August 9, 2025 • 29 mins
Chronicles the cases of a law enforcement officer in the American West, blending traditional Western themes with modern investigative techniques. The stories are based on real cases.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The National Broadcasting Company presents Joel McCrae in Tales of
the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
From Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Another authentic reenactment of the case transcribed from the files
of the Texas Rangers Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as Ranger Jase Pearson, Texas more than two
hundred and sixty thousand square miles and fifty men who
(00:33):
make up the most famous and oldest law enforcement body
in North America. Now from the files of the Texas
(00:54):
Rangers come these stories based on fact only. Names, dates,
and places are fictitious or obvious reasons. The events themselves
are a matter of records.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Case for tonight death Plan.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
It is eleven o'clock on the night of September eighteenth,
nineteen forty six, fourteen miles east of Pembroke, Texas, on
State Route seventy stands the First Community Church. Each Wednesday night,
members of the congregation have been donating their services to
the construction of a recreation hall.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
The evening's work is just.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Over, and Tom Peter's, a farmer, stands in the parking
area waiting for his wife to catch up to him.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Jemmy Laura, And don't forget when you miss the floor.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
I'm sure you planned it first with a couple.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
Of table jewy you going to stand there?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
John the holy oh.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Oh, death man. He's got no more patients than a
pull in fly till tomorrow.
Speaker 7 (01:58):
What makes you allwie?
Speaker 5 (02:00):
It's in such a hurry.
Speaker 8 (02:01):
Somebody in this family's gonna be in a hurry even
to you will never get anywhere.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Oh now, Tom.
Speaker 6 (02:06):
You know you don't.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
Tom, you left the motor running.
Speaker 8 (02:10):
I'm sure left is running. Toki, I was going to
the battery is almost dead. Oh yes, that no good?
Will Phainton tell me a heap like this in corner
the pickup? Trust a getting suit? A man can't trust
nobody nowadays.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
You know what I'm gonna do.
Speaker 6 (02:27):
So I'm gonna take him to large, just like I
told him.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
The next You'll do no such thing, Tom Peters will too.
Speaker 8 (02:34):
Man. Steve got some rights around here. Got let people
like well, we.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Had a pretty dress she had on tonight, Will Finton's wife.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
Oh she's such a pretty little thing.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Anyhow.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
He sure is good to her. Why bet that's the
third new dress she's had in four.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
A month day.
Speaker 8 (02:52):
See what I mean goes around cheating one of his
people so he can buy dresses for his.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Warm Tom, Now don't take on so you know how
hard started?
Speaker 7 (03:00):
Yet?
Speaker 6 (03:00):
And we waited there lot this piece of John.
Speaker 8 (03:02):
I ain't tell you who I am gonna take him
to court?
Speaker 5 (03:06):
Oh you told them that every de since you bought
the truck, And I'll do it too.
Speaker 7 (03:10):
You see who it on?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
You want to argue with him like you did tonight,
at least not so close to the church.
Speaker 7 (03:18):
Here's the out of gate already.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Don't take long when you got something to ride in.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Maybe I better get out and open the gate so
you can.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
Keep them otor running.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
You sit there, now, look what it's gone and done?
Died on?
Speaker 8 (03:34):
I told you you didn't tell me no.
Speaker 6 (03:39):
Hell making?
Speaker 5 (03:40):
Maybe you did? Oh you get it started again?
Speaker 7 (03:45):
That no good? We'll think him.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
Now can I better get out and open the gate.
Speaker 8 (03:52):
If I can push over that little rise, we can
coast down the slope, maybe she'll catch.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Now you'll be careful, Tom Peters pushing trucks at your.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Age, don't you worry about me?
Speaker 5 (04:04):
He was. It's funny sound here.
Speaker 8 (04:07):
Lord's just the engine cooling. M You women never understand nothing.
Speaker 6 (04:14):
I got to get me a bumper gate one of
these days.
Speaker 8 (04:17):
Business is getting out every time.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
You won't know, you don't sound like no engine cool.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Enough, No, sue me.
Speaker 7 (04:24):
I told you it was just show me, shoe me.
The explosion of.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
The truck kills Sylvie Peter's immediately.
Speaker 7 (04:44):
Her husband was found unconscious.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
And taken to the Pembroke Hospital, where his condition was
pronounced serious. The sheriff investigating the case requested the help
of the Texas Ranger, and Ranger Jase Pearson was assigned,
joining the sheriff at the scene of the explosion.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
A little after two am.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Yeah, there's a truck Jason's left of it.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Not a very pretty way to die. Mur There's never
a very pretty, Sheriff. The gate was it open when
you got here?
Speaker 8 (05:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:11):
Tom musta got out open it. That's how he missed
getting killed.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Mm.
Speaker 6 (05:17):
This bomb, Jace, you reckon it was tossed.
Speaker 8 (05:20):
At him, not likely away. The cab of the truck's blown.
I'd say the bomb was planted in there. We'll have
to you see something.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, then hold my life, will you, sheriff? Sure? Right
on that spot, you know, here's part of your bomb.
Speaker 6 (05:36):
Sheriff, Why it's just a hunker split lead pipe.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
That's right plumbing pipe from the looks of it. How
do you know that's part of the bomb.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
Tom might have been carrying lead pipe in the back
of his truck.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
With the way it's split down the scene, the powder
burns the light around the bitch sheriff. Yeah, he wait
a minute, hold of it. There's something else. What is it?
Jase main spring out of a a lot arm clock.
I'll call Austin to get a lab crew to give
this place a good going over. At least we know
what killed Sylvia Peters, a homemade time bomb. We went
(06:19):
to the hospital and waited. A little after seven that morning.
Tom Peters was conscious and strong enough to answer questions.
He was covered with bandages, but he opened his eyes
and we walked into his room.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
Hello Tom, Tom, miss ranger patient.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
He'd like to ask you a few.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Questions, mister Peters.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
Aw not easy.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
Tom, I WoT not be working.
Speaker 8 (06:57):
And he was hot.
Speaker 6 (07:00):
All the way out just to bring him put your.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Oh now, Tom, you don't have to talk about it.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
Come here, mister Peters.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Do you have any idea who might have done this?
Speaker 8 (07:20):
Well?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
But easy Tom, easy boy, What makes you sure Will
Finton set that bomb?
Speaker 7 (07:35):
I have I was gonna take it to court on the.
Speaker 6 (07:38):
Cut and the cook and stole me. That's why she
blew it up.
Speaker 7 (07:44):
So I couldn't.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
But Tom Will Finton wouldn't try to kid it just
because he was scared to go into court. How long
ago did you buy that truck, mister Peters?
Speaker 6 (07:54):
Right?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Six?
Speaker 6 (07:56):
Easical?
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Fenton lived far from here, shirre ten miles a little less. Maybe,
don't worry, mister Peters. If Will Fenton set that bomb,
we'll get him. We drove out to the Fenton farm
(08:25):
and found an attractive young woman in the kitchen, whom
the sheriff introduced as Verne Fenton, Will's wife. She told
us Will was expected any minute, settled down over some
coffee and waited. Missus Fenton had already heard about the
death of Sylvia Peters.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
I just can't understand it. Who'd want to do something
like that to poor Sylvie?
Speaker 2 (08:44):
That's what we're trying to find.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Out, isn't She was so sweet when we moved here.
She was the first one to come visit us.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
You and your husband aren't from around here, then, ma'am No.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
I was raised on a ranch about one hundred miles east.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
Will worked on a.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
Ranch near us long as you had this place, since
right after we got married.
Speaker 9 (09:03):
Not quite a year now, Ranger.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
You haven't said why you wanted.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
To see my husband.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
We just wanna ask him a few questions about last night.
Speaker 6 (09:13):
But I don't understand it.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
I shart how he will?
Speaker 6 (09:18):
Yeah, this ranger person, you want to have a little
talk with you?
Speaker 7 (09:21):
Alright?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Sure? Sure, glad to blige. You want some coffee? Well, yeah,
by the honey, in for it my shop, I'll do it. Eh,
should have? Thanks? Yeah, ranger, what can I do for you?
Mister Fenton? I suppose you heard about what happened to
Tom and Sylvia Peters last night. Yeah, yeah, I heard
about that. It's a awful thing. Awful makes me feel
(09:44):
real bad.
Speaker 6 (09:47):
I I showed time that truck, but I.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Heard there was a lot of hard feelings between you
and Tom about that truck.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Tom says you cheated him.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Will says he was gonna take you to court about him.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
Well, that's crazy, Sherif Tom knew that truck, he's in
bad shape when about it. But you did have some
hot words over it later where you know Tom gets
you little excited.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
That's all You were at the church last night, weren't you? Sure?
Speaker 7 (10:08):
Sure?
Speaker 6 (10:09):
Mean?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
B in both? Did you stay inside the recreation hall
the whole time? And I don't remember? Maybe I shipped
that for a little a not you. I think you'd
better try to remember you saying I sit there bombing
Tom's truck. I'm not saying anything yet, but how did
you know it was set there? It might have been
thrown in when Tom stopped at this gate. Yeah, well
(10:30):
that's what everybody's saying.
Speaker 6 (10:31):
It was a time by him, a granger at me.
Tom and I had a few words.
Speaker 7 (10:36):
But you don't think i'd kill him.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
There's been a murder. It's my job to ask questions.
Oh sure, sure? You only doing your job. You're barking
up the wrong tree.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
If you think I killed him, you better find somebody
who really hated.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
That's just what we're gonna do. Don't go too far
from your farm, mister Fenton, because we might be back
to see you. We spent the rest of that day
and half the night checking on people who knew Tom
Peters and his wife. It was about two point thirty
(11:11):
the next morning when we decided to turn in, the
sheriff suggested a cup of coffee at the.
Speaker 6 (11:15):
Diner across from the courthouse. Man, I know one thing, Jace.
I sure, I am tired.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah, I confuse a little sleep myself.
Speaker 7 (11:26):
Out of here. Ranger.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Well, it be coffee for me, Eddie Ranger, Sam, do coffee?
You fellows up pretty late.
Speaker 6 (11:34):
Tonight working all night.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Peter Bowling, that's right.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
Excur'd be too hard to find a fellow that did that.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
What do you mean?
Speaker 8 (11:42):
Well, now, I don't want to be talking behind nobody's back,
but pears like everybody in town.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Whew.
Speaker 8 (11:47):
Old Tom was feuding with Will Fenton about the pickup
truck Will sold him.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
I wouldn't want Will to be short me.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
Excuse me a minute again. Well, looks like everywhere we
turn we get the story about the fight between Will.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Tom. Must have heard it twenty times already. Yeah, we'll
head out there again in the morning, have another talk
with you.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
I'll get it for you if we'll offer you to
want you share.
Speaker 6 (12:09):
It is right and port Thanks Eddie.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I was old Tom Ranger. I heard he was hurt
pretty bad. They are both said, all right. Doc said
the night he was out of danger.
Speaker 8 (12:18):
Yeah, I'm sure glad to hear you old time. You know,
he blows off height of steam. But what you don't
mean nothing?
Speaker 2 (12:23):
We'll be right.
Speaker 6 (12:24):
You're gonna miss Sylvie though.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Sorry, Jace, come.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
On, we're not gonna get to sleep yet.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
What's the matter?
Speaker 7 (12:30):
That was real, Finton?
Speaker 5 (12:31):
He just found a bomb under his house.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
In just a moment. We will continue with Tales of
the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Jase Pearson.
Speaker 9 (12:53):
Whatever you drive the car, there was always an unseen,
unwelcome passenger with you. That passenger is danger, the danger
of a traffic accident. Unfortunately, every person seems to have
the absurd notion that he bears a charmed life, that
no traffic accident can happen to him. But it can,
and too often it does. So when you're behind that wheel,
(13:15):
don't take chances, obey all traffic rules, drive safely for life,
your life and the lives of us.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
We continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and
tonight's case Death Plant, an authentic story from the files
of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
The sheriff and I rushed out to the fence and farm.
We spotted Will standing in front of the house in
a bathroom. When we pulled up, he came running over
the car. Where's the bombers?
Speaker 7 (13:50):
He was in a box.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
He's kicking like a clock. Where is it? I show you?
Speaker 5 (13:54):
I've moved you to wait for the house at neck Feederley.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It's a good way to get your head blown off.
My wife's still asleep.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
I didn't want I'm scared now there it is a boy,
that mesquino.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
You got here, all right? You stay here with the sheriff.
Speaker 6 (14:06):
What are you figuring to do?
Speaker 10 (14:07):
Jay?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Deactivate that bomb?
Speaker 7 (14:09):
Well, don't be crazy, Jace.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
It won't hurt nobody where it is. Let him go
off by itself.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I need it for evidence. Do you want some help?
Speaker 8 (14:16):
No?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Thanks?
Speaker 7 (14:19):
Be careful, Jase.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (14:27):
How are you making out?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
It's all right now? Sheriff sure? And are injured?
Speaker 5 (14:32):
You threw that things out of commission.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
It should be I pulled the wires and stopped the
clock mechanism. Another homemade job, Jay.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
Yeah, you know, if I'd have thought of that, I
probably wish you'd have dumped it in a pail.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Of water and shay you old at rays stream. That's
the worst thing you can do with a bomb, mister
fen unless you know what it's made of, might have
chemicals in it that gets set off by water. How'd
you happen to find it?
Speaker 6 (14:53):
Oh? Yeah, Well I woke up maybe a few minutes
before I tried to get you. U. I thought I
heard somebody walking around outside the house, and I come.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Out to No, now come, you don't keep a dog
out here? Will all? Kind of My wife sheriff, she's
scared of him. Exactly where'd you find this bombers? Depending
right under where our bedroom is. You think of anybody
who might have planted it there? I don't have to think.
Speaker 7 (15:14):
I saw who did he?
Speaker 5 (15:15):
You walk?
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (15:16):
I saw his car when he drove away and had
now led Jaloppe anywhere, which Clint Buckler, Oose Glynn Mackler and.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Young Cawkoka used to work with for he got married.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
He's no good, never was used to bother vern all
the time, and he stole the.
Speaker 6 (15:28):
Diamond ring from the boss's wife. Cuts into to Hunchville
for two years.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
How long ago was that? Mm? Maybe fifteen months, probably
out on parole days. Uh huh? You sure it was
him here tonight?
Speaker 7 (15:39):
I saw him, I tell you.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Uh ah.
Speaker 6 (15:41):
And a little over a week ago, when I was
coming back from town, he was parking his galoppe a mile.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Or so down the road.
Speaker 7 (15:46):
He's just just sitting there, looking up to her to
our house.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Did you tell your wife about that? Oh no, no,
it get it all up, shit, I see. Then the
night was the second time you've seen him around? Yeah,
that's right. Yeah. Only way I figure it is when
he got out of Jaily.
Speaker 6 (15:58):
Heard about burned me being married, made him sore enough
to want to kill us.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
I'm sure you didn't see him around church Wednesday night. No,
that don't mean he couldn't have been here.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
I've been thinking like you, jeez, but it just don't
make sense.
Speaker 10 (16:11):
If this fellow was mad at the Fentons here, why
would he want to kill old Tom and so he
unless he was crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I don't think he was crazy. Sheriff got a hunt.
He just made a mistake. How do you mean, don't
forget Sheriff Tom Peters only bought that pick up a
week ago from mister Finton here.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Yeah, Oh, then it was the Fintons.
Speaker 7 (16:30):
He was after all the time.
Speaker 5 (16:31):
Only he didn't know the truck had changed hands to be.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
He could have get this Mockler arranger. He's no good
and try to kill us again. Maybe next time we
make it. You gotta get him.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
We have to find him first.
Speaker 6 (16:43):
He's working over at the Williams Range now. He's about
fifty miles from here. In here Delby.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Well, something wrong, Oh, very honey? Thought she was asleep.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
I heard you talking.
Speaker 7 (16:54):
What's that thing?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
We had a little excitement, ma'am. It's all right now, honey.
I don't want you to get upset, but reckon, I
have to tell you sooner or later it might as
well be now. Great Boxer tried to shit this bomb
under replace.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
Clint, but he couldn't have.
Speaker 6 (17:09):
He's in jail, not anymore, means Finton.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
But don't you worry. We'll get him.
Speaker 7 (17:13):
He couldn't have tried to kill us. I don't believe him.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
You don't know him the way I do. I work
with him. He's no good. He's rotten clear streets like
always told you. Hell je I reckon, we better get going. Yeah.
I want to get this bomb to Pemberg for the
lab crew to check over. Then, if we hurry, we
can make the Williams Ranch before breakfast at the ranch.
They told us our best bet for finding Clint Mockler
(17:38):
was to take horses and look for the former Hank Snyder.
He described Clint and told us he was a loading
pen the of the Santa Fe tracks. As we approached,
we saw several men loading cattle and other cars. Reckon,
that's him over there.
Speaker 6 (17:50):
Jesus traded a.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Lot of fine.
Speaker 7 (17:52):
We'll soon find out.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Sheriff. Who oh, Charky?
Speaker 7 (17:59):
Hey, yeah, you Clint Mockler.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
That's right?
Speaker 6 (18:03):
What you want?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Come here a minute?
Speaker 8 (18:05):
All right?
Speaker 5 (18:07):
Shove up next, Anthony?
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Were you.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Once?
Speaker 7 (18:11):
You want?
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Rangie the sheriff, and I want to talk to you.
Speaker 7 (18:14):
What about it?
Speaker 6 (18:15):
You've been over to Pembroke lately? And maybe why did
you see the Fentons?
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Hey?
Speaker 7 (18:21):
What's all this about?
Speaker 2 (18:22):
You're still on parole, aren't you Clinton?
Speaker 7 (18:24):
So why and.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
Against the law to go to Pembroke?
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Why did you want to see the Fentons.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
Burn's no friend of mine. I guess I just wanted
to talk to Did you talk to him? No? Why not?
When I got out of jail, I wrote Burn the letter.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
She didn't answer.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
But last week I got decided to drive robe anyway,
what kept you from seeing her?
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Now?
Speaker 6 (18:45):
But after got there, I started thinking maybe you didn't
want to see him. Then Will drove past me talk
and I knew when I saw him it wouldn't be
any good to me to go up there.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
It will stop and talk to you.
Speaker 7 (18:56):
No, slowed down, just looked at me. An you. That's
all this about? Anyhow?
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Somebody put a bomb in that truck that killed a
woman named Sylvia Peters.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
We figured to killer meant to get Will and his
wife because last night he put a bomb on her
Will's house.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
But did brne get her? Oh? She's all right? What
about you? You were seen driving away from the fen
farm early this morning?
Speaker 7 (19:18):
That's a lie. I wasn't anywhere near. Where were you
in town?
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Anybody with you?
Speaker 4 (19:23):
No?
Speaker 2 (19:24):
What times you get back to the ranch?
Speaker 6 (19:26):
I don't know, maybe three out to three.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
In the morning and got to get up at five.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
What are you trying to hand us? Boy?
Speaker 6 (19:32):
I don't need much sleep. I got plenty of it
down Hountsville.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
How about Wednesday night? Clint? Where were you then? Wednesday?
Speaker 6 (19:39):
I drove over to see friend about fifteen miles south
of here.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
What's your friend's name? I want to talk to him.
I won't do any good. Why not?
Speaker 6 (19:50):
It's when I got there it wasn't home.
Speaker 10 (19:53):
I think you better come back to Pembroke with us
on this range, I didn't have nothing to do with
on Clint.
Speaker 7 (19:58):
Let's go, look, Ranger. How long I gotta stay here?
I told you everything I know.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
I'm afraid it's not enough unless you can prove where
you were in the last two nights.
Speaker 7 (20:12):
Why can't I prove it?
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Nobody saw me? You know?
Speaker 5 (20:15):
Why don't you? Because you're lying. The first night you
were over at the church planting the bomb in.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
The Peter's truck.
Speaker 7 (20:20):
I don't even know the Peter.
Speaker 5 (20:21):
Course you don't, but you know Will and Vern Finton,
and it was them you were trying to kill.
Speaker 7 (20:24):
That ain't so why would I want to kill Vern?
Speaker 2 (20:27):
How long have you known Vern? Clinton? Going on for
a year? You know her pretty well, didn't you?
Speaker 6 (20:34):
That's crazy about it. We're gonna get married, would have
too if.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
You hadn't gone to jail. Yeah, I don't blame her though,
not wanting to wait for jail bird.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Sure, I got a little so when I heard you
married Will.
Speaker 7 (20:50):
But I wouldn't kill her. You gotta believe that.
Speaker 6 (20:52):
Are you still in love with her Clinton? Yeah, I guess,
And you didn't try to kill her?
Speaker 3 (20:58):
No, no, But he's trying to put the finger on me,
just like last time when they said I stole a
diamond ring.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
What about the ring?
Speaker 7 (21:05):
I never took it.
Speaker 10 (21:06):
Somebody must put it in my pocket, didn't even know
his badly searched me. Now you're trying to put me
away again for something I didn't do. You were seen
driving away from the Fenton farm just after the bomber
was planning.
Speaker 7 (21:16):
Who saw Will Fenton?
Speaker 2 (21:19):
I did?
Speaker 6 (21:22):
Wait a minute, now, I'm beginning to get it. What
what a dope?
Speaker 10 (21:26):
I All the time I was in the pen, I
trying to figure you planted that ring on me?
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Now I know it was Will Fent.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Making up lies.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Won't help you, unclanted, Why would I want to lie?
Speaker 6 (21:35):
Now?
Speaker 7 (21:36):
Served my time for stealing a ring, didn't that? But
I didn't steal a Will Fenton did?
Speaker 2 (21:39):
What makes you think?
Speaker 7 (21:40):
So that ain't hard to figure out.
Speaker 10 (21:42):
He was always jealous of me and vern water for himself.
That's why he got me out of the way before,
and that's what he's trying to do now.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Sheriff You've got somebody we can leave Clint with for
a while. Deputies in the next room. Take came in
there with you? Yeah, come on, look you.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
See he's trying to frame you again, Ranger, that's.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
What he's fell.
Speaker 7 (21:58):
Will you, Charlie?
Speaker 2 (22:01):
You ready to file charges against him?
Speaker 7 (22:03):
Jesse?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Not yet, Sheriff. What's the matter?
Speaker 5 (22:06):
You don't believe the stuff he was handing the studious?
Speaker 6 (22:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
There's still a few things that don't feel right, like
Will telling us where Clint Mockler worked. How did he know?
Speaker 6 (22:16):
Well, probably from that letter Clint wrote to miss Finnon.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yeah, that's probably the way he found out. But I
got to hunt he opened the letter and she never
saw it.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
What makes you think that because she didn't even know
Clint was out of prison?
Speaker 2 (22:29):
What does this all prove, Jase, that maybe a husband's
jealousy is behind the whole thing. How would you say
Clint felt about Will's wife?
Speaker 5 (22:37):
I'd say he was still pretty sweet on her, so
would I.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
And if he is, why would he want to kill her?
Speaker 6 (22:44):
Are you saying Fenton planted that bomb under his house himself?
Speaker 2 (22:48):
I'm not saying yet.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
Then there's something I don't.
Speaker 10 (22:51):
Get If that's true, it was will Fenton who kills
Ylvie Peters. Uh huh, but that don't make sense.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
It does if Fenton wanted Clint to have a real
murdered answer.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
Or get him out of the way for good, he'd
have to be awful smart to plant that careful.
Speaker 5 (23:05):
What's our next step, Jase, talk to.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Missus Fenton, find out if she still cares anything about Clint,
and if she does, and we'll see what makes a
jealous husband tick. Oh hoy, Ranger, Sure we'll run in.
(23:29):
Did you pick up Clint Mackler your wife around, mister Fenton?
Speaker 7 (23:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Sure? Do you mind calling her? Oh sure, I'm sure
we'ren honey, Yeah, I don't come in here a minute.
Let's don't see why you want her?
Speaker 5 (23:42):
What is it?
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Oh, I'll answer your question now, mister Fenton. We picked
up Clint Mackler to day over the Williams Ranch. Oh
it's fine, Ranger. We can all breed easier knowing he's
buying bars.
Speaker 7 (23:54):
Now you mean he did it.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
We don't know yet, ma'am, but we're holding him for
investigation until we get this bombing business straightened down.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
But he wouldn't do it I know he wouldn't.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Looks pretty bad for him, Honey.
Speaker 6 (24:05):
I've been telling you all along, you don't know him.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
He's just no good.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
I can't believe it.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
I just can't believe it.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Mister Fenton. When you saw Clint's car down the road
about a week ago, did you stop and speak to him?
Speaker 3 (24:16):
No?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Why should I?
Speaker 7 (24:17):
Then? How did you know he was.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Working over at the Williams Ranch? I don't know. I
could have heard it in town. We understand that Clint
wrote your wife a letter after he got out of prison.
Could you've learned it from that? Clint wrote me a letter?
That's what he says, ma'am. How about it, mister Fenton?
Speaker 6 (24:35):
Did he I suppose he did. I suppose I opened it.
That's wrong with a husband pretaking his wife against your criminals?
Speaker 4 (24:41):
He what do you mean opening my letter?
Speaker 5 (24:43):
No?
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Good, honey. I tried to tell you I don't want
took that letter. Sure you wouldn't get upset.
Speaker 8 (24:46):
That's not it.
Speaker 5 (24:46):
You kept this letter from me because you were a fi.
Speaker 4 (24:49):
I've listened to you long enough telling me not to
wait for Clint talking to me in the marrying you
and I didn't love you, honey, you told me.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
I'd learned to love you. Well I didn't.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
And you know why because I still it. Talk about
how private a phrase when we're alone? Ay, anything more
you want? For much, Ranger, we'd like to search your
house if you don't mind, Yeah, what for? I think
we might find some things that will help us clear
up this case. I suppose I say no, Maybe this
(25:18):
warrant will change your mind. Okay, what do you wanna
look at? We're looking for any pipe or wire you
have around and sure.
Speaker 6 (25:27):
Sure I get some sewer pipe and bailing wire and
that shit. You're welcome to see.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
That's not what the ranger means will and you know it?
Speaker 5 (25:35):
Lead pipe and electric wire they kind they used to
make a bomb.
Speaker 7 (25:41):
What did it prove?
Speaker 2 (25:41):
If you find it? Nothing until we get it to
the lab, then we could tell if it was the
same kind used in both bombs. There's none of that
stuff around here.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
How about the pipe?
Speaker 6 (25:50):
And I'd told you once before, Ranger, I tee you again,
you're barking up the wrong tree.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
How about the pipe in the closet?
Speaker 6 (25:59):
How about it is the oh that that stuff heead
that that ain't what you're happy. I'd like to take
a look at it.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
I'll show you a ranger.
Speaker 5 (26:07):
Pause. It's right this way.
Speaker 7 (26:09):
I know the pipe she's talking about.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
It ain't what you're after. Let the ranger be the
judge of that. Will sure sure, sitting here. Ranger started
last week.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Right in here, one larger.
Speaker 6 (26:24):
Wait a minute, honey, I know where it is. Women
don't know anything about fighting. Look behind these boxes here
it is.
Speaker 8 (26:35):
I hear it.
Speaker 7 (26:38):
Hold it, I said, Siller, fight, let me let me go,
Let me go.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
So if I got these cuffs on you, now you're all.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
Right to kill her.
Speaker 7 (26:53):
I can't have an I'm killing.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
You've done all I killing. You're gonna do f Now
the state's turn.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Faced with a laboratory evidence against him, Will Fenton made
a full confession to the murder of Sylvie Peters's on
October sixteenth, nineteen forty six. He was tried and convicted
on November twenty second, nineteen forty seven, at Huntsville Penitentiary.
Speaker 6 (27:28):
He died in the electric chair.
Speaker 7 (27:32):
Next week.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment of the case from
the files of the Texas Rangers. Joel McCrae is currently
seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor Production Cattle Drive.
The cast included Tony Barrett, Virginia, Greg Bill Johnstone, Parley Bear,
(27:57):
Charlotte Lawrence, and Lamont Johnson. Technical advisor was Captain Mt.
Lonewolf Gonzales of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed
and adapted by Charles d. Israel, and the program was
produced and directed by Stacy Keach.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
Hell Give Me Speaking, It's the Silver Jubilee on NBC.
Speaker 9 (28:38):
Now Enjoy The Big Show with guest stars including Jean Carroll,
ed Archie Gardner and Southern Hildegarde, Robert Cummings and your
glamorous Hostess, Tallula Bankhead. Then It's Mirth and Music with
Phil Harris and Alice Pay.
Speaker 7 (28:50):
Later Theater Guild on the.
Speaker 9 (28:51):
Air, co stars Brenda Marshall and William Holden in the
exciting story of the Lost Weekend, The Big Show, The
Phil Harris Alice Pay Show, Theater Guild on the Air.
Speaker 10 (29:01):
Here all three on NBC. Next, It's The Big Show,
All This and Tullula Too on NBC.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
BO
The National Broadcasting Company presents Joel McCrae in Tales of
the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
From Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Another authentic reenactment of the case transcribed from the files
of the Texas Rangers Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as Ranger Jase Pearson, Texas more than two
hundred and sixty thousand square miles and fifty men who
(00:33):
make up the most famous and oldest law enforcement body
in North America. Now from the files of the Texas
(00:54):
Rangers come these stories based on fact only. Names, dates,
and places are fictitious or obvious reasons. The events themselves
are a matter of records.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Case for tonight death Plan.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
It is eleven o'clock on the night of September eighteenth,
nineteen forty six, fourteen miles east of Pembroke, Texas, on
State Route seventy stands the First Community Church. Each Wednesday night,
members of the congregation have been donating their services to
the construction of a recreation hall.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
The evening's work is just.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Over, and Tom Peter's, a farmer, stands in the parking
area waiting for his wife to catch up to him.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Jemmy Laura, And don't forget when you miss the floor.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
I'm sure you planned it first with a couple.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
Of table jewy you going to stand there?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
John the holy oh.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Oh, death man. He's got no more patients than a
pull in fly till tomorrow.
Speaker 7 (01:58):
What makes you allwie?
Speaker 5 (02:00):
It's in such a hurry.
Speaker 8 (02:01):
Somebody in this family's gonna be in a hurry even
to you will never get anywhere.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Oh now, Tom.
Speaker 6 (02:06):
You know you don't.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
Tom, you left the motor running.
Speaker 8 (02:10):
I'm sure left is running. Toki, I was going to
the battery is almost dead. Oh yes, that no good?
Will Phainton tell me a heap like this in corner
the pickup? Trust a getting suit? A man can't trust
nobody nowadays.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
You know what I'm gonna do.
Speaker 6 (02:27):
So I'm gonna take him to large, just like I
told him.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
The next You'll do no such thing, Tom Peters will too.
Speaker 8 (02:34):
Man. Steve got some rights around here. Got let people
like well, we.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Had a pretty dress she had on tonight, Will Finton's wife.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
Oh she's such a pretty little thing.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Anyhow.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
He sure is good to her. Why bet that's the
third new dress she's had in four.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
A month day.
Speaker 8 (02:52):
See what I mean goes around cheating one of his
people so he can buy dresses for his.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Warm Tom, Now don't take on so you know how
hard started?
Speaker 7 (03:00):
Yet?
Speaker 6 (03:00):
And we waited there lot this piece of John.
Speaker 8 (03:02):
I ain't tell you who I am gonna take him
to court?
Speaker 5 (03:06):
Oh you told them that every de since you bought
the truck, And I'll do it too.
Speaker 7 (03:10):
You see who it on?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
You want to argue with him like you did tonight,
at least not so close to the church.
Speaker 7 (03:18):
Here's the out of gate already.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Don't take long when you got something to ride in.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Maybe I better get out and open the gate so
you can.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
Keep them otor running.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
You sit there, now, look what it's gone and done?
Died on?
Speaker 8 (03:34):
I told you you didn't tell me no.
Speaker 6 (03:39):
Hell making?
Speaker 5 (03:40):
Maybe you did? Oh you get it started again?
Speaker 7 (03:45):
That no good? We'll think him.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
Now can I better get out and open the gate.
Speaker 8 (03:52):
If I can push over that little rise, we can
coast down the slope, maybe she'll catch.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Now you'll be careful, Tom Peters pushing trucks at your.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Age, don't you worry about me?
Speaker 5 (04:04):
He was. It's funny sound here.
Speaker 8 (04:07):
Lord's just the engine cooling. M You women never understand nothing.
Speaker 6 (04:14):
I got to get me a bumper gate one of
these days.
Speaker 8 (04:17):
Business is getting out every time.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
You won't know, you don't sound like no engine cool.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Enough, No, sue me.
Speaker 7 (04:24):
I told you it was just show me, shoe me.
The explosion of.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
The truck kills Sylvie Peter's immediately.
Speaker 7 (04:44):
Her husband was found unconscious.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
And taken to the Pembroke Hospital, where his condition was
pronounced serious. The sheriff investigating the case requested the help
of the Texas Ranger, and Ranger Jase Pearson was assigned,
joining the sheriff at the scene of the explosion.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
A little after two am.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Yeah, there's a truck Jason's left of it.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Not a very pretty way to die. Mur There's never
a very pretty, Sheriff. The gate was it open when
you got here?
Speaker 8 (05:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:11):
Tom musta got out open it. That's how he missed
getting killed.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Mm.
Speaker 6 (05:17):
This bomb, Jace, you reckon it was tossed.
Speaker 8 (05:20):
At him, not likely away. The cab of the truck's blown.
I'd say the bomb was planted in there. We'll have
to you see something.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, then hold my life, will you, sheriff? Sure? Right
on that spot, you know, here's part of your bomb.
Speaker 6 (05:36):
Sheriff, Why it's just a hunker split lead pipe.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
That's right plumbing pipe from the looks of it. How
do you know that's part of the bomb.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
Tom might have been carrying lead pipe in the back
of his truck.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
With the way it's split down the scene, the powder
burns the light around the bitch sheriff. Yeah, he wait
a minute, hold of it. There's something else. What is it?
Jase main spring out of a a lot arm clock.
I'll call Austin to get a lab crew to give
this place a good going over. At least we know
what killed Sylvia Peters, a homemade time bomb. We went
(06:19):
to the hospital and waited. A little after seven that morning.
Tom Peters was conscious and strong enough to answer questions.
He was covered with bandages, but he opened his eyes
and we walked into his room.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
Hello Tom, Tom, miss ranger patient.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
He'd like to ask you a few.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Questions, mister Peters.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
Aw not easy.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
Tom, I WoT not be working.
Speaker 8 (06:57):
And he was hot.
Speaker 6 (07:00):
All the way out just to bring him put your.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Oh now, Tom, you don't have to talk about it.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
Come here, mister Peters.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Do you have any idea who might have done this?
Speaker 8 (07:20):
Well?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
But easy Tom, easy boy, What makes you sure Will
Finton set that bomb?
Speaker 7 (07:35):
I have I was gonna take it to court on the.
Speaker 6 (07:38):
Cut and the cook and stole me. That's why she
blew it up.
Speaker 7 (07:44):
So I couldn't.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
But Tom Will Finton wouldn't try to kid it just
because he was scared to go into court. How long
ago did you buy that truck, mister Peters?
Speaker 6 (07:54):
Right?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Six?
Speaker 6 (07:56):
Easical?
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Fenton lived far from here, shirre ten miles a little less. Maybe,
don't worry, mister Peters. If Will Fenton set that bomb,
we'll get him. We drove out to the Fenton farm
(08:25):
and found an attractive young woman in the kitchen, whom
the sheriff introduced as Verne Fenton, Will's wife. She told
us Will was expected any minute, settled down over some
coffee and waited. Missus Fenton had already heard about the
death of Sylvia Peters.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
I just can't understand it. Who'd want to do something
like that to poor Sylvie?
Speaker 2 (08:44):
That's what we're trying to find.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Out, isn't She was so sweet when we moved here.
She was the first one to come visit us.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
You and your husband aren't from around here, then, ma'am No.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
I was raised on a ranch about one hundred miles east.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
Will worked on a.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
Ranch near us long as you had this place, since
right after we got married.
Speaker 9 (09:03):
Not quite a year now, Ranger.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
You haven't said why you wanted.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
To see my husband.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
We just wanna ask him a few questions about last night.
Speaker 6 (09:13):
But I don't understand it.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
I shart how he will?
Speaker 6 (09:18):
Yeah, this ranger person, you want to have a little
talk with you?
Speaker 7 (09:21):
Alright?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Sure? Sure, glad to blige. You want some coffee? Well, yeah,
by the honey, in for it my shop, I'll do it. Eh,
should have? Thanks? Yeah, ranger, what can I do for you?
Mister Fenton? I suppose you heard about what happened to
Tom and Sylvia Peters last night. Yeah, yeah, I heard
about that. It's a awful thing. Awful makes me feel
(09:44):
real bad.
Speaker 6 (09:47):
I I showed time that truck, but I.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Heard there was a lot of hard feelings between you
and Tom about that truck.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Tom says you cheated him.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Will says he was gonna take you to court about him.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
Well, that's crazy, Sherif Tom knew that truck, he's in
bad shape when about it. But you did have some
hot words over it later where you know Tom gets
you little excited.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
That's all You were at the church last night, weren't you? Sure?
Speaker 7 (10:08):
Sure?
Speaker 6 (10:09):
Mean?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
B in both? Did you stay inside the recreation hall
the whole time? And I don't remember? Maybe I shipped
that for a little a not you. I think you'd
better try to remember you saying I sit there bombing
Tom's truck. I'm not saying anything yet, but how did
you know it was set there? It might have been
thrown in when Tom stopped at this gate. Yeah, well
(10:30):
that's what everybody's saying.
Speaker 6 (10:31):
It was a time by him, a granger at me.
Tom and I had a few words.
Speaker 7 (10:36):
But you don't think i'd kill him.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
There's been a murder. It's my job to ask questions.
Oh sure, sure? You only doing your job. You're barking
up the wrong tree.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
If you think I killed him, you better find somebody
who really hated.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
That's just what we're gonna do. Don't go too far
from your farm, mister Fenton, because we might be back
to see you. We spent the rest of that day
and half the night checking on people who knew Tom
Peters and his wife. It was about two point thirty
(11:11):
the next morning when we decided to turn in, the
sheriff suggested a cup of coffee at the.
Speaker 6 (11:15):
Diner across from the courthouse. Man, I know one thing, Jace.
I sure, I am tired.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah, I confuse a little sleep myself.
Speaker 7 (11:26):
Out of here. Ranger.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Well, it be coffee for me, Eddie Ranger, Sam, do coffee?
You fellows up pretty late.
Speaker 6 (11:34):
Tonight working all night.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Peter Bowling, that's right.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
Excur'd be too hard to find a fellow that did that.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
What do you mean?
Speaker 8 (11:42):
Well, now, I don't want to be talking behind nobody's back,
but pears like everybody in town.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Whew.
Speaker 8 (11:47):
Old Tom was feuding with Will Fenton about the pickup
truck Will sold him.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
I wouldn't want Will to be short me.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
Excuse me a minute again. Well, looks like everywhere we
turn we get the story about the fight between Will.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Tom. Must have heard it twenty times already. Yeah, we'll
head out there again in the morning, have another talk
with you.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
I'll get it for you if we'll offer you to
want you share.
Speaker 6 (12:09):
It is right and port Thanks Eddie.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I was old Tom Ranger. I heard he was hurt
pretty bad. They are both said, all right. Doc said
the night he was out of danger.
Speaker 8 (12:18):
Yeah, I'm sure glad to hear you old time. You know,
he blows off height of steam. But what you don't
mean nothing?
Speaker 2 (12:23):
We'll be right.
Speaker 6 (12:24):
You're gonna miss Sylvie though.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Sorry, Jace, come.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
On, we're not gonna get to sleep yet.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
What's the matter?
Speaker 7 (12:30):
That was real, Finton?
Speaker 5 (12:31):
He just found a bomb under his house.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
In just a moment. We will continue with Tales of
the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Jase Pearson.
Speaker 9 (12:53):
Whatever you drive the car, there was always an unseen,
unwelcome passenger with you. That passenger is danger, the danger
of a traffic accident. Unfortunately, every person seems to have
the absurd notion that he bears a charmed life, that
no traffic accident can happen to him. But it can,
and too often it does. So when you're behind that wheel,
(13:15):
don't take chances, obey all traffic rules, drive safely for life,
your life and the lives of us.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
We continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and
tonight's case Death Plant, an authentic story from the files
of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
The sheriff and I rushed out to the fence and farm.
We spotted Will standing in front of the house in
a bathroom. When we pulled up, he came running over
the car. Where's the bombers?
Speaker 7 (13:50):
He was in a box.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
He's kicking like a clock. Where is it? I show you?
Speaker 5 (13:54):
I've moved you to wait for the house at neck Feederley.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It's a good way to get your head blown off.
My wife's still asleep.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
I didn't want I'm scared now there it is a boy,
that mesquino.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
You got here, all right? You stay here with the sheriff.
Speaker 6 (14:06):
What are you figuring to do?
Speaker 10 (14:07):
Jay?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Deactivate that bomb?
Speaker 7 (14:09):
Well, don't be crazy, Jace.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
It won't hurt nobody where it is. Let him go
off by itself.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I need it for evidence. Do you want some help?
Speaker 8 (14:16):
No?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Thanks?
Speaker 7 (14:19):
Be careful, Jase.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (14:27):
How are you making out?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
It's all right now? Sheriff sure? And are injured?
Speaker 5 (14:32):
You threw that things out of commission.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
It should be I pulled the wires and stopped the
clock mechanism. Another homemade job, Jay.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
Yeah, you know, if I'd have thought of that, I
probably wish you'd have dumped it in a pail.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Of water and shay you old at rays stream. That's
the worst thing you can do with a bomb, mister
fen unless you know what it's made of, might have
chemicals in it that gets set off by water. How'd
you happen to find it?
Speaker 6 (14:53):
Oh? Yeah, Well I woke up maybe a few minutes
before I tried to get you. U. I thought I
heard somebody walking around outside the house, and I come.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Out to No, now come, you don't keep a dog
out here? Will all? Kind of My wife sheriff, she's
scared of him. Exactly where'd you find this bombers? Depending
right under where our bedroom is. You think of anybody
who might have planted it there? I don't have to think.
Speaker 7 (15:14):
I saw who did he?
Speaker 5 (15:15):
You walk?
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (15:16):
I saw his car when he drove away and had
now led Jaloppe anywhere, which Clint Buckler, Oose Glynn Mackler and.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Young Cawkoka used to work with for he got married.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
He's no good, never was used to bother vern all
the time, and he stole the.
Speaker 6 (15:28):
Diamond ring from the boss's wife. Cuts into to Hunchville
for two years.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
How long ago was that? Mm? Maybe fifteen months, probably
out on parole days. Uh huh? You sure it was
him here tonight?
Speaker 7 (15:39):
I saw him, I tell you.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Uh ah.
Speaker 6 (15:41):
And a little over a week ago, when I was
coming back from town, he was parking his galoppe a mile.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Or so down the road.
Speaker 7 (15:46):
He's just just sitting there, looking up to her to
our house.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Did you tell your wife about that? Oh no, no,
it get it all up, shit, I see. Then the
night was the second time you've seen him around? Yeah,
that's right. Yeah. Only way I figure it is when
he got out of Jaily.
Speaker 6 (15:58):
Heard about burned me being married, made him sore enough
to want to kill us.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
I'm sure you didn't see him around church Wednesday night. No,
that don't mean he couldn't have been here.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
I've been thinking like you, jeez, but it just don't
make sense.
Speaker 10 (16:11):
If this fellow was mad at the Fentons here, why
would he want to kill old Tom and so he
unless he was crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I don't think he was crazy. Sheriff got a hunt.
He just made a mistake. How do you mean, don't
forget Sheriff Tom Peters only bought that pick up a
week ago from mister Finton here.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Yeah, Oh, then it was the Fintons.
Speaker 7 (16:30):
He was after all the time.
Speaker 5 (16:31):
Only he didn't know the truck had changed hands to be.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
He could have get this Mockler arranger. He's no good
and try to kill us again. Maybe next time we
make it. You gotta get him.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
We have to find him first.
Speaker 6 (16:43):
He's working over at the Williams Range now. He's about
fifty miles from here. In here Delby.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Well, something wrong, Oh, very honey? Thought she was asleep.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
I heard you talking.
Speaker 7 (16:54):
What's that thing?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
We had a little excitement, ma'am. It's all right now, honey.
I don't want you to get upset, but reckon, I
have to tell you sooner or later it might as
well be now. Great Boxer tried to shit this bomb
under replace.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
Clint, but he couldn't have.
Speaker 6 (17:09):
He's in jail, not anymore, means Finton.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
But don't you worry. We'll get him.
Speaker 7 (17:13):
He couldn't have tried to kill us. I don't believe him.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
You don't know him the way I do. I work
with him. He's no good. He's rotten clear streets like
always told you. Hell je I reckon, we better get going. Yeah.
I want to get this bomb to Pemberg for the
lab crew to check over. Then, if we hurry, we
can make the Williams Ranch before breakfast at the ranch.
They told us our best bet for finding Clint Mockler
(17:38):
was to take horses and look for the former Hank Snyder.
He described Clint and told us he was a loading
pen the of the Santa Fe tracks. As we approached,
we saw several men loading cattle and other cars. Reckon,
that's him over there.
Speaker 6 (17:50):
Jesus traded a.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Lot of fine.
Speaker 7 (17:52):
We'll soon find out.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Sheriff. Who oh, Charky?
Speaker 7 (17:59):
Hey, yeah, you Clint Mockler.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
That's right?
Speaker 6 (18:03):
What you want?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Come here a minute?
Speaker 8 (18:05):
All right?
Speaker 5 (18:07):
Shove up next, Anthony?
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Were you.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Once?
Speaker 7 (18:11):
You want?
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Rangie the sheriff, and I want to talk to you.
Speaker 7 (18:14):
What about it?
Speaker 6 (18:15):
You've been over to Pembroke lately? And maybe why did
you see the Fentons?
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Hey?
Speaker 7 (18:21):
What's all this about?
Speaker 2 (18:22):
You're still on parole, aren't you Clinton?
Speaker 7 (18:24):
So why and.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
Against the law to go to Pembroke?
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Why did you want to see the Fentons.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
Burn's no friend of mine. I guess I just wanted
to talk to Did you talk to him? No? Why not?
When I got out of jail, I wrote Burn the letter.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
She didn't answer.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
But last week I got decided to drive robe anyway,
what kept you from seeing her?
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Now?
Speaker 6 (18:45):
But after got there, I started thinking maybe you didn't
want to see him. Then Will drove past me talk
and I knew when I saw him it wouldn't be
any good to me to go up there.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
It will stop and talk to you.
Speaker 7 (18:56):
No, slowed down, just looked at me. An you. That's
all this about? Anyhow?
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Somebody put a bomb in that truck that killed a
woman named Sylvia Peters.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
We figured to killer meant to get Will and his
wife because last night he put a bomb on her
Will's house.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
But did brne get her? Oh? She's all right? What
about you? You were seen driving away from the fen
farm early this morning?
Speaker 7 (19:18):
That's a lie. I wasn't anywhere near. Where were you
in town?
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Anybody with you?
Speaker 4 (19:23):
No?
Speaker 2 (19:24):
What times you get back to the ranch?
Speaker 6 (19:26):
I don't know, maybe three out to three.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
In the morning and got to get up at five.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
What are you trying to hand us? Boy?
Speaker 6 (19:32):
I don't need much sleep. I got plenty of it
down Hountsville.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
How about Wednesday night? Clint? Where were you then? Wednesday?
Speaker 6 (19:39):
I drove over to see friend about fifteen miles south
of here.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
What's your friend's name? I want to talk to him.
I won't do any good. Why not?
Speaker 6 (19:50):
It's when I got there it wasn't home.
Speaker 10 (19:53):
I think you better come back to Pembroke with us
on this range, I didn't have nothing to do with
on Clint.
Speaker 7 (19:58):
Let's go, look, Ranger. How long I gotta stay here?
I told you everything I know.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
I'm afraid it's not enough unless you can prove where
you were in the last two nights.
Speaker 7 (20:12):
Why can't I prove it?
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Nobody saw me? You know?
Speaker 5 (20:15):
Why don't you? Because you're lying. The first night you
were over at the church planting the bomb in.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
The Peter's truck.
Speaker 7 (20:20):
I don't even know the Peter.
Speaker 5 (20:21):
Course you don't, but you know Will and Vern Finton,
and it was them you were trying to kill.
Speaker 7 (20:24):
That ain't so why would I want to kill Vern?
Speaker 2 (20:27):
How long have you known Vern? Clinton? Going on for
a year? You know her pretty well, didn't you?
Speaker 6 (20:34):
That's crazy about it. We're gonna get married, would have
too if.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
You hadn't gone to jail. Yeah, I don't blame her though,
not wanting to wait for jail bird.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Sure, I got a little so when I heard you
married Will.
Speaker 7 (20:50):
But I wouldn't kill her. You gotta believe that.
Speaker 6 (20:52):
Are you still in love with her Clinton? Yeah, I guess,
And you didn't try to kill her?
Speaker 3 (20:58):
No, no, But he's trying to put the finger on me,
just like last time when they said I stole a
diamond ring.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
What about the ring?
Speaker 7 (21:05):
I never took it.
Speaker 10 (21:06):
Somebody must put it in my pocket, didn't even know
his badly searched me. Now you're trying to put me
away again for something I didn't do. You were seen
driving away from the Fenton farm just after the bomber
was planning.
Speaker 7 (21:16):
Who saw Will Fenton?
Speaker 2 (21:19):
I did?
Speaker 6 (21:22):
Wait a minute, now, I'm beginning to get it. What
what a dope?
Speaker 10 (21:26):
I All the time I was in the pen, I
trying to figure you planted that ring on me?
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Now I know it was Will Fent.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Making up lies.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Won't help you, unclanted, Why would I want to lie?
Speaker 6 (21:35):
Now?
Speaker 7 (21:36):
Served my time for stealing a ring, didn't that? But
I didn't steal a Will Fenton did?
Speaker 2 (21:39):
What makes you think?
Speaker 7 (21:40):
So that ain't hard to figure out.
Speaker 10 (21:42):
He was always jealous of me and vern water for himself.
That's why he got me out of the way before,
and that's what he's trying to do now.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Sheriff You've got somebody we can leave Clint with for
a while. Deputies in the next room. Take came in
there with you? Yeah, come on, look you.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
See he's trying to frame you again, Ranger, that's.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
What he's fell.
Speaker 7 (21:58):
Will you, Charlie?
Speaker 2 (22:01):
You ready to file charges against him?
Speaker 7 (22:03):
Jesse?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Not yet, Sheriff. What's the matter?
Speaker 5 (22:06):
You don't believe the stuff he was handing the studious?
Speaker 6 (22:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
There's still a few things that don't feel right, like
Will telling us where Clint Mockler worked. How did he know?
Speaker 6 (22:16):
Well, probably from that letter Clint wrote to miss Finnon.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yeah, that's probably the way he found out. But I
got to hunt he opened the letter and she never
saw it.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
What makes you think that because she didn't even know
Clint was out of prison?
Speaker 2 (22:29):
What does this all prove, Jase, that maybe a husband's
jealousy is behind the whole thing. How would you say
Clint felt about Will's wife?
Speaker 5 (22:37):
I'd say he was still pretty sweet on her, so
would I.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
And if he is, why would he want to kill her?
Speaker 6 (22:44):
Are you saying Fenton planted that bomb under his house himself?
Speaker 2 (22:48):
I'm not saying yet.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
Then there's something I don't.
Speaker 10 (22:51):
Get If that's true, it was will Fenton who kills
Ylvie Peters. Uh huh, but that don't make sense.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
It does if Fenton wanted Clint to have a real
murdered answer.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
Or get him out of the way for good, he'd
have to be awful smart to plant that careful.
Speaker 5 (23:05):
What's our next step, Jase, talk to.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Missus Fenton, find out if she still cares anything about Clint,
and if she does, and we'll see what makes a
jealous husband tick. Oh hoy, Ranger, Sure we'll run in.
(23:29):
Did you pick up Clint Mackler your wife around, mister Fenton?
Speaker 7 (23:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Sure? Do you mind calling her? Oh sure, I'm sure
we'ren honey, Yeah, I don't come in here a minute.
Let's don't see why you want her?
Speaker 5 (23:42):
What is it?
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Oh, I'll answer your question now, mister Fenton. We picked
up Clint Mackler to day over the Williams Ranch. Oh
it's fine, Ranger. We can all breed easier knowing he's
buying bars.
Speaker 7 (23:54):
Now you mean he did it.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
We don't know yet, ma'am, but we're holding him for
investigation until we get this bombing business straightened down.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
But he wouldn't do it I know he wouldn't.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Looks pretty bad for him, Honey.
Speaker 6 (24:05):
I've been telling you all along, you don't know him.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
He's just no good.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
I can't believe it.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
I just can't believe it.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Mister Fenton. When you saw Clint's car down the road
about a week ago, did you stop and speak to him?
Speaker 3 (24:16):
No?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Why should I?
Speaker 7 (24:17):
Then? How did you know he was.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Working over at the Williams Ranch? I don't know. I
could have heard it in town. We understand that Clint
wrote your wife a letter after he got out of prison.
Could you've learned it from that? Clint wrote me a letter?
That's what he says, ma'am. How about it, mister Fenton?
Speaker 6 (24:35):
Did he I suppose he did. I suppose I opened it.
That's wrong with a husband pretaking his wife against your criminals?
Speaker 4 (24:41):
He what do you mean opening my letter?
Speaker 5 (24:43):
No?
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Good, honey. I tried to tell you I don't want
took that letter. Sure you wouldn't get upset.
Speaker 8 (24:46):
That's not it.
Speaker 5 (24:46):
You kept this letter from me because you were a fi.
Speaker 4 (24:49):
I've listened to you long enough telling me not to
wait for Clint talking to me in the marrying you
and I didn't love you, honey, you told me.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
I'd learned to love you. Well I didn't.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
And you know why because I still it. Talk about
how private a phrase when we're alone? Ay, anything more
you want? For much, Ranger, we'd like to search your
house if you don't mind, Yeah, what for? I think
we might find some things that will help us clear
up this case. I suppose I say no, Maybe this
(25:18):
warrant will change your mind. Okay, what do you wanna
look at? We're looking for any pipe or wire you
have around and sure.
Speaker 6 (25:27):
Sure I get some sewer pipe and bailing wire and
that shit. You're welcome to see.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
That's not what the ranger means will and you know it?
Speaker 5 (25:35):
Lead pipe and electric wire they kind they used to
make a bomb.
Speaker 7 (25:41):
What did it prove?
Speaker 2 (25:41):
If you find it? Nothing until we get it to
the lab, then we could tell if it was the
same kind used in both bombs. There's none of that
stuff around here.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
How about the pipe?
Speaker 6 (25:50):
And I'd told you once before, Ranger, I tee you again,
you're barking up the wrong tree.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
How about the pipe in the closet?
Speaker 6 (25:59):
How about it is the oh that that stuff heead
that that ain't what you're happy. I'd like to take
a look at it.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
I'll show you a ranger.
Speaker 5 (26:07):
Pause. It's right this way.
Speaker 7 (26:09):
I know the pipe she's talking about.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
It ain't what you're after. Let the ranger be the
judge of that. Will sure sure, sitting here. Ranger started
last week.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Right in here, one larger.
Speaker 6 (26:24):
Wait a minute, honey, I know where it is. Women
don't know anything about fighting. Look behind these boxes here
it is.
Speaker 8 (26:35):
I hear it.
Speaker 7 (26:38):
Hold it, I said, Siller, fight, let me let me go,
Let me go.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
So if I got these cuffs on you, now you're all.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
Right to kill her.
Speaker 7 (26:53):
I can't have an I'm killing.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
You've done all I killing. You're gonna do f Now
the state's turn.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Faced with a laboratory evidence against him, Will Fenton made
a full confession to the murder of Sylvie Peters's on
October sixteenth, nineteen forty six. He was tried and convicted
on November twenty second, nineteen forty seven, at Huntsville Penitentiary.
Speaker 6 (27:28):
He died in the electric chair.
Speaker 7 (27:32):
Next week.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment of the case from
the files of the Texas Rangers. Joel McCrae is currently
seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor Production Cattle Drive.
The cast included Tony Barrett, Virginia, Greg Bill Johnstone, Parley Bear,
(27:57):
Charlotte Lawrence, and Lamont Johnson. Technical advisor was Captain Mt.
Lonewolf Gonzales of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed
and adapted by Charles d. Israel, and the program was
produced and directed by Stacy Keach.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
Hell Give Me Speaking, It's the Silver Jubilee on NBC.
Speaker 9 (28:38):
Now Enjoy The Big Show with guest stars including Jean Carroll,
ed Archie Gardner and Southern Hildegarde, Robert Cummings and your
glamorous Hostess, Tallula Bankhead. Then It's Mirth and Music with
Phil Harris and Alice Pay.
Speaker 7 (28:50):
Later Theater Guild on the.
Speaker 9 (28:51):
Air, co stars Brenda Marshall and William Holden in the
exciting story of the Lost Weekend, The Big Show, The
Phil Harris Alice Pay Show, Theater Guild on the Air.
Speaker 10 (29:01):
Here all three on NBC. Next, It's The Big Show,
All This and Tullula Too on NBC.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
BO
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