21st Precinct 54-03-24 (037) The Package

Summary

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21st Precinct – "The Package"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: 54-03-24 (037)
Summary by: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Date: February 22, 2026

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Overview:

This episode of 21st Precinct dramatizes a tense day at a New York City police precinct in the 1950s, as the officers investigate a bomb threat at an art gallery. Captain Frank Kennelly and his officers respond to the call, handle an anxious public, and pursue the source of the extortion attempt. The episode provides a window into police procedure, public anxiety, and the psychological toll of threats in postwar urban America.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The Initial Threat & Precinct Life

• [00:35] The story opens with Captain Kennelly in the 21st Precinct describing the daily operations and responsibilities of the officers.
• [01:40] The mundane is juxtaposed with the extraordinary as Kennelly discusses everyday concerns (like the price of a baseball mitt for a patrolman’s kid).
• [03:00] Mr. Wolfschman, a local shop owner, complains about youths loitering around his store—anxieties about “14, 15 year-old bullies”—and shares fears of deteriorating public order.
  • Notable Quote: “To tell you the truth, I’m a little bit scared of them myself.” — Mr. Wolfschman [03:20]

2. The Bomb Threat at the Broadstone Gallery

• [04:26] They get a call: an anonymous tip claims a bomb was planted during an art auction at the Broadstone Gallery.
  • “Bomb?” — Sergeant Jackson [04:30]
• [05:30] Police evacuate the gallery quickly and methodically, focusing first on public safety before searching for the suspected device.
  • Notable Quote: “We haven’t looked yet. The first job was to get the people out.” — Sergeant Jackson [05:52]
• [07:19] They discover a suspicious package under a chair; careful, tense teamwork allows them to isolate it and prepare for a possible blast.
• [09:25] The package contains only a lady’s hat, left behind by a patron; tension dissolves.
  • Memorable Moment: The banter around the price of a baseball glove returns, underscoring the stress and relief of police work.

3. Investigation & Extortion Demand

• [10:39] The officers interview Mr. Broadstone and his staff to reconstruct the threat:
  • Ms. McLeave recounts the first call—polite, pressing, a “matter of life and death.” [11:39-12:24]
  • “He was very polite. Really very polite.” — Ms. McLeave [11:54]
• [13:18] Broadstone recalls taking the second call. The caller insists there’s a bomb, urges swift action.
• [17:00] The caller reveals his motive: $5,000 or he’ll place a real bomb next time.
  • “Because I want something from you... I want $5,000… So I don’t really put a bomb in your gallery. And next time I will.” — Anonymous Caller [17:23]

4. Police Procedure: Tracking Down the Perpetrator

• [18:02] The gallery staff are frightened. Police surmise the caller is not a professional but possibly a disgruntled former employee or someone with a grudge.
• [20:57] Hours pass; detectives are assigned to monitor the gallery and Broadstone’s apartment continuously.
• [22:19] A breakthrough: Mr. Broadstone receives a newspaper-pasted ransom note, signed with a name and address.
  • “Deliver $5,000 by tonight at midnight. You must not fail. As I said, this is a matter of life and death.” — Ransom Note [22:34]

5. The Culprit Identified: Carlton Attbury

• [23:43-25:16] Police visit the address; Carlton Attbury is a reclusive, eccentric man living off an inheritance, frustrated at being cut off by the bank, fearful of being sent back to the hospital.
  • “Because I need it. But why him? … They said I have to go back to the hospital. And that’s not fair, is it? … I don’t want to go back to the hospital.” — Carlton Attbury [25:33]
  • He admits he never intended to use a real bomb: “I wasn’t going to make the bomb. I really wasn’t. I knew I wouldn’t need to if I frightened him enough.” [27:03]
  • The police prepare to return him to psychiatric care, having resolved the threat.

6. Reflections on Police Work

• [28:14] Captain Kennelly closes with a monologue on the unpredictable and relentless nature of police work—a “flesh and blood merry-go-round.”
• The episode ends with credits for the cast and production team, emphasizing its roots in real police procedures.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If we get [the suspicious package] under [the rug], that’d hold any blast down to a minimum.” — Captain Kelly [08:42]
• “These days, $13 isn’t so much.” (comic relief after the bomb turns out to be a lady’s hat) — Dylan [09:54]
• “This had to happen to me. Why did it have to happen to me?” — Mr. Broadstone [18:22]
• “He didn’t threaten to bomb the police station. He threatened to bomb my place of business.” — Ms. McLeave [18:06]
• “There has to be a reason for everything.” — Carlton Attbury [25:50]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:35: Introduction to precinct life and officers
• 03:00: Community concerns and neighborhood tensions
• 04:26: Bomb threat call comes in
• 07:19: Discovery of the suspicious package
• 09:39: Package is harmless; officers relax
• 10:39: Interviews with gallery staff begin
• 13:18: First extortion call
• 17:00: Second extortion call, demand stated
• 22:34: Ransom note is received and examined
• 25:16: Interview with the suspect, Carlton Attbury
• 28:14: Captain’s closing reflection on police work

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Tone & Language

The episode’s tone is matter-of-fact, procedural, and punctuated by moments of dry, understated humor among officers. Dialogues reflect the earnestness and pressures of daily police work, concern for community welfare, and empathy for those involved, including the disturbed caller. The language stays true to period radio drama, formal yet accessible, and with a deep respect for public service.

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Takeaways for the Listener

• This 21st Precinct episode dramatizes not only the technical aspects of police investigation but also the human anxieties of modern urban life: fear of violence, unpredictability, loneliness, and the desire for stability.
• The threat reveals deeper issues—mental illness, economic uncertainty, and community relations—as much as it tests the efficiency and empathy of law enforcement.
• The everyday and the extraordinary intertwine, as officers juggle family life, neighbor complaints, and genuine threats to public safety.

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[End of Summary]

Transcript

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[Captain Kelly]

21st Precinct. Sergeant Tierney. Yes. What kind of bomb. Wait a minute. Just a second. Take it easy. In the art gallery. Where?

[Sergeant Jackson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Captain Kelly]

You are in the muster room at the 23rd 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. No, no, don't do that. The officers will be right there. Yeah, go outside on the sidewalk and wait for them. That's right. 21st Precinct. It's just lines on a map of the city of New York. Most of the 173,000 people wedged in to 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 Kelly. Frank Canelli. I'm captain in command of the 21st. I was working my day tour, 8am to 6pm it was warm and sunny. After I turned out the platoon, I cleaned up the paperwork that had accumulated since I was last on duty 24 hours before then, after seeing two visitors in regard to their applications for gun permits, Secretary number three came by the station house for me. And I went on patrol of the precinct with patrolman Eugene Dillon as operator. The other kid comes home, Captain, he says to me, pop, you promised me this year I could have a new mitt. Uh huh. Trapper, he wants, you know, the new style for outfielders. The movie house down on the next block. Dylan. Yes, sir. I wanted to stop in the candy store next morning. Yes, sir. Well, he's got it all picked out. Took me down to the sporting goods store. 13 for a mitt. 13. That's a lot of money. It used to be the best mitt you could buy with $5 tops. $13. How do they expect anybody to spend $13 for a mitt for a kid, a 10 year old? Because all the kids are getting them. I said, Not 13 bucks, Buster. Not 13 bucks for a glove. Well, he was holding back the tears, Captain. And I started a weekend and I thought his mother could use an Easter dress and I could use some shoes and the kid needs some clothes himself. So I said a big final no. Yeah, well, that's a lot of money for a glove. Yes. So you're telling me. I'll be out in a minute. Yes. He. Captain. Captain, hello. Hello, Mr. Wolfschmant. Always a pleasure. Captain, I stopped by to tell you that we're going to have to do something about that element that's beginning to hang out here at night. Mr. Wolfschman, what can you do? Soda, Captain? No. No, thanks. Not even a small chocolate? Nothing?

[Sergeant Jackson]

No, thanks.

[Captain Kelly]

You think I want those kids in here, Captain? I don't want them. I try to discourage them. I. I don't let them read the magazines or the newspapers, but they come in here anyway. I don't want them. You tell me how to get rid of them, I'll be the first one to agree. Well, the manager of the movie is complaining. They're annoying the people on the way to and from the theater. Captain, believe me, they. They annoy my regular customers. They annoy me. Who needs them for a 10 cent soda here and a nickel candy bar there? I don't need them. But every night they. There they are. And to tell you the truth, I'm a little bit scared of them myself. These 14, 15 year old bullies, tough talkers. They show me what to do and I'll do it. Keep them away from him. Yes? Came over. I think you want to roll on.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Yeah.

[Captain Kelly]

Broadstone Gallery on Madison Avenue. They got a phone call. A bomb was left in the place.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Bomb?

[Captain Kelly]

All right, let's go. I'll be back later, Mr. Wolfsman.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Bomb.

[Captain Kelly]

That sounds like my element in here. Go ahead, Captain. Any other information? No, sir. The dispatcher gave the call to sector cars 1 and 2. No other details. Okay. You better go across from down park. Yes, sir. Thirteen dogs. What'd you say, Dylan? I said $13, Captain. $13 for a glove. We made the run across and downtown. The traffic was heavy and the Broadstone Gallery was in the exact opposite corner of the precinct. It took nearly five minutes. As we sped to the scene, I called to mind a picture of Broadstone. It was a combination auction room and Art gallery, good reputation. Large sales of estates and collections. Showings by famous painters and sculptors. Located on the ground floor of an apartment building. One large room with offices on a balcony. When we turned the corner into Madison Avenue, there were four police cars in the block. Cops were keeping the sidewalks clear in front of the gallery. The crowd was being held across the street and 50ft on each side of the storm. Okay, Dylan, let's go. Yes, sir. All right, Sergeant Jackson.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Captain.

[Captain Kelly]

Keep those people back. Get them across the street, Sergeant. Yes, sir. Captain, what do we got? There was an anonymous phone call. The caller said he put a bomb in the place. It was an auction in progress. 40 or 50 people. We got them all out. Any sign of a package or anything, Sergeant? We haven't looked, Captain. The first job was to get the people out. Good. Well, what happened? Did you find anything? We haven't looked yet. This is Captain Kennelly, Mr. Broadstone. How do you do? This is absurd. It's really absurd. I can't think of any reason any person in his right mind would make such a call. Well, maybe he's not in his right mind, Mr. Broadstone. Let's take a look inside, Sergeant. Yes, sir. Dylan. Yes, sir? The joke must be a joke, Mr. Broadstone. Here. You better get back behind the line. Oh, Captain, Go ahead, please. Yes, all right. Behind the line.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Everybody out.

[Captain Kelly]

Sergeant. Yes, sir. Signal those men to keep the people back until we come out. Yes, sir. All right, Captain. Let's go. Dylan. Yes, sir. Have the detectives been notified? Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Jackson]

I rang in.

[Captain Kelly]

The desk officer notified them. Okay. Those chairs were set up for the auction, Captain. The offices are upstairs in the back on the balcony. All right, let's take a look around. If you see anything, let it lay. Sergeant, take that aisle. Yes, sir. Dillon, left side.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Kelly]

I go down the center. Go ahead. There's a room on the side there, Captain. All right. We look at that last. Yes, sir. Anything, dylan? No, sir. Somebody left an umbrella, Captain. No, under a chair. Package. Don't touch it. Don't worry. Through here, Captain. This row. There it is, Captain. See it?

[Sergeant Jackson]

Yeah.

[Captain Kelly]

That's just about the right size. Just about the wrong size, you mean, Sergeant. Yeah. Well, it can't stay here. No, sir. Can you move that chair without disturbing it? Yes, sir. Easy.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Oh, that's good.

[Captain Kelly]

All right. Move that one, too, Dylan.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Kelly]

That's good. I don't hear anything ticking to you.

[Sergeant Jackson]

No.

[Captain Kelly]

See that big, heavy carpet on the platform up there, Sergeant? Yes, sir. It was being auctioned off. If we get it under there. That'd hold any blast down to a minimum. Yes, sir. We could fold the rug over the box a couple of times, but the rug is too heavy to carry. Over here. All right, we take the box over there. Go on over, Sergeant. Lift the corner of the rug up. Yes, sir. Let me know when you're ready. I'll carry it over, Captain. All right, Dylan. You ready, Sergeant? All bet.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Well, easy now.

[Captain Kelly]

Goes nothing. Oh, brother. What's the matter? Nothing's the matter, Captain.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Everything's great.

[Captain Kelly]

It doesn't weigh 2 ounces. Everything all right, Captain? Relax. It's too light for explosives. You know something, Captain? What? You know. Buy that glove for my kid. These days, $13 isn't so much.

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[Captain Kelly]

@american-giant.com we opened the cardboard box to examine the contents. Inside was a lady's hat, apparently left under the chair by an excited auction patron. By that time, Lieutenant Matt King, commander of the 21st Squad, had arrived on the scene with two of his detectives. Together we conducted a thorough search of the premises. No trace of a bomb was found. The people were readmitted to the gallery and upstairs in the office. Lieutenant King.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Detectives.

[Captain Kelly]

Detective William Novak and I began to talk to Mr. Ernest Broadstone, the owner of the gallery, and his secretary, Ms. Helen McLeave.

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Yes, sir. I was up here all alone. The auction was going on downstairs.

[Captain Kelly]

I see. And you, Mr. Broadstone? Well, I was on the floor downstairs watching the auctioneer conduct the sale. This was what time? 10:30, 10:35. Isn't that right, Helen? Yes, sir. About the phone rang.

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Kelly]

And you answered?

[Sergeant Jackson]

Yes.

[Captain Kelly]

Where were you when you answered, Mr. McCleaves?

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Right outside at my desk there.

[Captain Kelly]

Can you remember exactly what the man said?

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Not exactly, but pretty close.

[Captain Kelly]

What?

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Well, I said, broadstone Galleries, good morning, and he said he'd like to talk to Mr. Broadstone.

[Captain Kelly]

What tone of voice did he use, Ms. MacLeaf?

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

What do you Mean?

[Captain Kelly]

Well, was it high pitched or low? Was he trying to disguise it?

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Oh, no, no, I don't think so. He was using a normal voice. He was very polite. Really very polite.

[Captain Kelly]

And what did you say after he told you he'd like to talk to Mr. Broadstone?

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Well, I said Mr. Broadstone was very busy at the moment. He was downstairs on the auction floor. I wanted to take a message, and he said he had to talk to Mr. Broadstone right away. I told him that was impossible, and he said it was very important. It was a matter of life and death. I didn't know what to do, so I told him to hold the wire and I'd see if I could find Mr. Broadstone.

[Captain Kelly]

And that was the extent of your conversation with the man?

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Yes.

[Captain Kelly]

Did it sound like anyone you know or had spoken to before? Oh, no. It sounded familiar. In no degree?

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

No, sir.

[Captain Kelly]

Do you think you'd be able to recognize the voice if you heard it again?

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Well, I couldn't say. I might be able to.

[Captain Kelly]

But when you went downstairs, Ms. McLeaf, did you leave the phone off the hook, lay it on the desk?

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Oh, no, sir. You see, we have three lines. There's a button on the phone for each of the lines. Also, one for local, that's into office calls, and one for hold. I pressed the hold button and put the receiver back on the phone.

[Captain Kelly]

You went downstairs to find Mr. Broadstone?

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Yes, I went downstairs to find Miss Broadstone.

[Captain Kelly]

Where were you, Mr. Broadstone, when she found you? Well, I was standing on the right hand side of the gallery, observing a bidding on the particular item that was up for auction. The right hand side as you face the door or as you face the rear of the room? No, as you face the rear of the room. That's on the same side as the stairs leading down from the auction house?

[Sergeant Jackson]

That's right.

[Captain Kelly]

What did Ms. McLeaf say to you when she found you? Well, essentially the same thing. She told you that the man said it was a matter of life and death. You decided to take the call? Well, Lieutenant, I have a wife and children, a lot of friends. A matter of life and death can take in a lot of territory. So I went to the phone. Did you come up here upstairs to take the call? No, Captain, I stayed downstairs. I went to a little anteroom off the main gallery. We have an extension in there, the salesman's phone. I see. What was the conversation you had on the phone? Well, I picked up the phone. I said, hello, and he asked, Is this Mr. Broadstone? I said, yes, And I asked who it was calling. He said something like, never mind. And he told me there was a bomb in the place. Well, I thought somebody was kidding me. That's hardly something to kid about. Yes, sir, that's what I told him. But he said he wasn't kidding and might go off any minute. Well, I started asking some questions, but he. He wouldn't talk to me. He hung up. What did you do? Well, I stood there for a minute. I didn't know exactly what to do, whether to call the police first or get the people out. There were 50 or 60 people out there in the gallery at the auction. I decided to call the police first and not to tell the people. Let the police handle that. If I got up there and said there was a bomb in the place, there might be a mad rush for the door and somebody would be sure to get hurt or killed. But I couldn't believe, really, there was a bomb in the place. I thought somebody might be pulling a joke. So I called the police and went out to the sidewalk to wait for them. Well, that was the wisest thing to do. Thank you. Well, the first ones got there almost as soon as I got outside that sargent. I explained to him what happened. Meanwhile, another police car came up and they told me to stay on the sidewalk. They went in and handled the whole thing. They must have handled it fine, because the people started walking out slowly. No disorder, pushing, anything like that. They did a good job, all that. Mr. Broadstone, did the voice of the man on the phone sound in any way familiar to you? No, I can't see that it did, Mr. Gleason. You said he was extremely polite and rather well spoken.

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Yes, that's right.

[Captain Kelly]

Did you get the same impression, Mr. Broadstone? Yes. Yes, I did. His delivery was slow and even. I'd say even polite. Yes. How many employees do you have here, Mr. Broadstone? Most. Nine altogether. Myself and Ms. McLease. Also upstairs in the office is the bookkeeper. She's across the hall. There's a porter and a shipping clerk and the four men on the floor. Have they all been with you a long time? I hope you're not inferring that any of my employees is involved in this, Lieutenant. They were all here at the time. I was thinking more of a former employee, Mr. Floodstone. Oh, well, our turnover we have is very slight. Very slight. Captain? Yes, Sergeant? The bookkeeper says there's a call from at the drugstop. Although tell her to take the message, will you? The man says it's a matter of life and death. Well, have the bookkeeper say he'll be right with him, Sergeant. Yes, sir. Now, back. Yes, sir. Get on another line outside. Yes, sir. See if you can find out where it's coming from. Go to the bookkeeper's phone. Okay. Lieutenant Wright, you going to listen in, man? Yes, Captain. Pick it up, mister. Police. Take your time, but don't lose him. Turn him over to Mr. Brightstone.

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Now.

[Captain Kelly]

Yes, go ahead. Then I'll listen out at your desk.

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Mr. Broadstone's office. Yes.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Who?

[Captain Kelly]

Okay, Matt. Okay, all sit.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Just ask Mr. Broadstone to come to the phone, please.

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

But I have to tell him who's calling.

[Sergeant Jackson]

You know very well who's calling. Now, please, I don't have much time.

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

All right. Just a moment.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Hello? I just want to tell you, Mr. Broadstone, it's still a matter of life and death. Oh, look.

[Captain Kelly]

Who is this?

[Sergeant Jackson]

It's me, Mr. Broadstone. I spoke to you a little while ago. I know you did, but this is

[Captain Kelly]

a very poor excuse for a joke.

[Sergeant Jackson]

It's no joke, Mr. Broadstone.

[Captain Kelly]

Well, we couldn't find anything in the gallery. We searched.

[Sergeant Jackson]

The police searched, didn't they? I wouldn't have called the police if I were you. You just made a fool of yourself. Well, what could I do?

[Captain Kelly]

You told me there was a bomb in the place.

[Sergeant Jackson]

I'm sorry about that. I really wasn't. Well, I'd like to know why you

[Captain Kelly]

did such a thing.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Oh, because I want something from you. And What? I want $5,000. $5,000? Please.

[Captain Kelly]

Why?

[Sergeant Jackson]

So I don't really put a bomb in your gallery. And next time I will. If I don't get the money. Goodbye, Mr. Bronstop. Wait. I'm sorry. Goodbye, Hall.

[Captain Kelly]

Hello? $5,000 he wanted. You heard him, Lieutenant, didn't you? Yes, I heard him. What do you think, Ben? Sounds like a psycho to me.

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Captain, I'm scared. I'm really getting scared.

[Captain Kelly]

Well, Hal? There's nothing to be afraid of, Ms. McClease. Oh, you can say that. He didn't threaten to bomb the police station. He threatened to bomb my place of business. Lieutenant? Yes, November. We couldn't trace the call. Didn't stay on long enough. Another minute, maybe, we would have made it. That's too bad.

[Mr. Broadstone / Ms. McLeave]

Well, now, how can you catch him? Cabin. I don't see how you can possibly.

[Captain Kelly]

We will. This had to happen to me. Why did it have to happen to me? Nothing's happened to you yet, Mr. Broadstone. We'll try to see that it doesn't. Lieutenant King was soon Convinced that the man we sought was not a professional extortionist, a telephone check with the Bureau of Criminal Information showed that no complaint of this type had been reported in a considerable period of time any place in the city. City. Although extortion by threat to bomb was once quite common, he leaned rather to the theory that the call was from a disgruntled and psychopathic former employee or a disappointed artist whose work had been turned down by Mr. Broadstone. Two detectives, assisted by employees were set to work on the records of the gallery to look for just such possibilities. In addition, Mr. Broadstone was questioned closely about his personal life. The threat might have it face his there. Mr. Broadstone said he was happily married and went out with no other women he could think of. No enemies he had made through business dealings. He discounted entirely the possibility of a personal vendetta. Lt. King, however, instructed two of his detectives to make a thorough check to verify Broadstone's assertions. By noon, all the uniformed officers who answered the call had been instructed to resume patrol and the case was left entirely in the hands of the detective. I returned to my other duties at 4pm I turned out the platoon for the night tour, after which I worked with a 124 man at our first attempt to arrange the vacation schedule to the satisfaction of as many men as possible. At 6 I changed the civilian clothes, signed the blotter and left the precinct to go off duty until the following day when I walk into the station house at 3:30pm Hello, Captain. Go ahead, take the call. I'll sign the blotter. Yes, sir. 21st Precinct. Sergeant Jackson. What's going on here? Yes, sir. He just got in. Captain. Yeah? Lieutenant King wants to know if he can see you for a minute. Yeah, sure. Before the turnout. The captain wants to know before the turnout. Lieutenant. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. All right. Is he coming down? Yes, sir. He'll be right downstairs. Okay. There's some messages on your desk, Captain. I've got a couple more here. Oh, and Sergeant Collins went sick. No. What's the matter with him? His wife rang in. He says it looks like the virus. He's got a doctor coming. Okay. Is Lieutenant Snyder in the house yet? I didn't see him come in, Captain. I'll tell him to come into my office when he gets here. Yes, sir. I'll be in there. Hello, Captain. Oh, man. Come in.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Thanks.

[Captain Kelly]

Sit down, man. Yeah, thanks. I want to talk to you about that bomb case, that Broadstone gallery. Captain. Yes, Matt. How are you doing? On nothing I Haven't heard from the boy again? No, no, sir. Had two men planted over there around the clock. Got a man planted at Broadstone's apartment building. Well, how does his story check on? He's all right. No women, pretty square. Dealer in business. No enemies that we could find. Good reputation all around. Well, how can I help him, huh? Well, the squeals are piling up on me, Captain. I've had almost a whole squad tied up in this thing since yesterday morning. Got two men planted over at the gallery. Now, they close at 6 o'. Clock. Last night I had men sitting outside in the car all night. I want to pull them off. Yeah, this guy's a psycho for sure. He's going to put a bomb in there. He won't do it at night, I don't think. But just in case, what I'd like is for you to instruct your men on post over there and the sector men to take a look as often as they can. Yeah, sure, man, but what are you going to do when they open up tomorrow? Well, I'll send a couple of my best hawkshaws over there when they open up in the morning. All right, man, I'll give the instructions. Excuse me. 21st Precinct. Captain Canelli, Sergeant Jackson on TS.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Captain, no bag is ringing in for Lieutenant King.

[Captain Kelly]

All right. No bag for you, man. No, thanks. He's one of them over there. Lieutenant King.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Just a second lieutenant. Command.

[Captain Kelly]

Lieutenant King.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Novak. Lieutenant.

[Captain Kelly]

Yeah, what is it, Novak?

[Sergeant Jackson]

Mr. Broadstone got a letter from the bombardier just now. Well, he was out this afternoon. He just got back when the letter came. The secretary put it on his desk unopened. It was marked personal.

[Captain Kelly]

What's it say?

[Sergeant Jackson]

Just a second, Lieutenant.

[Captain Kelly]

No, that's all right.

[Sergeant Jackson]

I can see it. Made up of words cut out of a newspaper and pasted down. It says, deliver $5,000 by tonight at midnight. You must not fail. As I said, this is a matter of life and death.

[Captain Kelly]

That's all.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Yes, sir, that's all.

[Captain Kelly]

Well, how do we know where the money's supposed to be delivered?

[Sergeant Jackson]

Oh, that's no problem, Lieutenant. He signed his name and addressed.

[Captain Kelly]

After getting further details over the phone, Lt. King instructed Novak to bring Mr. Broadstone and the letter into the station house. In the meantime, I turned out the platoon for the night tour at 4pm giving special instructions to the men concerned to keep a close watch on the Broadstone Galleries during the night. Lt. King told me the letter was signed Carlton Addbury. The address given was the Pleasant apartment house on Madison Avenue. Not too Far from the Broadstone Galleries. When Detective Novak and Ms. Broadstone arrived at the station house, they were directed to my office where Lt. King was waiting. Come in. Thank you. Do you remember Captain Pinelli and Mr. Broadstone? Yes, of course. Sit down. Mr. Broadstone.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Yeah.

[Captain Kelly]

Where's the letter I got him? Lieutenant.

[Sergeant Jackson]

Captain.

[Captain Kelly]

Oh, nice man, Broadstone. Do you know anyone named Carlton Attbury? No. Ever heard of him? No, I can't say I have. Does it sound familiar? No, not at all. Lieutenant, if there is such a person, how could he be so foolish as to sign his name? That's the first question I'm going to ask him. But I'm grateful to him. Don't misunderstand me. Then you really think he's the right one? The story was in all the newspapers. Couldn't be some crank, another person entirely. There are people like that. I've read about them. I've handled them. Mr. Broadstone, I read all the newspaper stories. Not one of them mentioned the fact that the man consistently referred to this as a matter of life and death. Oh, I think this is the right man. With Lieutenant King, Detective Novak and Detective Whitey Howard, I left the precinc house a few minutes later. We drove to the Madison Avenue address given in the letter received by Mr. Broadstone. On arrival there, we asked for the manager of the apartment building. He was out. The elevator operator told us that a Mr. Carlton Adbury did in fact live in the building. He said that Mr. Adbury was a man of about 40, perhaps a little older. He had a reputation of being rather eccentric in his habits. He would stay in his apartment for days, or he would leave without luggage and not return for days. As far as the doorman knew, Mr. Adbury was in no financial difficulty. It was rumored he had an independent income. We had the doorman get the path

[Sergeant Jackson]

to you and take us up There

[Captain Kelly]

it is that one. Hell, He hasn't gone off on one of his three day yachts, man, I don't think so. He's waiting for the 5,000. You want to try it again? Coming. Yes, Mr. Carlton. Mad Brian? Yes. Mr. Marvin? Yes. Oh, did Mr. Broadstone send you gentlemen? In a way, yes. Well, please come in. Have you been standing here long? I didn't hear the door at first. The electric, Fraser, you know. Well, there's so many of you. Won't you come in the living room? No, that's Howard. Yes, sir. Lieutenant, I got you. Where are they going? Just to look around. Oh, well, it's a very attractive apartment. Did you bring the money? No, you didn't. But that was my understanding with Mr. Broadstone. Where police officers. But I need the money. How did you happen to pick on Mr. Broadstone? Why should he give it to you? Well, because I need it. But why him? Where have you been getting it up until now? From the bank. But they won't send me anymore. They said I have to go back to the hospital. And that's not fair, is it? It's my money. It was left to me by my mother. Why shouldn't they send it to me? I don't have to go back to the hospital just because they say so. I don't like it there. What makes you think Mr. Broadstone should give it to you? Because I walked past his gallery every day and every day there were different paintings in the window. Never the same. Always different. I don't want to go back to the hospital. Why did you threaten to leave a bomb in the place if I didn't? Why else would he give me the money? Had to be a reason. Has to be a reason for everything. Nothing back there, Lieutenant. Okay. I don't want to go back to the hospital. Do I have to? Is that where you're going to take me? Where's the stuff you were going to make the bomb out of? Oh, I wasn't going to make the bomb. I really wasn't. I knew I wouldn't need to if I frightened him enough. Did you think of what would happen to you if you didn't frighten him at all? Yes, but what difference did that make? I was going back to the hospital. And anyway. Well, I guess you will after a few stops on the way. 21st Precinct. Sergeant Tierney. Yeah, what is it you lost? Briefcase, huh? Yeah. Where'd you get out of the taxi?

[Sergeant Jackson]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Captain Kelly]

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. The police Department, City of New York. Everett Sloan in the role of Captain Kelly. Ken lynch as Lieutenant King. Featured in tonight's cast were Jan Owen, Terry Cotter, Bill Lipton, Don McLaughlin, Ken Delmar and Ivor Francis. Written and directed by Stanley Nist. Produced for CBS radio by John Ives. Art Hannah Speeding.

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