21st Precinct 55-12-30 (117) The Slugger

Summary

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Podcast Summary: 21st Precinct – "The Slugger" (21st Precinct 55-12-30)

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Episode Air Date: February 28, 2026
Original Episode Date: December 30, 1955
Episode: #117, "The Slugger"

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Overview

This episode of 21st Precinct, titled "The Slugger," dramatizes a tense and emotionally charged day in a New York police precinct. The story centers on the rescue of a young woman from a gas-filled apartment in a suspected suicide attempt, the ensuing investigation, and the explosive family dynamics between the woman, her husband, and her mother. The episode offers a detailed, realistic look at police procedure, including the messy human relationships officers regularly encounter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Emergency Call: A Gas Leak and Potential Suicide (00:06–12:00)

• Initial Call and Response:
  • Captain Cronin and his officers respond rapidly to a call about the smell of gas in a tenement building.
  • The team evacuates residents, searches for the source, and breaks into an apartment where a young woman, Mrs. Louise Campton, lies unconscious due to gas poisoning.
  • Scene is depicted with realistic urgency: officers break down doors, ventilate the room, and administer artificial respiration.
• Suicide Note and Circumstances:
  • A note is found, suggesting that the incident was a suicide attempt.
  • Mrs. Campton is stabilized with oxygen and transported to the hospital, thanks to the quick action of the emergency squad.

Notable Quote:

"She wrote out a note, turned on all four burners of the stove, turned on the oven, and bolted the door from the inside."
— Captain Cronin (14:46)

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Timestamps:

• [00:44] – Introduction to the precinct and setup for the call
• [05:49] – Officers locate the unconscious woman
• [08:59] – Neighbors and building staff provide background information

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2. Investigation and Debrief at the Station House (12:00–15:00)

• Background Checks:
  • Detectives interview neighbors and building staff to piece together the victim's background.
  • Mrs. Bennin, the victim's mother, emerges as a central figure, expressing suspicion toward her son-in-law and blaming him for her daughter's state.
• Mother's Accusations:
  • Mrs. Bennin argues vehemently with police, insisting her daughter's husband drove Louise to despair and should be arrested.
  • Police patiently explain the legal and procedural reasons for their actions and the limitations on what they can do.

Notable Quotes:

"He drove her to it. He is to blame just the same as if he held a gun to her head and pulled the trigger."
— Mrs. Bennin (15:01)

"There's nothing he can be arrested for."
— Captain Cronin (15:18)

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Timestamps:

• [13:31] – Mrs. Bennin arrives at the precinct to complain
• [14:55] – Emotional debate over blame and responsibility

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3. Family Dynamics: The Central Conflict (18:25–24:26)

• Interview with Husband (Bill Campton):
  • Bill details longstanding family friction, particularly tension with his mother-in-law.
  • Describes a series of conflicts: financial meddling, gifts from the mother meant to undermine Bill's role, and repeated arguments that placed Louise in the middle.
  • The previous night's fight is recounted as the final straw for Louise, with Bill expressing regret for threatening to leave.
• Emotional Fallout:
  • Bill acknowledges the pressures his wife faced being "pulled from both ends" and his own culpability in escalating the situation.
  • He expresses remorse, gratitude to the police, and a desire to fix his marriage.

Notable Quotes:

"You've got no idea what I've been through the last two years. That old lady has been making our lives miserable."
— Bill Campton (19:32)

"You're just lucky we got there in time."
— Captain Cronin (23:41)

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Timestamps:

• [18:25] – Bill’s side of the story and the detailed interview
• [23:56] – Discussion about the future of the troubled marriage

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4. Climax: Physical Altercation and Arrest (25:02–26:54)

• The Confrontation:
  • After another encounter at the hospital, tensions erupt between Bill and his mother-in-law, resulting in Bill striking Mrs. Bennin.
  • Mrs. Bennin demands Bill's arrest for assault.
• Police Resolution:
  • Captain Cronin points out that even legal intervention may not resolve the deeper family conflict.
  • Bill, weary from the long feud, submits to arrest almost willingly, suggesting the familial strife has reached a breaking point.

Notable Quotes:

"You said you wanted to get it settled. Do you think this settles it, huh?"
— Captain Cronin (25:40)

"I haven't felt this good in a year."
— Bill Campton, on being arrested (26:22)

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Timestamps:

• [25:02] – Family fight spills over into public, police involvement escalates
• [26:31] – Captain Cronin reflects on the endless cycle of trouble in his precinct

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Notable Quotes (with Speaker & Timestamp)

• On the root of the tragedy:
  "He drove her to it. He's to blame just the same as if he held a gun to her head and pulled the trigger."
  — Mrs. Bennin (15:01)

• On frustrated care:
  "She’s so afraid of him that she’d rather do away with herself... I want him arrested."
  — Mrs. Bennin (15:25)

• On the tragedy’s complexity:
  "My specialty is thieves. Mothers-in-law—a little bit out of my line."
  — Captain Cronin (24:12)

• On marital strife:
  "The old lady kept interfering in our lives... trying to break us up, that's all."
  — Bill Campton (20:13)

• On exhaustion and resolution:
  "Go ahead, Sergeant. Book him."
  — Captain Cronin (26:26)

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Memorable Moments

• The frantic rescue operation that opens the episode (05:52–08:53) realistically showcases how police and emergency services work together.
• Pointed exchanges between Mrs. Bennin and Captain Cronin display the emotional and procedural conflicts police face (15:01–15:25, 16:06–17:26).
• The showdown at the hospital, culminating in the son-in-law striking his mother-in-law, highlights how family tensions escalate beyond any police training (25:02–26:54).

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Episode Tone & Style

• Language and Tone: Faithful to 1950s radio drama realism, the dialogue is crisp, snappy, and true to life, with a focus on procedure, ethics, and emotion. Cronin and the officers remain calm and measured amid chaos, while family members express raw pain and frustration.
• Atmosphere: The episode blends gripping police action with psychological drama, all set against the backdrop of a bustling Manhattan precinct.

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Conclusion

"The Slugger" offers a slice-of-life police procedural that’s as much about emotions and domestic pain as it is about law. It demonstrates the limitations of police intervention in family disputes and how, despite best efforts, some problems defy simple legal solutions.

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For listeners:
This episode is a classic illustration of the compassionate, level-headed approach of 21st Precinct—one where the emotional realities of post-war American families are faced just as seriously as any crime.

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Transcript

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

21st Street. Sergeant Waters. He somewhat. You smell what? Gas. Where is this B70 watt?

[William Campton]

On what floor?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You are 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. You'll have assistance right away. Yes, sir, right away. No, just stay where you are. The officers will be right there.

[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 Vincent P. Cronin]

The 21st. 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants, of whom I'm the boss. My name is Cronin, Vincent P. Cronin. I am Captain in Command of the 21st Precinct. I was doing day duty 8am to 6pm immediately after I turned out the platoon, I went down to the 6th Division office at the 17th Precinct, 163 East 51st street, where Inspector McBride had called a conference of all precinct commanders in the division in connection with the enforcement of certain new regulations of the State Liquor Authority. After the conference, I got into sector car number two, Patrolman Daniel McAdo, operator, and we started back uptown toward the station house where the paperwork had piled up because of my days off. When we got within the boundaries of the Precinct, I instructed McArdo to go uptown on First Avenue so that I could check on some complaints that some new construction was unduly blocking traffic. And I had a lot of trick questions, Captain. You know, that could be answered logically either way, on the true and false, especially like an automobile accident occurring in a public garage and resulting in personal injury shall be recorded as a vehicular accident. Impersonated. Why'd you put down for that? Because it didn't happen on the street. Only if it happens on the street between building lines, is it recorded as a vehicular accident. Otherwise, it's grade 80 case. That's right. How do you think you made out, Ricardo? Well, pretty good, I think. Captain. I can tell you more when the answers come out. I'm sure glad it's over, though. All that studying's rough. Yeah. Yeah, it takes a lot of studying. That's the biggest jump patrolman of the sergeant. There's lots of competition. Why don't I know it? Do you know how many wrote the examination? Over 7,000. Gotta be some lizard. Yeah. Yeah. Well, they'll have to make a lot of sergeants with all those men coming into the job. Justin, if I'm in the first three or 400, I figure I ought to get married within a couple of years. My wife was helping me with the studying. She knows the rules in the manual as well as I do. She can recite articles section and paragraph. Mine was the same way. I told her she ought to write the examination. This is gonna be close. Ye a gas emergency service. What he say? A gas case. Okay, let's make a run. Yes, sir. Ricardo turned east on the next straight to avoid traffic and went up York Avenue 76. When we pull into the block, I could see technicon number one with arman job. So was the car. There was no sign yet of either the ambulance or the ESC car. 618 was a five story tenement building. Few passerbys and neighbors were b beginning to gather on the sidewalk by cold wind. There's a spot for pulling the cardo. Yes, let's go. Right with you, Captain. That's either ESC or the ambulance coming now. Yeah. Keep the sidewalk clean. Micado, keep him off the stove. That's her. All right, folks, let's get through here. You, come on. Let's get back off this tool. Amocado. Yes, sir. Keep the people away from those doorbells. Okay, captain. Now look, I told you to get off the. Dr. Waters. Captain. Clothing. Sergeant. Get back.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

All right. Anybody home in there? Open up. This is a police. What is it, sergeant? Beats me, Captain. We haven't been able to locate it, so I can smell it. Open up in there. Well, I guess nobody's home here. Captain, we've been hitting every door. I sent a man up to third nose to the fifth floor. We're calling everybody out. I don't think it's on this floor. Holly, is it okay? He's on the fourth floor. Captain, the whole hall smells of gas. There's no coming where it comes. Who put in the car? Hilbert tenant smelled gas in the hole and she rang in. How about the main feed line? I sent a man into the basement with the superintendent of the virus. Good.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Come on, folks, move.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Don't stand there and talk about it

[William Campton]

out on the street.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Now. Get on the sidewalk. You folks open your windows on your dogs. Out of the building. Come on, Sergeant. Yes, sir. Anybody covering the third floor yet? No. I told these people to clear out. It's not them. Let's try that one. Smells pretty strong here. Police officers. Open up in there. Police officers. Open up.

[William Campton]

This could be it, Captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Alana, Callie, come on down here. Okay, this is it. I'm sure. What do you want to do, Captain? Put your door in, huh? Yeah. Yeah. All right, let's go, huh? Together. Ready? All right, again. Smile. We think so. Yeah. Let me see if I can kick it in. All right, go ahead. Try it again. All right, once again. All right, keep low on the floor. Holly, hit that window. I'll get this one. Yes, sir. Go. I got them off good. How's the other window? There it is. She looks pretty bad, Captain. Here. Every burner was turned on in the oven. I wonder how long she's been out. Holly, keep the hole clear. Looks like she's really gone. Here, open her mouth. Get her tongue out of the way. Yeah, that's it. Now watch it. Now I'm gonna loosen the neck band on her stomach, huh? Let's go.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Okay.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

All right, roll it over that way. Now turn her head. How's this? Good.

[William Campton]

The gas is clearing out.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

All right. Yeah. Get her around there. Got some artificial respiration until the inulator gets here. Yes. Okay, go ahead. I see that stage and out of space. Tell him we need the inhilator. Okay.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Feels that?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yeah, yeah. Keep it up. I'll see if I can get a pulse.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Yes.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Anything? No, can't find anything. I don't think it could have been out too long. No, it might have been just long enough. Watch it there. Keep her head clear.

[William Campton]

Okay. It's getting kind of cold in here, Captain.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

My legs ought to be covered at least. How about my coat? Now you keep working. I don't use mine. I'm not getting anything.

[Narrator]

Keep it up.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

All right, you ready? Here goes. I watch it. Go ahead. All right, that'll warm her up. There you go. In there. All right, bring it out. Come on, come on. Keep it up, Sergeant. We gotta get cooked up. Doesn't seem to been out too long warm, but couldn't find a pulse. Okay, all set. Let's get in there. Sergeant. Oh, come on ahead. Slap the mask on. Keep it up, Sergeant. Yeah. Okay, let's have some oxygen, huh? Good, good, good. Hold it, Captain. All right, coming. Hold the mask here. In a minute, will you? Yes, Culling. This is a super of the building, Captain Cronin, Mrs. Amaro. How do you know, miss?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Is he going to be all right?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Okay. You're gonna have. Can't tell. What's your name? Mrs. Amaro. Look, we. We better step in. Make a little richer, will you? Bargain. Yes. I'd better shut the windows. Okay, Gavin. Right away. All right.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

How old could she be? 20, 21. And pretty as a picture.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

What I'm sure I don't know. She lived here alone with her husband. Oh. Why?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Date at work. I don't know if he worked.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Did you. You see him this morning?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

No, I didn't see him.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

What's his name?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Mr. Campton?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yeah. His first name?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Oh, Bill Williams.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes. Anybody see her around this morning?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I didn't. I don't know about anybody else.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Well, what happened? How'd you find out about this?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Well, I was in my apartment downstairs in the basement. I was down there, and one of the tenants, Mrs. Thompson, she came down and knocked on the door. She said, Mrs. Armell, you better come upstairs. There's something the matter. I smell gas in the hall. So I came upstairs and I smelled the gas too, but I couldn't find it. I didn't know where it was coming from. I looked on the third floor. I looked on the second floor. I looked down the first floor. It smelled like it could have been coming from any place. It was all over. So I. I figured the best thing to do was to get the police over here, let them handle.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yeah, that was the best thing to do.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Let went back downstairs in my apartment, and I called.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You don't know where the husband works, Mr. Mel? Where he can be located now?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

No, I. I don't know. How should I know? All I know is he pays the rent, and that's all.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Does she have any other family?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Well, I never saw nobody.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

How long they lived here?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Oh, three, four months.

[William Campton]

That's all.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

In the fall, they moved in September, October. I could check for you. I could check on it. I've got my rent receipt book downstairs.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

No, no, it'll be all right. Captain, you want to look at this? Huh? There was a note on the sideboard over there. Oh, yeah. Sure eliminates any possibility of an accident. Yeah, there sure wasn't much possibility of an accident. Not with all four burners and the other. Now, sir. Get the wet man. All right, David. For the detective. Yes.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

A pretty young thing like that. How could she do it? How could she do it to herself? There must be something wrong with her in the head. I always figured it was something like that. She don't talk to nobody. She just goes in and out and doesn't even say hello, hon. Never talks to anybody.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yes, we're getting some response tonight. Excuse me.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Let's do it.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Gonna be all right. Breathing naturally. And I got some pulse tomorrow that's good. I don't know how good it is supposed to. Breathing in a pulse are pretty weak. Aren't you gonna keep up the oxygen? Yes, sir. I. I want to change the mixture. Tom, that's the ambulance. I hope there's a surgeon aboard. Shot of stimulant wouldn't hurt. She's not conscious? No, sir, not yet. But she's liable to come around any minute. Good work. We're just in time. I think she's lucky. Yeah. Yeah. But I don't know whether she'll think so.

[Narrator]

You are listening to 21st Precinct, a factual account of the way police work in the world's largest city. If you're enjoying the holidays during this between Christmas and New Year's week, don't be careless when you're driving. Roads may be slippery. The days are shortest and the nights longest. At this time of year, death takes no holiday when he comes upon the careless driver. This has been a public service message from CBS Radio. Now back to 21st Precinct and Captain Cronin.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

The ambulance, fortunately did have a doctor aboard. As the emergency service patrolman continued to administer oxygen to the gas victim, Mrs. Louise Campton, the surgeon made a preliminary examination. Under his supervision, the inhalator treatment was continued for another 40 minutes before it was felt she was strong enough to be moved to Beth David, the nurse hospital. Meanwhile, Detectives Delucan Goldman of the 21st squad arrived to take charge of the investigation. I returned to the station house where I completed my paperwork. Then I signed the blotter and left for my meal, after which I went on patrol to the precinct. When I returned, it was nearly 3pm I walked into the muster room where Lt. Garman was. Desk officer Sgt. Waters was now on telephone quickly for duty, Captain. Just as soon as I sign the blood, Sergeant. Yes? When are you first preaching, Sergeant Waters? What does it want to know? Yeah, they have examinations for police department candidates all the time. Well, sure, there'll be lots of jobs. They're supposed to increase the authorized force by 5,000 a year. Well, I'll tell you. Why don't you call the Department of Personnel? That's caught on 7888 80. 8,000, 880. Or better yet, why don't you go down there? Well, that's 299 Broadway, Dwayne Street. Broadway and Dwayne. Okay. Commenting? Yes, Sergeant. That Woman over there is waiting to see you. Canton? Yeah. Who is she? She's the mother of the one that took gas this morning.

[William Campton]

Mrs. Canton.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Ah. How's she doing? Did you hear? She'll Recover all right. Lt. Gorman just talked to the hospital again a little while ago.

[William Campton]

He'll be okay.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Oh, good. All right. I'll be in my office. Yes? You want to say may, ma'? Am.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Are you the captain here?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

That's right. I'm Captain Corman.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Well, maybe you can give me a little satisfaction.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I hope so. What's the trouble? What's your name?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Mrs. Bin and Mrs. Edna Binnin.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Are you the mother of Mrs. Captain?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Yes, that's right.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

What's the trouble, Mrs. Binnon?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I want to register a complaint about the way I've been treated here upstairs by the detectives. Or they call themselves detectives. They're making a report that my daughter attempted suicide. It was murder. Attempted murder. At least that's what it was.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

No, I. I was there. Mrs. Brenner.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I don't care what you were. You don't know the circumstances.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Maybe you better commit a my off.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I'd be glad to. And I hope you're more considerate than that, Lieutenant. Upstairs.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Go right ahead.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Thank you. I remember his name. Lieutenant King. Matt King. I'm going to write a letter to the police chief, or whoever it is. That's what I'm going to do.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yeah. I'm not supposing you sit down here, Mrs. Bennett.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I don't get any satisfaction. That's exactly what I'm going to do.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Mrs. Benon, I know you're upset, but it's quite obvious what happened. She. She wrote out a note.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Yes, I saw that.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Turned on all four burners of the stall, turned on the oven and bolted the door from the inside.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I know she did.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Well, how can you say she didn't attempt suicide?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

He drove her to it. He used to blame just the same as if he held a gun to her head and pulled the trigger.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Who's the blame? Who's that?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Her husband. Oh, I warned her. I warned her when she first started to go with him. I told her what would happen, how things would wind up. But do you think she'd listen to me? It was like talking to a stone wall. Well, you see what happened, don't you? You see where she is. Well, I want to have him arrested.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

There's nothing he can be arrested for.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

He's ruined her life, and he's caused me two years of aggravation.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

And why doesn't she live Him?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

He's got a stronger hold on her. Can't you see that she's afraid to death of him. She's so afraid of him that she'd rather do away with herself. I warned her he'd never amount to anything. I warned her what he'd do to her. All right, I want him arrested.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Mrs. Menon, if you want to make a complaint against Lieutenant King because he wouldn't arrest your son in law, you'll have to make the same complaint against me.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

My complaint goes deeper than that. I told those detectives I wanted to prevent him from seeing her in the hospital. I want him to be kept out. And I want him to be kept out of their apartment so she can get her feelings away from there.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

She's his wife, Mrs. Brennan. There's nothing we can do to keep him from visiting him.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Oh, isn't fair.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

And it's his apartment as much as it is hers.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I demand that you be protected against me, Mrs. Venom.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

If she wants protection, all she has to do is ask for it herself.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

She's in no condition to ask for anything. Thank you. Excuse.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Has he been over there to the hospital?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Of course he has. So concerned for her and carrying on an act. It's nothing but an act to make people believe that he cares about what happened to her. He doesn't care. He doesn't care a thing about her. I saw what he was doing when I got there. There's another thing I'd like to know. Why did you have to go out of your way to find him and I had to find out about his roundabout? I'm her mother after all.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Well, if the detectives hadn't been able to get in touch with Mr. Campson, they'd probably notified you.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I one who should have been notified in the first place.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

The husband is considered the next of kin.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

But where did you get that information? I never heard of it.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

It's the law.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

It surely couldn't apply in this case. You know what he did? Instead of calling me himself on the telephone, he had some girl in his office call a stranger calling me to tell me my baby was in the hospital.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

He probably wanted to get right over there himself.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

A man should have had the decency to call me himself. That's satisfaction.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Well, I'll tell you, Mrs. Benham, it seems to the detectives handle everything in a correct manner. I can't tell you not to make a complaint. But I think you'll only be wasting your time and theirs and, well, a lot of other people's time. If you do all Right.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Is that all the satisfaction I'm going to get?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I don't think you'll get more any place else.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I'll be at the hospital in case you change your mind.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I've nothing to change my mind about,

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Mrs. D. Well, we'll see about that. Goodbye. Goodbye, miss.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Mrs. Ven. Sergeant. I'm going upstairs to the detective. Oh, Captain. Yeah, why? Sally came in with the husband of that Mrs. Campon A few minutes ago. Did he? Yes, but he took him upstairs. From what I understand, it's lucky he and his mother in law missed each other around here. Yes. Yes, it is. Hello, captain. Hello, Captain. Lieutenant King, this office. Yes, sir. Yes, Captain Cronin. How much? Captain, this is Captain Cronin. Mr. William Campton. Mr. Captain. Hello, Mr. John. Captain. Hi. I just met Captain mother in law, Mr. Kenton. Oh, yeah?

[William Campton]

Then you can understand what's been going on.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I met her too, captain. So she told me. Man. We had quite a session. Doesn't seem very fond of you, Bill.

[William Campton]

Oh, that's the understatement of the year. She thinks I'm the worst thing that ever came into her life. When Louise and I got married, it was the tragedy of the century.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

What's the story, Bill?

[William Campton]

Oh, there's no story.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You've got an idea what made her turn on the gas, haven't you?

[William Campton]

Well, she's been threatening to do it for.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I never believed her.

[William Campton]

I didn't think she meant it.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

This note sounds like she meant it still. Darling, I'm sorry. I love you too much.

[William Campton]

I can't be without you. Please forgive me. Can I see that, please?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Sure. That's her writing, isn't it? Yeah.

[William Campton]

Yeah, it's her writing.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

What does she mean, I can't be without you? Well, we.

[William Campton]

We had a fight last night.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

What about?

[William Campton]

What do you think about.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

About her mother. Must have been some fight.

[William Campton]

Yeah, it was.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You told her you were gonna leave her. Yeah.

[William Campton]

Look, Lieutenant, I'm nuts about her.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I really am.

[William Campton]

You can see that, can't you? Can't you, Captain?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Well, then why did you say you wanted to leave her?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

You got no idea what I've been

[William Campton]

through the last two years. That old lady has been making our lives miserable. She keeps telling Louise that she's got no business being married to a guy like me. She's says I'm nothing. A lousy salesman that just barely got through high school. She says Louise is entitled to a lot more. The old lady kept interfering in our lives. She was always wanting to give her things. Furniture and money. And clothes.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

That sounds pretty generous.

[William Campton]

Oh, there wasn't anything generous about it. She just did it to show me up. Every time she gave Louise something, there was a moral that went with it. Now, your husband should be doing this for you, she'd say, but, look, your mother has to do it. Now, what kind of a husband is that? She was just trying to break us up, that's all.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I. I don't call that generous. Well, what did you do specifically then?

[William Campton]

Try to break up everything? Everything she could think of. I tell Louise not to take anything from her. And then she'd come around and give Louise $20 or $50 or whatever it was, and she'd say, don't tell Bill about this. Go out and spend it. Have a good time. Have lunch at a nice place.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Place.

[William Campton]

Take one of your girlfriends. Go buy something for yourself. Well, this went on and on and on, and I was getting pretty sore about it. I was getting sore because the old lady was becoming like a. Like a stone wall between Louise and me. You know, she'd tell Louise to lie to me. You know, lie to me about where she got a new dress or a new sweater or something. And finally I said, look, honey, you've got to make a choice. Either be a life or go home to Mama. So she said she'd be a wife to me.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

That was good, wasn't it?

[William Campton]

Well, I thought it was going to be all right until I got out of the army.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Well, when was that?

[William Campton]

In September. The old lady wanted to set us up in class. I didn't want to be set up in class. I wanted to make my own way.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

So I said to Louise, look, baby,

[William Campton]

we've got to look around for a place we can afford. Well, you saw what we could afford.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Yeah, I saw.

[William Campton]

Louise was okay about it. I mean, she wasn't tickled to death that we had to move into a place like that. But she knew it was within the limits and things would get better. Louise understands that. But her mother, she thought it was a rat hole. Now, she couldn't see her daughter living there. So things got worse with her whispering into Louise's ear. They got worse and worse and worse. Louise and I were having a fight almost every night. It got so I hated to come home.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

What happened last night, that was a payoff.

[William Campton]

I got home and Louise told me she'd been with her mother that day. So right away, I smelled something was cooking. I said, what does she want? Louise told me her mother said that we should come live with her. She said she's got a big apartment. She's got plenty of room. And that her daughter has no business living in a rat hole like this.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Was that the cause of the big sign?

[William Campton]

No, that was only part of it. Her mother is leaving for Florida for a month, see? So she wants Louise to come with her.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Yeah.

[William Campton]

Leave me here in New York and go to Florida, all expenses paid. I said, honey, nothing doing.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I mean, this has been going on

[William Campton]

for almost two years, almost since we were married, Things like this. And once I went to the old lady and I said, please leave Louise alone.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You're running her nuts.

[William Campton]

You know what the old lady said?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

No.

[Narrator]

What?

[William Campton]

The old lady said that she would pay for the psychiatrist. Now, how do you like that? It's all right for her daughter to go nuts as long as she goes to a Park Avenue psychiatrist.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You had this fight last night?

[William Campton]

Yeah, but we patched things up as good as they could be. Patched up? Before we went to bed, she said she'd do whatever I wanted her to do. And then she started again this morning. And as soon as she started, I said, honey, I've had it. I love you, but I can't take this anymore.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

I'm through.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

This is it. Goodbye.

[William Campton]

And I went out the door. Well, I guess that was a mistake. I should have realized the mental condition she's been in. You know, she's really had it rough getting pulled from both ends like that. I made it a little bit too final. I went a little bit too far, I guess.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Sure looks like you did, boy.

[William Campton]

Oh, I'm sorry. You don't know how sorry I am. If there's anything I can do to make it up to her, I'm gonna do it. You can count on that.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You're just lucky we got there in time.

[William Campton]

Don't I know it. And I appreciate it. The doctor over at the hospital told me she wouldn't have had a chance if it went for the emergency squad. Not only the emergency squad, but all you fellas. It was really great, and I appreciate it.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Right. What are you gonna do when she gets out of the hospital, Start fighting all over again?

[William Campton]

Well, not if I can help it, but I've just got to get this settled. I. I don't know how I'm gonna do it, but I've got to get it settled. I. You got any ideas?

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

No, not me. My specialty is thieves. Mothers in law. A little bit out of my line. After Bill Campton left to return to the hospital for another visit with his wife, I remained in Lt. King's office for a while. We went over several applications for pistol license renewals in the precinct, each of which must be investigated by both the precinct commander and the detective squad commander. We discussed our independent findings in each case. When I returned downstairs, it was nearly time to turn out the platoon for the 4 to 12 tour. As I came into the back room, Sergeant Lyons, who had supervised patrol during the tour, had the men lined up for inspection. As I walked out into the muster room, I saw the front door of the station house open. Inside came the crew of sector car number two. With Micarta was Bill Campton. A few steps in back was his mother in law, Mrs. Bennet, with Cody.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I want him locked up. I want him locked up so he'll never do a thing like that again.

[William Campton]

It'd be a pleasure if it would keep you away from.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

All right, step up to the desk, will you, Makato? Yes, Captain. What have you got here? What's the trouble?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I thought he was trying to kill me.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

We answered the call, Captain. A disturbance at the main reception desk. That David Hospital.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

That's what I tried him with, trying to kill me.

[William Campton]

Let the officer tell me the story, lady.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

She's making the arrest, Sergeant. We didn't see it. Do you want him arrested later?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I certainly do.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

She's his mother in law, Captain. Yes, yes, I know.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Well, Captain, I told you he was a murderer. He didn't take my word for it. He struck me with the fist.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Is that right, Bill?

[William Campton]

Yep, that's right.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

You said you wanted to get it settled. Do you think this settles this happen?

[William Campton]

I saw Louise again. Her mother had been there talking to her.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Of course I've been there talking to her. She's my daughter, isn't she?

[William Campton]

She's my wife.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

All right, folks, take it easy.

[William Campton]

Florida isn't far enough. She wants to take her to Europe now.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

And Louise wants to go. It will do her good.

[William Campton]

That's not what she told me.

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

It's what we decided.

[William Campton]

No, it's what you decided. And I decided that she wants to stay here and she agrees with me.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Mrs. Venom, you sure you want to have him arrested?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

I most certainly do.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

What effect do you think it'll have on your daughter? Arresting her husband in a pretty bad mental state right now?

[Mrs. Bennin (Mother-in-law of Mrs. Campton)]

Well, yeah. He offered to apologize. I don't want to be unreasonable.

[William Campton]

I don't see why not. It's a perfectly natural condition.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Well.

[William Campton]

Oh, that's all right, Captain. Let her arrest me.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

It's worth it.

[William Campton]

I haven't felt this good in a year.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Go ahead, sergeant. Book him.

[William Campton]

21st Precinct.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Sergeant Waters. A what? How old is he? He beat up badly. 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't 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 Benevolent association, an organization of more than 20,000 members of the Police Department, City of New York. James Gregory in the role of Captain Cronin. Ken lynch as Lieutenant King. Harold Stone as Sergeant Waters. Featured in tonight's cast were Martha Greenhouse, William Redfield, Abby Lewis, Bill Quinn and Ralph Camargo. 21st Precinct is written and produced by Stanley Nist. Art Hannah.

[Captain Vincent P. Cronin]

Speaking.