21st Precinct 53-11-24 (021) Case of the Ditch

Summary

Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: 21st Precinct 53-11-24 (021) Case of the Ditch
Date: February 22, 2026

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Overview

This episode of 21st Precinct dives into the procedural realities of New York City police work in the early 1950s, offering a dramatized "factual account" of a typical day for Captain Frank Kennelly and his precinct. The focus is on the discovery of a body in a street excavation, the ensuing homicide investigation, and a related safe burglary that offers a glimpse into the gritty day-to-day process of criminal investigation and policing.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Routine Unraveled: The Day Begins

• Captain Kennelly’s Routine
  • After a long night shift, Captain Kennelly seeks a haircut at a local barbershop, demonstrating the human side of police leadership.
  • Joe, the barber, comments: "Boy, some hours. Especially that four in the afternoon to eight in the morning deal." (03:13)
• A Routine Broken
  • The routine is interrupted with news of a body found in a street ditch; Kennelly’s day off quickly dissolves into a new investigation.

2. The Crime Scene: A Body in the Ditch

• Discovery (04:10–07:00)
  • Laborers, arriving for work on a sewer connection, find an unidentified male body in a 4-foot-deep trench.
  • The scene is controlled, evidence is difficult to preserve due to inclement weather and contamination by laborers.
• Initial Theories
  • Discussion on whether the death could be accidental or homicide:
    • "You haven't had a close look at him, Captain. He got him working over. He couldn't have gotten banged up that way falling into the ditch. He was thrown in there." – Lieutenant King (06:07)
• Forensics and Investigation (10:00–11:00)
  • The medical examiner later determines there are no gunshot wounds; death was due to a fractured skull, with other signs of violence.
  • No ID found on the victim; removal to Bellevue Morgue for further examination.

3. Parallel Case: The Safe Burglary

• Burglary Reported
  • Simultaneously, a burglary at Fernhill Radio and Appliance Company is reported (safe broken into, but nothing stolen).
• Speculation Links the Two Crimes
  • Theories arise about potential overlap between the murder and the safe burglary, especially after connections to the criminal background of the deceased are revealed.

4. Identification of the Victim

• Family Notified (13:50–18:34)
  • Mrs. Louise Balney comes to the precinct looking for her missing husband, whom she believes might have been arrested.
  • The precinct delivers the difficult news: her husband, Philip Balney, is the murder victim found in the ditch.
  • Memorable moment:
    • "He's not dead." (18:28)
    • Captain Kennelly replies: "Yes, he is. I'm sorry." (18:34)

5. The Hunt for 'Red' Gilliam

• Investigation Focuses on Gilliam
  • “Red” (John Gilliam), a known associate, becomes the main suspect. He has a criminal record but no convictions.
  • Planting and stakeouts ensue; Red is eventually spotted at the pier during a "shape-up" for dock work.
• The Arrest (22:36–24:18)
  • Detectives, disguised as workers, wait at the pier for Red. He attempts to leave but is apprehended.
  • "All right. Hold still. I'm clean. I'm not carrying anything." – Red Gilliam (24:15)

6. Interrogation and Resolution

• Red’s Interrogation (24:40–27:40)
  • Red initially denies involvement but, under pressure, confesses to being present with Philip during the attempted safe burglary.
  • He claims Philip died in an accident (falling down the stairs with the safe); Red panicked and dumped the body.
    • Quote: “The thing slipped or he slipped or something. Anyway, he went rolling down the stairs with it. I thought he was just knocked out…So I loaded him in the car. And when I got a few blocks away, I saw he was dead.” – Red Gilliam (26:40)
    • “If you want the truth, that's it. Where does it get me?” (27:17)
  • The detectives and Captain Kennelly believe Red’s story, but note that he’s still implicated in the burglary.
    • “You're caught in a little bit more than a set of circumstances. You're caught in a safe burglary.” – Captain Kennelly (27:34)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Relentless Pace of Police Work:
  • "It's just lines on a map of the city of New York...the security of their homes, persons, and their property is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct." – Captain Kennelly (00:50)
• Barbershop Banter:
  • “When you’re in it, you like it to be quiet. All right. You want a little more off on the top this time, Captain?” – Joe (02:56)
• On Forensics:
  • “The fall into the ditch couldn’t have done it. He was dead before he got anywhere near the ditch.” – Lieutenant King (16:01)
• Delivering News to the Next of Kin:
  • “Yes, he is. I’m sorry.” – Captain Kennelly to Mrs. Balney (18:34)
• The Confession:
  • “That was us, was it?...You wanted the truth. That’s it. Where does it get me?” – Red Gilliam (26:40–27:17)
• On the Unpredictability of Police Work:
  • “Anyone can catch the brass ring or the brass ring can catch anyone.” – Narrator (27:38)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Discovery of Body: 04:10–07:00
• Initial Theories and Crime Scene Analysis: 07:00–08:59
• Identification/Family Notification: 13:50–18:34
• Stakeout and Arrest of Red: 22:36–24:18
• Interrogation of Red: 24:40–27:40

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Tone & Style

The tone is sober and procedural, with moments of dark humor and authentic human interaction—caught between the world-weariness of veteran police officers and the gravity of real human tragedy. Dialogue and narration maintain a clipped, practical 1950s New York style.

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Summary

This episode embodies the ethos of classic radio police drama: casework, dogged investigation, and the emotional toll policing takes on officers and families alike. The ultimate twist—that the murder was a tragic accident in the commission of another crime—underscores the moral and narrative complexity that set 21st Precinct apart in its era.

Transcript

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[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Q U-E-S-T.com Spinquest is a free to play social casino. Void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details. 21st Precinct. Sergeant Waters. Where? How do you know he was killed? Now, where is it between third and Lexington or second and third? Well, who found him? Oh, looks like he. What? You are in the muster 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. Now look, the officers will be there right away. Well, keep everybody from there if you can. That's right, keep them back. The officers will be right there. You just stay around until they come. 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. It was 10 minutes after 8am I signed the blotter after I turned out the platoon and left the station house at the end of my night tour after having been on duty since 4 o'clock the previous afternoon. The morning was dark and chilly and it appeared that we were in for some snow. I walked to the corner and up Lexington a half a block to the barbershop. Come in, come in. Your next captain.

[Joe (Barber)]

No waiting this morning?

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Oh, I Jo. No complaints. I take your coat. Thanks. And the hat? Yep.

[Joe (Barber)]

In the chair. Captain.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

You caught in a fight last night, Captain? No, and I was working. Boy, some fight. It was. Some fight. Yeah. I don't know how the guy stood on his feet as long as he did. I don't know. What'll it be this morning? The works Just a haircut, Joe. Just a haircut. Yes. Besides the police business. Quiet. Knock on wood, huh? Knock on wood.

[Joe (Barber)]

I guess that is the only business in the world.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

When you're in it, you like it to be quiet. All right. You want a little more off on the top this time, Captain? About the same. About the same? About the same.

[Joe (Barber)]

You coming to work or going?

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Oh, I just signed out. Oh, I never could get straight how you worked days, nights, what? Oh, I've been on the job since four o' clock yesterday afternoon. I was off at eight and I'm not due back until eight tomorrow morning. Then what? Until six tomorrow night? Boy, some hours. Especially that. Four in the afternoon to eight in the morning deal.

[Joe (Barber)]

Like the fighter last night.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

How could you stand on your feet? It's not so bad, Joe. If things quiet down about 3, 4 o' clock in the morning, I get a little sleep on the couch in my office. It's not like being home in the bed, believe me. I believe you, Joe. They must be police department saydays. Two customers, two policemen. Poor Captain Howard Sherry. Good night. Golly, you're telling. Gorman told me. You thought you said you were coming here. What's doing? Said tell you. We've got a homicide cabin. Why? 78th street near 3rd Avenue. Homicide? Was that murder? Unidentified male, about 35 years old. Shot. They don't know yet, Cap. BPM has a street cut open for a new sewer connection there. Men came to work this morning, found the body at the bottom of the hole. Looks like a ride job. Some people. Hey, Joe, prank this thing off, will you? How can you go out unfinished? I'll be back. It would be a good idea, believe me. Are you in a car or on foot, Cony? Take the car too. Captain, I was instructed if you were here and wanted to take a ride over there to drop my partner on post and drive you. I want to go. Yes. I helped you with a coat, Captain. Thanks, Joe. What time did the call come in, Cony? About 14 minutes after 8, Captain. Don't forget to come back, Captain. I'll be here. Okay. Because walking around like that, you're no recommendation for my work. I drove to the scene in sector car number two with patrolman Coley. It had started to snow and the flakes were coming down thick and wet as we pulled into the block. On the job were sector car number one, the sergeant's car and the detective squad car. There were two trucks from the office of the borough president, Manhattan, parked near the streetcar and a dozen laborers who came to Continue work on the sewer connection to a building under construction. Were standing around trying to keep warm. Sergeant Waters had pressed them into service to aid in keeping civilians back on the sidewalk and incidentally, to keep the laborers out of the way. Coley pulled the car up as close as he could manage. Central six five. All right. Park it down the block, Coley. Yes, sir. No sense in tying this up any worse. Excuse me there, will you? Police officer coming through here. Sergeant Waters. Hello, Captain. What's it look like? Well, there he is. Down the hole. All right, mister, I told you to stay behind a barricade. Now stay behind there. Who found him? The laborers came to work on this sewer connection and eight one of them spotted the body in. Their foreman rang in. Now, look, mister, I'm not going to tell you again. Well, the detectives got on the job fast enough, didn't they? Yes, sir. I'll go talk to Lieutenant King. Look, you know better than anybody else, stay behind that fire. What's going on, Mr. Ross? Hello, Matt. Hello, Captain. What do we got? Man, looks like Homicide. All right, Captain. Who is he? No idea yet. We're waiting for the medical examiner and the photographer. Should be here any minute. Is that how we found him? Yes, sir. Right down there at the bottom of the trench. This is a pretty busy street. Surprising somebody didn't Notice him before 8 o'.

[Joe (Barber)]

Clock.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Where was the man on post? Oh, I thought that too at first, Captain. But that slit's only 2ft wide and about 4ft deep from the side. Somebody'd have to get almost to the edge of the trench to see the body. Nobody passed close to this edge because of that dirt piled on both sides. No one could see into the hole from that end because of the wooden barricade there along the sidewalk. That motor compressor blocks the view at the other end. No idea how long the body's been in there? No, sir. The crew quit working at 4 o' clock yesterday afternoon. Anytime between dark last night and dawn this morning. I got the names and addresses of all the VPM crew. Lieutenant Garn. Hello, Captain. Tommy. The foreman wants to know how long it'll be before they can get on the job here. Better tell them it'll be an hour at least. We're waiting for the medical examiner, the homicide squad and the photographer. Yes, sir. I'll tell him. What makes you so sure it's homicide? Man, he could have been drunk, fallen in there. You haven't had a close look at him, Captain. He got him working over. He couldn't have gotten banged up that way. Falling into the ditch. He was thrown in there. Probably dragged out of a car and dumped. Any sign of a gunshot wound? He might have been shot. We can't tell from the position the body's in. We'll know more about that when we can move him. There wasn't any sign of anything in these piles of dirt, was there? If the body was dumped, whoever did it had to walk across these piles of dirt. There might have been, Captain, but there isn't now. When the first officer got on the scene, those 12 laborers were all over the place. Well, looks like this might turn into a pretty heavy snowstorm. Yeah, it does. Well, I need a homicide case and then go home and shovel the snow. Captain Kennelly. Yes, Sergeant. I just rang in. Lieutenant Gorman told me there's a report of her burglary. And that's what you think? Yes, sir. The Fernhill radio and appliance company. 734 East 82nd Street. They opened up the store this morning and found that burglars had been in during the night. They tried to get the safe downstairs apartment. Found the bottom of the steps unopened. Did the desk officer ring the squad? Yes, sir. Gave it to Novak. Novak notified the safe and lost squad and then one himself. Ian Whitey Howard. All right, thanks, Bill. Yes. Well, you don't have to worry about shoveling any snow mattress. You won't get home until it thaws. You are listening to 21st Precinct, a factual account of the way police work in the world's largest city. Moving to Friday nights after this evening's program. Listen for these police cases at their new night and time beginning one week from this Friday. Don't forget, Captain Kennelly and his hard working enforcers of the law will bring you their thrilling assignments again beginning Friday, December 4th, on most of these same CBS radio stations.

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[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

If you're an H Vac technician and a call comes in, Grainger knows that you need a partner that helps you find the right product fast and hassle free. And you know that when the first problem of the day is a clanking blower motor. There's no need to break a sweat. With Grainger's easy to use website and product details, you're confident you'll soon have everything humming right along. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. Now back to 21st Precinct and Captain Frank Kennelly. Within another few minutes, detectives from the Manhattan East Homicide Squad and a deputy medical examiner had arrived at the scene. While the Homicide Squad photographer made the required pictures, Lieutenant King, as the ranking officer of the Detective division present, dictated to the Homicide Squad stenographer a detailed description of the position and appearance of the body and of the surrounding condition. No identification of any kind was found in the pockets of the victim. The medical examiner reported to Lt. King that preliminary observation revealed no gunshot wounds. Death appeared to have been caused by a fractured skull. Finally, Patrolman Adam Austin, the first member of the force at the scene, placed a UF95 tag on the body. And it was removed to the Bellevue morgue for identification and autopsy. And the investigation began. I then went to the scene of the Safe burglary at 734 E. 82nd St. Detectives of both the Safe and Lost squad and the 21st squad were on the job. The uniformed officers had already resumed patrol. I returned to the barbershop. Joe completed my haircut, and I walked around the corner to the station house where Lieutenant Gorman was desk officer. And Sergeant Waters was now on telephone footboard duty. Hello, Captain. Sergeant, Mrs. Connelly called. Oh, I forgot the phone and I got tied up. I explained it, Captain. I told her we had a homicide in the safe. Bug. Oh, thanks, Bill. She said call her when you get a chance. I will, as soon as I sign the block. Yes? Hello? MAN 21st Precinct. Sergeant Waters. How many dogs? Well, there's no law against people having dogs, Lady. I know, but.

[Joe (Barber)]

Lady.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Lady, you'll have to take that up with your landlord. If he promised he wouldn't rent anybody with dogs, that's between you and him. Well, madam, there's nothing we can do about it. All right. You're welcome. What was that, Bill? She's allergic to dogs. Family's moving into a building with two of them. Oh, hello, Captain. Matt, I want to see you. I'd like to see you too, Captain. Well, how's it going? Nothing much yet. Come on into my office for a minute. Captain Pfeisser is upstairs talking to those two men from the borough president's office. Oh, Go ahead. Thanks. The captain of the Homicide squad is on his way up with the chief detectives. Any identification on him yet? No. I just spoke to Vitale. They rolled some prints off the man as soon as they got him to the Bellevue morgue. He just brought them into BCI and they're trying to get a make on him now. The man wasn't shot or stabbed, was he? No, sir. The medical examiner says death was apparently caused by a fractured skull. He's got other marks and bruises all over him. One thing's sure. The fall into the ditch couldn't have done it. He was dead before he got anywhere near the ditch. What I wanted to find out is you were up at the safe burglary, right, Captain? Yeah, man. Well, I've been running around in circles around this other deal. Haven't had a chance to speak to Novak and Howard about that. They were up there. And two men from the safe and lost squad. I've got the district captain upstairs now, the chief of detectives and probably the burro chief run the way. That'll start throwing questions at me on the safe job. Haven't even been over there. Well, they didn't get anything out of there, Matt. It was a bust. Yes, I know that. It was this radio and appliance store. They gained entry through a side door. The freight entrance. Jimmy. The nightlight. Partly. They went straight upstairs to the office on the balcony. Tried to rip the safe. Didn't get very far with it. Might have thought they needed more tools or more time. Decided to carry it out. Apparently it got away from them coming down the stairs. Yeah. Must have made a lot of noise. And they're left in a hurry. I left all their tools on the job. Probably stolen. Probably. Come in. Excuse me a second. Captain. Yes, Sergeant? There's a woman out there talking to Lieutenant Gorman. Yes? Her husband didn't show up at home last night. And, Captain, sounds to me like she's talking about the man that was found in the ditch. Did you say anything to him? No, sir. Ask her to come in here. Yes, sir. Mrs. Balney?

[Joe (Barber)]

Yes?

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Could you step in here? A mess, please? You don't mind, Captain? No, that's all right.

[Joe (Barber)]

Did I know something?

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Come in, Mrs. Bonnelli.

[Joe (Barber)]

Yes. Yes, I'm much obliged.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

All right, Sergeant? Yes, sir. Sit down, please.

[Joe (Barber)]

Do you have Bill here arrested, I mean?

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

No, we don't.

[Joe (Barber)]

Oh, I thought you did.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

How do you spell your name?

[Joe (Barber)]

Bonnie. B, O, L, N, E, Y.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Your husband's first name is Phil?

[Joe (Barber)]

Yeah, that's right.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

What's your first name Louise. Where do you live, Mrs. Bolling?

[Joe (Barber)]

At 3422 Lewis Avenue in the Bronx. I was led to believe that you did have Phil here. I thought he was arrested.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

What made you think that?

[Joe (Barber)]

Well, he said he had some business last night. He left right after supper and he said he'd be home at 1 o', clock, no later. Well, about 11 o', clock, I turned off the radio, went to bed, slept all night. When I woke up this morning, he wasn't in the bed. I don't know. I couldn't imagine what happened.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Did he ever stay out all night?

[Joe (Barber)]

Well, late sometimes, but never all night. He always comes home, no matter what time, in the morning? Always. He don't drink much, so I'm never worried about that. A few beers, maybe.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

I still don't understand what made you think he was arrested.

[Joe (Barber)]

A detective called and spoke to you? No, not to meet the super of the building. We don't have a telephone.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

The did detective leave his name?

[Joe (Barber)]

He just told the super if I'd come to the 21st Precinct, they'd know all about Phil.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Did the super say the man told him he was a police officer?

[Joe (Barber)]

Well, I don't know, but what else could he be? He said, come to the 21st Precinct only.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

How old is your husband?

[Joe (Barber)]

34. 34 in March.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

You know his height? How tall he is?

[Joe (Barber)]

Well, not so tall. Maybe four or five inches taller than me.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

About five, nine.

[Joe (Barber)]

About five nine, yes. Listen, don't you know anything? I mean, who'd call and say such a thing? And Sherlock coming home.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Has your husband ever been arrested?

[Joe (Barber)]

Well, he's. He's been in a little trouble. Yeah?

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

What kind of trouble?

[Joe (Barber)]

He was away.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Where?

[Joe (Barber)]

Same thing. But he's been all right. He's had no trouble since he's been back. No trouble at all. He was getting along fine. He's got a job. He's working every day. And the parole officer says he was doing very well.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

You said he was in the habit of staying out late at night. He's not supposed to do that if he's on parole. Not often. You know who he was out with last night, Mrs. Boney?

[Joe (Barber)]

Some friends. Ah, I don't know.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

I'm dead. Mrs. Excuse me.

[Joe (Barber)]

Where could he be?

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

I don't know. 21st Precinct. Captain Kennelly, Sergeant Ward is our TS captain. Detective Vitale is ringing in for Lieutenant King. Says it's important. All right, Matt. Yes. For you, Vitale. Okay. Thanks, John. Lieutenant King. Oh, hey, Lieutenant Vitali. Lieutenant, where are you? Down at D.C.I. we got a make on the Prince of the Dead man. Yeah. Yeah, he's a good boy. He did a bid for Grant Larceny and some time before that as a juvenile. What's the name? Balney. Philip Robert Balney. B O L N E Y Now, the clerks down here don't have a reason to dress on him, but he must have been reporting to the Board of Parole. I can check and see what address they've got. No, that won't be necessary for telly. Yes, sir. You can get a mug shot from BCI and come on in here. All right, Lieutenant. Yes, sir. They got a mate, Captain. Did they? Yeah. Where did your husband work, Mrs. Balding?

[Joe (Barber)]

On the docks on the west side. A longshoreman.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Have any idea who he might have gone out with last night?

[Joe (Barber)]

Oh, no, not exactly. He has lots of friends.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Which friend in particular do you think he might have been with last night?

[Joe (Barber)]

Well, he did say something.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

What?

[Joe (Barber)]

About Red. About not having to go someplace with Red, you know, on business.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Red who?

[Joe (Barber)]

I don't know his last name. He talks about this Red all the time, as if somebody that works with him. You know, Doc Wallopin.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Would you know this Red if you saw him?

[Joe (Barber)]

No, I never met him. I only heard Phil talk about him. Listen, you don't have him arrested here, so. I mean, where is he? Where could he be? Did you think maybe he went right to work this morning?

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

No, Mrs. Baly, I don't think so. I'm pretty sure we know where he is.

[Joe (Barber)]

Well, this is a fine time to tell me. I wanted to telly before, Captain. Why didn't he tell me?

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

We just found out about it.

[Joe (Barber)]

Where is he?

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Down at Bellevue, we think.

[Joe (Barber)]

What's he doing down there? Is he sick?

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Who?

[Joe (Barber)]

Is he in? He's not dead.

[Narrator / Captain Kennelly]

Yes, he is. I'm sorry. After a few minutes, Lieutenant King took Mrs. Balney upstairs to the 21st Detective Detective Squad. There she was questioned by Assistant District Attorney Lawrence Shapir in the presence of Lt. King and the top command of the Detective Division, the Chief of Detectives, the Borough Chief, the Homicide captain and the District captain. She was able to give no information other than the fact that she thought her husband might have been in the company of a friend named Red. Nor could she suggest a reason this Red or anyone else would want to murder him. At 11:30am Mrs. Boney was driven to the Bellevue morgue to identify the body of her husband. I remained in my office and cleaned up some paperwork that had hung over a little after 12. The top command of the detective division signed the blotter and left the precinct. I walked out of my office and into the lieutenant's locker room where a pot of coffee was on the fire. Captain. Oh, come in, lad. Well, I guess there won't be much snow to shovel. I'm over that stopped. Yeah. How about a cup of coffee? Yes, thanks. Grab a cup. Smells good. Sugar's in the drawer. Nothing. Well, how are you doing? All right, I guess. She identified the body as her husband. Red is a fellow named John Gilliam. He didn't show up for a job in the docks this morning. Well, that's a good sign for us. Yes, sir. Not for him. I've got six men out looking for him. Oh, your bosses seem to think it's in pretty good shape. Man, I saw them troop out of here. Well, they can't sit around and twiddle their thumbs, Captain. Don't have much to go on yet. What kind of fellow is this Red? He's been in a couple of jams. Never any convictions. But he's been questioned in connection with some burglary deal. Oh, incidentally, anything on the safe job? No, not much, Captain. Listen, Matt, did you speak to the medical examiner again on this still boning? Yes, I was. All these fractures and bruises he had, were they all internal injuries? No open cuts? No, sir. You know something? What? Boney did time for grand larceny. The information you got is that this Red was picked up a couple of times for investigation of burglary. Yes, sir. Are you willing to listen to a wild guess? Don't listen to anything, Captain. It washes out. A homicide case, Flynn. That's the last thing I need, Captain. A homicide case. I'm listening. After I finished my conversation with Lt. King at 1:30, I signed the blotter and left the station house. All that day and that night, detectives of the 21st Squad and the Homicide Squad beat the brush for John Gilliam, also known as Red Gilliam. They were waiting at the pier where he usually worked at the afternoon shape up. He did not appear. They traced out his home address, a furnished room in the West 20s. He hadn't been seen. The place was planted. Detectives spoke to all the acquaintances of Red Gilliam and Philip Boney they could locate. None had any information regarding the whereabouts of the fugitive. The plants at Red's rooming house and at the address of a girlfriend were maintained throughout the night. At 8:20am the next morning, there was a phone call for Detective Vitale from one of the acquaintances of Red Gilliam he had spoken to the previous afternoon. The caller, another longshoreman, told Vitale that he had seen at a Greenwich Village bar during the night. Red told the informant he was broke and needed a loan. He had promised a small loan if Red would come to the pier where he worked just before the whistle blew for the afternoon Shape Up. Vitale gave this information to Lt. King along with five other detectives, all dressed in work clothes. He was instructed to cover this pier in the event that Greg Gilliam showed up. This looks like a bus. Greg. Yep. He'll blow the whistle for the Shape up in a minute. If Red hasn't shown up by. He won't. Where's his friend? I don't see him now. I got him. There he gets the fender of that truck. The pickup. Oh, yeah. Oh, there comes the hiring boss. When they safe up, let's move in with them. No, Kings. Come on. Yeah. Think we ought to wait around here until they get off the job this afternoon? Red Flag will come then. I'll call the lieutenant. Whatever he says. Yeah. Whitey. Yeah? There he is, I think. Where? Khaki jacket, no hats. Headed for the truck. It's in. All right, let's grab him. Watch yourself. He went to heels. Don't worry, Red. Yeah? Wait a minute. We want to talk to you. Let's follow something. All right. We're police officers, Red. Oh. Turn around. Lean up against that truck. Go on. Yeah. All right. Hold still. I'm clean. I'm not carrying anything. That's what we want to make sure of. Listen, what's the beef? What do you want me for? Don't you know, Red? I said I know what you guys want. You always want to know something. Yeah, Red, we always want to know something. So come on, let's go. I had been on duty since 8am At 1:20, I was upstairs in the detective squad office conferring with Lt. King about a renewal application for a pistol license which must be investigated by detectives and endorsed with a recommendation by the commanding officer of the precinct. The applicant was a retired cop with a good departmental record, now working as a money guard in the precinct. There was a suspicion, however, that his eyes had gone bad on him and that he was no longer qualified for a permit. It's a hard thing to say, captain. Yeah, I know, man. I hate to do that to the man. He was a good cop when he was in the job. Set a good employment record with this company. Supposing there's some trouble over that gun. His eyes are bad. We can't help that. Yeah. Yes, we can. Yes. Come in, Z. All right, Red. Inside. Sit down over there, Red. Yeah, that's good. Sit right there. Shut the door, will you be. Yeah, sure, Lieutenant. He says he does know a thing, Lieutenant. This is where you come to learn, eh, Red? Now, what's it all about that you got to tell me? We'll start off with introductions. This is Captain Kennelly. I'm Lieutenant King. So? We don't want to waste any time, Red. We want some straight answers. About what? You were out with Phil Boundle the night before last, right? Who said that? Williams? No. Where? Williams. I spent practically the entire evening with a girl till about 3:34 o' clock this morning. Well, if that's so, it'll clear up a lot of things, Red. What girl is that? Her name is Isabel. Isabel Gamer. Where does she live? Down on 17th street, near Knights. You know that's a lie, Red. No, it's not. Detective Vitale spoke to Isabel yesterday. She said she didn't see you since Sunday. Isn't that right, Veep? That's right, Lieutenant. So it's right. Look, Red, we got a lot of things on our mind around here. We don't want to waste any time. What do you think I'm doing? You think this is accomplishing something for me? Bill was found dead on the street. Our information is that you were with him that night. And what about the truth? If I told you the truth, you wouldn't believe it. Wouldn't we? I guarantee you wouldn't. Better try us, Red, because you're looking a murder beef right in the face. If the truth is gonna help you, you better let us have it. You wouldn't believe it. Maybe we already know the truth, Red. Maybe we just want to hear it from you. Well, you won't believe it. I guarantee it. But if you want us. All right. What? Well, you see, Phil and I were together. Yeah, we've been doing a few things together. I had this store spotted over in the East 80s. I don't know. The safe looked like an easy touch. Well, we went in there together and tried to rip the face off. It wouldn't come. So we decided to go down the stairs with it and load it in the car. It was small enough. We started down. Phil was below and I was up above. The thing slipped or he slipped or something. Anyway, he went rolling down the stairs with it. I thought he was just knocked out. Yes, well, that's all I figured. Get him out. Get him out fast. So I loaded him in the car. And when I got a few blocks away, I saw he was dead. Well, what was I going to do with him? I passed by this place where they had the street dug up. That looked good enough for me. So I dumped him in there. And that was us, was it? There, you see? You wanted the truth. That's it. Where does it get me? Did you call his wife? Yeah, the next morning. I figured you got to know. You've got to find out at least. Well, don't look at me like I was an idiot. That's what happened. That's exactly what happened. The truth. It's the honest to goodness truth. If I had a stack of fire, but it wouldn't be any more the truth. I didn't kill him. I didn't lay a finger on him. We know it, Red. We believe you. Do you? Why shouldn't we? The captain had a figure the same afternoon. The whole thing sounds so schooly. So nuts to get caught in a set of circumstances. Red, you're caught in a little bit more than a set of circumstances. You're caught in a safe burglary. 21st Precinct. Sergeant Waters. What'd you say about a gun? Oh, to get a license to carry one. 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 is Lieutenant King. Featured in tonight's cast were Louis Van Ruten, Bill Lipton, Harold Stone, Les Damon and Julie Stevens. Written and directed by Stanley Nist. Produced for CBS Radio by John Ives.

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