21st Precinct 54-02-03 (030) The Baker

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: 21st Precinct 54-02-03 (030) The Baker

Date: February 22, 2026

Host: Harold's Old Time Radio

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Overview

This episode features a classic police procedural drama from the "21st Precinct," originally aired on February 3, 1954. Titled "The Baker," the episode immerses listeners in a murder investigation at a New York City restaurant. The narrative follows Captain Kennelly and his team as they work to solve the murder of a pastry chef, tracking every lead, interviewing witnesses, and unraveling both personal and professional motives.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene

• The episode opens on a rainy night in the precinct, establishing the somber mood and providing an authentic feel for the era and daily operations of New York City police work.
• Captain Kennelly describes his routine and the calmness that rain brings, keeping "troublemakers off the street."
  • Notable Quote:

    "The rain helps policemen as well as farmers."
    — Captain Kennelly (01:39)

2. Discovery of the Crime

• At 5:25 am, the body of Eugene Francis Tarpon, a pastry chef, is found by a fry cook at 3422 Lexington Avenue. The restaurant is in disarray, and the cash drawer has been forced open.

• The kitchen staff routinely leaves about $100 in a drawer overnight, which becomes a focal point for investigating robbery as a motive.

  • Notable Quotes:

    "The first one there went in the kitchen door, found the baker on the floor. The place was wrecked."
    — Captain Kennelly (03:28)

    "Must have taken a good 10 minutes to get it open."
    — Captain Kennelly, about the forced cash drawer (06:10)

3. Initial Investigation at the Scene

• The police gather at the restaurant, inspecting for evidence (e.g., murder weapon, signs of forced entry).

• Interviews with kitchen staff confirm the victim worked alone after hours and rarely let anyone in except those he knew well.

  • Notable Moment (06:59-07:42):
    The fry cook, Emil, explains the baker’s cautious habits and mentions that a woman, Edna, sometimes visited, hinting at a possible love triangle.

4. The Personal Angle: Edna Hepple

• Detectives trace a connection to Edna Hepple, whom the victim was rumored to be involved with, even though she's married.

• Edna is interviewed, revealing her tumultuous marriage and her involvement with the victim, but she is unsure of her husband's whereabouts.

  • Notable Quotes (13:10):

    "Married? You don't call this married, do you? Works out of town all the time. He never sends me any money."
    — Edna Hepple

    "Guess what always happens to nice guys, huh?"
    — Edna Hepple (14:19)

5. The Husband, Phil Hepple, Emerges as a Suspect

• As the investigation focuses on Edna’s husband, detectives set up surveillance at her apartment, anticipating Phil Hepple’s return (18:53-21:21).

• Upon arrival, Phil is confronted by both Edna and the detectives in an emotionally charged scene, rife with mutual accusations and tension.

  • Memorable Exchange:

    "If I was gonna kill somebody, you don't think I'd kill them over you, do you?"
    — Phil Hepple (20:26)

    "You told him to stay away from me or you'd kill him..."
    — Edna Hepple (20:32)

    "You didn't say anything to the cops to—"
    "What if I did?"
    "If you did, I'll break every bone in your body."
    — Phil and Edna (20:37–20:39)

6. The Twist: Shifting Focus and Resolution

• At the precinct, Phil’s alibi unravels when detectives confirm he lied about his whereabouts; however, new information surfaces that another suspect—a recently fired kitchen helper named Julio Fernando Organza—has been located with the murder weapon and money.

• Organza confesses to the crime, exonerating Phil.

  • Notable Quotes:

    "You were in New York. Went to that restaurant, knocked on the door. Tarpon let you in. When you got in there, you shot him. Broke open that drawer to make it look good."
    — Detective to Phil Hepple (25:19)

    "No, you didn't kill him. That was one of my detectives on the phone. I got the man who did."
    — Lieutenant King (26:05)

    "Well, I guess we were trying to chase Luxembourg when I should have been chasing the dishwasher."
    — Captain Kennelly, referring to misdirection in the case's early focus (27:55)

7. Insights into Police Work

• The episode highlights procedural techniques: canvassing witnesses, checking alibis, surveillance, and following up on all possible motives.
• Emphasizes the complexities and workload of real detectives, often working long tours, dealing with paperwork and public pressures.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• "The rain helps policemen as well as farmers."
  — Captain Kennelly (01:39)
• "The first one there went in the kitchen door, found the baker on the floor. The place was wrecked."
  — Captain Kennelly (03:28)
• "You know her name? Look, she's a married woman. She's got a husband. I don't like to get her involved."
  — Emil (08:06)
• "Guess what always happens to nice guys, huh?"
  — Edna Hepple (14:19)
• "If I was gonna kill somebody, you don't think I'd kill them over you, do you?"
  — Phil Hepple (20:26)
• "Well, I guess we were trying to chase Luxembourg when I should have been chasing the dishwasher."
  — Captain Kennelly (27:55)
• "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."
  — Captain Kennelly (28:26)

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Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:36 | Precinct duty, introduction of Captain Kennelly and setup of the night's events | | 02:46-03:28| Discovery and initial report of the homicide at the bakery | | 04:34-08:18| On-scene investigation, interviews with staff, emergence of possible romantic involvement | | 11:15-14:33| Detectives visit Edna Hepple, learning about her troubled marriage and relationship | | 18:53-21:21| Detectives stake out and confront Phil Hepple at the apartment | | 24:06-26:09| The truth emerges: Phil’s alibi deception and the real killer’s confession | | 27:55 | Reflection on the investigation and police work |

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Tone & Language

The episode maintains the straightforward, direct, and slightly world-weary tone characteristic of 1950s police dramas. Dialogue is sharp and colloquial, occasionally laced with noir-style cynicism, particularly in exchanges involving Edna and Phil Hepple and in Captain Kennelly’s reflections on police work.

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Final Thoughts

"The Baker" offers a tense, methodical glimpse into the workings of a mid-century NYPD precinct, merging personal drama with procedural detective work. Through a series of interviews and investigative turns, the episode leads listeners through the many possible motives and suspects, ultimately illustrating both the challenges and satisfactions of dedicated police work.

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Transcript

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[Captain Kennelly]

21st Precinct. Sergeant Burns.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Well, who shot. Where is this?

[Captain Kennelly]

Now wait a minute. Don't talk so fast. That's 3422, is that right?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

And the rest of them? Yeah. Well, who shot him?

[Captain Kennelly]

You're 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. All right, I'll send the officers right up there. Yeah, right away.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

You just wait there. Show them where it is. Yeah, just wait there. Okay. 21st Precinct. 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.

[Captain Kennelly]

The 21st. 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants, of whom I'm the boss. My name is Kennelly. Frank Kennelly. I'm captain in command of the 21st. I was working my night tour, 4pm to 8am it had been raining hard when I came on the job and it continued to rain through the night. After I turned out the 12 to 8 platoon at midnight I went on patrol of the precinct in sector car number three. It was another quiet tour. The rain helps policemen as well as farmers.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

It keeps troublemakers off the street.

[Captain Kennelly]

At 2:25, I returned to the station house where I signed reports and communications and caught up generally with the voluminous paperwork that plagues commanding officers. A meeting of all precinct, division and borough commanders had been called by the police commissioner for 9am in the lineup room at Police Headquarters, 240 Center street, in order to get some rest. At 3:40am I lay on the couch in my office with instructions to Lieutenant Gorman the desk officer that I be awakened in time to turn out the platoon for the day tour.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Captain. Excuse me, Neville. Yeah?

[Captain Kennelly]

Oh, I'm sorry, Captain.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yeah, what is it?

[Captain Kennelly]

We got a homicide.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

No. Where? 3422 Lexington Avenue. the restaurant. Pastry chef.

[Captain Kennelly]

You know the baker. You shop twice. Is there a car on the way?

[Edna Hepple]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Kennelly]

I put out a radio call for a car. It'll be here for you any minute. What time is it? It's 5:25. What was it?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Robbery.

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, why is it still raining? Sergeant, I said you better take your raincoat. The information we've got so far is the pastry chef comes to work at midnight. The restaurant closes at one in the morning, but the pastry chef works all

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

night in the kitchen baking.

[Captain Kennelly]

The kitchen help start coming in a little after five. Go ahead, sergeant.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

That's it.

[Captain Kennelly]

The first one there went in the kitchen door, found the baker on the floor. The place was wrecked. Call went direct to cb but when the sector men got on the job and saw what they had, they rang. They said it looked like he's not a homicide. The car will be here right away, captain.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I better get back.

[Captain Kennelly]

All right, go ahead.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yes, sir. Yes, that's right. Okay. The detectives are there. Yeah, you're welcome. I know. It was too quiet a school. Captain.

[Captain Kennelly]

Have you got your notifications all made, Lieutenant.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

That was the medical examiner's office. I've notified the detectives, the division of the Homicide squad. I just got the DA's office. Sergeant. Yes, sir? Will you get me the DA's office in here?

[Edna Hepple]

What?

[Captain Kennelly]

Detectives Went Red battalion, Howard. Hello, CB? This is Sergeant Burns at 25. What about Lieutenant?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I called him at home. He's on his way.

[Captain Kennelly]

He was around here until 2 o'. Clock. Probably didn't even get the bed warm.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

There's one cure for that, captain.

[Captain Kennelly]

Have a spoon taken out in a few minutes. Sector car number two came by the station house to drive me to 3422 Lexington Avenue, the scene of the homicide. It was still raining hard when we

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

pulled up to the place.

[Captain Kennelly]

The front of the restaurant, a large and popular place, was still dark. The flashlights of cops inside could be seen poking around in the empty dining room. I instructed the operator of the car, Patrolman Coley, to pull around to the kitchen entrance on the side street. Parked, there were two sector cars, the patrol sergeant's car, the detective's car and an ambulance. I got out of the car and crossed the sidewalk to the kitchen door where a patrolman had been posted by Sergeant Waters to keep out Unauthorized persons. The patrolman saluted me as I approached and opened the door. Thank you, Marcia. Sergeant.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Oh, hello, Captain. What do we got? Want to take a look? Yeah, Carl. Looks like robbery.

[Captain Kennelly]

Fellow was in there alone. That's just the way he was found.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

See? One shot got him in the shoulder,

[Captain Kennelly]

the other one in the forehead. His name is Eugene Francis Tarpon. He drives at 2119 Miller Avenue in the Bronx. 31 years old.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

He's a baker here.

[Captain Kennelly]

Comes to work at midnight. He's here all alone after the place closes at 1am Makes rolls and bread,

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

fries, cakes and so forth.

[Captain Kennelly]

Yeah, works all night until 8am Want to take a look over here, Captain?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yeah. Brooke usually doesn't get in to open

[Captain Kennelly]

up the safe until half 8 in the morning.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Place open for business at 6:30. So it's been a custom to leave

[Captain Kennelly]

about a hundred dollars in coins.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

And small does lock in this roar here. The early cashiers agreed a drawer and

[Captain Kennelly]

used the money for saying till the boss gets in. Really hacked away on the draw, huh?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yes, sir. Found it with that meat cleaver there.

[Captain Kennelly]

Must have taken a good 10 minutes

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

to get it open.

[Captain Kennelly]

No sign of the gun around?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

No, sir. Must have taken it out with him. He or they? Yes, sir. He or they. The detectives are talking to the fellow

[Captain Kennelly]

that found him and rang in.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

That fellow over there, Emerald Lindbig.

[Captain Kennelly]

He's a fry crook he's doing here. Quarter after five.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

All right, let's go over there. Yes, sir.

[Captain Kennelly]

You don't need all these men around here, Sergeant. You better get some of them back on the job.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I thought he was sick or something. Thank you. That's what I thought. Hello, Captain. Charlie. Captain Whiny. This is Emil in Vick, Captain. He found the body. He's a fry cook here. I come in and there you are, right in the middle of the floor. You haven't used your key to get in Now I know. Oh, yeah? Yeah. Just like every morning. I had to use my key. The door wasn't standing open, it was locked. Had to use my key.

[Captain Kennelly]

He always worked here alone at night.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Oh, yeah? Yeah. He baked all night so we'd have fresh rolls and bread and cake for the tray the next day. You see, we got a sign out in the dining room. All baking done on the premises. Peter is starting. Did he always work alone? Oh, yeah. Yeah. All along. And you're always the first employee in the morning. I'm the Frankletter. I got to get things seated up. The deep fat fries with the breakfast rush, you know. French fried potatoes. Etc.

[Captain Kennelly]

Was the baker always alone here from the time the restaurant closed at 1am until you came to work?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. He wait so long.

[Captain Kennelly]

Tell me, did you ever see anyone in here with him?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Or did he ever tell you he

[Captain Kennelly]

had friends in during the night?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yeah, once in a while.

[Captain Kennelly]

Once in a while?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Watch. I want to know while he had company. Didn't come into work until midnight, like I said. And once in a while, if he had a date, he'd bring her in the kitchen and he'd work and he'd keep him company. Did you ever see a woman in here with him? Oh, yeah. Yeah, once in a while. Always the same woman? Yeah. You know her name? Look, she's a married woman. She's got a husband. I don't like to get her involved.

[Captain Kennelly]

She's involved whether she wants to be a knob, don't you think?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yeah, I guess he is. What's her name? Edna. Edna what? Edna I don't know. There's Lt. King. I was told at the back, but I. I don't remember. Hello, Captain Roy. Lieutenant. Lieutenant Vivienne Lindwick. He found the body. Lieutenant King's remaining officer, the 21st Detective Squad. How you doing? What's it look like? A drawer where about $100 was kept was broken up from lieutenant robbery maybe. But any of this is that the victim never opened the door for anyone he didn't know. Isn't that right? Oh, yeah, yeah. I forgot my key one morning. I had a time convincing him it was me before he'd opened the door. No sign of forcible entry? No, sir. Nice guy. A very nice guy. What a baker. His burnishes couldn't be. They just couldn't be.

[Captain Kennelly]

Within a few minutes, detectives of the Manhattan East Homicide Squad arrived to aid the 21st squad in the investigation. A deputy medical examiner and a representative of the New York County District Attorney's office were on the scene. Shortly afterwards, as the ranking officer of the Detective Division present, Lieutenant King dictated to a stenographer from the Homicide squad a detailed description of the surrounding conditions and the position, appearance and condition of the body. Meanwhile, the Homicide Squad photographer took pictures of the premises and of the body from every possible angle. The Deputy medical examiner then made a preliminary examination of the body and ordered its removal to the Bellevue morgue. The first officer on the scene. In response to the original call, Patrolman Ernest Adelman placed a UF95 identification tag on the body. He made a search of the victim's pocket and inventory the contents in his memorandum book fingerprints of the victim were taken by a homicide detective and the body removed to the ambulance. The investigation was underway. Detectives of the 21st Squad and the homicide squad were assigned to various tasks in this connection.

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[Captain Kennelly]

Detectives Vitali and Howard, for instance, made a call at an apartment building on West 101st Street. An address found in the victim's wallet.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Somebody's coming.

[Edna Hepple]

Yeah, It's a bathtub.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Mrs. Edna Hepple?

[Edna Hepple]

Yes, that's right. You have to excuse me. I thought you were somebody else. I thought you were my husband. What is it?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

We're detectives.

[Edna Hepple]

All right. Well, you got him. Every time you turn around and be waked up at 7 o' clock in the morning, he's in some jail. So he's getting into some kind of trouble.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Can we come in?

[Edna Hepple]

You're come ahead. I'm used to it. Don't mind the house. I haven't had a chance to straighten up yet.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

That's okay. I'm Detective Howard. This is Detective Batali.

[Edna Hepple]

How you do? Well, what'd he do now? He was down in Jersey. Trenton. Don't need to be home last night, 10:30 the latest. He show up? I asked him, did he show up? He did not. Never seen a man like him. It's a wonder I've stuck with him this long. I've been wanting to leave him and wanting to leave him, but I stuck like a fool. What's he in for now?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

We don't have your husband, Ms. Devil.

[Edna Hepple]

We don't?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

No, we don't.

[Edna Hepple]

We wouldn't want that.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

You Know a man named Eugene Francis Tarpon?

[Edna Hepple]

Oh, sure. Do you? I know Jean. You in trouble? What do you do? You've never been in trouble before.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

He's dead.

[Edna Hepple]

Who?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

He was shot,

[Edna Hepple]

Mar.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

No matter who did it after. We're trying to find out. How long have you known him?

[Edna Hepple]

You never know. Three, four, five months, something like that. I think of another one.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

You're married already, aren't you?

[Edna Hepple]

Married? You don't call this married, do you? Works out of town all the time. He never sends me any money. Harding, he gives me a run around with this man and that one.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

How often did you see Eugene Tarpon?

[Edna Hepple]

Oh, two or three times a week. I don't know. I was gonna get a guy and we were gonna get married if we were thinking about getting married.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Does your husband know Tarpon?

[Edna Hepple]

Yeah, sure he is. He like him, though?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Why not?

[Edna Hepple]

Well, on account of me, I guess. I was interested in you. You didn't like him at all.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Where is your husband now?

[Edna Hepple]

Look, don't ask me where he is now. I don't know. That was due five days ago. And here I am with Harding, a nickel in the house and he hasn't showed up. He got off this construction job near Trenton last night. He's supposed to be home. I thought you were him at the door. Listen, you don't think he killed Jim, do you?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

What do you think, Dine of me?

[Edna Hepple]

I don't know.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I didn't ask you what you know. I asked you what you think.

[Edna Hepple]

Well, I wouldn't put it past him. I'll say that poor thing. That's a nice guy. Really a nice guy.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yes. So we understand.

[Edna Hepple]

Guess what always happens to nice guys, huh?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I guess.

[Edna Hepple]

Couldn't happen to a bum like that husband of mine. That happened to a nice guy like. Well, that's life for you.

[Captain Kennelly]

In addition to assigning detectives to run down what leads existed, Lt. King and members of the 21st Squad and the homicide squad remained at the restaurant to question employees as they came to work and to talk to the proprietor of the place. I stayed there myself until 20 minutes after 8 when sector car number one came by to take me to Police

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Headquarters, 240 Center street for the scheduled

[Captain Kennelly]

meeting of all borough, division and precinct commanders. And in the lineup room, the meeting called by the new police commissioner to explain his policy in regard to the enforcement of laws relating to gambling and public morals lasted until 11:15am at that time, I returned to the 21st in order to change into civilian clothes and finally go off duty. Hello, sergeant. Captain what's doing quiet to her? There's a lot of calls from the press on that homicide I saw. Couple of messages for you.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Nothing looks important.

[Captain Kennelly]

I'll Sign the block

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

21st.

[Captain Kennelly]

Briefing Sergeant Burns. All right, 19, you go to meal now.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

All right, Sergeant. Is that okay? Yes, sir. I just want to see the Captain.

[Captain Kennelly]

Oh, Matt, you all too up there.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yes, sir. Here are your messages, Captain. Oh, thanks.

[Captain Kennelly]

What's it look like, man?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yeah, it looks like robbery, Captain. Money missing out of a drawer. Mm. There's another angle too. This Baker Tarpon was going with a married woman. Her husband was supposed to be home last night and didn't show him. We want to talk to him.

[Captain Kennelly]

Is the husband that kind of guy?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I don't know any husband can be that kind of guy. Then you think robbery's out? No, not necessarily. The money was taken. Had a long talk with the owner of the restaurant. This Tarpon was pretty cautious when he was working there alone. He wouldn't open up that door unless he was sure of the person that wanted in. If it was robbery, I figured it had to be someone Carper knew and someone who knew where that change was kept. Former employee maybe? Yeah, it could be. The proprietor told me about a kitchen helper he fired last week. He came in drunk and nasty a couple of times and let him go.

[Captain Kennelly]

Did Carpa know him?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yeah, he knew him. Got a couple of men out there tracing the boy. His name is Julio Fernando Organza. Moved from his last address a week ago. People there said they thought he went to Bridgeport, Connecticut to work.

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, then it doesn't look so good.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Nothing at the moment. I like the burnt up husband angle a little better, you know. Does look a little better. 21st, please.

[Captain Kennelly]

Thanks, sergeant.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

That Howard and Vitale over there? Planted, waiting for him to show up at home. Captain Canelli? Yeah. Dr. Russ Paul, the principal of CS88

[Captain Kennelly]

is calling in for you.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Oh, all right.

[Captain Kennelly]

I'll take it in my office, Captain. Well, I'm interested to know how it comes out, man.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

So am I, Captain. Well, I've got to get upstairs.

[Captain Kennelly]

All right, I'll see you. 21st Precinct. Captain Canelli. Yes, Dr. Rosco.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Oh.

[Captain Kennelly]

Oh, well, I was supposed to go off duty at 8 this morning, but we had a homicide break.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yeah, I see.

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, I'll be back on the job at 8 tomorrow morning. Will it keep until then?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Uh huh.

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, all right. I'll stay around and meet you here.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

1:30. All right.

[Captain Kennelly]

Goodbye, Mr. Rustol. I had more than two hours to wait before the visit from Dr. Ruskall, the principal of Public School 88, on what he said was an urgent matter. In the meantime, Detectives Vitale and Howard maintained their plant at the apartment of Mr. Mrs. Phil Heppel, waiting for him to return. The woman of the house, Ms. Edna

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Heppel, was in the kitchen.

[Captain Kennelly]

Detective Howard watched out the front window down onto the sidewalk as Vitale sat on the studio couch.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

What do you see down there, Whitey? Nothing. And you know what? No, what? I went to the candy store to ring in Lt. King. I called my wife. I told her I got stuck. We had a homicide and I wouldn't be home. What'd she say? She said, bring home the evening papers if you could read about it.

[Captain Kennelly]

Is it any?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I'll tell you all about it. No. You want to read it in the paper?

[Edna Hepple]

Something.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I don't think she trusts me.

[Captain Kennelly]

Where does she think you're gonna go at 8:00 in the morning?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Beats me.

[Edna Hepple]

Well, I don't know where he is. See what I told you about him being unreliable?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yeah, we see.

[Edna Hepple]

Not setting your lunchtime, is it? All I got I can whip up is a can of soup and some saltine.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Oh, we're not hungry, Ms. Peppel.

[Edna Hepple]

Well, I'm getting hungry. You don't mind if I fix them for myself?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

No, not at all. Present man with a suitcase getting out of a cab. Is that your husband, Ms. Peppel?

[Edna Hepple]

Yeah, that's him. That's Bill.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

All right. Away from the window.

[Edna Hepple]

Mad. I got a can of soup and a few saltines in the house and it takes taxi cab. See what I mean?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

This head with my partner is going up on the next landing out in the hall.

[Edna Hepple]

What for?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Go ahead. Wedding. Bye. That's great.

[Edna Hepple]

What's the idea?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I want to wait in the kitchen. You answer the door. All right?

[Edna Hepple]

Yeah, all right. But I don't get the production.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I don't want you to break the news to him about Gene.

[Edna Hepple]

Jean, bedroom.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

That's the idea. But don't tell them we're here. He'll know soon enough. All right.

[Edna Hepple]

How are we mean? Well, I could fix it.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Go ahead. Oh, don't close it. But that's good.

[Edna Hepple]

Okay. All right.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Hi.

[Edna Hepple]

Look what the wind blew in.

[Captain Kennelly]

That's all you gotta say to me?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Edna, look at the wind blew in.

[Edna Hepple]

I got plenty more to say to you.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

What?

[Edna Hepple]

What? As if you didn't know.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Well, tell me.

[Edna Hepple]

You know, I'm just ditching too. Jim Tarpon got killed.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

No kidding?

[Edna Hepple]

No kidding.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Who killed him?

[Edna Hepple]

Well, a couple of cops were here and told me about it. And they got a sneaky suspicion you did.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Well, they're out of their minds. I wasn't threatening. I just got off the train. I love that.

[Captain Kennelly]

Look, if I was gonna kill somebody,

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

you don't think I'd kill them over you, do you?

[Edna Hepple]

You told them to stay away from me. You told them to stay away from me or you'd kill them.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Now you forget you ever heard that.

[Edna Hepple]

I forget nothing.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

You didn't say anything to the cops to.

[Edna Hepple]

What if I did?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

You did. I'll break every bone in your body, that's what.

[Captain Kennelly]

I swear I'll break every bone in your body.

[Edna Hepple]

What a fine husband I got. He don't go home when he supposes you. If he does, he brings me nothing

[Captain Kennelly]

but a load of dirty laundry.

[Edna Hepple]

Now he's going to break every bone in my pocket.

[Captain Kennelly]

You're asking for it, Edna.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

You're asking for it.

[Edna Hepple]

Right between your eyes.

[Captain Kennelly]

You don't need much encouragement.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Who are you? Police officer. You just say right where you. What's the idea?

[Edna Hepple]

You'll find out what the idea is.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Okay, Whitey.

[Captain Kennelly]

Right here.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

All right, old still. What are you looking for?

[Captain Kennelly]

I got nothing.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Take a look in the bag, will you, Whitey? Yeah. Listen, if you think I had something to do with that baker getting killed,

[Captain Kennelly]

you're out of your mind. I got off the job in Clinton late last night. I took the train in this morning. I just got here. 15, 20 minutes ago. That's where I wasn't.

[Edna Hepple]

That right, isn't it? That's where you said you were.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

You and Tarleton didn't get along so well, did you?

[Captain Kennelly]

Listen, I was out of town, breaking my back on a job.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

He was chasing after my wife. Would you get along with a guy like that?

[Edna Hepple]

He wasn't chasing after me. I was chasing after him.

[Captain Kennelly]

Stay out of it.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I think you better stay out of it, Mrs. He just sit down like this.

[Edna Hepple]

It's a liar or what?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Nothing in the bag, Chris.

[Edna Hepple]

Even if he wanted to tell the truth, he wouldn't know how.

[Captain Kennelly]

What are you trying to do to me?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

You better just sit down there, Ms. Hepple, and listen. What you doing, Trent? Well, it wasn't exactly in Trenton. Was outside of Trenton on a road job, not on a bulldozer. For who? For the state of New Jersey. On a road job. You got finished up last night? That's right. Last night I got finished up and paid off. Where'd you spend the night?

[Captain Kennelly]

Down there in Trenton.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

It's rooming house. I said the Name of the rooming house? It's got no name.

[Captain Kennelly]

Sent by Mrs. Wymark.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Mrs. Wallace Wymark, you can call her. Stayed there last night. Just the train this morning. Is that right? Told you it was right. Have you ever been arrested before, Phil? What do you mean before? Am I arrested now? Were you ever arrested? Yeah, I was arrested.

[Edna Hepple]

He was arrested.

[Captain Kennelly]

But did keep your mouth shut?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Ever do any big time? Yeah, I did some big things. Where? Big things for what? Felonious assault. I got into a fight with a guy. What'd you get out of it? I did 22 months. Must come close to killing it. It was touch and go, Phil. This time it looks like you made it. Maybe I'm so.

[Captain Kennelly]

It was a quarter of two when I finished with Dr. Ruskall, the principal of PS 88. As soon as he left my office, I went upstairs to the 21st Detective Squad. The suspect in the homicide case, Phil Heffel, was sitting next to a desk where Detective Howard was taking his pedigree. Detective Vitale was on the telephone on the other side of the room.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

What year was that? 1945. Oh, excuse me. Waddy how. Yes, you can.

[Captain Kennelly]

Is Lieutenant King in his office?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yes, sir. Thank you.

[Captain Kennelly]

Was this an honorable discharge?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yeah, it was an honorable discharge.

[Captain Kennelly]

What made you think it wasn't? Captain Kennelly.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Hello, Matt. Max.

[Captain Kennelly]

Look, I know you're up to your neck. I'm sorry?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

The body. Oh, that's all right. I'm just waiting for the thing to wrap up. I was checking on his printing story. I got Bender into Lookout facing the dishwasher so he looks better. What is it, Captain?

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, Dr. Ruskall, the principal of BS 88, was just in here.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

He's got three boys over there.

[Captain Kennelly]

Been flashing a lot of money around the school today and yesterday. He says he thinks there's only one way they could have gotten hold of it.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Kennelly]

They're pretty bad actors, he says. And he thinks we ought to take a look into it. I asked him to come up here with me, but he had to get back. I told him you'd send a man around to talk to him.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Okay? Yeah, sure, Captain. I'll send someone over this afternoon.

[Edna Hepple]

Yeah?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Come here. Chris Clinton just called back. Yeah? Hello, Captain. Chris, they checked out that road project and rooming house both. Uh huh. Apple didn't stay at the rooming house last night. He was fired off the road job on Monday. Didn't work yesterday as he said he did. Well, looks like that wraps it up.

[Edna Hepple]

Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Tell Whitey to bring him in here again. Yes, Whitey.

[Captain Kennelly]

Yeah?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Lieutenant wants you to bring him in here. Okay. He was at the rooming house night before last, they said. But not last night.

[Captain Kennelly]

I got an idea where he was last night. All right, Captain.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

All right. Go on in, Phil. Come on over here and sit down. Where? Right there. Shut the door. All right, Phil. What do you say we stop wasting time? I'm willing. By your own admission, you didn't like Tarpon. He was running after your wife. Listen, if he'd asked me, I'd have given it to him. You killed him. You know it. I was in Trenton. You were, huh? Let's get this straight. You worked until yesterday afternoon. You slept in that rooming house last night, Took a train from Trenton this morning, went right from Penn Station to your house. That's what I told you. You've been telling us nothing but lies. You were in New York. Went to that restaurant, knocked on the door. Tarpon let you in. When you got in there, you shot him. Broke open that drawer to make it look good.

[Captain Kennelly]

That's not so.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I'll get it. I was in Clinton, 21st West. Went to get it settled about your wife, and you shot him. Bender on the outside line for you, lieutenant. All right, thanks. 24th Squad. Lieutenant King. Yes, sir. Yes. Why? Oh, he did, huh? All right. Yeah.

[Captain Kennelly]

You coming in with him?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Okay. Good. Why are you lying to us, Phil?

[Captain Kennelly]

I'm not lying.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

And I didn't kill him. No, you didn't kill him. That was one of my detectives on the phone.

[Captain Kennelly]

I got the man who did. Who was that?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

The Beeswalker? Yes, sir. Ganza found him in a flat on 124th. He had the gun there and the money he took. He admits to killing you.

[Edna Hepple]

See?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

I told you. Well, how do you like that? I told you I didn't do it. I told you.

[Captain Kennelly]

How many times did I have to tell you?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Why did you have to lie about where you were? There's no spot to lie if you want to get straightened out. You were in New York. You should have said so. I wasn't in New York. I was in threatening. In jail. Oh, I got a little drunk. The day before yesterday. I got in a fight with a guy and I wound up in a can. I didn't want to say anything about it because I still owe a little time from that bid I did getting in jail, D. I could get my parole revoked. You're not going to say anything about that, are you? If I do, you'll hear about it from your parole Officer. Okay. Can I go? A little while? Go out there and sit on the bench for now. Okay. Leave it open. Yeah. All right, Whitey, you can sit there. Pat, you ever see anything that looks so good blow so high so fast?

[Edna Hepple]

No.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

But one killer is as good as another, isn't he? Yes. You want me for anything else, Lieutenant? I'm carrying a pocket full of squeals. Yeah. Chris, take a ride over to PS 88 and talk to the principal. Got three boys kind of worried about. Yes, right away. Come on. Cameron. Chris, kitchen worker. I had it pegged the other way, Captain. I had it pegged on the husband for sure. Did you? Yes. Well, I guess we're trying to chay Luxembourg when I should have been chasing the dishwasher.

[Captain Kennelly]

25 precincts, dark and waters. Yes, ma'.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Am. Yes, ma'.

[Captain Kennelly]

Am.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

This is the police department, soldier.

[Captain Kennelly]

Police?

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

Well, who.

[Captain Kennelly]

What's his name? Do you know him? At what party

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

did you see him take it? Yeah.

[Captain Kennelly]

And so it goes around the clock

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

through the week, every day, every year,

[Captain Kennelly]

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.

[Sergeant Burns / Detective Howard]

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 Sloane in the role of Captain Kennelli. Ken lynch as Lieutenant King. Featured in tonight's cast were Elspeth Eric Wendell Holmes, Santos Ortega, Harold Stone, Ross Martin, Bill Quinn and Mandel Kramer. Written and directed by Stanley Nist. Produced for CBS Radio by John Ives. Art Hannah.

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