March 9, 2026 • 43 mins
CBS Radio Mystery Theater was a noteworthy attempt to revive in American radio dramas like Inner Sanctum (1941-1952) and Suspense (1942-1962). Radio dramas were widely considered "dead" 12 years prior to this series. CBS Radio Mystery Theater, or simply Mystery Theater, was created by Inner Sanctum creator Himan Brown and ran on CBS from 1974-1982. The show, much like older radio dramas, was introduced by a host (E.G. Marshall in this program), who steers us through the creaking door to start the episode. Many voices from the golden age of radio were featured, including Richard Widmark, Bret Morrison, Agnes Moorehead and many more. Find more classic, old-time radio series at Theater of the Mind - OTR | Spreaker | Apple | YouTube
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Enjoy all six of our commercial-free internet radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Do you want to discover more of these classic, old-time radio series? Search "Theater of the Mind - OTR" on your favorite platform or visit Theater of the Mind - OTR | Apple | Spreaker | YouTube | Spotify | Amazon | iHeart
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Come in.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
I'm e. G.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Marshall.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
You know that phrase, killed in the line of duty.
It's one of the saddest epitaphs to those who lay
their lives on the line. A guard, a night watchman,
a cop who is shot while on duty. You've seen
the photographs in the papers of a long line of
policemen standing in sorrow at.
Speaker 5 (00:40):
The funeral of a buddy.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Have you looked closely at the expression on their faces?
I might be next, it says. Yet they do their
job every day, every night, to make our lives safer.
Speaker 6 (00:54):
They didn't believe me, judge the jury. I was there
one George who pulled the trigger. He was with me
in the cabin. It was Rooney, my brother, who killed
your detective.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
Yeah, that's what you said in court.
Speaker 7 (01:09):
George didn't kill that man. I swear it.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Now.
Speaker 7 (01:13):
Why would I say things against my own brother, accuse
him of the murder if it wasn't so?
Speaker 5 (01:19):
Maybe because you loved George Comin.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Our mystery drama The Missouri Kid, based on an actual,
documented historic case, was dramatized especially for Mystery Theater by
James Aggott Junior and stars Lloyd Battista. It is sponsored
in part by Buick Motor Division and contact the twelve
hour Cold Capsule. I'll be back shortly with that one.
(02:01):
It was in all the newspapers of the time. The
Saint Louis Post Dispatch headlined the robbery memories of the
Missouri Bandit days today, through the miracle of radio, we
can turn to that story and actually hear it happening.
It is three days after Christmas nineteen o two, fifty
five miles out of Saint Louis, about an hour past midnight.
(02:25):
Two men ride into the little town of Union, Missouri,
and head for the Union Bank on Main Street.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Stand in that doorway opposite the bank. George. If someone moves,
shoot nothing.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
I like better, Rudy, I got a bell full of bullets.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
I'll have this piggy bank busted wide open in five
minutes flat. A Dutch crowbar, got it, I sleep with it.
Hand me the nitro. It's in your saddle bag. Here
you be there, Flo, Rudy, I surin too, Hey, what's
(03:03):
going on the sherf.
Speaker 8 (03:05):
Someone's just blown up to me.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Why I'm gonna give him a blast?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Come on, come on, Rudy, hurt, hurry we get the
hotels waking up.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Hold the horses still, those hicks can't hit anything. Help
me load these money the horses.
Speaker 8 (03:22):
Hey, someone just put two holes in my half.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Now there's the second bag back charge?
Speaker 9 (03:30):
Do I have to tell you everything?
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Shaff this bag?
Speaker 9 (03:33):
Will you? Hey?
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Now, how many hands you think I got? Lucky? Most
of the money's in bills that silvery five bags full.
And let's get out of here before there ain't gets better.
Come on, get out there, sheriff.
Speaker 9 (03:54):
Hey, hey, sheurf, they're gone. Look at all that's smoke
coming out of the bank. And someone got the fired up.
Father lock the bank's on fire. But do something, somebody.
The Union Bank's just been blown up, mister Pickerton. We
(04:14):
just got a wire from the American Bankers Association. Two
men blew open one of their banks the night before last,
got away with twenty eight thousand dollars.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
Who's the law there.
Speaker 9 (04:25):
Oh, Tom Birch, he's the sheriff Reunion. Any word from
him on the phone there. He's been sick for a week,
so nobody's made up a posse.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
The robbers got away? Are they sure they.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Were only two?
Speaker 9 (04:38):
Yep? I made him miss a mean street between them CJ.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
It's your case.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Find those two robbers and find them good not fast. Yeah,
find them good and fast, Sheriff Tom Birch, you're looking
at him.
Speaker 9 (04:58):
Wow, I'm CJ. Schumancher. The Pinkertons have assigned me to
the Union bank robbery.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
I'm glad to hear it. We're still cleaning up the
glass and picking bullets off main street.
Speaker 9 (05:09):
Yeah, we heard in Saint Louis there was a quite
an exchange of gunshots hereabouts.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
They rode out of here like there was hell fire
behind them.
Speaker 9 (05:19):
Anybody in town see.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Him for sure? Let me see now? Well it was Frank.
Speaker 9 (05:27):
You know where I can locate him.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I expect these work. He's the blacksmith, Frank Tilly.
Speaker 9 (05:32):
Oh yeah, yeah, I spoke with him on the telephone.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
Well, he will help. He's good man.
Speaker 9 (05:37):
I've brought a parcel of pictures of known bank robbers
who operate around these parts and identification as essential chure is.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
So you think it was the work of professionals.
Speaker 9 (05:49):
Without a doubt, Sheriff. Only pros know how to handle
nitro glycery.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
You go see Frank Tilley. Tell him. I said he'd
better cooperate if you pink Fellas.
Speaker 9 (06:11):
Miss Tilly K Tilly.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Huh oh yeah, what is it?
Speaker 9 (06:17):
I'm C. J. Schumacher, Pinkerton Detective Agency.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Oh about those bank rubbers?
Speaker 9 (06:23):
Oh yeah, Well, if you're busy, I'll come back later.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
No, no, no, it's head for these barrels over here.
Set yourself as a shoemaker. What can I tell you?
Speaker 9 (06:35):
Well, I brought this sanchel full of pictures. I'd like
you to have a look at what we at the
agency call our rogues glallery mug shots of every outlaw,
professional training, bank robber we ever had dealings with. Now,
if you just have a look, Oh I don't have to.
The man was wearing a mask. I never did get
a good gander at him. But the other one I
(06:57):
saw him right clear. Oh that's fine as a.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Guess lam right outside the bank where they had the horses.
A sin son of a gun if it.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Just didn't blow out.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
I've seen him come out of the bank and all
that smoke blown, and he's loading up the horses with
the bags of money. I recognize him as Tradeoff.
Speaker 9 (07:14):
Well, who was he?
Speaker 5 (07:15):
Bill, Rudy Rudolph know him anywhere?
Speaker 9 (07:19):
Rudy Rudolph, the Missouri kid. That's the one and the
Missouri kid. Yeah, you poor job like this for you.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
You don't happen to know where he's been living these
days up and standing.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
As far as I know, he's got a cabin there,
his sister's place. Actually, she's a.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Real nice girl, Nelly Rudolph, but she could never do
anything with him. You know, Rudy's a real tough humbrey.
You don't aim to go there and take him along,
do you.
Speaker 9 (07:49):
Well, that's what I am to do.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
You pink it and tell us that all excitement. Well, sir,
I hope you get Rudy. He sure has been needing
to come up for many a year, and.
Speaker 9 (08:01):
I saw I hear to tell it's about time somebody
laid a hand on his shoulder and cuffs on his wrist.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
My name is C. J.
Speaker 9 (08:16):
Schumacher.
Speaker 7 (08:18):
Who do you want?
Speaker 9 (08:20):
Who are you?
Speaker 7 (08:21):
What business is it yours?
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Shut out? Shut?
Speaker 9 (08:25):
Oh, I'm sorry, it looks like I knocked on the
wrong door.
Speaker 7 (08:30):
How do you know who you are?
Speaker 9 (08:33):
Well? First off, I want a friendly hellad, Well, I
think I come to the wrong house for that's sorry, man.
Speaker 7 (08:40):
What do you mean I'm unfriendly?
Speaker 9 (08:42):
I've been hunting all day and I had me the
worse luck any hunter could have. So so the last
thing I need right now is someone who's suspicious. So
long man.
Speaker 7 (08:53):
Oh wait wait, I'm sorry. It's the nature of us
around here. Were you looking for someone?
Speaker 9 (09:00):
Well, I'll be honest with you. I'm kind of lost
and I'm hungry, and what I was looking for is
to buy some supper.
Speaker 7 (09:09):
Oh well, just a minute. See there's a hunter outside.
You want to buy some supper? Should I let him here?
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Hunter? Yeah? You sure well, pretty.
Speaker 6 (09:20):
Sure he ain't no city do by the looks of him.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
What do you say, George?
Speaker 9 (09:26):
Why not?
Speaker 3 (09:26):
I'm getting stir crazy with just you two to look at.
Wouldn't mind seeing another face? What if he's the law,
I'm sure wouldn't want to be the law stepping in
here all alone.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Okay, now tell him you'll make him some supper.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
Uh, sorry to keep you miss.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
What did you say your name was Shoemaker?
Speaker 6 (09:46):
Oh he'll never pronounce that. I had to ask my
brother in his.
Speaker 9 (09:51):
Partner, well, is it all right for me to buy
some supper?
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Well?
Speaker 7 (09:55):
Illy, askid yeap something?
Speaker 9 (09:57):
It'll cost you.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Fifty cent done.
Speaker 9 (10:00):
I sure couldn't cook myself any decent gub for that, ma'am.
That was mighty good. I'm always partial. This too made
of a ham knuckle bone?
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Mind it tasty?
Speaker 9 (10:21):
Would oblige me one more thing?
Speaker 6 (10:23):
Well, that's how we gone?
Speaker 9 (10:25):
No, No, I don't.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Mean any more food, ma'am.
Speaker 9 (10:28):
I'd like to know your name, that's all.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
What fur mister?
Speaker 9 (10:32):
Well, if this is your wife, no harm man. Only
when folks treat me right, I want to thank them
by the name.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Well she she ain't my wife, she's my sister and
her name's Nellie wife or sister.
Speaker 9 (10:46):
She's a mighty fine cock. Mind if I said a while,
I've been twenty miles to day with no luck.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Hold on now, well, what are you reaching for your
gun for?
Speaker 9 (10:58):
Well? Forced to have it? I guess are you the
brother of this gentleman?
Speaker 3 (11:05):
He wants to know a lot about us, doesn't.
Speaker 9 (11:07):
It all just trying to be friendly make conversation.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
We don't make much conversation out here. And if you
really want to be friendly, mister, I as gist you
take those shells out of your shotgun?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Oh? Why sure?
Speaker 9 (11:22):
It makes me nervous, Am glad to oblige those shells
didn't do me much good today. I tell you, would
you like.
Speaker 7 (11:30):
Some can fruit? We got some can teaching.
Speaker 9 (11:33):
Sure we'd round things off to have something sweet. Mighty
good at you, miss Nelling. I appreciate that.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
So the hunting's not too good today.
Speaker 9 (11:43):
The whole day's been a bust. I fired this jack rabbit, see,
and I go out and take a look for.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
It, and there's this trail of blood.
Speaker 9 (11:53):
And I think to myself, when there's.
Speaker 8 (11:56):
Too much blood for a jack rabbit, maybe hit a bear.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Ain't no bears in these parts?
Speaker 9 (12:02):
Well, maybe a deer could be a dear Yes, thanks
miss well, sir, I hadn't shot no animal. Somebody been
making the campfire left this canned tomatos. I flogged it,
scorna bulls. I knocked it clear off the ground fifty
feet even the trail of tomatoes. Well, oh well, well,
(12:28):
I think I'll be moozing along down. Well, thanks very
much for the me.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Hold on, mister, you just sit back and relax. Why
you ain't touched those peaches Nelly brought you. That's that's
not nice, not friendly like eat up. I got a
few questions I'd like to ask you myself, George, hand
me that pistol. I just like to have it in
(12:55):
my hands here while I'm talking to this here, gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
CJ. Schumacher, the Pinkerton operative, sat back in the kitchen
chair and that out of the way cabin, his own
shotgun empty, the bullets jingling ineffectively in his pocket. He
faced a loaded pistol and two of the most wanted
outlaws in America, the Missouri kid and his partner, George Collins.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
CJ.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Wasn't sure the other man was George Collins, but he
was pretty certain that he didn't come up with the
right answers did kill him without a second thought. I'll
be back shortly with what happened in ACTU.
Speaker 8 (13:48):
C J.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Schumacher, the operative for that great private detective agency, the Pinkertons,
was tracking down the desperadoes who had robbed the Union
Bank of Union, Missouri. He had inveigled himself into their
high doubt by pretending to be a hunter who wanted
some supper. Unquestioningly, the two men who sat watching him
eat were the men he was seeking. Now, the problem
(14:11):
remained how to get away alive.
Speaker 9 (14:13):
So that CJ could return with an armed posse.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
You had much book learning friend who me booklin?
Speaker 9 (14:22):
Yeah you mean did I go to school?
Speaker 4 (14:23):
Well, folks, do now, I went to school. Didn't do
me no harm?
Speaker 9 (14:27):
Oh sure I went to school when I was little.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
You done much reading, mister CJ. Schumacher.
Speaker 9 (14:35):
Reading well some He means.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
If you see a handbill for a wanted man, can
you read it?
Speaker 9 (14:43):
Where would I see that?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
Oh? Anywhere in a post office or a bank, for instance?
Speaker 9 (14:49):
Oh not me. I don't write letters and I don't
get letters. Well I think I'll be moving along, Miss Nellie.
Here's a fifcent thank you for a right good spread
made up from a disappointment hunting today.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
Well, goodbye, mister.
Speaker 9 (15:09):
What was that name again? CJ.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Schumacher Schoemacher. You're not from around here.
Speaker 9 (15:15):
We're not far, not far, but take me a couple
of hours to get back. Well, good night, folks, and
thank you mister Piccoten. I came just as fast as
my horse could get me here to Saint Louis.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Welcome back, CJ. Your brother Danny was getting a little
worried about you.
Speaker 9 (15:40):
It's about time Dan learned worrying something inoperative. It just
doesn't have time to do. But I have to admit
to you. I was a little fussed a while back.
I was having to me here by the eight with
the Missouri kid and his sister, Nellie, Rudolph and the
kid's partner who I think, maybe George Colin. I'm sure
(16:01):
it's them who did that Union Bank job. So I'm
planning to go back to Union tonight, get up a
posse and haul him in.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
I wish we could see J, but we've got no
premifacie evidence against Rudy. One man recognizing him across the
street under a gas lamp is not enough. I read
your report.
Speaker 9 (16:20):
Eh, what about that old torture robbery charge? Remember that
old couple Hollises. Rudy and some other gun boy tortured
the old man and woman with hot pokers to make
him tell where that stashed money. Turned out there wasn't any.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Ah, that's the answer, CJ. You find your sheriffswear out
the warrant and get going. Oh, by the way, your
brother Danny wants to know if he can go along
with you.
Speaker 9 (16:45):
We'll tell him he'd better stay in Saint Louis and
help mine the store. Who knows, maybe someday you'll find
him more useful than me. Sure, I got your guns cocked.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
You have sold the rest of the pussy right behind
it her Sorry, all looked round up was three men.
Speaker 9 (17:10):
We're getting closer. Now tell the boys to slop.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
Hey, take it easy.
Speaker 9 (17:15):
Boys around the back of this clump of trees. That's
a shack. It's some of the rick kids.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
I'm HITYJ help me give me a hand.
Speaker 9 (17:27):
I'm falling off. I got your shir cover full right.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Let get out of here, J G J.
Speaker 6 (17:38):
What is it?
Speaker 9 (17:41):
I got a couple of boots in the stomach, he said,
can't can't stay and fight it out? Go on, go on,
leave me, I'll get away. Don't wait for me.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Shut up?
Speaker 9 (18:01):
Which you hurt me?
Speaker 4 (18:03):
Shut up? Well? What if we hear our old friend
with jack rabbit hunter riding up here with a sheriff
and a posse. That wasn't a very nice thing to do. Friend?
Speaker 3 (18:17):
If ter all that good grub you hit at our table,
Well I tell you what I'll do.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
You seem to be hurt bad and in lots of pain.
Why don't I make it easy for you and put
you out of your misery?
Speaker 9 (18:45):
Mister Pinkerton, I asked, Donny, what have you got there?
Speaker 2 (18:50):
A telegram. They killed him, my brother.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
Give up to me.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Regret to inform you we have recovered body of c J. Schumacher,
killed in gunfight with Bill Rudolph and unknown assailant. Oh Dan,
I can't tell you how sorry I am. I want
you to call the staff, all the local officials of
Union and from Stanton too, right now. I want them
(19:23):
all here in Saint Louis as soon as you can
get them together. The world's not big enough to hide
CJ's murderer. We'll get whoever it was if we have
to keep looking for him as long as I live.
Speaker 9 (19:35):
Mister Pinkerton assigned me to the keys. I want to
pick up where c J left off.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
All right, Danny, you've got it? Are you?
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Round up everyone you can and I've laid out instructions
for a man hunt from here to California.
Speaker 5 (19:48):
Then you can pick up the trail.
Speaker 9 (19:50):
I'm going back to that shack where they were hiding
and see what I can find.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
You see, mister s Schumacher, when we come back to
find your brother's body, the shack was empty.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
It all pulled out.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
You know. CJ was killed saving my life, and so
it was he put me back on my horse when
I got shot. He was one brave fella.
Speaker 9 (20:20):
Well, as far as you know, Cheff, no one's been
back here since.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
Nope. Oh we've been watching in case any of them do.
They let out and took everything with him.
Speaker 9 (20:30):
Hmm, what a mess.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
He went over this shack with a fine tooth comb
to try and find the money they stole from the
Union Bank.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
You found nothing out of red scent. Uh?
Speaker 4 (20:44):
What do you expect to find in all that trash
on the floor at the Schumacher Evidence? Evidence of what?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Huh?
Speaker 9 (20:52):
Anything, Scheff?
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Where they're going, where they've been.
Speaker 9 (20:58):
Like this medicine bible, for instance, And see what it
says on the label Brewer's Pharmacy, Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
That might be some evidence.
Speaker 9 (21:11):
Now I'm gonna roll up my sleeves and take a
look inside the stove. Maybe they burn something valuable.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
You gotta get yourself bity dirty cleaning out that stove.
That's shoemaker.
Speaker 9 (21:23):
Now, I expect before this man hunt is over, I
have more than sinners and suit on my hands.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Is there anything I can do?
Speaker 9 (21:31):
No? Thanks, no, sir ah. Now maybe you find something,
uh it just maybe that little piece of burnt paper.
What is it somebody's handwriting? Now, m so it is.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Pretty fancy handwriting. You don't see much of that around.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
That's that's what I'm counting on.
Speaker 9 (21:57):
Tracking down those fancy curly cues might help us quite
a lot.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Can you find out what's written there?
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Don't have to just fine who wrote it?
Speaker 1 (22:15):
I don't care what you say, Donny. Evidence that'll stand
up in court. That's what you must have proof.
Speaker 9 (22:22):
If I could have my way, mister Pinkerton, those two
would be hanging from a lamppost, not hanging around in court.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Danny.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
That's not the way our operators should think.
Speaker 9 (22:30):
And you know it. I'm sorry. I just don't feel
like a lecture now. Who brought in the evidence? Good evidence?
The pharmacist and Hot Springs made positive identification. There were
two men who went in for that prescription.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
One was Rudy and the other George Commons.
Speaker 9 (22:47):
Now I myself checked every board and house in Hot
Springs and come up with a name on a board
and house register that matched exactly the fancy handwriting on
that piece in the stove.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Look at this Army records description.
Speaker 9 (23:02):
Collins was a company clerk with company m thirty fifth Infantry.
Now he his handwriting was so good. Look look, samples,
don't tell me.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
I don't have enough evidence and reports.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
Where do they say?
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Collins is now Hartford, Connecticut.
Speaker 9 (23:17):
I've got our Connecticut operative trailing him right now.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
But where's Bill rud of the Bassouri kid that I
don't know? Can't you see, Danny, it's better if we
wait until the two join up and then haul them
in together. You take Collins along with that slim handwriting evidence,
he'll get himself a smart lawyer and be out before
you can say mouse.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
So you're seeing wait?
Speaker 9 (23:38):
Is that it?
Speaker 4 (23:39):
Wait?
Speaker 9 (23:40):
Well, I ain't going to I'll take my chances and
pick them off one by one.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
That's vigilante talk, Danny, not law and order.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Maybe so do process.
Speaker 9 (23:50):
The law is too slow for me, so, mister Pinking
and I ask you to accept my resignation. Whatever I do,
I do my own hook.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
And I'm sorry you want to quit us, Danny.
Speaker 9 (24:03):
You don't seem to understand. This is not just another
case to me. Those two murdered my brother.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
I know that, Danny, But are you talking about justice
or revenge?
Speaker 4 (24:23):
Danny?
Speaker 9 (24:25):
Dennis, mister Pinketton, what are you doing here in Hartford
or just watching you?
Speaker 5 (24:31):
Danny?
Speaker 9 (24:31):
Standing outside this saloon?
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Oh?
Speaker 9 (24:33):
Yeah, why are you here?
Speaker 5 (24:35):
I thought i'd see how you were getting on.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
You've been following me an old habit I got into.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
What are you after, Danny?
Speaker 9 (24:43):
Well, I'm handling on my own like a siddle would.
Speaker 5 (24:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
You know it's on, But once you're a pinketed man,
the only way to get out of the agency is
horizontally or get fired.
Speaker 5 (24:55):
Well, you're not dead, and I don't remember firing you.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
You mean I can't.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
That's about the size of it. So I've come to
heart for to give you a hand.
Speaker 9 (25:05):
Oh, mister Pickerson, that's great. Listen, it's turning out like
you want it. Collins is in there right now, buying
drinks for the house. You should see, dressed fit to kill.
And Rudy he's in there with him. He came into
town today and they're having a high old time.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
And that's a loom. What are we waiting for?
Speaker 9 (25:23):
Then?
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Let's just see if they come along peaceably like innocent citizens,
or if they want to put up a fight.
Speaker 8 (25:37):
Let me hear that sound of popping corks. Who wants
some champagne. Anybody wants whiskey, step up to the bar.
Speaker 9 (25:47):
It's on me.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
Sure, are right, daddy.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
I'd never recognize those two by their clothes like city swells.
Speaker 8 (25:54):
All right, you whiskey, bom champagne first, and then.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Let me take him.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
Now.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
When Rudy reaches into his pocket and starts counting on
you aim a couple of.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Times, see me, Yeah, I got some more champagne.
Speaker 8 (26:08):
Rudy, Yeah, Bartender brings another case of it. Here's one
hundred dollars.
Speaker 9 (26:14):
He's a hold up. I reach everybody.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
Send those arms up to the sky.
Speaker 9 (26:17):
You too, Rudy, and you George. It's the cops.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
It's pinkers in me. Wait, get my hands on your
head off me, get your hands off.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
You're joking me?
Speaker 5 (26:31):
What hands high?
Speaker 1 (26:33):
George?
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Okay, okay, you got me.
Speaker 9 (26:35):
My hands are up, all right, Try these on the side.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
You don't have to handcuff me.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
I said, I'd go quietly, just in case you got
any fancy ideas. George Collins, you're under arrest, he was.
Speaker 9 (26:45):
Somebody.
Speaker 8 (26:46):
Get this big lug off my chest.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Nice work, Denny. Pull the kid's hands up over his.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
Headn't let me get up will you somebody by all
means let them up, Denny.
Speaker 5 (26:59):
All right, everybody back to the bar. We've got the
only two week came for.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
I don't know what you think you're doing. You got
nothing on us.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
I will see, Oh, Danny, I don't believe you two
have been formally introduced.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
Danny.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
This is Rudy Rudolf, otherwise known as the Missouri Kid.
We have a little torture robbery warrant outstanding for him
and the George Collins I think you know. And my partner, gentlemen,
is Dan Schumacher. At last name mean anything to you.
Speaker 9 (27:32):
No, Shumacher, shut up, George.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
You don't know nothing.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Dan Schumacher is c. J. Schumacher's brother, CJ. Rudy, the
man you shot in cold blood, you remember, now, Rudy.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
In a Hartford boarding house where Rudolph and Collins were staying,
they found almost nine dollars from the Union Bank. The
bank robbers were taken back to the town of Union, Missouri,
arraigned on murder and robbery charges and held without bail.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
But these two.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Lawless men had not given up, as we shall find
out when I returned.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Shortly with Act three.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Crime the criminal, and women never ceased to amaze William Pickett,
in writing about the case of the Missouri Kid, he
says that once Rudy Rudolph was in prison, women not
only in Saint Louis, but all over America made him
their hero, wrote him letters and gifts.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
Stood outside the prison walls just to be near him.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
Strange, the fascination of this cold blood murderer.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
All right, you guys in tools marked by twos. Once
around again in the yard for exercise.
Speaker 9 (29:01):
Tonnie Humber, move.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
On along, you two cats.
Speaker 9 (29:03):
Me move on.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Nobody talks, No one talks.
Speaker 9 (29:07):
Charge right behind you, Rudy.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
This crummy jail's too small to hold us. They searched
me good.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
In Saint Louis, I couldn't stash a file the way
I did in Denver.
Speaker 4 (29:16):
No file, not even a toothpick. You better get one.
I asked the guard if Nellie could pay us a visit.
Speaker 9 (29:25):
He said, he'd asked the warden, what.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
Is this a tea party? You heard me?
Speaker 8 (29:30):
No one talks you the exceptions around here you may
be the Missouri Kid, but in here you do what
you're told, and you're told no talking.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
It's all my fault.
Speaker 9 (29:40):
Guard.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
I was just telling Rudy, I asked you yesterday if
his sister Nelly could come see.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
It's on visiting day. And I'm honest, that's all I
was telling him.
Speaker 8 (29:48):
All right, all right, you got some rights, and I
recognize that.
Speaker 7 (29:52):
And George has Rudy.
Speaker 6 (29:57):
I've thought, seeing as how i'm his sister' he visited him.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
You're lucky they let you see me.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Pinkerton phoned the ward and said if they couldn't put
on an extra heavy guard to put Rudy in solitary,
he's afraid he'll escape.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
That Pinkerton's in my reader.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Easy, easy, honey, I think that guard is listening.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
You mean, really honest. You get you got all that
fan mail for Rudy, all.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
Those letters, but we're here.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Let me smell one of them.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
Wow, perfume?
Speaker 3 (30:30):
He guard want to smell these letters? Can I take them?
Perfumed letters for the Missouri kid?
Speaker 4 (30:38):
I guess you can have them. I don't think a
gun could fit in a letter. Eh, you're right, you're right.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Well, you're a wonderful kid, and we'll do what we
have to do.
Speaker 7 (30:49):
You haven't much time, George. They've announced the trial day.
Speaker 9 (30:53):
Oh, don't worry.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
When that trial comes up, we'll be reading about it
in the Arkansas newspapers.
Speaker 7 (30:59):
Arkansas.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Oh yeah, yeah, you mean you like last time? The
only safe place to hide out.
Speaker 7 (31:05):
Oh, George, I'll miss your soul?
Speaker 9 (31:08):
You will.
Speaker 4 (31:10):
See.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Am I crazy?
Speaker 9 (31:13):
Do you like me?
Speaker 7 (31:16):
Don't you know that? George?
Speaker 9 (31:17):
What more a minute?
Speaker 4 (31:18):
Why more a minute? Missy ollers Rover, don't know that?
Speaker 7 (31:22):
Well? How I feel about you? All these years?
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Oh, all these years Rudy and I have been together?
Will I to me you were like a kid's sister.
Speaker 7 (31:35):
Well look at me, George, I'm eighteen. Do I look
like a kid's.
Speaker 9 (31:41):
Sister to you?
Speaker 6 (31:42):
Now?
Speaker 4 (31:43):
Well?
Speaker 3 (31:44):
No, you uh, I can't say that you do. In fact,
you look really good to me.
Speaker 7 (31:51):
Now do you know what I'm hoping?
Speaker 4 (31:54):
That's all, folks, All the visitors please rise and form
a line to the door.
Speaker 6 (31:59):
Everything turn out all right, that you'll get out in
ingo straight, George?
Speaker 9 (32:05):
For us, keep oven, Keep oven.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Though you were in solitary, they only had one cell
and it was occupied. Said they put me in there
after the fourth of July. Did you get the.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Family and what was in him?
Speaker 4 (32:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (32:25):
There are you no talking? You heard me? Keep oven.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
Listen, I got to talk to you. Yeah, where I'll
find you in the mess hall. Keep a place on
the bench next to you. I'll bring my tray over.
No kidding, Rudy, you got it all cased out here.
You know that top tier, there's a there's a skylight
(32:50):
over it. Now it's up through the skylight, over the
roof and out. Cassidy he works in the wharton's garden.
He gave me the angle of the roof slammed.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
Then across the chapel roof, down into the warden's backyard
and from there right.
Speaker 4 (33:08):
Into Saint lou And we can.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Get lost in the traffic. What time you picked out
after the roll call? At twelve in afternoon? About three
the streets in the city will be crowded. Then, you know, okay,
Now when guess what big holidays coming up? By fourth,
the fourth of July, a lot of guards will be
off duty.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
I'll have my door filed and ready to go. I
tried it already. It cuts like butter. I just got
to figure out how many steps from my cell to
the top tier, and then how far from there to
the skylight? What about me? You've got the only file.
How do I get out of my sound. You won't
(33:51):
even be in it the morning of the fourth. You'll
have an attack of appendicitis and be screaming with pain.
You'll give the infirmary you had appendicitis. Coming on right yere?
Here Bell slips some money in those fan latters. Now
you taking all of it.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
You pay off a bunch of the guys to start
a fight at the far end, the other end from
the skylight in the prison hall. Nowmem three o'clock the
afternoon of the fourth, sharp boy, can't you see those
dumb guards thinking there's a.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Rild running over there. I figure that will give us
just about enough time that we need to break out.
On the fourth of July too.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
I want a day to celebrate on.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
A ride. He George, you're with me. I behind you.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
Rudy walkably took my clothes away in the infirmary. All
I got is this night shirt, hockey. Now, grab a
hold of these girders and follow me. Now I'm gonna
swing my legs up and smash that glass. Come on, George,
take my hand, now go on. I'll hold you.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
Now, up you go. I don't think I can make
you sure you can do it now now time along
the roof behind me.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
I watched tip half. They haven't any ideas where God between. Now,
Rudy over here, ditch from this roof to the chop roof.
Speaker 4 (35:27):
Right, that's fifteen feet. I'll never make a cut it out.
It's only twenty you say, you go, Rudy, I can't
make it. Oh, come on, I can't what he is
scared of the high place here. So I have been
all right so long, George. Now listen, if anybody comes
through that skylight, you just hold them off long enough
(35:48):
till I'm out of sight. Ye okay, ready one two three? Kid? Oh,
Rudy say that you're hanging up so right? Damn well?
What do you be caught on? Dad burn wires? Somebody's
drunk wires up here. Nobody told me that I got
(36:09):
to get loose?
Speaker 9 (36:10):
Give up?
Speaker 4 (36:11):
Will you get your face is all cut? If you
fall on your head, don't, Rudy go. I'll make it.
Speaker 9 (36:19):
Got to make it.
Speaker 4 (36:21):
I just untwisted these wires. I'm on the tapper roof now.
Speaker 9 (36:27):
I pray for me.
Speaker 4 (36:29):
Good luck, George.
Speaker 9 (36:34):
It's not as though you didn't want it, mister Pingerton.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
They'll try to escape you knew it.
Speaker 9 (36:38):
I knew it. Oh, it makes me so angry.
Speaker 5 (36:41):
Well, at least they got columns back. You have the
detailed report.
Speaker 9 (36:46):
Well haven't you seen it?
Speaker 5 (36:48):
No, I haven't read it to me.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Donny.
Speaker 9 (36:49):
Well, evidently the kid was cut and bleeding, got tore
up on some wires strung across the roof. He jumped
or fell from the main roof to the chappel roof,
then down that and into the wardens garden, then walked
in the unlocked back door where the warden's mother was ironing.
She said, he bowed to her and walked out the
front door. An extraport on the corner of Spruce and eleven.
(37:14):
He steals a bicycle and heads into the middle of
the city. An extra port. A rowboat stolen in North
Saint Louis, presumably rode across the Mississippi. That's seeing next
to a man answering Rudy's description, gets out of a
freight car in the Memphis Railroad yard all the way
to Memphis. Huh, that was yesterday, ass And I'll bet
(37:37):
you anything, we'll get a report. He's stolen a horse
somewhere in Tennessee and he's headed for Arkansas. Yeah right,
the Indian territory. We always lose those, bend it's an
Indian territory.
Speaker 5 (37:47):
Hey, I'll take out Danny.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Won't be for long.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
He's not the kind to spend time hiding. If I
know the Missouri kid, he'll be back in this neighborhood
knocking off another bank. Our chief weapon now is to
circular eye every spot in every state with his picture
and description.
Speaker 5 (38:04):
Sooner or later he'll.
Speaker 9 (38:05):
Surface, mister Pickerton, Rudy's sister's outside now. Yeah, she wants
to see you. She's pretty brought up, and.
Speaker 1 (38:18):
I don't know what she thinks I can do for
George Commons.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
The jury is still out.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
Shall I send her in?
Speaker 4 (38:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (38:24):
All right, And I guess you'd better leave us alone.
Speaker 9 (38:27):
Then, Miss Rudolph, mister Pickton, see.
Speaker 5 (38:33):
Come in now.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
Hey, why you look much younger than you did up
there on the witness stand.
Speaker 6 (38:40):
They didn't believe me, the judge, the jury, they didn't
believe anything I said.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
I'm afraid they had possession of certain facts and certain witnesses.
Speaker 7 (38:50):
What witness I was there?
Speaker 6 (38:53):
It wasn't George who pulled the trigger. She was with
me in the cabin. It was rudey wh've done it?
Speaker 7 (38:59):
He walked right. I have to your man and kill him.
Speaker 5 (39:01):
I know, Nellie, that's what you said in court.
Speaker 4 (39:03):
What can I do?
Speaker 7 (39:06):
I know George has done a lot of wrong see,
but he didn't kill at man.
Speaker 5 (39:10):
I'm not the jury or the judge.
Speaker 7 (39:13):
Well would I say things against my own brother, excuse
him of a coal murder like that if it wasn't so?
Speaker 1 (39:20):
But your brother isn't here to defend himself. He's hiding
out somewheres. It's possible the jury will believe you, but
maybe they'll figure you're making this up because you're well,
because you're keen on George Colins.
Speaker 9 (39:35):
I do love him.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
I'm not saying I don't. But he didn't do it.
Speaker 4 (39:39):
It's out of my.
Speaker 5 (39:40):
Hands, Nelly. Why don't you go home? All I can
say is.
Speaker 1 (39:47):
Just try to let all of what's happen be a
lesson to you.
Speaker 7 (39:51):
You think it's too late, don't you that they'll convict.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
Him Even if George Carrs were to walk out of
that prisoner free, man, I tell you never to see
him again.
Speaker 5 (40:02):
Try to start over, Nellie. You're only eighteen. You've got
a whole life ahead of you.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Good morning, mister Picketon.
Speaker 5 (40:15):
What a use of bright and cheerry about.
Speaker 9 (40:18):
But I don't like to say I'm celebrating, but I
guess in a way this news makes me feel real good.
Speaker 5 (40:23):
All right, spill it.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Well.
Speaker 9 (40:25):
For one thing, it's almost the years since George Collins
was convicted and hung, and we kept trying and trying
to find Rudy, and we will keep on trying. Well,
I think that luck has changed. He's come out of
hiding and he's done exactly what you said he would.
Here's the telegram.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Called your attention, Prisoner Charles Gorney apprehended an attempt to
rob Lewisburg, Kansas National Bank. Comparing your photographs of William
Rudy Rudolph alias Missouri Kid, not satisfactory identification. However, Bertolin measurements,
particularly scars, mole on upper lip, and two gold teeth,
(41:05):
closely resemble. Gourney kindly advised Sheriff Farley, Kansas. What do
you think all the bank robbers in the world, the
likelihood two men would have the same scars, the same mole,
and the same two gold teeth.
Speaker 5 (41:20):
It's just not possible.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
But that's just why I feel good today.
Speaker 5 (41:24):
That's right, Danny, I think.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
We've got our man, and indeed they had.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
Charles Gourney turned out to be none other than Rudy Rudolph.
That had been a long and costly trail, and had
it not been for the cooperation of every local and
state law enforcement body, the Missouri Kid might never.
Speaker 9 (41:47):
Have been caught.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
You may say this proves crime does not pay. However,
for the Picquitons who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars
to wrap up this case, crime can be very expensive.
I shall return shortly.
Speaker 9 (42:12):
It was May nineteen oh.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
Five, fifty two months after the cowardly murder of Detective C. J. Schumacher,
that the second outlaw, the Missouri Kid, died at.
Speaker 4 (42:23):
The end of a rope.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
It was also the beginning of a tradition followed to
this day. If a law man is killed in the
line of duty, none of his brothers will rest until
the criminal is brought to justice. Our cast included Lloyd Battista,
Ian Martin, Robert Maxwell, E. V.
Speaker 4 (42:42):
Jester, and Russell Hortman.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown.
Speaker 4 (42:50):
Missus E. G. Marshall.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
Inviting you to return to our mystery Theater for another
adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant
Speaker 7 (43:29):
Ri Fi
Come in.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
I'm e. G.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Marshall.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
You know that phrase, killed in the line of duty.
It's one of the saddest epitaphs to those who lay
their lives on the line. A guard, a night watchman,
a cop who is shot while on duty. You've seen
the photographs in the papers of a long line of
policemen standing in sorrow at.
Speaker 5 (00:40):
The funeral of a buddy.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Have you looked closely at the expression on their faces?
I might be next, it says. Yet they do their
job every day, every night, to make our lives safer.
Speaker 6 (00:54):
They didn't believe me, judge the jury. I was there
one George who pulled the trigger. He was with me
in the cabin. It was Rooney, my brother, who killed
your detective.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
Yeah, that's what you said in court.
Speaker 7 (01:09):
George didn't kill that man. I swear it.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Now.
Speaker 7 (01:13):
Why would I say things against my own brother, accuse
him of the murder if it wasn't so?
Speaker 5 (01:19):
Maybe because you loved George Comin.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Our mystery drama The Missouri Kid, based on an actual,
documented historic case, was dramatized especially for Mystery Theater by
James Aggott Junior and stars Lloyd Battista. It is sponsored
in part by Buick Motor Division and contact the twelve
hour Cold Capsule. I'll be back shortly with that one.
(02:01):
It was in all the newspapers of the time. The
Saint Louis Post Dispatch headlined the robbery memories of the
Missouri Bandit days today, through the miracle of radio, we
can turn to that story and actually hear it happening.
It is three days after Christmas nineteen o two, fifty
five miles out of Saint Louis, about an hour past midnight.
(02:25):
Two men ride into the little town of Union, Missouri,
and head for the Union Bank on Main Street.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Stand in that doorway opposite the bank. George. If someone moves,
shoot nothing.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
I like better, Rudy, I got a bell full of bullets.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
I'll have this piggy bank busted wide open in five
minutes flat. A Dutch crowbar, got it, I sleep with it.
Hand me the nitro. It's in your saddle bag. Here
you be there, Flo, Rudy, I surin too, Hey, what's
(03:03):
going on the sherf.
Speaker 8 (03:05):
Someone's just blown up to me.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Why I'm gonna give him a blast?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Come on, come on, Rudy, hurt, hurry we get the
hotels waking up.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Hold the horses still, those hicks can't hit anything. Help
me load these money the horses.
Speaker 8 (03:22):
Hey, someone just put two holes in my half.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Now there's the second bag back charge?
Speaker 9 (03:30):
Do I have to tell you everything?
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Shaff this bag?
Speaker 9 (03:33):
Will you? Hey?
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Now, how many hands you think I got? Lucky? Most
of the money's in bills that silvery five bags full.
And let's get out of here before there ain't gets better.
Come on, get out there, sheriff.
Speaker 9 (03:54):
Hey, hey, sheurf, they're gone. Look at all that's smoke
coming out of the bank. And someone got the fired up.
Father lock the bank's on fire. But do something, somebody.
The Union Bank's just been blown up, mister Pickerton. We
(04:14):
just got a wire from the American Bankers Association. Two
men blew open one of their banks the night before last,
got away with twenty eight thousand dollars.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
Who's the law there.
Speaker 9 (04:25):
Oh, Tom Birch, he's the sheriff Reunion. Any word from
him on the phone there. He's been sick for a week,
so nobody's made up a posse.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
The robbers got away? Are they sure they.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Were only two?
Speaker 9 (04:38):
Yep? I made him miss a mean street between them CJ.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
It's your case.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Find those two robbers and find them good not fast. Yeah,
find them good and fast, Sheriff Tom Birch, you're looking
at him.
Speaker 9 (04:58):
Wow, I'm CJ. Schumancher. The Pinkertons have assigned me to
the Union bank robbery.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
I'm glad to hear it. We're still cleaning up the
glass and picking bullets off main street.
Speaker 9 (05:09):
Yeah, we heard in Saint Louis there was a quite
an exchange of gunshots hereabouts.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
They rode out of here like there was hell fire
behind them.
Speaker 9 (05:19):
Anybody in town see.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Him for sure? Let me see now? Well it was Frank.
Speaker 9 (05:27):
You know where I can locate him.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I expect these work. He's the blacksmith, Frank Tilly.
Speaker 9 (05:32):
Oh yeah, yeah, I spoke with him on the telephone.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
Well, he will help. He's good man.
Speaker 9 (05:37):
I've brought a parcel of pictures of known bank robbers
who operate around these parts and identification as essential chure is.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
So you think it was the work of professionals.
Speaker 9 (05:49):
Without a doubt, Sheriff. Only pros know how to handle
nitro glycery.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
You go see Frank Tilley. Tell him. I said he'd
better cooperate if you pink Fellas.
Speaker 9 (06:11):
Miss Tilly K Tilly.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Huh oh yeah, what is it?
Speaker 9 (06:17):
I'm C. J. Schumacher, Pinkerton Detective Agency.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Oh about those bank rubbers?
Speaker 9 (06:23):
Oh yeah, Well, if you're busy, I'll come back later.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
No, no, no, it's head for these barrels over here.
Set yourself as a shoemaker. What can I tell you?
Speaker 9 (06:35):
Well, I brought this sanchel full of pictures. I'd like
you to have a look at what we at the
agency call our rogues glallery mug shots of every outlaw,
professional training, bank robber we ever had dealings with. Now,
if you just have a look, Oh I don't have to.
The man was wearing a mask. I never did get
a good gander at him. But the other one I
(06:57):
saw him right clear. Oh that's fine as a.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Guess lam right outside the bank where they had the horses.
A sin son of a gun if it.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Just didn't blow out.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
I've seen him come out of the bank and all
that smoke blown, and he's loading up the horses with
the bags of money. I recognize him as Tradeoff.
Speaker 9 (07:14):
Well, who was he?
Speaker 5 (07:15):
Bill, Rudy Rudolph know him anywhere?
Speaker 9 (07:19):
Rudy Rudolph, the Missouri kid. That's the one and the
Missouri kid. Yeah, you poor job like this for you.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
You don't happen to know where he's been living these
days up and standing.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
As far as I know, he's got a cabin there,
his sister's place. Actually, she's a.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Real nice girl, Nelly Rudolph, but she could never do
anything with him. You know, Rudy's a real tough humbrey.
You don't aim to go there and take him along,
do you.
Speaker 9 (07:49):
Well, that's what I am to do.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
You pink it and tell us that all excitement. Well, sir,
I hope you get Rudy. He sure has been needing
to come up for many a year, and.
Speaker 9 (08:01):
I saw I hear to tell it's about time somebody
laid a hand on his shoulder and cuffs on his wrist.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
My name is C. J.
Speaker 9 (08:16):
Schumacher.
Speaker 7 (08:18):
Who do you want?
Speaker 9 (08:20):
Who are you?
Speaker 7 (08:21):
What business is it yours?
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Shut out? Shut?
Speaker 9 (08:25):
Oh, I'm sorry, it looks like I knocked on the
wrong door.
Speaker 7 (08:30):
How do you know who you are?
Speaker 9 (08:33):
Well? First off, I want a friendly hellad, Well, I
think I come to the wrong house for that's sorry, man.
Speaker 7 (08:40):
What do you mean I'm unfriendly?
Speaker 9 (08:42):
I've been hunting all day and I had me the
worse luck any hunter could have. So so the last
thing I need right now is someone who's suspicious. So
long man.
Speaker 7 (08:53):
Oh wait wait, I'm sorry. It's the nature of us
around here. Were you looking for someone?
Speaker 9 (09:00):
Well, I'll be honest with you. I'm kind of lost
and I'm hungry, and what I was looking for is
to buy some supper.
Speaker 7 (09:09):
Oh well, just a minute. See there's a hunter outside.
You want to buy some supper? Should I let him here?
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Hunter? Yeah? You sure well, pretty.
Speaker 6 (09:20):
Sure he ain't no city do by the looks of him.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
What do you say, George?
Speaker 9 (09:26):
Why not?
Speaker 3 (09:26):
I'm getting stir crazy with just you two to look at.
Wouldn't mind seeing another face? What if he's the law,
I'm sure wouldn't want to be the law stepping in
here all alone.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Okay, now tell him you'll make him some supper.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
Uh, sorry to keep you miss.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
What did you say your name was Shoemaker?
Speaker 6 (09:46):
Oh he'll never pronounce that. I had to ask my
brother in his.
Speaker 9 (09:51):
Partner, well, is it all right for me to buy
some supper?
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Well?
Speaker 7 (09:55):
Illy, askid yeap something?
Speaker 9 (09:57):
It'll cost you.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Fifty cent done.
Speaker 9 (10:00):
I sure couldn't cook myself any decent gub for that, ma'am.
That was mighty good. I'm always partial. This too made
of a ham knuckle bone?
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Mind it tasty?
Speaker 9 (10:21):
Would oblige me one more thing?
Speaker 6 (10:23):
Well, that's how we gone?
Speaker 9 (10:25):
No, No, I don't.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Mean any more food, ma'am.
Speaker 9 (10:28):
I'd like to know your name, that's all.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
What fur mister?
Speaker 9 (10:32):
Well, if this is your wife, no harm man. Only
when folks treat me right, I want to thank them
by the name.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Well she she ain't my wife, she's my sister and
her name's Nellie wife or sister.
Speaker 9 (10:46):
She's a mighty fine cock. Mind if I said a while,
I've been twenty miles to day with no luck.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Hold on now, well, what are you reaching for your
gun for?
Speaker 9 (10:58):
Well? Forced to have it? I guess are you the
brother of this gentleman?
Speaker 3 (11:05):
He wants to know a lot about us, doesn't.
Speaker 9 (11:07):
It all just trying to be friendly make conversation.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
We don't make much conversation out here. And if you
really want to be friendly, mister, I as gist you
take those shells out of your shotgun?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Oh? Why sure?
Speaker 9 (11:22):
It makes me nervous, Am glad to oblige those shells
didn't do me much good today. I tell you, would
you like.
Speaker 7 (11:30):
Some can fruit? We got some can teaching.
Speaker 9 (11:33):
Sure we'd round things off to have something sweet. Mighty
good at you, miss Nelling. I appreciate that.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
So the hunting's not too good today.
Speaker 9 (11:43):
The whole day's been a bust. I fired this jack rabbit, see,
and I go out and take a look for.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
It, and there's this trail of blood.
Speaker 9 (11:53):
And I think to myself, when there's.
Speaker 8 (11:56):
Too much blood for a jack rabbit, maybe hit a bear.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Ain't no bears in these parts?
Speaker 9 (12:02):
Well, maybe a deer could be a dear Yes, thanks
miss well, sir, I hadn't shot no animal. Somebody been
making the campfire left this canned tomatos. I flogged it,
scorna bulls. I knocked it clear off the ground fifty
feet even the trail of tomatoes. Well, oh well, well,
(12:28):
I think I'll be moozing along down. Well, thanks very
much for the me.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Hold on, mister, you just sit back and relax. Why
you ain't touched those peaches Nelly brought you. That's that's
not nice, not friendly like eat up. I got a
few questions I'd like to ask you myself, George, hand
me that pistol. I just like to have it in
(12:55):
my hands here while I'm talking to this here, gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
CJ. Schumacher, the Pinkerton operative, sat back in the kitchen
chair and that out of the way cabin, his own
shotgun empty, the bullets jingling ineffectively in his pocket. He
faced a loaded pistol and two of the most wanted
outlaws in America, the Missouri kid and his partner, George Collins.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
CJ.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Wasn't sure the other man was George Collins, but he
was pretty certain that he didn't come up with the
right answers did kill him without a second thought. I'll
be back shortly with what happened in ACTU.
Speaker 8 (13:48):
C J.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Schumacher, the operative for that great private detective agency, the Pinkertons,
was tracking down the desperadoes who had robbed the Union
Bank of Union, Missouri. He had inveigled himself into their
high doubt by pretending to be a hunter who wanted
some supper. Unquestioningly, the two men who sat watching him
eat were the men he was seeking. Now, the problem
(14:11):
remained how to get away alive.
Speaker 9 (14:13):
So that CJ could return with an armed posse.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
You had much book learning friend who me booklin?
Speaker 9 (14:22):
Yeah you mean did I go to school?
Speaker 4 (14:23):
Well, folks, do now, I went to school. Didn't do
me no harm?
Speaker 9 (14:27):
Oh sure I went to school when I was little.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
You done much reading, mister CJ. Schumacher.
Speaker 9 (14:35):
Reading well some He means.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
If you see a handbill for a wanted man, can
you read it?
Speaker 9 (14:43):
Where would I see that?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
Oh? Anywhere in a post office or a bank, for instance?
Speaker 9 (14:49):
Oh not me. I don't write letters and I don't
get letters. Well I think I'll be moving along, Miss Nellie.
Here's a fifcent thank you for a right good spread
made up from a disappointment hunting today.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
Well, goodbye, mister.
Speaker 9 (15:09):
What was that name again? CJ.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Schumacher Schoemacher. You're not from around here.
Speaker 9 (15:15):
We're not far, not far, but take me a couple
of hours to get back. Well, good night, folks, and
thank you mister Piccoten. I came just as fast as
my horse could get me here to Saint Louis.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Welcome back, CJ. Your brother Danny was getting a little
worried about you.
Speaker 9 (15:40):
It's about time Dan learned worrying something inoperative. It just
doesn't have time to do. But I have to admit
to you. I was a little fussed a while back.
I was having to me here by the eight with
the Missouri kid and his sister, Nellie, Rudolph and the
kid's partner who I think, maybe George Colin. I'm sure
(16:01):
it's them who did that Union Bank job. So I'm
planning to go back to Union tonight, get up a
posse and haul him in.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
I wish we could see J, but we've got no
premifacie evidence against Rudy. One man recognizing him across the
street under a gas lamp is not enough. I read
your report.
Speaker 9 (16:20):
Eh, what about that old torture robbery charge? Remember that
old couple Hollises. Rudy and some other gun boy tortured
the old man and woman with hot pokers to make
him tell where that stashed money. Turned out there wasn't any.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Ah, that's the answer, CJ. You find your sheriffswear out
the warrant and get going. Oh, by the way, your
brother Danny wants to know if he can go along
with you.
Speaker 9 (16:45):
We'll tell him he'd better stay in Saint Louis and
help mine the store. Who knows, maybe someday you'll find
him more useful than me. Sure, I got your guns cocked.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
You have sold the rest of the pussy right behind
it her Sorry, all looked round up was three men.
Speaker 9 (17:10):
We're getting closer. Now tell the boys to slop.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
Hey, take it easy.
Speaker 9 (17:15):
Boys around the back of this clump of trees. That's
a shack. It's some of the rick kids.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
I'm HITYJ help me give me a hand.
Speaker 9 (17:27):
I'm falling off. I got your shir cover full right.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Let get out of here, J G J.
Speaker 6 (17:38):
What is it?
Speaker 9 (17:41):
I got a couple of boots in the stomach, he said,
can't can't stay and fight it out? Go on, go on,
leave me, I'll get away. Don't wait for me.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Shut up?
Speaker 9 (18:01):
Which you hurt me?
Speaker 4 (18:03):
Shut up? Well? What if we hear our old friend
with jack rabbit hunter riding up here with a sheriff
and a posse. That wasn't a very nice thing to do. Friend?
Speaker 3 (18:17):
If ter all that good grub you hit at our table,
Well I tell you what I'll do.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
You seem to be hurt bad and in lots of pain.
Why don't I make it easy for you and put
you out of your misery?
Speaker 9 (18:45):
Mister Pinkerton, I asked, Donny, what have you got there?
Speaker 2 (18:50):
A telegram. They killed him, my brother.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
Give up to me.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Regret to inform you we have recovered body of c J. Schumacher,
killed in gunfight with Bill Rudolph and unknown assailant. Oh Dan,
I can't tell you how sorry I am. I want
you to call the staff, all the local officials of
Union and from Stanton too, right now. I want them
(19:23):
all here in Saint Louis as soon as you can
get them together. The world's not big enough to hide
CJ's murderer. We'll get whoever it was if we have
to keep looking for him as long as I live.
Speaker 9 (19:35):
Mister Pinkerton assigned me to the keys. I want to
pick up where c J left off.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
All right, Danny, you've got it? Are you?
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Round up everyone you can and I've laid out instructions
for a man hunt from here to California.
Speaker 5 (19:48):
Then you can pick up the trail.
Speaker 9 (19:50):
I'm going back to that shack where they were hiding
and see what I can find.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
You see, mister s Schumacher, when we come back to
find your brother's body, the shack was empty.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
It all pulled out.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
You know. CJ was killed saving my life, and so
it was he put me back on my horse when
I got shot. He was one brave fella.
Speaker 9 (20:20):
Well, as far as you know, Cheff, no one's been
back here since.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
Nope. Oh we've been watching in case any of them do.
They let out and took everything with him.
Speaker 9 (20:30):
Hmm, what a mess.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
He went over this shack with a fine tooth comb
to try and find the money they stole from the
Union Bank.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
You found nothing out of red scent. Uh?
Speaker 4 (20:44):
What do you expect to find in all that trash
on the floor at the Schumacher Evidence? Evidence of what?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Huh?
Speaker 9 (20:52):
Anything, Scheff?
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Where they're going, where they've been.
Speaker 9 (20:58):
Like this medicine bible, for instance, And see what it
says on the label Brewer's Pharmacy, Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
That might be some evidence.
Speaker 9 (21:11):
Now I'm gonna roll up my sleeves and take a
look inside the stove. Maybe they burn something valuable.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
You gotta get yourself bity dirty cleaning out that stove.
That's shoemaker.
Speaker 9 (21:23):
Now, I expect before this man hunt is over, I
have more than sinners and suit on my hands.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Is there anything I can do?
Speaker 9 (21:31):
No? Thanks, no, sir ah. Now maybe you find something,
uh it just maybe that little piece of burnt paper.
What is it somebody's handwriting? Now, m so it is.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Pretty fancy handwriting. You don't see much of that around.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
That's that's what I'm counting on.
Speaker 9 (21:57):
Tracking down those fancy curly cues might help us quite
a lot.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Can you find out what's written there?
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Don't have to just fine who wrote it?
Speaker 1 (22:15):
I don't care what you say, Donny. Evidence that'll stand
up in court. That's what you must have proof.
Speaker 9 (22:22):
If I could have my way, mister Pinkerton, those two
would be hanging from a lamppost, not hanging around in court.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Danny.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
That's not the way our operators should think.
Speaker 9 (22:30):
And you know it. I'm sorry. I just don't feel
like a lecture now. Who brought in the evidence? Good evidence?
The pharmacist and Hot Springs made positive identification. There were
two men who went in for that prescription.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
One was Rudy and the other George Commons.
Speaker 9 (22:47):
Now I myself checked every board and house in Hot
Springs and come up with a name on a board
and house register that matched exactly the fancy handwriting on
that piece in the stove.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Look at this Army records description.
Speaker 9 (23:02):
Collins was a company clerk with company m thirty fifth Infantry.
Now he his handwriting was so good. Look look, samples,
don't tell me.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
I don't have enough evidence and reports.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
Where do they say?
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Collins is now Hartford, Connecticut.
Speaker 9 (23:17):
I've got our Connecticut operative trailing him right now.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
But where's Bill rud of the Bassouri kid that I
don't know? Can't you see, Danny, it's better if we
wait until the two join up and then haul them
in together. You take Collins along with that slim handwriting evidence,
he'll get himself a smart lawyer and be out before
you can say mouse.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
So you're seeing wait?
Speaker 9 (23:38):
Is that it?
Speaker 4 (23:39):
Wait?
Speaker 9 (23:40):
Well, I ain't going to I'll take my chances and
pick them off one by one.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
That's vigilante talk, Danny, not law and order.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Maybe so do process.
Speaker 9 (23:50):
The law is too slow for me, so, mister Pinking
and I ask you to accept my resignation. Whatever I do,
I do my own hook.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
And I'm sorry you want to quit us, Danny.
Speaker 9 (24:03):
You don't seem to understand. This is not just another
case to me. Those two murdered my brother.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
I know that, Danny, But are you talking about justice
or revenge?
Speaker 4 (24:23):
Danny?
Speaker 9 (24:25):
Dennis, mister Pinketton, what are you doing here in Hartford
or just watching you?
Speaker 5 (24:31):
Danny?
Speaker 9 (24:31):
Standing outside this saloon?
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Oh?
Speaker 9 (24:33):
Yeah, why are you here?
Speaker 5 (24:35):
I thought i'd see how you were getting on.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
You've been following me an old habit I got into.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
What are you after, Danny?
Speaker 9 (24:43):
Well, I'm handling on my own like a siddle would.
Speaker 5 (24:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
You know it's on, But once you're a pinketed man,
the only way to get out of the agency is
horizontally or get fired.
Speaker 5 (24:55):
Well, you're not dead, and I don't remember firing you.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
You mean I can't.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
That's about the size of it. So I've come to
heart for to give you a hand.
Speaker 9 (25:05):
Oh, mister Pickerson, that's great. Listen, it's turning out like
you want it. Collins is in there right now, buying
drinks for the house. You should see, dressed fit to kill.
And Rudy he's in there with him. He came into
town today and they're having a high old time.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
And that's a loom. What are we waiting for?
Speaker 9 (25:23):
Then?
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Let's just see if they come along peaceably like innocent citizens,
or if they want to put up a fight.
Speaker 8 (25:37):
Let me hear that sound of popping corks. Who wants
some champagne. Anybody wants whiskey, step up to the bar.
Speaker 9 (25:47):
It's on me.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
Sure, are right, daddy.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
I'd never recognize those two by their clothes like city swells.
Speaker 8 (25:54):
All right, you whiskey, bom champagne first, and then.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Let me take him.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
Now.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
When Rudy reaches into his pocket and starts counting on
you aim a couple of.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Times, see me, Yeah, I got some more champagne.
Speaker 8 (26:08):
Rudy, Yeah, Bartender brings another case of it. Here's one
hundred dollars.
Speaker 9 (26:14):
He's a hold up. I reach everybody.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
Send those arms up to the sky.
Speaker 9 (26:17):
You too, Rudy, and you George. It's the cops.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
It's pinkers in me. Wait, get my hands on your
head off me, get your hands off.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
You're joking me?
Speaker 5 (26:31):
What hands high?
Speaker 1 (26:33):
George?
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Okay, okay, you got me.
Speaker 9 (26:35):
My hands are up, all right, Try these on the side.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
You don't have to handcuff me.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
I said, I'd go quietly, just in case you got
any fancy ideas. George Collins, you're under arrest, he was.
Speaker 9 (26:45):
Somebody.
Speaker 8 (26:46):
Get this big lug off my chest.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Nice work, Denny. Pull the kid's hands up over his.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
Headn't let me get up will you somebody by all
means let them up, Denny.
Speaker 5 (26:59):
All right, everybody back to the bar. We've got the
only two week came for.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
I don't know what you think you're doing. You got
nothing on us.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
I will see, Oh, Danny, I don't believe you two
have been formally introduced.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
Danny.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
This is Rudy Rudolf, otherwise known as the Missouri Kid.
We have a little torture robbery warrant outstanding for him
and the George Collins I think you know. And my partner, gentlemen,
is Dan Schumacher. At last name mean anything to you.
Speaker 9 (27:32):
No, Shumacher, shut up, George.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
You don't know nothing.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Dan Schumacher is c. J. Schumacher's brother, CJ. Rudy, the
man you shot in cold blood, you remember, now, Rudy.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
In a Hartford boarding house where Rudolph and Collins were staying,
they found almost nine dollars from the Union Bank. The
bank robbers were taken back to the town of Union, Missouri,
arraigned on murder and robbery charges and held without bail.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
But these two.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Lawless men had not given up, as we shall find
out when I returned.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Shortly with Act three.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Crime the criminal, and women never ceased to amaze William Pickett,
in writing about the case of the Missouri Kid, he
says that once Rudy Rudolph was in prison, women not
only in Saint Louis, but all over America made him
their hero, wrote him letters and gifts.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
Stood outside the prison walls just to be near him.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
Strange, the fascination of this cold blood murderer.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
All right, you guys in tools marked by twos. Once
around again in the yard for exercise.
Speaker 9 (29:01):
Tonnie Humber, move.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
On along, you two cats.
Speaker 9 (29:03):
Me move on.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Nobody talks, No one talks.
Speaker 9 (29:07):
Charge right behind you, Rudy.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
This crummy jail's too small to hold us. They searched
me good.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
In Saint Louis, I couldn't stash a file the way
I did in Denver.
Speaker 4 (29:16):
No file, not even a toothpick. You better get one.
I asked the guard if Nellie could pay us a visit.
Speaker 9 (29:25):
He said, he'd asked the warden, what.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
Is this a tea party? You heard me?
Speaker 8 (29:30):
No one talks you the exceptions around here you may
be the Missouri Kid, but in here you do what
you're told, and you're told no talking.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
It's all my fault.
Speaker 9 (29:40):
Guard.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
I was just telling Rudy, I asked you yesterday if
his sister Nelly could come see.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
It's on visiting day. And I'm honest, that's all I
was telling him.
Speaker 8 (29:48):
All right, all right, you got some rights, and I
recognize that.
Speaker 7 (29:52):
And George has Rudy.
Speaker 6 (29:57):
I've thought, seeing as how i'm his sister' he visited him.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
You're lucky they let you see me.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Pinkerton phoned the ward and said if they couldn't put
on an extra heavy guard to put Rudy in solitary,
he's afraid he'll escape.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
That Pinkerton's in my reader.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Easy, easy, honey, I think that guard is listening.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
You mean, really honest. You get you got all that
fan mail for Rudy, all.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
Those letters, but we're here.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Let me smell one of them.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
Wow, perfume?
Speaker 3 (30:30):
He guard want to smell these letters? Can I take them?
Perfumed letters for the Missouri kid?
Speaker 4 (30:38):
I guess you can have them. I don't think a
gun could fit in a letter. Eh, you're right, you're right.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Well, you're a wonderful kid, and we'll do what we
have to do.
Speaker 7 (30:49):
You haven't much time, George. They've announced the trial day.
Speaker 9 (30:53):
Oh, don't worry.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
When that trial comes up, we'll be reading about it
in the Arkansas newspapers.
Speaker 7 (30:59):
Arkansas.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Oh yeah, yeah, you mean you like last time? The
only safe place to hide out.
Speaker 7 (31:05):
Oh, George, I'll miss your soul?
Speaker 9 (31:08):
You will.
Speaker 4 (31:10):
See.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Am I crazy?
Speaker 9 (31:13):
Do you like me?
Speaker 7 (31:16):
Don't you know that? George?
Speaker 9 (31:17):
What more a minute?
Speaker 4 (31:18):
Why more a minute? Missy ollers Rover, don't know that?
Speaker 7 (31:22):
Well? How I feel about you? All these years?
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Oh, all these years Rudy and I have been together?
Will I to me you were like a kid's sister.
Speaker 7 (31:35):
Well look at me, George, I'm eighteen. Do I look
like a kid's.
Speaker 9 (31:41):
Sister to you?
Speaker 6 (31:42):
Now?
Speaker 4 (31:43):
Well?
Speaker 3 (31:44):
No, you uh, I can't say that you do. In fact,
you look really good to me.
Speaker 7 (31:51):
Now do you know what I'm hoping?
Speaker 4 (31:54):
That's all, folks, All the visitors please rise and form
a line to the door.
Speaker 6 (31:59):
Everything turn out all right, that you'll get out in
ingo straight, George?
Speaker 9 (32:05):
For us, keep oven, Keep oven.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Though you were in solitary, they only had one cell
and it was occupied. Said they put me in there
after the fourth of July. Did you get the.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Family and what was in him?
Speaker 4 (32:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (32:25):
There are you no talking? You heard me? Keep oven.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
Listen, I got to talk to you. Yeah, where I'll
find you in the mess hall. Keep a place on
the bench next to you. I'll bring my tray over.
No kidding, Rudy, you got it all cased out here.
You know that top tier, there's a there's a skylight
(32:50):
over it. Now it's up through the skylight, over the
roof and out. Cassidy he works in the wharton's garden.
He gave me the angle of the roof slammed.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
Then across the chapel roof, down into the warden's backyard
and from there right.
Speaker 4 (33:08):
Into Saint lou And we can.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Get lost in the traffic. What time you picked out
after the roll call? At twelve in afternoon? About three
the streets in the city will be crowded. Then, you know, okay,
Now when guess what big holidays coming up? By fourth,
the fourth of July, a lot of guards will be
off duty.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
I'll have my door filed and ready to go. I
tried it already. It cuts like butter. I just got
to figure out how many steps from my cell to
the top tier, and then how far from there to
the skylight? What about me? You've got the only file.
How do I get out of my sound. You won't
(33:51):
even be in it the morning of the fourth. You'll
have an attack of appendicitis and be screaming with pain.
You'll give the infirmary you had appendicitis. Coming on right yere?
Here Bell slips some money in those fan latters. Now
you taking all of it.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
You pay off a bunch of the guys to start
a fight at the far end, the other end from
the skylight in the prison hall. Nowmem three o'clock the
afternoon of the fourth, sharp boy, can't you see those
dumb guards thinking there's a.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Rild running over there. I figure that will give us
just about enough time that we need to break out.
On the fourth of July too.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
I want a day to celebrate on.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
A ride. He George, you're with me. I behind you.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
Rudy walkably took my clothes away in the infirmary. All
I got is this night shirt, hockey. Now, grab a
hold of these girders and follow me. Now I'm gonna
swing my legs up and smash that glass. Come on, George,
take my hand, now go on. I'll hold you.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
Now, up you go. I don't think I can make
you sure you can do it now now time along
the roof behind me.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
I watched tip half. They haven't any ideas where God between. Now,
Rudy over here, ditch from this roof to the chop roof.
Speaker 4 (35:27):
Right, that's fifteen feet. I'll never make a cut it out.
It's only twenty you say, you go, Rudy, I can't
make it. Oh, come on, I can't what he is
scared of the high place here. So I have been
all right so long, George. Now listen, if anybody comes
through that skylight, you just hold them off long enough
(35:48):
till I'm out of sight. Ye okay, ready one two three? Kid? Oh,
Rudy say that you're hanging up so right? Damn well?
What do you be caught on? Dad burn wires? Somebody's
drunk wires up here. Nobody told me that I got
(36:09):
to get loose?
Speaker 9 (36:10):
Give up?
Speaker 4 (36:11):
Will you get your face is all cut? If you
fall on your head, don't, Rudy go. I'll make it.
Speaker 9 (36:19):
Got to make it.
Speaker 4 (36:21):
I just untwisted these wires. I'm on the tapper roof now.
Speaker 9 (36:27):
I pray for me.
Speaker 4 (36:29):
Good luck, George.
Speaker 9 (36:34):
It's not as though you didn't want it, mister Pingerton.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
They'll try to escape you knew it.
Speaker 9 (36:38):
I knew it. Oh, it makes me so angry.
Speaker 5 (36:41):
Well, at least they got columns back. You have the
detailed report.
Speaker 9 (36:46):
Well haven't you seen it?
Speaker 5 (36:48):
No, I haven't read it to me.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Donny.
Speaker 9 (36:49):
Well, evidently the kid was cut and bleeding, got tore
up on some wires strung across the roof. He jumped
or fell from the main roof to the chappel roof,
then down that and into the wardens garden, then walked
in the unlocked back door where the warden's mother was ironing.
She said, he bowed to her and walked out the
front door. An extraport on the corner of Spruce and eleven.
(37:14):
He steals a bicycle and heads into the middle of
the city. An extra port. A rowboat stolen in North
Saint Louis, presumably rode across the Mississippi. That's seeing next
to a man answering Rudy's description, gets out of a
freight car in the Memphis Railroad yard all the way
to Memphis. Huh, that was yesterday, ass And I'll bet
(37:37):
you anything, we'll get a report. He's stolen a horse
somewhere in Tennessee and he's headed for Arkansas. Yeah right,
the Indian territory. We always lose those, bend it's an
Indian territory.
Speaker 5 (37:47):
Hey, I'll take out Danny.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Won't be for long.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
He's not the kind to spend time hiding. If I
know the Missouri kid, he'll be back in this neighborhood
knocking off another bank. Our chief weapon now is to
circular eye every spot in every state with his picture
and description.
Speaker 5 (38:04):
Sooner or later he'll.
Speaker 9 (38:05):
Surface, mister Pickerton, Rudy's sister's outside now. Yeah, she wants
to see you. She's pretty brought up, and.
Speaker 1 (38:18):
I don't know what she thinks I can do for
George Commons.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
The jury is still out.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
Shall I send her in?
Speaker 4 (38:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (38:24):
All right, And I guess you'd better leave us alone.
Speaker 9 (38:27):
Then, Miss Rudolph, mister Pickton, see.
Speaker 5 (38:33):
Come in now.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
Hey, why you look much younger than you did up
there on the witness stand.
Speaker 6 (38:40):
They didn't believe me, the judge, the jury, they didn't
believe anything I said.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
I'm afraid they had possession of certain facts and certain witnesses.
Speaker 7 (38:50):
What witness I was there?
Speaker 6 (38:53):
It wasn't George who pulled the trigger. She was with
me in the cabin. It was rudey wh've done it?
Speaker 7 (38:59):
He walked right. I have to your man and kill him.
Speaker 5 (39:01):
I know, Nellie, that's what you said in court.
Speaker 4 (39:03):
What can I do?
Speaker 7 (39:06):
I know George has done a lot of wrong see,
but he didn't kill at man.
Speaker 5 (39:10):
I'm not the jury or the judge.
Speaker 7 (39:13):
Well would I say things against my own brother, excuse
him of a coal murder like that if it wasn't so?
Speaker 1 (39:20):
But your brother isn't here to defend himself. He's hiding
out somewheres. It's possible the jury will believe you, but
maybe they'll figure you're making this up because you're well,
because you're keen on George Colins.
Speaker 9 (39:35):
I do love him.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
I'm not saying I don't. But he didn't do it.
Speaker 4 (39:39):
It's out of my.
Speaker 5 (39:40):
Hands, Nelly. Why don't you go home? All I can
say is.
Speaker 1 (39:47):
Just try to let all of what's happen be a
lesson to you.
Speaker 7 (39:51):
You think it's too late, don't you that they'll convict.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
Him Even if George Carrs were to walk out of
that prisoner free, man, I tell you never to see
him again.
Speaker 5 (40:02):
Try to start over, Nellie. You're only eighteen. You've got
a whole life ahead of you.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Good morning, mister Picketon.
Speaker 5 (40:15):
What a use of bright and cheerry about.
Speaker 9 (40:18):
But I don't like to say I'm celebrating, but I
guess in a way this news makes me feel real good.
Speaker 5 (40:23):
All right, spill it.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Well.
Speaker 9 (40:25):
For one thing, it's almost the years since George Collins
was convicted and hung, and we kept trying and trying
to find Rudy, and we will keep on trying. Well,
I think that luck has changed. He's come out of
hiding and he's done exactly what you said he would.
Here's the telegram.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Called your attention, Prisoner Charles Gorney apprehended an attempt to
rob Lewisburg, Kansas National Bank. Comparing your photographs of William
Rudy Rudolph alias Missouri Kid, not satisfactory identification. However, Bertolin measurements,
particularly scars, mole on upper lip, and two gold teeth,
(41:05):
closely resemble. Gourney kindly advised Sheriff Farley, Kansas. What do
you think all the bank robbers in the world, the
likelihood two men would have the same scars, the same mole,
and the same two gold teeth.
Speaker 5 (41:20):
It's just not possible.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
But that's just why I feel good today.
Speaker 5 (41:24):
That's right, Danny, I think.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
We've got our man, and indeed they had.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
Charles Gourney turned out to be none other than Rudy Rudolph.
That had been a long and costly trail, and had
it not been for the cooperation of every local and
state law enforcement body, the Missouri Kid might never.
Speaker 9 (41:47):
Have been caught.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
You may say this proves crime does not pay. However,
for the Picquitons who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars
to wrap up this case, crime can be very expensive.
I shall return shortly.
Speaker 9 (42:12):
It was May nineteen oh.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
Five, fifty two months after the cowardly murder of Detective C. J. Schumacher,
that the second outlaw, the Missouri Kid, died at.
Speaker 4 (42:23):
The end of a rope.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
It was also the beginning of a tradition followed to
this day. If a law man is killed in the
line of duty, none of his brothers will rest until
the criminal is brought to justice. Our cast included Lloyd Battista,
Ian Martin, Robert Maxwell, E. V.
Speaker 4 (42:42):
Jester, and Russell Hortman.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown.
Speaker 4 (42:50):
Missus E. G. Marshall.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
Inviting you to return to our mystery Theater for another
adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant
Speaker 7 (43:29):
Ri Fi
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