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Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 2:30 p.m.
Eddie Dooley, who was arrested after detectives located a watch belonging to homicide victim Andy Fine in Dooley's residence, was interviewed at the Yoknapatawpha County Detention Center. The interview was conducted by Detectives Armstrong and Murphy and was recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.
- TA = Detective T. Armstrong
- SM = Detective S. Murphy
- ED = Eddie Dooley
SM: Heck of a mess here, Eddie.
ED: Oh man, y'all know I didn't have nothing to do with his death.
TA: Talking already, Eddie? Good, maybe you'll make it easy for us.
ED: I can't make it easy for you. I didn't have nothing to do with all this. Don't y'all go and try to blame me for this.
SM: Eddie, usually we don't get people who are so talkative in here.
ED: Well, it's just that, you know, I can't be going to no prison--
SM: Hold on, Eddie. You've been through this enough times, you know the drill. Please state your name and address.
ED: Eddie Dooley. 156 Peyton Circle. You already know that. And you know that I didn't do nothing--
TA: Why, isn't it so nice to have such talkative and gregarious suspects, Detective Murphy?
SM: It certainly is, Detective Armstrong. Usually the people we meet are so reserved and quiet.
ED: Quit fooling around! Y'all can laugh all you want, I ain't going to no Parchman.
TA: Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that, Eddie. You were one of the last people to see Andy Fine and then we catch you with his belongings in your house. That doesn't look good.
ED: One stinking watch. That's hardly a bunch of belongings.
SM: Either way, Eddie. You better start talking, and I mean talking some sense. Quit your babbling and tell us what we need to hear.
ED: Okay, so what? I got his stupid watch. Big deal! I didn't kill him.
TA: The officer that brought you down to the station said that you claimed Andy might have even tried to set you up, frame you.
SM: Bad luck for you that he went and got himself killed during the middle of that little practical joke.
ED: That's a bunch of B. S. and y'all know it. I was just making that up, trying to say something. You know how it goes.
SM: So what's the truth?
ED: The truth is that I stole the watch from Andy at Duffy's that night. No s---. That's what happened.
SM: Tell us more.
ED: Andy was drunker than hell. And he took off his watch and set it down. I thought I might be able to get a few bucks for it, so I slipped it in my pocket. And that's the God's honest truth.
TA: So, let's see. First, you said back at your house that you didn't know how the watch got into your home. Then you told our patrolman that Andy Fine was trying to set you up. Now, you're admitting to stealing the watch, but that you didn't have anything to do with the murder.
SM: Everything you say gets you closer and closer to big time trouble, Eddie.
ED: Y'all gotta believe me! Come on, you know me. I may be a thief and I may pass some bad checks or even wash some checks I picked up here and there. That ain't no secret. You've got my record. But you know that I ain't no killer.
TA: You know, Detective Murphy, I do believe that for once, Mr. Dooley is telling the truth.
SM: Very interesting, Detective Armstrong. Why would you make such an assertion?
ED: Stop it! Stop joking around!
TA: I'll stop joking around, Dooley. Here's why I think you might
actually be telling the truth for once in your miserable little life. I don't
think you've got the balls to kill anyone, especially not a badass like Andy Fine. I don't think you've got it in you. You wouldn't ever even think of taking him on.
ED: That's right! He'd sure as heck kick my ass.
TA: But that doesn't mean you couldn't have drugged him or something, so he wouldn't be able to fight back.
ED: No! I didn't do that.
SM: This time, I'm the one who thinks he's telling the truth, Armstrong. This loser isn't smart enough to do something like that.
ED: No, I ain't! I know I'm not the smartest fella around. I wouldn't have done something like that.
SM: So then tell us the truth. The full story.
ED: I done told you. We were at Duffy's. Andy was drunk and I slipped the watch in my pocket. I left there right quick after that and I went home.
TA: Why did you keep the watch? Were you going to wear it or something? Wouldn't you think that anyone would notice?
ED: Nah, I ain't that stupid--
SM: Sure about that?
ED: I ain't dumb! I was going to go over to Tupelo. Maybe up to Memphis and pawn it.
SM: Why didn't you?
ED: My car died on me. I kept meaning to put some more oil in it. But I kept forgetting. Well, the other day, I was going to buy some cigarettes and it just locked up on me--
TA: Your engine seized up? That's hilarious!
SM: Good thing you weren't planning on being a getaway driver.
ED: Nah, it ain't! That's big money to someone like me. I can't afford to get that fixed.
SM: Maybe you can study auto shop while you're in jail.
ED: Jail! Jail for what?
SM: Stealing the watch, genius!
TA: And for obstruction of justice because you didn't tell us about it the first time we interviewed you.
ED: Oh, no! I can't do time. I go crazy in there. Y'all gotta let me off!
SM: We're going to let you think about your future for a little while, Eddie. I'm sure we'll be talking again soon.
End interview - 2:51 p.m.
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