21st Precinct 53-09-29 (013) The Shooting Gallery

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "21st Precinct 53-09-29 (013) The Shooting Gallery"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: October 22, 2025
Original Air Date: September 29, 1953

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Brief Overview

This episode dramatizes a harrowing case at the 21st Precinct in New York City, illuminating both the human toll and procedural challenges of midcentury police work. The central story follows a young man, Hal Brider, who intentionally sets off a false fire alarm to get himself arrested—hoping jail will help him break free from his heroin addiction. Through realistic dialogue between Hal, his family, and police officers, the episode explores addiction, despair, and the tragic limitations of the era’s criminal justice and healthcare systems.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Beginning of the Tour & The False Alarm ([00:37 – 04:30])

• Captain Kennelly describes the workings and responsibilities of the precinct, introducing the setting and his patrol.
• Hal Brider is caught in the act of pulling a false fire alarm, and when questioned, immediately confesses he wants to go to jail.
• The context of false alarms is provided: New York City had nearly 14,000 false alarms the previous year, each requiring substantial emergency response.

2. Hal's Interrogation and Struggle with Addiction ([04:31 – 10:04])

• Hal is brought to the station; he is withdrawn, evasive, and physically ill.

• Captain Kennelly suspects and confirms Hal is a heroin addict ("user").

• Hal reveals his descent into addiction: once intelligent and successful, his addiction destroyed his job, finances, and dignity.

• He details how he tried "cold turkey" withdrawal, failed, and ultimately relapsed.

  "I thought I could kick the habit anytime... First it was just once in a while and maybe two or three times a week. And then it got to be a regular fix. Every day."
  — Hal Brider (08:08)

• Hal admits he pulled the false alarm because he wanted forced detox in jail, believing it to be his only chance.

  "So you pulled the hook on the fire alarm? ...To get in jail?"
  "Yes, sir. To get in jail. That's the only thing you were right about."
  — Captain Kennelly & Hal (09:57 – 10:00)

3. Narcotics Squad Investigation & Legal Dilemmas ([13:47 – 16:00])

• Detective Lt. King and his squad search for Hal’s drug supplier but come up short; Hal refuses to cooperate.

• The only legal charge against Hal is the false alarm, which might earn him six months in jail—a dubious "solution."

• Systemic limitations are highlighted: authorities cannot force an addict into treatment without voluntary application.

  "There's no narcotics case against him, Captain. I thought the best thing to do is go ahead and charge him with a false alarm. Might get six months out of that."
  — Lt. King (15:33)

4. Family Interview: Powerlessness and Caring ([16:02 – 19:25])

• Hal's sister, Mrs. Reigate, arrives at the precinct. She is shocked and struggling to understand her brother's predicament.

• The familial backstory: Hal has no other direct support; his own mother is emotionally distant.

• Captain Kennelly explains voluntary treatment options, but Hal refuses.

  "He wouldn't do that. I know he wouldn't. He told me that the people who sold him the dope were helping him out... when he was in trouble."
  — Mrs. Reigate (17:17)

5. Court Proceedings & Institutional Constraints ([19:26 – 21:50])

• In court, Captain Kennelly advocates for Hal’s commitment to treatment; the judge clarifies it must be voluntary.

• Hal, determined to go "cold turkey" in jail, refuses treatment.

  "Now, look, boy, get some sense, will you? Look, there's only one place to kick it. That's jail. That's where."
  — Captain Kennelly (20:12)

6. Tragedy & Aftermath ([22:30 – 25:53])

• The next day, Captain Kennelly responds to a call at Hal’s apartment; Hal has died of an overdose.

• It's revealed that, against his wishes, Hal’s sister bailed him out—hoping to help, inadvertently enabling his final relapse.

• The episode closes on a sobering exchange between Mrs. Reigate and Captain Kennelly:

  "He said he'd be fine. He told me he was going to kick the habit. He said he'd never touch this stuff again."
  — Mrs. Reigate (25:46)

  "He won't. He's kicked the habit. He's kicked it for good."
  — Captain Kennelly (25:53)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Hal’s Desperation & The Trap of Addiction

  • "Hal, if you're in jail, it's cold turkey and there's no questions there." — Hal Brider (09:37)
  • "He wanted to get in jail where he'd be away from it, where he couldn't possibly get it." — Mrs. Reigate (18:51)

• Systemic Helplessness

  • "I can't commit him, Captain. Not unless he makes a voluntary application." — Judge (20:34)
  • "The answer was to sweat it out in jail. Cold turkey, as he called it." — Captain Kennelly (21:48)

• Aftermath

  • "He wanted to stay in jail. He wanted to sweat it out. ... He didn't want to come out. He didn't want to leave." — Mrs. Reigate (25:13)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:37] – The call and introduction to the 21st Precinct
• [02:45] – Hal Brider caught turning in a false alarm
• [04:53] – Hal’s initial questioning and confirmation of addiction
• [08:03] – Hal describes his slide into addiction
• [09:57] – Hal reveals his motive for the false alarm
• [13:47] – Narcotics squad update
• [16:02] – Mrs. Reigate arrives and family discussion
• [19:26] – Courtroom; debate about treatment vs. jail
• [22:30] – Discovery of Hal’s overdose/death
• [25:07] – Mrs. Reigate and Captain Kennelly: guilt and resignation

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Episode Tone and Style

Faithful to the "golden age" radio procedural, the episode combines brisk, realistic dialogue with gritty, human drama. The atmosphere is one of weary compassion, stoic professionalism, and quiet tragedy, capturing both the limits of the criminal justice system and the devastating cycles of addiction without melodrama—only the plain, hard facts of city life and law enforcement.

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Conclusion

This episode of the 21st Precinct dramatizes the deeply human, often hopeless struggles facing both New York’s citizens and its police. The case of Hal Brider encapsulates the pain of addiction, the inadequacy of 1950s institutions to respond, and the bitterness of family members powerless to help. With natural performances and a documentary realism, the show stands as both drama and social commentary—still resonant today in its depiction of addiction and despair.

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Transcript

[Captain Kennelly]

Limu Emu And Doug.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Captain Kennelly]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Cut the camera. They see us.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[Captain Kennelly]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

Savings vary unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.

[Captain Kennelly]

21St Precinct. Sergeant Klein. What's the matter with him? How do you know he's dead? From what? It's. Where is it? Your inner muscle room at the 21st Precinct. The nerve center 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 and at the 21st briefing. All right, you just wait there for the officers. No, right there. I'm sending them now. You just wait there and show them where he is. All right. Thank you. 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 Kenelly. Frank Kennelly. I'm captain in command of the 21st. I was working my 4pm to 8am tour. After I turned out the platoon for the night tour I read the entries on the arrest record and blotter for an event by event picture of what had occurred in the precinct since I was last on duty. A little after six, sector car number three came by the house for me and I went on patrol in the precinct. When I returned to the station house, Lieutenant Gorman, the desk officer, told me things were quiet. I walked around the corner to a spaghetti house for my meal, which I finished at 8:40. Hello, Captain. John, how are you? I didn't know you were in. If I did, I would have come over the table and said hello. I was sitting in the back. 1 25, 14 cents tax out of two. I'll have a pack of spearmen. Well, that's 134. You been seeing many ball games, captain? No, not this year. 65, 40, 50 and 2. Me neither. You know, I couldn't whip up any enthusiasm this season. I'm a Yankee fan. I'm a Yankee fan from way back. But 8, 10, 12, 14 games out in front. How can you get excited? Gets the point where they're the whole league. Yeah, it's got to be close to be interesting. But at least the Series might be interesting. Who do you pick? I think the Brooks will take them. You do? They never have yet. Well, that's some ball club. Yeah, they look like a ball club in their league, but wait till they get up against some competition. Well, wait, I'll walk out with you. I want to get a paper route. Keep your eye on the front, huh? I just want to take a look at the box scores. They print the pennant, you know. But there's no harm in checking on the bat. Navigate. You gonna see any of the Fairy's games, Captain? It's a little bit too rich for my blood. Yeah, that 10 bucks a reserve speed routine, that's a little rich for anybody's blood. Look at that fella. He's turning a fire alarm. Hey, you hold up there. Wait a minute. You wait a minute. I'm not going anyplace. Where's the fire? Rhythmic fire what'd you pull the hook for? Guess I wanted to. Well, there's the fire. Captain, there isn't any fire. I'm a police officer. What's your name? Ryder Halbr. Don't you know it's a criminal offense to turn in a false alarm? I know it's a criminal offense, Captain. You want me to run around the station house? You want to get some help? He doesn't need any help. No, John, they'll be here. Don't worry about it. Why'd you pull the hook? Come on, look at me. Talk to me. Why'd you pull the hook? Because I want to go to jail, that's why. I want to go to jail. You will, miss, sir. You can count on it. The essential factors in fighting a fire are the promptness of discovery and the speed at which firemen arrive on the scene. But speed has its hazards. As many or more firemen are killed and injured in accidents occurring while responding to alarms, as in the course of fires themselves. During the last calendar year, there were 13,981 false alarms in the city of New York. And to each of these, no less than four pieces of fire department apparatus and two police cars responded. In this case, the offender, Hal Brider, made no excuses, nor would he offer any reason for his act. He was questioned for some minutes on the street by myself, by other police officers on the scene and by the fire captain in command of the apparatus which responded. After the fire apparatus left, he was taken around the corner to the precinct house where as arresting officer, I booked him in. How do you spell that? B, R, I, D, E, R in the middle, initial E. Howie Brighter. How old are you? 21. Where do you live? At 734 East 81st. What apartment? Number 2B. Bond is $500. Can be posted with me. What do you mean, bond? Bail. If you can get somebody to post $500 bail. You don't have to appear until he comes up in court. Otherwise, he'll have to hold you. I want to be held. I don't want any bail. Look, son, this isn't doing you any good. You must have had a reason for pulling that hook. Now tell us about it. I don't want to talk about it. Just lock me up. That'll come soon enough. How many other false alarms did you turn in? None. This is the only one. What was it, just an impulse? No, it wasn't an impulse. I thought about it. I thought about it a long time. Look, that's my office. Go in there and sit down. I'll be in in a minute. Why? I want to talk to you, that's why. I've got nothing to say. I just want to be locked up. Go in there and sit down. I don't want to talk. I don't want to talk to anybody. That's a nice one, Captain. Yeah, it sure is. You want to take this? Pinch yourself, Captain. You'll have to go to court in the morning. No, that's all right. What's the matter with that guy, Captain? Maybe he likes to hear silence. I get my boot. Do you see his eyes? Looks like a user to me. He did attack, didn't he? I know he's a user. I wanted him to tell me. What's his idea? What could he get by turning in a false alarm? What kid he's got. Besides a little time on Rikers Island. I'll be in my office, Lieutenant. Yes, sir. All right, Hal. I want you to tell me what your trouble is. I've got no trouble. Haven't you? Stand up. Why? As said stand up. Yes, sir. Take your coat off. Why? Is that the only thing you know? Why? Take it off. Yes, sir. Put it on that chair there. Roll up your sleeve. What are you trying to find out that you don't already know? Let me see your arm. How long have you been on the habit, Hal, long enough. All right, sit down. Why'd you pull the hook on that firebox? A long story. You wouldn't be interested. Who said I wouldn't? Well, I'm not interested. Look, you lock me up. I don't feel like talking to anybody. I'm beginning to feel lousy. I feel terrible. Are you married? No, I'm not married. You live on 84th street there all by yourself? Yeah, it's all by myself. You have any family? What's this got to do with my family? Where are they? I don't have any family. When did you shoot up last? What difference does it make? When? Yesterday. Yesterday morning. Not since then? Who's your connection, Hal? I've got no connection. You must have been getting it someplace. Where? I don't know. I don't know anything. If you don't know anything, Hal, we'll teach you a lot around here. Who are you calling? 21st Precinct. Sergeant Clarence. Sergeant, ring upstairs to the Detective Squad and see if we can locate Lieutenant King. Yes, and ask him to come into my office for a minute, will you? Yes, I can. What do you need him for? If you're a narcotics user, Hal, it's his job to find out who sold it to you. Why'd you pull that fire alarm? I don't think you'd understand. Maybe I would. Why don't you try me? I told you it was a long story. It's cold in here, you know that? It's awfully cold in here. Now I'm beginning to feel terrible. Really terrible. I'm sick. Put your coat on. Yeah, thanks. That ought to help a little bit. You work, Hal? You got a job? Yes, I did have. It did happen, until the day before yesterday. What happened? I got fired. Why? Why do you think? How'd you get the habit? You should have known better than us. You look like an intelligent boy. I'm very intelligent. Top 10 in my class. Big deal. How'd you get hooked? Well, it was this girl. What's her name? It doesn't have anything to do with her. I thought I could kick the habit anytime. Anytime? First it was just once in a while and maybe two or three times a week. And then it got to be a regular fix. Every day? Every day. Where is this girl? I don't know where she is. I lost track of her someplace down the line. I don't know what happened to her. Haven't seen her in five, six weeks. Couple of months. Listen, I gotta loosen my tie, Captain. It's getting Awfully warm in here. You don't mind if I loosen my tie? No, go right ahead. Thanks. Look, I was buying 2, 3, 4 caps a day. See, I had a good job. And it was beginning to cost me 40, 50, $60 a week to support the habit. It was too much. It was way too much. And it was getting so I couldn't get halfway through the day. I imagine you couldn't. When they fired me, there I was with no money, owing everybody, not a chance in the world to get another job. Kind of brought me to my senses. Did it? So I told myself, hal, you're gonna kick the habit. You're gonna kick it right now. So I went home. You know what I did? What? I went to the drawer and I got to work. You know, the needle and the cotton and everything. Mm. Well, you know what I did with him? I broke him up and I threw him down the toilet. I said, hal, that's all, boy. You're through. That's all. So I started to sweat it out. Stayed around the house. I didn't leave. And then I started to dry up. Just dry up. This cold turkey is awful. You know how sick I got. I told myself I was gonna sweat it out. And I was sweating too. I really was. Anyway, I had a bottle of whiskey there. I thought maybe that would help, you know, get me over the hump. So I soaked it down and I soak it down. Anyway, I got. I got stinking. Pass that. Drunk I just passed.

[Mrs. Reigate]

Listen, is there a window open?

[Captain Kennelly]

Captain, there's an awful draft in here somewhere. No, no window open. Well, I don't know. Maybe it's just my imagination, I guess. I guess I'm just getting sick again. Anyway, I flopped down the bed and it was 11:30 in the morning before I woke up. And I wasn't feeling too sick. So I said, hal, maybe you're over the hump. Maybe you're there. Didn't you eat anything? No, I wasn't hungry. I wasn't hungry at all. I just into one chair and I move to the next one. And I take my shoes off and I put them back on. But I was going to sweat it out. I made up my mind I was going to sweat it out. But you didn't. No, I didn't mind. I shot up about 8:30 last night. That was last night. What about today? Well, I didn't give up the idea of kicking the habit. I figured I'd make it because it cost me my last six dollars for the three caps the night before. See, I didn't have a cent left. So anyway, I didn't care how sick I got. I really stuck it out. I rim stuck it out about 8 o'. Clock. And then I thought I'd better go out and get some air. See, that's what I needed, some air. So I went down the street and I started walking and walking and it was getting worse all the time. It was just. It was just worse and worse. And I walked by where my connection hangs out. I just walked by, see, I didn't even stop. You didn't have the money. Well, that's true. But I went right by him anyway. See, I was feeling terrible. It was real bad. And I walked down the street and they saw this car and, you know, it was in the backseat. There was fur coat and all kinds of things kept going through my head. Hal, get the code. Get the code, put it in soap, get money for a fix. Well, you know, I walked around the block three times past that car. And the last time I stopped and I was just about to open the door, see, and I stopped and I said, hal, what's the matter with you? You know what you're doing? This is what you said wouldn't happen to you. You're not gonna be a thief like everybody else on the habit. So I just walk some more. And I thought, hal, if you're in jail, it's cold turkey and there's no questions there. So you pulled the hook on the fire alarm? Yeah, that's right. I pulled the hook. To get in jail? Yes, sir. To get in jail. Hell, that's the only thing you were right about. Stairs together to wait. Arrival of detectives from the narcotics squad who would interrogate the boy in an attempt to learn his source of the drugs. At 9:30, a car came by the precinct house and took me down to 86th street and York Avenue where one of the candidates for mayor in the forthcoming election was speaking to a rally. The crowd was neither large nor disorderly. After the rally broke up, I resumed patrol of the precinct. At 11:30, I returned to the precinct house. As the sector car drove away, I walked up the worn front soup into the muster room. 21st Precinct, Sergeant Klein. Hello, Captain. Sergeant. All right. 11. Yeah. Now watch it. Sir. Captain, huh? And sweat. The mendicant squad just dumped six moochers in here. Well, they picked up on this precinct? Yes, sir. Seems there was a migration from the Bari. They came up in a lump. Oh, Captain. Yes? There's a young woman waiting for you. Oh? Where? She said she'd be Right back. She asked if there was a phone here that she could use. And I told her there's no public phone in the precinct house. She'd have to go to the candy store down the block. Who is she? She's the sister of that boy who turned in the false alarms. Oh. How about him? What happened? He's back in the cells, Captain. A couple of men from the narcotics squad showed up and talked to him upstairs. Nat King came down with him. He said there are two of them to lock him up. Did she talk to her brother? Yes, sir. When the detectives brought him downstairs, she talked to him for a while in the back room. Then she said she'd like to wait for you. So you didn't. Get me Lt. King on the phone, will you? Is he upstairs? Yes, Captain, I think so. Excuse me. Yes, sir. Step right up the bed. What can I do?

[Narrator/Announcer]

And Doug, here we have the Limu emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and safeguard save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Captain Kennelly]

Uh, Limu Is that guy with the binoculars watching us?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Cut the camera. They see us.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty. Liberty Savings Fairy underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.

[Captain Kennelly]

Plastic bags, plastic lids. What do we do with you? You can't go in the recycling bin, but you can be recycled if taken to a new recycle on center. Find one near [e-mail] oregoncenters I want you to send a policeman home with me, will you? What's the trouble there? Well, I tell you, my landlady won't let me into my room. Why not? Well, she claims I'm two weeks behind in my rent. She said I'm locked out till I pay up. Well, are you two weeks behind? Well, it's not the point, is it? The point is, does she have a right to keep my clothes? That's not our job to get your clothes back, mister. That's between you and the landlady. Senator King's on his way downstairs, Captain. Okay, thanks. That's all right. I didn't mean to interrupt you. Well, can't you send somebody over there so you'll be at least reasonable? I don't care about the room. I can get a million rooms. But I want my thing. That's a civil action, mister. You'll have to get out of summons owner and let the magistrate work it out. No, I owe her the rent. All right, that would Count against me, wouldn't it? Oh, there's Lieutenant King, Captain. Okay, thanks. Well, the point is, I don't have a clean shirt to wear to work tomorrow. Matt. Hello, Captain. How did you and the narcotics squad make out with that boy? Well, I came up town to talk to him. I had him in my office for nearly an hour. Not so good with him. No. No, sir. He wasn't carrying. Didn't have a thing on him. While they were talking to him, I sent Novak and Howard over to have a look in his room. They couldn't find the works or any junk over there. He told me he disposed of the works. Yes. I know he wouldn't open up to us about his connection, but from what he told you about where he was walking, right by his connection, he said. Yeah, that's right. And from where he saw the car and from where he pulled the fire hook, they've got a pretty good idea on just about the location this connection hangs out. They're checking around to see if they can spot him. What about the boy, meanwhile? Well, there's no narcotics case against him, Captain. I thought the best thing to do is go ahead and charge him with a false alarm. Might get six months out of that. Couldn't do much better, even if they did have a case. Okay, Matt. Thanks. I'm going out and get a sandwich. How about you, Captain? No, much obliged. I got a whole folder of reports in there. Oh, that's his sister. Just came back in. Yeah, Matt told me. She wants to talk to me. This is Eyegate. This is Captain Kennelly.

[Mrs. Reigate]

How do you do, Captain?

[Captain Kennelly]

How are you? I'll be back a little later, Captain. Okay, ma'. Am. See you then. They said you wanted to talk to me, ma'. Am.

[Mrs. Reigate]

That's right.

[Captain Kennelly]

If you have a minute in my office.

[Mrs. Reigate]

Yes, all right. I suppose you know it's about Hal.

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes, I know. Mrs. Reigate?

[Mrs. Reigate]

Yes, that's right. Mrs. John Reigate.

[Captain Kennelly]

Do you want to have a seat there?

[Mrs. Reigate]

Yes, thanks.

[Captain Kennelly]

How did you find out about this?

[Mrs. Reigate]

Well, I. I have a friend that lives in the same building as Hal. Right across the hall, as a matter of fact. When the detectives came to look in his apartment before my friend called me on the telephone. They told my friend that Hal was arrested. He was over here.

[Captain Kennelly]

Where do you live, Mrs. Lagay?

[Mrs. Reigate]

In Hemster. You know, Long Island. My husband stayed with the children, and I took the car and drove on in. I don't know what I could do, but I. I came anyway.

[Captain Kennelly]

Did you know your brother was A narcotics addict?

[Mrs. Reigate]

No, I didn't. Not until tonight.

[Captain Kennelly]

Didn't you know something was wrong?

[Mrs. Reigate]

Well, not exactly. We haven't seen him all summer, not since the middle of June. He used to come out to the house every other week or so. He likes the kids, he got the dogs. And I thought he was busy and didn't have time. You know how it is. How bad is it, Captain? You read about people getting cured. I was just wondering what he can do, what I can do.

[Captain Kennelly]

Anything can be done. It's up to him.

[Mrs. Reigate]

Yes, I know we don't have much money. My husband has a small store out there. He's just getting started in business. We don't have too much, but anything I can do to help out, I'll be glad to.

[Captain Kennelly]

What about your parents? Where do they live?

[Mrs. Reigate]

In Jersey. My father's dead. My mother remarried. He remarried? A man with three young children. He couldn't go there. That would be impossible. I don't think she'd want him. I don't think she ever wanted him, either of us. It's funny. She didn't want either of us. And now she's got clues that aren't even her own. You were saying he could help himself. How can he do that?

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, the public health law dealing with narcotics states that an admitted narcotic addict can have himself committed and subjected to treatment.

[Mrs. Reigate]

That would be good, but where would that be? In a hospital?

[Captain Kennelly]

That's right. In the city hospital.

[Mrs. Reigate]

The hospital wouldn't be so bad. He was locked up back there. Now, he's never been in jail before in his life. Never. The sergeant out there told me that his bail is $500. So a $500 bail he can get out. What do you mean? You put up $500 or this city keeps the 500. Or what?

[Captain Kennelly]

He's just put up as surety that he'll appear for his trial.

[Mrs. Reigate]

Oh, I never knew exactly what it meant.

[Captain Kennelly]

If he appears for the trial, the bond is released, but I don't think he wants to be released on bail. That's why he pulled the fire alarm. To get in jail.

[Mrs. Reigate]

That's what he told me, too. He wanted to get in jail where he'd be away from it, where he couldn't possibly get it.

[Captain Kennelly]

I.

[Mrs. Reigate]

He said he didn't care what happened to him. He cared how sick he got.

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, what did you Want with me, Mrs. Randall?

[Mrs. Reigate]

I just wanted to find out what I could do. I just want to know what's best. What's best for Hal?

[Captain Kennelly]

I think the best Thing would be if he'd subject himself to treatment and help the detectives with what they want to know.

[Mrs. Reigate]

He wouldn't do that. I know he wouldn't. He told me that the people who sold him the dopa were helping him out. That's all they were doing. They were helping him out when he was in trouble?

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes, they help everybody out, especially themselves. The rest of the night was quiet in the precinct. At 7:45am the patrol wagon arrived to take the prisoners arrested during the night to court. Among them were two cat burglars and a parole violator. Who would be taken downtown to 100 Center street to felony court. The six Bariites arrested on their uptown mooching expedition and Halbrider were taken to arrest. Part Midtown Magistrates Court, 153 East 57th Street Street. At 8am I turned out the platoon, signed the blotter and left the precinct. I had breakfast, called Ellen, told her I had to go to court and would be home late. I window shopped on 5th Avenue and on 57th street till five minutes to 10. When I walked into the courtroom, there were fewer spectators than people inside the rail. Police officers, attorneys, bondsmen. The prisoners were guarded in the bar room off to one side. As the jail docket is always called first. The assistant district attorney told me my case would be through. Welli the magistrate entered and court was called to order. The first case was on a charge of assault from the 17th Precinct. The complaining witness had lost much of his enthusiasm overnight. I'll dismiss the charges for lack of evidence. Case dismissed. You can go, please. Order, please. Harley Brighter to the bar. Harley Brighter? Yes, that's right. Right over this way. Is he arresting? Officer in court. Captain Kennelly. Is Captain Kennelly in court? Yes, I'm here. Allie Brighter. You were charged with violation of section 1424, the penal law. Are you represented by counsel, young man? Sir, I don't need a lawyer. I'm guilty, you, Honor. I can't take your plea here. All I can do is set bail and bind you over to Special Sessions. Your Honor. Yes, sir. This man is a narcotics addict. He admitted it to me. I think the district Attorney would be willing to go along with this is suspended sentence. If he'd allow himself to be committed for treatment. Is that true, young man? No, sir. I'm all right. I don't need treatment. I don't want it. Now, look, boy, get some sense, will you? Look, there's only one place to kick it. That's jail. That's where. If you think that's Easy. I know it's not easy. You think I'm having an easy time now? I'm sick. Now I'm sick already. I. I can't commit him, Captain. Not unless he makes a voluntary application. Yes, I know, you, Honor, but I'm not going to volunteer. A bail on the charge is set at $500 remand for special Sessions. This way. All right, step this way through that door. Bernard J. Bexel. Bernard J. Bexel to the bar. As a result of his failure to make the $500 bond, Hal Briner was taken to the Tombs to wait his trial in Special Sessions court on charges of turning in a false alarm. Before I left, I stopped in the detention pen to talk to him. He was convinced that the answer was to sweat it out in jail. Cold turkey, as he called it. Symptoms typical of the withdrawal from narcotics had overtaken him. His eyes were watery, his head hurt. He was alternately hot and cold. He was genuinely ill, but he was determined. I left the court building and got a subway for home. Not due back on the job until 8 the following morning. When I got to the precinct house the next day, I signed the blotter and turned out the platoon for the day tour. There was a teletype communication addressed to all precinct, division and borough commanders to report in the lineup room at Police Headquarters, 240 Center street at 10 o' clock that morning. The meeting concerned police assignments in connection with the registration of voters and the subsequent election of city officers. The meeting lasted until 12:15. On the way uptown, just as we were entering the 21st, a signal 32 came over the air. The address? 734 E. 81st St. Ambulance responding. I told my operator to make the run. When we pulled into the block, I saw the two sectors car, the sergeant's car and the ESV car were on the job. All right, let's keep the sidewalk clear. Farrell, have these people move on. All right. Police officer coming through there. Police officer. All right, let me through there. Oh, hello, Captain. What have we got, Sergeant? Doa Yeah, I was just going out to notify the medical examiner. What is it, natural causes? No, sir. Not homicide? No, sir. You know who he is? He's your friend, the false alarm kid. Where is it, Sergeant? Up the stairs, Captain. I'll walk up with you. Lieutenant King is here. Oh, is he? Yes. How did it happen? Lt. King says it looks like an overdose. There was a hypodermic needle and four or five empty camps we were on. How did he get out of danger? I thought he Was going to sweat it out there. My sister is here. She told me she went his bonds. Oh, right in there, Captain. He's in there. She went down to visit him at the tomb yesterday afternoon. She paid a bondsman $25. He got out last night in there. Hello, man. Captain. What's it look like, Matt? An overdose? Yes, sir. It's pretty obvious where to make up for a little lost time. He's lost plenty of time now, hasn't he? He sure has. Did you find him, Matt? No, sir. But I was on my way over here. We got his connection during the night and I called down to the tomb as they told me. The boy was released on bail. So I was on my way over to see if he'd help us make a stronger case against the shover. How was he found? His sister came to see him. She promised she would at noon. Knocked on the door. There wasn't any answer. Got the super to open up. This is what they found. He wanted to kick the habit. Seems like the habit kicked him. All right. I'll go talk to her. You better notify the ME sergeant. Yes, Mr. Dry Game.

[Mrs. Reigate]

It didn't have that. It didn't have to happen at all.

[Captain Kennelly]

He wanted to stay in jail. You wanted to sweat it out.

[Mrs. Reigate]

I couldn't stand to see him in jail. Not Hal. I just couldn't stand to see Hal in jail. I got a bondsman and I got him out. He didn't want to come out. He didn't want to leave. But I choked him into it. My father.

[Captain Kennelly]

Oh, my sword.

[Mrs. Reigate]

I know it.

[Captain Kennelly]

But if you got him out, why did you leave him alone last night?

[Mrs. Reigate]

He said he'd be all right. And I have my children and my husband. He said he'd be fine. He told me he was going to kick the habit. He said he'd never touch this stuff again.

[Captain Kennelly]

He won't. He's kicked the habit. He's kicked it for good. 21st Precinct. Sergeant Klein. You what? Smell gas. Where is this E71 at? What floor? You haven't found where it's coming from? That's right. Get the people out. See if you can locate where it's coming from. And so it goes. Around the clock through the week, every day, every year. A 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 Robert Reddick, Lawson Zerbe, Jack Orson, Bill Smith, Raymond Edward Johnson and Madeline Sherwood. Written and directed by Stanley Mist. Produced for CBS Radio by John Ives. Gaylord Avery speaking. Limu Emu and Doug.

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[Captain Kennelly]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us?

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Cut the camera. They see us.

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[Captain Kennelly]

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[Captain Kennelly]

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