- A man is found dead in the gutter. At first it seems as a hit-run case, but Friday and Smith become suspicious when all witnesses from the night before give exactly the same story. Usually witnesses are at variance in some respects.
- Synopsis - The Big Frame Aired 4-22-54 Friday, Smith are working the day watch out of Traffic Division Hit And Run Felony Detail, an aching wisdom tooth kept Friday awake most of the night, as he packs some dental gum toward the back of his jaw. He was trying to stop the pain until his dental appointment; he said he wasn't having much luck. Smith gives his opinion on wisdom teeth to Friday; the appointment is for that afternoon.
Friday, Smith go to the spot where Eddie Stokes' body was found, in the gutter, tire skid marks nearby. The skid marks were too worn to be related to the dead body, days had passed since the marks were made. The officers head to the funeral home where the body was brought; Jonathan Larrimore is the Deputy Coroner, director of the funeral home, he moved the body to the funeral home. Larrimore believes it is unlikely the victim was hit by the driver, possible, but unlikely.
A lady named Marian Fuller stops by the funeral home to claim the body, she claims she is the victim's fiancée. She sits explaining her account of the evening with the victim; the usual dinner, then drinks at another location. Marian spoke to a guy at the bar, Eddie got sore, she broke up the fight, walked outside to get some air, passed out and was brought home by persons unknown. She woke up this morning unable to account for her actions after passing out in the unknown car. Joe asks her to go with them downtown, a police stenographer will take her statement and there are a few more questions they would like to ask her at HQ.
Stopping at a drugstore for Joe's tooth medicine and for Marian's hangover, Friday narrates Eddie Stokes was divorced, his ex-wife Katy Stokes stopped at the same bar to collect child support payments because Eddie was often falling behind. Each time Katy Stokes met at the bar, they had argued bitterly. The stenographer took Marian's statement and she was released.
Two officers were checking at the bar where Eddie was last seen alive, while Friday, Smith drove to Katherine Stokes home. Katy tells the officers she maybe saw Eddie a dozen times since divorced five years ago. She last saw Eddie last Thursday at the bar called the Brown Barrel, when she had to chase him for three months child support. She doesn't have anything good to say about Marian Fuller, but claims she doesn't know her. The house she lives in was given to them as a wedding present, and the trouble with the marriage started when Eddie started drinking.
The night's account at the bar with Eddie has the same story from seven patrons and the bartender; Joe says they all seem to be lying. Friday, Smith canvas the area businesses, including butcher shop owner, Eugene Murray. Murray and his wife were in the Brown Barrell last night, the bartender, Karl Jansen and others were there. Some guy Murray had never seen before, comes up to him and his wife, saying a guy's been murdered, you better get out of here. The stranger was drunk, Murray ignored him.
Homicide asked the officers to stay on the case, they were short-handed, Marian Fuller was called in again, same story, she was released again. Friday tells Smith, Marian Fuller's story is full of holes, drunk, passed out, woke the next morning to find her boyfriend was dead, from a hit-and-run driver. The two officers assigned to the bar to help with the case got information from the bar-boy. There was a fight, about one-thirty, he doesn't remember who was fighting. The bar-boy dumping the trash the prior night also saw Fuller passed out in a car with a traffic ticket on the windshield. The car was registered to a William Huddy. Huddy was located in a bar in the neighborhood. Friday, Smith interrogate Huddy at the bar, he says he drove Marian Fuller home the other night.
Huddy accounts for the night after giving Fuller a ride home; he returned to the Brown Barrel. He talks to Friday, Smith at HQ, then released. Karl Jansen, Brown Barrel bartender, at HQ gives his account of the fight. Karl gives up Henry Baxter as the man killing Eddie. Henry works on the ships, comes to the bar, Karl cashes his pay-checks. Karl's wife calls, Baxter just walked into the bar.
Friday, Smith stand out front of the Brown Barrel tavern, the other two officers cover the back, Karl's wife re-enters with Karl, they are joined at a booth by Friday, Smith. Friday asks Karl to request the two officers covering the back to come around front, Friday, Smith then confront Baxter. Smith puts the handcuffs on him, they walk out, after hearing Baxter's confession, slugging drunk Eddie, his head hitting the curb. The two other officers take the killer away, Smith tells Friday he made an appointment with Smith's dentist now, despite the late hour.
Suspect was tried and convicted of manslaughter. Henry Baxter is now serving his term in the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, CA.
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