- Friday and Smith attempt to get ahold of the leaders of several street gangs in order to stop an approaching gang war.
- Synopsis - The Big War 4-1-58 Friday, Smith are working the day-watch out of a Special Detail of Homicide Division. Word on the street is a war among teen-age gangs was to erupt soon; Friday, Smith are to prevent it from occurring. Reportedly, the gangs were supplied with homemade weapons and the police do not know when the fighting would start. Sgt. Dan Gardner, juvenile division, fills the guys in on the present situation. There are five juvenile gangs, all ready for trouble, and they don't know when they are set to go off.
Robert Barson, leader of the Black Tigers, comes from the Midwest. There was nothing but problems with him back there. Dan shows Friday, Smith a selection of the gang weaponry, brass knuckles, blades, ice pick, homemade sap, chains, etc. A meeting is set for tomorrow evening, especially trying to get through to the Barson kid. Barson's mother thinks Robert is hard to understand. She thinks the cops are at fault. Friday tells Dan he should have passed the word, San Quentin is full of people that are hard to understand. Friday shows his frustration as Dan speaks. The following night leaders of the gangs with some parents showed up at the juvenile center as requested. Most parents did not show, particularly those of Robert Barson, the gang leader seemingly promoting the war. The following morning, Friday, Smith go to see Mrs. Barson, questioning her on her son's friends, the battle that is about to start, and Robert's whereabouts when he goes out at night. Mrs. Barson has the belief Robert is at the gym or the library, because she says she trusts her son. Robert comes home, sits down with Friday, Smith, listening to their accusations of heading the gang. Robert denies the whole concept. The conversation among the mother, the son and the police leads nowhere, mother denying anything related to gang involvement. A stalemate has both sides apart. The mother takes the boy's side and there was no use trying to convince her otherwise. A visit to Mr. Barson at his workplace was met with a belligerent attitude, he ordered the policemen out of his office. Efforts to reason with the Barson parents proves futile.
Captain Glavas, Sgt. Dan Gardner, and Friday, Smith meet at the Juvenile Division office. The Captain sets the itinerary, any kid out after ten-o'clock gets pulled in, the streets will be safer with them detained than them involved in gang activities. The Captain takes a call; the gang war started, the curfew was good idea that came too late, he says. The officers are on their way to the site. Friday narrates the order came from Captain Glavas, ten J cars were set to the site and to cruise the area. Any juvenile appearing in the fight or having any weapons on them were to be picked up. When all the officers, Captain included, arrived at the site, an ambulance was attending to one of the members. One member was blinded. A girl comes to Friday, Smith seeking aid for her boyfriend lying in a car. Friday tells Frank to call the coroner.
The seventeen-year-old Barson boy was pronounced dead from the knife wounds in his chest. Clarice Porter was brought in for questioning with Friday, Smith; she identified herself as Robert Barson's girlfriend. Clarice named Warren Stoll, nicknamed Jumpy, as the teen who stabbed Barson to death. Half a dozen gang members tabbed Stoll as the boy yielding the murder weapon; statements were taken from all concerned. All parties were detained pending a hearing in juvenile court, Friday, Smith interview Warren Stoll. Warren initially denies the incident, but when Friday, Smith tell him his fingerprints are all over the knife used to kill Barson, he breaks down. Warren Stoll was booked on suspicion of manslaughter. Friday, Smith go out to the Barson residence, trying to deal with Mrs. Barson. She accuses the police for her son's death, while Friday tells her the other person who knew her son was the boy who killed him. She sits on the couch weeping and Friday, Smith exit.
Warren Stoll was guilty of manslaughter, now confined to a facility of the State Youth Authority, Preston, CA. Seventeen other principals involved were charged with assault with a deadly weapon, eleven were placed on probation, the remaining six were turned over to the State Youth Authority, at one of its facilities.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content