21st Precinct 54-07-07 (052) The Mover

Summary

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Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: 21st Precinct 54-07-07 (052) "The Mover"
Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio

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Episode Overview

This episode of "21st Precinct," titled "The Mover," presents a slice-of-life police procedural from the golden age of radio, set in mid-20th-century New York City. The action revolves around a domestic dispute—centered on the attempted removal (and later, return) of furniture following a marital separation. Listeners are taken through the complexity of interpersonal relationships, legal ambiguities, and the measured, sometimes frustrating, role of police mediators. The episode touches on property, pride, and the roles of spouses and bystanders in an escalating domestic situation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening: The Call from the East River (01:06 - 02:35)

• The episode opens with a procedural setup: a call about a sinking gravel barge in the East River. While this sets the scene of a busy day at the precinct, it's primarily background to the main domestic storyline.

2. The Dispute Begins: The Moving Van at 181 Sutton Place North (02:35 - 15:00)

• Captain Frank Kennelly and Sergeant Waters arrive at a large residence, now divided into apartments, to find a moving van and police vehicles.
• Mrs. Joanne Lindwick, an agitated, well-dressed woman, insists on moving furniture from her marital apartment. The building’s superintendent, Joe Swanagi, refuses her entry without authority.
• Key tension: Mrs. Lindwick asserts her right to the furniture, saying, "The furniture always belongs to the wife. The things in the house always belong to the wife. That’s taken for granted." (04:12)
• Captain Kennelly warns about legal complexities: "That may be your lawyer’s opinion, but what about your husband’s lawyer?" (05:50)
• The super, wary of liability, repeatedly states he won’t "get caught in the middle,” illustrating the bystander’s dilemma in domestic disputes (06:48 - 08:01).
• The real estate office eventually gives permission: “Well, he said, let her in. He said, let her take whatever she wants. This is supposed to be a man's world.” – Joe Swanagi (14:43)

Notable Moments:

• Mrs. Lindwick’s frustration over mounting moving expenses: “You know how much it's costing me an hour with those four men in that truck standing by? It's costing me plenty." (06:24)
• Super’s dry humor: "They can be yours. They can be President Eisenhower’s. Nothing goes out of here until I get the okay..." (07:23)
• Kennelly’s impartial advice: Advocates resolving matters with her husband instead of unilaterally taking action (05:24).

3. Life at the Police Precinct (15:00 - 18:46)

• After resolving (temporarily) Mrs. Lindwick’s dilemma, Kennelly returns to precinct business: a meeting about civil defense volunteers, addressing traffic issues due to barge salvage, and routine police matters—re-enforcing the everyday, unglamorous grind of police life.

4. Richard Lindwick Appears: Aftermath of the Move (18:46 - 24:38)

• Richard Lindwick, the husband, arrives at the precinct, not to take legal action but to recover a keepsake—his Copenhagen bear, taken in the move.
• He reveals his own exhaustion from repeated marital separations:
  “You know how many times she's walked out in the six years? Nine that I remember. This time she stayed away too long. Now I'm glad she's gone.” (21:06)
• Mrs. Lindwick, meanwhile, attempts to move back into the apartment after her morning action.
• The superintendent, with new instructions and changed locks, blocks her, showing the fluidity and emotion-driven nature of these disputes (24:01 - 24:38).

Notable Quotes:

• “I always thought I did, Joanne. Now I only feel sorry for you.” – Richard Lindwick (29:09)
• “Tell him to run, not walk.” – Super’s exasperated plea as the situation escalates (24:29)

5. Climax: The Second Attempt to Move Back (26:12 - 29:51)

• Mrs. Lindwick, frustrated, attempts to move the furniture back after having second thoughts, waiting two hours for her husband.
• Kennelly confronts both parties at the scene:
  • Mrs. Lindwick: "I'm still his wife. And I demand the right to get into my apartment and put our furniture back." (27:28)
  • Richard: "I just can't take you back because I'm sorry for you, Joanne. So that's it." (29:21)
• The emotional turning point is Richard’s firm but saddened final rejection.
• Kennelly’s neutrality is crucial: "Well, I couldn't give you an opinion on the law, Ms. Linway." (29:36)

6. Episode Close & Reflection (29:59 - End)

• The episode ends with a signature 21st Precinct narration, equating the police precinct to a "flesh and blood merry-go-round.”
• Captain Kennelly is called to resolve another routine police issue, highlighting the ceaseless churn of urban policing.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On marital property:
  "The furniture always belongs to the wife... that's taken for granted." — Mrs. Lindwick (04:12)

• On legal ambiguity:
  "Your lawyer may have one opinion. Somebody else's lawyer may have another opinion. That's what keeps the supreme court in business." — Joe Swanagi (07:51)

• On repeated marital cycles:
  "She gets up, she leaves him about three or four times a year. I told my Ellie they ought to put a swinging door up there." — Joe Swanagi (10:24)

• The breaking point:
  "I always thought I did, Joanne. Now I only feel sorry for you." — Richard Lindwick (29:09)

• On precinct life:
  "...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." — Narrator (30:01)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:06 — Sergeant Waters fields the initial barge sinking call.
• 03:35 — Captain Kennelly arrives at the moving van scene.
• 05:54 — Mrs. Lindwick emphasizes her right to take the furniture.
• 07:00-08:15 — Super and Captain try to resolve entry via phone.
• 14:37 — Super receives real estate approval for Mrs. Lindwick’s access.
• 18:46 — Mr. Lindwick appears at the station.
• 21:06 — Mr. Lindwick’s emotional admission about repeated walkouts.
• 24:01 — Super calls precinct: Mrs. Lindwick wants to move back in.
• 26:12 — Captain Kennelly confronts the second-moving scene.
• 29:09 — Mr. Lindwick’s final word to Mrs. Lindwick: rejection.
• 29:59 — Narrator’s moral reflection and episode close.

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Episode Tone & Style

With its brisk, matter-of-fact police dialogue and realistic slice-of-life drama, the episode exudes the earnest, gritty, and sometimes dryly humorous tone typical of mid-century radio police dramas. The language is direct, sometimes emotionally charged, always colored by period-appropriate sensibility.

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Conclusion

In "The Mover," listeners experience the complex web of police, domestic life, and the often-thankless task of conflict mediation. Through its detailed dialogue and authentic character voices, the show reinforces that police work is about more than solving crimes or chasing crooks—it's about helping ordinary people navigate the messy, ambiguous realities of their own lives.

Transcript

[Traveler]

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

[Captain Kennelly]

Hi there.

[Traveler]

We're looking to get to the campground.

[Local Man]

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.

[Traveler]

How are you getting a signal out here?

[Local Man]

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.

[Traveler]

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

[T-Mobile Announcer]

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 Oogle of Speedtest Intelligence data 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. CT T mobile.com for details.

[Sergeant Waters]

21st Precinct. Sergeant Waters. It's sinking. What is it? A freighter. Oh, a barge. A collision with what? Yeah, yeah.

[Captain Frank 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.

[Sergeant Waters]

Hello? CB, Sergeant Ward is at the 21st. There's a gravel barge sinking in the East river off 61st Street. No, they got the barge captain off. All right. You better send a police launch an esd. Okay? Yeah, all right.

[Narrator]

21st Precinct. It's just lines on a map of the city of New York. Most of the 173,000 people wedged into the 9/10 of a square mile between Fifth Avenue and the east river wouldn't know if you asked them that they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not, the security of their homes, their persons and their property is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

The 21st. 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants, of whom I'm the boss. My name is Kelly. Frank Kennelly. I am captain in command of the 21st. I was working my day tour at 8:35am Sector car number five came by the house to take me to the east river Drive near 61st Street. A gravel barge had sunk in the river on the previous day, and salvage operations to clear the channel had begun that morning. I had anticipated that the work would create a curious attraction and result in a serious traffic problem along the East River Drive. As Patrolman Dillon, the operator of sector car number five, drove me to inspect this condition, I saw in the block ahead of us a large moving van parked at the curb in front of 181 Sutton Place North, One of a row of large and elegant residences which had in recent years been converted into multiple dwellings A of medium sized, very expensive apartments. Also parked there were two departmental vehicles, Sector car number two and the sergeant's car. I instructed patrolman Dylan to pull into the curb, and as he did, I could see Sergeant Waters standing on the sidewalk talking to an attractive and well dressed woman. Four moving men were several feet away, engaged in conversation near the cab of their van. All right. Stay with the car, Dylan.

[Religious Rights Speaker]

Yes?

[Sergeant Waters]

Hello, Captain.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Well, I don't see why I can't.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What's the trouble here, Sergeant?

[Sergeant Waters]

Mrs. Lenwick, this is Captain Kennelly, commanding officer of the 21st Precinct.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

How do you do, Mrs. Lenwick? What is it, Sergeant?

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I just want my furniture, that's all. That's what I had these men come for, to get my furniture. They're standing around and I have to pay them while they stand around. It is by the hour, you know.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, why can't she get her furniture?

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

That's exactly what I'd like to know.

[Sergeant Waters]

Well, Captain, seems like the super won't let her up in the building. He won't let her into the apartment.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, why not?

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

It's mine. I'm entitled to get into it.

[Sergeant Waters]

Super says she separated from her husband about three weeks ago. He says he's still living in the building. Super said he's got no right to let her go in there without permission from the husband.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Look, I have the key, you see? I have the key. The furniture always belongs to the wife. The things in the house always belong to the wife. That's taken for granted.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Not necessarily.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Well, in this case they do. Now, something ought to be done because I can't keep these men standing around and paying them an hourly rate.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Where is the super, Sergeant?

[Sergeant Waters]

He's inside with Vaquero. Captain, the super's been trying to reach the real estate company that manages these buildings.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Well, I don't know who he has to talk to.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You got to remember, Mrs. Lynwick, that if they let you go in, they could be liable.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I can't imagine what they'd be liable for. I'd just be getting my own things.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Why didn't you take them when you left?

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Because I left at 2:30 in the morning. How could I take them then?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You could have come back for them within a reasonable time.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Now look, one doesn't find an apartment the first day they go looking. I moved into a hotel and sent for my clothes. Now I have found an apartment and I want my.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Where is Mr. Lindley?

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I have many idea.

[Sergeant Waters]

Super told me he saw him leave the house with her suitcase last night. He was apparently going out of town on business.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Captain, he's always going out of town.

[Sergeant Waters]

Super's been trying to call Mr. Lindwick's office as well as the real estate company. I don't suppose either of them opens until 9 o'.

[Narrator]

Clock.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

All this to do about something that belongs to me.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Have you talked this over with your husband, Ms. Lindwick?

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I have not.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, don't you think you ought to?

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I see no reason to.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

It'd be a lot simpler if you worked it out together. If you decided what's yours and what's his.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I know what's mine and I know what's his. Very little is his.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, I can't say that the best way to do it is to come around here when he's out of town and go into the apartment. I think the least you could do would be to notify him what you're up to.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

There's no reason for that. I spoke to my lawyer and I am perfectly within my rights. Perfectly within my rights.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, that may be your lawyer's opinion, but what about your husband's lawyer?

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I don't give two hoots for his lawyer's opinion. Now look, I have a business of my own to attend to. I'm a fashion designer and people start to call me at 9:30 in the morning and they want me. They want to talk to me.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Sergeant.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Have you got Mrs. Lynwick's new apartment address?

[Sergeant Waters]

Vaccaro's got it, sir.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

622 East 52nd Street.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Have you got her office address?

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Waters]

Vaccaro's got that too.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

It's certainly beyond me what it takes to get my own furniture back. To have that stubborn man say no not to let me up in the building and to have. To have the police involved in this thing.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, it'll all be settled, Ms. Leonard.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Oh, yes, I'm sure it will be. In the meantime, you know how much it's costing me an hour with those four men in that truck standing by There it's costing me plenty.

[Sergeant Waters]

There's one consolation, ma'.

[Narrator]

Am.

[Sergeant Waters]

It's probably causing your husband a lot more.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I don't care what it costs him.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, here's a super captain. Oh, yes, Mr. Swanagi.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Yeah, I'm right here.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

That's not necessary. I tell you, I'm entitled to take my own things out.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

You may think you're entitled to, Mrs. Limwick. Your lawyer may think you're entitled to. I may think you're entitled to. But you don't take nothing out of there until I get the word from the office. Now, I'm not getting caught in the middle of any deal like this, believe me.

[Sergeant Waters]

This is Captain Kelly. Oh, yeah, Joe Swanagi, the superhero.

[Narrator]

How do you do?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

I heard a lot about you, Captain.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

These pleasantries aren't getting us any place.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Sometimes pleasantries can get you pretty far, Miss Linwick.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

You said it, Captain. She comes around here 8 o' clock in the morning with the moving men and gives me a hard time. What am I supposed.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Look, these are my.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Mrs. Limmack. I told you, I don't care whose things these are. That doesn't make a bit of difference to me.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

What do you mean?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

They can be yours. They can be President Eisenhower's. Nothing goes out of here until I get the okay from the.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Of all the stupidity I call stupid.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Call it stupid, anything you want. That doesn't make any difference to me. If they tell me to let you in there, you're perfectly welcome, Captain. You can understand how I don't want to get caught in the middle here.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, I can understand.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

You see, Mrs. Limwick. Now, if he can understand, why can't you?

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

My lawyer told me I could go in there anytime and take anything off.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Mrs. Limwick, look, that's what makes horse races. Your lawyer may have one opinion. Somebody else's lawyer may have another opinion. That's what keeps the supreme court in business.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Mr. Swanagi. Where did you use the phone?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Down in my apartment, down there in the basement.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

And you tried both the real estate company and Mr. Lindwick's office?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Yes, I tried them both. I don't get any answer any place. It's too early.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, I think you might try again.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

I'll try.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

If you want me, I'll go downstairs with you, if you don't mind.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Yes, I wish you would, Captain. I wish you would see to it that he does try. I don't want to keep these men in this truck waiting any longer than I have.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

You don't believe that I tried.

[Narrator]

All right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

She Believes you. Sergeant, you stay here with miss Lindwick. Yes, sir. Let's go try the phone again.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Yeah, we're lost.

[Traveler]

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

[Local Man]

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.

[Traveler]

How are you getting a signal out here?

[Local Man]

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 old price guarantee. Okay, here's those directions.

[Traveler]

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

[T-Mobile Announcer]

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 OokaLYP speed test intelligence data at 2H20,25. 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.com for details.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Make sure that he does try, captain.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, I will.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

She thinks her husband slipped me 10 bucks not to let her in. Evil mind. I'll get the gate here.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah, he does take care of me

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

once in a while. Yeah, for small favors, you know. But I swear, Captain, he never mentioned a word about letting her in that apartment to get any furniture with downstairs.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

She left him three weeks ago, is that right?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Yeah, that's what the talk is. She just walked out one night after a hot argument about three weeks ago. I guess we're in here. It's all right, Ellie.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

All right, honey.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Just me to use the phone again. My wife, she worries when she hears that door open.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

How long have they been living here?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Oh, let's see. Five, six years, I think. Yeah, about five years. This has happened before. You know, she gets up, she leaves him about three or four times a year. You know, I told my Ellie they ought to put a swinging door up there.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, this.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

This three weeks is a long time. She never walked out for more than a couple of days at a time. Time before him.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, didn't she?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

No, no. Sometimes it was two or three days, sometimes three or four days, sometimes a week. But she always comes back.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What does he do?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Mr. Limwick?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Well, he's. He's an engineer, like, you know, he. He goes around companies in trouble, you know, with something the matter with their plant or the way things are working or they need more space or something. He goes around like, he makes what they call these surveys, you know, very technical stuff. Somebody had to go to some school, learn all that.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Where's his office?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Oh, down on Wall Street. Got a place down on Wall Street. Got a firm named Engineers with his name and there's three or four others in it, you know, like. Like a bunch of lawyers. Only this a bunch of engineers. Yeah, his name's right up there, too. First, I think, Linwick, something, something and something.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

There's no financial problem, is there?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Well, listen, as far as I know, none. They pay the rent on time on the button, or he does. And to pay the rent in this place on time, that means no financial problems. You know what they get for three rooms here? You wouldn't believe it. Should I call.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah. Try his office again first.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

All right, sir.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

After she moved out, Mr. Lindwick didn't ask you to change the lock or anything, did he?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

No, sir.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

He.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

He didn't mention anything like that. He didn't say a word. I didn't mention it. As far as I was concerned, she was coming back. She always does. It's ringing. There's nobody down there yet, I don't think.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Let it ring a little more.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Yeah, I don't know. Far as I'm concerned, if I was him, first time she walked out, I'd have had that lock changed. Even my Ellie, who always takes the lady's side in these things, didn't like her, you know. They're not gonna answer there? No, but nobody's there yet.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

All right.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

You know, if that lady wants to do the right thing, she'd get together with him. She'd get it all worked out. They'd say, this is mine, this is yours. They'd separate all the stuff, you know, and things like that. Not to come around there with a moving truck, 8 o' clock in the morning. Want to clean the joint out?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You better try the real estate office.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Fine way to do to a guy. Come around. Just come clean them out.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What time they usually open up? Nine.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Yeah, nine. But sometimes somebody's there before. I don't see the logic in it. I don't understand. Hello?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, hello.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

This is Joe Swanagi, the Super. 181 Sutton Place, North. Is Mr. Solent in this morning yet, by any chance? Yep. Oh, good. Could I talk to him? He's there. She's Getting him. This is my boss, the guy who manages these buildings.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I see.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

He's got the answer. He's got the answer to everything. He's a. Hello, Mr. Solent, this is Joe Swanagi, the super at 181 Sutton Place North. Yeah. Look, Mr. Solent, we got a little problem over here. Well, one of the tenants, 3A, and Mr. Mr. Limwick. You remember I told you last time you were here that they separated, she walked out. Well, he's out of town, Mr. Solit. And she came up here this morning, a moving van. And we four moving men there. She wants to clean the place out. She wants to take the four men and go right in. So I said, she can't do that. So she said, I'll call the cops. I said, go ahead, call the cops. And they're here right now? Yeah. Yes, sir. Yeah, I was polite. I just didn't want to get in the middle. Or was she. Who wanted to call the cops? I didn't want the cops around here. Yeah, yeah. No, no. Say, he. He didn't ask me to change no locks, anything like that. No, he gave me no instructions to let her in or keep her out or nothing, so. Yeah.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Yeah.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Well, what I want to know, Mr. Sondland, is what am I supposed to do? I mean, there's five cops here and there's four moving men and her and this big moving van. What am I supposed to. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I. I understand.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

All right. All right, Mr. Sullivan. All right.

[Captain Kennelly]

Yeah.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Thank you, Mr. Sullivan. All right, sir. Goodbye. Well, he said, let her in. He said, let her take whatever she wants. This is supposed to be a man's world.

[Narrator]

You are listening to 21st Precinct, a factual account of the way police work in the world's largest city.

[Religious Rights Speaker]

There were many people of your religion before the authorities decided to outlaw it. You all had the same faith, the same creed. You believed in the same things. One of the things you believed in was that man should worship God freely in the way he desired in the church of his choice. But that in particular was against the law. So your churches were taken away, your books were burned, and your ministers were sent to prison. Well, that's a picture of what could have happened to you in different times throughout history. It is happening today in certain countries, but you are protected against such things, whatever your religion may be. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights say that you're entitled to follow it, to live according to its principles, to follow its rituals and abide by its precepts. It's an absolute guarantee in 16 clear words, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. For a hundred and sixty five years those words have endured. They will last as long as time itself. They are only a part of the of rights which belong to all the people. They are only a part of what we call our way of life. But they're a stirring example of how man has learned one lesson in his short time on earth. That these things cannot exist for a few people. They must exist for all.

[Narrator]

Now back to 21st Precinct and Captain Kennelly.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

As I left the Sutton Place address, the moving men had started upstairs to the the Lynwick apartment. Sergeant Waters instructed his men to resume patrol, and I got back into Sobe car number five with Patrolman Dylan. He continued to the east river Drive in 61st street, where the salvage operations were underway. The sight of deep sea divers and their gear had, in fact, attracted much attention. Traffic on the drive was slowed to a crawl, and the two patrolmen on the job had additional trouble keeping curious pedestrians from crossing the road. After observing conditions for a few minutes, I got back into the car and had Patrolman Dillon drive me to the nearest call box. There, I rang into the station house and spoke to Lieutenant Gorman, the desk officer. I told him of the condition and gave him instructions for him to detail two more men to the job. I continued on patrol of the precinct until 11:30, when we drove downtown to the 15th Precinct station house at 160 East 35th Street. There I attended a meeting of all precinct committee commanders in the 6th Division, which was called by Inspector McBride in regard to a proposed new recruiting program for civil defense volunteers. The meeting ended a few minutes before one, and I returned to my command, where in the muster room, Sergeant Tierney was on telephone switchboard duty and Sergeant Waters was sitting in as desk officer. I walked around the desk to sign the blotter.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Winning First Precinct. Sergeant Tierney.

[Sergeant Waters]

Hello, Captain.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Sergeant.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

All right, 14.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Where's Lieutenant Gorman?

[Sergeant Waters]

He had to take his meal late, Captain. The Mendigan squad picked up nine mooches on Third Avenue and dumped them in here. Oh, Lieutenant Gorman didn't get finished writing up the arrest until a quarter to one.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Where are they, back in the cells? No, sir.

[Sergeant Waters]

The patrol wagon came and they were on their way down to court.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Okay. Anything doing around here?

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, that fellow over there came in about five minutes.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

If you.

[Sergeant Waters]

Captain, he's waiting to see you. Yeah, I told him I didn't know when you'd be back.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Who is he?

[Sergeant Waters]

Gave me one of his Cards. Yes, sir.

[Captain Kennelly]

Here it is.

[Sergeant Waters]

Richard Linwick, Captain, consulting engineer. The husband of the lady with the moving van, I guess.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, yeah. All right, I'll talk to him. I'll be in my office.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

When he first preaching, sergeant.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Mr. Linwick?

[Religious Rights Speaker]

Yes?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, hello, Captain. You wanted to see me?

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes, if you have a minute. I understand you were over at my apartment this morning.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

That's right. I was very sorry. But you understand there wasn't any law violation. There was nothing we could do.

[Narrator]

No.

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about, Captain. I didn't expect you could do anything.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Would you like to come to my office?

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes, thanks.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Go ahead, Ms. Lindley.

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes, thank you.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Hi. Have a chair.

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes, thanks.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, what can I do for you, Mr. Linwick?

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, it's really not very much, Captain. You see, the super of the building finally got in touch with my office right at 9:00 clock this morning.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes.

[Captain Kennelly]

He told my secretary what had happened and she called me in Boston. I was in Boston on business. She reached me at my hotel and I took the next plane back. I went right to the apartment from LaGuardia. The truck was already gone.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah, they can work pretty fast if they want to.

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes, so can Joanne. The only thing that she left was my clothes hanging in a closet. The clothes I had in the drawers, my shirts and things she just took out and piled in the corner. Everything else was cleaned out. She didn't even leave a bed for me to sleep on.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, as I told you, Mr. Lynwick, there's nothing there that calls for police action.

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, I know that, sir.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Excuse me.

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

21st Precinct.

[Sergeant Waters]

Captain Kennelly, this is Sergeant Waters. Captain. Yes, Captain, there's a two alarm fire at 761 East 89th Street. All right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Have a car come by for me.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Was what she took out yours or hers?

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, Captain, I paid for it, but I don't care. I mean, she can have it all if she wants it. There were some very nice things there. I had several thousand dollars in furnishings, but I don't care. The only thing I'm really angry about is a large Copenhagen bear that she took. I got it as a gift from a friend of mine after she left, and she took that with everything else.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, what do you want?

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, I'd like to get that Copenhagen piece back. I called her office, but they say she's not in. I understand she gave you the address of her new apartment.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

She gave it to one of my men.

[Captain Kennelly]

Does he have it?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, I'm sure it's in his memorandum book.

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, could he give it to me?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I don't see why not. You're her husband, aren't you?

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes, I'm her husband.

[Narrator]

We.

[Captain Kennelly]

We've been married six years. You know how many times she's walked out in the six years? Nine that I remember. When she did it, I always used to hope that she'd come back. I prayed that she'd come back. And I. I was very glad to see her. All my friends told me I was crazy. But this time she stayed away too long. Now I'm glad she's gone. The only thing I want back is that Copenhagen bear. She's not entitled to that.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You're not going to make any trouble if you get her new address.

[Captain Kennelly]

Oh, no, sir.

[Religious Rights Speaker]

No, no, no.

[Captain Kennelly]

All I want is that one thing that belongs to me. That's the one thing I care about. As far as the rest of the stuff is concerned. She can have it, she can sell it, she can keep it. She can do anything she wants with it. Now, this is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I don't know why I didn't let it happen years ago.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I guess you know what's best for you.

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes, sir. I think I do. When I got back to the apartment, I told the super to change the locks after the horse is stolen.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

That's me.

[Captain Kennelly]

Change the locks after the horse is stolen. He did it right then.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Why didn't you do it before?

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, I've been trying to figure that out, Captain. I guess I have. I. I think I wanted her to come back unconsciously, at least. My lawyer told me she might do exactly what she did. He advised me to change the lock, but. Well, I left it. I was hoping that she'd come back. I thought maybe I needed her, but I don't. I'm sure of it now. I don't want any part of it. I instructed the super that if she does show up and wants to get in the apartment now, not to let her in. I gave him explicit instructions.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah, well, I'll get the officer on the job over there and see if we can find her new address.

[Captain Kennelly]

Oh, fine. I'd certainly appreciate that, Captain. And I guarantee you I won't cause any trouble. All I want to do is go by there and see how I can get that piece of Copenhagen. It's a beautiful thing, you know. It stands about this high. Are you interested in Copenhagen?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

No.

[Narrator]

No.

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, I used to have a collection of it, but, well, she didn't like it, so I got rid of it. Had some very nice things. This friend of mine sent it to me from Denmark. You know, he was on a job over there.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Excuse me.

[Captain Kennelly]

Oh, yes.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

21st Precinct, Captain Kennelly, Sergeant Waters.

[Sergeant Waters]

Captain.

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes.

[Sergeant Waters]

Two alarm fire just hit out, Captain.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, yes, sir.

[Sergeant Waters]

A car rang in. He said it was an automobile on fire inside a filling station. The first fire officer on the scene turned in a second alarm because it was near all his gasoline and oil. It's all right. It's out.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

All right, Sergeant, cancel the car. I won't roll.

[Sergeant Waters]

Just a second, Captain. Yeah, yeah. Is that so, Captain?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes.

[Sergeant Waters]

That superintendent from 181 Sutton Place north just rang in again. Sergeant Tierney tells me.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, what's the trouble there now, Sergeant?

[Sergeant Waters]

Said he asked for Mr. Lindwick. I told him he's in your office.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Is he still on the phone?

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

All right, put him through to here.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir. Tom, put that call through to the captain's office. Hold on, Captain.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Right.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Hello?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

21st Precinct, Captain Kelly.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Hello? Oh, hello, Captain. I just wanted to talk to Mr. Limmerge. Told me he was going there.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He's right here.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Well, I. I can tell you his wife is here again. So is the movie Bat. She wants to move all the stuff back in.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, is she doing it?

[Sergeant Waters]

Well, he.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

He had me change the locks, and he gave me specific instructions not to let her in the place.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You want to talk to him, you

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

just tell him to get right over here. She's giving me a hard time.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

All right, I'll tell him.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Please, And. And tell him to run, not walk.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

All right, I will.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Waters]

Thank you.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

That was a message for you, Mr. Linwick.

[Captain Kennelly]

Oh, it was?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah, it was the super at your building. He says your wife is back at the apartment. So is the moving van. She wants to put everything back in again. Oh, does she? He wants you to come right over there and get it settled.

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, she's not going to. I'm not going to let her.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

She's waiting there. Mr. Lindwick, don't you think you ought to go over and get it settled?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Oh, it's settled.

[Captain Kennelly]

It's settled now. But I. Well, I better go over and talk to her. That's the least I can do. Talk to her.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Mr. Lynwick left my office in a dejected frame of mind. He said he was going right to his apartment and get the matter settled. I remained in my office, cleaned up some additional paperwork and talked to a delegation of Second Avenue merchants who were complaining about Vandals breaking their store windows during the night. I told them we had increased our patrol activities in that area in order to prevent the vandalism. And that Lieutenant Matt King, commander of the 21st Detective Squad, had his men investigating the case. I promised them that I would check with Lt. King to determine how far his investigation had progressed and whether any arrests could. Could be expected. Shortly, at 2:25, a car came by the house for me and once more I went out on patrol of the precinct. At 3:20. During the course of the patrol, we had occasion to turn into Sutton Place North. There, in front of 181 was parked the same huge moving van that had been on the scene in the morning. Standing on the sidewalk were the four movers. And several feet away from them, Mrs. Lindwick was talking to the superintendent of the building, Joe Swanagi. I instructed the operator to stop the car.

[Captain Kennelly]

All right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Stay here, Dylan.

[Religious Rights Speaker]

Yes, sir.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Well, it's about time somebody got here.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Did you expect me, Mrs. Lindley?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

She expected her husband.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I most certainly did. I understood that he left the police station two hours ago and was coming right over here. Where is he?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I haven't any idea, Ms. Lindwick.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Well, he must have told you where he was going.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He said he was coming here.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Where'd he wanted the police station anyway?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He just wanted to know where he could find you.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Oh, did he?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He told me they said at your office that you were out, wouldn't be in for the rest of the day. He wanted to know if we had the address of your new apartment.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Did you give it to him?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

It wasn't necessary. In the meantime, we found out that you were here.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Yes, I've been here. I've been here for two hours. Two and a half hours almost. And he won't let me upstairs.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Well, it's a different story now than it was this morning, Mrs. Lumico. It's a totally different story. We got instructions from Mr. Limerick not to let you in the apartment, and I changed the lock for him. Now, that situation's a little bit different than the situation was this morning.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I understand you want to move all the furniture and things back.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Well, that's what I wanted to do, but after two hours, I'm not so sure.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Now, if you moved them out this morning, why do you want to move them back this afternoon?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Now, there's a question.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Because I thought that I would give him another chance.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Are you sure he wants it?

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Doesn't look like to me he wants it. He told me to keep her out, change the Lock. That doesn't look to me like he wants.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I'm still his wife.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, that's true.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

And I demand the right to get into my apartment and put our furniture back.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Mrs. Lynwick, you were standing right there when I checked with the office again. And they told me, in as much as Mr. Lindwick gave me instructions not to let you in. And you had moved out already and the lock had been changed not to let you in.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Now what more could I do? Where could he be?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I haven't any idea.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

He knew I was here.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, he did.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Maybe that's why he didn't show up.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Joe, you've been making slides remarks all afternoon. Now, I wish you'd stop it.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Yes, ma'.

[Religious Rights Speaker]

Am.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Yes, ma'.

[Narrator]

Am.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I'm still paying those movers by the hour. Four men and a truck can mount up, you know.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Cap.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Here he comes.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Well, it's about time.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Mr. Swanagi. You better go back into your apartment till they need you.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

Oh, Captain, I. I stuck it out this long.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Go ahead.

[Joe Swanagi (Superintendent)]

All right, you say so. Captain.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Look at him. He sees me standing here. He sees me. Keeps him waiting two hours, and he comes down the sidewalk as if nothing in the world concerned him. As if there was nothing happening around here at all. Richard. Richard. Here I am. Oh, how do you like that, Richard?

[Captain Kennelly]

Yes, I see you. Joanne.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Where have you been?

[Captain Kennelly]

Oh, hello, Captain.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Mr. Lindwing.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Where have you been? I brought everything back. I'm willing to give you another chance. And you keep me waiting here for over two hours. Two hours and a half, almost.

[Captain Kennelly]

Well, I'm sorry about that, Joanne.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Well, come on, give me the keys so we can get the furniture upstairs.

[Captain Kennelly]

No, I'm not going to do it.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

What do you mean, no, you're not going to do it?

[Captain Kennelly]

Just that, Joanne. I'm not.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Richard, I'm willing to come back to you. Don't you love me, Richard?

[Captain Kennelly]

I always thought I did, Joanne. Now I only feel.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I feel sorry for you.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Sorry for me?

[Captain Kennelly]

That's right. I've been walking for two hours. I've been trying to figure out whether I should take you back just because I'm sorry for you and I decided not to. Joanne.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

I see. Don't I have some say in the matter?

[Captain Kennelly]

You had your say. You walked out. I just can't take you back because I'm sorry for you, Joanne. So that's it.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

Captain. Captain, tell him he's got to let me in. He's got to. That's the law, isn't it?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, I couldn't give you an opinion on the law, Ms. Linway.

[Mrs. Joanne Lindwick]

But he can't turn his wife out on the street. He can't just evict her from his mind.

[Captain Kennelly]

I don't know whether I can or not, Joanne, but I'm going to try.

[Sergeant Waters]

21st preaching, Sergeant Waters. Wait a minute. Who is this? Where?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What's the address?

[Sergeant Waters]

Yeah.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

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.

[Narrator]

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, 20,000 members of the Police Department, City of New York. Everett Sloan in the role of Captain Kennelly. Featured in tonight's cast were Joan Allison, Bill Zuckert, Harold Stone and Les Damon. Written and directed by Stanley Nist. Produced for CBS Radio by John Ives. Art Hannah speaking. This is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television.