
21st Precinct 53-09-22 (012) The Homecoming
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Captain Kennelly
21St Precinct. Sergeant. Client. He jumped or he's going to jump. Where is he? On a ledge. Where is he? E71. What floor? You are in the muscle room at the 21st Precinct. The nerve center. A call is coming through. You will follow the action taken pursuant to that call from this minute until the final report is written in the 124 room at the 21st Precinct. Yes, sir. I'll send assistance right away. Right away. You just stay there, wait for the officers. Yes, sir. 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 homes, their persons and their property is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct. The 21st. 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants, of whom I'm the boss. My name is Kennelly. Frank Canelli. I'm Captain in command of the 21st. I was working my day tour, 8am to 6pm when I returned from patrol of the precinct at 2:20pm the desk officer, Lt. Snyder, told me he had received word from the District Attorney's office that nine of my men, Sergeant Collins and eight patrolmen had been instructed to appear before the New York county grand jury at 10 the following morning. All had been at the scene when a gang of five safe burglars were apprehended three weeks earlier. I took the teletype communication concerning this matter and went upstairs to Lieutenant King's office in the 21st Detective Squad on the second floor. Come in. Hello, Matt. Come in, Captain. How are you, Captain? All right, except for this communication we got. What communication is that? This, Matt. There were four safe and loft squad detective there and four of your men when that collar was made. They don't need any of my men to make a case for the trial. Maybe if it goes to bat. But not before the grand jury. I don't think so, Captain. All of those men are working the day tour tomorrow. Take nine men away and it'll really knock a hole in my platoon. That's a mistake, Captain. Some assistant down there probably told us crack to get all the police witnesses to the grand jury. And he did get it straightened out. Come in, Captain. Sergeant Fyon CS Calling you, huh? He's on one. Taking out my desk, Captain. Thanks, Coleman. Captain Canelli. Sergeant Klein. Captain. How soon? He'll be downstairs in a few minutes. When you come right away, Captain. It's important. All right. I'll be right there. I left the 21st squad and went downstairs through the back room where the attendant was sweeping up. He nodded at me and I nodded back. I stepped out into the muster room. Lt. Snyder was talking to a couple of complainants who stood before the desk. I walked over to the telephone switchboard. 21st Precinct. Sergeant Klein. All right, you take your meal out. What is it, Sergeant? Got a piece of bad news, Captain. Yes. What? A woman called in here from Queens. She said she was a neighbor of Sergeant Burns and his wife. Yes. She said that Mrs. Burns just got a telegram from the Army. A boy was stationed at Fort Devens. He was killed in an accident this morning. Too bad. A neighbor said she was calling from his house. Doctor's there for Fred's wife. They think he ought to come home right away. Where is he? On patrol. Can. All right. You better call him. Excellent. Communications Bureau. Patrolman Nelson. This is Sergeant Klein's the 21st. Would you have 651 call the 21st? Yes, sir. How did it happen? Did they know? No, sir. Just a telegram. Notifying them so far. Neighbor said it didn't say much. Please. Intake. That's five one. How old was the boy? About 19, 20. He was their only child, wasn't he? Yes. His name was fred, too. Fred Jr. Always talking about that kid. They love to fish together. It's all he used to do when he was swinging or working the night or go fishing with his boy. What do I say to him when he rings in? Captain, I'd rather not be the one to tell him. Have him come into the house. I'll talk to him. Yes. 21st Precinct. Sergeant Klein, this is Lieutenant King. Sergeant, would you tell Captain Kennelli that was a mistake? None of your men have to appear at the grand jury tomorrow. Yes, sir. I'll tell him. Okay, thanks. Hey. With lieutenant King, Captain. They don't need any of our men for the grand jury tomorrow. Oh, good. 21st Precinct. Sergeant Klein, Sergeant Burns, box 18. Oh, hello, Fred. Come into the station house, will you? What's going? Captain wants to talk to you. What's the matter? Just come in, will you? All right. Tell the skipper I'm on my way. I'll be here in five minutes. And don't eat things that disagree with you. He's on his way, Captain. He'll be here in five minutes. Send him into my office. Yes? A large part of a policeman's job is conveying bad news. Hardly a day goes by that we are not required to notify a wife or mother, a father or husband, that someone close is dead or sick or in serious trouble. These notifications are difficult enough when total strangers are involved. Telling a man you've known and worked with that his only son is dead is twice as hard. I waited in my office. I tried to read over a few of the reports that had accumulated, but my eyes turned automatically through the open door into the muscle room. Finally, I saw Sergeant Burns walk in. He approached the desk, talked for a few seconds to Lieutenant Snyder. Sergeant Klein busied himself filing aided case cards. When Sergeant Burns crossed the muster room toward my office, my attention turned to the file of reports in front of me. Captain has come in. Yes, sir. Shut the door, will you, Frank? Retired. Snyder says you wanted to see me, Captain. He. Yes, that's right. Sit down, sir. Catherine. I. I've got some bad news for you, Fred. What kind of bad news, Captain? A neighbor of yours called in. Nothing happened to Ruth. My wife's all right. She's all right? Yes. It's your boy. What happened to him? The army sent a wire. He was in an accident. He's dead? Yeah. I'm sorry, Fred. Are they sure? You sure was Freddie. Well, all we know is what your neighbor called in and told us, Fred. That's all. How's this happened?
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What?
Captain Kennelly
What kind of an accident? Where? I don't know, Fred. Dear God, what am I going to do? How am I going to tell Ruth? She knows, Fred. Why I came to your home. Oh, yeah? Yeah. 19 years old, that's all. Just 19 years old. When he got out of the army, he was going to try and get on the copsey. I told him all the time, you don't want that. Get into something where there's more money. But it made me feel good that he wanted to get on the cops. Like I was setting a good example. Well, sit still, Frank. Thanks, Captain. Thanks. You stay in here. Poor Ruth. Oh, there's a doctor with a friend. She'll be all right. Oh, yes, that's good. Gonna be kinda rough on her. She's got nobody else besides me and him. That's all she's got, Captain. She's just me and him. It's just me now. Just me. You stay in here, friend. Or if you want me to stay with. No, no, no, sir. That's all right. You don't have to stay. All right, friend. Whatever you want. What I want, I gotta have. I'll be outside. Yes, sir. How is it? You all right, Captain? Yes, I think so. 21st Precinct. Sizing. Climb. All right, 15. You think somebody ought to stay in there with him, Captain? He wanted to be alone. Hello, Captain. That you? Got my message about your men not being needed at the grand jury tomorrow. Yes, sir. I gave it to him. You know what happened? It's a laugh. Somebody down at the DA's office. What's the matter? Fred Burns just got worried. His son was killed. Oh, a truck. Yeah. He was a nice kid. I met him once. We went fishing. Captain, don't you think somebody ought to be in there with him? I don't know whether it's good to leave him in there alone. You ought to have company. This is one time a man doesn't need company. Not when he's crying. In about 20 minutes, Sergeant Fred Burns came out of my office. He changed his civilian clothes. I offered to have a man accompany him home. He refused. The rest of the afternoon was quiet. I turned out the platoon for the night tour. At 4 from 4:30 to 6, I completed my paperwork and dictated a special report regarding change conditions in the precinct in connection with the reopening of the schools. Shortly after 6pm I signed the blotter and left the precinct to go off duty. The following day, before I reported for my night tour, I drove to the home of Sergeant Burns in Queen. I found the street with little difficulty, but every house was alike except for the numbers on the doors. I parked my car and headed up the Flagstone Walk. Number 72 was a little different than the rest. There was a black wreath on the door. Hello, friend. Our captain. Come in. Thanks. I hope you'll excuse the way things look around here. Oh, yeah, sure. With all that's happened and Ruth's so broken up, there hasn't been much chance to get things straightened up. Brought him home late last night for a while. She's all right, Captain. And you know I can't blame her. I feel that way myself. I understand. Ruth. Ruth, this is Captain Kennelly, you have my deepest sympathy, Miss Byrne. It's awful.
Sergeant Burns' Wife
Miss Godfrey.
Captain Kennelly
Yes, ma'. Am, Captain. He was going to be 19 next month. Raise a boy and see him like this in your own living room. He just got made corporal. Just the day before army sent that flag along with him. Having two soldiers come over for the funeral. Army's been very nice about the whole thing. CO called me up on the phone last night and told me how the whole thing happened. Would you like a cup of coffee, Campus? No. No, thanks, Frank. There's some on the fire in the kitchen. No, never mind. I think I'll have some myself. I haven't had playing hardly since I first found Albert. Would you come in the kitchen with me? Sure. I'm just going in the kitchen, Ruth. I'll be right back. She's in bad shape. She's in terrible shape. I don't know how she'll be able to get through the funeral, but in his. Captain. You sure no coffee? No, I don't think so. 19 years old, that's all. Just 19. Was the hit and run driver that did it. Yes, I know. Lt. Gorman told me when I called the station house. Oh, yes, he was here last night. Sit down, Captain. There's he and everybody from my squad. Everybody. To a man that makes you feel good. As good as you can feel. Did they get the driver? No, it was in town. You see, Freddie was made corporal. And the next night he got a pass, went into town to celebrate. You know how a kid is every. Everything calls for a celebration. Yeah, I know. He had this other soldier with him and they went out and celebrated. I guess they had a beer or two. I don't know. He wasn't much of a drinker. Just a beer or two. That's all he'd ever touched. Anyway, they were walking back to get the bus for camp. I guess he stepped out into the street.
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Captain Kennelly
This car came along fast around the corner. The other boy got out of the way all right, but Freddie didn't. Did the other boy get a look at the car? Yeah, he got a look at it. He said it was a black two door. That's all he could see. The only thing he did say is he thought it was a soldier who was driving and he couldn't even be sure of that. They're working on it. The MPs, the state police up there in Massachusetts. I hope they get the guy. You sure no coffee kept? No, thanks. I hope they get him. I raised that kid from nothing to 19 years old. I put about half of me into what's laid out there in that living room. Whoever it is, I want him to pay. I wouldn't want him to do it to another man's son. I want him to pay hard. I talked to Sergeant Burns a few minutes more. Finally his wife came into the kitchen. She was a little better. He stayed out until Monday when he reported back on the job for the night tour. I talked to him in my office for several minutes. He seemed fairly composed considering. Considering the circumstances and told me his wife had overcome the initial shock. After I turned out the platoon, I met with a committee of three Lexington Avenue merchants who complained of high pressure solicitation of funds by little known charitable organizations. I referred them to the Department of Welfare and phoned for an appointment for them to see the Deputy Commissioner. The next day at 5:30 I went on patrol and returned to the precinct house at 7:10pm and walked over to TS. Couple of messages for you, Captain. Yeah, and there's someone waiting for you. Who's that? Well, he said he was with. Take the call, Sergeant. Yes. 21st briefing, Sergeant Klein. Where is that? Yes, ma'. Am. We got a call on that from someone else a few minutes ago. The officers are on the way Over. They should be there any second. You're welcome. What's that, Sergeant? A family argument over on E67. Who is it that's waiting for me? Lieutenant Nayland, Captain. He says he's with the First Army Military Police Apprehension Unit. Where is he? I asked him to wait in your office, and I told him you would do back in the house any minute. He's in there. Okay, thanks. Yes, I'll be in my office. 21st briefing, starting client. Lieutenant Nayland? Yes, sir. I'm Captain Kennelly. How do you do, Captain? Lieutenant Richard Nayland, 1st Army MP Apprehension. I'm glad to know you. Sit down. Thank you, sir. Well, what can I do for you, Lieutenant? We've got an arrest to make in your precinct, Captain. Oh? You need some assistance? Yes, sir, I think we will. That's not the problem right now. What is? This fellow is awol. We've had the house shaked out since last night. His wife's apartment, that is. We're 90% sure he's up there, but nobody's shown their head out of the place since we've been watching. Yes, we thought either he or his wife would come out today. We'd like to wind it up, but we don't have a warrant, and being federal officers, we can't go in there without a warrant. We can't go in there either, Lieutenant, not under these circumstances. We've got to have reason to believe that there's evidence of a crime or a fugitive pharmacrime inside. And by crime, I mean a felony, not awol. He also is a fugitive in connection with a felony. Is he? Yes, sir. The Massachusetts State Police got a warrant out for him on manslaughter. He's suspected of driving a hit and run car that struck another soldier and killed him. What was the name of the victim? We got the request to apprehend it from the MPs at Fort Devin. This. Didn't notice whether it was mentioned in the report or not. Oh, yes, sir. Here it is. Corporal Fred Burns, Jr. I think we can be of assistance to you, Lieutenant. Thanks, Captain. Anything you can do will be appreciated. We're glad to do it. The victim's father is a sergeant of police in this precinct, yes? Yes. Well, that's a strange coincidence. It doesn't happen every day. It's funny. I'm sorry. I guess funny is not quite the word. I told the MP officer the case was properly in the province of the detectives, and I took him upstairs to Lt. King's office. There, he said the suspected soldier's name was John Esha, Private First Class, age 22. He said that Escher had a 24 hour pass on the same night Corporal Burns was run down. Asher borrowed a car from a friend. He returned it early the next morning. There was a large dent in the front right fender and the headlight was smashed. As failed to report for duty the following day and had been AWOL since. This information had been Forwarded to the 1st Army Military Police by Fort Devin's MPS with a request that Private Asher's listed residence be checked. The residence was a small flat on the third floor of an old law tenement building on East 76th Street. Lt. King and I sought all the available information from the MP officer. How many men have you got planted over there now, Lieutenant? Well, Lieutenant, we got the request yesterday from Fort Devens. I sent two of my best men right to the address. We staked the place out. We haven't seen either her or him since we've been there. He hasn't come out. Well, maybe she's not there. She might have gone to meet him someplace. There's somebody there. Sir. I got a hold of the people who live downstairs from them. They've been hearing voices and people walking around in the Esher place. People? That's what they said. Two people at least. Has that here had any previous criminal records you know of, Lieutenant? He went into the service. No, Lieutenant. No record at all. He had gone AWOL once before. That was limited to company punishment. He overstayed a leave 48 hours. Well, Captain, suppose we go have a look? All right, Matt. But there's one thing. Yes, sir? Can I use your phone to ts? Sure. Thanks. Money first, please. Thanks, Sergeant. Clarence, this Captain Canelli put out a radio call for Sergeant Burns. Yes. Tell him to come into the station house, Captain, right away. I think he'd like to go along. I'm sure he would, Captain. In five minutes Sergeant Burns was in the station house. He appeared to accept his instructions as he wouldn't connection with any other duty assigned. We left the precinct house for the East 76th street address at 10 minutes to 8. Just getting dark, Lt. Nan spotted the two men he had planted watching the buildings. He signaled for them to join us. Lieutenant King gave his instructions. E Lieutenant Nayland, Sergeant Burns and myself would lead the way up the stairs to the fourth floor. An MP and a detective right behind us would proceed straight up the stairs to the roof of the building to block an escape that way. The other officers would remain on the third floor landing. All right. You. You drop off here. Yes, sir. Let the detectives and the MPs handle it. Fred, we'll stay in the background. Yes, sir. You keep away from the boy. Yes. All right. Up quietly now. The door in the front. Any Vitali up to the roof. Right there. Okay. They're in there. I hear him.
Sergeant Burns' Wife
Who is it?
Captain Kennelly
I want to talk to John.
Sergeant Burns' Wife
John isn't here.
Captain Kennelly
Then I want to talk to you. Open the door. I'm a police officer.
Sergeant Burns' Wife
What do you want?
Captain Kennelly
Open up or I'll kick it in. Open up. Where's John?
Sergeant Burns' Wife
He's not here.
Captain Kennelly
Isn't he?
Sergeant Burns' Wife
He is, but please, he's scared. He's scared half to death. He told me about the accident. He did? He said he didn't see that soldier. It wasn't his fault. It really wasn't.
Captain Kennelly
Why haven't they stopped the car?
Sergeant Burns' Wife
I don't know.
Captain Kennelly
Where is he?
Sergeant Burns' Wife
You don't know why either? He just didn't think so.
Captain Kennelly
Where is he?
Sergeant Burns' Wife
In there. In the bedroom.
Captain Kennelly
Is he armed? He have a gun?
Sergeant Burns' Wife
No, he doesn't have a gun.
Captain Kennelly
All right.
Sergeant Burns' Wife
Wait a minute, please. I don't know what's the matter with him. He's sick. I think he came home and he wouldn't leave the house. He wouldn't let me leave. Not even for phone. You let us indeed.
Captain Kennelly
All day.
Sergeant Burns' Wife
He's sick. I know he's sick.
Captain Kennelly
All right, you stand there, you. You take care of him by. Let's get him. John. Open up. Stay away from there. Open the door. Stay away, I'm telling you.
Sergeant Burns' Wife
He said he'd jump out the window. That's what he thinks.
Captain Kennelly
John. All right, let's push it in. Give me a hand. Okay, Lieutenant. Go on, friend. Together now. Again. Now once more. Quick. Don't come any closer. Get out of that window, boy. What are you trying to prove? Don't come any closer. I'll jump. I swear I'll jump. That's four floors down to the street. I know what it is. Don't come any closer. Now I'm whining. Don't. Now, look, John. Stay where you are.
Sergeant Burns' Wife
You really weren't told me we can.
Captain Kennelly
Stay here all night, John. We've got all the time in the world. Stay there if you want. You come any closer, I'll jump. I swear I will. Ring in for est in an ambulance. Tell him what we grant. Okay. Kep. Come out of that window, boy. Get some sense. No, not. This isn't so bad. Not worth dying over, isn't it? Can I talk to him kepa mad. Sure, go ahead. Listen, son. I'm not listening. Don't try to clown me. All right, you're in a little trouble. Everybody's been in a little trouble. Stay away. Ours. I'll go out, I swear. That'd be a smart thing to do, wouldn't it? That's going to solve everybody's problems, huh? It'll solve mine. What about your wife? What about your folks? Look, don't try to con me. Stay where you are now. All right. Now come on, get out of there. Why make things worse than they are? It's not that bad. It's plenty bad. Not so bad for other people, maybe. Everybody knows you're sorry about running down that soldier. And AWO isn't anything. It's nothing. I'm telling you, stay away. I'll go out. Do you know the soldier that you ran down? No, I didn't know. Well, then, what are you worried about? Come on out of the window. You're throwing your life away over something that doesn't mean the same to you. You'd probably get out of this whole thing anyway. It was an accident. Kid stepped off the curb right in front of you. He did. He did. I had the light with me. It wasn't my fault. I didn't even see him. I just got a little excited, that's all. Just a little excited. Now, come on, let's sit down and talk about it. John. Just tell us about it. What'll they do to me? Nothing much. Take my word for it. What's your guarantee? I don't have any guarantee. You'll have to take your chances. But look at the chance you're taking. Going out the window. All right, Now close the window. Sit down in that chair. Yes, There's a cigarette. Smoke it and relax. All right, get back on the job, you men. Show's over. All right, sir. Good work, friend. Thanks, Sergeant. I really didn't want to go out the window. I didn't know what else to do about it. Just poison. Anything else to do? I'm Lieutenant Nayland of the MPs. Well, that figures. Your prisoner, Lieutenant. Sergeant, you're. You're all right, Sergeant. You okay? Thanks. I just got away with boys. Yeah. You must have one yourself. No. No, I don't. Johnny. No children. 21st Precinct. Sergeant Klein. What's the matter there? How do you know? And so it goes around the clock through the week. Every day, every year. The police precinct in the city of New York is a flesh and blood merry go round. Anyone can catch the brass ring or the brass ring can catch anyone. 21st Precinct A factual account of the way the police work in the world's largest city is presented with the official cooperation of the Patrolman's Benevolent association, an organization of more than 20,000 members of the Police Department, City of New York. Everett Sloan in the role of Captain Kennelly. Ken lynch as Lieutenant King. Featured in tonight's cast were Wendell Holmes, Lawson Derby, Ralph Camargo, George Petrie, Michael Dreyfuss and Elaine Ross. Written and directed by Stanley Ness. Produced for CBS Radio by John Ives. Gaylord Avery speaking.
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Air Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
This episode features an installment of the classic police procedural radio drama 21st Precinct titled "The Homecoming." Set in early 1950s New York, the story offers an intimate look at the lives of police officers, centering on the emotional turmoil of Sergeant Burns after he receives tragic news about his son. As the episode unfolds, listeners are drawn into the protocol and personal pain involved when the police family suffers a loss. The narrative is marked by a blend of drama, duty, and humanity, highlighted by the intersection of Burns’ professional and personal worlds as the investigation takes a deeply personal turn.
"Most of the 173,000 people wedged into... wouldn't know... they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not, the security... is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct."
— Captain Kennelly [00:55]
"I've got some bad news... It's your boy..."
— Captain Kennelly [06:27-06:38]
"19 years old, that's all. Just 19 years old. When he got out of the army, he was going to try and get on the copsy."
— Sergeant Burns [07:36]
"Raise a boy and see him like this in your own living room..."
— Mrs. Burns [11:24]
"I raised that kid from nothing to 19 years old... I want him to pay hard."
— Sergeant Burns [15:30]
"The victim's father is a sergeant of police in this precinct... That's a strange coincidence."
— Lt. Nayland [17:10]
"Don't come any closer. I'll jump."
— John Esher [23:13]
"Everybody's been in a little trouble... Why make things worse than they are?"
— Sergeant Burns [24:17]
"The police precinct in the city of New York is a flesh and blood merry go round. Anyone can catch the brass ring or the brass ring can catch anyone."
— Captain Kennelly [26:55]
The dialogue is naturalistic, intimate, and somber, often laced with the dry professionalism of a 1950s police station yet never losing sight of the human cost of tragedy. The story remains sensitive to both the procedural and emotional facets, balancing reserved camaraderie with raw grief.
"The Homecoming" is a poignant episode that deftly combines crime procedural with the emotional realities of police work, creating a timeless exploration of grief, duty, and the search for justice. The episode stands out not for its action, but for its empathy and insight into the costs borne by those in uniform—and their families.