- A suicide attempt leaves a woman in a coma. Friday, Smith need to find the reason.
- Season 6 Episode 15 Synopsis - The Big Switch Aired 1-10-57 Friday, Smith are working the day-watch out of Homicide Division, the boss is Captain Lohrman. A call came in about a girl trying to kill herself was brought into Georgia Street Hospital, Friday, Smith are at the facility being updated by Dr. Hall, watching her, while administering a transfusion, to help with her recovery. It is still touch and go for now. Her identification says she is Mona Fenton, the hotel reservation showed her as Mrs. John Lorris. When possible, Dr. Hall requests the police ask whether Mona Fenton was under a doctor's care, because he found marks, indicating she was an addict. The desk clerk at the hotel smelled gas from the room, entering with his pass key, he found the windows blocked with torn bedding, the gas heater was turned up, and the woman passed out on a bed. The room was registered to a Mr. and Mrs. John Lorris. The room was immediately aired out and an ambulance called. Dr. Hall said he would contact Friday, Smith as soon as her condition improved.
Friday, Smith drove out to the hotel, met with the clerk in the room, he updated the officers on the couple checking the night before, no luggage, the room was a mess, indicating a struggle. The man left the room early. The couple had already checked in before the clerk returned. Adjacent room occupants did not hear anything from the couple, no quarrel, no sounds. The crime lab police found an empty capsule under the bed, possibly containing heroin. Prints were taken from the drinking glasses, booked as evidence. Names John Lorris, Mona Lorris and Mona Fenton were checked through R & I, no record found on any name. The clerk had been put on alert in case the handyman at the hotel got back to his room and if John Lorris returned to the hotel.
Pauline Fenton, Mona's mother is interviewed, they have not spoken in a month. Mona has her own entrance to the house, coming and going as she pleases, according to Mrs. Fenton. Mona left college, prompting the argument with her mother. Mrs. Fenton did not know of any other suitors. Mona was not Mrs. Fenton's daughter, but her step-daughter, belonging to her father's first wife. Mona's actual mother died when she was just a child, she never grew close to her stepmom. When Mona's father died, Mrs. Fenton was all she had and vice versa. Her other suitor was an older gentleman, driving a possible English sports car, no name given by Mona. Mona threatened to move in with Peggy, a co-worker at the same café, where Mona worked. Friday says they are moving Mona to General Hospital, she could check on her step-daughter there. Friday takes a call at the Fenton's, Mona has had a relapse.
Friday, Smith drove out to the café to talk to Peggy Greggson, who says her old boyfriend came around several times in the past month. Mona kept telling him no, it is over, good bye. Peggy tells Friday, Smith of Terry, who drives a jag. She has no idea where Terry lives, Mona kept it quiet about him. The old boyfriend threatened her about seeing Terry. The other waitresses confirmed what Peggy had told the officers.
The old boyfriend's landlady said he had not indicated why he moved out, having paid the rent through the end of the month. Richard Burdick was the old boyfriend. There was no record of him through R & I. A call came from General Hospital, the Fenton girl had regained consciousness, they were on the way to her bedside.
Mona Fenton is awake and belligerent. She is rude to the officers. She says his name is Terry Hamilton. Plans were to get married yesterday, but he walked out. They had a fight, he slugged her and left. She said Terry got her hooked on drugs, when they first met. She says she knows Hamilton's address, she would be willing to make a buy, when she gets out of the hospital. Friday, Smith tell her to get some rest. She asks the officers for Richard Burdick. Friday says Burdick left town. Mona says she told Burdick she was getting married, he tried talking her out of it. Mona admits she was wrong about a lot of things. The first time she ever called Pauline mom was just yesterday.
The suspect was tried, convicted for the unlawful use of narcotics; Mona Fenton is now on probation. Through the cooperation of Mona Fenton, Terrance Hamilton was found guilty of the State Narcotics Act of California, and is now serving his term in the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, CA.
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