Doug Jordan interview

Thursday, July 17, 2014 – 10:20 a.m.

Doug Jordan worked with Andrew Fine at Laughlin Automotive & Body Shop.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy interviewed him at his place of business.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Doug Jordan

Detective Armstrong: Thank you for talking to us, Mr. Jordan. Several of your co-workers seem reluctant to speak with us about Andy Fine.

Doug Jordan: I got nothing to hide. Don't mind talking to cops.

Detective Murphy: Just for the record, will you please state your name and address?

Doug Jordan: Doug Jordan, 504 Martin Luther King Drive.

Detective Armstrong: Did you know Andy Fine well?

Doug Jordan: Well enough, I guess.

Detective Murphy: Were you friends?

Doug Jordan: Nope.

Detective Armstrong: You just worked with him. That right, Mr. Jordan?

Doug Jordan: That's right.

Detective Armstrong: Did he ever confide in you?

Doug Jordan: He weren't the confiding kind.

Detective Murphy: You mean he was secretive?

Doug Jordan: That loud mouth? Not hardly!

Detective Armstrong: Did he ever talk about his relationship with your boss, Mr. Laughlin?

Doug Jordan: He bragged that he had an "in" with Chas if that's what you mean.

Detective Murphy: What do you suppose he meant by "an in"?

Doug Jordan: He thought he was hot stuff 'cause Chas let him make the run to Memphis to buy parts.

Detective Murphy: Do you suppose he meant anything more than that? Did he and Mr. Laughlin have some sort of special arrangement?

Doug Jordan: How would I know? There's more going on around here than meets the eye, you know? Gotta keep your eyes and ears open.

Detective Armstrong: You seem like the kind of guy who keeps his eyes and ears open, Mr. Jordan. What did you see and hear?

Doug Jordan: Yeah. I saw plenty if you catch my drift.

Detective Murphy: Tell us what you saw between Mr. Laughlin and Andy. How did they get along?

Doug Jordan: I figured they got along real good, up till a couple weeks before Andy kicked the bucket.

Detective Armstrong: What happened then?

Doug Jordan: Andy and Chas had a real long talk after Andy got back from one of his Memphis runs. Then Andy came out grinning like the cat that ate the canary, and Chas looked real pissed. I thought there was gonna be fireworks—and not from the Fourth of July. But nothing happened. Chas just went back to work, but I mean he was pissed!

Detective Murphy: You're a smart guy, Mr. Jordan. What do you think Mr. Laughlin was mad about? Did Andy do or say something that ticked him off?

Doug Jordan: I don't know, but I sure would like to have been a fly on the wall to hear what it was. All I know is Andy was stoked. He even invited a couple of us to Duffy's that night. Said drinks were on him.

Detective Murphy: Did he do that often?

Doug Jordan: Are you kidding? Here's a guy who's always short of money out of the blue offering to spend some bucks. This guy was always mooching dough. Always claimed he was broke. Made me wonder how come he was suddenly flush. Like he got a bonus or raise or some such.

Detective Armstrong: Did he give a hint where he got the extra money?

Doug Jordan: I figured he got a raise from Chas, and the boss didn't want him to spread the news around 'cause the rest of us would want a raise too.

Detective Murphy: Did you go to Duffy's that night?

Doug Jordan: Heck no. I didn't want nothing to do with that bum. I had to put up with him at work, but not on my time.

Detective Murphy: Was that the only time Andy ever invited any of you to join him at Duffy's?

Doug Jordan: No, he did it one other time I can think of. It was that last day he was at work, come to think of it.

Detective Murphy: Did you join him that night?

Doug Jordan: Nope. I got better things to do with my time than hang around with him. At work, I was getting paid to be around him. After work? Not enough money in the world to make me party with the guy.

Detective Murphy: When was the last time you saw Andy Fine?

Doug Jordan: The 3rd of July, at work.

Detective Armstrong: Where were you on the night of July 3rd and early morning of July 4th?

Doug Jordan: My old lady and me went to visit her folks in Tupelo for the holiday. Left right after work on the 3rd and stayed until Sunday afternoon.

Detective Murphy: If you remember anything more about Mr. Fine, will you please call us?

Doug Jordan: I won't remember anything else. I've told you all I know.

Detective Armstrong: All right. Thanks, Mr. Jordan.

Doug Jordan: Yeah, sure.

Interview ended – 10:39 a.m.