21st Precinct 53-07-07 (001) The Nolen Brothers

Summary

21st Precinct 53-07-07 (001) "The Nolen Brothers"

Harold's Old Time Radio
Date: February 22, 2026
Episode Runtime: ~29 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode of "21st Precinct," a radio drama series from the Golden Age of Radio, delivers a gripping, dramatized account of police work in New York City. The focus is on Captain Frank Kennelly and his officers as they attempt to apprehend three escaped bank robbers—Carl Ross and his accomplices—believed to be holed up in an apartment in the 21st precinct. The story deftly mixes tension, procedural detail, and the toll of the job on the officers' personal lives.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Progression

1. Captain Kennelly’s Interrupted Night

• Timestamp: 00:24–05:51
  • Captain Kennelly narrates a rare evening out with his wife, Ellen, at the musical "Guys and Dolls."
  • Kennelly’s sense of duty is evident—despite being off-duty, he checks in with the precinct and learns about the fugitive bank robbers.
  • Quote (Kenelly, 04:54): “According to the manual of Procedure, a precinct commander, although off duty, is never relieved of the responsibility of his command.”

2. The Fugitive Sighting & Rapid Mobilization

• Timestamp: 05:51–08:25
  • Sgt. Klein and Patrolman Johnny Farrell provide info about suspicious men possibly matching the escaped bank robbers.
  • The precinct rapidly organizes a response: officers are assembled, divisions notified, and plans are made for a potential raid.
  • Notable Moment: The personal cost of police work is underscored as Kennelly apologizes to Ellen for cutting their night short.
    • Lois Kennelly (05:42): “Why can’t it ever happen when we’re not having a good time?”

3. Inside the Precinct—Building the Case

• Timestamp: 08:25–12:49
  • Kennelly returns to the station, polices communication and coordination are depicted as he checks in with officers and receives updates.
  • Johnny Farrell, a patrolman who recently got in trouble for smoking on post, receives credit for the tip due to his relationship with a local boy, Juano, who reported the suspicious behavior.
  • Quote (Johnny Farrell, 11:04): “Well, this kid, he’s kind of little for his age... So I’ve been his best friend on the block since.”

4. Planning the Raid

• Timestamp: 12:49–16:56
  • Detailed walkthrough of the suspect building is given by the super, Mr. Acosta, highlighting the tactical challenge: interconnected rooftops, fire escapes, and bolted doors.
  • Lt. King and Kennelly discuss the likelihood of a violent encounter, highlighting the fugitive’s dangerous history.
  • The plan is to raid at 4am for minimal risk to bystanders, but a last-minute complication requires moving faster.
  • Quote (Lt. King, 15:35): “These boys are tough, there’s no question about that... They’re not gonna sit still for a collar.”

5. A Sudden Change—Time is Running Short

• Timestamp: 16:57–17:51
  • Officers apprehend Lois Dunny, whose apartment is being used by the fugitives; she is questioned and reveals details of their presence and habits.
  • The urgency ramps up as the robbers are expecting Lois home by 11pm, forcing officers to act immediately rather than wait for early morning.

6. Interrogating Lois Dunny

• Timestamp: 18:10–21:52
  • Lois admits knowing one fugitive, Carl, from Pittsburgh, but claims she was unaware of their full criminal background.
  • She confesses they paid her $275 for the stay and promised $500 more, underscoring her financial desperation.
  • Officers use both stern and sympathetic tactics to coax out information about the guns, layout, and the fugitives’ plans.
  • Quote (Lt. King, 18:12): “You’re in a big jam. You know that, don’t you, miss?”
  • Quote (Lois Dunny, 21:28): “Yes. I’ve got guns... I was too scared to get near them. I don’t like guns.”

7. The Raid on 611 E. 67th Street

• Timestamp: 21:53–25:43
  • Upwards of 50 officers coordinate: rooftop teams, front and rear posts, floodlights, and emergency service units with axes and submachine guns.
  • The apartment door is forced with axes after the robbers refuse entry—an intense armed standoff and chase follow.
  • Two fugitives are killed, Ross is wounded and apprehended, but not before a detective (Carmine DeFeo) is killed and two officers, including Johnny Farrell, are wounded.
  • Memorable moment: “Use those axes. Come on. The lock. Hit the lock.” (Kennelly, 23:43)

8. Aftermath & Cost

• Timestamp: 25:43–27:48
  • The toll: 2 fugitives dead, Ross wounded, Detective DeFeo dead, and two officers wounded.
  • Kennelly completes the required reports, attends meetings, and finally returns home at 4:40am.
  • The story returns to his family, underlying the quiet burden of police life.
  • Lois Kennelly (27:48): “You missed a very exciting show.”
    Captain Kennelly (27:51): “Yeah, honey, I bet I did.”

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Notable Quotes and Moments

• On the relentless nature of police work:

  • “Why can’t it ever happen when we’re not having a good time?” — Ellen Kennelly (05:42)

• On the challenge of leadership:

  • “According to the manual of Procedure, a precinct commander, although off duty, is never relieved of the responsibility of his command.” — Captain Kennelly (04:54)

• Bringing in a crucial tip:

  • “This kid... gave me $2 to hold for him, said he got it running errands for some men in the building. I started asking questions.” — Johnny Farrell (11:04)

• Police resolve in the face of threat:

  • “There’s no question about it. They had two guns apiece when they hit that bank... They’re not gonna sit still for a collar.” — Lt. King (15:35)

• The cost of the job:

  • “Maybe. But now at least there’s three less like you.” — Captain Kennelly to Ross (25:40)

• Personal closure:

  • “You missed a very exciting show.” — Ellen Kennelly
    “Yeah, honey, I bet I did.” — Captain Kennelly (27:48–27:51)

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:24 | Captain Kennelly’s narration, family atmosphere, and call to duty. | | 04:54 | The sense of duty—even off shift. | | 11:04 | Johnny Farrell explains the tip that cracked the case. | | 15:35 | Planning the raid, discussing risks and tactics. | | 18:12 | Lois Dunny’s interrogation—truths and desperation emerge. | | 21:53 | The tactical deployment and coordinated raid. | | 23:43 | High-tension forced entry with officers' shouts and gunfire. | | 25:40 | Aftermath, casualties, and resolution. | | 27:48 | The personal epilogue—Kennelly's return home. |

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Summary & Tone

The episode blends gritty police procedural realism with human drama. Narration is brisk, factual, and reflective. Dialogue is authentic—gruff, sometimes weary, with flashes of gallows humor and empathy. The stakes feel real, not only in terms of public safety but also in the sacrifices made by the officers and their families.

“21st Precinct” shines a light on both the mechanics and the emotional weight of police work—making this episode a classic example of Golden Age radio storytelling.

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For those who haven’t listened:
You’ll get a suspenseful, richly detailed police drama that captures both the tension of a criminal manhunt and the quieter moments that shape officers’ lives. The story’s focus on teamwork, risk, and the intersection of duty and personal sacrifice keeps it riveting throughout.

Transcript

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[Captain Frank Kennelly]

play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details. 21st Precinct, Sergeant. Inspector who? Oh, yes sir. Inspector, the detail is assembling here. I don't know, sir. Lieutenant King of the 21st Squad is in charge. You're in the muster room at the 21st Precinct. The nerve suffer. An important case is about to break. Superior officers have been notified. They're assembling from their homes. From social functions from all over the city. You will follow the action taken pursuant to these notifications from this minute until the final report is written in the 124 room at the 21st Precinct. Yes, sir. The brass has all been notified. They could start out anytime. Yes, sir. Anytime. Now. 21st Precinct. It's just lines on a map of the city of New York. Most of the 173,000 people wedged into the 9/10 of a square mile between Fifth Avenue and the east river wouldn't know if you asked them that they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not, the security of their persons, their homes and their property is my job. My job and the job of 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants, of whom I am the boss. My name is Kennelly. Frank Kennelly. I'm captain in Command of the 21st. I'd been off duty since 6 o'. Clock. I was not due back at the station house until 4pm the next afternoon when I would work straight through until late the following morning. At 6:30 I met my wife at Frank and Norman's estate house on 54th street near Broadway. We had dinner and took a Cab to the 46th street city it to see the hit musical Guys and Dolls. An occasion we had both looked forward to for a year. The first act was fine.

[Lois Dunny]

Oh, it's wonderful. Price they Wonderful. I love it.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

It's certainly been worth waiting for. You want a cigarette? We go down to the lounge.

[Lois Dunny]

All right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I want to call in anyway. All right. Excuse us, please. Pardon us, please. I beg your pardon. Thank you. Watch your step now, Ella.

[Lois Dunny]

I feel like dancing up the aisles. I can hardly wait for the second act.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, 10 minutes isn't such a long time. According to the manual of Procedure, a precinct commander, although off duty, is never relieved of the responsibility of his command. Consequently, he's obliged to keep the desk officer informed regarding his whereabouts. If he's beyond the reach of a telephone, he's required to call in at frequent intervals to be notified of any matter that would require his attention. Ellen and I went downstairs to the theater lounge. I offered her a cigarette, lit one for myself, then I stepped into the phone booth. When he first breathing. Sergeant, there's Captain Kennelly. Sergeant. Oh, hello, Captain. Good you called. What do we got? You know those three guys who escaped from the federal penitentiary in Pennsylvania and robbed a bank in the box? Yeah. Well, I think they got them spotted in the Precinct. Yes, sir. 611E. 67th Street. The information came to one of our men walking a post over there. Pharrell. Good. Are they sure it's Ben? They must be. The detectives are getting ready to hit the place. I want you to notify Division on it. Yes, sir. And put me through to Lt. King. You got a couple of messages here, Captain. Well, hold them till I get in, Sergeant. Yes, hold on. I'll connect you upstairs. Detective to fail. Let me talk to Lieutenant King, please. Lieutenant King's busy right now. Can I help you? This is Captain Canelli. Oh, hold on. Captain. Lieutenant. Captain Kelly on two. He's coming to me. Okay. Lieutenant King. Hello, Matt. What do we got? Three bank robbers, escaped convicts. Hold up on E67. How does it look? It's them, Captain. Information came to one of your men. Johnny Farrell. Yeah, I know. What time you going to hit the place? Late as possible. 4 or 5am Probably. All right, I'm coming in. I'll be there in 20 minutes. I'll see you. How long? Man, That look long enough. Did it? What happened?

[Lois Dunny]

Did the roof fall in?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You always say I gotta go in, Helen. Oh, Frank. Now you stay and see the rest of the show. It'll be over at 11 o'.

[Lois Dunny]

Clock. Can't you stop by on your way home?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

No, this is important. Here's the car check, honey. You know the garage is parked in on 53rd and.

[Lois Dunny]

What time do you think you've been home?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, I don't know. Haven't any idea. I'm sorry, honey. Sorry to have to ruin your evening.

[Lois Dunny]

Why can't it ever happen when we're

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

not having a good time? Beats me, honey. I'll see you at home.

[Lois Dunny]

Good night.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

After 16 years in the Job. Ellen was used to that sort of thing. She didn't complain. She just made the best of it. I went up to the street and flagged a cab to take me to the station house. Traffic across town was light. Cab had me in front of the station house in less than 10 minutes. I saw two patrol cars parked at the curb. One was ours, the other belonged to esd. The street was quiet. I walked up the worn granite steps of the station house and into the muscle room. At the desk, Lieutenant Gorman was booking a prisoner in the custody of a detective I didn't know. Suspect looks like an addict. The detective must have been from the narcotics squad. A half dozen patrolmen were gathered in a group at the far end of the muster room, talking quietly. I walked over to the far end of the desk where Sergeant Klein was on the boxes. Hello, Captain. Who are those men, Sergeant or them? They were sent in here from the 19th and 23rd on special detail, you know, for the raid. Excuse me, Captain. Yep? 21st Precinct. Sergeant. Yeah, where are you? Well, listen, walk around the corner to 3:31 and see the super. He's called in here twice about a couple on the third floor fighting and breaking the furniture. Yeah, okay, let me know. Those men know what they're here for? I don't know if they're not yet. That's what they're probably trying to figure out. I don't want them standing around in here jabbering. Tell them to go into the back room. Yes, sir. Now listen, you men go on in the back room there and make yourselves comfortable. You'll be here a while yet. Thanks a lot. You notify the division? Yes, sir. I spoke to the division lieutenant. He'll get in touch with Chief. Andrea. Those are the guys holed up there. That'll be a pretty good collar. Yeah, should be. What else is doing around here? Oh, nothing much. Pretty quiet tour otherwise. You got a couple of messages. 11 from CB over the teletype. A meeting of all precinct commanders in the lineup room at 2:40 Wednesday, 9:00am I left the communication on your desk. Okay. A fellow named Fox called twice. He wouldn't give his first name. He wanted your home number. I asked him what it was about. He said it was personal. I didn't give him your number. I told him you were due back on at 4 o' clock tomorrow afternoon. He'll call later. All right. I'm going upstairs. Oh. Oh, Captain. Yeah? It was Johnny Farrell who got the information. Yeah, you told me that. Did I? Oh, yeah, yeah. Where is Farrell? Uncle? No, sir. Lieutenant King said that since it was his line, he could come along. When they hit the place, he changed the civilian clothes and he's upstairs. I put Molito on his coat. All right, I'll check with you later. Yes. I left the muscle room and headed toward the stairs to the 21st squad on the second floor. In the back room, the special details from the 19th and 23rd were gathered around in little groups, whispering, wondering what their job for the night would be. On the way upstairs, I grinned at the way everyone was so careful to point out that the information on the three bank robber escapees came to Patrolman Johnny Fowl. Johnny Fowler had been caught smoking on post by his sergeant the night before. The report was on my desk for disciplinary action. Inside the 21st Squad, nine or 10 detectives were standing around in small groups. I recognized a few of them as men who worked out of the 21st. The others had been brought in from detective district headquarters and from the main office in a corner near the fingerprint stand, sitting all by himself was Patrolman Johnny Farrell. Hi, Captain. Hi. Hello, Johnny. Hello, Captain. Looks like a big night, Captain. I'd have to get a line on these boys. No way in particular. Just threw a kid on the block there. A kid named Wano. Yeah. Smoke County. Thanks. You know, I was gonna give him up after last night. You should. Thanks. It's kind of hard. Yeah, it is. Well, this kid, he's kind of little for his age. 13 or 14. He's not so good with the English. I pulled him out of a scrape last week with two bigger boys. They were about to tear him apart. So I've been his best friend on the block since. Yeah. Anyway, tonight about 7:30, I saw one on the street and he said, hey, police here. You my friend. I got two dollar you hold for me, huh? So they don't take it away from me, the big fellas that's waving two dollar bills at me. I said, where'd you get it, Wano? He said, oh, I don't steal it. Police here. I don't steal it. I earn it. From the man, I said, what men? Tell me about the three men who were staying in the flat across the hall from him. Said one of them opened the door when he came out in the hall. Asked him how he'd like to make some money. The guy gave him $3, sent him over to Times Square to buy some Philadelphia papers. Last week's papers, well, he brought the papers back. They cost less than a dollar. And the man told him to keep the rest. I put two and two together. I saw the alarms, read about the bank robbery up in the Bronx yesterday. Well, I knew the same three guys had been making a couple of jobs in Philadelphia. I knew they broke out of a federal penitentiary. I started asking Juan a few questions about the man. Looked pretty good to me. So I called in, told Sergeant Klein about it. He connected me with Lieutenant Heeny up here. Guess it looked pretty good to him, too. He told me to come in and bring Juano and that's it. Where's this kid want him? Oh, well, Lieutenant King didn't want him on the block. To him, the lieutenant was running up to the stadium with his brother. His brother worked for Con Ed? Yeah. When this came up, he couldn't go. So he had his brother take the kid on the other ticket. Wano thought that was a great idea. I do, too. How'd they make sure it's the right three? Well, after Lieutenant King talked to Wano for a while, he sent one of his men over and got the super of the building and somebody else, another neighbor in here. Super had gotten a good look at one of them. So it's definite. Good. Good work, Johnny. I understand you're going along when we hit the plan. You bet. Okay. I'm going in to talk to Lt. King. Who's that in there with him? That's a super captain. I think he's getting a lay out of the building, you know. Yeah. All right. I'll see you. And do your smoking at the right time, will you? Yeah, Captain, sure. All that. Oh, hello, Captain. Come in. Want to shut the door? Yeah. This is Mr. Albert Acosta. Captain Tinelli. All right. Glad to know you. How are you? Mr. Carter's a super for both 609 and 611. Yeah, that's right. We're just going over the layout of the buildings in that flat there. In 611? Yeah, that's right. On the top floor, fourth floor rear. Let's see if I got this straight, ma'. Am. Both 609 and 611 are four story buildings. The building to the east, 613 at five stories? Yeah, that's right. But that's not my building. 613, does the fire escape. Do all the fire escapes go all the way up to the roof, mister? Oh, yeah, that's right. Up to the roof and down to the ground. And from the window of the flat they're in? Yeah, that's right. Your roofs are on the same level? The same level? Yeah, they're both four stories. What separates two buildings on the roof? Oh, a little brick wall this high. Three feet high. Oh, three feet, three and a half feet, something. And the roof to 613. That's not my building. But it's five stories high. Yeah, 613. Then in other words, from the roof of 611, you can't get to the roof. Roof of 613. There's a wall 10 or 12ft high. Yeah, that's right. 10, 12, 14ft, something. No windows in that wall. Let's see. No, no, no windows. Anything on your roof? Well, nothing. Television areas. All right, mister, I want to talk to you again later. You hungry? You want something to eat? Could I. I get a can of beer. The luncheon that we take from doesn't have beer. Oh, all right. Coffee. Coffee in a Danish. Why do you take care of Mr. Carson? Will you send down for what he wants to eat? Right. That detective over there will take care of you, Mr. Carson. Okay. Yeah. Great to know you, Captain. Yeah, same hand. Well, how does it look, Man? Sam, there's no doubt about it. In addition to the kid and the super, we found three people who made the pictures. All of them? No, just one. Just one goes out in the street. But one's good enough for me. This one, Carl Rotten, if he's identified. And there's two more guys in the flat, it's got to be the others. Whose flat is it? Did they rent it? No, it belongs to a couple of sisters, Marie and Lois Dunny Acosta. Says they've been living there for three or four years. The one sister, Marie, has been in Bellevue hospital for months, six weeks. Alcoholic ward. Oh, they're young, too. In their 20s. The other sister, Lois, is still living there. Augusta said he thinks she worked as a waitress someplace. Doesn't know where. Is she up in the flat now? Beats me. Captain, Nobody has gone out or come in since we got onto this thing. Got the place staked out. Two neighbors that know her with the officers. They haven't seen her. How about Bellevue? Is she down visiting her sister? Well, we checked that out, too. Got a man there. Well, how are you going to hit him? There's three rooms in that flat. In the back of the building and on the top floor. These boys are tough, there's no question about that. They had two guns apiece when they hit that bank. They wrapped up a lot of people around Philadelphia. They were doing 25 years each when they broke. They're not gonna sit still for a collar. It's gonna Be a hot one if they're on the top floor. You can't put anyone on the roof of 611. They'll be hard walking around. I know. We'll have men on the roofs of 609, 613, in case they come up the fire escape. That's the way they'll probably go when they hear the law at the front door. Who's gonna hit the door? Myself. Johnny Farrell. If he wants to, he'll want to. And one or two others. Including me. Yes, sir. I got two men from the emergency squad detailed. They'll be there with access to work in the door if they give us a fight. All right. What time? I figure 4:00am There'll be less people on the street and less people up and around in the building. Also, these guys might be sound asleep by then. We can nail them when they're asleep, or at least sleepy. There's not so much chance of firewoods. How about your notifications? They're all made. Brass will start streaming in here about midnight. There's six or eight cops from the 19th and 23rd down in the back room now. Yeah, I know. How much of the shell did you get to see, Jamie? Come in, Lieutenant. Whitey, sir. Pateo's on three. You want to talk to you. Okay, thank you. 21st Squad. Lieutenant King. Yeah, Dee. We got the girl at Lois Denny. We got her as she was walking into the house. Good, Dee? Fine. It's not so fine, Lieutenant. She told me they were expecting her home at 11 o'. Clock. 11 o' clock at the latest. Shall I bring her in with them? No. Where are you? I'm using the phone in Mixer's Funeral Chapel around the corner. Who's there? Just mixing. Okay, Dee, stay there. We'll be right over. We've got trouble, Captain. Oh? They got the girl. Ross and them expect her back in the flat no later than 11. You can't wait until 4am Matt. You'll have to hit right away as soon as possible. What about all the brass? They've been notified for 4am we can't wait, Matt. We'll notify them again. That's all that's been moved up. Okay, Whitey. Ben, now come in here, huh? All right, now listen. We're making a change. We're going to move and move quick. Got to hit them as soon as possible. Ben, get hold of ESG. You are listening to 21st Precinct, a factual account of the way the police work in the world's largest city. Now back to 21st Precinct. And Captain Frank Kennelly. Although we knew hardly more than her name, Lois Dunny had become the key to the situation. The fugitives expected her to return by 11pm if she didn't show up, they might suspect she'd been apprehended. Lt. King got his detectives ready to spring immediately. I gave final instructions to the uniformed officers who were going to assist. And then together we drove up Second Avenue to Mix's Funeral Chapel. Okay, this is good, Captain. Go ahead, man. Find a place to park and walk on back there. That's okay. Well, great place to start out from, Undertakers. Better to start out from there, ma'. Am. You got a point. Go ahead, please. Sit there. Condition. There they are. Back in the office.

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[Captain Frank Kennelly]

social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details. Is that a bad looking head? No, not too bad. Hello, Dave. Hello, Lieutenant. Captain. Hi, Dave. This is Lois Dunning. How are you?

[Lois Dunny]

Hello.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You're in a big jam. You know that, don't you, miss?

[Lois Dunny]

Yes, I suppose so.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

No supposing about it. Your arm. That's Carl Ross up in your apartment, isn't it?

[Lois Dunny]

Yes.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

And the others? I showed you the pictures of all of them. Arcana. She identified them.

[Lois Dunny]

I wasn't doing anything wrong. I just rented out some rooms to those boys for a little money. Anybody's entitled to make a little money.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Not that much. How much? They've been there three days. They've already given her $275. Didn't you know who they were?

[Lois Dunny]

No, I.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Don't lie to us. You knew who they were. They knew you. Or at least one of them did. Which one?

[Lois Dunny]

I didn't know them.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Now, look, come off it. I told you you were in a jam. If you don't start telling us the truth, you'll be in a bigger jam. I'm not kidding. Now, how about it?

[Lois Dunny]

Who are you, anyway? I gotta know who I'm talking.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

My name is Lieutenant King. This is Captain Kennelly. That good enough for you?

[Lois Dunny]

I've been telling you the truth.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Listen, you're a pretty bad liar. I'm gonna tell this officer to take you downtown. Steve, Flutter in the car. Matt, wait a Minute. Look, miss, you're not doing yourself a bit of good. All we want is the truth. You tell us the truth and I'll see that you get every break you're entitled to. Which one did you know, Lois?

[Lois Dunny]

Carl. I knew Carl.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

For how long?

[Lois Dunny]

I worked in Pittsburgh a while, a couple of years ago. I knew him then, but I didn't know he was anything like what he is. Honest I didn't. Not then.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

When did you hear it?

[Lois Dunny]

After he got in trouble. I was back in New York. Somebody wrote me, one of my friends,

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

if you have time to wait, the facts eventually will develop. But we had neither time to wait nor time to waste. There are two ways to get information quickly. One is to be stern. The other is to be full of sympathy. Most often a lying witness will turn to the friendly officer and tell him exactly what he wants to know.

[Lois Dunny]

Haven't heard from him in years. But one day, there he is. He just turns up in the cafe where I work.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

There he is by himself?

[Lois Dunny]

Yeah. Mine stops at.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

When was that?

[Lois Dunny]

Tuesday. Last Tuesday. I read about him and about how he and those others broke out of there and what they did in Philadelphia and all that.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Why, is it scammed?

[Lois Dunny]

No, not true. I told you when I knew him in Pittsburgh, he seemed like a very nice boy. He was very nice to me.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Did you ask him anything about that?

[Lois Dunny]

Yeah, sure. Naturally, he said that everybody had him and his friends wrong. They didn't mean any harm. Well, I mean, you know, he's good looking. He likes to spend money.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

How'd they come to stay in your flat?

[Lois Dunny]

That was the first thing he asked me. Did I know where he and his friends could get a place? Well, my sister's been in the hospital and I had a big place all by myself. So I told him. I told Carl. I told him, you want to. I've got a big place with an extra bedroom and all that.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Myself in the living room.

[Lois Dunny]

So they said okay, and that was that.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

How'd they know you wouldn't go to the police?

[Lois Dunny]

I don't know. How about with the others? I guess they paid me all this money and they promised to give me 500 more when they left. I guess they figured I wanted the 500.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You did too, didn't you?

[Lois Dunny]

Well, I mean, my sister was in the hospital. I didn't have a nickel, except what

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I made sure they expect you home at 11 o'.

[Lois Dunny]

Clock. Around 11, yeah.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Why 11?

[Lois Dunny]

Well, this is my late night honor. I work until 10. Carl no sack.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You ever see any guns up There. Well, did you lost?

[Lois Dunny]

Yes. I've got guns.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

How many?

[Lois Dunny]

I don't know. Out of plenty, but I never counted them. I was too scared to get near them. I don't like gunners.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Have you got your key to the place?

[Lois Dunny]

Yeah, I got it, but it won't do you any good. They keep the door bolted from the inside all the time. Listen, Carl told me. He said no matter what he wasn't going back. The others too. They said they'd die on the spot first and kill anybody who wants to argue with him about it. Cops, they meant.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah, I figured that's who they meant. In another few minutes of interrogation we had all the information we needed about the interior of Lois Dunny's flat and what we could expect to find there. Lois Dunning was taken to the precinct house in the custody of a detective. Meanwhile, nearly 50 uniformed officers and detectives assigned to the detail were given their posts and told their duties. Four men were assigned to the roofs of 609 and 613. Eight men were posted in various places in front of and across the street from 611. Four men were assigned to the rear courtyard behind 611 men from the emergency service division set up a portable generator floodlight on the roof. Directly across the rear courtyard of 611 so that the entire fire escape could be spotlighted. Another such unit was held in readiness for use in front of the house. Besides their service of others, these men were issued such additional arms as their particular situation. Situation called for. Submachine guns, riot guns and tear gas. Lieutenant King, myself, Johnny Farrell, two other detectives from the 21st Squad, three men from ESD, two carrying axes. Another submachine gun led the way into 611. Behind us followed a half dozen or so other officers. As we walked up the dim lit stairs. Two men dropped off on each floor to block any attempted escapes and to keep curious tenants out of harm's way. Two more were left at the top of the stairs in the fourth floor hallway. The rest of us walked to the fourth floor rear. We stopped at the door. We listened. The radio was on inside. Okay. Who is it? Lois, we're police officers. Open up.

[Lois Dunny]

It's cops.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You believe? Open up. Police officers.

[Lois Dunny]

Knock it in.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Use those axes. Come on. The lock. Hit the lock. Let go. Push it in. Come on. Let's go in the living room. That are give up with through. Hold it. All right, so that's. There they are. Nail em, Johnny. There we are. Tom. Steve. Yellow Sonny. How about it? I'm set. Let's Go running out.

[Lois Dunny]

Get him.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Pull them. Pull them out. You lousy. Chief, bring that bounty up here. Get him. He hit two. Let's go. There's the other one. Out the window.

[Lois Dunny]

All up. Hold up. Ross.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Up the fire. Take Captain. Let's go. Watch it, Matt. Away. You okay, Matt? Yeah, I'm okay. Watch it up there, man. One's on his way up.

[Lois Dunny]

Just one.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I see him.

[Lois Dunny]

That duck.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He's on the roof. Come on. There he goes.

[Lois Dunny]

Behind the ventilator.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Let's get him. What do you say, Ross? What do you say? All right. Too many of you. Too many of you. Throw that gun out here. All right, you men. Put your light on the ventilator. That's fine.

[Lois Dunny]

That's it.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Right out here, Rod. Okay, let's go. Watch him. Have another one. Stand there, Rod. Get up again. All right, take it easy. Nothing on him. Too many of you. Just too many of you. Maybe. But now at least there's three less like you. The toll was heavy. Two of the three fugitives were dead on the floor of the living room. Ross had a bullet through his shoulder. They weren't the only ones. Detective Carmine DeFeo, 21st Squad. Dead. Patrolman John Foul, 21st Precinct. Wounded 45, slug in the left hip. Patrolman Ezra Davis, Emergency Service squad number four. Wounded 38, slug through the left hand. A medical examiner and ambulances were summoned. The top command of both the uniformed and detective divisions came to the scene. At 2:15am I arrived back at the station house. There, I approved the unusual occurrence report and checked on the notification of the relatives of the wounded personnel under my command. At 2:35am conferences were held in my office with the top commanders of the department in connection with a special report concerning the incident. Subsequently, the press sought additional material and photographs. At 3:50, I signed the blotter and left the precinct house. Deputy Chief Inspector d' Andrea gave me a ride as far as Kew Gardens. There, I got a cab and went home. At 4:40am I unlocked the front door of the house. As quietly as I could manage. I walked through the living room into the bedroom.

[Lois Dunny]

Friend?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah, honey?

[Lois Dunny]

Oh, what time is it?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I'm late.

[Lois Dunny]

Are you tired?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yep, kind of.

[Lois Dunny]

You know what?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What?

[Lois Dunny]

You missed a very exciting show.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah, honey, I bet I did. 21st Precinct. Sergeant, where do you need an ambulance? 822. Is that in the building or on the street? What apartment number? What's the trouble there? How was he hurt? Was he stabbed? Incidents portrayed tonight on 21st Precinct occurred last year. Names were changed to protect the interests of persons involved. 21st Precinct is presented with the official cooperation of the Patrolman's Benevolent association of the City of New York. Everett Sloan in the role of Captain Kennelly. Ken lynch as Lieutenant King. Speeches in tonight's cast. Cast for Joan Loring and Barbara Weeks, Lawson Zerby, Bill Lipton, Wendell Holmes and Mandel Kramer. Written and directed by Stanley Nist. Produced for CBS Radio by John Ives. Art Hannah speaking. This is the CBS Radio Network.

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