"Stine, Jean Marie - The Boxoffice Caper" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stine Jean Marie)

Held's mother supported this story.

Asked Held if she had seen anyone near the theater office around the time she was leaving.

She replied in the affirmative.

I asked if she could identify the figure.

Held stated that she could not. Explained she had been outside the theater at the time. It was just as her mother was pulling up at 8:20. Held had glanced back toward the theater, and through the plateglass doors, glimpsed a figure by the theater office -- but not clearly enough to see who it was.

11:20 p.m. Arrived Merritt Apartments. Asked officer Ray Cummings if suspect had left apartment since entering.

Cummings replied in the negative.

We waited.

A few minutes later Ackerman and Mrs. Brackett.

We gave them time to get settled and then knocked on the front door. 11:25 p.m. The man who had appeared to be drunk at the theater answered the door.

I told him if his name was Edmond Brackett. He said it was.

I identified myself, and informed him that I had a warrant to search his apartment.

I signaled the other officers gathered down the hall.

We entered but no search was necessary.

The stolen Rialto receipts were piled in the middle of the Brackett's coffee table.

Ackerman was in the midst of counting them.

Arrested Forest Ackerman, Rialto manager, Leigh Brackett, boxoffice attendant, and Edmond Brackett, her husband.

Charges: Grand theft and conspiracy to commit grand theft. The district attorney's office may find others.

Additional Charges: Ackerman and Mrs. Brackett, perjury (they signed the statements against Gernsback).

11:40 p.m. Returned to headquarters

CONCLUSIONS:

According to Lilith Lorraine, she was arguing with Gernsback at the counter at 8:15. That called Ackerman and Mrs. Brackett's account of having seen Gernsback by the office at that time.

On the other hand, if Held, the counter woman, was telling the truth, she saw someone near the theater office at 8:20 -- when Ackerman was helping the usher quiet a drunken patron.

That left Leigh Brackett, the boxoffice attendant. She was completely alone at 8:20.

The real question was how she planned to get the money out of the theater. She must have known the police would have to be called immediately. Were confederates involved -- inside or outside the theater?.