Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – “21st Precinct 56-04-12 (132) The Shopping Bag”

Overview

This episode from the legendary “21st Precinct” series dramatizes a day in the life of the NYPD as they respond to a tragic pedestrian accident involving an elderly woman and a taxi cab. The story follows the police investigation from the initial call through the aftermath, focusing on the procedural, emotional, and familial aspects involved. Themes include the randomness of tragedy, complexities of legal processes, and human responses to loss.

Key Discussion Points and Story Flow

1. The Incident and Immediate Response (00:05 – 10:00)

• The Call Comes In ([00:05])

  • Sergeant Waters receives a report of a woman hit by a car at 73rd and 3rd. An ambulance is dispatched.
  • Captain Vincent P. Cronin narrates the routine start of his day and the deployment of patrolmen.
  • The gravity of the incident is quickly established—“Well, this is sure a fine way to start a new day. …It’s not as bad for you as it is for that woman.” (Capt. Cronin, [04:50])

• At the Scene ([05:25 – 10:06])

  • A crowd gathers. The victim, an elderly woman, is unconscious. Her shopping bag and pocketbook are collected as evidence.
  • The cab driver, Phil Ardino, is visibly shaken: “I’ve been pushing a hack for twelve years. The first time anything like this ever happened to me.” (Ardino, [05:51])
  • Ardino describes what happened, insisting he couldn’t have avoided the accident: “She stepped right up in between those two cars. ...Bang. What could I do?” ([07:45])
  • The woman is pronounced dead at the scene. Identification from her bag indicates she is Mrs. Mary Klotovi.

2. The Investigation and Discovery (10:06 – 15:49)

• Processing the Scene and Victim’s Belongings

  • The police inventory Mrs. Klotovi’s possessions: a pocketbook with some cash and letters, and, unexpectedly, a shopping bag with nearly $10,000 in cash.
  • Notable exchange on the surprising sum:
    • “Where’d she get all that money? ...I’m gonna become a butler.” (Officer, [12:12])
    • “Within another few minutes, the count…was completed. It totaled $9,463.” (Narrator, [15:23])

• Detective Work Begins

  • Detective Louis DeLuca tracks down possible relatives, starting with addresses found in the victim’s belongings.

3. Contacting the Family (15:49 – 20:29)

• Locating the Nephew ([16:00 – 20:06])
  • DeLuca visits the apartment of George Provost, Mary’s nephew. The news is delivered to a somewhat indifferent response:
    • “Well, I’m not what you’d call that close a relative. ...I got my own family, got my wife, my two kids. What am I supposed to do about it?” (George Provost, [17:58])
    • The prospect of inheritance changes his attitude: “She was carrying nearly 10 in cash when she was hit by the tax again… $10,000?” (Provost, [19:41])
    • Provost expresses renewed willingness to help: “I just want to be…all the assistance I can be. I want to help.” ([20:06])

4. Legal and Procedural Aftermath (20:29 – 25:57)

• Closure for the Taxi Driver

  • Ardino is cleared of wrongdoing after witness corroboration and vehicle inspection:
    • “There’s no evidence of criminal negligence in this case. We’re releasing Mr. Ardino.” (Lt. King, [24:22])
    • Ardino remains shaken: “Can you imagine carrying around almost $10,000 in cash? …And one with $10,000 in cash …has got to step in front of my cab. How do you like that?” (Ardino, [23:55])

• Family Claims and Red Tape

  • George and his wife immediately inquire about the inheritance:
    • “How does he get it? I mean, after all, it’s ours. …Why all the red tapes?” (Mrs. Provost, [24:40]–[25:25])
    • The police explain the process: “It’s up to the public administrator to distribute it to the heirs on direction of the Surrogate’s Court. …The law, Mr. Floyd.” ([25:17])
  • Family frustration at bureaucracy and eagerness over the money are evident.

• Final Reflections

  • The police remark on the uncanniness of the day:
    • “Well, those are the first people I’ve ever seen who were so nice to the driver of a car that killed their relative.” (Lt. King, [25:58])
    • “Shouldn’t they be nice, Matt? He’s the one that found $10,000 for them.” (Captain Cronin, [26:01])

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “Why don’t people look where they’re going when they cross the street? Everybody’s always got something on their mind... if they don’t look, there’s a charm over them.” — Phil Ardino, [06:54]
• “I didn’t hit her hard. ...I don’t think I was going 25 miles an hour. She walked right in front of me. I hit her before I even had a chance to put on a brake.” — Phil Ardino, [06:30]
• “You mean she was dead? …Oh, that’s terrible. That’s awful. Wasn’t my fault. You know that.” — Ardino, [10:23]
• “I got my own family, got my wife, my two kids. What am I supposed to do about it? What do they want me to do?” — George Provost, [17:59]
• “Can you imagine carrying around almost $10,000 in cash? …And one with $10,000 in cash ...has got to step in front of my cab.” — Phil Ardino, [23:55]
• “Why all the red tapes?” — Mrs. Provost, [25:25]
• "Well, those are the first people I've ever seen who were so nice to the driver of a car that killed their relative." — Lt. King, [25:58]
• “Shouldn’t they be nice, Matt? He’s the one that found $10,000 for them.” — Captain Cronin, [26:01]

Segment Timestamps

• [00:05] The accident call and initial muster of officers
• [05:25] Captain arrives on scene; interview with the cab driver
• [09:52] Victim pronounced dead
• [12:07] Police inventory the shopping bag’s contents
• [15:23] Money counted—$9,463 in the bag
• [16:00] Detective notifies Mrs. Klotovi’s nephew
• [19:41] Nephew learns about the inheritance
• [20:29] Cab driver is cleared; family claims process explained
• [25:58] Police reflect on the day's events and the family’s reaction

Tone and Style

The episode maintains a factual and procedural tone, reflecting the no-nonsense, emotionally restrained approach of classic radio police dramas. Police officers speak in clear, concise, and sometimes gruff language, while the family’s emotional responses range from indifference to eager opportunism. The story is driven by dialogue and narration, immersing the listener in the day-to-day reality of city policing in the mid-20th century.

This episode stands out for its juxtaposition of a sudden, tragic event with the bureaucracy and emotional ambiguities that follow it—a hallmark of the “21st Precinct” series and the golden age of radio drama.