sub to an ex convict with a gun we put a hold on Stacy for his parole officer.
He was to be returned to San Quentin Frank and I started all over again from the beginning the complete description of the suspect along with his method of operation was distributed to every tavern and cocktail lounge in the city.
A special detail of men from the Metropolitan Division was assigned to stand a special watch between the hours of midnight and three a.m. during the month that followed we set trap after trap for the killer he failed to take the bait.
Another month passed we watched and we waited one a.m. Saturday April 4th Frank and I were cruising the central area.
A two eleven shooting in the bar on the corner of Bellevue and Allison a two eleven shooting in the bar on the corner of Bellevue and Allison suspect left the scene on foot suspect is wearing that coat like trousers.
Well I thought I'd take the call.
Let's go.
One K one K eight oh.
On that call to Bellevue and Allison we are in the vicinity we will have one K eighty Roger.
One K eighty any further description on the two eleven suspect.
One K eighty.
No further details suspect wearing black coat like trousers left the scene on foot.
Oh great.
Let's roll it.
Two minutes later Frank and I got to the Windsor buffet the robbery victims were the owners Mr and Mrs Ernest line bird Mrs line burger did all the talking.
One twenty five and Frank and I continued questioning Mr and Mrs line bird their description of the suspect his M.O.
and all of his actions matched those of the man who would shot down Mr and Mrs Katera two months before and the East Side bar owner a month before that the line burgers told us that the suspect drank only scotch and plain water and that he played the jukebox incessantly the same tune funny man.
That's right.
Funny man.
That's what he played.
I got a good look at his wrist too his right wrist.
What about it.
He's got a picture tattooed on the underside of a picture.
Looks like a cat a black cat.
You by any chance have the glass that he was drinking out of.
Yeah it's over by the door.
Smash the beds.
Sure I throw it at him when he ran out the door.
Two twelve a.m.
Frank and I drove Mr and Mrs line burger to the office where we took their statements and filled out a crime report.
After that we went down the hall to our and I and had one of the officers on duty check through the oddity file for us.
That's a job only guy in the file the tattoo of a cat on his wrist.
He's got a different tattoo on his left wrist.
He's only got one name.
Wesley our country.
We pulled his mugshot.
It was almost a dead ringer for Stacey.
We compared descriptions.
They matched almost perfectly.
The radiogram was sent out on him and communications broadcast a want for murder.
Captain Norman Frank and I checked our informants and all our available sources of information for the whereabouts of Wesley coverage.
There was no trace of him.
Two days passed.
We continued cruising the central and Holland Beck Park area.
You know that I thought the seven came after six seven.
Corrections seven I think that's two four two one.
Beverly Boulevard a problem now.
They may be six seven attention all units attention all units at fifth and Winston the bar at two eleven and shooting code three suspect left the scene on foot.
Suspect was headed west on Fifth Street.
Attention all units all units at fifth and Winston.
The name of the place was Doris and Jim's.
Inside we found a man lying on the floor face down.
He was dead.
There were three bullet wounds in his back.
Jim gave him the money.
Every penny of it.
He had Jim.
Jim gave it to him.
He didn't have to shoot him.
Didn't have to kill him.
We gave him the money.
Shut that thing off will you.
Five a.m. Tuesday April 7th Frank and I sat in on a meeting with Captain Norman.
Plans for a citywide dragnet operation to apprehend the killer were discussed and formulated.
By seven a.m. an overall plan was set in motion.
Every available man was ordered up for special duty in the central area.
The Newton Street division the university division and the Holland Beck and Highland Park areas.
Additional men from the Metropolitan Division plus an extra complement of forty five radio and detective cars were assigned to the manhunt.
The search for Guthrie's went on all that day all that night into the following morning.
No sign of Friday Saturday Sunday Monday.
Still no sign of the 24 hour watch continued.
Five days ten days two weeks Tuesday April 28th.
It was the end of the third week.
Our relief showed up a few minutes before midnight.
Before we went home Frank and I stopped by the office to check with Captain Norman.
They told us in homicide that he was down the hall and communications.
What's still in Skipper.
Just a minute.
All units.
Two eleven and a shooting.
In the bar at twelve thirty one north Fremont.
One two three one north Fremont.
One case six one out of a call code three.
One case six one Roger.
One case six one that's Ramsey and Crowley.
All units two eleven suspect has been identified by victim as Wesley Guthrie murder suspect.
The twelve hundred block of north Fremont is in the stakeout area isn't it.
Right on the edge of it I think.
Yeah here it is right here.
That's what you're gonna have a rough time the neighborhood here should be pretty well
covered.
All units on the two eleven and shooting at twelve thirty one north Fremont.
Suspect left scene in a white tan nineteen fifty Ford sedan license seven Tom seven nine
seven two seven Tom seven nine seven two suspect headed south on Fremont suspect headed
south on Fremont.
One case sixty one one case six one we have spotted two eleven suspect tan Ford sedan
license seven Tom seven nine seven two suspect is traveling at high rate of speed west on
third now crossing Lucas we're in pursuit.
One case six one Roger.
All units on all frequency standby.
One case six one is in pursuit of two eleven murder suspect suspect is heading west on
third street now crossing Lucas Avenue.
One case six one pursuing suspect west on third street now crossing Union Avenue.
Push it Jim don't lose it.
One case six one Roger.
All units suspect headed west on third street crossing Union Avenue units one R one three
one A one seven one R one nine block the intersection at Westlake and third street.
One hundred thirteen Roger.
One eight one seven Roger.
One hundred nineteen Roger.
Units one R one one and one A one two block the intersection at third street in Alvarado.
One R eleven Roger.
Closing in on him.
One case sixty one one case six one suspect now headed north on Burlington crossing Miramar
north on Burlington crossing Miramar.
Push it Trump Jim.
One case sixty one Roger.
All units suspect now headed north on Burlington crossing Miramar.
North on Burlington crossing Miramar.
Maybe they got him blocked.
One case six one one case six one go ahead.
Still pursuing suspect north on Burlington now crossing second street.
Looks like a dead end I think we got him blocked.
He's turning around.
Punch it Jim here he comes look out.
There goes our windshield.
You see alright Jim?
One case sixty one one case six one.
Maybe you heard it he got by us.
Suspect now headed east on Beverly Boulevard crossing Belmont.
Are you receiving us?
One case sixty one we are receiving you.
All units suspect now headed east on Beverly Boulevard now crossing Belmont.
One case sixty one is in pursuit.
One case sixty one suspect just turned off Beverly on the Figueroa.
Heading north on Figueroa crossing Temple.
Just a minute hold it.
Just turned on Alpine.
Hold it.
Turned again.
Suspect now headed north on Alameda headed for the Southern Pacific train yards.
Now crossing north Broadway going into the yards.
Don't lose him Jim.
All units all units converge on Southern Pacific train yards.
All units converge on Southern Pacific train yards.
From North Maine through the river.
From Alhambra Avenue to Macy's Street.
Suspect is in the yards.
You're not making it easy.
He's got nothing to lose.
One case six one.
One case six one come in.
One K61, come in.
One K61, we have suspect in custody.
We have suspect in custody.
One K61, roger. All units.
One K61 has suspect in custody.
Return to your districts.
All frequencies clear.
Well, I guess that does it.
Yeah, sounds like nobody was hurt. They didn't ask for an ambulance.
Big night. Lucky one.
Well, I'm going home to see fellas in the morning.
Good night, Skipper. Good night. Good night.
KMA 367.
Time check. 12.30 a.m.
How about that? What's the matter?
It's wristwatch of mine.
Jeweler worked the whole thing over. Gave it a complete overhaul.
Look at that, Joe. Five minutes slow.
Wait till I talk to that jeweler.
Well, how long ago did he work on it? Well, just four or five years ago.
Why?
Good night, Frank. Yeah.
What time you got, Lieutenant?
Hello.
On August 28th, trial was held in Department 82,
Superior Court of the State of California,
in and for the County of Los Angeles.
In a moment, the results of that trial.
The suspect was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree.