- A truck kills an old lady and her little grandson at a crossing and drives away. The owner of the truck asserts that he let a man called Paul borrow the truck for one hour, but he doesn't know the last name of this man or where he lives. The police must investigate all circumstances, but should Friday and Smith really spend lots of resources on trying to find a man they hardly believe exists at all?—Maths Jesperson {maths.jesperson@bredband.net}
- Synopsis - The Big Hit-Run Killer Aired 3-18-54 Friday, Smith are working night-watch hit-and-run traffic division felony detail; they are at a movie theater looking for the escaped driver of a vehicle striking an elderly woman, killing her instantly and severely injuring her nine-year-old grandson. They interview the ticket booth lady cashier, Blanche Chapman. She saw the truck run the red light, did not even slow down. She says it was a man driving the truck, but not much more, it happened so fast. It was a panel truck, light tan color with black lettering on the side, three or four words painted on the side, one word was bakery, thinking it was a Ford, late model.
Friday called in the information to HQ, an APB went out on the vehicle, interviews continued with witnesses to the accident, but they did not furnish any information not already known. The husband of the sixty-four-year-old woman, Fred Stewart, came to the coroner's office to identify her body, the boy hit was still in critical condition.
Next day, a special bulletin went out to paint shops on the vehicle description. Smith says only one bakery has a fleet of the described trucks, a fleet of 173 vans. Smith gets word, the boy died.
Friday, Smith visit the home of Arthur V. Singer, a truck driver, claims it was his bowling night, he was in an accident with the truck, he looks for the plate number of the vehicle he hit. He comes up with the number, Friday calls it in to DMV. It was registered to a driver not home, he called back, Smith talks to him, he confirms Singer's accident happened as they were told, clearing Singer. A call comes in, the accident truck they think is found. The found truck is confirmed as the bakery's, driver name Daniel Miller, who moonlights at a diner. Friday, Smith talk to Miller, he lent the truck to a regular customer that prior evening, says his name is Paul. That is the only identification he has on the guy, he let him use it for an hour and has not seen him since. Paul told Miller he wanted to take his TV set to a guy and get it fixed, so he let him use it at about eight. Miller tells Friday, Smith he worked through from seven to midnight. He works there six nights a week. A customer comes in orders, says to Miller we missed you last night, we were here at about ten-thirty. Miller comes up with multiple stories of his whereabouts the previous night. Finally, he is brought to HQ for questioning. Miller gives a half-dozen people who might substantiate his alibi, none can. Friday's narration states Miller denies anything about the hit and run accident and he cannot provide any information of where he was during the time of the accident. Miller is booked, he is released, comes back to Friday, Smith to plead his case of innocence offering to help find Paul.
Friday, Smith hear from Miller stating another man spotted Paul Barton at a hotel. Friday, Smith camp out in Barton's room waiting for his return. That evening Barton showed, eventually brought downtown due to holes in his story. Barton was pinched a year ago for drunk driving according to the police records. Friday, Smith talk to Barton at HQ. Miller is called in to HQ as well. Miller confronts Barton, calls Barton on getting drunk, hitting the people, taking off and not returning, abandoning the truck. Barton admits to two drinks.
Paul Barton was convicted on a hit-and-run felony, sentence was one to five, now serving in the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, CA.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content