Television: You Are There

Although radio interview's with holdup victims are old hat. Victim Harry Ingersoll, 44, a San Antonio loan company owner, reluctantly set a precedent last week in the annals of crime broadcasting. He was interviewed by San Antonio's KITE while the robber still held a gun on him. KITE's Newsman Harry Van Slycke picked up a police alarm of a holdup at Ingersoll's office, rang up Ingersoll and turned on a tape recorder. At the scene of the crime, the young gunman ordered Ingersoll to answer the call and act natural.

Q. Hello, hello! Do you have a holdup there ?

A. (jittery): Yes, yes, fine.

Q. The police department has a call out, and I just wondered if there was anything you could give me ...

A. He's right here now.

Q. Oh. have you got him caught?

A. No. Nobody's here—the police or nuthin'. He's just waiting for the rest of the money.

Q. What's he look like?

A. I—Just a minute.

Q. Is he still there?

A. Yeah.

Q. (boring in). All right, now what's the situation?

A. Can't you get the police over here?

Q. They're on the way. What does the man look like?

A. (softly, in terror). Well, he'll hear me.

Q. Has he got a gun on anybody?

A. Yeah.

Q. He's turned a gun on you?

A. (mumbling). Yeah.

Q. Is he a tall man?

A. Yeah.

Q. And is he asking for money—a specific amount?

A. No, anything he can get.

Q. . . . And what is your name, sir?

A. (before hanging up). Ingersoll.

Within 30 seconds, Newshound Van Slycke had his hot tape on the air. KITE then wrapped up the story with another "on-the-spot report" when one of the station's own secretaries just happened along the street a few minutes later as cops collared the fleeing robber and his $455 loot.