December 16, 2024 • 30 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae as Ranger
Chase Pearson, another authentic reenactment of a case transcribed from
the files of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Names, dates, and places in the.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Following story are fictitious for obvious reasons.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
The events themselves are a matter of records.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Music means all things to all people. Music is relaxing, adventure,
Alesian fields of dreams come true, and at this joyous
holiday time, music is Christmas. We of NBC feel proud
of our Monday Evening lineup of truly fine music programs.
Tomorrow means more fine music on NBC with The Railroad
(01:18):
Hour featuring Gordon MacRae and Lucia Norman in The Happy Prince,
a special Christmas Eve production to add to your listening pleasure.
Also tomorrow there's The Voice of Firestone with guest Eleanor Stieber. Later,
there's The Telephone Hour with guest soloist Blanche Stebam, and
tomorrow enjoy the Christmas program of The Mario Lanza Show
with Mario Lanza, Lovely Jiselle McKenzie and raise Anafraa's Orchestra. Yes,
(01:41):
Monday is your invitation to music over Most NBC stations
make a program note to hear the Railroad Hour, the
Voice of Firestone, the Telephone Hour, and the Mario Lanza Show.
Tomorrow Monday means music on NBC. Hear it on this station.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
And now from the files of the Texas Rangers the
case called Christmas Payoff.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
It is four pm on the afternoon of December twenty fifth,
nineteen forty in the small West Texas town of Rockfield.
In his office, Doctor Redwood Hartley and his nurse are
just clearing up after treating an emergency case which is
taking the doctor away from his family on this Christmas day.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
Doctor, before I leave, would you like me to say.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
How I would just like you to school on home
where you should have been hours ago.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
And what about you?
Speaker 7 (02:40):
I think it's a shame the one day in the
year family should be together and you have an emergency.
Speaker 6 (02:44):
Well anyway, oh, missus Thompson will feel a lot better
now for the holidays.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Pretty nasty.
Speaker 6 (02:49):
In fiction, his doctoring is the one business camp be
run by a time clark.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
And nursing's are part of doctrines.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So I leave when you do, trapt. Sure I loved
to spend the whole day with the youngsters. Though.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
No, they probably won't even let.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
You back in the house.
Speaker 6 (03:04):
No, Christmas got him so excited, I don't think to
even though I'm gone.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Oh by the way, you sure you won't have supper
with us?
Speaker 5 (03:10):
I'd love to, doctor, but oh no?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
And what's met?
Speaker 6 (03:15):
Doctor?
Speaker 8 (03:15):
You come over the window for a minute.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Not not a patient?
Speaker 6 (03:18):
I think?
Speaker 4 (03:19):
So?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Um, Well, I guess Christmas streak can wait a little longer.
Who is it? I don't know?
Speaker 5 (03:26):
Yeh, Look that man just getting out of the car.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
I don't recognize him that I must be in pretty
bad shape, bandage, flit of yelbow.
Speaker 7 (03:34):
And why didn't he come in two hours ago? M
What do you mean that man was sitting in that
car two hours ago? Only was parking front of the
house next door. I wonder, I'm away from there?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
What?
Speaker 9 (03:45):
Doctor?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
What? I don't want him to see you? And go on?
What else? Well?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Just that?
Speaker 5 (03:51):
How later when I took missus Thompson out to her
guy I.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Was still there and he meant it. He really meant it. Doctor?
What is it?
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Alice? Now listening to me, don't ask you any questions.
I want you to get in the supply closet and
stay there. Whatever you do, don't make a sound no
matter what happens out here.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Don't give yourself away. You understand me. Your life depends
on it.
Speaker 10 (04:09):
What is it?
Speaker 6 (04:10):
Why don't we call the sheriff? I'm going to hurry,
hurry into the closet. I don't remember, not a sound.
I should have known it to come. I didn't know when.
Come on, Come on, operator, this is Doc Hartley. Listen carefully.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I have to speak quietly. Get the sheriff to.
Speaker 6 (04:30):
My office as quick as you can, and don't call back.
Just get him out here.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
He's stole any longer.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
Come in just a minute, here.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Goes yes, he'll doc hardly. That's right. Well would I
come in? Oh?
Speaker 6 (04:52):
Of course, come here. I know that's the supply closet.
My dispensary is this way. Now, if you'll just get
up on the table, yuh? Would you like to lie
down more comfortable for that?
Speaker 10 (05:08):
On?
Speaker 6 (05:08):
I'll sit. That's a lot of entergy. What did you
do to that hand? Think maybe I sprained it?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
You are the docs? Suppose you tell me? Uh? I
always work this slow?
Speaker 11 (05:22):
Doc?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Oh uh, I'm sorry? Where's your nurse?
Speaker 6 (05:25):
She's gone home long time ago, not even supposed to
be working today.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
This is Christmas, you know, Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:32):
I uh, why don't you pull the last of the
bandage off?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Doc?
Speaker 6 (05:37):
Don't you wanna see my head? I know what's in
it and I'll do it myself.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
Say, there's your Christmas present, Doc, in my fist. Nice
thirty eight. Don't you want it?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Doc? Why are you doing this? Why?
Speaker 6 (05:55):
Maybe I shouldn't give it to you. You guessed what
it was, spoiled my surprise. Ah, you look like a
nice guy. I'll give it you anyway. Luck at me, Doc,
You don't know what it's for.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Very Christmas, Doc.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Cureff Lon McGill, on arriving at the scene of the crime,
found doctor Hartley dead and nurse Alice Leonard in the
state of physical collapse. You immediately asked for the help
of the Texas Rangers. Ranger Jason Pearson was society, joining
the sheriff at the doctor's office a short while later.
Speaker 9 (06:39):
Photographer, will be out of your way in a minute, Jace.
The nurse I told you abouts in the other room.
Maybe you want to talk to her first, Yeah, thanks, Sheriff.
She's still as bad off she was. Oh, she's something
better now. It's a rough thing for a woman to
have to go through. S plenty rough in here, Jason Uh, Alice, Alice,
(07:02):
This is Ranger Pearson. Alice Leonard Jace been Doc Hartley's
nurse for six years.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Hodey man, I'm sorry.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
I just can't even get ahold of myself.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
It was so horrible.
Speaker 9 (07:19):
Har I know how you must feel, ma'am. But you'll
be helping a lot by answering. If you question us,
I'd try fine. Sheriff here has given me what you
told him, so I won't put you through that again.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Just want to clear up a few things you know
of anyone who might have wanted Doc dead?
Speaker 5 (07:37):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (07:38):
What sought a person that want that?
Speaker 8 (07:40):
Doctor was a wonderful man, never had an enemy.
Speaker 5 (07:42):
In his life, Sheriff.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
He'll tell you that, that's right, Jess.
Speaker 9 (07:46):
Doc was a real popular man in this town. I
never heard a word against you.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Friend. Didn't put him where he is now.
Speaker 9 (07:52):
Sheriff, ma'am, you say you saw the killer's face, yes,
through the KI. You think you'd recognize him if you
saw him again?
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Yes, I'm sure I would.
Speaker 9 (08:02):
Good now from their conversation, would you say the doctor
knew this man. No yet when he saw him through
the window, he made you hide in the closet. Yes,
that's right, he say anything at all about the man.
Speaker 8 (08:16):
No, wait wait, I remember now he said something about
he meant it?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
He meant it? Yes, what is it? Man?
Speaker 5 (08:25):
I just remembered something. A note?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
What, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
A few weeks ago the doctor got a letter. I
opened it because I take care.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Of his mail. Go on.
Speaker 8 (08:33):
Inside was just a piece of paper with words cut
out from newspapers past it to it.
Speaker 5 (08:38):
He said, the payoff is soon.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
What did the doctors say when he saw it? Woy?
Speaker 8 (08:42):
He just laughed, said it was some sort of joke.
But I caught him sitting and staring at it a
few times after that.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
You know where that letter is?
Speaker 10 (08:50):
Well?
Speaker 2 (08:51):
I think gets in his desk, Miss Leonard. You remember
anything about the car this man drove?
Speaker 5 (08:57):
No, just that it was black?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
See dad?
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Oh, the front fender had a big DND in it.
I remember I could see it from the office window.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I think that'll do for now. Ma'am. You go home
and try and get some rest. Uh. Tell the deputy
I said to drive you home, Alice, I will.
Speaker 10 (09:16):
I hope you find a man.
Speaker 9 (09:22):
Yeah, a poor woman. She was mighty fun of the doc.
Jess must have spent some bad minutes in that closet, man.
The doc had a couple of bad minutes too, Sheriff. Uh,
the photographer must be finished in there by now. Let's
take a look. Nothing's been touched in there, Jason. Everything's
just the way we found it. Fuck you'd want it
(09:43):
that way, thanks, Sheriff. Let's have a look at the doc.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
You know, just whipped the sheet off him.
Speaker 9 (09:50):
Here m he shot at close range? All right, powder burns.
The angle of the shots seemed to bear out the
nurse's story mollistic, so fill us in later.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Let's have a look at this desk.
Speaker 6 (10:03):
Okay, Jay, Well there's not much on this side, Jace. M.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
What's the matter?
Speaker 9 (10:15):
Drawer full of Christmas candies. That'll be a nice Christmas
for those poor kids. Hey, wait a minute, Jace, I
think this is what you want and that's it.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
The payoff is soon. No envelope with it?
Speaker 9 (10:31):
Mm I reckon, doc threw that away. It'd be a
tough one to trace. Cheap paper, the message and newspaper captions,
and it's used a lot for blackmail, because it's hard to.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Run down.
Speaker 9 (10:43):
Well where to now, Jace. Has the doc's wife been
told about this yet? No, been holding off, and I
sure don't relish it none those kids and all.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Let's tell her together, then, Sheriff, it's a little easier
than thanks, j anything more we can do here, No.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
But before we go, I want to check on that
black sedan with a smashed front fender, see if it's
on the stolen car list. If you can spare a
couple of deputies, Sheriff, I'd like him do a house
to house on this street. Maybe somebody else.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Got to look at that car or the killer. It's
a good idea, Jase. There's not much to go on,
is he. There's enough?
Speaker 9 (11:24):
They always leave enough, and this is one killer. I want, Sheriff.
I want him bad.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
A black sedan with a smashed front fender.
Speaker 9 (11:42):
Was on the stolen car list. We finished our calls
and left. Fifteen minutes later, we stood in front of
a large, neat house on a well kept street, staring
at the.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Front door Doc Hartley would never open again.
Speaker 9 (11:54):
Through the parlor window, we could see three laughing kids
and proud grandparents around a Christmas tree.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
It was a rough door of eld Herrange.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
I thought you'd know. I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
I was expecting my husband. Oh sure, M killed Hardy,
Miss Hartley. Can we come in? Oh? Of course please do?
Speaker 10 (12:20):
I imagine you want to see Ed.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
I'm I'm sorry.
Speaker 10 (12:22):
He had an emergency.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
But if you like, it's hardly. This is Ranger Pierson. Howdy, ma'am, Hello,
ranger please to meet you, ma'am. Can we speak to
you privately? I mean in another room away from them?
Of course?
Speaker 7 (12:40):
Come in here.
Speaker 8 (12:48):
Oh what is it, ma'am?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
It's best to say it quickly. Your husband he's been killed.
Oh no here, he knew you better sit down his Harley.
H I'm sorry, ma'am.
Speaker 10 (13:14):
How how did it happen?
Speaker 2 (13:16):
He was shot, ma'am by a man who came in
asking for treatment.
Speaker 10 (13:21):
Hu.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
I wanna find that man, missus Hardley. I I know.
Speaker 9 (13:26):
How you feel at a time like this, but if
you could answer a few questions, it had help.
Speaker 10 (13:31):
I'll try.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Has anyone threatened your husband that you know of? Did
he seem worried lately? No? Did anyone call him to
day beside the woman he went to treat?
Speaker 10 (13:44):
Just a a man ought man? Oh? A little past noon,
phone rang. Some man asked for my husband. I told
him he was at the office on an emergency. Had
he just hung up?
Speaker 2 (13:56):
You recognize the voice, missus Harley? No, just one more question? Then?
Speaker 9 (14:02):
Do you know of anyone who had a grudge against
the doctor who'd have wanted this to happen?
Speaker 10 (14:07):
Nope, nobody, nobody accept except who? Oh, I was thinking
of that man, the one he sent to prison.
Speaker 9 (14:17):
Sent to prison? Then I think I can explain that. Jess,
And you mean that Nixon thing is hardly Yes, well,
it happened a couple of years back Jesse fella named
Al Nixon robbed the payroll of a gas cracking planted
about forty miles from here, shopped during the getaway, though,
came through here and forced Doc Hartley to treat him
at gunpoint.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
You know what kind of stretch they gave him, Shriff?
Speaker 9 (14:39):
No, I don't remember. You see, that was a four
hour sheriff. I was living the other in the county.
Speaker 6 (14:44):
Then, well, anyway, it seems Doc somehow sneaked a phone
call while he was treating Nixon, and the police got him.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
I isn't that right? Means hardy?
Speaker 10 (14:53):
Yes, they sent him to Huntsville.
Speaker 9 (14:55):
Missus Hardley, I'm sorry to put you through this. We're
gonna leave now. Is there anything we can do for you?
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Nothing?
Speaker 10 (15:05):
There's nothing anyone can do. How will I tell the children?
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Call from KTXA. Ought to be in any minute now, Sheriff.
Speaker 9 (15:29):
I still don't see why you ask him for that
rundown on Nixon.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Jase, you're thinking maybe he's out.
Speaker 9 (15:34):
I don't know, Sheriff, but I sure want to find out.
Nixon's got a real good motive for this killing.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
I gotta go with you on that. That's it. You
ten to KTXA, go ahead, have information.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
You requested Al Nixon seven's life term Huntsville Penitentiary December
nineteenth to thirty seven.
Speaker 12 (15:56):
Money from gas cracking plant payroll never recovered.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Then for Unit ten clear he exhausted.
Speaker 6 (16:04):
Well that kind of kills that noted jess Man with
the best motive of all is serving life at Huntsville.
Speaker 9 (16:10):
And still too good to pass by, Sheriff, What do
you mean? Look, next may be in Huntsville for a life,
but that doesn't change his motive. It's still good, so good.
I want to see him. I'm going to Huntsville, in
the morning.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
In a moment, we will continue with Tales of the
Texas Rangers starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Jase Pearson.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Who catches tuberculosis the young, yes, but so do the old,
and so do people of any race or nationality. Half
a million Americans are afflicted with TV forty thousand a
year die. Yet TB is preventable and curable. It can
be controlled. How One way is through Christmas Seals. Christmas
(17:09):
Seals are the sole support of the three thousand voluntary
associations affiliated with the National Tuberculosis Association which are fighting
to wipe out TB in their communities. The greater the
Christmas Seals sale, the nearer we are to ending.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
The scourge of tuberculosis.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
If you haven't already purchased your Christmas Seals, you can
still buy and use them. Be glad of this easy,
inexpensive way to help others. Be grateful for the opportunity
to help safeguard your own home against the dread white plague.
And now back to Tales of the Texas Rangers starring
(17:47):
Joel mccraye.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
We continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and
our authentic story Christmas payoff.
Speaker 9 (18:06):
Next morning, I left nurse Alice Leonard with the sheriff
to begin the long job of trying to pick a
killer's picture out of the gallery. Then I headed for Huntsville.
I wasn't in the visiting room five minutes when Nixon
was brought in, a brutal looking little man who shuffled
forward and sat across the table from me waiting for
me to talk. My name's Pearson, Nixon, Ranger Pearson. Eh,
(18:30):
but you want a medal? Remembering your name?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
I want some answers. And if I don't get into
you have me arrested. He remember doctor Hartley Nixon? Yeah?
I remember? Look, ain't this good reason to remember?
Speaker 9 (18:46):
He didn't put you here? You put yourself here? Hartley
put me here.
Speaker 11 (18:51):
Oh, don't you worry about me? Right, I'll make out
you worry about Harley. Hartley is dead, Nixon. You mean
that he's dead, shot to death? A something funny next to.
Speaker 10 (19:12):
Do?
Speaker 6 (19:12):
To get it?
Speaker 2 (19:13):
He put me in here. Now he's dead, but I'm
still alive. You cops, you ros smart? Ain't you sure
sure you got me? But you never got the money.
Speaker 9 (19:22):
And best of all, Hartley's dirty you're in the right
place next, so.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
That's why you're here. Maybe I killed him, I'll confess.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
I just walked through the walls, knocked him off and
threw back like a bird.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
I called for a ranger.
Speaker 9 (19:42):
You can take it in the office, all right, guy, thanks, Yeah,
you can have him.
Speaker 5 (19:49):
He raise your rest.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
In the ranger.
Speaker 12 (19:55):
Thanks, Sheriff McGill jays. How are you making out.
Speaker 9 (20:03):
Cold Trail, Sheriff, Nixon's no help. How'd you come out?
Speaker 12 (20:07):
Durst picked out a picture. Jason swears it's him. Fella
named Louke Crowley.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
You run a make on him.
Speaker 12 (20:12):
I sure did. He did the last two years in Huntsville.
Released a week.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Ago, beginning to fit sheriff anymore on that car. I
was just coming to that.
Speaker 9 (20:21):
They found it about one hundred miles from here, abandoned
in some brush just outside of Crest City.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
I want to see that car, Sheriff. Tell him to
hold it where it is. Soon as I talked to
the warden, I'm heading for Crest City. Want to meet
me there?
Speaker 9 (20:34):
Sure thing.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Jace meets you at the hotel and we can tell
what's coming. Sheriff. That Cold trail's all warmed up again.
I had my.
Speaker 9 (20:50):
Talk with the warden and then met the sheriff in
Crest City. As we headed for the spot where the
abandoned car had been found, I kept thinking of Doc's
wife and.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Her three small kids. I was getting closer to a killer,
and I liked it. I don't know, Jason, no.
Speaker 6 (21:04):
Matter how, I figured, there's always a couple of losings.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
So then try this sheriff. Al Nixon is doing life
for a payroll robbery, and he's convinced this Doc Hartley's fault. Now,
that payroll was never found because Nixon hid it someplace
before they got him. I follow that far. Jay in
Huntsville with Nixon was Lou Crowder.
Speaker 9 (21:23):
Now Nixon knew he wasn't never going to get to
use that money, So suppose he made a deal with Crowder.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Crowder could have it if he killed Doc Hartley.
Speaker 6 (21:31):
But what was to stop Crowder from just digging up
the money and not killing the dock Now Nixon Stuke's
smite for that.
Speaker 9 (21:36):
Sheriff probably set it up so he'd let Crowder know
where the money is after he was sure of Doc's death.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
He had figures, all right, But how would he let Crowder.
Speaker 9 (21:47):
Know by letter, Sheriff the one and told me Nixon's
already written Crowder three times.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
What good would that do? All male coming out of
Huntsville is censured? Jay?
Speaker 9 (21:55):
I know, but the two men had plenty of time
to rig a code when they were together in the pen.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Then a letter could be the answer. That's right, the highway,
throw car up ahead? Must be where the car is? Yeah, yeah,
this is.
Speaker 6 (22:09):
It, Hardy Fellas, there's a car, Jason just behind his brush. Jase,
Even if your figuring's right, what do you RECOGNI car
is gonna.
Speaker 9 (22:24):
Tell us just one thing, Sheriff, that's it. I don't
get it, Jayse, you will.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Look. Would Crowder want to hang around of town? He'd
kill a man in no reckon not.
Speaker 9 (22:45):
But if he's expecting a letter from Nixon, he's got
a light someplace to get it.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
What are you driving there? Put this together?
Speaker 9 (22:52):
This car is still in run in order Crowder didn't
have to leave it. That makes Press City a pretty
good bet for the place the letter is gonna be
picked up.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
But what if Crowder's already picked the letter out?
Speaker 9 (23:02):
And it's not likely Nixon didn't even know about the
kill until I told him today, and he'd want to
be sure before he paid off. What if Nixon double
cross his crowder. Suppose he don't send the letter telling
where the money is, he'll send a sheriff.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
I got a good look at Nixon's face when I
told him Doc was dead. He'll send it back in
Cres City.
Speaker 9 (23:33):
The postmaster agreed to notify us the minute he got
any letter postmarked Huntsville without giving it out. The very
next day, the letter was there. The man had come
in for it, but was told it hadn't arrived. The
postmaster noticed the man was driving a car with a
horse trailer attached. I got my horse trailer and we
set the trap in the post office the next.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Morning with the last crowder. All right, Jason, he got
the letter. Shall we'd take him? No hold at sheriff.
What's the man?
Speaker 9 (24:01):
I don't want to take a chance. He's probably armed.
Some of these people may get hurt. Well, what are
you going to do?
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Give him a lead and tail him.
Speaker 9 (24:10):
All right, let's move up the front door and see
where he goes.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
He just got in that car. J one of the trailer.
He's pulling out. Come on, you reckon. He'll head straight
for that money.
Speaker 9 (24:28):
There's no doubt about it. He's not pulling that horse
trailer for nothing. He must be hidden some place he
can't use a car.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
It's all right with me. We'll get him, Sheriff. Wherever
he goes, we'll get him.
Speaker 9 (24:48):
For almost three hours, we trailed crowded by car, never
getting too near him, just pinpointing him. When the country
got rough, he left his car and switched to the
horse he'd been pulling. So did we.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
We gave him a bigger lead and just follow his tracks.
Awful rough climb, Jase, you sure we're following him? I
don't see any tracks.
Speaker 9 (25:05):
You're following him, all right, Sheriff. Didn't you just see
that turned rock moist on one side?
Speaker 2 (25:10):
I hope? Did that? Beats me? How you spot him?
Hold it, Sheriff, hoo, it's a drop off just ahead.
I want to look see anything, Jace. Hold it. He's
(25:30):
just over the drop about twenty feet? Is he digging? Jason?
Better than that, Sheriff.
Speaker 9 (25:34):
He's found it already now, look Sheriff. He's in a
dead end canyon. I'm going down after him. You cut
along this ridge and close in from the base, all.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Right, Jace, But be careful. Come on way, Crowder, get
your hands up, take me come. That's a warning, Crowder.
Next one will be through your head. Now throw your
gun away.
Speaker 12 (25:58):
Hold right, tellt shoot you say keeping there.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Look there's twenty thousand bucks here. I'll make a deal
with it.
Speaker 12 (26:06):
Take half the money.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Just give me a change, like the chance you gave Doc.
You're not to make that money.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
No, you don't give me that night.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Oh all right then, yeah, I'm all right, Sheriff.
Speaker 12 (26:21):
You were taking a awful.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
Chance that way.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Jasau.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I know a sheriff.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
I had a bad minute there when I saw his
knife glint in the sun.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
I thought you'd have to gun him for shore. I
didn't want it that way. I had to take crowd
or alive. Sheriff.
Speaker 9 (26:36):
He's my Christmas present to the warden at Huntsville.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
In just a moment, we will tell you the results
of the case.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
You have just heard.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
With Christmas just around the corner, we at NBC hope
that you all will have a joyful, happy holiday season.
With the program scheduled on the NBC Radio network, we
will try to add to your listening pleasure as you
relax in tune for your favorite entertainers. Special programs are
planned by all of our NBC shows, and we know
that you will want to hear as many of them
as you possibly can. To put it in musical form,
(27:22):
here is a holiday wish from the NBC chimes.
Speaker 11 (27:29):
Happiness, Happiness, NBC.
Speaker 12 (27:46):
Happiness Happiness.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Yes, from all of us at NBC to all of
you throughout the country, comes this sincere, hearty wish for
a merry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
And now here are the results of the case you
have just heard.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
On February third, nineteen forty one, Al Nixon was removed
from Huntsville Penitentiary to stand trial along with Lou Crowder
for the premeditated murder of doctor Hartley. Both men were
found guilty the sentence death in the electric chair.
Speaker 9 (28:33):
This is Joel McCrae, folks, I just want to say,
I hope you'll all have a happy holiday season and
many more to come.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
See you next week.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Next week Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment of a
case from the Piles of but Texas Rangers. The cast
(29:12):
included Tony Barrett, Lily and Biam Whitfield, Connor Lou Krugman,
Michael Ann Barrett, and Parley Bear. Technical advisor was Captain M. T.
Lonewolfnzalas of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed and
adapted by Anthony Barrett, and the program was produced and
directed by Stacy Keath hal Gidney.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Speaking next, It's the Big Show, All This and tolula
(29:56):
Io on NBC
Speaker 6 (30:00):
Boo
Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae as Ranger
Chase Pearson, another authentic reenactment of a case transcribed from
the files of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Names, dates, and places in the.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Following story are fictitious for obvious reasons.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
The events themselves are a matter of records.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Music means all things to all people. Music is relaxing, adventure,
Alesian fields of dreams come true, and at this joyous
holiday time, music is Christmas. We of NBC feel proud
of our Monday Evening lineup of truly fine music programs.
Tomorrow means more fine music on NBC with The Railroad
(01:18):
Hour featuring Gordon MacRae and Lucia Norman in The Happy Prince,
a special Christmas Eve production to add to your listening pleasure.
Also tomorrow there's The Voice of Firestone with guest Eleanor Stieber. Later,
there's The Telephone Hour with guest soloist Blanche Stebam, and
tomorrow enjoy the Christmas program of The Mario Lanza Show
with Mario Lanza, Lovely Jiselle McKenzie and raise Anafraa's Orchestra. Yes,
(01:41):
Monday is your invitation to music over Most NBC stations
make a program note to hear the Railroad Hour, the
Voice of Firestone, the Telephone Hour, and the Mario Lanza Show.
Tomorrow Monday means music on NBC. Hear it on this station.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
And now from the files of the Texas Rangers the
case called Christmas Payoff.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
It is four pm on the afternoon of December twenty fifth,
nineteen forty in the small West Texas town of Rockfield.
In his office, Doctor Redwood Hartley and his nurse are
just clearing up after treating an emergency case which is
taking the doctor away from his family on this Christmas day.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
Doctor, before I leave, would you like me to say.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
How I would just like you to school on home
where you should have been hours ago.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
And what about you?
Speaker 7 (02:40):
I think it's a shame the one day in the
year family should be together and you have an emergency.
Speaker 6 (02:44):
Well anyway, oh, missus Thompson will feel a lot better
now for the holidays.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Pretty nasty.
Speaker 6 (02:49):
In fiction, his doctoring is the one business camp be
run by a time clark.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
And nursing's are part of doctrines.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So I leave when you do, trapt. Sure I loved
to spend the whole day with the youngsters. Though.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
No, they probably won't even let.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
You back in the house.
Speaker 6 (03:04):
No, Christmas got him so excited, I don't think to
even though I'm gone.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Oh by the way, you sure you won't have supper
with us?
Speaker 5 (03:10):
I'd love to, doctor, but oh no?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
And what's met?
Speaker 6 (03:15):
Doctor?
Speaker 8 (03:15):
You come over the window for a minute.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Not not a patient?
Speaker 6 (03:18):
I think?
Speaker 4 (03:19):
So?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Um, Well, I guess Christmas streak can wait a little longer.
Who is it? I don't know?
Speaker 5 (03:26):
Yeh, Look that man just getting out of the car.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
I don't recognize him that I must be in pretty
bad shape, bandage, flit of yelbow.
Speaker 7 (03:34):
And why didn't he come in two hours ago? M
What do you mean that man was sitting in that
car two hours ago? Only was parking front of the
house next door. I wonder, I'm away from there?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
What?
Speaker 9 (03:45):
Doctor?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
What? I don't want him to see you? And go on?
What else? Well?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Just that?
Speaker 5 (03:51):
How later when I took missus Thompson out to her
guy I.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Was still there and he meant it. He really meant it. Doctor?
What is it?
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Alice? Now listening to me, don't ask you any questions.
I want you to get in the supply closet and
stay there. Whatever you do, don't make a sound no
matter what happens out here.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Don't give yourself away. You understand me. Your life depends
on it.
Speaker 10 (04:09):
What is it?
Speaker 6 (04:10):
Why don't we call the sheriff? I'm going to hurry,
hurry into the closet. I don't remember, not a sound.
I should have known it to come. I didn't know when.
Come on, Come on, operator, this is Doc Hartley. Listen carefully.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I have to speak quietly. Get the sheriff to.
Speaker 6 (04:30):
My office as quick as you can, and don't call back.
Just get him out here.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
He's stole any longer.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
Come in just a minute, here.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Goes yes, he'll doc hardly. That's right. Well would I
come in? Oh?
Speaker 6 (04:52):
Of course, come here. I know that's the supply closet.
My dispensary is this way. Now, if you'll just get
up on the table, yuh? Would you like to lie
down more comfortable for that?
Speaker 10 (05:08):
On?
Speaker 6 (05:08):
I'll sit. That's a lot of entergy. What did you
do to that hand? Think maybe I sprained it?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
You are the docs? Suppose you tell me? Uh? I
always work this slow?
Speaker 11 (05:22):
Doc?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Oh uh, I'm sorry? Where's your nurse?
Speaker 6 (05:25):
She's gone home long time ago, not even supposed to
be working today.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
This is Christmas, you know, Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:32):
I uh, why don't you pull the last of the
bandage off?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Doc?
Speaker 6 (05:37):
Don't you wanna see my head? I know what's in
it and I'll do it myself.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
Say, there's your Christmas present, Doc, in my fist. Nice
thirty eight. Don't you want it?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Doc? Why are you doing this? Why?
Speaker 6 (05:55):
Maybe I shouldn't give it to you. You guessed what
it was, spoiled my surprise. Ah, you look like a
nice guy. I'll give it you anyway. Luck at me, Doc,
You don't know what it's for.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Very Christmas, Doc.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Cureff Lon McGill, on arriving at the scene of the crime,
found doctor Hartley dead and nurse Alice Leonard in the
state of physical collapse. You immediately asked for the help
of the Texas Rangers. Ranger Jason Pearson was society, joining
the sheriff at the doctor's office a short while later.
Speaker 9 (06:39):
Photographer, will be out of your way in a minute, Jace.
The nurse I told you abouts in the other room.
Maybe you want to talk to her first, Yeah, thanks, Sheriff.
She's still as bad off she was. Oh, she's something
better now. It's a rough thing for a woman to
have to go through. S plenty rough in here, Jason Uh, Alice, Alice,
(07:02):
This is Ranger Pearson. Alice Leonard Jace been Doc Hartley's
nurse for six years.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Hodey man, I'm sorry.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
I just can't even get ahold of myself.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
It was so horrible.
Speaker 9 (07:19):
Har I know how you must feel, ma'am. But you'll
be helping a lot by answering. If you question us,
I'd try fine. Sheriff here has given me what you
told him, so I won't put you through that again.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Just want to clear up a few things you know
of anyone who might have wanted Doc dead?
Speaker 5 (07:37):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (07:38):
What sought a person that want that?
Speaker 8 (07:40):
Doctor was a wonderful man, never had an enemy.
Speaker 5 (07:42):
In his life, Sheriff.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
He'll tell you that, that's right, Jess.
Speaker 9 (07:46):
Doc was a real popular man in this town. I
never heard a word against you.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Friend. Didn't put him where he is now.
Speaker 9 (07:52):
Sheriff, ma'am, you say you saw the killer's face, yes,
through the KI. You think you'd recognize him if you
saw him again?
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Yes, I'm sure I would.
Speaker 9 (08:02):
Good now from their conversation, would you say the doctor
knew this man. No yet when he saw him through
the window, he made you hide in the closet. Yes,
that's right, he say anything at all about the man.
Speaker 8 (08:16):
No, wait wait, I remember now he said something about
he meant it?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
He meant it? Yes, what is it? Man?
Speaker 5 (08:25):
I just remembered something. A note?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
What, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
A few weeks ago the doctor got a letter. I
opened it because I take care.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Of his mail. Go on.
Speaker 8 (08:33):
Inside was just a piece of paper with words cut
out from newspapers past it to it.
Speaker 5 (08:38):
He said, the payoff is soon.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
What did the doctors say when he saw it? Woy?
Speaker 8 (08:42):
He just laughed, said it was some sort of joke.
But I caught him sitting and staring at it a
few times after that.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
You know where that letter is?
Speaker 10 (08:50):
Well?
Speaker 2 (08:51):
I think gets in his desk, Miss Leonard. You remember
anything about the car this man drove?
Speaker 5 (08:57):
No, just that it was black?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
See dad?
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Oh, the front fender had a big DND in it.
I remember I could see it from the office window.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I think that'll do for now. Ma'am. You go home
and try and get some rest. Uh. Tell the deputy
I said to drive you home, Alice, I will.
Speaker 10 (09:16):
I hope you find a man.
Speaker 9 (09:22):
Yeah, a poor woman. She was mighty fun of the doc.
Jess must have spent some bad minutes in that closet, man.
The doc had a couple of bad minutes too, Sheriff. Uh,
the photographer must be finished in there by now. Let's
take a look. Nothing's been touched in there, Jason. Everything's
just the way we found it. Fuck you'd want it
(09:43):
that way, thanks, Sheriff. Let's have a look at the doc.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
You know, just whipped the sheet off him.
Speaker 9 (09:50):
Here m he shot at close range? All right, powder burns.
The angle of the shots seemed to bear out the
nurse's story mollistic, so fill us in later.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Let's have a look at this desk.
Speaker 6 (10:03):
Okay, Jay, Well there's not much on this side, Jace. M.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
What's the matter?
Speaker 9 (10:15):
Drawer full of Christmas candies. That'll be a nice Christmas
for those poor kids. Hey, wait a minute, Jace, I
think this is what you want and that's it.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
The payoff is soon. No envelope with it?
Speaker 9 (10:31):
Mm I reckon, doc threw that away. It'd be a
tough one to trace. Cheap paper, the message and newspaper captions,
and it's used a lot for blackmail, because it's hard to.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Run down.
Speaker 9 (10:43):
Well where to now, Jace. Has the doc's wife been
told about this yet? No, been holding off, and I
sure don't relish it none those kids and all.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Let's tell her together, then, Sheriff, it's a little easier
than thanks, j anything more we can do here, No.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
But before we go, I want to check on that
black sedan with a smashed front fender, see if it's
on the stolen car list. If you can spare a
couple of deputies, Sheriff, I'd like him do a house
to house on this street. Maybe somebody else.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Got to look at that car or the killer. It's
a good idea, Jase. There's not much to go on,
is he. There's enough?
Speaker 9 (11:24):
They always leave enough, and this is one killer. I want, Sheriff.
I want him bad.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
A black sedan with a smashed front fender.
Speaker 9 (11:42):
Was on the stolen car list. We finished our calls
and left. Fifteen minutes later, we stood in front of
a large, neat house on a well kept street, staring
at the.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Front door Doc Hartley would never open again.
Speaker 9 (11:54):
Through the parlor window, we could see three laughing kids
and proud grandparents around a Christmas tree.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
It was a rough door of eld Herrange.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
I thought you'd know. I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
I was expecting my husband. Oh sure, M killed Hardy,
Miss Hartley. Can we come in? Oh? Of course please do?
Speaker 10 (12:20):
I imagine you want to see Ed.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
I'm I'm sorry.
Speaker 10 (12:22):
He had an emergency.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
But if you like, it's hardly. This is Ranger Pierson. Howdy, ma'am, Hello,
ranger please to meet you, ma'am. Can we speak to
you privately? I mean in another room away from them?
Of course?
Speaker 7 (12:40):
Come in here.
Speaker 8 (12:48):
Oh what is it, ma'am?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
It's best to say it quickly. Your husband he's been killed.
Oh no here, he knew you better sit down his Harley.
H I'm sorry, ma'am.
Speaker 10 (13:14):
How how did it happen?
Speaker 2 (13:16):
He was shot, ma'am by a man who came in
asking for treatment.
Speaker 10 (13:21):
Hu.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
I wanna find that man, missus Hardley. I I know.
Speaker 9 (13:26):
How you feel at a time like this, but if
you could answer a few questions, it had help.
Speaker 10 (13:31):
I'll try.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Has anyone threatened your husband that you know of? Did
he seem worried lately? No? Did anyone call him to
day beside the woman he went to treat?
Speaker 10 (13:44):
Just a a man ought man? Oh? A little past noon,
phone rang. Some man asked for my husband. I told
him he was at the office on an emergency. Had
he just hung up?
Speaker 2 (13:56):
You recognize the voice, missus Harley? No, just one more question? Then?
Speaker 9 (14:02):
Do you know of anyone who had a grudge against
the doctor who'd have wanted this to happen?
Speaker 10 (14:07):
Nope, nobody, nobody accept except who? Oh, I was thinking
of that man, the one he sent to prison.
Speaker 9 (14:17):
Sent to prison? Then I think I can explain that. Jess,
And you mean that Nixon thing is hardly Yes, well,
it happened a couple of years back Jesse fella named
Al Nixon robbed the payroll of a gas cracking planted
about forty miles from here, shopped during the getaway, though,
came through here and forced Doc Hartley to treat him
at gunpoint.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
You know what kind of stretch they gave him, Shriff?
Speaker 9 (14:39):
No, I don't remember. You see, that was a four
hour sheriff. I was living the other in the county.
Speaker 6 (14:44):
Then, well, anyway, it seems Doc somehow sneaked a phone
call while he was treating Nixon, and the police got him.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
I isn't that right? Means hardy?
Speaker 10 (14:53):
Yes, they sent him to Huntsville.
Speaker 9 (14:55):
Missus Hardley, I'm sorry to put you through this. We're
gonna leave now. Is there anything we can do for you?
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Nothing?
Speaker 10 (15:05):
There's nothing anyone can do. How will I tell the children?
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Call from KTXA. Ought to be in any minute now, Sheriff.
Speaker 9 (15:29):
I still don't see why you ask him for that
rundown on Nixon.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Jase, you're thinking maybe he's out.
Speaker 9 (15:34):
I don't know, Sheriff, but I sure want to find out.
Nixon's got a real good motive for this killing.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
I gotta go with you on that. That's it. You
ten to KTXA, go ahead, have information.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
You requested Al Nixon seven's life term Huntsville Penitentiary December
nineteenth to thirty seven.
Speaker 12 (15:56):
Money from gas cracking plant payroll never recovered.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Then for Unit ten clear he exhausted.
Speaker 6 (16:04):
Well that kind of kills that noted jess Man with
the best motive of all is serving life at Huntsville.
Speaker 9 (16:10):
And still too good to pass by, Sheriff, What do
you mean? Look, next may be in Huntsville for a life,
but that doesn't change his motive. It's still good, so good.
I want to see him. I'm going to Huntsville, in
the morning.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
In a moment, we will continue with Tales of the
Texas Rangers starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Jase Pearson.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Who catches tuberculosis the young, yes, but so do the old,
and so do people of any race or nationality. Half
a million Americans are afflicted with TV forty thousand a
year die. Yet TB is preventable and curable. It can
be controlled. How One way is through Christmas Seals. Christmas
(17:09):
Seals are the sole support of the three thousand voluntary
associations affiliated with the National Tuberculosis Association which are fighting
to wipe out TB in their communities. The greater the
Christmas Seals sale, the nearer we are to ending.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
The scourge of tuberculosis.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
If you haven't already purchased your Christmas Seals, you can
still buy and use them. Be glad of this easy,
inexpensive way to help others. Be grateful for the opportunity
to help safeguard your own home against the dread white plague.
And now back to Tales of the Texas Rangers starring
(17:47):
Joel mccraye.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
We continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and
our authentic story Christmas payoff.
Speaker 9 (18:06):
Next morning, I left nurse Alice Leonard with the sheriff
to begin the long job of trying to pick a
killer's picture out of the gallery. Then I headed for Huntsville.
I wasn't in the visiting room five minutes when Nixon
was brought in, a brutal looking little man who shuffled
forward and sat across the table from me waiting for
me to talk. My name's Pearson, Nixon, Ranger Pearson. Eh,
(18:30):
but you want a medal? Remembering your name?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
I want some answers. And if I don't get into
you have me arrested. He remember doctor Hartley Nixon? Yeah?
I remember? Look, ain't this good reason to remember?
Speaker 9 (18:46):
He didn't put you here? You put yourself here? Hartley
put me here.
Speaker 11 (18:51):
Oh, don't you worry about me? Right, I'll make out
you worry about Harley. Hartley is dead, Nixon. You mean
that he's dead, shot to death? A something funny next to.
Speaker 10 (19:12):
Do?
Speaker 6 (19:12):
To get it?
Speaker 2 (19:13):
He put me in here. Now he's dead, but I'm
still alive. You cops, you ros smart? Ain't you sure
sure you got me? But you never got the money.
Speaker 9 (19:22):
And best of all, Hartley's dirty you're in the right
place next, so.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
That's why you're here. Maybe I killed him, I'll confess.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
I just walked through the walls, knocked him off and
threw back like a bird.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
I called for a ranger.
Speaker 9 (19:42):
You can take it in the office, all right, guy, thanks, Yeah,
you can have him.
Speaker 5 (19:49):
He raise your rest.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
In the ranger.
Speaker 12 (19:55):
Thanks, Sheriff McGill jays. How are you making out.
Speaker 9 (20:03):
Cold Trail, Sheriff, Nixon's no help. How'd you come out?
Speaker 12 (20:07):
Durst picked out a picture. Jason swears it's him. Fella
named Louke Crowley.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
You run a make on him.
Speaker 12 (20:12):
I sure did. He did the last two years in Huntsville.
Released a week.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Ago, beginning to fit sheriff anymore on that car. I
was just coming to that.
Speaker 9 (20:21):
They found it about one hundred miles from here, abandoned
in some brush just outside of Crest City.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
I want to see that car, Sheriff. Tell him to
hold it where it is. Soon as I talked to
the warden, I'm heading for Crest City. Want to meet
me there?
Speaker 9 (20:34):
Sure thing.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Jace meets you at the hotel and we can tell
what's coming. Sheriff. That Cold trail's all warmed up again.
I had my.
Speaker 9 (20:50):
Talk with the warden and then met the sheriff in
Crest City. As we headed for the spot where the
abandoned car had been found, I kept thinking of Doc's
wife and.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Her three small kids. I was getting closer to a killer,
and I liked it. I don't know, Jason, no.
Speaker 6 (21:04):
Matter how, I figured, there's always a couple of losings.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
So then try this sheriff. Al Nixon is doing life
for a payroll robbery, and he's convinced this Doc Hartley's fault. Now,
that payroll was never found because Nixon hid it someplace
before they got him. I follow that far. Jay in
Huntsville with Nixon was Lou Crowder.
Speaker 9 (21:23):
Now Nixon knew he wasn't never going to get to
use that money, So suppose he made a deal with Crowder.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Crowder could have it if he killed Doc Hartley.
Speaker 6 (21:31):
But what was to stop Crowder from just digging up
the money and not killing the dock Now Nixon Stuke's
smite for that.
Speaker 9 (21:36):
Sheriff probably set it up so he'd let Crowder know
where the money is after he was sure of Doc's death.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
He had figures, all right, But how would he let Crowder.
Speaker 9 (21:47):
Know by letter, Sheriff the one and told me Nixon's
already written Crowder three times.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
What good would that do? All male coming out of
Huntsville is censured? Jay?
Speaker 9 (21:55):
I know, but the two men had plenty of time
to rig a code when they were together in the pen.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Then a letter could be the answer. That's right, the highway,
throw car up ahead? Must be where the car is? Yeah, yeah,
this is.
Speaker 6 (22:09):
It, Hardy Fellas, there's a car, Jason just behind his brush. Jase,
Even if your figuring's right, what do you RECOGNI car
is gonna.
Speaker 9 (22:24):
Tell us just one thing, Sheriff, that's it. I don't
get it, Jayse, you will.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Look. Would Crowder want to hang around of town? He'd
kill a man in no reckon not.
Speaker 9 (22:45):
But if he's expecting a letter from Nixon, he's got
a light someplace to get it.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
What are you driving there? Put this together?
Speaker 9 (22:52):
This car is still in run in order Crowder didn't
have to leave it. That makes Press City a pretty
good bet for the place the letter is gonna be
picked up.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
But what if Crowder's already picked the letter out?
Speaker 9 (23:02):
And it's not likely Nixon didn't even know about the
kill until I told him today, and he'd want to
be sure before he paid off. What if Nixon double
cross his crowder. Suppose he don't send the letter telling
where the money is, he'll send a sheriff.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
I got a good look at Nixon's face when I
told him Doc was dead. He'll send it back in
Cres City.
Speaker 9 (23:33):
The postmaster agreed to notify us the minute he got
any letter postmarked Huntsville without giving it out. The very
next day, the letter was there. The man had come
in for it, but was told it hadn't arrived. The
postmaster noticed the man was driving a car with a
horse trailer attached. I got my horse trailer and we
set the trap in the post office the next.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Morning with the last crowder. All right, Jason, he got
the letter. Shall we'd take him? No hold at sheriff.
What's the man?
Speaker 9 (24:01):
I don't want to take a chance. He's probably armed.
Some of these people may get hurt. Well, what are
you going to do?
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Give him a lead and tail him.
Speaker 9 (24:10):
All right, let's move up the front door and see
where he goes.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
He just got in that car. J one of the trailer.
He's pulling out. Come on, you reckon. He'll head straight
for that money.
Speaker 9 (24:28):
There's no doubt about it. He's not pulling that horse
trailer for nothing. He must be hidden some place he
can't use a car.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
It's all right with me. We'll get him, Sheriff. Wherever
he goes, we'll get him.
Speaker 9 (24:48):
For almost three hours, we trailed crowded by car, never
getting too near him, just pinpointing him. When the country
got rough, he left his car and switched to the
horse he'd been pulling. So did we.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
We gave him a bigger lead and just follow his tracks.
Awful rough climb, Jase, you sure we're following him? I
don't see any tracks.
Speaker 9 (25:05):
You're following him, all right, Sheriff. Didn't you just see
that turned rock moist on one side?
Speaker 2 (25:10):
I hope? Did that? Beats me? How you spot him?
Hold it, Sheriff, hoo, it's a drop off just ahead.
I want to look see anything, Jace. Hold it. He's
(25:30):
just over the drop about twenty feet? Is he digging? Jason?
Better than that, Sheriff.
Speaker 9 (25:34):
He's found it already now, look Sheriff. He's in a
dead end canyon. I'm going down after him. You cut
along this ridge and close in from the base, all.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Right, Jace, But be careful. Come on way, Crowder, get
your hands up, take me come. That's a warning, Crowder.
Next one will be through your head. Now throw your
gun away.
Speaker 12 (25:58):
Hold right, tellt shoot you say keeping there.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Look there's twenty thousand bucks here. I'll make a deal
with it.
Speaker 12 (26:06):
Take half the money.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Just give me a change, like the chance you gave Doc.
You're not to make that money.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
No, you don't give me that night.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Oh all right then, yeah, I'm all right, Sheriff.
Speaker 12 (26:21):
You were taking a awful.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
Chance that way.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Jasau.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I know a sheriff.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
I had a bad minute there when I saw his
knife glint in the sun.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
I thought you'd have to gun him for shore. I
didn't want it that way. I had to take crowd
or alive. Sheriff.
Speaker 9 (26:36):
He's my Christmas present to the warden at Huntsville.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
In just a moment, we will tell you the results
of the case.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
You have just heard.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
With Christmas just around the corner, we at NBC hope
that you all will have a joyful, happy holiday season.
With the program scheduled on the NBC Radio network, we
will try to add to your listening pleasure as you
relax in tune for your favorite entertainers. Special programs are
planned by all of our NBC shows, and we know
that you will want to hear as many of them
as you possibly can. To put it in musical form,
(27:22):
here is a holiday wish from the NBC chimes.
Speaker 11 (27:29):
Happiness, Happiness, NBC.
Speaker 12 (27:46):
Happiness Happiness.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Yes, from all of us at NBC to all of
you throughout the country, comes this sincere, hearty wish for
a merry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
And now here are the results of the case you
have just heard.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
On February third, nineteen forty one, Al Nixon was removed
from Huntsville Penitentiary to stand trial along with Lou Crowder
for the premeditated murder of doctor Hartley. Both men were
found guilty the sentence death in the electric chair.
Speaker 9 (28:33):
This is Joel McCrae, folks, I just want to say,
I hope you'll all have a happy holiday season and
many more to come.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
See you next week.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Next week Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment of a
case from the Piles of but Texas Rangers. The cast
(29:12):
included Tony Barrett, Lily and Biam Whitfield, Connor Lou Krugman,
Michael Ann Barrett, and Parley Bear. Technical advisor was Captain M. T.
Lonewolfnzalas of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed and
adapted by Anthony Barrett, and the program was produced and
directed by Stacy Keath hal Gidney.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Speaking next, It's the Big Show, All This and tolula
(29:56):
Io on NBC
Speaker 6 (30:00):
Boo
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