Arthur Hailey - Evening News

Meanwhile CBA, more than other networks, kept the kidnap story aggressively alive, using a technique borrowed from rival CBS. During the 1979-81 Iran hostage crisis, Walter Cronkite, then CBS Evening News anchorman, concluded each broadcast with the words, "And that's the way it is [the date], the _th day of captivity for the American hostages in Iran.” (The number of days eventually totaled 444).

As Barbara Matusow, broadcasting's historian and conscience, recorded in her book The Evening Stars, Cronkite made "a decision that the hostages . . . were so important that the spotlight of national attention should not stray from them, even for a single night.”

Similarly, Harry Partridge, still acting as second anchor for any item concerning the Sloane kidnap, now began, "On this the [numbered] day since the brutal kidnapping of the wife, son and father of CBA News anchorman Crawford Sloane The item itself then followed.

As a matter of policy, approved by Les Chippingham and agreed to by executive producer Chuck Insen, there was always a Sloane kidnap reference in every National Evening News, even if only to record the absence of any new development.

But on a Wednesday morning, ten days after the search of local newspapers began, an event occurred which put everything at CBA News in high gear once more. It also ended the inactivity that had frustrated all members of the special task force.

At the time Harry Partridge was in his private office. He looked up to see Teddy Cooper in the doorway and, behind him, Jonathan Mony, the young black man who had made so strong an impression earlier when the temporary researchers were assembling.

”We may have something, Harry,” Cooper said.

Partridge waved the two in.

”Jonathan will tell you.” Cooper motioned to Mony.”Go ahead.”

"Yesterday I went to a local newspaper in Astoria, Mr. Partridge,” Mony began confidently.”That's in Queens, near Jackson Heights. Did all the things you said, found nothing. Then, coming out, I saw the office of a Spanish-language weekly called Sernana. It wasn't on the list, but I went in.”

"You speak Spanish?”

Mony nodded.”Pretty well. Anyway, I asked to check their issues for those dates we've been watching and they let me. Nothing there either, but as I was leaving they gave me their latest issue. I took it home, looked through it last night.”

"And brought it to me this morning,” Cooper said. He produced a tabloid-style newspaper which he spread on Partridge's desk.”Here's a column we think will interest you, and a translation Jonathan has written.”

Partridge glanced at the paper, then read the translation, typed on a single sheet.

Hello, You wouldn't think, would you, that some people buy funeral caskets the way you and me pick up cheese at the grocery. Happens, though; ask Alberto Godoy of Godoy's Funeral Home.

Seems this guy came in from the street and bought two caskets just like that off the shelf—one regular, one small, Said he wanted to take them to his old Mom and Dad, the tiny one for Morn. Hey, how's that for a hint to the old folks? "Time to beat it, Mom and Dad, the party's over!”

Don't go away, there's more. Last week, that's six weeks later, this same guy comes back, he wants another casket like before, regular size. He took it away, paid cash, same as he did for the other two. Didn't say who this one was for. Wonder if his wife's been cheating.

Tell you who doesn't care, that's Albert Godoy. Says he's ready and eager for more business of the same kind

"There's something else, Harry,” Cooper said.”A few minutes ago we phoned the Semana office. Jonathan talked and we got lucky. The bloke who wrote the column was there.”

"What he told me,” Mony said, "was that the day he wrote the piece you read was a week ago last Friday. He'd just seen Godoy in a bar and Godoy had sold the third casket that same day."

"Which also,” Cooper added, "happened to be right after the snatch, the very next day.”

"Wait,” Partridge said.”Don't talk. Let me think.” While the others were silent, he considered.

Stay calm, he told himself. Don't get carried away! But the possibilities were unmistakable: The first two caskets, purchased six weeks before the kidnap, only slightly ahead of the estimated one-month surveillance of the Sloane family, and within the three-months' maximum operation time also estimated by the task force. Then the size of the two caskets: one regular, one small, the second said to be for an old woman, but it could also be for an eleven-year-old boy.

Next, the third casket—according to the newspaper, a regular size. Established fact: Crawf's father, the old man, Angus, had arrived at the Sloane house virtually unexpected, having phoned only the day before. So if the family hadn't expected him, neither had the kidnappers. Yet they captured him and took him with Jessica and the boy. Three captives instead of two.

Questions: Did the kidnappers already have two caskets? Did the old man cause them to acquire a third? Was it for —him the extra one was bought from Godoy's Funeral Home the next day after the kidnap?

Or was the whole thing merely an incredible coincidence? It might be. Or might not.

Partridge raised his eyes to the other two who were regarding him intently.

Cooper said, "Raise a few questions, don't it?”

"Do you think.—.”

"What I think is, we may have found how Mrs. Sloane and the others could have been taken out of the country.”

"In caskets? Do you believe they were dead?”

Cooper shook his head.”Doped. It's been done before.”

The statement confirmed what Partridge was already thinking.”

What happens next, Mr. Partridge?” The question was from Mony.

”As soon as we can, we'll interview that funeral man Partridge glanced at the typed translation to which had been added the funeral home's address.”Godoy. I'll do it myself."

"I'd like to come with you.”

"I think he earned it, Harry,” Cooper urged.

”So do I” Partridge smiled at Mony.”Nice going, Jonathan.”

The young researcher beamed.

They would leave immediately and take a cameraman, Partridge decided. He instructed Cooper, "Minh Van Canh is in the conference room, I think. Tell him to grab his gear and join US.”

As Cooper left, Partridge picked up a telephone and ordered a network car.

On the way out, passing through the main newsroom, he and Mony encountered Don Kettering, CBA's business correspondent. When news of the Sloane kidnap broke, it had been Kettering who was assigned to the flash studio "hot seat” and became first to go on the air with a special bulletin.

Now he asked, "Anything new, Harry?” Impeccably dressed in a brown tailored suit, his thin mustache neatly trimmed, Kettering, as always, looked like a prosperous businessman himself.

About to make a perfunctory answer and hurry by, Partridge hesitated. He respected Kettering not only as a specialist, but as a first class reporter. With his background, Kettering might be more at home than Partridge with the subject they were about to tackle.

”Something has come up, Don. What are you doing now?”

"Not much. Wall Street's quiet today. Need some help?”

"Could be. Come with us. I'll explain as we go.”

"Let me tell the Horseshoe.” Kettering picked up a phone on the nearest desk.”Be right behind you.”

A network Jeep Wagoneer reached the main entrance of CBA News headquarters less than a minute after Partridge, Mony and Minh Van Canh emerged onto the street. The cameraman climbed into the rear seat with his equipment, Mony helping. Partridge took the front seat beside the driver. As the front door slammed, Don Kettering arrived and squeezed into the rear.