Call Northside 777 Page #5

- That's all I got, but it's the truth.

Would you be willing

to take a lie-detector test?

Mr. McNeal, for 11 years...

I've been waiting for a chance

to get at that box.

You know what you're up against?

If it turns out bad,

you're cooked.

If it turns out good, it's only

Leonarde Keeler's professional opinion.

Doesn't count legally.

- I'll take the test.

Okay, I'll fix it up for ya.

Listen, kid. Take it from me.

Keep away from Keeler

and that lie detector.

Oh, I'm not afraid of it.

- That's what I said.

Why, I had the cops, the state's attorney,

even my own lawyer believin' in me.

I was a cinch. Then they talked me into

going up against that box.

Well, what happened?

- What do you mean, what happened?

I'm doin' life, ain't I?

Well, the only thing the machine is for...

...is to record the emotional

reactions of an individual.

Uh, we place a blood pressure

cuff about the upper arm of the subject.

And then, through the impulses

to the timer system...

...record the variations

in blood pressure and pulse on this stylus.

Then the pneumograph

is fastened about the subject's chest...

...and we record the changes

in the respiration.

And the electrodes fasten on the palm

and the back of the hand...

...to record the changes

in the electrical conductivity of the skin.

It's a very sensitive criteria

for emotional reaction, emotionality.

Mr. Keeler's all ready for you, Frank.

Sit down, Frank.

[ Keeler ] Just take it easy and relax.

[ Wiecek ] I'll do the best I can, Mr. Keeler.

[ Footsteps ]

Hello, Mac.

What are you doin' here?

What are you doin' here?

I was drivin' out to Decatur

to see my brother and... thought I'd stop by.

I've never seen a lie test before.

Decatur's out the other way.

Yeah, well, l-I took the detour,

the long way around.

Yeah. Yeah.

These are a pair of electrodes.

I've clipped them to the palm

and the back of your hand...

...to pick up the electrical changes

in the nervous system.

I'm gonna try an experimental test now.

I want you to take

one of these cards, look at it...

...remember the card that you chose,

and then place it back in the group.

I'm going to ask you one card at a time...

...and I want you to say 'no'

to each card that I ask...

...including the chosen card.

Do you understand?

- Yes, sir.

Now, just face forward.

Don't watch the machine...

...and sit quietly as you can.

- [ Clears Throat ]

Hey, what's he doin' that for?

Oh, he's forcing him to lie

so it'll show on the graph.

Gives a good basis

for judging Wiecek's reactions.

Did you choose the seven of clubs?

- No.

Did you take the three of spades?

No.

Did you take the queen of hearts?

No.

Did you take the ace ofhearts?

- No.

Did you take the five of diamonds?

No.

Did you take the six of clubs?

- No.

You took the five of diamonds, Frank.

Did you?

- Yes, sir.

Now, I have a prepared list

of questions... I'll ask you.

And I want you to answer

all these questions now by 'yes' or 'no.'

And if you have anything to explain,

do that after I ask you all the questions.

Just turn around and face forward.

Sit as quietly as you can

all the way through the test.

Now, don't forget, just 'yes' or 'no'

all the way through.

Yes.

- Is your name Frank Wiecek?

Yes.

Did you have breakfast this morning?

- Yes.

Do you know Tomek Zaleska?

- Yes.

You're 6 feet tall. aren't you?

- I'm 5 foot 9.

Just a minute now, Frank.

Just 'yes' or 'no' all the way through.

I'm-- I'm sorry, sir.

- And sit quietly.

Yes, sir.

- I'll have to begin again now...

...and just ask you some

of these questions.

Yeah, I'm sorry.

Is your name Frank Wiecek?

- Yes.

Were you in Wanda Skutnik's

store on December 9?

No.

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

Were you home at the time of the robbery?

Yes.

That's all I'm going to ask you.

Just sit quietly now for a few moments...

...and I'll take it off.

- Yes, sir.

Well, we're all through, Frank.

Good-bye, and I'll probably see you later.

See you later, Frank.

What's the verdict?

- Well, there's the record.

What was that?

What's that jump there?

[ Keeler ]

Well, he reacted in all three curves...

...uh, very specifically.

He lied to that question.

Is that where you asked

him if he killed Bundy?

No.

'Are you married?'

Well, he-- But he-he didn't lie.

He-He isn't married. He's divorced.

- Yes, but he's-he's a Catholic.

And he still thinks he's married.

And he feels within himself

that he's married.

And so, he reacted in deception.

But do you think he lied

about anything else?

Well, we've run so many records today--

four or five of them--...

...and I'd like to take a little

time to go over them...

...and compare one record

with another and the reactions.

And, well, I'll call you

later on this afternoon...

...and let you know.

- All right.

Hiya, McNeal.

What can I do for you?

Say, Larson, I'd like to check

on the date of arrest...

...of a fellow by the name of Frank Wiecek.

You mean, the cop-killer?

- I'm just trying to do a job.

I'm afraid I can't help you, McNeal.

Our arrest books for 1932

are in the warehouse.

They're not available.

What do you want me to do,

go to the commissioner?

You know where you can go,

as far as I'm concerned.

Here it is.

'Booked for murder December 23.'

[ Shutter Clicks ]

- That make ya happy?

One of the things I was lookin' for.

He was booked on the 23rd.

Now, if I could just find out

if he was arrested before then.

What difference would that make?

Well, if he was arrested before the 23rd...

...it'd prove that this Skutnik dame

could've seen him a couple of times...

...before she identified him.

Captain Norris of the New City Precinct

handled the Skutnik identification.

He never operated that way.

Captain Norris, huh?

Say, let me see the arrest books for

December 1932, will ya?

I can't help you on that.

- Look, all I'm trying to do is to find out...

...whether this fellow Wiecek

is a cop-killer or not.

Back during Prohibition,

the police department...

...got tough when a cop got killed.

Now you're talkin' like the guy in the street.

Always thinks we're runnin' around with

rubber hoses beatin' up innocent people.

Look. You seem to think

the cops framed Wiecek.

You're the one that's doing the framing.

You're framing

the best police department in the country.

Bundy was a good cop and a good man.

Why don't you write

about his wife and son?

And about the other 357 cops

killed in the last 20 years?

Back in 1932,

they did a lot of things.

Maybe they did, but they

weren't always wrong.

How do you know?

Were you in the division at the time?

No. All I can say is...

...it's awful hard for a man like me

to be fair to a cop-killer.

And supposing he isn't a cop-killer?

Maybe I ought to help ya,

but I just can't.

You've helped me plenty.

Don't worry.

Captain Norris, huh?

Had charge of the Skutnik

identification, huh?

Well, it looks like

he's sort of mixed up in this himself.

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