August 2, 2025 • 29 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The National Broadcasting Company presents Joel McCrae in Tales of
the Texas Rangers from Hollywood. Another authentic reenactment of a
case transcribed from the piles of the Texas Rangers. Tales
(00:25):
of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae of Ranger Chase Pearson,
Texas more than two hundred and fifty thousand square miles
at sixty men who make up the most famous and
oldest law enforcement party in North America. Now from the
(00:54):
files of the Texas Rangers. From these stories based on fact, name,
states and placers are Pcticius, Moropius free. The events themselves
are a matter of records. Case for tonight death shot.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
It is nine thirty am November eighteenth, nineteen forty one
in the Big Ben Country of West Texas. J. C.
Wilford of the Bureau of Mines and Fred Blasel winding
up a narrow dirt road toward Blaisdell's abandoned mine in
Blackhawk Canyon. How long as you say it's been since
you operated, you mind, mister Blaisbel.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I never have operated at Wilfrid.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
It was left me by my brother when he passed down.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I see.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
I was understood there was our here if you had
the money to get it out, But I didn't, so
I just let her sit here. Haven't even been near
the place for two years anyway. But lately I've been
reading that the government's anxious to get some of these
minds gone again.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
So I got in touch with you at the Bureau
of Minds. Uh. See, if you think it's a worthwhile.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Proposition, well, if it looks promising and tall, we can
make a third survey.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
To a little diamond drilling and see what we've gone.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Then if it looks good, you think the government will
loan the money to operated. That's something I can't answer.
All we at the Bureau do is make the recommendation. Hey,
pretty desolate country around here, isn't it. Yeah, I'll see
here we are.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Oh that's the entrance to the mine I had.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, Yah, I'd say all bought it down and fad lock.
It's my brother put that door on the entrance to
the shaft when it quit.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Work in the mine.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, I got my key. That's funny, you know, it's
a meta plase key doesn't seem to fit when you're
sure he's the right one. Yeah, uh, hey, this isn't
the same lock on here. Well, but there was a
master padlock on here before. Now it's just a cheap
one from a diamond store.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Looks like that's strange food. Want to switch lungs?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Why?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Somebody musta been snooping around up here. Wait, he's hign
barty line over here.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
See if I can find that lock or fairly new lungs.
Fight the look him. Yeah, okay, let's open the up.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, they got the flash line, I better go for us,
okay with 'em? Sh shure wet in here? Yeah, these
RIfS collect a lot of moisture, and the mines knocking.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Use Rizsially, it's a matter of what the crook there
on the ground in front of us, Oh smoke, a
skeleton clothes.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Just about all rut of the way, and a.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
A different padlock on the entrance. It looks like somebody
didn't want their skeleton fight. Yeah, well yeah, and if
you take a look at the skull you'll see why.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Hey, it's all bashed in.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Sure is the club were rocked by the look of him. Yeah,
So whoever that was, looks like he was murdered. The
two men notified Sheriff Benson, who requested help from the
Texas Rangers. M. Ranger jas Pearson was a signed to
the case, joining the sheriff and two men that Blazedel's mind.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Mm.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Pretty dance hereff, sure is you men touch anything in
here and our thing?
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Ranger.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
After I fired off the new lock, we come inside.
But just as soon as we saw the skeleton, we
got out in the hurry and called the sheriff and
that right, but here it's right, Ranger, But there it
is there, said yeah, hm, cause sure is bashed in.
It's pretty hard to tell how long he's been dead, jays. Yeah,
remains would deteriorate pretty fast in this dampness. And it's
(05:00):
far as telling her it is. Woes are all wrought
of away, so the shame and.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Go for any papers he might have been caring.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
And just a minute, heure, mm uh, I means loose
rocks on the side here, but looks like a letter wallet.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
It is pretty well preserved to sure. Sure it was
a little higher than the skelet enough out of the web. Yeah,
pretty lucky for us. It looks that way.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Any money in it now, just some papers mm, mighta
been robbery, he'd have took the money and tossed the
bill pulled away. Can you make out the writing on
any of the papers Gilbert W.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Madden? Madden and they mean anything to you? Black them?
Uh's just trying to think. No, no, I don't. I
don't remember ever.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Hearing it before.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
How about you, mister Wilford.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Being from the Bureau of Mind, you probably spend a
lot of time around this part of the state.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
You ever hear the name before? Madden sounds a little.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Familiar, but uh, I can't.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
See if the police arrange him.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Sorry, Okay, I guess that'll be awful. Now let's get
back outside the once signed statements from you, you can
drop around the Sheriff's office and make 'em.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Bove you in this afternoon. It's okay, sure, see you then, Blason.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Mordan, well afraid I give you a lift Bactice Towns
right get through here, Jase, I cried, take this broken
padlock along.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
I don't wanna look at this hasp on the door.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Ah doubt if you can tell much from that.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
It's all scratched up. Where plays they'll fright off that
padlock here.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I know there's one thing sort of puzzles me a little, sheriff.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
H what is it?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
This new lock isn't rusty enough to have been out
here in the open.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
For very long? What do you figure that means?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I don't know until I can get some idea of
the approximate time of death. Come on, let's get back
to town and start checking on Gilbert Madden. See if
we can find out how long ago he was murdered.
Back at the Sheriff's office, I checked through the missing
(07:05):
person's reports and found one on Gilbert and Madden, filed
by his wife eight months before. Missus Madden was promptly
notified and requested to meet us at the Sheriff's office
for routine questioning.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Ne was sheeat? Miss Madden?
Speaker 4 (07:19):
Thank you, Sheriff.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Sorry to be asking questions at a time like this, ma'am.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
That's all right, Ranger. I don't suppose there's any doubt
it was.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Gil I'm afraid not, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
We found his wallet and my lab confirmed the identification
by means of the teeth.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Well, I felt for some time that gil must be dead.
In a way, it's almost better knowing instead of wondering.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I know, Missus Madden, our lab's trying to establish the
time of your husband's murder. Now, according to our information,
you filed this missing person's report on last March twenty third,
a little less than eight months ago.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
What were the circumstances surrounding your husband's disappearance.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Well, uh, Gilbert, he was a mine broker. He made
trips in the mining country every now and then. He
planned to be away for two or three weeks, so
I decided to visit my relatives in Kansas while they
was gone.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I see, when was that right.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Around the first of March, as I remember, And how
long were you in Kansas?
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Three weeks?
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Did you hear from your husband during that time? Oh?
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yes, I did.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
I got a letter from him just a couple of
days before I was to return home, saying he would
meet my train, but he wanted.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
At the depot.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
When I arrived, called all over town trying to locate him,
and then when I couldn't, I got worried. The next
day I filed the report with the police.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Well, let's see that it make it about the twentieth
of March when he got that last letter from your husband.
That means he was alive up until the time he
mailed it anyway, which would be about the eighteenth of March.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Come in uh that for my statement? Would you dapt
for the shaff for anything else?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Ah?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Reckon not, missus Madden. Is mister Blaisdell?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
How did you?
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Ms Madden, Mister.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Blaisdell owns the mine where your husband's body was discovered?
Oh uh, sir, try to make your acquaintance under this
sort of circumstance, Miss Madden.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Uh, Sheriff. I'm sure you told me where this mine
was over the phone when you notified me. But what
with the shock I don't seem to remember.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Oh my mind is over in Blackhawk Canyon, Miss Madden,
black Hawk Canyon?
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Huh does that mean anything to you? Miss Madden?
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Willy who?
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Really he lived up in black Haw Canyon somewhere.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Look, missus Madden, who is this old Willy?
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Well he has a mine up there. He's a strange
old man, he's very eccentric.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Well what makes you think he had anything to do
with this?
Speaker 4 (09:31):
Because in that last letter I got from Gilbert he
mentioned something about old Willie pestering him.
Speaker 5 (09:35):
Again.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
I didn't say much attention to it at the time.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
I still don't get the connection between your husband and
this old Willy.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Missus Madden.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Well, you see, about two years ago, my husband made
a business trip into that region.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
I went with him.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
This old Willy was hanging around a little store where
we stopped for cool drink. When he found out my
husband was a mine broker, he became very excited, said
he had a valuable mind.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
He wanted Gilber to look at.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Did your husband inspect Willie's mind?
Speaker 4 (09:59):
No, because the storekeeper broke in told us Willie's mind
was worthless. Willie became furious and find the storekeeper through.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Now I see it. Willly threatened your husband.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Missus ma'am.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Well, he wrote a few crazy sort of letters to
gil We're accusing him of being a spot what he
called the big companies.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Hm, mister Blasdell, have you ever heard of this old Willie?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
No, I haven't, but that doesn't mean anything. I'm not
acquainted with anybody in that area. Jaeh. I sure think
this old Willie is worth question, So do I, Sheriff.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
We'll head back to black Hawk Canyon and see if
we can find him. Right now, he sounds like a
first class murderer.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Suspect in just a moment.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
We will continue with tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as Ranger Chase Pearson.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
It's the Silver Jubilee on NBC. Here is great news
for all of you Western fans. Beginning next Friday on
most NBC stations. Roy Rogers, The King of the Cowboys
and Day Levins The Queen of the West will bring
you the new Roy Rogers Show. Yes beginning next Friday,
be sure to listen for Roy Rogers, Day Levens and
Trigger in new Adventures in Paradise Valley. It's the Roy
(11:20):
Rogers Show Friday on most NBC stations.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Be sure to listen.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
We continue now with tales of the Texas Rangers and
to Night's case Death Chef, an authentic story from the
files of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
As a matter of routine, I checked up on Missus
Madden's story of her visit to relatives in Kansas and
quickly confirmed.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
The fact that she was there during the period she
had stated.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Next, Sheriff Benson and I drove to the small general
store in Blackhawk Canyon and questioned the storekeeper.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Oh, Willie, sure I know him?
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Mean James comes in here one two months regular for
supplying crazy to Coot fras a little price.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
O belt twenty mile up the canyon. He's got a
new count mine up on East William.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Of course he thinks he's just chuck ful or mister Price,
I want you to think back about two years ago.
An incident involving old Willie and a mind broker named
Maddon is supposed to have taken place here in your store.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
You remember anything about it?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Sure, dude, Willie started giving his mind brooker the usual
joy waging a body's mind being variable. Sure, I bet
I better stick more in and tell the fellow Willie's
mind wasn't worth a deadbone chance for what happened?
Speaker 7 (12:41):
Then?
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Oh, Willie threw off the handle in his crazy way,
started sparting a bunch of threats, and the looney talks
to Way.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
Finally I had to kick him out of the store.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Well, Ja said, short checks with what miss Madden told us?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, mister Price, can you give us directions for finding
Willie's place?
Speaker 3 (12:57):
We'd like to pay him a visit.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
Mm pretty rough country up there.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
And we got horses in the trailer outside.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Oh wait, that Caise you can make it all right. Here.
You'll find the trail eating north off the road up
the head about five bound and stick to the trail
to recross a dry creek.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
And you see another trail taking up up the side
of the canyon.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
The second trail lead just to Willy's mine.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Huh yep. Of course, may not find him there.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Why not. He's pretty skitterish about visitors. That's just why
I want to pay him a visit. See if he's
got anything to be skitterish about.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
We should be just about there, sheriff. Yeah, five climes.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Look like we're directly across the canyon from Blaisdell's mine.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Listen, Oh, let's see, Willie. They're clothes all right.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Once we get around this bend in the trail. Yeah,
and looks like some diggings up ahead there.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
And just take a look.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Got shot Yeah, some place the Albanie sign fire paper caidboy.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
I'm wonder what keeps it up.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Probably that stove fright sticking up through the center of
the roof.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Yeah, they're smoking too. Well. He must be home alright.
Oh wool track, Oh oh boy, hu.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Would you look at the junkies got hanging on the
outside walls, pieces of barbed wild tin, cans, keys, bottles.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Like Willie's park pack wrap. M the door's open. Nobody inside.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Inside looks like the outside, only more so.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
I wonder where I hold it? Mm look over there
in the bushes. Yeah, something moved alright, Well ay out
of there.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Well a hey, somebody's coming out alright. Sure, don't look
very friendly with that rattle.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Why do you fai what?
Speaker 3 (15:00):
You Throw that rifle down and we'll tell you you've.
Speaker 5 (15:03):
Got no call to come poking around my property.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
You're wrong there, Willie.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
This is Sheriff Benson and I'm Ranger Pearson. I want
to ask you a few questions. Now, drop that rifle
and come over here.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
You think I'm going to tell you about my mind,
don't you?
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I'm not now just a minute.
Speaker 5 (15:22):
Really, you want to get it away from me? Dislike
all the risks you spies for this witch? Are you
come poking around here?
Speaker 3 (15:30):
What are you talking about? Willy? Spies for whom?
Speaker 5 (15:32):
For the big companies?
Speaker 7 (15:34):
They all want my mind because they know it's right
smack dab on the biggest being in the county.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
That's why this and spy scooping around.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Here like you too.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
I don't know jas Willie, have you ever been near
the Blazel mine across the canyon from here?
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Hey? Gee, good eysic it is answer my question? Have
you ever been near there?
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Diddy?
Speaker 3 (15:55):
How long ago?
Speaker 5 (15:56):
Oh? A couple of dys?
Speaker 3 (15:58):
What were you doing over there?
Speaker 5 (15:59):
The true?
Speaker 3 (16:00):
What do you mean patrolling?
Speaker 5 (16:01):
Well? I patrol all over you gotta watch for the spies.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Mm you ever hear the name Gilbert Madden?
Speaker 5 (16:09):
He's gonna never get my mind. All I need to
do the money there for you?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
I asked your question, Willie, have you ever hear of
Gilbert Madden?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
You heard him? Willie?
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Hey?
Speaker 7 (16:20):
Maybe ahead and maybe an age you finished film up
a spine just.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Like he, just like who Madden?
Speaker 7 (16:30):
Think you're pretty smart, don't you? But you're not going
to trap me. He had his chance to get me
money for the mind, but he wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
That's why you killed him.
Speaker 7 (16:41):
I think they're going to get me confused with your
smart dog, don't it. At the age, I ain't got
too much on my mind patrolling to worry about hitting anybody.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Yeah, I wonder we got a witness that you had
a fight with Madden, and furthermore, a minute.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Sheriff, what is it? Just happened to notice something hanging
on the outside the wall here? Just a bunch of
old rusty keys. Yeah, but this one isn't as rusty
as the rest.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Let me see, jee, that key's the same make as
the lock. Blaisdell right off the entrance, dos mine.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
That's right, Sheriff. Come here, Willie?
Speaker 4 (17:18):
Hey, what you want?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Where'd you get this key?
Speaker 5 (17:22):
Say? That's your goodness? You want to trade him?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Where'd you get it?
Speaker 5 (17:26):
I saved keys?
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Which starlin?
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Willy?
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Where'd you get it?
Speaker 5 (17:29):
Coming around here asking me all kinds of questions?
Speaker 2 (17:32):
You got no call at that headlocks back in my
off for schase.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
I'm sure interested to see whether this key fits it?
So am I? Come on, Willy, get your burrow. We're
gonna take a ride.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Make you be Come down here with you fellows. You
think I'm not wise to you?
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Padlocks him a desk here, m you peep down.
Speaker 7 (17:57):
Here while one of your other spice stoops around. My
mind tch or shampoo shre it is.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Let's have it, okay, Now I'll try this key in
it finch? Sure it does well? I guess that does it?
Speaker 5 (18:13):
All right?
Speaker 7 (18:14):
I can I go down.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
No, Willie, I don't think you'll be going anywhere.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
For quite a spell, the sheriff booked Willie, but we
were unable to get any sort of coherent statement out
of him.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Finally we locked him up and went back into the
sheriff's office.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Well, regardless of whether or not he gives us a confession,
I suppose we could get a conviction.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Al right, maybe, un as they find him mentally incompetent,
even so, they'll put him away. Yeah, that's just what
I was thinking.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Be pretty rough on him if he happened to be innocent,
wouldn't it be innocent now? Ja? Yeah, I know you
have two witnesses to the fact that Willie threatened Gilbert Madden.
That's right, missus Madden and the storekeeper. But what clenches
it is a padlock on Blaisdell's mine, Jays.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
That key we found at willie shack fits it.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
That's about as solid evidence as or it seems to me.
I wonder what do you mean? A couple of things
about this don't feel quite right to me, Sheriff. For
what for instance, well, near as the lab can figure,
Madden was murdered about eight months.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Ago, that's right, last March. But the lock Blazebel.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Broke off the mine entrance was hardly rusty at all,
and neither was the key we found hanging out in
the open at willie shack.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
What's wrong with that?
Speaker 5 (19:26):
Jeez?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Will He broke off the original lock when he hit
Madden's body. But Madden died eight months ago, and that
second lock couldn't have been on the half that long. Oh,
maybe Willie didn't put the lock on right away. Maybe
later he got to worrying about someone that discovering the body,
and well that's.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
When he put it on, sheriff.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
The time you're most worried about a body being discovered
is right after you've killed a man, not several months later.
Sure that's the way a sensible person would react, but
remember who we're dealing with, Old Willie.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Who's not exactly what you'd call a sensible man. I know, Sha.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
But then there's the part about the key hanging right
out in plain sight at Willie's shack. Now, jeez, you
said yourself Willie was pot pack rat. Remember all the
other junkie had hanging around the shirt, And sure I
do shareff. I also remember what Willy said when we
showed him that key, say, that's a good one, just
like he never noticed it before.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Will do you get that? Jays?
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Maybe Willie did kill Madden, but it seems to me
there's a bear chance he didn't.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Then how'd he get that key? You could have found
it or it could have been planted there. That'd be
awful tough to prove either way, Jay, Sure it would
as long as it's a possibility. We're not closing the case.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Come on, let's talk to missus Madden and see if
she can give us a line on anybody besides old
Willie who might have a reason for killing her husband.
We drove out to the Madden house, but Missus Madden
was unable to give us any new information. She suggested
(20:57):
we'd go through her husband's business records, which in the
spare room he'd used for an office, So the sheriff
and I started in an hour later. The only things
we found just made it look all the worse for Willie.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Hm, what do you got? Jash?
Speaker 2 (21:12):
And a bunch of letters written on wrapping paper addressed
to Madden, crazy threatening letters?
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Who wrote you guess Willie?
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Yeah, Willie, listen, you better watch out.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
I ain't gonna let you steal my mind. M that's
really all right?
Speaker 2 (21:29):
First of 'em like that, Yeah, all six of 'em.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Well, Jason looks all the worse for Willy.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Now we went through just about all Madden's records and
papers He's threatening.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Letters or all we come up with.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yea, And from the looks of it, madden kept records
are just about everything.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
As we'll put these papers back, I guess, okay, what
you got there? Uh file of canceled checks. Hand 'em
over and I'll stick.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Them here in the drawer.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Okay, just comming through 'em. I guess there's nothing here.
I Hey, what is it, sheriff? Look at this check
stated two years ago? Mmm, let's see, well what about it?
It j just made out the cash and signed for Madden. Yeah,
but take a look at this pencil riding up in
the corner.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Pencil riding Let's well all be so, will I.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Come on gonna make an arrest now, Chef. I need
more proof, and I think I know a way to
get it. Just go along with whatever I say.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Sure, Jays, did you find anything that's in helping Gilbert's papers?
Speaker 3 (22:35):
Range Pearson I think we did.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Missus Madden. You said you accompanied your husband on his
business trip into the black Hawk Canyon area two years ago.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Why did he go there or just to size up
the situation find out what mines were for sale?
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I see he didn't actually transact any business though.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
No course, this really.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Wanted him to come up and see his mind. But
when this storekeeper told us the.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Mine was no, Yeah, and you stayed right with your
husband the whole trip. Yes, okay, thanks, ma'am.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
You say you found something in Gilbert's papers.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
We don't know for sure, so i'd like to give
you a receipt for these canceled checks.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I want more time to examine them.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
Here you are canceled checks.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Yeah, it looks like one of 'em is gonna take
the wrong man out of jail and put the right
man in.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Come on, Sheriff, see, I'm glad to hear it. If
there's any more I can do, we'll let you know.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Missus Madden, goodbye. She's lying, Jess like a trooper, But
now we'll watch her. Have one of your deputies keep
an eye on him. You don't want him to get away,
but we don't want to pick him up yet either,
it's okay, I'll call him off with from the dress door.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Wait my car around the corner. Meet me there.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
The sheriff made his call and rejoined me. We sat
in my car waiting. A little after dark, missus mant
car pulled away from our house, heading out of town.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
We followed, keeping well back.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Two miles out of town, she pulled off the highway,
parked behind another car, got out, headed into the brush.
Sheriff and I worked our way slowly and quietly in
the direction she'd take him. Should be around here, somewhere
out there. Keep it as quiet as possible. Share reckon.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
She can want you to meet you.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Look sient, listen, Yeah, so hear I'm talking. Look in
that clearing ahead.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Man, let's beas up another.
Speaker 5 (24:32):
You little fool. You must him overlook something when you
went to load right here. No, I'm sure I didn't read.
I found the inns you made well. You paid him
for praising your mind two years ago.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
I pulled it off.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
There's nothing in those records show the two of you
knew each other.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
You're wrong there, man, hold it real, steady, blace, little chiers. Yeah,
so the two of you didn't know each other until
I introduced you. Huh, you've been in it together ever
since you met two years ago.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
Verry, you little fool.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
You went tricked into coming out here so they could
catch us together.
Speaker 5 (24:57):
They didn't have any proof of anything.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
I got proved right here in my pocket that you
lied when you said you didn't know Madden, Blasdel.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
What kind of proof something you overlooked? Missus?
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Madden a check made out the cash. You didn't notice
the pencil riding on us, riding Your husband made a
notation that the check was to cover expenses of.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
A trip he'd made to a praise Blazel's mind. Two
years ago.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
You told me you were with your husband the whole trip,
So you lied about not knowing Blaisdel.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
Where are you stupid? You gotta listen to me.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
I didn't want any part of it, but Blazeer post
mature said, I'm in the clear.
Speaker 5 (25:28):
I was in Kangas when it happened.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
Praise.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
I'll tell my husband, Oh that's how you stick by me.
Why you hold a pencil. You're not gonna get away free, Claire.
I guarantee that sure I kill Madden Ranger, but it
was her idea, a line right from the start. It
was her idea how to go about it. Put the
body in my whole mind and change lots.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
He's lying ws the key at Willie Shack, Pretend she
and I didn't know each other, and produce about it.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
So she could collect on the insurance.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
All of it was horrid.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Shut up, Shut up, I'm about half.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
In the shit.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Gotta whitzh out on me.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
Will you wait? I get throw spit it out? He
shut up?
Speaker 3 (26:00):
You know, sheriff strikes me. We've only got one problem left.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
We're say Jay, getting them to talk slow enough so
a stenographer can get it all down.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Come on, both of you.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Fred Blaisdell and Clara Madden were indicted and placed on trial.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
For the brutal murder of Gilbert Madden.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
For her part in the crime, Clara was sentenced to
fifty years in the women's prison at Gory. On the
morning of May third, nineteen forty two, Blaisdel was put
to death in the electric chair.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
And now here's the star of our show, Joel McCrae. Hello, folks.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
First of all, we want to thank thank you kindly
for the many wonderful letters and cards we received during
the summer months. It's mighty heartwarming to know we have
so many good friends. As a matter of fact, the
Rangers themselves have received quite a few of your letters too,
and like us, they certainly appreciated hearing from you. I'm
sure that most of you will recall reading about a
(27:19):
great Texas Ranger captain who retired from active duty on
July thirty first of this year. Some of our stories
have been based on his exploits.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
He's the famous Captain m T.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Lone Wolf Gonzales, whose favorite guns are engraved with the
code he has always lived by in his colorful career,
never draw me without cause, nor shield me without dishonor tomorrow,
it'll be exactly thirty one years since Lone Wolf was
sworn in as a Texas Ranger, and as in the
(27:51):
past year, so in the years to come, we are
proud to have him as our technical adviser. Congratulations cap,
See you next week, folks.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Next week, Joel McCray and another authentic reenactment of a
case from the pile Goouse, not Exit Rangers. Joel McCrae
is currently seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor production
Cattle Drives. The cast included Tony Barrett, Bill Johnstone, Lamont, Johnson,
(28:29):
Ken Christy, Betty Lugerson, and Brad Brown.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Technical advisor was Captain M. T.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
Lone Wolf Gonzales of the Texas Rangers. This story was
transcribed and adapted by Bob Right, and the program is
produced and directed by Stacy Keith hel Gidney speaking.
Speaker 6 (29:01):
It's the Silver Jubilee on NBC Today. Here the glittering
premiere program of The Big Show, broadcast from London and
featuring Sir Lawrence Olivier, Fred Allen, Beatrice Lily and your
Unpredictable Hostess Telulah Bankhead. Then joining the firm with The
Phil Harris Alis Fay Show as they launched their new
comedy season and later Theater Guild on the Air brings
(29:22):
you Joseph Cotton and John Fontaine in Main Street by Sinclair.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Lewis, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
The program You Can't Take It with You, starring Walter Brennan,
is now heard at a new time and day That's
Friday on most NBC stations. Stay tuned for the Big
Show and Telula on NBC.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
The National Broadcasting Company
The National Broadcasting Company presents Joel McCrae in Tales of
the Texas Rangers from Hollywood. Another authentic reenactment of a
case transcribed from the piles of the Texas Rangers. Tales
(00:25):
of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae of Ranger Chase Pearson,
Texas more than two hundred and fifty thousand square miles
at sixty men who make up the most famous and
oldest law enforcement party in North America. Now from the
(00:54):
files of the Texas Rangers. From these stories based on fact, name,
states and placers are Pcticius, Moropius free. The events themselves
are a matter of records. Case for tonight death shot.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
It is nine thirty am November eighteenth, nineteen forty one
in the Big Ben Country of West Texas. J. C.
Wilford of the Bureau of Mines and Fred Blasel winding
up a narrow dirt road toward Blaisdell's abandoned mine in
Blackhawk Canyon. How long as you say it's been since
you operated, you mind, mister Blaisbel.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I never have operated at Wilfrid.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
It was left me by my brother when he passed down.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I see.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
I was understood there was our here if you had
the money to get it out, But I didn't, so
I just let her sit here. Haven't even been near
the place for two years anyway. But lately I've been
reading that the government's anxious to get some of these
minds gone again.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
So I got in touch with you at the Bureau
of Minds. Uh. See, if you think it's a worthwhile.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Proposition, well, if it looks promising and tall, we can
make a third survey.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
To a little diamond drilling and see what we've gone.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Then if it looks good, you think the government will
loan the money to operated. That's something I can't answer.
All we at the Bureau do is make the recommendation. Hey,
pretty desolate country around here, isn't it. Yeah, I'll see
here we are.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Oh that's the entrance to the mine I had.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, Yah, I'd say all bought it down and fad lock.
It's my brother put that door on the entrance to
the shaft when it quit.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Work in the mine.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, I got my key. That's funny, you know, it's
a meta plase key doesn't seem to fit when you're
sure he's the right one. Yeah, uh, hey, this isn't
the same lock on here. Well, but there was a
master padlock on here before. Now it's just a cheap
one from a diamond store.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Looks like that's strange food. Want to switch lungs?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Why?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Somebody musta been snooping around up here. Wait, he's hign
barty line over here.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
See if I can find that lock or fairly new lungs.
Fight the look him. Yeah, okay, let's open the up.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, they got the flash line, I better go for us,
okay with 'em? Sh shure wet in here? Yeah, these
RIfS collect a lot of moisture, and the mines knocking.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Use Rizsially, it's a matter of what the crook there
on the ground in front of us, Oh smoke, a
skeleton clothes.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Just about all rut of the way, and a.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
A different padlock on the entrance. It looks like somebody
didn't want their skeleton fight. Yeah, well yeah, and if
you take a look at the skull you'll see why.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Hey, it's all bashed in.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Sure is the club were rocked by the look of him. Yeah,
So whoever that was, looks like he was murdered. The
two men notified Sheriff Benson, who requested help from the
Texas Rangers. M. Ranger jas Pearson was a signed to
the case, joining the sheriff and two men that Blazedel's mind.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Mm.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Pretty dance hereff, sure is you men touch anything in
here and our thing?
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Ranger.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
After I fired off the new lock, we come inside.
But just as soon as we saw the skeleton, we
got out in the hurry and called the sheriff and
that right, but here it's right, Ranger, But there it
is there, said yeah, hm, cause sure is bashed in.
It's pretty hard to tell how long he's been dead, jays. Yeah,
remains would deteriorate pretty fast in this dampness. And it's
(05:00):
far as telling her it is. Woes are all wrought
of away, so the shame and.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Go for any papers he might have been caring.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
And just a minute, heure, mm uh, I means loose
rocks on the side here, but looks like a letter wallet.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
It is pretty well preserved to sure. Sure it was
a little higher than the skelet enough out of the web. Yeah,
pretty lucky for us. It looks that way.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Any money in it now, just some papers mm, mighta
been robbery, he'd have took the money and tossed the
bill pulled away. Can you make out the writing on
any of the papers Gilbert W.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Madden? Madden and they mean anything to you? Black them?
Uh's just trying to think. No, no, I don't. I
don't remember ever.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Hearing it before.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
How about you, mister Wilford.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Being from the Bureau of Mind, you probably spend a
lot of time around this part of the state.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
You ever hear the name before? Madden sounds a little.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Familiar, but uh, I can't.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
See if the police arrange him.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Sorry, Okay, I guess that'll be awful. Now let's get
back outside the once signed statements from you, you can
drop around the Sheriff's office and make 'em.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Bove you in this afternoon. It's okay, sure, see you then, Blason.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Mordan, well afraid I give you a lift Bactice Towns
right get through here, Jase, I cried, take this broken
padlock along.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
I don't wanna look at this hasp on the door.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Ah doubt if you can tell much from that.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
It's all scratched up. Where plays they'll fright off that
padlock here.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I know there's one thing sort of puzzles me a little, sheriff.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
H what is it?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
This new lock isn't rusty enough to have been out
here in the open.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
For very long? What do you figure that means?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I don't know until I can get some idea of
the approximate time of death. Come on, let's get back
to town and start checking on Gilbert Madden. See if
we can find out how long ago he was murdered.
Back at the Sheriff's office, I checked through the missing
(07:05):
person's reports and found one on Gilbert and Madden, filed
by his wife eight months before. Missus Madden was promptly
notified and requested to meet us at the Sheriff's office
for routine questioning.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Ne was sheeat? Miss Madden?
Speaker 4 (07:19):
Thank you, Sheriff.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Sorry to be asking questions at a time like this, ma'am.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
That's all right, Ranger. I don't suppose there's any doubt
it was.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Gil I'm afraid not, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
We found his wallet and my lab confirmed the identification
by means of the teeth.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Well, I felt for some time that gil must be dead.
In a way, it's almost better knowing instead of wondering.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I know, Missus Madden, our lab's trying to establish the
time of your husband's murder. Now, according to our information,
you filed this missing person's report on last March twenty third,
a little less than eight months ago.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
What were the circumstances surrounding your husband's disappearance.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Well, uh, Gilbert, he was a mine broker. He made
trips in the mining country every now and then. He
planned to be away for two or three weeks, so
I decided to visit my relatives in Kansas while they
was gone.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I see, when was that right.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Around the first of March, as I remember, And how
long were you in Kansas?
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Three weeks?
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Did you hear from your husband during that time? Oh?
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yes, I did.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
I got a letter from him just a couple of
days before I was to return home, saying he would
meet my train, but he wanted.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
At the depot.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
When I arrived, called all over town trying to locate him,
and then when I couldn't, I got worried. The next
day I filed the report with the police.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Well, let's see that it make it about the twentieth
of March when he got that last letter from your husband.
That means he was alive up until the time he
mailed it anyway, which would be about the eighteenth of March.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Come in uh that for my statement? Would you dapt
for the shaff for anything else?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Ah?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Reckon not, missus Madden. Is mister Blaisdell?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
How did you?
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Ms Madden, Mister.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Blaisdell owns the mine where your husband's body was discovered?
Oh uh, sir, try to make your acquaintance under this
sort of circumstance, Miss Madden.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Uh, Sheriff. I'm sure you told me where this mine
was over the phone when you notified me. But what
with the shock I don't seem to remember.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Oh my mind is over in Blackhawk Canyon, Miss Madden,
black Hawk Canyon?
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Huh does that mean anything to you? Miss Madden?
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Willy who?
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Really he lived up in black Haw Canyon somewhere.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Look, missus Madden, who is this old Willy?
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Well he has a mine up there. He's a strange
old man, he's very eccentric.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Well what makes you think he had anything to do
with this?
Speaker 4 (09:31):
Because in that last letter I got from Gilbert he
mentioned something about old Willie pestering him.
Speaker 5 (09:35):
Again.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
I didn't say much attention to it at the time.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
I still don't get the connection between your husband and
this old Willy.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Missus Madden.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Well, you see, about two years ago, my husband made
a business trip into that region.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
I went with him.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
This old Willy was hanging around a little store where
we stopped for cool drink. When he found out my
husband was a mine broker, he became very excited, said
he had a valuable mind.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
He wanted Gilber to look at.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Did your husband inspect Willie's mind?
Speaker 4 (09:59):
No, because the storekeeper broke in told us Willie's mind
was worthless. Willie became furious and find the storekeeper through.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Now I see it. Willly threatened your husband.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Missus ma'am.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Well, he wrote a few crazy sort of letters to
gil We're accusing him of being a spot what he
called the big companies.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Hm, mister Blasdell, have you ever heard of this old Willie?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
No, I haven't, but that doesn't mean anything. I'm not
acquainted with anybody in that area. Jaeh. I sure think
this old Willie is worth question, So do I, Sheriff.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
We'll head back to black Hawk Canyon and see if
we can find him. Right now, he sounds like a
first class murderer.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Suspect in just a moment.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
We will continue with tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as Ranger Chase Pearson.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
It's the Silver Jubilee on NBC. Here is great news
for all of you Western fans. Beginning next Friday on
most NBC stations. Roy Rogers, The King of the Cowboys
and Day Levins The Queen of the West will bring
you the new Roy Rogers Show. Yes beginning next Friday,
be sure to listen for Roy Rogers, Day Levens and
Trigger in new Adventures in Paradise Valley. It's the Roy
(11:20):
Rogers Show Friday on most NBC stations.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Be sure to listen.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
We continue now with tales of the Texas Rangers and
to Night's case Death Chef, an authentic story from the
files of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
As a matter of routine, I checked up on Missus
Madden's story of her visit to relatives in Kansas and
quickly confirmed.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
The fact that she was there during the period she
had stated.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Next, Sheriff Benson and I drove to the small general
store in Blackhawk Canyon and questioned the storekeeper.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Oh, Willie, sure I know him?
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Mean James comes in here one two months regular for
supplying crazy to Coot fras a little price.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
O belt twenty mile up the canyon. He's got a
new count mine up on East William.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Of course he thinks he's just chuck ful or mister Price,
I want you to think back about two years ago.
An incident involving old Willie and a mind broker named
Maddon is supposed to have taken place here in your store.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
You remember anything about it?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Sure, dude, Willie started giving his mind brooker the usual
joy waging a body's mind being variable. Sure, I bet
I better stick more in and tell the fellow Willie's
mind wasn't worth a deadbone chance for what happened?
Speaker 7 (12:41):
Then?
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Oh, Willie threw off the handle in his crazy way,
started sparting a bunch of threats, and the looney talks
to Way.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
Finally I had to kick him out of the store.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Well, Ja said, short checks with what miss Madden told us?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, mister Price, can you give us directions for finding
Willie's place?
Speaker 3 (12:57):
We'd like to pay him a visit.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
Mm pretty rough country up there.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
And we got horses in the trailer outside.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Oh wait, that Caise you can make it all right. Here.
You'll find the trail eating north off the road up
the head about five bound and stick to the trail
to recross a dry creek.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
And you see another trail taking up up the side
of the canyon.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
The second trail lead just to Willy's mine.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Huh yep. Of course, may not find him there.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Why not. He's pretty skitterish about visitors. That's just why
I want to pay him a visit. See if he's
got anything to be skitterish about.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
We should be just about there, sheriff. Yeah, five climes.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Look like we're directly across the canyon from Blaisdell's mine.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Listen, Oh, let's see, Willie. They're clothes all right.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Once we get around this bend in the trail. Yeah,
and looks like some diggings up ahead there.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
And just take a look.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Got shot Yeah, some place the Albanie sign fire paper caidboy.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
I'm wonder what keeps it up.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Probably that stove fright sticking up through the center of
the roof.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Yeah, they're smoking too. Well. He must be home alright.
Oh wool track, Oh oh boy, hu.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Would you look at the junkies got hanging on the
outside walls, pieces of barbed wild tin, cans, keys, bottles.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Like Willie's park pack wrap. M the door's open. Nobody inside.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Inside looks like the outside, only more so.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
I wonder where I hold it? Mm look over there
in the bushes. Yeah, something moved alright, Well ay out
of there.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Well a hey, somebody's coming out alright. Sure, don't look
very friendly with that rattle.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Why do you fai what?
Speaker 3 (15:00):
You Throw that rifle down and we'll tell you you've.
Speaker 5 (15:03):
Got no call to come poking around my property.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
You're wrong there, Willie.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
This is Sheriff Benson and I'm Ranger Pearson. I want
to ask you a few questions. Now, drop that rifle
and come over here.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
You think I'm going to tell you about my mind,
don't you?
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I'm not now just a minute.
Speaker 5 (15:22):
Really, you want to get it away from me? Dislike
all the risks you spies for this witch? Are you
come poking around here?
Speaker 3 (15:30):
What are you talking about? Willy? Spies for whom?
Speaker 5 (15:32):
For the big companies?
Speaker 7 (15:34):
They all want my mind because they know it's right
smack dab on the biggest being in the county.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
That's why this and spy scooping around.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Here like you too.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
I don't know jas Willie, have you ever been near
the Blazel mine across the canyon from here?
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Hey? Gee, good eysic it is answer my question? Have
you ever been near there?
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Diddy?
Speaker 3 (15:55):
How long ago?
Speaker 5 (15:56):
Oh? A couple of dys?
Speaker 3 (15:58):
What were you doing over there?
Speaker 5 (15:59):
The true?
Speaker 3 (16:00):
What do you mean patrolling?
Speaker 5 (16:01):
Well? I patrol all over you gotta watch for the spies.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Mm you ever hear the name Gilbert Madden?
Speaker 5 (16:09):
He's gonna never get my mind. All I need to
do the money there for you?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
I asked your question, Willie, have you ever hear of
Gilbert Madden?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
You heard him? Willie?
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Hey?
Speaker 7 (16:20):
Maybe ahead and maybe an age you finished film up
a spine just.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Like he, just like who Madden?
Speaker 7 (16:30):
Think you're pretty smart, don't you? But you're not going
to trap me. He had his chance to get me
money for the mind, but he wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
That's why you killed him.
Speaker 7 (16:41):
I think they're going to get me confused with your
smart dog, don't it. At the age, I ain't got
too much on my mind patrolling to worry about hitting anybody.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Yeah, I wonder we got a witness that you had
a fight with Madden, and furthermore, a minute.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Sheriff, what is it? Just happened to notice something hanging
on the outside the wall here? Just a bunch of
old rusty keys. Yeah, but this one isn't as rusty
as the rest.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Let me see, jee, that key's the same make as
the lock. Blaisdell right off the entrance, dos mine.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
That's right, Sheriff. Come here, Willie?
Speaker 4 (17:18):
Hey, what you want?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Where'd you get this key?
Speaker 5 (17:22):
Say? That's your goodness? You want to trade him?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Where'd you get it?
Speaker 5 (17:26):
I saved keys?
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Which starlin?
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Willy?
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Where'd you get it?
Speaker 5 (17:29):
Coming around here asking me all kinds of questions?
Speaker 2 (17:32):
You got no call at that headlocks back in my
off for schase.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
I'm sure interested to see whether this key fits it?
So am I? Come on, Willy, get your burrow. We're
gonna take a ride.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Make you be Come down here with you fellows. You
think I'm not wise to you?
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Padlocks him a desk here, m you peep down.
Speaker 7 (17:57):
Here while one of your other spice stoops around. My
mind tch or shampoo shre it is.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Let's have it, okay, Now I'll try this key in
it finch? Sure it does well? I guess that does it?
Speaker 5 (18:13):
All right?
Speaker 7 (18:14):
I can I go down.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
No, Willie, I don't think you'll be going anywhere.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
For quite a spell, the sheriff booked Willie, but we
were unable to get any sort of coherent statement out
of him.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Finally we locked him up and went back into the
sheriff's office.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Well, regardless of whether or not he gives us a confession,
I suppose we could get a conviction.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Al right, maybe, un as they find him mentally incompetent,
even so, they'll put him away. Yeah, that's just what
I was thinking.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Be pretty rough on him if he happened to be innocent,
wouldn't it be innocent now? Ja? Yeah, I know you
have two witnesses to the fact that Willie threatened Gilbert Madden.
That's right, missus Madden and the storekeeper. But what clenches
it is a padlock on Blaisdell's mine, Jays.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
That key we found at willie shack fits it.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
That's about as solid evidence as or it seems to me.
I wonder what do you mean? A couple of things
about this don't feel quite right to me, Sheriff. For
what for instance, well, near as the lab can figure,
Madden was murdered about eight months.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Ago, that's right, last March. But the lock Blazebel.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Broke off the mine entrance was hardly rusty at all,
and neither was the key we found hanging out in
the open at willie shack.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
What's wrong with that?
Speaker 5 (19:26):
Jeez?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Will He broke off the original lock when he hit
Madden's body. But Madden died eight months ago, and that
second lock couldn't have been on the half that long. Oh,
maybe Willie didn't put the lock on right away. Maybe
later he got to worrying about someone that discovering the body,
and well that's.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
When he put it on, sheriff.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
The time you're most worried about a body being discovered
is right after you've killed a man, not several months later.
Sure that's the way a sensible person would react, but
remember who we're dealing with, Old Willie.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Who's not exactly what you'd call a sensible man. I know, Sha.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
But then there's the part about the key hanging right
out in plain sight at Willie's shack. Now, jeez, you
said yourself Willie was pot pack rat. Remember all the
other junkie had hanging around the shirt, And sure I
do shareff. I also remember what Willy said when we
showed him that key, say, that's a good one, just
like he never noticed it before.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Will do you get that? Jays?
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Maybe Willie did kill Madden, but it seems to me
there's a bear chance he didn't.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Then how'd he get that key? You could have found
it or it could have been planted there. That'd be
awful tough to prove either way, Jay, Sure it would
as long as it's a possibility. We're not closing the case.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Come on, let's talk to missus Madden and see if
she can give us a line on anybody besides old
Willie who might have a reason for killing her husband.
We drove out to the Madden house, but Missus Madden
was unable to give us any new information. She suggested
(20:57):
we'd go through her husband's business records, which in the
spare room he'd used for an office, So the sheriff
and I started in an hour later. The only things
we found just made it look all the worse for Willie.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Hm, what do you got? Jash?
Speaker 2 (21:12):
And a bunch of letters written on wrapping paper addressed
to Madden, crazy threatening letters?
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Who wrote you guess Willie?
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Yeah, Willie, listen, you better watch out.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
I ain't gonna let you steal my mind. M that's
really all right?
Speaker 2 (21:29):
First of 'em like that, Yeah, all six of 'em.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Well, Jason looks all the worse for Willy.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Now we went through just about all Madden's records and
papers He's threatening.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Letters or all we come up with.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yea, And from the looks of it, madden kept records
are just about everything.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
As we'll put these papers back, I guess, okay, what
you got there? Uh file of canceled checks. Hand 'em
over and I'll stick.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Them here in the drawer.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Okay, just comming through 'em. I guess there's nothing here.
I Hey, what is it, sheriff? Look at this check
stated two years ago? Mmm, let's see, well what about it?
It j just made out the cash and signed for Madden. Yeah,
but take a look at this pencil riding up in
the corner.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Pencil riding Let's well all be so, will I.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Come on gonna make an arrest now, Chef. I need
more proof, and I think I know a way to
get it. Just go along with whatever I say.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Sure, Jays, did you find anything that's in helping Gilbert's papers?
Speaker 3 (22:35):
Range Pearson I think we did.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Missus Madden. You said you accompanied your husband on his
business trip into the black Hawk Canyon area two years ago.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Why did he go there or just to size up
the situation find out what mines were for sale?
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I see he didn't actually transact any business though.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
No course, this really.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Wanted him to come up and see his mind. But
when this storekeeper told us the.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Mine was no, Yeah, and you stayed right with your
husband the whole trip. Yes, okay, thanks, ma'am.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
You say you found something in Gilbert's papers.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
We don't know for sure, so i'd like to give
you a receipt for these canceled checks.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I want more time to examine them.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
Here you are canceled checks.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Yeah, it looks like one of 'em is gonna take
the wrong man out of jail and put the right
man in.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Come on, Sheriff, see, I'm glad to hear it. If
there's any more I can do, we'll let you know.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Missus Madden, goodbye. She's lying, Jess like a trooper, But
now we'll watch her. Have one of your deputies keep
an eye on him. You don't want him to get away,
but we don't want to pick him up yet either,
it's okay, I'll call him off with from the dress door.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Wait my car around the corner. Meet me there.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
The sheriff made his call and rejoined me. We sat
in my car waiting. A little after dark, missus mant
car pulled away from our house, heading out of town.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
We followed, keeping well back.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Two miles out of town, she pulled off the highway,
parked behind another car, got out, headed into the brush.
Sheriff and I worked our way slowly and quietly in
the direction she'd take him. Should be around here, somewhere
out there. Keep it as quiet as possible. Share reckon.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
She can want you to meet you.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Look sient, listen, Yeah, so hear I'm talking. Look in
that clearing ahead.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Man, let's beas up another.
Speaker 5 (24:32):
You little fool. You must him overlook something when you
went to load right here. No, I'm sure I didn't read.
I found the inns you made well. You paid him
for praising your mind two years ago.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
I pulled it off.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
There's nothing in those records show the two of you
knew each other.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
You're wrong there, man, hold it real, steady, blace, little chiers. Yeah,
so the two of you didn't know each other until
I introduced you. Huh, you've been in it together ever
since you met two years ago.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
Verry, you little fool.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
You went tricked into coming out here so they could
catch us together.
Speaker 5 (24:57):
They didn't have any proof of anything.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
I got proved right here in my pocket that you
lied when you said you didn't know Madden, Blasdel.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
What kind of proof something you overlooked? Missus?
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Madden a check made out the cash. You didn't notice
the pencil riding on us, riding Your husband made a
notation that the check was to cover expenses of.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
A trip he'd made to a praise Blazel's mind. Two
years ago.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
You told me you were with your husband the whole trip,
So you lied about not knowing Blaisdel.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
Where are you stupid? You gotta listen to me.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
I didn't want any part of it, but Blazeer post
mature said, I'm in the clear.
Speaker 5 (25:28):
I was in Kangas when it happened.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
Praise.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
I'll tell my husband, Oh that's how you stick by me.
Why you hold a pencil. You're not gonna get away free, Claire.
I guarantee that sure I kill Madden Ranger, but it
was her idea, a line right from the start. It
was her idea how to go about it. Put the
body in my whole mind and change lots.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
He's lying ws the key at Willie Shack, Pretend she
and I didn't know each other, and produce about it.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
So she could collect on the insurance.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
All of it was horrid.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Shut up, Shut up, I'm about half.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
In the shit.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Gotta whitzh out on me.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
Will you wait? I get throw spit it out? He
shut up?
Speaker 3 (26:00):
You know, sheriff strikes me. We've only got one problem left.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
We're say Jay, getting them to talk slow enough so
a stenographer can get it all down.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Come on, both of you.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Fred Blaisdell and Clara Madden were indicted and placed on trial.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
For the brutal murder of Gilbert Madden.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
For her part in the crime, Clara was sentenced to
fifty years in the women's prison at Gory. On the
morning of May third, nineteen forty two, Blaisdel was put
to death in the electric chair.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
And now here's the star of our show, Joel McCrae. Hello, folks.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
First of all, we want to thank thank you kindly
for the many wonderful letters and cards we received during
the summer months. It's mighty heartwarming to know we have
so many good friends. As a matter of fact, the
Rangers themselves have received quite a few of your letters too,
and like us, they certainly appreciated hearing from you. I'm
sure that most of you will recall reading about a
(27:19):
great Texas Ranger captain who retired from active duty on
July thirty first of this year. Some of our stories
have been based on his exploits.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
He's the famous Captain m T.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Lone Wolf Gonzales, whose favorite guns are engraved with the
code he has always lived by in his colorful career,
never draw me without cause, nor shield me without dishonor tomorrow,
it'll be exactly thirty one years since Lone Wolf was
sworn in as a Texas Ranger, and as in the
(27:51):
past year, so in the years to come, we are
proud to have him as our technical adviser. Congratulations cap,
See you next week, folks.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Next week, Joel McCray and another authentic reenactment of a
case from the pile Goouse, not Exit Rangers. Joel McCrae
is currently seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor production
Cattle Drives. The cast included Tony Barrett, Bill Johnstone, Lamont, Johnson,
(28:29):
Ken Christy, Betty Lugerson, and Brad Brown.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Technical advisor was Captain M. T.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
Lone Wolf Gonzales of the Texas Rangers. This story was
transcribed and adapted by Bob Right, and the program is
produced and directed by Stacy Keith hel Gidney speaking.
Speaker 6 (29:01):
It's the Silver Jubilee on NBC Today. Here the glittering
premiere program of The Big Show, broadcast from London and
featuring Sir Lawrence Olivier, Fred Allen, Beatrice Lily and your
Unpredictable Hostess Telulah Bankhead. Then joining the firm with The
Phil Harris Alis Fay Show as they launched their new
comedy season and later Theater Guild on the Air brings
(29:22):
you Joseph Cotton and John Fontaine in Main Street by Sinclair.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Lewis, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
The program You Can't Take It with You, starring Walter Brennan,
is now heard at a new time and day That's
Friday on most NBC stations. Stay tuned for the Big
Show and Telula on NBC.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
The National Broadcasting Company
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