21st Precinct 54-06-23 (050) The Will

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: 21st Precinct 54-06-23 (050) "The Will"

Air Date: February 24, 2026

Host: Harold's Old Time Radio

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Overview

This episode of "21st Precinct," originally aired in 1954, immerses listeners in a remarkable case faced by the officers of the 21st precinct in New York City. The episode revolves around the discovery of an elderly recluse, Edwin Lowfield, found dead in his room—leading police to uncover a hidden fortune, a search for next of kin, and a surprising twist regarding his will. True to the show's style, the narrative presents a realistic, procedural look at police work while offering poignant observations about money, loneliness, and human connection.

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Key Discussion Points and Episode Breakdown

The Initial Concern: A Missing Tenant

• [02:56] Mrs. Katherine Neal, the landlady, expresses concern to an officer about Mr. Edwin Lowfield, a reclusive tenant who hasn't been seen in days.
  • Quote: “Well, something's been bothering me. Maybe it's all my imagination... there's a man that lives on the second floor. Mr. Lowfield.” – Mrs. Neal
• Officer Kennelly investigates, learns Mr. Lowfield is always punctual with rent, has peculiar habits (out all night, reclusive), and has no known friends or family.

The Discovery: Entry into Mr. Lowfield’s Room

• [06:29] Decision made to force the door given the circumstances, revealing Mr. Lowfield dead—fully dressed, alone.
  • Quote: “Are you dead?” – Mrs. Neal
    “Yeah.” – Capt. Kennelly (07:09-07:12)
• Initial shock as Mrs. Neal laments Lowfield’s solitary, friendless existence.

The Hidden Fortune

• [08:01] In searching for identification or relatives, they discover large quantities of money stashed away—eventually totaling:
  • $14,655 in cash
  • $31,456 in four savings accounts
  • U.S. defense bonds and securities worth more than $185,000
  • Quote: “There must be thousands.” – Mrs. Neal (08:01)
  • Quote: “500 shares of Consolidated Edison... 200 shares of AT&T... a whole stack of defense bonds…” – Sgt. (11:09-11:34)

Legal Procedure and Uncertain Heirs

• [13:14] Mrs. Neal asks about the fate of the money and possible heirs. Officer explains property will be handled by the public administrator if no will is found.
  • Quote: “If you don't find a will... What happens then?” – Mrs. Neal
    “Then the estate is handled by the public administrator.” – Kennelly (14:50-14:55)
• Mrs. Neal claims some right, having cared for Lowfield for years, citing alleged promises he made her.
  • Quote: “I think I have a rightful claim... I just did it out of the goodness of my heart. I think I have a rightful claim. Don’t you?” – Mrs. Neal (15:23-15:56)

Locating Next of Kin

• [19:36] Detective Novak tracks down George Bookham, Lowfield's nephew.
• Bookham and his wife are ambivalent; haven’t seen the uncle in years and are initially reluctant to take any responsibility.
  • Quote: “Well, I guess I am the closest, but it's just my uncle and I haven't seen him in years. Not since my mother's funeral.” – George (21:14-21:21)
• When informed of the fortune, their attitude shifts.
  • Quote: “$275,000? Are you sure it’s my uncle?” – George (22:39-22:56)

The Surprise Will

• [28:05] Police receive a call from a lawyer representing Lowfield’s interests—there is a will after all.
  • The will leaves everything to Columbia University, to the shock of both the nephew and Mrs. Neal.
  • Quote: “He said that Lowfield did have a will. Oh, it doesn't name either the nephew and his wife or Mrs. Neal... He left everything to Columbia University.” – Lt. King (28:37-28:48)
• The episode concludes with the police guiding the relatives to proper legal channels, clarifying that the courts alone will determine the estate's ultimate disposition.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “With all that money living in a nine dollar a week furnished room. He could have been living on Park Avenue.” – Mrs. Neal (08:08)
• “I could really classify myself as a claimant.” – Mrs. Neal (15:19)
• “That’s something I can't pass judgment on, Ms. Neal.” – Captain Kennelly (15:56)
• “There might be more than was in his room.” – Det. Novak
  “What was in his room?” – George
  “Well, it was cash and passbooks and securities worth about $275,000.” – Kennelly (22:34-22:39)
• “He left everything to Columbia University.” – Lt. King (28:48)

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Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Episode Development | |--------------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 02:56–04:54 | Mrs. Neal first voices concern about the missing tenant | | 06:29–07:18 | Discovery of Lowfield’s body | | 08:01–12:35 | The officers tally up the deceased’s hidden wealth | | 13:14–15:56 | Mrs. Neal discusses the fate of the estate, claims right| | 19:35–23:28 | Novak finds George Bookham, nephew is informed | | 28:05–28:48 | Attorney calls: Lowfield’s will leaves everything to university | | 29:08–30:42 | Relatives’ disappointment and discussion with precinct |

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Episode Tone and Language

• The episode maintains the professional, procedural realism characteristic of classic police radio drama, balancing empathy with the cool logic of law enforcement.
• The dialogue captures the authenticity of ordinary people’s speech—Mrs. Neal’s rambling concerns, the nephew’s hesitant practicality, the officers’ methodical explanations.
• There is a subtle commentary on loneliness, frugality, and the unpredictability of human nature, as revealed in the gulf between Lowfield's hidden riches and his outward lifestyle.

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Conclusion

"The Will" delivers a thought-provoking tale, blending mystery with human drama. Listeners experience the step-by-step police process: discovery, documentation, detective work, and the interface between law and personal claims. Ultimately, the episode’s surprise ending—Lowfield’s riches going not to those expecting it, but to a university—underscores the theme that appearances (and destinies) are often deceiving.

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For listeners appreciating authentic old-time radio drama or a detailed, slice-of-life police procedural, this episode is a memorable exploration of the unexpected truths beneath everyday lives.

Transcript

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[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

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[Captain Frank Kennelly]

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[Captain Frank Kennelly]

21st pre since dodging water. But how long has it been since you've seen him? Yeah, yeah, we surely didn't move on. Who told you that? Lady? Yeah, you in the muster room at the 21st preaching 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 preroom. All right, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll send an officer on a turkey. Yeah, he'll be there right away. You just wait. Sir.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

What is this briefing?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

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 would as know, if you ask them, if they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not. The security of their home, their persons and their property is the job of the men of the 21st. Preaching the 21st 160 patrolman, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants who land the boss. My name is Kennelly, Frank Kennelly. I am captain in command of the 21st. I was working my flight tour 8am to 6pm after I had turned out the platoon, which consisted of the 64 men who would patrol the precinct for the next eight hours, I went to my office where Ezra B. Winkler, the precinct youth patrolman, was waiting to confer with me. The end of the school year brings a variety of changes to the method of policing the precinct. We were preparing for them. Meanwhile, the ordinary routine of patrolling the precinct went on. Patrolman Paul Vakao, assigned to post 17, had finished his duty at a school crossing near PS 79. At 9am he went to the nearest call box and rang in Lieutenant Gorman. The desk officer instructed him to walk to a dry goods store on Third Avenue and admonish the proprietor for failing to close the transom over his front door during the preceding night. In complying with Lt. Gorman's instructions, he walked past a brownstone Rooming house where a woman he knew to be the landlady was sweeping down the front stoop. Good morning.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Good morning. Oh, officer.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I want to ask you a question.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, ma'. Am. What is it?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I'm Mrs. Katherine Neal. I own the house here.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, I know.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Read our furnished rooms.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, something's been bothering me. Maybe it's all my imagination. I don't know. But there's a man that lives on the second floor. Mr. Lowfield.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What about him?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, I haven't seen him since Friday, Friday night, Saturday, Sunday and Monday I haven't seen him.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Maybe he's away.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Oh, no, no, no, no. I don't think so.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He's lived here over six years and

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

he's never been away.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Never Would you paid up in his.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Yes, yes, it's paid up. Paid up right to the minute. You can say anything else you want to about him, but he's regular about that.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, tell me something.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

He does have peculiar habits. Like, for instance, no one ever sees him during the daytime. I suppose. He's up there sleeping in the daytime, but 8 o' clock every night he comes downstairs and walks out the door and he's out all night. Almost Very peculiar habit.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, if he doesn't feel like it.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

The most peculiar thing of all is that when I didn't see him yesterday afternoon, I went up and knocked on the door. I thought maybe he was sick or something. You know, somebody that's got no friends

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

and no one at all.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I thought maybe he needed help. He didn't answer.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Did you open the door to his room?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I wouldn't do that. Besides, I don't think I could get a key in there anyway. He's got the keyhole blocked with something, I think.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

It's not locked from the inside, is it?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Why, it might be the key that's in the keyhole. From the inside, that is. It is locked in the inside, for he must be in there.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Look, maybe. Maybe we better go up and take a look, Mrs. Neal, huh?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Yes, maybe we better. My goodness. Just let me get this trash up. It'll take a fortune.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

All right. Oh, tell me something. How old a man is Mr. Lowfield?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Oh, he's middle 60s, I suppose. About 65. I never asked him. I never asked him much. He's not one to talk. Just ignores everyone, everyone around.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What's his first name?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Edwin. Ms. Edwin Lowfield. Well, that'll have to do for now. People walk by here and they throw everything they can think of on my Stoop. They couldn't throw their cigarettes and papers in the gutter. They have to throw them on my soup.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, go ahead.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Oh, thank you. I just need the beam. Right, dear. It's this way, the second floor.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What. What does he do? What do you mean? When he gets out at night, does he. Does he go to work?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, I don't think so. I don't think he works at all.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What does he live on?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, he knows Social Security. Maybe he's got the money to pay the rent that way. Maybe it's agent. I don't know. I never asked him. It's that one.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Now, look here. You don't know whether he has any family or any friends?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, none that I saw. I never saw any of them.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah, there's a key in the door, all right.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, that won't do you any good. I've been trying that since yesterday afternoon.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

No one you spoke to show him go out?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

No, no one.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He's never gone away on a trip for a weekend since he's lived here in six years?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Never.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

No.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Listen, you don't think it.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, no. Now look, you say no one saw him go out and he was in the habit of going out every night. Now, the keys in the door and it's locked on the inside.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Oh, my goodness, the poor old man.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Look, I think we ought to kick it in. If that's all right with you, of course.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Will he do much damage? He's going to pay for it.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, I think one good kick will take care of that old time luck.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Do you think we ought to?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, the door is your property, Mrs. New.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, maybe we better.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

All right, now you just stand back over there. One good kick ought to take care of us.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Be careful, though.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I'll try. All right, that does it.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I'll say that.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Look here. You stay here.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Are you dead?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Oh, my goodness. Poor old man.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Just got sick and died. This guy with his clothes on. No friends, no family, no one to take care of him. I don't know whether anyone even cares. I don't know what it is. Money enough to bury him. Poor old man.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You don't know whether he has any family at all? Any relatives?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I don't know. He never said a word. Never said a word about anything.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah, let's. Let's look in a dresser draw and see if there's any papers with any names on them.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I don't think there would be. Is that you, Money?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, ma', am. That's what it looks like.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I didn't Know he had a dime? There must be. There must be thousands.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

It could be.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

How do you like that? With all that money living in a nine dollar a week furnished room. It would have been living on Park Avenue.

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[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Hi there.

[Weight Watchers Representative]

We're looking to get to the campground.

[T Mobile Representative]

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[Weight Watchers Representative]

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[Captain Frank Kennelly]

They lived on Park Avenue. Maybe he wouldn't have it. According to established procedure, Patrolman Vaccaro made no further attempt to examine the property of the deceased. Another resident of the rooming house appeared in the hall and was sent by the officer to call the station house and notify the desk officer. After an ambulance surgeon pronounced the man DOA in the presence of a civilian witness, the landlady patrolman for Carroll recorded in his memorandum book the pedigree of the dispute, an accurate description of the body and wearing apparel, and all the known facts concerning the time, the place, the manner and the circumstances of the death. In the meantime, Lieutenant Gorman, the desk officer, notified the medical examiner and the 21st Detective Squad. A radio motor patrol car and the sergeant's car was dispatched to the scene. Lieutenant Matt King, the commander of the 21st Detective Squad, sent two detectives. I was told by the desk officer the circumstances involving a large amount of cash and inasmuch as this property must be inventoried, both under the supervision of a superior officer and witnessed by a competent and responsible civilian, I went to the scene myself. While we were still waiting for the arrival of the medical examiner, a search of the premises was begun. And an exact inventory of all the deceased property in the room was being taken. 7,400 so far.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

7,400. I had no idea, Captain. No idea at all.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, I don't imagine many people did.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

He never seemed in want for anything, but he certainly gave the impression he was just making end use. Right in room, Captain.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, Sergeant?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

He did his own laundry on the

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

over here a minute.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Yeah, and I even gave him permission to cook his own breakfast in here.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Excuse me, miss. Me? Yeah.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Yes, yes, yes, of course.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, what is it, Sergeant? Look what was in the closet. Suitcases in the back there. Yeah, a bonanza. Four bank books. Savings account, brother. $9,300 in here. $8,700 in this one. Oh, that's too bad. Only 4,000 in here. And last but not least in this one. $9,450. He sure spread it around, didn't he? With mine, Captain, I keep it all in one place. Those look like stock certificates, don't they? Take a look at them. Yes, sir. 500 shares of Consolidated Edison. 200 shares of AT&T. 200 shares Pennsylvania Railroad, 500 shares Columbia Broadcasting System, 250 shares DuPont. So on, so on, so on. So what? Oh, and a whole stack of defense bombs. Yeah. Captain, I come to the conclusion this fellow was loaded. All right, picked up the suitcase. Let's take it over and get it in inventory. Yes. Oh, here's some more you can put on that inventory, Vaquel.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Some more what? More money?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, bank books from security. That makes it $9,865 in cash. Captain, in the one drawer.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

$9,865.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

And there's more. All right. When you get it totaled, enter it in your book and I'll sign it. Yes, sir, I'll do that. Then get to work on this stuff.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Captain, can I talk to you for a minute?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, Ms. Neal. Every one of those bills has to be listed by serial number, you know. Yes, Ms. Neil.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

It is well proportioned.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

That's what it's beginning to look like.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

What just happened it all this money, I mean.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, we take it to the station house, the desk officer enters it in the blotter and he gets sent down to the departmental property closet.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I mean, who gets it? Who gets it eventually?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, he might have left a will.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I don't know who he'd leave his money to. He didn't have anybody. He told me time and time again he didn't have anybody. No one in the world.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

No one at all.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, I think he did Have a sister? He died four or five years ago. Yes, four or five years ago.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Do you know the sister's name?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

No, I hadn't any idea. He never mentioned it. I just remember that one day I saw him coming down the stairs in the morning about 10:00 or 10:30. Well, he hadn't been living here too long then. Only about a year. But I'd never seen him come out in the daytime before. I said, where are you going, Mr. Lowfield? He said.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

To a funeral.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Died.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Ah, I see.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Is out in Long island someplace. I don't know. I said I was sorry to hear the news and he went out the door. That's the last he ever mentioned of her. The last ever mentioned of her.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Did he get much mail here, Mrs. Mail?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Mail? I don't think he had one letter. Not one letter since he's lived here.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Nothing.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, I ought to know. I guess the mail every morning I put on that marble table downstairs in the hall. Detained some Ida and took a. And I go through it every day to take out what's mine when I get it. I can honestly say that I've never seen One letter suggest Mr. Lowfield.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Not even one?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Not one, to the best of my recollection. Well, supposing he didn't leave a will? If you don't find a year, I don't think he did. What happens then?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, then the estate is handled by the public administrator.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

What's that?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He's a city official whose job it is to administer the estates of people who die without leaving a will. Oh, he'll try to find relatives and claimants to the estate and the estate will be disposed of by the Surrogate's Court.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, he's not going to find any relatives as far as payments are concerned. Mr. Lowfield didn't owe anyone, never bought anything, so how could he owe anyone?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, in any case, it'll all be settled according to law.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

You know, I could really classify myself as a claimant.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Could you?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Yes. I've taken care of that poor old man for six years now. As a matter of fact, he made promises to me time and time again that I could have anything I wanted that he had. Just for the phrases, I've done it. I gave him food, I got clothes for him. I saw that his room was kept clean. He told me anything of his that I wanted, I could have. He never paid attention to him. I didn't think he had anything. I just did it out of the goodness of my heart. I think I have a rightful claim Don't. You can't take it.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

That's something I can't pass judgment on, Ms. Neal.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, what do you think I ought to do? Get a lawyer?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You'll have to decide that for yourself.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

That poor old man. That poor, poor old man.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You are listening to 21st Precinct. A factual account of the way police work in the world's largest city. You want to go to church, but you can't. On the church door there's a sign stating entrance forbidden. Your ministers and priests and rabbis have been taken away. Your Bible has been burned. You're not allowed to own a crucifix or a St. Christopher's medal or a mezuzah. Your religion. All religions are forbidden by order of the government. A bad dream. Yes. That's all it could be for an American citizen because he's guaranteed the right to worship anywhere, anytime and in any way he chooses. Some governments allow their citizens these privileges. Others deny them. But we Americans tell our government that it has no jurisdiction over religion, whatever it may be. We say so in good, clear language. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. It's part of our Bill of Rights, our constitution. Just 16 words signed by a few men 165 years ago. These 16 words are your assurance that freedom of religion will be preserved for you, for your children and for generations to come. The First Amendment. Freedom of religion. It is one of our freedom. Now back to 21st Precinct and Captain Kennelly. Within another half hour, a representative of the Medical Examiner's office arrived. He made an examination of the body of John W. Lowfield and reported, pending an auditcycle, the death was apparently due to natural causes. Patrolman Vaccaro, the first officer on the scene, placed the UF95 identification tag on the wrist of the body and it was taken to the Bellevue morgue. All the property of the deceased in the room had been collected and inventory. It amounted to $14,655 in cash, bank books from four savings institutions showing deposits totaling $31,456. United States Savings and Defense Bonds with a face value of 47 $250 and other securities worth more than $185,000 in the current market. The totals were rechecked in the presence of the civilian witness entered by Patrolman Vaccaro in his memorandum book, which was signed by both myself and Sergeant Warriors. The property was then taken to the station house by Patrolman Vaccaro and turned over to the desk officer for transmittal to the property clerk of the department. In the meantime, Detective William Novak of the 21st Squad had been assigned by Lt. King to make an investigation in order to locate either relatives or close friends of the deceased. He interviewed the landlady, Mrs. Neal, to secure whatever information she had. He examined the papers and documents found in the room. And at 2:10 in the afternoon his task took him to Astor Victoria in Queens where he went into a new apartment building and rode the self service elevator to the fourth floor where he walked down the hall to apartment 4D. Is this the residence of Mr. George Bookham? Yes.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Who is it?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Is Mr. Bookham hall on the police officer? What's the matter? I'm detective Novak of the 21st squad. Is Mr. Bookham Holmes?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Yes, he's here. What's the matter?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I'd like to talk to him. Are you Mrs. Bookham?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

That's right. Here.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Thank you.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

George. Got the ball game on in there, George? Why? Someone here to see you.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Who?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

A detective. All right, George. Yanks fan.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

It's a book of. I told you they should have took Reynolds out of there. Alma, he walked another man. He's staying my ghost. You're a detective, huh? Yes, sir, that's right. William Novak of the 21st Squad in Manhattan. What can I do for you, Mr. Bookham? Do you have an uncle named Edwin Lowfield? Yes, that's right. It's my mother's brother. Lives in the East 70s in New York. Well, I don't know where he lives. I haven't seen him in years.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I think he did live there.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

George, where's the trouble? Afraid I got some bad news for you, Mr. Bookham. Yeah, he was found in his room this morning. Apparently he had a heart attack. Is he dead? Yes, sir, that's right. Oh, sorry. Well, too bad about him. From what I remember, he was a pretty nice guy.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Yeah, well, what are we supposed to do about him?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

We'd like Mr. Bookham to come over to Bellevue and identify the body. Why? Just a matter of perspective. Try to get a close relative or friend in cases like this. Notify them. Well, I'm not what you would call a close relative. From what I can learn. You're the closest, aren't you? Well, I guess I am the closest, but it's just my uncle and I haven't seen him in years. Not since my mother's funeral, as a matter of fact. Look, I'm sorry and all that, but I don't think it's any of my responsibility.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

You wouldn't hurt Colin.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Years no, that's right. I got my own family. I got my wife and two kids. What am I supposed to do about it? What they want me to do. Arrange for the funeral and everything. Well, we thought you might like to being the closest relative. Well, suppose he was my third cousin or something like that. Would you expect it if I was still the closest relative? We'd notify you.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Do you still live in the first room?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, ma', am, that's right.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, I don't see why they expect us to take care of the fuel and expenses and all that. We got no money for that. He doesn't mean that much.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Does nobody ask you to take care of any expenses?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, somebody will if we get involved. Making arrangements and all that. Don't go, George.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Don't be a fool. No, I got to be at work at 4 o' clock anyway. I work at the Hotel Coronet over in Manhattan. Oh, yeah. But you still have time to come to Bellevue and make an identification. Don't do it, George.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

You're only getting filed. You got no responsibility.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

No, that's right. No, I, I, I don't want to get involved. I, I, I don't want to get stuck up plenty of these expenses. I don't think you will, Mr. Bookham. It appears your uncle had a little money. Did he? Yes.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I hope it's enough to cover the funeral expenses.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, ma', am, it is, and then some. Well, how much was that? Well, Mr. Bookham, we're not all together.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Sure.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

There might be more than was in his room.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

What was in his room?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, it was cash and passbooks and securities worth about $275,000 dollars? Yeah. $275,000? Yes, sir, that's right. Are you sure it's my uncle?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I can sure it's yours?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, it was a picture of a woman in his room in the drawer. It had to my darling brother written on it from Margaret. That was my mother's name. Margaret. The photographer was from Jamaica. I checked him out, I looked up his records and I got the address where your mother formerly lived. Yeah, I went around the building there and spoke to the super. He remembered that you worked for the Coronet in New York. I checked the name there and they gave me this address.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

They need you to make an identification and arrange for the funeral. George, I think you walked to. After all, you're his closest relative.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, sure, Alma, I intend to do everything I can.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

As I remember in George, he was a nice old man, really nice.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He was always good to me. When I was a kid and he was crazy about my mother. I'll do anything I can to help you, Detective Novak. Yeah, yeah, anything. I. I just want to be of all the assistance I can. I. I want to help. But you can come over to Belley with me and identify him. And then what? Just so the medical examiner releases the body? You can make any arrangement for the funeral you want.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Well, where's the money?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

It was taken to the 21st Precinct station house. It'll be safe there, won't it? Couldn't be much safer. Get finished in the blotter and turned over to the property clerk at the department. Oh, no aspersions, man. I was just concerned. I'm the closest relative, you know. Mr. And Mrs. Brookham left immediately with Detective Novak for Bellevue Morgue in order to identify the body of George Bookham's uncle.

[Weight Watchers Representative]

We're lost. I'm gonna pull over and ask that man for directions. Hi there. We're looking to get to the campground.

[T Mobile Representative]

Well, you're going to take a left at the old oak tree end of this here road. No, I'm just kidding. Let me get my phone out.

[Weight Watchers Representative]

How are you getting a signal out here?

[T Mobile Representative]

T Mobile and US Cellular decided to merge. So the network out here is huge. We're getting the same great signal as the city and saving a boatload with all the benefits. Oh, and a five year price guarantee. Okay, here's those directions.

[Weight Watchers Representative]

Actually, can you point us in the direction of a T Mobile store?

[T Mobile Advertiser]

America's best network just got bigger. Switch to T Mobile today and get built in benefits the other guys leave out. Plus our five year price guarantee. And now T Mobile is available in US Cellular stores. Best mobile network Based on analysis by Ookle of Speedtest Intelligence data at 2H2025 bigger network. The combination of T Mobile's and US Cellular's network footprints will enhance the T Mobile network's coverage price guarantee on talk text and data exclusions like taxes and fees apply. See t mobile mobile.com for details.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

During this time I had been out on patrol of the precinct in sector car number four. And I returned to the station house at 3:40pm in time to turn out the platoon for the night tour. At 4, I got out of the car, walked up the front steps and into the muster room where Lieutenant Gorman was desk officer and Sergeant Waters was now on telephone switchboard duty. Hello, Captain. Oh, what's going, Sergeant? Nothing much. Then just a lot of calls from the press about the old man and the money. I referred them all up to the detective. Good. Oh, and Lt. King said he'd like to see you when you get back in the house. All right. Bring upstairs and tell him I'm back. Yes, sir.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I'll sign the plotter.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, sir. Honey Crazy Brad. Detective Howard, this is Sergeant Waters on CS Whitey. Yes, Sergeant. Lieutenant King wanted to know when Captain Kennelly got back in the house. He's back. You want to talk to the lieutenant or shall I tell him? You tell him. Okay. How'd you get hold of Lieutenant King, Sergeant? I spoke to Howard upstairs. The captain. He's telling the lieutenant your back. Okay. There's something I want you to do for me. Yes, sir. 21st Precinct. Sergeant Waters. Lieutenant Gorman wants to talk to you. Vaquero, hold a fire. Yes, sir. Vaquero's ringing in, Lieutenant. Okay, I'll talk to him, Sergeant. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Captain. I'm putting a talk at the Lenox Hill Lions Club next week, Sergeant. Yes, sir. And I want to dwell on the connection between parking regulations and safety. Now, would you get together with a 124 man and dig out some recent aided and accident cards that deal with accidents which are the direct result of incident illegal parking or double parking or anything of that nature? Yes, sir. I want three or four good examples to illustrate the points I have to make. Yes, I understand. See what you can do. Hello, Captain. Paul. Matt. Lieutenant King or Sergeant. Been a rather interesting development in that Blowfield cave, Captain. You know, the man who died with all the money in his room. Yeah. Oh, I'll be in my office, Sergeant. Yes, sir. An attorney called me a little while ago. An attorney called me, too. Boy, I went out on patrol. Said he represents Mrs. Neal, the landlady. He wants to put in a claim for services against the estate. He wanted some information. I told him we had nothing to do with that and he'd have to check with the public administrator. Well, this was a different attorney, Captain. But first, let me get you up to date. Novak found Mr. Lowfield's nephew. A man named George Bookham. Nephew Identifies the body of his uncle nephew and his wife. Oh, what about this other attorney that called you? Do you remember the mailing address and the stock certificate for Concurrent?

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Yeah.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Five or six name in the firm. I put in a call down there. The girl who answered the phone didn't know anything about it. Said she'd check around. About an hour ago, this lawyer called me back. Name is Hopwell Young. Told me the old man had made some shrewd investments over the years. That's obvious. And that's not the big news. He said that Lowfield did have a will. Oh, it doesn't name either the nephew and his wife or Mrs. Neal. Well, that's going to be a big blow. Yes, sir. Imagine a will. He left everything to Columbia University. Look, if Lowfield was such a smart investor, did the lawyer have any idea what he was doing with all that cash in his room? No, sir. He was just as surprised at it as we were. He knew about the savings accounts and the war bonds. Had no idea about the cash. Lieutenant King. Excuse me, Captain. All right. This Mr. Mrs. George Bookham. Captain Canelli. Captain. Hello.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

How do you do?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

That's Lieutenant King. Lieutenant. I've just been down to Belgia, Lieutenant. Mr. Bookham identified the body that had been loafed with his uncle. It was him, all right.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

As soon as we can, we're going to have him moved to a funeral parlor. And ask Doria. He'll have a night service.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, it'll be fine.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Very nice service.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Mr. Mrs. Brookham wanted to come up here and talk to you, sir, about the property that was found in Mr. Lochiel's room. Well, there's no sense talking to me about it. It's been inventoried, entered in the records and sent down to the property Clerk's office at 400 Boome Street. I told him he'd be well taken care of. Oh, we don't have any doubt that it'll be well taken care of. I just thought I'd like look at it and check over the list of what was there. Yeah, well, I'm sorry, but I don't have authority to use you permission to do that. And it's out of my hands now down at the property clerk's office.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I don't see why we can't do it after our charge. George is the closest relative to him. It'll all be ours.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

How do I go about getting permissions? Anytime there's a question of disposition of an estate, the surrogate's court must rule on it. Any such property can't be released without a court order. Well, we didn't expect you to release it. We just wanted to inspect the inventory that you said you. You had. Yeah, well, I'll tell you what you do. Yes? Detective Novak will take you to the desk officer right over there and introduce you. He'll give you the address of the property clerk and tell you who to see down there. They'll have all the information downtown. The property clerk is at 400 Boom Street.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

I don't know why there's all this trouble? After all, the money will be ours.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

As I said, that has to be determined by the court. Novak. J. Will you take them over to talk to Lieutenant Gorman? Yes. Do you want to come this way, please? Well, thank you, Captain.

[Mrs. Katherine Neal]

Thank you.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You're welcome. Right over here. I thought you were going to tell them that. I was waiting for you to do it, Captain. Well, that's the court, John. I figured it could wait. Their second piece of shocking news in one day might be just too much. 21st Precinct. Sergeant Waters. Who? What happened? He fell off a truck. Yeah, yeah. How old the boy. Now wait a minute. Exactly where is this. No, don't touch him. Just tell him I'm sending the officers right over there. 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 rain 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, City of New York. This is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.

[Weight Watchers Representative]

We're lost. I'm gonna pull over and ask that man for directions.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Hi there.

[Weight Watchers Representative]

We're looking to get to the campground.

[T Mobile Representative]

Well, you're gonna take a left at the old oak tree end of this here road. No, I'm just kidding. Let me get my phone out.

[Weight Watchers Representative]

How'd you get getting a signal out here?

[T Mobile Representative]

T Mobile and US Cellular decided to merge. So the network out here is huge. We're getting the same great signal as the city and saving a boatload with all the benefits. Oh, and a five year price guarantee. Okay, here's those directions.

[Weight Watchers Representative]

Actually, can you point us in the direction of a T Mobile store?

[T Mobile Advertiser]

America's best network just got bigger. Switch to T Mobile today and get built in benefits the other guys leave out. Plus our five year price guarantee. And now T Mobile is available in US Cellular stores. Best mobile network Based on analysis by Ookle of Speedtest Intelligence data at 2H2025 bigger network. The combination of T Mobile's and US cellular network footprints will enhance the T Mobile network's coverage price guarantee on talk text and data exclusions like taxes and fees apply. See t mobile.com for details.