21st Precinct 54-12-29 (077) The Wife

Summary

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Podcast Summary: 21st Precinct (21st Precinct 54-12-29 (077) The Wife)

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Title: "The Wife" (21st Precinct ep. 077)
Date: February 25, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of the classic police procedural drama "21st Precinct" centers on the aftermath of a late-night shooting involving Patrolman Dowd and a young burglar caught in the act. The narrative follows the police as they unravel the assailant's identity, deal with his young wife, and confront both the realities of crime and the human costs involved. The story provides a gritty, empathetic portrait of New York police work during the Golden Age of Radio, blending suspense, character studies, and ethical ambiguity.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Initial Crime and Investigation

• Patrolman Dowd’s Encounter

  • Dowd begins a routine patrol when he spots a suspicious young man (later identified as Jack Wigan, alias Elliot) standing with a suitcase outside a butcher shop ([02:24]-[03:10]).
  • The man appears cold, and his nervous answers raise suspicion. Things escalate quickly when Dowd asks for ID, leading to a violent confrontation and a gunshot ([03:31]-[03:45]).

• Immediate Response

  • The precinct mobilizes: backup, detectives, and an emergency car rush to the scene ([03:58]).
  • Dowd is seriously but not fatally wounded and taken to Bellevue Hospital; the assailant flees but is also shot in the leg ([04:00]-[05:00]).

• Identifying the Burglar

  • The police link a suitcase full of stolen goods at the scene to a recent apartment burglary on 79th Street ([06:48]-[07:03]).
  • A man matching the description is found unconscious at Lenox Hill Hospital with a gunshot wound ([04:00]-[05:10]).

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2. The Suspect’s Background and Police Procedure

• Revealing Jack Wigan’s Past

  • The suspect, Jack Wigan, has a record: five prior arrests, multiple convictions, jail time, recently released on parole ([10:06]-[10:32]).
  • His wife, Anna, is shocked to learn of his criminal history; she had no idea about his past ([11:14]-[11:44]).
  • The detectives and Captain Kennelly methodically piece together his involvement, confirming the bullet in his leg matches Dowd’s gun ([09:21]-[10:00]).

• The Alibi Breaks Down

  • Jack tries to evade responsibility, at first blaming his wound on someone else, but under mounting evidence, he confesses to the shooting ([15:33]-[15:53]).
  • He states, "I shot the cop. But I warned him. I told him to stay away from me. He can't say I didn't give him a warning." – Jack Wigan ([15:50]-[15:53]).

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3. The Emotional Toll: Anna Wigan's Story

• Anna's Shock and Heartbreak

  • Anna Wigan, only 19 and recently married, is devastated by revelations about her husband ([11:14]-[12:00]).
  • She admits, "I just didn't want to take the chance, that's all," expressing her denial and confusion at Jack’s actions and secrecy ([22:51]-[22:54]).

• Attempt to Pass a Gun

  • Suspicion arises when Anna asks to see Jack alone in the hospital. She is asked to empty her purse, revealing she’d brought Jack’s hidden gun ([24:38]-[25:15]).
  • Anna insists it wasn't for Jack but ultimately confesses she contemplated suicide upon learning she is likely pregnant and facing raising a child alone ([26:33]-[27:03]):
    • "To tell him I... I think I'm going to have a baby. ... I just wanted to get some of his worries out of the way." – Anna Wigan ([26:35]-[27:21]).

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4. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the Relentless Cycle of Police Work

  • "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." – Captain Kennelly ([27:39]-[28:05])

• Regarding Trust in Marriage

  • Anna: "A man has. But I don't get the wife." ([23:52])
  • Jack: "You bet your life he has." ([23:50])

• Jack’s Fatalism & Bitterness

  • "What a deal he's got, huh? ... Sitting in a nice soft chair, drawing a salary to see I don't run away. A big hole in my leg and you need him." Jack Wigan, commenting on the guard ([13:55]).

• On Facing Consequences and Future

  • Anna: "You're going away again. ... For a long time." ([24:14]-[24:15])
  • Jack: "Don't bring up the subject every two minutes. I don't like to think about it." ([24:18]-[24:21])

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5. Episode Structure and Timestamps

• [00:35]-[03:45] – The shooting and immediate aftermath
• [04:00]-[06:30] – Victim and suspect identified, quick medical updates
• [06:48]-[10:32] – Detective work, suspect’s criminal history, questioning Anna
• [11:14]-[12:50] – Anna’s interrogation
• [13:13]-[15:50] – Hospital confrontation, Jack’s reluctant confession
• [16:27]-[18:43] – Jack recounts the burglary and shooting
• [22:07]-[25:15] – Emotional reunion, discovery of gun, Anna’s confession
• [25:30]-[27:21] – Anna reveals her pregnancy and despair
• [27:39]-[28:05] – Captain Kennelly’s closing reflection

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Notable Episode Tone and Style

The episode is tense, methodical, and empathetic to all characters. The police are portrayed as thorough, weary, and sometimes paternalistic, while suspects and loved ones are shown as complex, vulnerable people swept up in the machinery of law and circumstance. The language remains terse, realistic, and sometimes world-weary, exemplifying 1950s radio drama style.

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Conclusion

"The Wife" is a vivid, emotionally charged episode, mixing police procedure with personal tragedy. The story spotlights not only the dogged investigation but also the social fallout for the criminal’s young wife—underscoring the human dimension of every crime, for victims, perpetrators, and their families alike.

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Transcript

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[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What are police bracing?

[Sergeant Waters]

Sergeant Waters. Shooting where? Yeah, yeah. Who shot who?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You are in the muscle room at the 21st Precinct, the nerve center. A call is coming through. You will follow the action taken pursuant to that call from this minute until the final report is written in the 124 room at the 21st Precinct. All right, stay right there.

[Sergeant Waters]

I'll send the officers right over.

[Lieutenant King]

And an ambulance too?

[Sergeant Waters]

Yeah, right away. Don't worry.

[Lieutenant King]

21st Precinct Transcribed 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 Kennelly, Frank Kennelly. I'm captain in command of the 21st. I was off duty and not due on the job until 8am among the 53 men on the job in the precinct was Patrolman Raymond Dowd, age 43, 17 years in the job and nine in the 21st Precinct assigned to post number six which consisted of five blocks along Second Avenue in the 70s. When he reached his post a few minutes after midnight he relieved Patrolman Louis Baron who had been on the job since 4pm Then, as regulations require, he began trying the doors to shops, checking street lights and traffic signals. Halfway down the avenue, he noticed a figure standing in the doorway to a butcher shop across the street.

[Sergeant Waters]

He went over.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

As he approached the opposite curb, he saw the figure was that of a man. A young man. A young man dressed too lightly and shivering with cold. A young man with a suitcase.

[Lieutenant King]

What's the trouble?

[Sergeant Waters]

There's no trouble.

[Lieutenant King]

What are you standing out here in the cold for?

[Sergeant Waters]

I'm waiting for my brother. He's supposed to drive by and pick me up here. Where do you live Downtown Avenue?

[Lieutenant King]

What are you doing up here?

[Sergeant Waters]

I was just visiting somebody. Friend of mine.

[Lieutenant King]

What's in that suitcase, huh?

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, tuxedo. Yeah, I borrowed it from my friend for New Year's Eve.

[Lieutenant King]

Yeah? What's your name?

[Sergeant Waters]

Elliot.

[Lieutenant King]

Elliot what?

[Sergeant Waters]

Elliot's my last name. Jack Elliot. You got any identification, Jack? What do you mean, like a driver's license?

[Lieutenant King]

That'll do. Yeah.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, sure, I got a driver's license.

[Lieutenant King]

Let's see it a minute, huh?

[Sergeant Waters]

Well, I'm just waiting for my brother.

[Lieutenant King]

Let's see the license.

[Sergeant Waters]

Okay. I think I got it in my wallet, that's where.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Okay.

[Sergeant Waters]

Get back there.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Now, look, boy, stand back there. I'll kill you, I swear.

[Lieutenant King]

Give me that gun.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Get back.

[Lieutenant King]

Give it here.

[Sergeant Waters]

Get away from me, I told you.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Hold up.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Hold up,

[Sergeant Waters]

boy.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Hold up.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

The shots were heard by Patrolman Ernest Pagano, who was patrolling an adjacent post. Within minutes, two sector cars, the sergeant's car, a detective squad car from the 21st squad and an emergency service car arrived in response to the radio call. Under supervision of the detectives, a search of the neighborhood was begun for the assailant. In the meantime, an ambulance arrived and Patrolman Dowd was taken to Bellevue Hospital. The suitcase left at the scene by the assailant was taken to the station house as soon as he had a report of the occurrence. Lieutenant Snyder, the desk officer on the job, notified me at my home and I arrived at the Station House at 1:15am I conferred with Lt. King, Commander of the 21st Detective Squad, who told me that Patrolman Dowd's condition was serious but not dangerous. That the officer had fired three shots at the fleeing assailant and believed that one had hit him. While I went to Bellevue to visit Patrolman Dowd, officers were called to Lenox Hill Hospital emergency Ward where an unconscious man suffering from loss of blood due to a gunshot wound in the thigh had been brought in by a taxi cab driver. Detectives reported that although the man was in no condition to be questioned, it appeared from his clothing and general physical description that he was the Fugitive. At 2:55, I returned to the station house and lay down on the couch in my office with instructions that I be awakened if there were any developments in the case. But in no event later than 7am.

[Sergeant Waters]

Captain? Yup. East seven o'. Clock.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Captain.

[Lieutenant King]

Oh, thank you, sergeant. Sound nice?

[Sergeant Waters]

Yeah.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

We got some hot coffee going. That's good. As soon as I wash my face.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir. Lieutenant Snyder spoke to the doctor down at Bellevue.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Dog's gonna be okay? Definitely Good.

[Sergeant Waters]

And that boy in Lenox Hill? Yeah? He's regained consciousness.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Does he admit shooting down? I don't know if the detectives have

[Sergeant Waters]

been able to talk though, Captain, but his wife's here.

[Lieutenant King]

No? Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Waters]

There was an address in his pocket. Detectives went up there.

[Lieutenant King]

They found her and brought her back.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

It's her husband in the hospital?

[Lieutenant King]

Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Waters]

They took her over to Lennox Hill. She identified him. He was under anesthetic. Uh huh. Oh, Lieutenant King asked if he can come upstairs when you wake up. You want authorization to visit him this morning? All right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Is Lt. King up there now?

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I'll go right up.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, there's Vitaly. He's carrying the squeal.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Vitaly.

[Lieutenant King]

Yes, sir. Good morning, Captain. Are you going upstairs? Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Waters]

Well, I gotta get back out of port.

[Lieutenant King]

Okay.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Silent. How does it look, V?

[Lieutenant King]

Well, for one thing, whoever it was shot down was a burglar. The suitcase full of goods at the scene came out of an apartment on 79th Street. The victim identified it and reported its flat was broken into sometime between 10 last night and when he got home at 3:30 this morning.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What about the boy in the hospital?

[Lieutenant King]

He denied shooting Dowd, but we'll know about that for sure in a little while. The ballistics squad has got the slug that came out of his thigh. Comparing it with the test slug from Dowd's gun. If it matches, that's the boy.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Do you have any doubt about it?

[Lieutenant King]

No, sir.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He didn't have the gun on him. The one that shot down?

[Lieutenant King]

Well, we figured he threw it someplace before he hailed a cab. We got men out looking. Oh, that's. That's the white one up there. She's young. Yes, sir, and pretty young. Yeah, sort of rough, but what can you do? Mrs. Wagon, this is Captain Kenelli.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Oh, how do you do, Ms.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Wagon?

[Mrs. Wagon]

Are you the one I'm supposed to talk to about getting into creek? Jack?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, that's fine.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Well, can I?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Oh, it's up to me to issue the authorization. But this is a felony case and

[Sergeant Waters]

I have to talk it over with

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

the Lieutenant of detectives.

[Mrs. Wagon]

What does that mean, felony case?

[Lieutenant King]

That your husband is suspected of a serious crime.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Two serious crimes, as a matter of fact. Burglarizing an apartment and shooting a police officer.

[Mrs. Wagon]

I don't think Jack would do anything like that. Are you sure about it? I mean, he never said anything to me.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, it seems that'd be the last thing he would do.

[Lieutenant King]

Say something to you?

[Mrs. Wagon]

I guess so. Would you tell me something?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

If I can, sure.

[Mrs. Wagon]

I don't know anything about the police or what's supposed to be done. What happens to him now?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, he's in a private hospital under a police. He'll be taken to Bellevue Hospital prison

[Lieutenant King]

ward as soon as he can be moved.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Doesn't he get a trial or something?

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He'll be booked on the charges and he'll have a hearing in felony court.

[Mrs. Wagon]

You're not going to take him to court when he's so sick?

[Sergeant Waters]

No, it'll wait. Let's go.

[Lieutenant King]

Envy.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Thank you very much.

[Sergeant Waters]

That's all right.

[Mrs. Wagon]

I'm sorry I was any trouble.

[Lieutenant King]

No, you weren't. I'll just sit right there.

[Sergeant Waters]

All right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, Captain Cornelius. Come in, Captain. Morning, Matt.

[Sergeant Waters]

Captain.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Come in, Vil.

[Sergeant Waters]

Sit down, Captain.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yep. Well, is that the right boy in the hospital, Matt?

[Lieutenant King]

Yes, sir, that's him. I just got a call a few minutes ago. The slug in his leg came out of Dowd's gun.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

This one's name is Jack Wigan.

[Sergeant Waters]

That's right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

W Y G A N. Where'd he get the name Elliot? He gave to doubt.

[Lieutenant King]

Must have pulled it out of thin air, Captain. Have you talked to him?

[Sergeant Waters]

No, sir.

[Lieutenant King]

I'm going over there right away.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Understand?

[Lieutenant King]

He's all right, isn't that what you said? Yes, sir. I spoke to him for a little while. The doctor said you can talk to him as long as you want. After 7:30. That's after the nurses get through straightening things up.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

And the stuff in that suitcase came out of a burglary? That's right, Captain.

[Lieutenant King]

He broke into a flat over there

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

on 79th street and cleaned the place out.

[Lieutenant King]

That's probably why he was on such

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

an edge when Dowd walked up to him.

[Lieutenant King]

He'd just gotten away from there.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Does he have any records?

[Lieutenant King]

We haven't printed them yet, Captain, but VY checked out the name through bci.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What do they have on him?

[Lieutenant King]

V well, a man of the same name, John P. Wagon, also known as Jack wagon. Same address, five arrests. One of the juveniles of car theft. Four others. 1897, a grand larceny, two convictions. Probation a first time. Second time he pulled two and a half to five in Elmira. Plus 11 months he owed on the probation? Yeah, he was up there 19 months altogether. Released last August.

[Sergeant Waters]

I see.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What does his wife say about all this?

[Lieutenant King]

She says he didn't know he was ever in a jam. Yes, but she was pretty surprised and upset when we hit the door up there.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What do you say about her seeing him, Matt?

[Lieutenant King]

I don't see why not, Captain. I want to talk to him first,

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Then she can see him. Okay.

[Lieutenant King]

Cover in here, Pete.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir.

[Lieutenant King]

I'm glad Dar's gonna be okay, Captain. Yeah, he's lucky. Very lucky. If you were stepping here, I don't know whether I'd call it lucky, Captain, to get a slug in you.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Do you want me in there?

[Sergeant Waters]

That's right.

[Lieutenant King]

In here, please. Wanna sit down over here, Mrs. Lynkin?

[Mrs. Wagon]

Yes. Thank you. Thank you very much.

[Lieutenant King]

How long have you been married to Jack?

[Mrs. Wagon]

About three months.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

We're married in September.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Yes, September. September 23rd.

[Sergeant Waters]

How old are you?

[Mrs. Wagon]

19.

[Lieutenant King]

Did Jack ever tell you he'd been in trouble before?

[Sergeant Waters]

No.

[Lieutenant King]

He never told you he was away

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

for a while, that he's on parole now?

[Mrs. Wagon]

No.

[Sergeant Waters]

Did he have a job?

[Mrs. Wagon]

Well, off and on he did work on the docks, you know.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

More off than on, though, huh?

[Mrs. Wagon]

Yes, I guess so.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Where do you think he got the money to support you?

[Mrs. Wagon]

I don't know. I never asked. Just brought it home.

[Lieutenant King]

Didn't you care?

[Mrs. Wagon]

I cared. I just never asked. Can I go over and see him? That's what I'd like to do, if I can.

[Lieutenant King]

You can see him? Yes, if that's what you want. You are listening to 21st Precinct, the factual account of the way police work in the world's largest city. Back to 21st Precinct and Captain Kennelly.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

As I was required to interview the suspect in connection with my report on the injury, the Patrolman Dowd. I rode to the hospital with Lieutenant King, Detective Vitale and Anna Wagan in the detective squad car. The girl said nothing on the way nor after we got out of the car and walked into the hospital. When the elevator stopped at the floor and we got out, she still had said nothing. It's down that way.

[Lieutenant King]

You better wait right here, Mrs. Wagon.

[Mrs. Wagon]

I want to see him.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You'll get to see him.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Please.

[Sergeant Waters]

You sit down here and wait till

[Lieutenant King]

we get through talking to him.

[Mrs. Wagon]

All right. Right here.

[Sergeant Waters]

He'll be okay.

[Mrs. Wagon]

You won't forget it?

[Sergeant Waters]

No.

[Lieutenant King]

We'll call you.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Thank you. Thank you very much.

[Sergeant Waters]

Okay.

[Lieutenant King]

Sure.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Must be kind of rough on her, Captain.

[Lieutenant King]

It must be.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

What kind of place do they live in?

[Lieutenant King]

The nothing fancy, Captain. Furnace room. Who's on the job of the guard here? Lee Meister, was, Lieutenant, but that was the 12-8s.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I don't think he's had a chance

[Lieutenant King]

to be relieved yet. Oh, in there.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Hello, Meister. Captain.

[Lieutenant King]

How's the patient?

[Sergeant Waters]

He seems okay, Lieutenant. E8.

[Lieutenant King]

Well, it's a good sign. How you doing, Jack?

[Sergeant Waters]

Great.

[Lieutenant King]

I can imagine. This is Captain Kennelly and Lieutenant King.

[Sergeant Waters]

What do you say, Jack?

[Lieutenant King]

How you feeling now?

[Sergeant Waters]

Like a million dollars.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You want to tell us how you got that bullet in the leg?

[Sergeant Waters]

Some guy was drunk and playing with a gun. It went off.

[Lieutenant King]

I didn't come over here to listen to that kind of stuff, Jack.

[Sergeant Waters]

What do you want from me? That's what happened.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You're going to stick with it, huh?

[Sergeant Waters]

The truth.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Excuse me, Captain.

[Sergeant Waters]

While you're here, can I be excused on a personal.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yeah, sure. Go ahead, Meister.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yes, sir.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

And while you're out there, ring in and find out where your relief is.

[Sergeant Waters]

Okay? I will, Captain. What a deal he's got, huh?

[Lieutenant King]

You think so?

[Sergeant Waters]

Sitting in a nice soft chair, drawing a salary to see I don't run away. A big hole in my leg and you need him.

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[Sergeant Waters]

I don't run away. That's the job of the year. Who does he know? He knew a guy like you, Jack.

[Lieutenant King]

A thief.

[Sergeant Waters]

A thief?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Stuck him in the chest with a knife. He was in the hospital six weeks.

[Lieutenant King]

He's not over it yet.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

That's why he gets the soft job with the soft chair.

[Lieutenant King]

All right.

[Sergeant Waters]

Sure walked into that one, didn't I?

[Lieutenant King]

You sure did.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Now let's stop wasting time, Jack.

[Sergeant Waters]

I got plenty to waste.

[Lieutenant King]

You're gonna have a lot more.

[Sergeant Waters]

We'll see about that. Just because some guy Got drunk and was playing with a gun.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Now, come off it.

[Sergeant Waters]

We got the slug out of your leg.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

We're getting it matched up with a cop's gun. If that's not good enough for you, that cop will kick you out of a lineup with one eye closed. Now, you might have all the time in the world to waste, but I don't. How'd you get that bullet in the leg?

[Sergeant Waters]

All right, you win.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I won before I started, Jack. I shot the cop.

[Sergeant Waters]

But I warned him. I told him to stay away from me. He can't say I didn't give him a warning. What's that supposed to get you? I don't know.

[Lieutenant King]

Why'd you shoot him? It was just one of those things.

[Sergeant Waters]

Listen, will you hand me one of them tissues there?

[Lieutenant King]

These?

[Sergeant Waters]

Yeah.

[Lieutenant King]

Oh, thanks.

[Sergeant Waters]

I don't know why it was just one of those things.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You shot him because you had a bag full of stuff you took out of that apartment on 79th street there, didn't you?

[Sergeant Waters]

You got that worked out, too?

[Lieutenant King]

We've got everything worked out, Jack.

[Sergeant Waters]

Okay. I don't guess there's any use holding back anything. I made this apartment, see?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I piled the stuff up and got

[Sergeant Waters]

a suitcase out of the guy's closet and put it all in there. Then I walked out and went over to Second Avenue. I wanted to get a cab and get out of there fast, so just my luck. Where are the cabs? Not a cab in sight. No place? Yep. So it's cold, and I step back into the doorway there to keep a little bit warm while I'm waiting for a cab to come. And all of a sudden, a cop comes across the street.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I didn't do nothing to attract his attention.

[Sergeant Waters]

First thing I know, he wants to talk to me. He asked me what I got in the bag, what my name is and where I live.

[Lieutenant King]

You told him your name is Elliot?

[Sergeant Waters]

How'd you get that? I don't know. It was the first thing come into my mind. I got a friend, Elliot. Then he wants to see some identification. Well, I got no identification with Elliot on it. So I figured here I am, unless I do something, I'm hooked. I got a bag full of goods. I got this gun in my pocket. I figure I'm dead for burglary. I'm dead for having a gun on my hip. I owe him a lot of short time. I mean, I can see him throwing away the key. So I decided to do something.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

To kill him?

[Sergeant Waters]

No. No, I swear. I swear not to kill him. All I wanted to do Was get away from there clean.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

That's all.

[Sergeant Waters]

I mean, you can ask him. Ask the cop. Didn't I tell him to? But he.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

He come at me. And you shot him?

[Mrs. Wagon]

Oh, he asked for it.

[Sergeant Waters]

Anybody ever asked for it. He did. I could have killed him if I

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

wanted to, but I didn't want to. I just wanted to get out of there.

[Sergeant Waters]

So he sort of bunched up and I lit out. I ran down the block. Now, the first thing you know, he was shooting after me. And one of them shots caught me. But I kept on going. I knew it'd be crawling with law around there in a minute, so I cut over toward 3rd Avenue. Oh, boy, it was killing me. That leg was just killing me. Bleeding. Just bleeding like crazy.

[Lieutenant King]

What'd you do with the gun?

[Sergeant Waters]

I don't know. I threw it someplace. Down some fellow steps over there, I think I threw it and I kept on going. I didn't even want to say. And I tried some doors and I went in the hallway and just sat there for about a half an hour. An hour, I don't know, until I thought it was okay. When I thought it was okay, I got up and I could hardly stand. That's how bad it was. But I got out on the street and went on over to 3rd Avenue. And there was a cab there, and I got in it. You just went a couple of blocks, maybe three. Start to get dizzy and that's that. And the next thing I know, here I am, Lenox Hill.

[Lieutenant King]

The cab driver brought you in a big favor. He's looking for you. It was 65 cents on the clock

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

plus a mess in the back of his car.

[Sergeant Waters]

Fat chance he's got. So what happens to me now?

[Lieutenant King]

He'll probably move you down to Bellevue this afternoon.

[Sergeant Waters]

This is so delightful.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, enjoy it while you can.

[Lieutenant King]

Captain. Lieutenant Gorman wants you to ring in

[Sergeant Waters]

when you get a chance.

[Lieutenant King]

Okay, Michael. Nothing urgent.

[Sergeant Waters]

He. Somebody down in the Motor Maintenance Bureau wants to talk to you before noon.

[Lieutenant King]

All right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Where's your relief master? On the way, Captain.

[Lieutenant King]

You've been hitting a lot of flats in this precinct, haven't you, Jack?

[Sergeant Waters]

No, I ain't been working around here at all, I swear to you.

[Lieutenant King]

Where have you been working the flat?

[Sergeant Waters]

I ain't been working anyplace.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, I'll tell you what I'm going

[Lieutenant King]

to do with you, Jack. I've got a fistful of squeals on burglaries the last three or four weeks. Going to bring them over here this afternoon before you get moved to Bellevue. Going to go over them one by one.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You're going to tell me what flat

[Lieutenant King]

you were in and what flat you weren't.

[Sergeant Waters]

I wasn't in any.

[Lieutenant King]

And we'll have to take another look around your room. Must have a load of pawn tickets someplace.

[Sergeant Waters]

Another look? Were you there already?

[Lieutenant King]

I was there, yeah.

[Sergeant Waters]

I had to find out where I lived.

[Lieutenant King]

It was in your pocket.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, yeah. Did you see Anna?

[Lieutenant King]

Yeah, I saw her.

[Sergeant Waters]

You tell her what happened? Yeah. Well, I guess he had to find out sometime. She's all right, that kid. You know that. She's okay.

[Lieutenant King]

Yeah, she looks all right. Too good for you.

[Sergeant Waters]

That's the truth. That's the sad truth. Does she know I'm here? I mean, that I was hurt? Yes, she knows. What'd she say?

[Lieutenant King]

Nothing much.

[Sergeant Waters]

Well, she must have said something.

[Lieutenant King]

Well, I told her, but she didn't believe it.

[Sergeant Waters]

That's Anna. That's Anna for you.

[Lieutenant King]

But she believes it now.

[Sergeant Waters]

She's outside there waiting. Oh, is she? Yeah. Can I see her? Why not?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Meister.

[Lieutenant King]

It's all right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Captain Pete and I are going.

[Lieutenant King]

We'll send her in.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Okay. Want to ride back to the house? No, I'll ring in and have a car come by. I have to go on patrol. Okay.

[Lieutenant King]

We'll see you this afternoon, Jack.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yeah. See you later.

[Lieutenant King]

My sister.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lieutenant King]

Take it easy.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, boy. Hey, listen, could you give me another piece of that tissue there? I don't know where I got this cold. Must be from breaking into Drafty Flats. Oh, that's funny. That's very funny. And a baby.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Can I come in?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Yes, come in.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Love that.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, honey, I was worried.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Worried to death.

[Sergeant Waters]

Oh, I'm all right. It's nothing. It's. It's only in the leg. It won't take any time at all.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Wasn't worried so much about you being handy. Been in trouble. I knew you'd get well.

[Sergeant Waters]

Well, that's the way things go.

[Mrs. Wagon]

You should have told me, Jack. If you'd have told me all about yourself, I'd certainly have kept him.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, I don't know whether he should have or not.

[Lieutenant King]

He just should have stayed out of trouble.

[Mrs. Wagon]

I can't say it wouldn't have made a difference to me, Jack, but it wouldn't have made that much of a difference. We could still have gotten married. That would have been okay with me.

[Sergeant Waters]

I just didn't want to take the chance, that's all.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Did hurt your leg, I mean. Yeah.

[Sergeant Waters]

Yeah, it hurts a little, but it'll be all right, baby. Don't you worry about it.

[Mrs. Wagon]

I won't. Please, can I talk to him alone?

[Sergeant Waters]

No, you can't, lady. Why can't you?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

It's just not permitted, that's all.

[Sergeant Waters]

What kind of a rule is that? A guy can't even talk to his own wife alone.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I don't know what kind of rule

[Lieutenant King]

it is, but it's there.

[Mrs. Wagon]

What is he gonna do to you, Jeff?

[Sergeant Waters]

Nothing. They can't do a thing to me. I'll be out of here in a week, baby. Less than a week, maybe.

[Mrs. Wagon]

They said you shot a policeman.

[Sergeant Waters]

They told you that, huh? How do you like that?

[Mrs. Wagon]

Did you do it?

[Sergeant Waters]

It couldn't be helped, Hannah baby. It was just one of those things.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Things? And that you were in a lot of trouble before we were married.

[Sergeant Waters]

That you were awake. Listen, what's the idea of telling her all these things? Man's got a right to keep something to himself.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Has he?

[Sergeant Waters]

You bet your life he has.

[Mrs. Wagon]

A man has. But I don't get the wife.

[Sergeant Waters]

What do you mean?

[Mrs. Wagon]

Can I see him alone?

[Sergeant Waters]

Just for a few minutes, Baby, what's on your mind?

[Mrs. Wagon]

I want to see you alone.

[Sergeant Waters]

Don't worry about it. You'll get plenty of time to see me alone. I'll be home in a week.

[Mrs. Wagon]

You know that's not true.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You're going away again.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Going away for a long time.

[Sergeant Waters]

All right, all right, I'm going away. Don't bring up the subject every two minutes. I don't like to think about it.

[Lieutenant King]

Mrs.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Wagon, would you step over here for a minute?

[Sergeant Waters]

Why?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Would you step over to the bureau for just a minute?

[Mrs. Wagon]

All right.

[Sergeant Waters]

Hey, who'd you come to see, anyway?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

All right, Jack.

[Sergeant Waters]

Take it easy.

[Lieutenant King]

What have you got in that purse?

[Mrs. Wagon]

What do you mean?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You've got something in that purse that you want to give Jack. That's why you want to see him alone, isn't it?

[Mrs. Wagon]

No.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Open the purse and empty it on the dressing.

[Mrs. Wagon]

I don't have to do that.

[Lieutenant King]

I think you ought to.

[Sergeant Waters]

Hey, what's going on over there?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Lay back, will you Open it up?

[Mrs. Wagon]

I don't think I can't.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I want you to open that bag and empty the contents on the dresser right now.

[Mrs. Wagon]

I have to. All right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Is that what you came here to give him?

[Mrs. Wagon]

No.

[Sergeant Waters]

Why did you bring it?

[Mrs. Wagon]

It wasn't for him.

[Sergeant Waters]

Listen, let me in on all the secrets.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I'll take that. You put everything else back in the bag.

[Sergeant Waters]

All right.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Well, he's not the only one in trouble now, Emma.

[Mrs. Wagon]

I know.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Let's go out in the hall for a minute.

[Mrs. Wagon]

All right.

[Sergeant Waters]

Hey, where you going now?

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

We'll be right in, my sister. How did you think he could get out? Even if you succeeded in passing him

[Sergeant Waters]

this gun, it wasn't for him.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Obviously it was. You brought it here.

[Sergeant Waters]

Where did you get it?

[Mrs. Wagon]

It was at home. He kept it at home.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You carried it from your home to the station house to here?

[Mrs. Wagon]

Yes. You see, when the detectives came and told me what happened, I didn't know what to do. They were searching all over the place, but he didn't look where it was hidden.

[Sergeant Waters]

Who hid it?

[Lieutenant King]

You or Jack?

[Mrs. Wagon]

Jack. He hid it. But I found it. I knew where it was. It was three o' clock in the morning when they came. I was asleep. So they asked me to get dressed and come with them. When they stepped out of the room, I went and got the gun and put it in my desk.

[Lieutenant King]

To give to Jack.

[Mrs. Wagon]

No, that's not so.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Then why did you want to see him alone?

[Mrs. Wagon]

To tell him I. I think I'm going to have a baby.

[Lieutenant King]

Oh.

[Mrs. Wagon]

The detective told me how to policeman that he was in terrible trouble. The thing was going away. I didn't know what I was going to do. I was going to take care of

[Lieutenant King]

the baby all along.

[Mrs. Wagon]

What people would say a deck of words. I made up my mind.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

You were going to use it on yourself.

[Mrs. Wagon]

Well, I'm going to say it. That's the reason I brought it. Not to give it to Jack. He had so much to worry about. I just wanted to get some of his worries out of the way.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

Do you want to go tell him

[Sergeant Waters]

now, before we go?

[Mrs. Wagon]

No, I don't think I'll tell him at all. I don't think it would make any difference to him. Let's just go to the police station, wherever else we have to go.

[Captain Frank Kennelly]

I wish there was some other place to go, believe me. 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.

[Lieutenant King]

21st Precinct transcribed a factual account of the way the police work in the world's largest city is presented with the official cooperation of the Patrolman's Benevolent association, an organization of more than 20,000 members of the Police Department, City of New York. Everett Sloane in the role of Captain Kennelly. Ken lynch as Lieutenant King. Harold Stone as Sergeant Waters, featured in tonight's cast. Larson, Zerby, Frank Campanella, Elaine Rost and Frank Moss written and directed by Stanley Nist Produced for CBS Radio by John Ives. Art Hannah speaking.

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