August 4, 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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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 (00:11):
Another authentic reenactment of the case transcribed from the Piles
of the Texas Rangers Tales and 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 Piles of the Texas Rangers.
(00:55):
Conny stories based on fact, name, states, and places are
big vicious for ombiaut the events themselves are a matter.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Of record.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Case for Tonight Fugitives Trail.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
It is approximately eleven thirty on the night of January
twenty first, nineteen forty eight. Mister and Missus Ben Purvis
are driving back to their ranch on the outskirts of.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Newby, Texas.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
The car, a small black sedan, finally swings off the
main highway turns into a long, narrow dirt road leading
to the ranch buildings.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
Looks like we got company Ben as a car park
and down the house.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Yeah, probably one of Arleen's boyfriends. Look I thought you
told her we didn't like your fellas hanging around.
Speaker 6 (01:49):
No, Ben, he probably just had about to pick up
and take it home. We told her we'd be back
about this time.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Well, just the same.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
I don't crab about Arleen. You know, babysitters are hard
enough to get out here with us.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
I think you could find somebody else. I was never
sold on that girl. She's kind of wild, nothing particular,
never know what she's gonna be.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
Dove, right then, just stop worrying.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Looks like Dave Finton's car. Yeah it is this car.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
You sit still, then I'll open the glass doors.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
Thought he and arleens split up, so that I lock
the patch things up again. You got the plants, missus Sutton?
Speaker 6 (02:36):
Give you right here?
Speaker 4 (02:40):
What sort of flower is he gonna be? Yeller?
Speaker 5 (02:43):
This nothing told me to name, but I forgot it. Say,
looked real nice alongside the Possey, don't you?
Speaker 7 (02:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:51):
I guess so? Hm.
Speaker 5 (02:53):
You know, Ben, I'm kind of glad we went over
to see miss Sutton to nice.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, she's real nice.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Old lady sure held up flying at the funeral this afternoon.
Speaker 6 (03:02):
It's gonna be hot on it for a while though,
poor thing. After all she and mister Sutton were mad
almost forty years nine's gone.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Yeah, well, doctor wanted him to slow down after that
last attack. He had.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
No he wouldn't hear it.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Oh it sounds like our young and Zach enough.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
You shouldn't be crying now if I even gave me
ten o'clock bottle.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
You just like her to forget.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Oleen?
Speaker 6 (03:29):
What I think?
Speaker 5 (03:31):
She's not fair?
Speaker 4 (03:32):
That's funny, Aleen trabbly in with the baby unless Hey,
what's this?
Speaker 5 (03:39):
What's the matter?
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Look?
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Cheers turned over? And what my good table?
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Lamp on the floor? Oh Ben, look it broken?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
What the heck's been going on around here?
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Aleen?
Speaker 5 (03:51):
He how doey? You take the lamp. I'm going in
to see the baby.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Aileen here?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
He's that fool girl anyway?
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Baby all right, Helen.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
On the floor, it's just cool. That's all ifs in
the kitchen?
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Where you there?
Speaker 4 (04:08):
All right? Huh?
Speaker 3 (04:13):
I'll be darn honey, come here, man? Will you here?
Speaker 6 (04:20):
There?
Speaker 7 (04:20):
No?
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Look at this baby's bottle full. Here's a woman Tian.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
She doesn't give misfeeding.
Speaker 7 (04:26):
I wonder where she is.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
I'm gonna have a look out back.
Speaker 7 (04:30):
I got on the porch my mind.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Okay, Lord, then.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Then then what's the matter?
Speaker 6 (04:47):
Then?
Speaker 7 (04:48):
Who is young Dave Fenton? He's dead.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
I'm discovering the body of Dave Fenton. Ben Purvis immediately
called the Sheriff's office. The sheriff put out an all
points bulletin for the ranking girl and requested aid from
the Texas Rangers. Ranger Jason Pearson was assigned, arriving at
the Purpose Ranch shortly after four am.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Here's a body, Jays blast caught him right behind the ear.
Not very pretty. His shotgun wounds never are. When this happened,
Doc figures sometime between nine and ten o'clock last night.
Just a kid at nineteen worked at his Paws gas
station in town. Seemed like a real nice boy. Jay's
real nice. Anybody touched the shotgun?
Speaker 7 (05:39):
Hope?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Who's that belonged to? Ben Purvis says he generally keeps
it behind the kitchen door. Let's babysitter Arlene Rankin, here's
a description of her. I sent a man over to
her house right after Purvis called me her. Paul said
she hadn't come home. Man still out there keeping an
eye on the place in case she does show up.
I don't think she will.
Speaker 7 (06:00):
Which one's Purvise over there with the fence talking to
the justice of the peace.
Speaker 6 (06:04):
Ben Oh, Ben, okay, Jeff, be right where you.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
If you want to talk to missus Purvis, Jase, she's inside.
Later maybe you want me Sheriff? Yeah, Ben, this year's
ranger Pearson Jace Ben Purvis? How they range?
Speaker 7 (06:18):
She?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Howdy, mister Purvis. Sheriff tells me that you and your
wife were out visiting when this happened. That's right, we
were over the Sutton place. Sometimes you leave the house
here last night, well, let me see, I drove over
to Orleans house around six thirty. I picked her up
and brought her back here. Then the wife and I left.
I guess that was around seven. You know if she
was expecting this fent and boy to drop in on her, No, no, don't.
(06:41):
Had he ever come around here before? Oh? Sure, lots
of times he dropped by to take her home. Only
he stopped coming around a couple of months ago. Why
was that? Well, there, as I can figure, she and
Fenton must have had her fallen out of some sort.
Maybe she got tired of him. She had a lot
of boyfriends, new ones. You every time you turn around.
I see who was the latest? You know, No, it's
(07:01):
pretty hard to keep up with her. A couple of
weeks or so ago. It was Lenny Hayes. Was he
supposed to come by last night? I wouldn't know, the Ranger.
You usually take her home, that's right, whenever there's no
fellow here to pick her up, you know, Jason, I
figured that Pinton here got sore because she threw him over.
They had a fight. She killed him and beat it.
It could have happened that way, and it could have
(07:23):
been the reason why she didn't take Fenton's car. She'd
been spotted too easy. Yeah, girl, ain't surprised she'd pull
a stunt like this at all. If this gun of yours,
mister Purvis, you always keep it loaded, yes, sir, And
it's usually sitting behind the kitchen door. Did Arley note
was there? I don't see how she could have misnoticing it. Ranger,
want to take this gun with me, mister Purvis. Have
(07:44):
the labman checked the fingerprint for sure? Sure? Go ahead,
all right, Sheriff. I guess the JP can take charge
of the body. Now, let's get moving. Anybody in mind
you want to see? Yeah, some of Arlene's friends, and
we'll start with a boy she's been going with lately,
This Lenny Hayes. He lives over the drug store. But
let's see, it's it's after five now, jays. He's probably
(08:04):
on his way to work. Where's that auction barn. He's
sort of a general handman there, tagging cattle. Heard him
around the place. All right, let's look him up. The
(08:25):
gray of dawn was creeping over the horizon as we
reached the auction barn. The sheriff and I'm out of
the stairs to the platform, overlooking the pins below. I
see Lenny Hayes anywhere. Sheriff, Yeah, yeah, there he is
down there, coming along the runway, Lenny. Oh, Lennick, Yeah,
want to talk to you. Come on, Jae, Yeah, Warren, Sheriff, Warren, Lenny.
(08:55):
I figured you'd be coming around. Oh you heard what's happened. Yeah,
this is the ranger jas Pearson, Lenny. He wants to
ask you some questions. Sure, when'd you see Aileen Rankin last, Lenny?
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yesterday afternoon at the Sudden funeral. Everybody in town was there.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I guess you talked to her for a few minutes.
I asked her to go to the basketball game at
the school gym, but she couldn't. She'd already promised to
sit for the purvise. Folks, I see what happened between
Arleen and Dave Fenton. You know they just busted up,
that's all. How'd he take it? Well, he could be
pretty nasty when things didn't go the way he wanted.
(09:32):
He called her up a lot after that, wanted to
patch things up, but Arlen wouldn't have any of it.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
He got good and sober a couple of times.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Do you think Arleen was fighting by him?
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Sure? The guy was crazy jealous and never knew what
he might do.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
I see. Uh. Do you have any idea where Arleen
could be right now?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Nope, no idea at all.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
All right, thanks? Could I ask you something Ranger? Yeah? Look,
h if Arlen did kill Finn, it it could have
been self defense, couldn't it? Maybe suppose he'd come out
there looking for trouble. Couldn't she have picked up the
gun to scare him away, not meaning to pull the trigger,
and the gun went off accidentally? That what you're driving at, Lenny?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
I'm sure? Why not?
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Well, in that case, you shouldn't run away well, yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
That was a crazy thing to do, I guess.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
But look, if she was to give herself up now,
and if she could prove it was self defense an accident,
go on?
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Well, I mean, uh, things that go easier on her,
wouldn't he?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Has Aileen been in touch with you, Lenny? Has she listen?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Ranger? I don't wanna get in any trouble.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
You won't if you tell the truth.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Well, this thing is getting me down. I wanna get
it off my mind. If I told you where she is,
would you give her a break?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I'm not a judge. Where is she? She phoned me
last night from Covington from the bus depot Covington. Huh, Yeah,
she said she was in trouble.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Wouldn't tell me what it was. She said she needed money. Well,
I didn't have any, not even enough to buy gas
to drive over there.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
What'd you tell her?
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I told her I'd see if I could raise some.
But well, she hung up on me.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
What time did she make this phone call?
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Around midnight?
Speaker 4 (11:14):
A few minutes before I remember because I was listening
to the radio and the station signed off while I
was talking to her. There's a bus comes through here
around ten thirty and it pulls into Covington a little
before midnight. Jase, that's the one she probably took. Come on, sheriff,
that's head for Covington. We spent the major part of
(11:34):
the day combing the town of Covington. There wasn't a
single trace of Eileen Rankin. Late that afternoon, the sheriff
and I wound up at the bus depot.
Speaker 7 (11:42):
Got to talking to the woman behind the lunch counter.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Well let me see.
Speaker 6 (11:47):
Now, they're about so high and blonde hair, coming on
a late bus, you said.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Uh huh, let me see, yster.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Was she seventeen?
Speaker 6 (11:57):
See, that wouldn't be the ranking girl range that's right.
Heard a bottle on the radio this morning, say he
means she's here in Coventon.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
We believe she was here last night.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
Landsakes imagine that.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Well have you seen a girl answering her description? Ma'am?
Speaker 1 (12:11):
We know what.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Wait a minute, say there was a girl just like
your description.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
You sure man last night by closing time, I was
thrown out the coffee when you come up and ask
me for a glass of water, girl, Bob, so I
really cracted.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
Yeah, nervous or upset?
Speaker 5 (12:27):
And she sure did.
Speaker 6 (12:28):
Oh inn say she asked me where the Lowery place
was at that ned Lora owns a hardware store ned Lowry.
That's right. Him and his wife lived down the street
three blocks, a big white house on the corner. Want
me to show you?
Speaker 4 (12:39):
Oh, thanks, we'll find it, ma'am. Doesn't seem to be
anybody at home, Jae, I'm pretty sure there is, Sheriff.
(13:00):
I heard someone moving in skye.
Speaker 7 (13:03):
Hey, you're right, Jess, there is somebody in there. I
just saw the window curtains move.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Reckon. I ought to slip around back holding yeah, oh Rangel,
what is it afternoon? Miss? We begin to think there
wasn't anyone at home.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Sorry if I kept y'all just taking them there for
wasn't sure if I heard someone at the door.
Speaker 7 (13:23):
And we're looking for a girl named Arleen Rankin.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
Arlene Rankin, Well, there's no one here by that name?
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Is that's all?
Speaker 5 (13:31):
This is a Lowry resident.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
We know that, miss.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Well, the only three of us live in here, my sister,
her husband, and myself.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
You don't know Arleen Ranklin?
Speaker 5 (13:39):
No should I?
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Here's her picture? Miss? Ever see her before?
Speaker 5 (13:44):
See no? No, one never saw her before?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Your sister and her husband at home No, I'm lone.
If we come in, well, no, but we just want
to look around. Sounds like it's in this room, Jason,
there's no winny in that's ye. We'll have a look anyway. Miss,
When did shutter? Jase? Wind's banging it against the house.
Speaker 5 (14:09):
It's broken. Kept me awake half the night. Look if
you tell me what this is all about?
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Suitcase over there on the chair, Miss, who does it
belong to?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
That's mine?
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Yours?
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Eh?
Speaker 4 (14:20):
Baggage tag gears says countinental trailways, Jace.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
That's all got here by bus. What's that, Miss arrib
last night? Just here visiting my sister.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
What time did your bus get in last night?
Speaker 6 (14:31):
Old? Is round midnight?
Speaker 4 (14:32):
You talk to anyone at the depot?
Speaker 5 (14:34):
No, I don't think it did, Are you sure?
Speaker 6 (14:37):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Wait?
Speaker 5 (14:38):
I did ask the woman at the lunch counter how
to get here?
Speaker 4 (14:41):
I see I had a lady back at the lunch counter.
Sure has an imagination, Jace. Tell me, miss, did any
other girl get off the bus when you did last night?
Speaker 7 (14:48):
No?
Speaker 5 (14:49):
Other girl?
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Positive?
Speaker 6 (14:50):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (14:50):
I think so?
Speaker 4 (14:51):
What do you make of that? Jase? Take a look
at this photograph again, Miss, you recall seeing this girl
among the passengers.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Well, no, I don't remember Seena.
Speaker 6 (15:01):
Of course, the bus was crowded, and I really didn't
pay much attention to the others on board.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
I see, Look, would you mind telling me what this
is all about?
Speaker 4 (15:09):
No cause for you to worry. Miss, Sorry, we bothered you.
Come on, Sheriff. There was no reason for doubt the
word of the girl at the Lowry House, Arlene Rankin
hadn't gotten off the bus at Kevington the night before.
The Sheriff and I drove back to his office in
Noobie and we had another talk with Lenny Hayes.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
But it's the truth. I'd tell you. Arleen did call me.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
She's not in Covington, Lenny. We're pretty sure of that.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Well maybe she went on.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Don't see how she could have done that. All roads
been blocked. You've been lying, haven't you, Lenny?
Speaker 5 (15:39):
No?
Speaker 4 (15:39):
No, you could have made up that story about the
phone call from Comington just to throw us off the trail.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
No, I didn't.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
You gotta believe We're willing to lay out you never
received a phone call, Lenny that Arlen wasn't even on
that bus last night.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
She must have been.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
I'll get it. Jesus Tarriff. Yep, just a minute, tummy
be in Dallas telling you Jason Banks share Hello. Yeah,
you know any you can save us a lot of troubles.
What do you mean, stop trying to cover up for Arlene.
(16:14):
You're trying to protect her by sending us on a
wild goose chase.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
That's not true.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
I'll listen, maney, there's no sense. It's like, maybe we
owe Lenny here an apology. Oh, that bus we figured
Arleen wasn't on was being vacuumed in Dallas this afternoon
and the purse was found behind one of the seat cushions.
A purse, what about it belonged to Arleen Rankin.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
You are listening to Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as Ranger Jace Pearson. Now we continue with
tonight's case, Fugitive's Trail, an authentic story from the isles
of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Finding Arlen Rankin's purse on that bus indicated we'd been
wrong about Lenny Hayes. Yet the girl we'd talked to
in Covington had been positive that Arlen hadn't gotten off
the bus there the night before I put in a
call of the Continental Trailways Company and found out that
the driver of the bus was due back in Newby
in an hour. We were waiting at the bus station
when he came in.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
No, I don't think I can help you, Ranger.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
You know what the ranking girl looks like.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Yeah, so picture having a Dallas State this afternoon.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
You don't remember seeing her get off the bus anywhere
along the line?
Speaker 6 (17:38):
Nope?
Speaker 4 (17:39):
Do you remember seeing her get on the bus here
in Newby? Look?
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I pick up quite a load here last night. A
lot of high school kids, Ranger.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Maybe this ranking gal was.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
One of them.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
Maybe she wasn't didn't pay much attention.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I just wanted to get roller, you know, holright were you?
I was running hide schedule? See ordinary, there's a five
minute wait here?
Speaker 4 (17:57):
One cup of coffee?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Well, I had to basketball game the high school gym
went over time, and well, I didn't want to shove off.
I knew most of the kids were counting on getting
the bus.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Wait a minute, you were late taking off?
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Sure, almost ten minutes.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
What time did you arrive at Covington?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Well, with all those stops along the way, I lost
another five minutes. Didn't pull into Covington to twelve fifteen.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Twelve fifteen. Jeez, yeah, Sheriff, Yeah, all right, driver, thanks,
sure up. Sorry it wasn't much help.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Brandon sayy yees yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Kind of interesting, isn't it, Jess. If the bus didn't
get to Covington until twelve fifteen, how could Arlene have
called Lenny from the bus people there a few minutes
before twelve? Doesn't seem to add up, that's the sheriff.
Of course, Lenny might have got the time mixed up.
I don't think so. He seemed pretty sure of what
you call. Yeah, that's right. He must have lied. We
(18:50):
don't know about that for sure. Once we talked to
the telephone company over at Covington. Back at the Sheriff's office,
I called the Covington phone company asked him to check
a call from the Covington bus station to Lenny's number
in Newby. There was no record of any such call.
(19:13):
Sheriff sent one of his deputies out to bring Lenny in,
and we waited. Well, and it's just like we figured, Jason,
the girl wasn't on the bus at all. Only how
do you account for the purse? It was found on
the bus? A planned Sheriff. Then he could have slipped
aboard the bus last night, put it in there while
the driver was in the cafe having coffee. Yeah, yeah,
he could have done that. He mighty careless of a
(19:34):
girl to forget her purse when she's trying to make
a getaway. Don't you think a little too careless? I
won't say that thought hasn't crossed my mind, Jason. And
you know, Sheriff, something else bothers me. It seems like
Lenny went to an awful lot of trouble trying to
cover up for the girl. Well, any kid who's as
crazy about a girl as he is, ye out. But
if he was really trying to shielder, he'd ha done
(19:55):
a lot better by keeping his mouth shut. He's been
real cooperative. He's been working at it a little too hard.
How are you driving at, Jason. It's just a hunt, Sheriff.
But if I can force Lenny into making a move,
it might be in the wrong direction for him, but
in the right direction for us. I hold it. You
hell well, come on in, Lenny. Thanks Charlie. Any news
(20:18):
of Arlen not a signing her yet, Well, Dallas is
a pretty big place. The fact that her purse was
found on the bus in Dallas doesn't necessarily mean she's there.
She could have gotten off the bus anywhere along the line.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Yeah, I guess.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
So, Lenny, about this phone call you said you got,
still don't believe me? Huh, Maybe you were mistaken. Maybe
Arlen just told you she was calling from coming.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
No, no, I heard the operator she said it was coming.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
I see. Well, we'll check with a phone company anyway,
just to make sure.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
With a phone company, but Arlene called me from a
pay phone.
Speaker 7 (20:52):
How can you check?
Speaker 4 (20:53):
It doesn't make any difference. Phone company keeps the record
of all long distance calls. Didn't you know that?
Speaker 5 (21:00):
No?
Speaker 3 (21:01):
No, I didn't.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Well, anyway, that isn't why I asked you to drop in, Lenny.
We think you can help us. So what we'd like
you to talk to some of Arlene's friends. Maybe you
can find out more than we have me if you
want to help us, don't you you'd be helping Arlene? Well?
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Sure, sure, I want to help.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Well, then get to her friends. Tell him if they
know something, they better talk up and get in a
lot of trouble by withholding information.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
Yeah, guess they can.
Speaker 7 (21:29):
Okay, that's all LENNI let us know if you hear anything.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Yeah, y'all'll let you know. Ranger.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
The sheriff and I waited a few moments after Lenny
had left the office, and then we eased out into
the street. We saw him get into his car halfway
down the block and take off in the darkness. We
watched the tail I disappear toward the edge of town.
We followed him. What's he up to, Jason? That's a
second time he's driven around the cemetery, Arlene. Wouldn't be
(22:03):
hiding in there, would you. Look. It's turning onto the
other highway now heading south. Good, Maybe we can get
a little closer, Jase. Lots more traffic on that road
he's speeding up. Suits me fine. At least we'll get
to wherever we're going that much sooner. A quarter of
an hour later, Lenny Hayes turned off the main highway
(22:25):
into a narrow dirt road and switched off my headlights
and followed. We spent another fifteen minutes trailing him as
he cruised up and down the back roads like he
was searching for something, and we wound up on the
highway once more. When we reached the outskirts of Newby,
turned again, drove right into the cemetery.
Speaker 7 (22:42):
Stopped any sign of him.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
Jesse, there's his car parked up ahead. Easy, easy, Now
better stay here in the shadows. Might spot us in
this moonlight.
Speaker 7 (22:54):
I'd sure like you know what the Samuel let kids
up to hold it? Yeah, there he is where Jay's
over there near the fence. What's he doing?
Speaker 4 (23:06):
It's digging?
Speaker 7 (23:08):
Say wait a minute, loot.
Speaker 8 (23:10):
The flowers over there? Jase pushed over to one side.
That's Harry Sutton's grave. What's he doing digging around there?
Freshly turned ground, sheriff. He's trying to hide something.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
He can do it quickly. Let's move up a little closer. Yeah,
here this way around the hedge. Yeah, move up behind
his car.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Sh stay down, the sheriff.
Speaker 7 (23:35):
What's he doing?
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Stop digging?
Speaker 7 (23:38):
He's coming this way to the car. Now what he
just open the trunk compartment. Let me take a look. Yeah,
now he's pulling something out of the trunk.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
It looks like it even at this distance. There's no
mistaking on these dress making out of there my body.
I guess we can get him. Now, shut hi, Lenny,
stop where I don't move he's.
Speaker 7 (24:07):
Making a break for it, Jason.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
Let's go this way.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Jason's heating around the back of the chapel.
Speaker 7 (24:14):
Hold hold shall right the blazers.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
Did he go?
Speaker 4 (24:19):
I don't know. Listen, listen, do you hear anything?
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Nope?
Speaker 7 (24:25):
Hey, wait a minute, I thought I saw something move
over there behind that tombstone.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
Just take a look. Wait, circle around that way. If
he is there, let's see if we can maneuver him
in position so he make a break for his car.
I'll be waiting for it.
Speaker 7 (24:39):
All right, careful word, he may have a gun.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Right there, are going?
Speaker 9 (24:56):
Hold it, Lenny, I don't look at simmer down the
as far as you go, sut himmer down, Okay, rage.
Speaker 4 (25:09):
You all right? G Yeah, come on, let's go on
back of the car and have a look at that body.
Speaker 7 (25:19):
Yeah, Charlie ranking all right?
Speaker 4 (25:21):
G how about it, Lenny? You if you like talking.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
She was just playing me for a second.
Speaker 10 (25:38):
She was really crazy about fending all the time, just
using me to make him jello.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
When did you find that out? Last night?
Speaker 10 (25:46):
When I sneaked over to the purpose place, I saw
him together well out of my head, I guess.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
He went inside, got the gun and shot then.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
I didn't mean to do it, just wanted to scare him.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
I didn't mean to I suppose you didn't mean to
kill Larlen.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
You know what I had to.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
I had to kill her to keep her from talking.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
He had the body in the trunk compartment here all
this time.
Speaker 10 (26:09):
Yeah, I waited too long last night trying to make
up my mind what to do with it. Sheriff's men
were all over the place looking for you.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
Thought you'd get away with making it look like Arlene
had killed Fenton and runoff.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
I almost did get away with it.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Yeah, almost. Penitentiary is full of people who almost got
away with it too. Come on, let's go.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
For the brutal murders of Dave Fenton and Arlene Ranking
Lenny Hayes was sentenced to Huntsville Penitentiary for the rest.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
Of his life.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
And now here again is the star of our show,
Joel mc cray.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
One day last year, we received a card from a
little girl who wanted to be a Texas ranger. She
said she didn't have a horse, but she did have
a mule and could ride. We learned last week that
this same little girl was stricken with a serious illness
and has been in bed all summer. When she heard
our first show a few weeks ago, she asked her
father to help her write a poem and send it
(27:31):
to us. We'd like to read it. R is for ranger,
stalwart and strong. A for his aim that never goes wrong.
N for his nerve, calm, steady and sharp, G for
his gun never misses the mark. E is for effort,
endurance and fight, and R for respect for the things
(27:54):
that are right. Fan Aloo, that's a fine poem and
it's deeply appreciated. Honey, you're gonna get well. Cousin spirit.
You're a Texas Ranger.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Next week Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment of a
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, Lillian Biaf Whitfield,
(28:33):
Connor Parley Bear, Sam Edwards, and Marion Richmond. Technical advisor
was Captain M. T. Lone Wolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers.
This story was transcribed and adapted by Adrian Jendo, and
the program was produced and directed by Stacy Keith.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
Hel Gidney speaking, It's the Silver Jubilee on NBC Sunday
is your invitation to find radio entertainment with The Big Show,
Phil Harrison, Alice Bay and Theater Guild on the air. Yes,
(29:10):
here are all three on NBC. Next, It's The Big
Show on NBC
The National Broadcasting Company presents Joel McCrae in Tales of
the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
From Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Another authentic reenactment of the case transcribed from the Piles
of the Texas Rangers Tales and 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 Piles of the Texas Rangers.
(00:55):
Conny stories based on fact, name, states, and places are
big vicious for ombiaut the events themselves are a matter.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Of record.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Case for Tonight Fugitives Trail.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
It is approximately eleven thirty on the night of January
twenty first, nineteen forty eight. Mister and Missus Ben Purvis
are driving back to their ranch on the outskirts of.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Newby, Texas.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
The car, a small black sedan, finally swings off the
main highway turns into a long, narrow dirt road leading
to the ranch buildings.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
Looks like we got company Ben as a car park
and down the house.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Yeah, probably one of Arleen's boyfriends. Look I thought you
told her we didn't like your fellas hanging around.
Speaker 6 (01:49):
No, Ben, he probably just had about to pick up
and take it home. We told her we'd be back
about this time.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Well, just the same.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
I don't crab about Arleen. You know, babysitters are hard
enough to get out here with us.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
I think you could find somebody else. I was never
sold on that girl. She's kind of wild, nothing particular,
never know what she's gonna be.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
Dove, right then, just stop worrying.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Looks like Dave Finton's car. Yeah it is this car.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
You sit still, then I'll open the glass doors.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
Thought he and arleens split up, so that I lock
the patch things up again. You got the plants, missus Sutton?
Speaker 6 (02:36):
Give you right here?
Speaker 4 (02:40):
What sort of flower is he gonna be? Yeller?
Speaker 5 (02:43):
This nothing told me to name, but I forgot it. Say,
looked real nice alongside the Possey, don't you?
Speaker 7 (02:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:51):
I guess so? Hm.
Speaker 5 (02:53):
You know, Ben, I'm kind of glad we went over
to see miss Sutton to nice.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, she's real nice.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Old lady sure held up flying at the funeral this afternoon.
Speaker 6 (03:02):
It's gonna be hot on it for a while though,
poor thing. After all she and mister Sutton were mad
almost forty years nine's gone.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Yeah, well, doctor wanted him to slow down after that
last attack. He had.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
No he wouldn't hear it.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Oh it sounds like our young and Zach enough.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
You shouldn't be crying now if I even gave me
ten o'clock bottle.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
You just like her to forget.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Oleen?
Speaker 6 (03:29):
What I think?
Speaker 5 (03:31):
She's not fair?
Speaker 4 (03:32):
That's funny, Aleen trabbly in with the baby unless Hey,
what's this?
Speaker 5 (03:39):
What's the matter?
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Look?
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Cheers turned over? And what my good table?
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Lamp on the floor? Oh Ben, look it broken?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
What the heck's been going on around here?
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Aleen?
Speaker 5 (03:51):
He how doey? You take the lamp. I'm going in
to see the baby.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Aileen here?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
He's that fool girl anyway?
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Baby all right, Helen.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
On the floor, it's just cool. That's all ifs in
the kitchen?
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Where you there?
Speaker 4 (04:08):
All right? Huh?
Speaker 3 (04:13):
I'll be darn honey, come here, man? Will you here?
Speaker 6 (04:20):
There?
Speaker 7 (04:20):
No?
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Look at this baby's bottle full. Here's a woman Tian.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
She doesn't give misfeeding.
Speaker 7 (04:26):
I wonder where she is.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
I'm gonna have a look out back.
Speaker 7 (04:30):
I got on the porch my mind.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Okay, Lord, then.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Then then what's the matter?
Speaker 6 (04:47):
Then?
Speaker 7 (04:48):
Who is young Dave Fenton? He's dead.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
I'm discovering the body of Dave Fenton. Ben Purvis immediately
called the Sheriff's office. The sheriff put out an all
points bulletin for the ranking girl and requested aid from
the Texas Rangers. Ranger Jason Pearson was assigned, arriving at
the Purpose Ranch shortly after four am.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Here's a body, Jays blast caught him right behind the ear.
Not very pretty. His shotgun wounds never are. When this happened,
Doc figures sometime between nine and ten o'clock last night.
Just a kid at nineteen worked at his Paws gas
station in town. Seemed like a real nice boy. Jay's
real nice. Anybody touched the shotgun?
Speaker 7 (05:39):
Hope?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Who's that belonged to? Ben Purvis says he generally keeps
it behind the kitchen door. Let's babysitter Arlene Rankin, here's
a description of her. I sent a man over to
her house right after Purvis called me her. Paul said
she hadn't come home. Man still out there keeping an
eye on the place in case she does show up.
I don't think she will.
Speaker 7 (06:00):
Which one's Purvise over there with the fence talking to
the justice of the peace.
Speaker 6 (06:04):
Ben Oh, Ben, okay, Jeff, be right where you.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
If you want to talk to missus Purvis, Jase, she's inside.
Later maybe you want me Sheriff? Yeah, Ben, this year's
ranger Pearson Jace Ben Purvis? How they range?
Speaker 7 (06:18):
She?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Howdy, mister Purvis. Sheriff tells me that you and your
wife were out visiting when this happened. That's right, we
were over the Sutton place. Sometimes you leave the house
here last night, well, let me see, I drove over
to Orleans house around six thirty. I picked her up
and brought her back here. Then the wife and I left.
I guess that was around seven. You know if she
was expecting this fent and boy to drop in on her, No, no, don't.
(06:41):
Had he ever come around here before? Oh? Sure, lots
of times he dropped by to take her home. Only
he stopped coming around a couple of months ago. Why
was that? Well, there, as I can figure, she and
Fenton must have had her fallen out of some sort.
Maybe she got tired of him. She had a lot
of boyfriends, new ones. You every time you turn around.
I see who was the latest? You know, No, it's
(07:01):
pretty hard to keep up with her. A couple of
weeks or so ago. It was Lenny Hayes. Was he
supposed to come by last night? I wouldn't know, the Ranger.
You usually take her home, that's right, whenever there's no
fellow here to pick her up, you know, Jason, I
figured that Pinton here got sore because she threw him over.
They had a fight. She killed him and beat it.
It could have happened that way, and it could have
(07:23):
been the reason why she didn't take Fenton's car. She'd
been spotted too easy. Yeah, girl, ain't surprised she'd pull
a stunt like this at all. If this gun of yours,
mister Purvis, you always keep it loaded, yes, sir, And
it's usually sitting behind the kitchen door. Did Arley note
was there? I don't see how she could have misnoticing it. Ranger,
want to take this gun with me, mister Purvis. Have
(07:44):
the labman checked the fingerprint for sure? Sure? Go ahead,
all right, Sheriff. I guess the JP can take charge
of the body. Now, let's get moving. Anybody in mind
you want to see? Yeah, some of Arlene's friends, and
we'll start with a boy she's been going with lately,
This Lenny Hayes. He lives over the drug store. But
let's see, it's it's after five now, jays. He's probably
(08:04):
on his way to work. Where's that auction barn. He's
sort of a general handman there, tagging cattle. Heard him
around the place. All right, let's look him up. The
(08:25):
gray of dawn was creeping over the horizon as we
reached the auction barn. The sheriff and I'm out of
the stairs to the platform, overlooking the pins below. I
see Lenny Hayes anywhere. Sheriff, Yeah, yeah, there he is
down there, coming along the runway, Lenny. Oh, Lennick, Yeah,
want to talk to you. Come on, Jae, Yeah, Warren, Sheriff, Warren, Lenny.
(08:55):
I figured you'd be coming around. Oh you heard what's happened. Yeah,
this is the ranger jas Pearson, Lenny. He wants to
ask you some questions. Sure, when'd you see Aileen Rankin last, Lenny?
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yesterday afternoon at the Sudden funeral. Everybody in town was there.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I guess you talked to her for a few minutes.
I asked her to go to the basketball game at
the school gym, but she couldn't. She'd already promised to
sit for the purvise. Folks, I see what happened between
Arleen and Dave Fenton. You know they just busted up,
that's all. How'd he take it? Well, he could be
pretty nasty when things didn't go the way he wanted.
(09:32):
He called her up a lot after that, wanted to
patch things up, but Arlen wouldn't have any of it.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
He got good and sober a couple of times.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Do you think Arleen was fighting by him?
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Sure? The guy was crazy jealous and never knew what
he might do.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
I see. Uh. Do you have any idea where Arleen
could be right now?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Nope, no idea at all.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
All right, thanks? Could I ask you something Ranger? Yeah? Look,
h if Arlen did kill Finn, it it could have
been self defense, couldn't it? Maybe suppose he'd come out
there looking for trouble. Couldn't she have picked up the
gun to scare him away, not meaning to pull the trigger,
and the gun went off accidentally? That what you're driving at, Lenny?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
I'm sure? Why not?
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Well, in that case, you shouldn't run away well, yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
That was a crazy thing to do, I guess.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
But look, if she was to give herself up now,
and if she could prove it was self defense an accident,
go on?
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Well, I mean, uh, things that go easier on her,
wouldn't he?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Has Aileen been in touch with you, Lenny? Has she listen?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Ranger? I don't wanna get in any trouble.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
You won't if you tell the truth.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Well, this thing is getting me down. I wanna get
it off my mind. If I told you where she is,
would you give her a break?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I'm not a judge. Where is she? She phoned me
last night from Covington from the bus depot Covington. Huh, Yeah,
she said she was in trouble.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Wouldn't tell me what it was. She said she needed money. Well,
I didn't have any, not even enough to buy gas
to drive over there.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
What'd you tell her?
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I told her I'd see if I could raise some.
But well, she hung up on me.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
What time did she make this phone call?
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Around midnight?
Speaker 4 (11:14):
A few minutes before I remember because I was listening
to the radio and the station signed off while I
was talking to her. There's a bus comes through here
around ten thirty and it pulls into Covington a little
before midnight. Jase, that's the one she probably took. Come on, sheriff,
that's head for Covington. We spent the major part of
(11:34):
the day combing the town of Covington. There wasn't a
single trace of Eileen Rankin. Late that afternoon, the sheriff
and I wound up at the bus depot.
Speaker 7 (11:42):
Got to talking to the woman behind the lunch counter.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Well let me see.
Speaker 6 (11:47):
Now, they're about so high and blonde hair, coming on
a late bus, you said.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Uh huh, let me see, yster.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Was she seventeen?
Speaker 6 (11:57):
See, that wouldn't be the ranking girl range that's right.
Heard a bottle on the radio this morning, say he
means she's here in Coventon.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
We believe she was here last night.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
Landsakes imagine that.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Well have you seen a girl answering her description? Ma'am?
Speaker 1 (12:11):
We know what.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Wait a minute, say there was a girl just like
your description.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
You sure man last night by closing time, I was
thrown out the coffee when you come up and ask
me for a glass of water, girl, Bob, so I
really cracted.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
Yeah, nervous or upset?
Speaker 5 (12:27):
And she sure did.
Speaker 6 (12:28):
Oh inn say she asked me where the Lowery place
was at that ned Lora owns a hardware store ned Lowry.
That's right. Him and his wife lived down the street
three blocks, a big white house on the corner. Want
me to show you?
Speaker 4 (12:39):
Oh, thanks, we'll find it, ma'am. Doesn't seem to be
anybody at home, Jae, I'm pretty sure there is, Sheriff.
(13:00):
I heard someone moving in skye.
Speaker 7 (13:03):
Hey, you're right, Jess, there is somebody in there. I
just saw the window curtains move.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Reckon. I ought to slip around back holding yeah, oh Rangel,
what is it afternoon? Miss? We begin to think there
wasn't anyone at home.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Sorry if I kept y'all just taking them there for
wasn't sure if I heard someone at the door.
Speaker 7 (13:23):
And we're looking for a girl named Arleen Rankin.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
Arlene Rankin, Well, there's no one here by that name?
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Is that's all?
Speaker 5 (13:31):
This is a Lowry resident.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
We know that, miss.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Well, the only three of us live in here, my sister,
her husband, and myself.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
You don't know Arleen Ranklin?
Speaker 5 (13:39):
No should I?
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Here's her picture? Miss? Ever see her before?
Speaker 5 (13:44):
See no? No, one never saw her before?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Your sister and her husband at home No, I'm lone.
If we come in, well, no, but we just want
to look around. Sounds like it's in this room, Jason,
there's no winny in that's ye. We'll have a look anyway. Miss,
When did shutter? Jase? Wind's banging it against the house.
Speaker 5 (14:09):
It's broken. Kept me awake half the night. Look if
you tell me what this is all about?
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Suitcase over there on the chair, Miss, who does it
belong to?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
That's mine?
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Yours?
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Eh?
Speaker 4 (14:20):
Baggage tag gears says countinental trailways, Jace.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
That's all got here by bus. What's that, Miss arrib
last night? Just here visiting my sister.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
What time did your bus get in last night?
Speaker 6 (14:31):
Old? Is round midnight?
Speaker 4 (14:32):
You talk to anyone at the depot?
Speaker 5 (14:34):
No, I don't think it did, Are you sure?
Speaker 6 (14:37):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Wait?
Speaker 5 (14:38):
I did ask the woman at the lunch counter how
to get here?
Speaker 4 (14:41):
I see I had a lady back at the lunch counter.
Sure has an imagination, Jace. Tell me, miss, did any
other girl get off the bus when you did last night?
Speaker 7 (14:48):
No?
Speaker 5 (14:49):
Other girl?
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Positive?
Speaker 6 (14:50):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (14:50):
I think so?
Speaker 4 (14:51):
What do you make of that? Jase? Take a look
at this photograph again, Miss, you recall seeing this girl
among the passengers.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Well, no, I don't remember Seena.
Speaker 6 (15:01):
Of course, the bus was crowded, and I really didn't
pay much attention to the others on board.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
I see, Look, would you mind telling me what this
is all about?
Speaker 4 (15:09):
No cause for you to worry. Miss, Sorry, we bothered you.
Come on, Sheriff. There was no reason for doubt the
word of the girl at the Lowry House, Arlene Rankin
hadn't gotten off the bus at Kevington the night before.
The Sheriff and I drove back to his office in
Noobie and we had another talk with Lenny Hayes.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
But it's the truth. I'd tell you. Arleen did call me.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
She's not in Covington, Lenny. We're pretty sure of that.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Well maybe she went on.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Don't see how she could have done that. All roads
been blocked. You've been lying, haven't you, Lenny?
Speaker 5 (15:39):
No?
Speaker 4 (15:39):
No, you could have made up that story about the
phone call from Comington just to throw us off the trail.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
No, I didn't.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
You gotta believe We're willing to lay out you never
received a phone call, Lenny that Arlen wasn't even on
that bus last night.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
She must have been.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
I'll get it. Jesus Tarriff. Yep, just a minute, tummy
be in Dallas telling you Jason Banks share Hello. Yeah,
you know any you can save us a lot of troubles.
What do you mean, stop trying to cover up for Arlene.
(16:14):
You're trying to protect her by sending us on a
wild goose chase.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
That's not true.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
I'll listen, maney, there's no sense. It's like, maybe we
owe Lenny here an apology. Oh, that bus we figured
Arleen wasn't on was being vacuumed in Dallas this afternoon
and the purse was found behind one of the seat cushions.
A purse, what about it belonged to Arleen Rankin.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
You are listening to Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as Ranger Jace Pearson. Now we continue with
tonight's case, Fugitive's Trail, an authentic story from the isles
of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Finding Arlen Rankin's purse on that bus indicated we'd been
wrong about Lenny Hayes. Yet the girl we'd talked to
in Covington had been positive that Arlen hadn't gotten off
the bus there the night before I put in a
call of the Continental Trailways Company and found out that
the driver of the bus was due back in Newby
in an hour. We were waiting at the bus station
when he came in.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
No, I don't think I can help you, Ranger.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
You know what the ranking girl looks like.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Yeah, so picture having a Dallas State this afternoon.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
You don't remember seeing her get off the bus anywhere
along the line?
Speaker 6 (17:38):
Nope?
Speaker 4 (17:39):
Do you remember seeing her get on the bus here
in Newby? Look?
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I pick up quite a load here last night. A
lot of high school kids, Ranger.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Maybe this ranking gal was.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
One of them.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
Maybe she wasn't didn't pay much attention.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I just wanted to get roller, you know, holright were you?
I was running hide schedule? See ordinary, there's a five
minute wait here?
Speaker 4 (17:57):
One cup of coffee?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Well, I had to basketball game the high school gym
went over time, and well, I didn't want to shove off.
I knew most of the kids were counting on getting
the bus.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Wait a minute, you were late taking off?
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Sure, almost ten minutes.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
What time did you arrive at Covington?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Well, with all those stops along the way, I lost
another five minutes. Didn't pull into Covington to twelve fifteen.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Twelve fifteen. Jeez, yeah, Sheriff, Yeah, all right, driver, thanks,
sure up. Sorry it wasn't much help.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Brandon sayy yees yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Kind of interesting, isn't it, Jess. If the bus didn't
get to Covington until twelve fifteen, how could Arlene have
called Lenny from the bus people there a few minutes
before twelve? Doesn't seem to add up, that's the sheriff.
Of course, Lenny might have got the time mixed up.
I don't think so. He seemed pretty sure of what
you call. Yeah, that's right. He must have lied. We
(18:50):
don't know about that for sure. Once we talked to
the telephone company over at Covington. Back at the Sheriff's office,
I called the Covington phone company asked him to check
a call from the Covington bus station to Lenny's number
in Newby. There was no record of any such call.
(19:13):
Sheriff sent one of his deputies out to bring Lenny in,
and we waited. Well, and it's just like we figured, Jason,
the girl wasn't on the bus at all. Only how
do you account for the purse? It was found on
the bus? A planned Sheriff. Then he could have slipped
aboard the bus last night, put it in there while
the driver was in the cafe having coffee. Yeah, yeah,
he could have done that. He mighty careless of a
(19:34):
girl to forget her purse when she's trying to make
a getaway. Don't you think a little too careless? I
won't say that thought hasn't crossed my mind, Jason. And
you know, Sheriff, something else bothers me. It seems like
Lenny went to an awful lot of trouble trying to
cover up for the girl. Well, any kid who's as
crazy about a girl as he is, ye out. But
if he was really trying to shielder, he'd ha done
(19:55):
a lot better by keeping his mouth shut. He's been
real cooperative. He's been working at it a little too hard.
How are you driving at, Jason. It's just a hunt, Sheriff.
But if I can force Lenny into making a move,
it might be in the wrong direction for him, but
in the right direction for us. I hold it. You
hell well, come on in, Lenny. Thanks Charlie. Any news
(20:18):
of Arlen not a signing her yet, Well, Dallas is
a pretty big place. The fact that her purse was
found on the bus in Dallas doesn't necessarily mean she's there.
She could have gotten off the bus anywhere along the line.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Yeah, I guess.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
So, Lenny, about this phone call you said you got,
still don't believe me? Huh, Maybe you were mistaken. Maybe
Arlen just told you she was calling from coming.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
No, no, I heard the operator she said it was coming.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
I see. Well, we'll check with a phone company anyway,
just to make sure.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
With a phone company, but Arlene called me from a
pay phone.
Speaker 7 (20:52):
How can you check?
Speaker 4 (20:53):
It doesn't make any difference. Phone company keeps the record
of all long distance calls. Didn't you know that?
Speaker 5 (21:00):
No?
Speaker 3 (21:01):
No, I didn't.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Well, anyway, that isn't why I asked you to drop in, Lenny.
We think you can help us. So what we'd like
you to talk to some of Arlene's friends. Maybe you
can find out more than we have me if you
want to help us, don't you you'd be helping Arlene? Well?
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Sure, sure, I want to help.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Well, then get to her friends. Tell him if they
know something, they better talk up and get in a
lot of trouble by withholding information.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
Yeah, guess they can.
Speaker 7 (21:29):
Okay, that's all LENNI let us know if you hear anything.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Yeah, y'all'll let you know. Ranger.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
The sheriff and I waited a few moments after Lenny
had left the office, and then we eased out into
the street. We saw him get into his car halfway
down the block and take off in the darkness. We
watched the tail I disappear toward the edge of town.
We followed him. What's he up to, Jason? That's a
second time he's driven around the cemetery, Arlene. Wouldn't be
(22:03):
hiding in there, would you. Look. It's turning onto the
other highway now heading south. Good, Maybe we can get
a little closer, Jase. Lots more traffic on that road
he's speeding up. Suits me fine. At least we'll get
to wherever we're going that much sooner. A quarter of
an hour later, Lenny Hayes turned off the main highway
(22:25):
into a narrow dirt road and switched off my headlights
and followed. We spent another fifteen minutes trailing him as
he cruised up and down the back roads like he
was searching for something, and we wound up on the
highway once more. When we reached the outskirts of Newby,
turned again, drove right into the cemetery.
Speaker 7 (22:42):
Stopped any sign of him.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
Jesse, there's his car parked up ahead. Easy, easy, Now
better stay here in the shadows. Might spot us in
this moonlight.
Speaker 7 (22:54):
I'd sure like you know what the Samuel let kids
up to hold it? Yeah, there he is where Jay's
over there near the fence. What's he doing?
Speaker 4 (23:06):
It's digging?
Speaker 7 (23:08):
Say wait a minute, loot.
Speaker 8 (23:10):
The flowers over there? Jase pushed over to one side.
That's Harry Sutton's grave. What's he doing digging around there?
Freshly turned ground, sheriff. He's trying to hide something.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
He can do it quickly. Let's move up a little closer. Yeah,
here this way around the hedge. Yeah, move up behind
his car.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Sh stay down, the sheriff.
Speaker 7 (23:35):
What's he doing?
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Stop digging?
Speaker 7 (23:38):
He's coming this way to the car. Now what he
just open the trunk compartment. Let me take a look. Yeah,
now he's pulling something out of the trunk.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
It looks like it even at this distance. There's no
mistaking on these dress making out of there my body.
I guess we can get him. Now, shut hi, Lenny,
stop where I don't move he's.
Speaker 7 (24:07):
Making a break for it, Jason.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
Let's go this way.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Jason's heating around the back of the chapel.
Speaker 7 (24:14):
Hold hold shall right the blazers.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
Did he go?
Speaker 4 (24:19):
I don't know. Listen, listen, do you hear anything?
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Nope?
Speaker 7 (24:25):
Hey, wait a minute, I thought I saw something move
over there behind that tombstone.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
Just take a look. Wait, circle around that way. If
he is there, let's see if we can maneuver him
in position so he make a break for his car.
I'll be waiting for it.
Speaker 7 (24:39):
All right, careful word, he may have a gun.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Right there, are going?
Speaker 9 (24:56):
Hold it, Lenny, I don't look at simmer down the
as far as you go, sut himmer down, Okay, rage.
Speaker 4 (25:09):
You all right? G Yeah, come on, let's go on
back of the car and have a look at that body.
Speaker 7 (25:19):
Yeah, Charlie ranking all right?
Speaker 4 (25:21):
G how about it, Lenny? You if you like talking.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
She was just playing me for a second.
Speaker 10 (25:38):
She was really crazy about fending all the time, just
using me to make him jello.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
When did you find that out? Last night?
Speaker 10 (25:46):
When I sneaked over to the purpose place, I saw
him together well out of my head, I guess.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
He went inside, got the gun and shot then.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
I didn't mean to do it, just wanted to scare him.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
I didn't mean to I suppose you didn't mean to
kill Larlen.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
You know what I had to.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
I had to kill her to keep her from talking.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
He had the body in the trunk compartment here all
this time.
Speaker 10 (26:09):
Yeah, I waited too long last night trying to make
up my mind what to do with it. Sheriff's men
were all over the place looking for you.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
Thought you'd get away with making it look like Arlene
had killed Fenton and runoff.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
I almost did get away with it.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
Yeah, almost. Penitentiary is full of people who almost got
away with it too. Come on, let's go.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
For the brutal murders of Dave Fenton and Arlene Ranking
Lenny Hayes was sentenced to Huntsville Penitentiary for the rest.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
Of his life.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
And now here again is the star of our show,
Joel mc cray.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
One day last year, we received a card from a
little girl who wanted to be a Texas ranger. She
said she didn't have a horse, but she did have
a mule and could ride. We learned last week that
this same little girl was stricken with a serious illness
and has been in bed all summer. When she heard
our first show a few weeks ago, she asked her
father to help her write a poem and send it
(27:31):
to us. We'd like to read it. R is for ranger,
stalwart and strong. A for his aim that never goes wrong.
N for his nerve, calm, steady and sharp, G for
his gun never misses the mark. E is for effort,
endurance and fight, and R for respect for the things
(27:54):
that are right. Fan Aloo, that's a fine poem and
it's deeply appreciated. Honey, you're gonna get well. Cousin spirit.
You're a Texas Ranger.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Next week Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment of a
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, Lillian Biaf Whitfield,
(28:33):
Connor Parley Bear, Sam Edwards, and Marion Richmond. Technical advisor
was Captain M. T. Lone Wolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers.
This story was transcribed and adapted by Adrian Jendo, and
the program was produced and directed by Stacy Keith.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
Hel Gidney speaking, It's the Silver Jubilee on NBC Sunday
is your invitation to find radio entertainment with The Big Show,
Phil Harrison, Alice Bay and Theater Guild on the air. Yes,
(29:10):
here are all three on NBC. Next, It's The Big
Show on NBC
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