August 16, 2025 • 30 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The National Broadcasting Company presents Joel McCrae in Tales.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Tonight transcribe from Hollywood another authentic reenactment of a case
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
(00:33):
fifty men who make up the most famous and oldest
law enforcement party in North America. Now from the files
(00:55):
of the Texas Rangers come these stories based on fact only. Names, dates,
and places are big fishes for obvious reasons. The events
themselves are a matter of record. Case for Tonite, that trap.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
It is one ten am May seventeenth, nineteen forty eight.
The highway across a barren and thinly populated portion of
West Texas is deserted except for a truck and trailer
pushing steadily westward.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Tode Pestle. Oh for that, and I feel good. Sure
were snoring. I could barely hear the motor over our
sleepsince eight o'clock last night, almost one am. Now, how
we're doing it will be an ol passo bisex we're
right on schedule. You want me to take the wheel? Now? Wait?
(01:52):
Do we gas up at Frido Junction. It's only another
fifty miles Okay, yeah, sure, will be glad to get
home and see my wife.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
He called a long distance when we stopped her supper.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah, but I'm not an old timer like you. This
is our first baby. We're expected you already got four.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Yeah, don't let any kids. You said you feel the
same way about all of.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
'em, no matter how many. Yeah, what are you opening
for it? Oh? Just a healthy kid, I guess that's all.
Although I i'd kind of like a little girl. You
get one, and you have a real picnic. Girls are
born smarter than we are. My youngest one, she can
work me over for anything she wants, faster than a
water horse can get moved. You'll look like you're feeling
(02:32):
any pain from it.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Grow a Hey, it's a big kick.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Get the things they want. If don't get me wrong,
I'm just as fond of the three boys too. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Yeah, a girl does get under your skin a little
more there, ah, more affectionate.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Like boy grows up.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
You wanna kiss him, he kicks up his heels. You
get to be eight nine years.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Old, the closest you get to him, and shaking hands,
you know what I mean? Sure, sure, I guess we
were the same with our folks. I wouldn't trade them
for anything, boys or girls, and in your own blood.
Well you'll find out, since you got a lot.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Of fun and living their head.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yet he'll worry when they get sick, and they'll break
your heart when they get kid in troubles that you
can't help them with, with nothing you'll ever have.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
I mean as much two years your younginess.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I've been worrying about mine already and she he wow, whatever,
didn't even hear you. I keep wondering if I'll be
able to make it. You can all bring them up,
educate them, help them to be somebody.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Yeah, that's something else you'll worry about with each new one.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Man, I'm so scared now. I think I'll just settle
for one kid and leave it at time.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
That's what I said twelve years ago. Without person, you'll.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Change your mind, Yeah, I guess so. Mary says that, hey, uh,
what's that ahead where? Or somebody weaving a red liner?
Speaker 4 (03:59):
We must be coming to that narrow bridge over Lennon's creek.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
You suppose it's been washed out again by a flash flow.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
That could be, although it don't look like there's been
in the rain here since we started the whole east
four days ago.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Just the same they got it blocked over. They put
up a d tour sign.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
That probably wants us to go to the left end
of the old road.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
No sign points to the right, and the fellow what
the lander is waving as that way? Uh?
Speaker 4 (04:21):
I guess he knows what he's doing.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Don't look like much of a road this way, does it? Oh?
Want to be mighty rough going? I hope this don't
last too. Yeah, this ain't even a road.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Uh, it's just a little dead in turn off. That
guy must have been crazy sending us in here.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Back in this rig out is sure going to be
a job. What a dumb trick.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
I'm gonna walk back and ask him what the name
of places me to turn this off?
Speaker 5 (04:48):
This way?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I'll come with you.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
You think they'd have a highway patrol car station there?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Wait a minute, what's the matter by the road where
the lamp is moving that detour signed? Get back the truck?
Which what is it? Grover? What's wrong? Like a hijack,
get it rolling back at some don't mind what you hit?
Just cheap.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
Rover.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Hey, don't shoot anymore. Don't shoot.
Speaker 6 (05:11):
He's hurt.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
You can take you I said you could take everything.
You didn't hurt very wait shit.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
At nine pm the following night, the bodies of Warren
Grover and Luther Sins were discovered and the sheriff notified.
He called for help from the Texas Rangers. Ranger Jace
Pearson was a sign.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Here. The body Jace must have been dragged into the
brush when the truck was stolen. Lucky thing. Mister Archer
here found him. Mighty lucky could have been here for days.
How'd you happen to come across from? Mister Archer? Where
where me? When of my kids found him? We pulled
off the highway, fiction to make camp for the night,
boys gathering wood for the fire. Let out of help
(06:10):
and come leaking out of here like a jack rabbit
and make a habit of camping out at night with
your family. Ain't doesn't much a man can do about
it when he ain't working, And motels and bridges cost money.
Where do you come from? The parking stare away? We're
heading for California migratory workers. Huh. You can talk to
his family later if you own Jase. I let Archer
(06:30):
pull his car into a clearing up the highway about
two hundred yards the other side of the bridge. He
didn't want to keep the kids around here. If you
ain't got nothing else to ask me a lot to
get back to my wife. Crumb shaky, All right, go ahead,
But when you get to the car, say put, I
ain't got no place specially to go. Thanks. You got
a flashlight, Jase, mine's about to peter out. Yeah, there,
(06:54):
can give your batteries the rest. You say. They were
doing El Paso at six this morning. Huh, yep, was
on schedule too until they got here. I Reckon made
their supper stop on time last night. The company checked back,
when'd you get the request to look for the truck?
Got the description and license number early this afternoon, when
they was overdue and nobody had heard from them. The
company figured if they'd had a breakdown, they'd called in.
(07:16):
According to their schedule, they should have reached this spot
a little after midnight last night, and whoever took that
truck had plenty of time to get a long ways
from here with it before sun up. Not much chance
of anybody spotting them. They're try we'd better take a
look around. I've been all over the ground between here
and the highway, but I guess it won't hurt to
look again. Condition my light was in, I might have
missed something. I can show you where they were when
(07:39):
they dropped blood stained on the ground out here. Yeah,
I saw them right where the truck was. Things aren't
far from the tire marks. They're funny tires, jays, different
pattern rights smacked down the center rub well. No, those
inside tracks were made by Archer's car when he drove
in covered part of the truck marks. Way. This place
is rudded. He'd fall right into the same track. I
(08:02):
didn't think of that. Here's something. What is it? Cartridge shell?
Look at it? Forty five caliber army automatic. God, here's
another one. We won't have to wait for an autopsy
to tell us what the murder weapon was. Hey, I
just thought of something. What that forty five army automatic.
There's an army camp about forty miles further on, just
(08:23):
ten miles this side of free Toe Junction. I'm afraid
that won't help us. Sheriff number marking on these shelves
is a seventeen. That's the old nineteen seventeen ammunition series
World War One. No camp would be using ammo that old.
Too bad. I thought for a minute we might have
a fast lead. You arranged to have the bodies moved. Yep,
sent the deputy of the town for an undertaker. Good.
(08:43):
Let's walk out the archer's car, talk to his wife
and kids. Here's one thing I don't understand, jes why
did they pull their truck off the road. A trucker
riding a loan might do it to grab some sleep,
but not a scheduled rig with two drivers. I can't
figure that either. Cars up this way the other side
of the bridge. Might as well leave your car ride
where it is not much of a walk. Sure, all,
(09:07):
a sheriff, What is this mark? Just off the road shoulder?
Here sort of a circle in the dirt. Yeah, whatever
made the circle was wet and kind of oily. What
do you suppose me what would make an oily round
impression that size? Oh, I don't know, unless maybe it
was a lantern. That's what it was, all right. And
(09:28):
here's something else or small rectangular marks in the earth
base of each mark about two by four. Mean, I
can't figure that lest somebody had a table out here,
I don't think it was a table. Another thing that
would make four mark space like that's a wooden sawhorse.
See if this bridge ever wash out. Sometimes when there's
a flash flood, Hey, I see what you're aiming at.
(09:50):
When there is a flood, highway patrol sets up a
detour sign sends traffic through that road over across the highway.
When that happened last, oh not in a couple of months. Now,
these marks higned that somebody detoyed that truck into the
dead end road on this side. Lantern and saw horse
were setting here until they were moved onto the road
to set up a block. They must have had. That
particular truck pegged in came through at a time when
(10:12):
there isn't much traffic between the last down to the
east and pret junction. Come on, let's talk to Archer.
You've got a less of the cargo the truck was carrying.
Told my deputy to wire a request for it after
we'd found the truck had been stolen.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
He'll come through to my office.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Good, because we'll have to track this down through cargo.
I got a hunch that the truck has been emptied
and ditched by now Archer didn't know any more, and
he'd already told us, and his wife and three pale
undernurshed kids couldn't add anything. We waited until the bodies
were picked up, and then headed back for town. The
(10:47):
next morning, there was a wire from the trucking company
waiting at the sheriff's office, a list of the missing
truck's cargo. Here's report on cargo, Jason valued at thirty
nine thousand dollars. Let's see a shipment of autismobile radios.
Huh that's a break. Why because they all have serial numbers,
do a lot of work if they try and change
the numbers, and if they don't, one of the sets
(11:08):
will turn up sooner or later. Yeah, but they didn't
send the number SWO to us JASE just to set
make and model. I'm radioing my headquarters to get them
come on. Austin can contact the manufacture and have him
send a complete list of the cereals through and they
can distribute the list to all law enforcement agencies on
a statewide bullet. You don't stand much chance of cracking
this if we have to wait for a hot car
(11:30):
radio to turn up, don't worry. We're not gonna wait.
We've got plenty of other things to do. How many
deputies you got, handy three? How about send them back
along the highway. We know where Grover and Sims made
their supper stop. I'd like to find out if they
made any stops after that before they were killed. Good idea.
As a matter of fact, whoever stole the truck may
had turned it around and headed back that way.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Killers may have been spotted.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
It's a chance. On the other hand, maybe I are
to send one man toward Freto Junction and Il Passo,
just in case the truck kept head and wish. Never mind,
I'll handle that part of it my I'm heading for
Fredo Junction as soon as I can make that radio call.
I put through a request for the serial numbers, then
(12:11):
headed for Fredo Junction. On the way, I got a
radio call from KTXA the missing truck. I'd always made
a regular stop at the mobile gas station in Freedo Junction.
When I got to the station, I sent for the
man who'd been on duty tonight.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
The truck was hijacked Yep, I was on duty night
before last, Ranger. But Grover and Sims didn't stop here.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I know they never got this far. What I want
to know is, did you see their truck? The station's
right at the crossroads. The truck came through with somebody
else driving it. There's a chance you might have seen it. Ranger.
Speaker 6 (12:40):
I'd like to help you, but well, there ain't much
business during the night, even though the boss does keep
the place open. Is an accommodation of truckers. I usually
stretch out on a cot in the office. If a
truck stops, I get up. If it don't, I just
here go past. Any other stations around here open at night? Nope,
the truck Grover and Sims were driving always stopped here,
didn't it.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Yep.
Speaker 6 (13:00):
Company they drove for has a credit account here. They
haul between l passing Houston. Well, the tanks are always
just about dry when they hit here on the return
half from Houston.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
I see you mean the truck would be too low
on gas to go much further than this without filling out,
providing it came this way. That's right. Thanks, it's a
big help.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
Welcome, Ranger. Wish you could help more. Rover and Simms
were pretty nice guys.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
That's the trouble with a killing. The wrong people usually
get killed. And it sounds like you've got an impatient
customer out there.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Yep, one of the soldiers from Camp Buller boys are
busy on the pumps. I might as well help him. Hey,
he's got the drive block. I'll asking the backup SOS.
You can get your con trailer out.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
It's all right. He doesn't seem to want gas. May
want directions to someplace. Hey you got a shot here? Yeah,
but you got to pull around the back. You're blocking
a ranger's car. Oh, I'm sorry, that's okay. I just
want to make sure you got to help. Nate. Doesn't
seem to be much wrong with that motor.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I've written anything wrong with it?
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Some top shape and what do you want to put
it in the shop for? Got no radio much might
be able to escolar one.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
You are listening to Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as ranger Jace Pearson. We continue now with
tonight's case, The Trap, an authentic story from the files
of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
A soldier with a new car radio it didn't have
to mean anything, but it might. The make and model
of the set he had matched what I was looking for.
I got the serial number from the cart and it
came in and phoned it through to the sheriff for
a fast check against the manufacturer's list, and I went
into the shop to ask a few questions.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Last of drill hoes for the antenna.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I guess unless you want to wear it in your hat,
I will. It's like a good set. Yeah, pretty expensive. Oh,
I told me itselves for about eighty five bucks? What
do you pay for it? But I didn't buy it.
I made a deal for it, sort of what kind
of a deal?
Speaker 4 (15:11):
But he asked me that for a ranger?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Something wrong? I didn't say that. I was just wondering
what kind of a deal a fellow could get on
a car radio. And man, you got this from? Have
any others he wanted to get rid of? I don't think. So.
He just gave me this for a trade. And on
what stumped my head? Did he need it? Look, my
pass is only good for a couple hours. I didn't
(15:32):
think it would be this long. Maybe I better let
it go and I'll come back in next time. On
the town. Okay, I think you better stay around but
my past. Maybe I can get your little extension of time.
What's the camp number, I'll call your commanding officer. Well,
what do you want to do that for? Yeah, which matter, Ranger?
What is it? It's that radio. Grober and Sims were
hauling a truckload of auto radios when they were hijacked
(15:54):
and killed. What you telling me that radio is stolen? No,
not not yet, And I'm waiting for a check on
the serial number, and you're not leaving here until I
get it. Look, you gotta believe me. The guy gave
me that set. Yeah, you've been pretty evasive about telling
me why he gave it to me. I told you
it was a trade for what. Come on? Talk up? Well,
I I can't tell you that get me in trouble.
(16:16):
If this is one of the sets taken from two
murdered truck drivers, you'll be in plenty of trouble unless
I know where and how you got it. Sounds like
you better tell him, Soldier, I got to set in
exchange for some gasoline. Gasoline, I go ahead. Well, it
was night before last, just after two o'clock. I just
started guard. Do it? You at camp. My post is
(16:37):
long the fence by the motor pool from two to four. Arranger.
Speaker 6 (16:40):
That's not long after the time, you said.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Grover, nevermind, Milligan, go ahead. Well I heard this car
stop near the fence. Are you sure it wasn't a truck? No, No,
I was a car. So I walked over to the
fence where it was parked. I sort of gave the challenge,
you know. I asked who it was and I the
man walked up, said he needed some guessing, and you
gave it to him just like that.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
Oh no, no, he said he'd pay me for it.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I told him it was against regulations. Then he said
it wasn't for him. He said a couple of women
were standing down the highway in their car, and then
he said he'd give me a car radio. Oh well,
it's seemed like a good deal. So I opened up
pump and filled some cheap cans for him. How many gallons?
Twenty five? And you didn't think there was anything wrong
(17:25):
with a trade like that, And eighty five dollars radio
for twenty five gallons of gas. The guy was stuck,
And how could he be stuck? He was only ten
miles from the station and it's opened all night.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Well maybe he didn't know that.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
I knew it all right, But he didn't want to
bring a stolen truck into this station, and he didn't
want to get that much gas in cans from a
place that might be checked. Look, ranger, pleaser, I'm up
for discharge. In a couple of months, a camp is
being deactivated. I don't want to get in bad. You
should have thought of that before you started to ladle
out government gasoline. What kind of side arms do you
(17:55):
carry at the camp when you do a guard trick? Oh?
Regulation Army forty five and nineteen said seventeen series. Amo,
I'm that I ever saw. Are you gonna give me
a break? I'm not a judge. I can't give breaks.
You're the only key I've got to two dead men.
I'll call your post and have the MPs pick you up.
The gas leans the Army's business. But this radio is mine.
If it's stolen property, how could I know it was stolen?
(18:18):
Can you describe the man you got it from? No,
it was too dark.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
Besides, besides, there were two men, one of them stayed
in the car.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
It'd help your case a lot if you could tell
us what they looked like, even what kind of a
car they were driving. Well, it was dark, I tell you.
They talked to each other, call each other by name. Well, yeah,
you gotta the fellow. I gave a guest too. He
called the other one in the car and he said,
drive up closer. Were your sunny boy? Sunny boy? That's
not a name, probably just a wisecrack of nicknames.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
I'm just telling you what I heard.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I'm trying to do everything I can to help you.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
Yeah, just a minute, razors for you, Srif.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Thanks Hello, Sheriffs that.
Speaker 7 (18:58):
Soudier's radio is on the stolen list, all right, but
I got someone with deputy's dug up. Gruver and Simms
did make another stop after they had their supper at
eleven thirty the night they were culled.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Where roadside diner. Just stop for coffee.
Speaker 7 (19:13):
At least Sims had coffee there. Told the proprietor that
Grover was asleep in the cab of the truck.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
You talked to the proprietor yourself.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
Sure he did drove out, seems soon as the deputy
give me the report. It's Watson studer. A lot of
truckers eat there stuffed to couff up when they're right
and late.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Watson of if they had a hitchhiker with him and
he rider, they might have picked up.
Speaker 7 (19:32):
He says, no, but he didn't go out to the truck.
Of course, from what he says, Simms was the only
one in the place except for some traveling salesman who
was playing the pin bowl machine.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Hell name Sonny Boy Jensen. Sonny Boy, that's right, jeez,
what you getting excited about. Talk to Watson again. Find
out what he knows about Sonny Boy Jensen, who he
is and where he comes from. And meet me back
at your office. I'll get there as fast as I
can roll. The army camp was on my way, so
(20:06):
I took the soldier with me and turned him over
to the camp authorities to be held. I kept the
lead foot on the gas pedal as I drove past
the bridge in the side road where the truckers had
been hijacked and slain. It took me almost two hours
to reach the county seat. The sheriff was standing in
front of his office as I drove up and save
and he changed location. Give it touch, parties, hatty, what
(20:27):
you get something that might fit that Jenson's been traveling
up and down this highway for years selling electrical appliances
to farmers and ranchers mostly man like that. It'd have
good market for car radios once that shipment cooled off.
He could be our boy, all right, you get any
lyne on where he comes from. Works out of El
Paso mostly, but his home's a small ranch about one
hundred and fifty miles southwest Frito. Sunny Boy Jensen can't
(20:50):
be his real name. No, it's Bertram Jensen. They just
call him Sonny Boy. Watson said he left the diner
about five minutes after Simpson. Grover Polleda probably passed him
on the highway, had them all staked out and set
up that roadblock. You better climb in going to El Paso. No,
turned south out of Fredo and head for Jenson's ranch.
(21:10):
I don't think he'd take that hot merchandise into El Paso,
even if he got there before daylight. He'd run into
some traffic, and that's the trucking company's home base. He'd
be taking a chance unloading any place in the city.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Now, see what you mean?
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Better check on him while we're rolling Unit ten to
kt X A Unit ten to kt X A kt XA.
This unit en route to Jensen Ranch near County line
one hundred and fifty miles southwest of Fredo Junction ten four.
Request check on subject Bertram Jensen alias sunny Boy Jensen,
(21:45):
El Paso appliance dealer and owner of ranch. This unit
is headed toward ten four Unit ten Claire kt xest.
I've been thinking, Jason, this couldn't have been a one
man job. Jensen couldn't drive the truck, aimed his car
after the hijack. Wasn't the one man job. A soldier
who gave him the gas they needed for the truck
(22:06):
said there were two men in the car, two men
with a bad murder rapp hanging over them, are able
to fight, Jae. Make sure our sheriff better take the
safety off your gun right now. There mightn't be time later,
(22:26):
Kenny x A Unit ten Unit ten go ahead, kat XA,
A report for you on Pertram Jensen.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
No record of sunny Boy alias served three is in
Federal Penitentiary Leavenworth. Nineteen nineteen to nineteen twenty one a
theft of army material from government armrey had accomplish named
delph Uni devicted on same charge.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
No record on either since then ten four unit ten
Claire Katy exhales them may answer a couple of our questions,
Sheriff yep, where Jensen got that Army forty five and
the nineteen seventeen animal series, and who his partner was?
If you think he might have kept in touch with
Dolph Muni for almost twenty years as an old saying
(23:11):
Sheriff about birds of a feather. It was after dark
when we reached the Jensen range. When the door opened,
I knew it was Jensen. There were little wrinkles under
his eyes, and his temples were gray, but his face
held a youthful softness, as some faces do, whether sixteen
(23:33):
or sixty. It wasn't hard to understand why they called
him Sonny boy us.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
But a long time since I seen a ranger around here.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
You were looking for somebody, Sheriff, and I heard you
might be able to get us a bargain on a
few things. Sure are they interested in automobile radios? I
got a few of my warehouse, And how fasso thought
you might have something around here? I'm afraid not. And
maybe you know somebody who has no I don't know
(24:04):
many people. I live alone here, don't see much to anybody,
had any company this evening. No, two ash trays in
this room don't agree with you. There's smoldering butts in
both of them. So unless you smoke two cigarettes at
a time and walk back and forth across the room
to put them out, you haven't been alone. All right.
A neighbors visiting me? Is that a crime? No? Where
(24:26):
is he in the kitchen? Call him? Don't go for him,
just call him from here? Uh? Doc, hey, doc?
Speaker 5 (24:39):
What's this?
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Doc? Visus? Jenny? Oh, well, I didn't hear anybody come in.
Jensen tells us you've been visiting him. Where are you
from from Borderville? Well that's about fifty miles from here. Yeah,
and Jensen said you were a neighbor. Well that's right,
ain't it. This is don't mean much in Texas. I
(25:03):
just dropped it on Jensen unexpected. Matter of fact. I've
just washed up fixing this car for home. Yeah, he
just leaving. Oh well, go right ahead. I'll get your
coat at center clause. Oh, before you open that, I'd
like to ask your friend a couple of questions. Fifty
miles is kind of a long walk. Isn't it. The
only way to leave this ranch would be in a car,
(25:24):
And if you've got one parked outside, we didn't notice it.
I was gonna lend him mine. Oh I see you
said you dropped in unexpectedly. How'd you get here without
a car? Why it's to ride? Somebody dropped me off
the gate? Uh huh. If you got nothing else to
ask me, I'd like to go. And yeah, imagine you would,
(25:46):
But I'm not quite finished. Maybe you know where I
could get a bargain in an automobile radio. Well, I
don't know nothing about radios. It's too bad. I thought
you might. All right, Jensen his coat by the way,
either you're heard from don Muni lately? Get out of here.
(26:07):
You got no right asking questions, You got no warrant
you let us in. Jensen, my story is you broken?
And you ain't gonna be able to deny it? Count
on that part, shelt Kate.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Don't try that, Jensen, wait here, take that gun out.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Of his wak got it shy? He don't through the window.
Stay with Jensen.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
I'll get him.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Come. I can't see your Muni. You better stop running
before I fire. Don't send sign to get in that car.
It's locked. That was in the air Muni. The next
ro't be how about it? All right? All right, go too,
just walk this way with your hands high I had
to steal a radio from I didn't do the killer.
I didn't. I was on the highway with a detour
(26:48):
sign when Jensen shot him. Don't tell me, Muni. He
save that for the court whirl. The radios in the
barn hidden batos of Potter. We didched the truck and
Amber leak. All right, let's go in and get Sonny
Boy and make your statement at the Sheriff's office.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
Bertram Sonny Boy Jensen, and Dolph Muni were found guilty
of the hijack murder of truck drivers Warren Grover and
Luther Simms. Both were sentenced to death and the electric
chair at Huntsville Penitentiary. Each of the convicted men made
an appeal for clemency, and in January of nineteen forty nine,
the sentence of Dolph Muni was commuted to life imprisonment,
(27:41):
but the petition of Sunny Boy Jensen was denied, and
on the morning of February nineteenth, nineteen forty nine.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
He was executed.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Now here again is the star of our show, Joel McCrae.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Folks, we want to thank you for the wonderful letters
you've been sending to us, and the warm and friendly
interest you've always shown toward our show. A lot of
you have asked the question, what's the title of the
theme music heard on Tales of the Texas Rangers. The
music you hear at the opening and closing of our
show is the Texas Rangers song, written by Sam Coslow
(28:24):
and Harry Bain and is arranged by Robert Armbruster, the
conductor of the NBC Orchestra. We're glad to know that
so many of you like it. We do too, and
so mister Armbrewster. The Texas Rangers song If You Please.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Is currently seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor production Frendsheet.
Tonight's cast included Tony Barrett, Whitfield, Connor Herbellus, Parley Bear Wilms,
Herbert Paul Gaboff, and Bill Conrad. This story was transcribed
and adapted by Joel Murcutt, and the program is produced
and directed by Stacy Keatsch.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Hell Give Me Speaking, Free Chimes Mean Good Times on
NBC next Sunday one week from the day, Tales of
the Texas Rangers will relinquish its broadcast time to enable
(29:43):
you to hear one of the season's most dramatic events,
the Theater Guild on the air full hour and a
half production of Hamlet, and make a note to be
back with us for another exciting Tales of the Texas
Rangers two weeks from tonight.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Next week it's Hamlet.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
In two weeks another Tales of the Texas Rangers starring
Joel McRae.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Be sure to listen now the sixty four Dollars Question.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Tomorrow hear The Boston Pops on NBCO
The National Broadcasting Company presents Joel McCrae in Tales.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Tonight transcribe from Hollywood another authentic reenactment of a case
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
(00:33):
fifty men who make up the most famous and oldest
law enforcement party in North America. Now from the files
(00:55):
of the Texas Rangers come these stories based on fact only. Names, dates,
and places are big fishes for obvious reasons. The events
themselves are a matter of record. Case for Tonite, that trap.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
It is one ten am May seventeenth, nineteen forty eight.
The highway across a barren and thinly populated portion of
West Texas is deserted except for a truck and trailer
pushing steadily westward.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Tode Pestle. Oh for that, and I feel good. Sure
were snoring. I could barely hear the motor over our
sleepsince eight o'clock last night, almost one am. Now, how
we're doing it will be an ol passo bisex we're
right on schedule. You want me to take the wheel? Now? Wait?
(01:52):
Do we gas up at Frido Junction. It's only another
fifty miles Okay, yeah, sure, will be glad to get
home and see my wife.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
He called a long distance when we stopped her supper.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah, but I'm not an old timer like you. This
is our first baby. We're expected you already got four.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
Yeah, don't let any kids. You said you feel the
same way about all of.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
'em, no matter how many. Yeah, what are you opening
for it? Oh? Just a healthy kid, I guess that's all.
Although I i'd kind of like a little girl. You
get one, and you have a real picnic. Girls are
born smarter than we are. My youngest one, she can
work me over for anything she wants, faster than a
water horse can get moved. You'll look like you're feeling
(02:32):
any pain from it.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Grow a Hey, it's a big kick.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Get the things they want. If don't get me wrong,
I'm just as fond of the three boys too. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Yeah, a girl does get under your skin a little
more there, ah, more affectionate.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Like boy grows up.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
You wanna kiss him, he kicks up his heels. You
get to be eight nine years.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Old, the closest you get to him, and shaking hands,
you know what I mean? Sure, sure, I guess we
were the same with our folks. I wouldn't trade them
for anything, boys or girls, and in your own blood.
Well you'll find out, since you got a lot.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Of fun and living their head.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yet he'll worry when they get sick, and they'll break
your heart when they get kid in troubles that you
can't help them with, with nothing you'll ever have.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
I mean as much two years your younginess.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I've been worrying about mine already and she he wow, whatever,
didn't even hear you. I keep wondering if I'll be
able to make it. You can all bring them up,
educate them, help them to be somebody.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Yeah, that's something else you'll worry about with each new one.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Man, I'm so scared now. I think I'll just settle
for one kid and leave it at time.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
That's what I said twelve years ago. Without person, you'll.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Change your mind, Yeah, I guess so. Mary says that, hey, uh,
what's that ahead where? Or somebody weaving a red liner?
Speaker 4 (03:59):
We must be coming to that narrow bridge over Lennon's creek.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
You suppose it's been washed out again by a flash flow.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
That could be, although it don't look like there's been
in the rain here since we started the whole east
four days ago.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Just the same they got it blocked over. They put
up a d tour sign.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
That probably wants us to go to the left end
of the old road.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
No sign points to the right, and the fellow what
the lander is waving as that way? Uh?
Speaker 4 (04:21):
I guess he knows what he's doing.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Don't look like much of a road this way, does it? Oh?
Want to be mighty rough going? I hope this don't
last too. Yeah, this ain't even a road.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Uh, it's just a little dead in turn off. That
guy must have been crazy sending us in here.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Back in this rig out is sure going to be
a job. What a dumb trick.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
I'm gonna walk back and ask him what the name
of places me to turn this off?
Speaker 5 (04:48):
This way?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I'll come with you.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
You think they'd have a highway patrol car station there?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Wait a minute, what's the matter by the road where
the lamp is moving that detour signed? Get back the truck?
Which what is it? Grover? What's wrong? Like a hijack,
get it rolling back at some don't mind what you hit?
Just cheap.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
Rover.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Hey, don't shoot anymore. Don't shoot.
Speaker 6 (05:11):
He's hurt.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
You can take you I said you could take everything.
You didn't hurt very wait shit.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
At nine pm the following night, the bodies of Warren
Grover and Luther Sins were discovered and the sheriff notified.
He called for help from the Texas Rangers. Ranger Jace
Pearson was a sign.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Here. The body Jace must have been dragged into the
brush when the truck was stolen. Lucky thing. Mister Archer
here found him. Mighty lucky could have been here for days.
How'd you happen to come across from? Mister Archer? Where
where me? When of my kids found him? We pulled
off the highway, fiction to make camp for the night,
boys gathering wood for the fire. Let out of help
(06:10):
and come leaking out of here like a jack rabbit
and make a habit of camping out at night with
your family. Ain't doesn't much a man can do about
it when he ain't working, And motels and bridges cost money.
Where do you come from? The parking stare away? We're
heading for California migratory workers. Huh. You can talk to
his family later if you own Jase. I let Archer
(06:30):
pull his car into a clearing up the highway about
two hundred yards the other side of the bridge. He
didn't want to keep the kids around here. If you
ain't got nothing else to ask me a lot to
get back to my wife. Crumb shaky, All right, go ahead,
But when you get to the car, say put, I
ain't got no place specially to go. Thanks. You got
a flashlight, Jase, mine's about to peter out. Yeah, there,
(06:54):
can give your batteries the rest. You say. They were
doing El Paso at six this morning. Huh, yep, was
on schedule too until they got here. I Reckon made
their supper stop on time last night. The company checked back,
when'd you get the request to look for the truck?
Got the description and license number early this afternoon, when
they was overdue and nobody had heard from them. The
company figured if they'd had a breakdown, they'd called in.
(07:16):
According to their schedule, they should have reached this spot
a little after midnight last night, and whoever took that
truck had plenty of time to get a long ways
from here with it before sun up. Not much chance
of anybody spotting them. They're try we'd better take a
look around. I've been all over the ground between here
and the highway, but I guess it won't hurt to
look again. Condition my light was in, I might have
missed something. I can show you where they were when
(07:39):
they dropped blood stained on the ground out here. Yeah,
I saw them right where the truck was. Things aren't
far from the tire marks. They're funny tires, jays, different
pattern rights smacked down the center rub well. No, those
inside tracks were made by Archer's car when he drove
in covered part of the truck marks. Way. This place
is rudded. He'd fall right into the same track. I
(08:02):
didn't think of that. Here's something. What is it? Cartridge shell?
Look at it? Forty five caliber army automatic. God, here's
another one. We won't have to wait for an autopsy
to tell us what the murder weapon was. Hey, I
just thought of something. What that forty five army automatic.
There's an army camp about forty miles further on, just
(08:23):
ten miles this side of free Toe Junction. I'm afraid
that won't help us. Sheriff number marking on these shelves
is a seventeen. That's the old nineteen seventeen ammunition series
World War One. No camp would be using ammo that old.
Too bad. I thought for a minute we might have
a fast lead. You arranged to have the bodies moved. Yep,
sent the deputy of the town for an undertaker. Good.
(08:43):
Let's walk out the archer's car, talk to his wife
and kids. Here's one thing I don't understand, jes why
did they pull their truck off the road. A trucker
riding a loan might do it to grab some sleep,
but not a scheduled rig with two drivers. I can't
figure that either. Cars up this way the other side
of the bridge. Might as well leave your car ride
where it is not much of a walk. Sure, all,
(09:07):
a sheriff, What is this mark? Just off the road shoulder?
Here sort of a circle in the dirt. Yeah, whatever
made the circle was wet and kind of oily. What
do you suppose me what would make an oily round
impression that size? Oh, I don't know, unless maybe it
was a lantern. That's what it was, all right. And
(09:28):
here's something else or small rectangular marks in the earth
base of each mark about two by four. Mean, I
can't figure that lest somebody had a table out here,
I don't think it was a table. Another thing that
would make four mark space like that's a wooden sawhorse.
See if this bridge ever wash out. Sometimes when there's
a flash flood, Hey, I see what you're aiming at.
(09:50):
When there is a flood, highway patrol sets up a
detour sign sends traffic through that road over across the highway.
When that happened last, oh not in a couple of months. Now,
these marks higned that somebody detoyed that truck into the
dead end road on this side. Lantern and saw horse
were setting here until they were moved onto the road
to set up a block. They must have had. That
particular truck pegged in came through at a time when
(10:12):
there isn't much traffic between the last down to the
east and pret junction. Come on, let's talk to Archer.
You've got a less of the cargo the truck was carrying.
Told my deputy to wire a request for it after
we'd found the truck had been stolen.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
He'll come through to my office.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Good, because we'll have to track this down through cargo.
I got a hunch that the truck has been emptied
and ditched by now Archer didn't know any more, and
he'd already told us, and his wife and three pale
undernurshed kids couldn't add anything. We waited until the bodies
were picked up, and then headed back for town. The
(10:47):
next morning, there was a wire from the trucking company
waiting at the sheriff's office, a list of the missing
truck's cargo. Here's report on cargo, Jason valued at thirty
nine thousand dollars. Let's see a shipment of autismobile radios.
Huh that's a break. Why because they all have serial numbers,
do a lot of work if they try and change
the numbers, and if they don't, one of the sets
(11:08):
will turn up sooner or later. Yeah, but they didn't
send the number SWO to us JASE just to set
make and model. I'm radioing my headquarters to get them
come on. Austin can contact the manufacture and have him
send a complete list of the cereals through and they
can distribute the list to all law enforcement agencies on
a statewide bullet. You don't stand much chance of cracking
this if we have to wait for a hot car
(11:30):
radio to turn up, don't worry. We're not gonna wait.
We've got plenty of other things to do. How many
deputies you got, handy three? How about send them back
along the highway. We know where Grover and Sims made
their supper stop. I'd like to find out if they
made any stops after that before they were killed. Good idea.
As a matter of fact, whoever stole the truck may
had turned it around and headed back that way.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Killers may have been spotted.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
It's a chance. On the other hand, maybe I are
to send one man toward Freto Junction and Il Passo,
just in case the truck kept head and wish. Never mind,
I'll handle that part of it my I'm heading for
Fredo Junction as soon as I can make that radio call.
I put through a request for the serial numbers, then
(12:11):
headed for Fredo Junction. On the way, I got a
radio call from KTXA the missing truck. I'd always made
a regular stop at the mobile gas station in Freedo Junction.
When I got to the station, I sent for the
man who'd been on duty tonight.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
The truck was hijacked Yep, I was on duty night
before last, Ranger. But Grover and Sims didn't stop here.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I know they never got this far. What I want
to know is, did you see their truck? The station's
right at the crossroads. The truck came through with somebody
else driving it. There's a chance you might have seen it. Ranger.
Speaker 6 (12:40):
I'd like to help you, but well, there ain't much
business during the night, even though the boss does keep
the place open. Is an accommodation of truckers. I usually
stretch out on a cot in the office. If a
truck stops, I get up. If it don't, I just
here go past. Any other stations around here open at night? Nope,
the truck Grover and Sims were driving always stopped here,
didn't it.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Yep.
Speaker 6 (13:00):
Company they drove for has a credit account here. They
haul between l passing Houston. Well, the tanks are always
just about dry when they hit here on the return
half from Houston.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
I see you mean the truck would be too low
on gas to go much further than this without filling out,
providing it came this way. That's right. Thanks, it's a
big help.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
Welcome, Ranger. Wish you could help more. Rover and Simms
were pretty nice guys.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
That's the trouble with a killing. The wrong people usually
get killed. And it sounds like you've got an impatient
customer out there.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Yep, one of the soldiers from Camp Buller boys are
busy on the pumps. I might as well help him. Hey,
he's got the drive block. I'll asking the backup SOS.
You can get your con trailer out.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
It's all right. He doesn't seem to want gas. May
want directions to someplace. Hey you got a shot here? Yeah,
but you got to pull around the back. You're blocking
a ranger's car. Oh, I'm sorry, that's okay. I just
want to make sure you got to help. Nate. Doesn't
seem to be much wrong with that motor.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I've written anything wrong with it?
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Some top shape and what do you want to put
it in the shop for? Got no radio much might
be able to escolar one.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
You are listening to Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as ranger Jace Pearson. We continue now with
tonight's case, The Trap, an authentic story from the files
of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
A soldier with a new car radio it didn't have
to mean anything, but it might. The make and model
of the set he had matched what I was looking for.
I got the serial number from the cart and it
came in and phoned it through to the sheriff for
a fast check against the manufacturer's list, and I went
into the shop to ask a few questions.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Last of drill hoes for the antenna.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I guess unless you want to wear it in your hat,
I will. It's like a good set. Yeah, pretty expensive. Oh,
I told me itselves for about eighty five bucks? What
do you pay for it? But I didn't buy it.
I made a deal for it, sort of what kind
of a deal?
Speaker 4 (15:11):
But he asked me that for a ranger?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Something wrong? I didn't say that. I was just wondering
what kind of a deal a fellow could get on
a car radio. And man, you got this from? Have
any others he wanted to get rid of? I don't think. So.
He just gave me this for a trade. And on
what stumped my head? Did he need it? Look, my
pass is only good for a couple hours. I didn't
(15:32):
think it would be this long. Maybe I better let
it go and I'll come back in next time. On
the town. Okay, I think you better stay around but
my past. Maybe I can get your little extension of time.
What's the camp number, I'll call your commanding officer. Well,
what do you want to do that for? Yeah, which matter, Ranger?
What is it? It's that radio. Grober and Sims were
hauling a truckload of auto radios when they were hijacked
(15:54):
and killed. What you telling me that radio is stolen? No,
not not yet, And I'm waiting for a check on
the serial number, and you're not leaving here until I
get it. Look, you gotta believe me. The guy gave
me that set. Yeah, you've been pretty evasive about telling
me why he gave it to me. I told you
it was a trade for what. Come on? Talk up? Well,
I I can't tell you that get me in trouble.
(16:16):
If this is one of the sets taken from two
murdered truck drivers, you'll be in plenty of trouble unless
I know where and how you got it. Sounds like
you better tell him, Soldier, I got to set in
exchange for some gasoline. Gasoline, I go ahead. Well, it
was night before last, just after two o'clock. I just
started guard. Do it? You at camp. My post is
(16:37):
long the fence by the motor pool from two to four. Arranger.
Speaker 6 (16:40):
That's not long after the time, you said.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Grover, nevermind, Milligan, go ahead. Well I heard this car
stop near the fence. Are you sure it wasn't a truck? No, No,
I was a car. So I walked over to the
fence where it was parked. I sort of gave the challenge,
you know. I asked who it was and I the
man walked up, said he needed some guessing, and you
gave it to him just like that.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
Oh no, no, he said he'd pay me for it.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I told him it was against regulations. Then he said
it wasn't for him. He said a couple of women
were standing down the highway in their car, and then
he said he'd give me a car radio. Oh well,
it's seemed like a good deal. So I opened up
pump and filled some cheap cans for him. How many gallons?
Twenty five? And you didn't think there was anything wrong
(17:25):
with a trade like that, And eighty five dollars radio
for twenty five gallons of gas. The guy was stuck,
And how could he be stuck? He was only ten
miles from the station and it's opened all night.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Well maybe he didn't know that.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
I knew it all right, But he didn't want to
bring a stolen truck into this station, and he didn't
want to get that much gas in cans from a
place that might be checked. Look, ranger, pleaser, I'm up
for discharge. In a couple of months, a camp is
being deactivated. I don't want to get in bad. You
should have thought of that before you started to ladle
out government gasoline. What kind of side arms do you
(17:55):
carry at the camp when you do a guard trick? Oh?
Regulation Army forty five and nineteen said seventeen series. Amo,
I'm that I ever saw. Are you gonna give me
a break? I'm not a judge. I can't give breaks.
You're the only key I've got to two dead men.
I'll call your post and have the MPs pick you up.
The gas leans the Army's business. But this radio is mine.
If it's stolen property, how could I know it was stolen?
(18:18):
Can you describe the man you got it from? No,
it was too dark.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
Besides, besides, there were two men, one of them stayed
in the car.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
It'd help your case a lot if you could tell
us what they looked like, even what kind of a
car they were driving. Well, it was dark, I tell you.
They talked to each other, call each other by name. Well, yeah,
you gotta the fellow. I gave a guest too. He
called the other one in the car and he said,
drive up closer. Were your sunny boy? Sunny boy? That's
not a name, probably just a wisecrack of nicknames.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
I'm just telling you what I heard.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I'm trying to do everything I can to help you.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
Yeah, just a minute, razors for you, Srif.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Thanks Hello, Sheriffs that.
Speaker 7 (18:58):
Soudier's radio is on the stolen list, all right, but
I got someone with deputy's dug up. Gruver and Simms
did make another stop after they had their supper at
eleven thirty the night they were culled.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Where roadside diner. Just stop for coffee.
Speaker 7 (19:13):
At least Sims had coffee there. Told the proprietor that
Grover was asleep in the cab of the truck.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
You talked to the proprietor yourself.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
Sure he did drove out, seems soon as the deputy
give me the report. It's Watson studer. A lot of
truckers eat there stuffed to couff up when they're right
and late.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Watson of if they had a hitchhiker with him and
he rider, they might have picked up.
Speaker 7 (19:32):
He says, no, but he didn't go out to the truck.
Of course, from what he says, Simms was the only
one in the place except for some traveling salesman who
was playing the pin bowl machine.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Hell name Sonny Boy Jensen. Sonny Boy, that's right, jeez,
what you getting excited about. Talk to Watson again. Find
out what he knows about Sonny Boy Jensen, who he
is and where he comes from. And meet me back
at your office. I'll get there as fast as I
can roll. The army camp was on my way, so
(20:06):
I took the soldier with me and turned him over
to the camp authorities to be held. I kept the
lead foot on the gas pedal as I drove past
the bridge in the side road where the truckers had
been hijacked and slain. It took me almost two hours
to reach the county seat. The sheriff was standing in
front of his office as I drove up and save
and he changed location. Give it touch, parties, hatty, what
(20:27):
you get something that might fit that Jenson's been traveling
up and down this highway for years selling electrical appliances
to farmers and ranchers mostly man like that. It'd have
good market for car radios once that shipment cooled off.
He could be our boy, all right, you get any
lyne on where he comes from. Works out of El
Paso mostly, but his home's a small ranch about one
hundred and fifty miles southwest Frito. Sunny Boy Jensen can't
(20:50):
be his real name. No, it's Bertram Jensen. They just
call him Sonny Boy. Watson said he left the diner
about five minutes after Simpson. Grover Polleda probably passed him
on the highway, had them all staked out and set
up that roadblock. You better climb in going to El Paso. No,
turned south out of Fredo and head for Jenson's ranch.
(21:10):
I don't think he'd take that hot merchandise into El Paso,
even if he got there before daylight. He'd run into
some traffic, and that's the trucking company's home base. He'd
be taking a chance unloading any place in the city.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Now, see what you mean?
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Better check on him while we're rolling Unit ten to
kt X A Unit ten to kt X A kt XA.
This unit en route to Jensen Ranch near County line
one hundred and fifty miles southwest of Fredo Junction ten four.
Request check on subject Bertram Jensen alias sunny Boy Jensen,
(21:45):
El Paso appliance dealer and owner of ranch. This unit
is headed toward ten four Unit ten Claire kt xest.
I've been thinking, Jason, this couldn't have been a one
man job. Jensen couldn't drive the truck, aimed his car
after the hijack. Wasn't the one man job. A soldier
who gave him the gas they needed for the truck
(22:06):
said there were two men in the car, two men
with a bad murder rapp hanging over them, are able
to fight, Jae. Make sure our sheriff better take the
safety off your gun right now. There mightn't be time later,
(22:26):
Kenny x A Unit ten Unit ten go ahead, kat XA,
A report for you on Pertram Jensen.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
No record of sunny Boy alias served three is in
Federal Penitentiary Leavenworth. Nineteen nineteen to nineteen twenty one a
theft of army material from government armrey had accomplish named
delph Uni devicted on same charge.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
No record on either since then ten four unit ten
Claire Katy exhales them may answer a couple of our questions,
Sheriff yep, where Jensen got that Army forty five and
the nineteen seventeen animal series, and who his partner was?
If you think he might have kept in touch with
Dolph Muni for almost twenty years as an old saying
(23:11):
Sheriff about birds of a feather. It was after dark
when we reached the Jensen range. When the door opened,
I knew it was Jensen. There were little wrinkles under
his eyes, and his temples were gray, but his face
held a youthful softness, as some faces do, whether sixteen
(23:33):
or sixty. It wasn't hard to understand why they called
him Sonny boy us.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
But a long time since I seen a ranger around here.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
You were looking for somebody, Sheriff, and I heard you
might be able to get us a bargain on a
few things. Sure are they interested in automobile radios? I
got a few of my warehouse, And how fasso thought
you might have something around here? I'm afraid not. And
maybe you know somebody who has no I don't know
(24:04):
many people. I live alone here, don't see much to anybody,
had any company this evening. No, two ash trays in
this room don't agree with you. There's smoldering butts in
both of them. So unless you smoke two cigarettes at
a time and walk back and forth across the room
to put them out, you haven't been alone. All right.
A neighbors visiting me? Is that a crime? No? Where
(24:26):
is he in the kitchen? Call him? Don't go for him,
just call him from here? Uh? Doc, hey, doc?
Speaker 5 (24:39):
What's this?
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Doc? Visus? Jenny? Oh, well, I didn't hear anybody come in.
Jensen tells us you've been visiting him. Where are you
from from Borderville? Well that's about fifty miles from here. Yeah,
and Jensen said you were a neighbor. Well that's right,
ain't it. This is don't mean much in Texas. I
(25:03):
just dropped it on Jensen unexpected. Matter of fact. I've
just washed up fixing this car for home. Yeah, he
just leaving. Oh well, go right ahead. I'll get your
coat at center clause. Oh, before you open that, I'd
like to ask your friend a couple of questions. Fifty
miles is kind of a long walk. Isn't it. The
only way to leave this ranch would be in a car,
(25:24):
And if you've got one parked outside, we didn't notice it.
I was gonna lend him mine. Oh I see you
said you dropped in unexpectedly. How'd you get here without
a car? Why it's to ride? Somebody dropped me off
the gate? Uh huh. If you got nothing else to
ask me, I'd like to go. And yeah, imagine you would,
(25:46):
But I'm not quite finished. Maybe you know where I
could get a bargain in an automobile radio. Well, I
don't know nothing about radios. It's too bad. I thought
you might. All right, Jensen his coat by the way,
either you're heard from don Muni lately? Get out of here.
(26:07):
You got no right asking questions, You got no warrant
you let us in. Jensen, my story is you broken?
And you ain't gonna be able to deny it? Count
on that part, shelt Kate.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Don't try that, Jensen, wait here, take that gun out.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Of his wak got it shy? He don't through the window.
Stay with Jensen.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
I'll get him.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Come. I can't see your Muni. You better stop running
before I fire. Don't send sign to get in that car.
It's locked. That was in the air Muni. The next
ro't be how about it? All right? All right, go too,
just walk this way with your hands high I had
to steal a radio from I didn't do the killer.
I didn't. I was on the highway with a detour
(26:48):
sign when Jensen shot him. Don't tell me, Muni. He
save that for the court whirl. The radios in the
barn hidden batos of Potter. We didched the truck and
Amber leak. All right, let's go in and get Sonny
Boy and make your statement at the Sheriff's office.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
Bertram Sonny Boy Jensen, and Dolph Muni were found guilty
of the hijack murder of truck drivers Warren Grover and
Luther Simms. Both were sentenced to death and the electric
chair at Huntsville Penitentiary. Each of the convicted men made
an appeal for clemency, and in January of nineteen forty nine,
the sentence of Dolph Muni was commuted to life imprisonment,
(27:41):
but the petition of Sunny Boy Jensen was denied, and
on the morning of February nineteenth, nineteen forty nine.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
He was executed.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Now here again is the star of our show, Joel McCrae.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Folks, we want to thank you for the wonderful letters
you've been sending to us, and the warm and friendly
interest you've always shown toward our show. A lot of
you have asked the question, what's the title of the
theme music heard on Tales of the Texas Rangers. The
music you hear at the opening and closing of our
show is the Texas Rangers song, written by Sam Coslow
(28:24):
and Harry Bain and is arranged by Robert Armbruster, the
conductor of the NBC Orchestra. We're glad to know that
so many of you like it. We do too, and
so mister Armbrewster. The Texas Rangers song If You Please.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Is currently seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor production Frendsheet.
Tonight's cast included Tony Barrett, Whitfield, Connor Herbellus, Parley Bear Wilms,
Herbert Paul Gaboff, and Bill Conrad. This story was transcribed
and adapted by Joel Murcutt, and the program is produced
and directed by Stacy Keatsch.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Hell Give Me Speaking, Free Chimes Mean Good Times on
NBC next Sunday one week from the day, Tales of
the Texas Rangers will relinquish its broadcast time to enable
(29:43):
you to hear one of the season's most dramatic events,
the Theater Guild on the air full hour and a
half production of Hamlet, and make a note to be
back with us for another exciting Tales of the Texas
Rangers two weeks from tonight.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Next week it's Hamlet.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
In two weeks another Tales of the Texas Rangers starring
Joel McRae.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Be sure to listen now the sixty four Dollars Question.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Tomorrow hear The Boston Pops on NBCO
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