August 2, 2025 • 29 mins
Chronicles the cases of a law enforcement officer in the American West, blending traditional Western themes with modern investigative techniques. The stories are based on real cases.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Listen at the close of this program for an important
announcement of a change in time for Tales of the
Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
The National Broadcasting Company presents Joel McCrae in Tales of
the Texas Rangers. Tonight transcribe from Hollywood another authentic reenactment
of a case from the files of the Texas Rangers.
(00:31):
Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae as Ranger
Jase Pearson, Texas more than two hundred and sixty thousand
square miles and fifty men will make up the most
famous and oldest law enforcement party in North America. Now
(01:01):
from the files of the Texas Rangers come these stories based.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
On fact only.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Name, states, and places are fictitious for obvious reasons.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
The events themselves are a matter of record.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Case for Tonite Blood Relative.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
It is four pm June twenty sixth, nineteen forty nine.
Will Bonner, proprietor of the General Store at Stump Hill, Texas,
is waiting on mc kennedy a dirt fummer.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
Yeah, if found your flying to bacon may anything ears, yeah,
Cartner's cigarettes, Yeah, how about making it a couple of
sax tobacco.
Speaker 6 (01:50):
What's the matter? Will my credit no good anymore?
Speaker 7 (01:52):
Ma?
Speaker 1 (01:53):
I think you're pulling your homes a little. Your bills
run kind of high.
Speaker 6 (01:57):
You get your money, don't you hate a question.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Of getting in me?
Speaker 5 (02:00):
You stand to make a good crump this year unless
you have to pay out the better chance you'll have
to get on your feet permanent without no credit.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
Let me worry about it. Go ahead, wait down here here.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
That's all right?
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I got time. No, no, I'll take care of you, sir,
Well you have stranger. Time ain't helping your sight in here?
Is it? Uncle? Will Ben?
Speaker 8 (02:23):
Ben?
Speaker 6 (02:24):
Dang it?
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Boy?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
You change? How do you like? That? Didn't make nice?
More blood relative earlier's there's Conse's here? Well? Well, an sezer,
what is it we.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Fellow?
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Once you know you want to buy some perfume? No,
well you could have told him that. What would I
do with Why?
Speaker 6 (02:48):
It's your brother's boy, Ben, It's sure he is.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Stop tackling with you. You know about your Paul.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
I know he's dead.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
He ain't glad to see you being almost for god,
he happened last winter, the pneumonia. Yeah, we're trying to
locate you, boy, but nobody knew where he was.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Nobody would have wanted to know. I was in the
Pennant Huntsville, m That's where I've been for four.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Years in the prison. Your Paul never said it wasn't
nobody's business but mine. Oh well, Ben, I I guess
we can talk that over. Leader. If you want to
stay this, please you.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
I'm asking you for nothing except what's coming to me.
I just want you to buy out my paw share
of the store and pay me off.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Ben.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Your father never did have a share in the store.
You only worked for me. But you trying to get
away with Uncle Will. He told me what was going
in where they want to move out here?
Speaker 7 (03:42):
But then you knew your Paul. He always talked big,
but he never did have a dime of his own.
You telling me about my own father. You know we
ain't ruining him down.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Boy. He he never harmed nobody better. Drunking big was
just his week, Lou. I come to get what's mine?
Do I get it off?
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Don't I? Ben?
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Here's a beding a job waiting for you if you
want them. You're a kinfolk and that makes you welcome.
But I'm saying that there ain't nothing here that yours.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
You're gonna pay you. Just hold on, you reckon. I
can still take care of myself. Maybe can maybe kan,
I'll go away.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
I'm staying around town and give you a chance to
change your mind.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
I'm warning you, I won't care what's mine if I
have to tell you for it.
Speaker 9 (04:39):
On the following morning, June twenty seventh, neighbors found will
Bonna shot to death and his wife Liz, critically wounded
and unconscious in the back room living quarters of this story.
The sheriff called, with the assistance of a Texas Ranger.
Ranger Jace Person was assigned to the case. Well that's
the all of the story, just like I found it.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Jeez. He looked pretty down hearted. Sheriff Bonner a friend
of yours. I knowed him all my life. He helped
me get elected. Bodies in the back room. You want
to see it? Yeah, you can stay here if you'd rather. No, No,
I'll come.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
I guess you noticed the way the safe was cracked
and the door where the killer got in.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah, professional job, all right. I covered will over with
the sheet. Maybe I shouldn't have, but it's all right.
Corner hasn't been here yet, huh.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
No, he's on his way.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Dead about six seven hours. How do you figure that
gets just beginning to set in. You see a lot
of them. You get to know nine o'clock. Now, that
means it happened about two or three this morning. Huh,
that's close to it. How about Bonner's wife, she's gonna
pull through. Doc Woodson took her to the county hospital.
He said, there's a little chance. You've got a deputy
(05:57):
posted at the hospital and in case she comes to yep,
he can take any statements. Sure, sure, if I got
to talk to you a minute, Well, all right, Jody
come in farm. Had worked for Mac Kennedy on and
off out a ranger sheriff.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
What's on your mind? Jody?
Speaker 5 (06:12):
But I I just come to pick up some feet
and Max pickup Grid. About what happened, I don't know
anything about it, not exactly. But I was in town
with Mac yesterday afternoon. He come trust some supplies from Bonner.
What time, ooh, about four o'clock. I wasn't in the
store with him, but when he come out and we
was driving back, Max said Bonnet had a fuss with somebody,
Fellows fretting to kill him.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
He say who the fellow was.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
No, but whoever it was, he took a swing at Boner.
Mac had to grab him to stop a fight. Where's
Kennedy now?
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Well? He was out proud want to laugh.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
I won't be able to get him. Buy a phone. Man,
Come on, Sheriff, let's get out there and talk to him.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Dead. We will Bonnard dead, Yeah, and Liz is mighty
close to joining him. Mac.
Speaker 6 (07:00):
Cut the motor on your tractor. Yeah, Sheriff. Will should
have told you about that fella. I should have called
and told you myself after what he threatened to do
to him.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Too late for what anybody should have done. You know
the man never saw him before, but I know who
he is. Bonner's nephew fresh shout of Huntsville. I heard
him say so, an ex con And you didn't say
anything about it. Well, Sheriff, how could I know he'd
do it? A blood relative? Wasn't myle Pharaoh?
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Was it?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
You know the man? If you saw him again, I'd
know him any place better? Come into town with us,
talk while we rhyde. Okay, Bonner mentioned his nephew's name, welly,
he called him Ben he Will.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Bonner had a brother died last year. Must have been
his boy.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
We'll find out.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
On the way.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
In the Stump Hill, Mat Kennedy told us the story
of the threat and gave me a description of Ben Bonner.
I put a shortwave radio call through the kt XA.
You'n attended, kat request all units be alerted to look
out for subject Ben Bonner, recently released from Huntsville. Subject
wanted for questioning and murder of Will Bonner at Stump Hill.
(08:12):
Top four Request special alert on all roads leading from
Stump Hill. Subject may be leaving Aria on foot or
by hitchhike. Top four Unit ten clear.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Knt X house. Really young Bonner didn't run for it, Jaz.
He may be hiding out someplace nearby.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Not likely, Sheriff. If he killed his uncle, he'll go
for distance.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
He killed him, all right.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
You can bet on that when a man's life's at stake, Kennedy,
I don't bet Ben Bonner wasn't around Stump Hill. He
pulled stakes and made a run for it, all right.
We got the information from a woman in the crowd
(08:53):
near the store when we got back to town. Her
name was Sadie Waddle. She ran a rooming house.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
I ran all my.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Rooms to extra for generally, because I don't have to
serve no meals that way. With him eating where.
Speaker 7 (09:03):
They're working, so naturally, I thought this fellow was one
of their migratory hands.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yeah, yeah, I understand all that.
Speaker 7 (09:09):
Man.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
All I want to know is when Ben Bonner left
your place.
Speaker 7 (09:12):
Well, it must have been just around midnight last night.
Everybody was in and sleeping in the house, was locked up,
and well the phone hooked.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Me up, and it was for him, not Ben phone.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Huh you know who called him?
Speaker 6 (09:22):
Of course not.
Speaker 7 (09:23):
I didn't know who was or nothing about him excepting
his name was Ben.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Did you recognize the voice of the person who called. No, Well,
please go ahead about.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
The phone call. Well, I called him to the phone.
That's all fine.
Speaker 7 (09:34):
Time a night to be waking people, I told him.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Then he answered it. Right after that he lit up
like the devil was after him.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Do you hear any of the conversations?
Speaker 7 (09:42):
I did not.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
I mind my own business. Besides, all he said was hello.
Speaker 7 (09:46):
After that, all the talking must have been done by
whoever called him, because he never said another word, just
listened a minute, then hung up and.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Let out the phone ringing.
Speaker 5 (09:53):
In the story, Jase, I better get it go ahead, sir.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Oh, thanks for your help.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Missus waddall, I'm glad, I'm out. I have to give it.
Speaker 7 (10:01):
I might have been murdered mound sleep with an ex
convict under my roof.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Ought to be some way we could tell him from
other folks.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
A man who served his time can't be expected to
carry a brand, ma'am. Besides, how did you know Ben
Bonner's an next convict?
Speaker 5 (10:15):
So did I know what?
Speaker 1 (10:16):
It's all over town?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
It's Jace that calls for you right there, Sheriff, Thanks, ma'am.
Excuse me? Who's calling your headquarters?
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Captain Stinson, Hello, Kevin, got some good news for you jays.
The Highway Patrol has picked up Ben Potter.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Fine, where'd they get him?
Speaker 6 (10:38):
Almost rail passo patrol car was stopped at a railroad
crossing waiting for a freight to get through.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
They spotted him riding a nimpty flat freight.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Huh. It's a good thing they saw him. If he
made out pass so he'd been across the border into
Warez and no time. Really he didn't make it.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Bringing him back to stump Keill, now you have him
there in a few hours.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
You getting the case against him. I seem to be
getting plenty.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
You don't sounds I don't know.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
You look up his record. What was on his last
ticket to Huntsville?
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Uglary jas And that fits except for the.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Killing this time. Yeah, it fits all right, like the
executioner's glove. Stump Hill was five miles cross country from
the nearest railroad spur. We had time before the highway
patrol would be delivering Ben Bonner. We sent Kennedy back
(11:34):
to his farm. I unloaded charcoal from a horse trailer,
and the sheriff got his horse. We rode to the
railroad tracks.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
He was smart, Jason almost got away.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Lots of them almost get away. Sure, made a lot
of distance in it.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Don't know why you wanted to be sure. He came
this way to get to the train.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Just wanted to be certain. He cut through this five
miles on foot proves he didn't hitchhike a fast ride
and pick up a train further on down the line. Well,
luck was with him for a while. He cut the
only train he could have cut. You mean only one
freight goes through here at night?
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Yep, hotshot passenger clears first at about one am. Freight
comes through about fifteen minutes later close for the grade
here where.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
He jumped it about one fifteen is the schedule for
the freight?
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Then, huh, that's right, Let's get back to town. Come on, Chuck,
you look like that train schedule means something, Jase, it might.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Parner's report ought to be end by the time we
get back to town.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Hey, I see what you mean. If Bonner was killed
between two and three am, like you figured, it'll mean
his nephew Ben was on that freight at the time
the old man.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Was killed, Harner or had been completed. It was waiting
at the Sheriff's office when we got back.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Early.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
Didn't miss but much, Jase. Here's the report, the time
of day. What is it between one and two a m.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Then Ben Bonnard didn't kill his uncle. Even if he
ran the five miles across country. His track showed us
he walked. He couldn't have made it in time to
catch that freight.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Doesn't look that way.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Bullets from Bonner's body have been sent through to Austin.
We may get a lead from ballistics. I'm gonna do
some more checking around town on them.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Just second, Jason Share speaking, Oh good, good, She did
huh No, no, you say right there? Goodbye? Well, Jace,
looks like there's been a mistake someplace. That was my deputy.
At the county hospital, Liz Bonner regained consciousness for a
few seconds.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
What she's say?
Speaker 1 (13:42):
She said her and her husband were shot by their
nephew Ben.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
You are listening to Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as Ranger Jase Pearson. We continue with the
night's case Blood Relative, an authentic story from the files
of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
The Highway Patrol brought Ben Bonner back to Stump Hill
and unloaded him at the local jail, where the sheriff
and I questioned it.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
But I didn't kill him. I tell you didn't know
he was dead till now. Who said you was gonna
kill him? You said it in front of the witness.
Man is the difference between saying and doing?
Speaker 3 (14:35):
If you had nothing to do with it, why'd you
run away? Of course?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Somebody called me up last night.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
The room in the house late was a man said
he was a friend in one of the warning the
sheriff was going to pick me up a threatening uncle.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Will you scary easy? Don't you but your life, I do, mister.
I just pulled four years at Huntsville and I had enough.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
I don't want no more.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Maybe I was tough when I went to Uncle Will yesterday,
but last night when I got that call, I was
scarce sick.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
And you don't know who called you.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
No, No, I don't. I'm sure it wasn't somebody who
served time with letting you know he was here to
help you with the job.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
No.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Look, you gotta believe me. This is a murderer. You
can't send me up for it. Just because I shot
off my mouth. That ain't evidence.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
Ben.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
There's more than that. Your aunt Liz didn't die. She
came to at the hospital. She says it was you
who gunned her and her husband.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
That's a dirty lie. Look if I did that, If
I shot them and robbed the store, what was I
doing on a freight? What did I do with the money.
I ain't gonna say anymore. I ain't gonna talk to
I see a lawyer.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
That's youre right. We told you that in the beginning,
All right, Sheriff, Yes, you can lock him up again.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Go on, go ahead, ranger, police. I didn't do it.
Maybe the fellow who told you I threatened Uncle Will
didn't tell you everything. Maybe you want to ask him
why there was odd and when I come into the store.
All right, Ben, all right, well what do you think case?
Speaker 3 (15:49):
I don't know. Let's get outside.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
If he did have an accomplish, the other fellow might
be carting the loot and the gun might.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Be I'll see later, Sheriff. I'm driving over to the
hospital at the county seat. I want to talk to
his aunt, Liz Bonner, Missus Bonner. The doctor will only
let me stay a minute. Well, shot Will?
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Just getting up?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Who shot him? Missus Bonner? Then then, ungrateful.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Wanted to help him.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
How did it happen?
Speaker 8 (16:25):
It was a noise in the store, woke us up?
Well cold, said who's there? Then he got up, went
put on the lights, then shot him.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Did he get the lights on? Did you ever see
your nephew?
Speaker 1 (16:39):
No, but it was him, he said he'd do it.
Speaker 7 (16:43):
It was him.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
If you didn't see him, did he say anything? Did
you hear his voice and recognize him?
Speaker 1 (16:48):
No? He just shot Will. I screamed and that's all.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
But you didn't see Ben or recognize his voice?
Speaker 1 (16:57):
No, But he said he would. There couldn't be anybody else.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I think you're wrong, man, I think it could be.
I burned up the road back to Stump Hill and
got the sheriff. I wanted to make another check at
the store and find out a few things about Mac kennedy.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Dog. Honey, jeez, you're sending your dogs at the wrong tree.
Mac Kennedy's been Will's friend for a year.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
I just asked if Kennedy had ever been in trouble.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Never. He's honest, god peran dirt farmer, and that's all.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
What kind of shape is he in financially?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Well, oh, Jase, A man don't have to be a
criminal just because he's down on his luck. Max's crops
have been bad.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Sure, if I'm just asking a few questions, that's all. Well,
I'm sorry, Jayce, I reckon Max in hawk up to
his neck plays and all his equipment as mortgage.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
How come he can afford a hired hand? You mean, Jody? Oh,
he just drifts in and out. Ain't much of a worker,
but he's all Mac needs.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Migrates in in the spring for planting season, then out
again in the fall after harvest. He doesn't work for nothing,
does he Mac pays him right off when he makes
his crop from Selsey. That the way he pays everybody.
It's the only time he ever had any cash. Why
just wondering, did Mac buy here on credit from Bonner?
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Well? I guess so. Why you find something in the ledger?
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Come take a look. Seems to be a page torn out.
The book has kept in alphabetical order. Missing page is
in the case if there was a charge page in
here for Kennedy, it'd be right here.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Now you've got something I can't fight, Jace. What a setup?
An x Colm threatens to kill a man makes it
perfect for somebody else to do the job and set
the jailbird up.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
For a frank Come on, Sheriff, let's get out to
Kennedy's place again. Only this trip we won't be asking
questions about Ben Bonner. There's one thing still bothering me, Jace.
(18:59):
Mat Kennedy He's never been in trouble, so.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
How come we both spotted the marks of a professional
knob knocker on the burger?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
And it's been bothering me too. The more I think
of it, the more I wonder why tore that charge
page out of the ledger? Why do something that would
point right at him when he had somebody else all
set up to take the fall. Just beating the bill
wouldn't make the chance worthwhile. Not with murder, it wouldn't
ktx any out of ten oh, this may be the
ballistics report, Jason, Unit ten go ahead, kt XA lap.
Speaker 10 (19:30):
Report completed on bullets US and the slang of Will
Butler thirty eight kalaba probably Smith and Wesson Police.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Special ten to four. Unit ten Claire kdx A austin
a minute, KTXA stand by.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Please ATXA standing by this matter.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Jon just got an idea, something that didn't fit before
at hand. Who works for Kennedy? That Jody? What's his
last name?
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Jody?
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Let's see it. It's Pelham, Jody Pelham. Why, I'll tell
you in a minute. You there, kt X at this
unit requests quick check on subject Jody Pelham. Repeat Jody Pellham, Urgent.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Ten four get back to you with information soon as possible.
Unit ten Claire kenny x ay often yeeh. You figuring
Jody helped make Kennedy to pull this job.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Maybe or maybe Jody did it on his own. I
want to know if he's got a record, what Swisch,
you're thinking to him he was waiting outside Bonner's store
for Kennedy when Ben walked in yesterday and made his threats.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Well, sure, he admitted that Kennedy told him about Ben
when he come out and he'd drove on back to
the farm.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Yeah, But when Jody came into town the next morning
and came to tell us about the threats, he pretended
he didn't know too much, just knew that old Will
Bonnard been threatened, couldn't say who made the threats.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Well, I don't get what you're driving at, Joe. If
Kennedy told him.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
He must have told him the whole story about the
threats coming from Bonner's nephew, a nephew just gotten out
of prison. That'd be the logical way to tell it,
And that's the way Kennedy did did tell it. But
Jody was anxious not to seem to know too much.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Hey, sure, I see what you mean. Kennedy wasn't in
town this morning until we went out and brought me.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Yeah, but when we got back, everybody in town knew
that the man we were looking for was Bonner's nephew,
and that he was an ex Khan Sadie Waddles told
us that.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Only wound it could have come from with Jody. He
spread it around while we were out getting Kennedy.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
When we get to the farm, draw him out. Don't
pounce on him until I get an answer on him
from Austin.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
I hope it's the right, an't she? It may save
Mac Kennedy's life.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
It was dark and we reached the farmhouse. There was
a light on him the house, but the pickup truck
wasn't in sight in the open garage. We left my
car around in the back of the house and en
up on the porch.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Oh he'll hold your horses?
Speaker 6 (22:01):
Oh sure, ranger. I thought it was Jody coming back
with the pickup.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Where'd he go?
Speaker 6 (22:06):
He drove up north to Edgeville this afternoon, said he
wanted to get something. You ought to be back soon.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Well, aren't you gonna ask us in? Mac? Sure?
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Sure thing?
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Make yourself at home.
Speaker 6 (22:18):
Un there's stand you got Bonner's nephew today heard a
couple of women chewing about it on the party line.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
He got him temporarily. What do you mean temporarily? He
didn't kill anybody. Mac. You had an argument with Bonner
yesterday what about I reckon, that's my business, yours and Bonner's.
But he's dead now, so that makes it my business.
Speaker 6 (22:36):
Better. Talk up, Mac, Well, I've been running up a
big bill. Will was cutting me down a little. You
admit you owed him money. Why wouldn't I admit it?
I pay my bills?
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Any an sways otherwise as a liar. Nobody is saying otherwise. Mac.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
You keep a gun around here anyplace?
Speaker 6 (22:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:53):
What kind?
Speaker 6 (22:54):
Smith and Wasson thirty eight? It's right there on the
mantel over the fireplace.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
I'll get it, Jase, Oh, don't wipe off any prints.
Stick a pencil in the muzzle and lift it that way.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Ok, pencil won't go in Gay something jamming it.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Let me see, I have to worry about prints on
that outside has been white clean with an oil rag.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Looks like paper jammed in there.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Must soon find out. Take these shells out, poke the
pencil through there.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Why is Max's charge page from the ledger? What are
you trying to pull?
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Make it easy, Mac, We're not. After you smell this
gun and look at it, Sheriff. It was used, then reloaded,
but never cleaned.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
That gun hasn't been touched in years.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Mac. This gun killed Will Bonnard almost killed his wife
last night. Jody Pelham did it after you told him
about Bonner's nephew.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
But why would he tear out that page and plant
it here.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
So he could use Mac here to give himself a
double cover up. He made the call to the rooming
house and got Ben Bonner to run, But he knew
if Ben was caught any place and could set up
an alibi, there'd be a second search. That's why he
tore out the page and planted it here on Mac.
I'm sure glad you know it wasn't me. If it
was you, you'd have burned the page.
Speaker 6 (24:04):
That dirty little Hey there he comes, Now that's the pickup.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
You want to help us nail him all?
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I'd like to blow his brains out of this a.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Better way I di him feel safe here? Let me
put these cuffs on you quick. What I've done back
in the mantle, Sheriff.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
But are you sure the junk is ma.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Boy?
Speaker 1 (24:23):
I didn't know anybody was here, mag heck was the matter?
What are you doing with those things? On?
Speaker 3 (24:29):
What's your guess? Jody? What's in that bag you're carried?
What I used to pick me up a bottle of
package Stone Edgeville. What you use for money? You don't
get credit on liquor.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Well, mag Mac, he paid me some wages this morning. Oh,
I get it. I kind of wondered where he got
the money, now you know?
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Huh.
Speaker 5 (24:49):
Well, when I got up last night and found he
was going to I saw have got the wondering this morning, you.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Shut up man?
Speaker 3 (24:55):
All right, Sheriff, I guess we can take him in.
You better come along the make a statement. Jody, sure, sure.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
I hate to do a thing like this to a friend,
but I guess he deserves it.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Don't know, Bonner like he did. Yeah, I thought you'd
feel that way. Let's go. You might as well admit
you fired the gun. Mac A die Fenleman. Test will
prove you did. What kind of test is that man
fires a gun? The nitrate from the powder gets into
the pores of his hands. Chemical application shows it up.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Well, he's washed his hand since last night, I reckon, Oh,
Washington won't get it out.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Stays for a couple of days. You fired a gun recently, Jody, No, No,
Then we make the same test on your hand. It
will show you the difference. Well, you don't have to
do that. I don't understand that kind of stuff. Anyway,
It's too bad. I thought you might like to see
how we work. Get in watch him, Sheriff. All right,
Austin ought to have that information I requested before. Sheriff. Yeah,
(25:53):
this might bore you. Jody, you tend to k t XA.
This unit back in service, been waiting.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
For you have information You're inquested on subject? Jody Pelham,
what's that?
Speaker 10 (26:08):
Two years Huntsville bargery, three years Louisiana State ptitentry, burgery
and safe.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Cracking ten four unit ten clear?
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Any exit? Austin shut this car. You got me get
out of here, watching sharpon making use his gun. Judy,
you can rot.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Never mind that mac here. Take these keys and put
the cuffs on the right man, Sheriff. We might as
well have him there. He'll be wearing them a lot
until he reaches the death cell. At Huntsville.
Speaker 9 (26:48):
Jody Pelham was tried and convicted for the wanton murder
of Will Bunner on the morning of December sixth, nineteen
forty nine, at Huntsville Penitentiary.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
His sentence was carried out death and the jov and
now here again is the star of our show, Joel McCrae.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Folks, Tales of the Texas Rangers is moving to a
new time. You won't hear us next Sunday, but the
week after that we'll be back just an hour and
a half later than usual on NBC, right after Theater Guild.
So we'll see you in two weeks on Sunday, November
twenty sixth, and I hope you'll be listening. Good night,
good night, Joel.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
See you one week from this coming Sunday. Remember, friends,
as Joel told you, Tales of the Texas Rangers will
come to you an hour and a half later, immediately
following Theater Guild, beginning next Sunday. At this time you'll
hear head of Hopper's Fine Program. The week after next,
November twenty sixth, Joel McCrae as Ranger Jace Pearson will
(27:56):
be with you again.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
A week from Sunday.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Joel McCray and another authentic reenactment of a case from
the files.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Joel McCray is currently seen starring in the MGM production
Stars in My Crown. Tonight's cast included Tony Barrett, Bill Johnstone,
jodeval Virginia, Greg Parley Bear, and Byron Kine.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
This story was transcribed and adapted by Joel Murcott, and
the program was.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Produced and directed by Stacy Keach. One week from next Sunday,
Tales of the Texas Rangers will be back with you
immediately following Theater Guild. Consult your local radio schedule for time.
This is Hal give me speaking.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Three chimes mean good times on NBC mm hmm
Listen at the close of this program for an important
announcement of a change in time for Tales of the
Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
The National Broadcasting Company presents Joel McCrae in Tales of
the Texas Rangers. Tonight transcribe from Hollywood another authentic reenactment
of a case from the files of the Texas Rangers.
(00:31):
Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae as Ranger
Jase Pearson, Texas more than two hundred and sixty thousand
square miles and fifty men will make up the most
famous and oldest law enforcement party in North America. Now
(01:01):
from the files of the Texas Rangers come these stories based.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
On fact only.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Name, states, and places are fictitious for obvious reasons.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
The events themselves are a matter of record.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Case for Tonite Blood Relative.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
It is four pm June twenty sixth, nineteen forty nine.
Will Bonner, proprietor of the General Store at Stump Hill, Texas,
is waiting on mc kennedy a dirt fummer.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
Yeah, if found your flying to bacon may anything ears, yeah,
Cartner's cigarettes, Yeah, how about making it a couple of
sax tobacco.
Speaker 6 (01:50):
What's the matter? Will my credit no good anymore?
Speaker 7 (01:52):
Ma?
Speaker 1 (01:53):
I think you're pulling your homes a little. Your bills
run kind of high.
Speaker 6 (01:57):
You get your money, don't you hate a question.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Of getting in me?
Speaker 5 (02:00):
You stand to make a good crump this year unless
you have to pay out the better chance you'll have
to get on your feet permanent without no credit.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
Let me worry about it. Go ahead, wait down here here.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
That's all right?
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I got time. No, no, I'll take care of you, sir,
Well you have stranger. Time ain't helping your sight in here?
Is it? Uncle? Will Ben?
Speaker 8 (02:23):
Ben?
Speaker 6 (02:24):
Dang it?
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Boy?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
You change? How do you like? That? Didn't make nice?
More blood relative earlier's there's Conse's here? Well? Well, an sezer,
what is it we.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Fellow?
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Once you know you want to buy some perfume? No,
well you could have told him that. What would I
do with Why?
Speaker 6 (02:48):
It's your brother's boy, Ben, It's sure he is.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Stop tackling with you. You know about your Paul.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
I know he's dead.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
He ain't glad to see you being almost for god,
he happened last winter, the pneumonia. Yeah, we're trying to
locate you, boy, but nobody knew where he was.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Nobody would have wanted to know. I was in the
Pennant Huntsville, m That's where I've been for four.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Years in the prison. Your Paul never said it wasn't
nobody's business but mine. Oh well, Ben, I I guess
we can talk that over. Leader. If you want to
stay this, please you.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
I'm asking you for nothing except what's coming to me.
I just want you to buy out my paw share
of the store and pay me off.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Ben.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Your father never did have a share in the store.
You only worked for me. But you trying to get
away with Uncle Will. He told me what was going
in where they want to move out here?
Speaker 7 (03:42):
But then you knew your Paul. He always talked big,
but he never did have a dime of his own.
You telling me about my own father. You know we
ain't ruining him down.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Boy. He he never harmed nobody better. Drunking big was
just his week, Lou. I come to get what's mine?
Do I get it off?
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Don't I? Ben?
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Here's a beding a job waiting for you if you
want them. You're a kinfolk and that makes you welcome.
But I'm saying that there ain't nothing here that yours.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
You're gonna pay you. Just hold on, you reckon. I
can still take care of myself. Maybe can maybe kan,
I'll go away.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
I'm staying around town and give you a chance to
change your mind.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
I'm warning you, I won't care what's mine if I
have to tell you for it.
Speaker 9 (04:39):
On the following morning, June twenty seventh, neighbors found will
Bonna shot to death and his wife Liz, critically wounded
and unconscious in the back room living quarters of this story.
The sheriff called, with the assistance of a Texas Ranger.
Ranger Jace Person was assigned to the case. Well that's
the all of the story, just like I found it.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Jeez. He looked pretty down hearted. Sheriff Bonner a friend
of yours. I knowed him all my life. He helped
me get elected. Bodies in the back room. You want
to see it? Yeah, you can stay here if you'd rather. No, No,
I'll come.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
I guess you noticed the way the safe was cracked
and the door where the killer got in.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah, professional job, all right. I covered will over with
the sheet. Maybe I shouldn't have, but it's all right.
Corner hasn't been here yet, huh.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
No, he's on his way.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Dead about six seven hours. How do you figure that
gets just beginning to set in. You see a lot
of them. You get to know nine o'clock. Now, that
means it happened about two or three this morning. Huh,
that's close to it. How about Bonner's wife, she's gonna
pull through. Doc Woodson took her to the county hospital.
He said, there's a little chance. You've got a deputy
(05:57):
posted at the hospital and in case she comes to yep,
he can take any statements. Sure, sure, if I got
to talk to you a minute, Well, all right, Jody
come in farm. Had worked for Mac Kennedy on and
off out a ranger sheriff.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
What's on your mind? Jody?
Speaker 5 (06:12):
But I I just come to pick up some feet
and Max pickup Grid. About what happened, I don't know
anything about it, not exactly. But I was in town
with Mac yesterday afternoon. He come trust some supplies from Bonner.
What time, ooh, about four o'clock. I wasn't in the
store with him, but when he come out and we
was driving back, Max said Bonnet had a fuss with somebody,
Fellows fretting to kill him.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
He say who the fellow was.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
No, but whoever it was, he took a swing at Boner.
Mac had to grab him to stop a fight. Where's
Kennedy now?
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Well? He was out proud want to laugh.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
I won't be able to get him. Buy a phone. Man,
Come on, Sheriff, let's get out there and talk to him.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Dead. We will Bonnard dead, Yeah, and Liz is mighty
close to joining him. Mac.
Speaker 6 (07:00):
Cut the motor on your tractor. Yeah, Sheriff. Will should
have told you about that fella. I should have called
and told you myself after what he threatened to do
to him.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Too late for what anybody should have done. You know
the man never saw him before, but I know who
he is. Bonner's nephew fresh shout of Huntsville. I heard
him say so, an ex con And you didn't say
anything about it. Well, Sheriff, how could I know he'd
do it? A blood relative? Wasn't myle Pharaoh?
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Was it?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
You know the man? If you saw him again, I'd
know him any place better? Come into town with us,
talk while we rhyde. Okay, Bonner mentioned his nephew's name, welly,
he called him Ben he Will.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Bonner had a brother died last year. Must have been
his boy.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
We'll find out.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
On the way.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
In the Stump Hill, Mat Kennedy told us the story
of the threat and gave me a description of Ben Bonner.
I put a shortwave radio call through the kt XA.
You'n attended, kat request all units be alerted to look
out for subject Ben Bonner, recently released from Huntsville. Subject
wanted for questioning and murder of Will Bonner at Stump Hill.
(08:12):
Top four Request special alert on all roads leading from
Stump Hill. Subject may be leaving Aria on foot or
by hitchhike. Top four Unit ten clear.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Knt X house. Really young Bonner didn't run for it, Jaz.
He may be hiding out someplace nearby.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Not likely, Sheriff. If he killed his uncle, he'll go
for distance.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
He killed him, all right.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
You can bet on that when a man's life's at stake, Kennedy,
I don't bet Ben Bonner wasn't around Stump Hill. He
pulled stakes and made a run for it, all right.
We got the information from a woman in the crowd
(08:53):
near the store when we got back to town. Her
name was Sadie Waddle. She ran a rooming house.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
I ran all my.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Rooms to extra for generally, because I don't have to
serve no meals that way. With him eating where.
Speaker 7 (09:03):
They're working, so naturally, I thought this fellow was one
of their migratory hands.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yeah, yeah, I understand all that.
Speaker 7 (09:09):
Man.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
All I want to know is when Ben Bonner left
your place.
Speaker 7 (09:12):
Well, it must have been just around midnight last night.
Everybody was in and sleeping in the house, was locked up,
and well the phone hooked.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Me up, and it was for him, not Ben phone.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Huh you know who called him?
Speaker 6 (09:22):
Of course not.
Speaker 7 (09:23):
I didn't know who was or nothing about him excepting
his name was Ben.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Did you recognize the voice of the person who called. No, Well,
please go ahead about.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
The phone call. Well, I called him to the phone.
That's all fine.
Speaker 7 (09:34):
Time a night to be waking people, I told him.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Then he answered it. Right after that he lit up
like the devil was after him.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Do you hear any of the conversations?
Speaker 7 (09:42):
I did not.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
I mind my own business. Besides, all he said was hello.
Speaker 7 (09:46):
After that, all the talking must have been done by
whoever called him, because he never said another word, just
listened a minute, then hung up and.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Let out the phone ringing.
Speaker 5 (09:53):
In the story, Jase, I better get it go ahead, sir.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Oh, thanks for your help.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Missus waddall, I'm glad, I'm out. I have to give it.
Speaker 7 (10:01):
I might have been murdered mound sleep with an ex
convict under my roof.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Ought to be some way we could tell him from
other folks.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
A man who served his time can't be expected to
carry a brand, ma'am. Besides, how did you know Ben
Bonner's an next convict?
Speaker 5 (10:15):
So did I know what?
Speaker 1 (10:16):
It's all over town?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
It's Jace that calls for you right there, Sheriff, Thanks, ma'am.
Excuse me? Who's calling your headquarters?
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Captain Stinson, Hello, Kevin, got some good news for you jays.
The Highway Patrol has picked up Ben Potter.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Fine, where'd they get him?
Speaker 6 (10:38):
Almost rail passo patrol car was stopped at a railroad
crossing waiting for a freight to get through.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
They spotted him riding a nimpty flat freight.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Huh. It's a good thing they saw him. If he
made out pass so he'd been across the border into
Warez and no time. Really he didn't make it.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Bringing him back to stump Keill, now you have him
there in a few hours.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
You getting the case against him. I seem to be
getting plenty.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
You don't sounds I don't know.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
You look up his record. What was on his last
ticket to Huntsville?
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Uglary jas And that fits except for the.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Killing this time. Yeah, it fits all right, like the
executioner's glove. Stump Hill was five miles cross country from
the nearest railroad spur. We had time before the highway
patrol would be delivering Ben Bonner. We sent Kennedy back
(11:34):
to his farm. I unloaded charcoal from a horse trailer,
and the sheriff got his horse. We rode to the
railroad tracks.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
He was smart, Jason almost got away.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Lots of them almost get away. Sure, made a lot
of distance in it.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Don't know why you wanted to be sure. He came
this way to get to the train.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Just wanted to be certain. He cut through this five
miles on foot proves he didn't hitchhike a fast ride
and pick up a train further on down the line. Well,
luck was with him for a while. He cut the
only train he could have cut. You mean only one
freight goes through here at night?
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Yep, hotshot passenger clears first at about one am. Freight
comes through about fifteen minutes later close for the grade
here where.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
He jumped it about one fifteen is the schedule for
the freight?
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Then, huh, that's right, Let's get back to town. Come on, Chuck,
you look like that train schedule means something, Jase, it might.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Parner's report ought to be end by the time we
get back to town.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Hey, I see what you mean. If Bonner was killed
between two and three am, like you figured, it'll mean
his nephew Ben was on that freight at the time
the old man.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Was killed, Harner or had been completed. It was waiting
at the Sheriff's office when we got back.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Early.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
Didn't miss but much, Jase. Here's the report, the time
of day. What is it between one and two a m.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Then Ben Bonnard didn't kill his uncle. Even if he
ran the five miles across country. His track showed us
he walked. He couldn't have made it in time to
catch that freight.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Doesn't look that way.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Bullets from Bonner's body have been sent through to Austin.
We may get a lead from ballistics. I'm gonna do
some more checking around town on them.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Just second, Jason Share speaking, Oh good, good, She did
huh No, no, you say right there? Goodbye? Well, Jace,
looks like there's been a mistake someplace. That was my deputy.
At the county hospital, Liz Bonner regained consciousness for a
few seconds.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
What she's say?
Speaker 1 (13:42):
She said her and her husband were shot by their
nephew Ben.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
You are listening to Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as Ranger Jase Pearson. We continue with the
night's case Blood Relative, an authentic story from the files
of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
The Highway Patrol brought Ben Bonner back to Stump Hill
and unloaded him at the local jail, where the sheriff
and I questioned it.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
But I didn't kill him. I tell you didn't know
he was dead till now. Who said you was gonna
kill him? You said it in front of the witness.
Man is the difference between saying and doing?
Speaker 3 (14:35):
If you had nothing to do with it, why'd you
run away? Of course?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Somebody called me up last night.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
The room in the house late was a man said
he was a friend in one of the warning the
sheriff was going to pick me up a threatening uncle.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Will you scary easy? Don't you but your life, I do, mister.
I just pulled four years at Huntsville and I had enough.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
I don't want no more.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Maybe I was tough when I went to Uncle Will yesterday,
but last night when I got that call, I was
scarce sick.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
And you don't know who called you.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
No, No, I don't. I'm sure it wasn't somebody who
served time with letting you know he was here to
help you with the job.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
No.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Look, you gotta believe me. This is a murderer. You
can't send me up for it. Just because I shot
off my mouth. That ain't evidence.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
Ben.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
There's more than that. Your aunt Liz didn't die. She
came to at the hospital. She says it was you
who gunned her and her husband.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
That's a dirty lie. Look if I did that, If
I shot them and robbed the store, what was I
doing on a freight? What did I do with the money.
I ain't gonna say anymore. I ain't gonna talk to
I see a lawyer.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
That's youre right. We told you that in the beginning,
All right, Sheriff, Yes, you can lock him up again.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Go on, go ahead, ranger, police. I didn't do it.
Maybe the fellow who told you I threatened Uncle Will
didn't tell you everything. Maybe you want to ask him
why there was odd and when I come into the store.
All right, Ben, all right, well what do you think case?
Speaker 3 (15:49):
I don't know. Let's get outside.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
If he did have an accomplish, the other fellow might
be carting the loot and the gun might.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Be I'll see later, Sheriff. I'm driving over to the
hospital at the county seat. I want to talk to
his aunt, Liz Bonner, Missus Bonner. The doctor will only
let me stay a minute. Well, shot Will?
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Just getting up?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Who shot him? Missus Bonner? Then then, ungrateful.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Wanted to help him.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
How did it happen?
Speaker 8 (16:25):
It was a noise in the store, woke us up?
Well cold, said who's there? Then he got up, went
put on the lights, then shot him.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Did he get the lights on? Did you ever see
your nephew?
Speaker 1 (16:39):
No, but it was him, he said he'd do it.
Speaker 7 (16:43):
It was him.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
If you didn't see him, did he say anything? Did
you hear his voice and recognize him?
Speaker 1 (16:48):
No? He just shot Will. I screamed and that's all.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
But you didn't see Ben or recognize his voice?
Speaker 1 (16:57):
No, But he said he would. There couldn't be anybody else.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I think you're wrong, man, I think it could be.
I burned up the road back to Stump Hill and
got the sheriff. I wanted to make another check at
the store and find out a few things about Mac kennedy.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Dog. Honey, jeez, you're sending your dogs at the wrong tree.
Mac Kennedy's been Will's friend for a year.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
I just asked if Kennedy had ever been in trouble.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Never. He's honest, god peran dirt farmer, and that's all.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
What kind of shape is he in financially?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Well, oh, Jase, A man don't have to be a
criminal just because he's down on his luck. Max's crops
have been bad.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Sure, if I'm just asking a few questions, that's all. Well,
I'm sorry, Jayce, I reckon Max in hawk up to
his neck plays and all his equipment as mortgage.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
How come he can afford a hired hand? You mean, Jody? Oh,
he just drifts in and out. Ain't much of a worker,
but he's all Mac needs.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Migrates in in the spring for planting season, then out
again in the fall after harvest. He doesn't work for nothing,
does he Mac pays him right off when he makes
his crop from Selsey. That the way he pays everybody.
It's the only time he ever had any cash. Why
just wondering, did Mac buy here on credit from Bonner?
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Well? I guess so. Why you find something in the ledger?
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Come take a look. Seems to be a page torn out.
The book has kept in alphabetical order. Missing page is
in the case if there was a charge page in
here for Kennedy, it'd be right here.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Now you've got something I can't fight, Jace. What a setup?
An x Colm threatens to kill a man makes it
perfect for somebody else to do the job and set
the jailbird up.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
For a frank Come on, Sheriff, let's get out to
Kennedy's place again. Only this trip we won't be asking
questions about Ben Bonner. There's one thing still bothering me, Jace.
(18:59):
Mat Kennedy He's never been in trouble, so.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
How come we both spotted the marks of a professional
knob knocker on the burger?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
And it's been bothering me too. The more I think
of it, the more I wonder why tore that charge
page out of the ledger? Why do something that would
point right at him when he had somebody else all
set up to take the fall. Just beating the bill
wouldn't make the chance worthwhile. Not with murder, it wouldn't
ktx any out of ten oh, this may be the
ballistics report, Jason, Unit ten go ahead, kt XA lap.
Speaker 10 (19:30):
Report completed on bullets US and the slang of Will
Butler thirty eight kalaba probably Smith and Wesson Police.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Special ten to four. Unit ten Claire kdx A austin
a minute, KTXA stand by.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Please ATXA standing by this matter.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Jon just got an idea, something that didn't fit before
at hand. Who works for Kennedy? That Jody? What's his
last name?
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Jody?
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Let's see it. It's Pelham, Jody Pelham. Why, I'll tell
you in a minute. You there, kt X at this
unit requests quick check on subject Jody Pelham. Repeat Jody Pellham, Urgent.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Ten four get back to you with information soon as possible.
Unit ten Claire kenny x ay often yeeh. You figuring
Jody helped make Kennedy to pull this job.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Maybe or maybe Jody did it on his own. I
want to know if he's got a record, what Swisch,
you're thinking to him he was waiting outside Bonner's store
for Kennedy when Ben walked in yesterday and made his threats.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Well, sure, he admitted that Kennedy told him about Ben
when he come out and he'd drove on back to
the farm.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Yeah, But when Jody came into town the next morning
and came to tell us about the threats, he pretended
he didn't know too much, just knew that old Will
Bonnard been threatened, couldn't say who made the threats.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Well, I don't get what you're driving at, Joe. If
Kennedy told him.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
He must have told him the whole story about the
threats coming from Bonner's nephew, a nephew just gotten out
of prison. That'd be the logical way to tell it,
And that's the way Kennedy did did tell it. But
Jody was anxious not to seem to know too much.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Hey, sure, I see what you mean. Kennedy wasn't in
town this morning until we went out and brought me.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Yeah, but when we got back, everybody in town knew
that the man we were looking for was Bonner's nephew,
and that he was an ex Khan Sadie Waddles told
us that.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Only wound it could have come from with Jody. He
spread it around while we were out getting Kennedy.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
When we get to the farm, draw him out. Don't
pounce on him until I get an answer on him
from Austin.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
I hope it's the right, an't she? It may save
Mac Kennedy's life.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
It was dark and we reached the farmhouse. There was
a light on him the house, but the pickup truck
wasn't in sight in the open garage. We left my
car around in the back of the house and en
up on the porch.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Oh he'll hold your horses?
Speaker 6 (22:01):
Oh sure, ranger. I thought it was Jody coming back
with the pickup.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Where'd he go?
Speaker 6 (22:06):
He drove up north to Edgeville this afternoon, said he
wanted to get something. You ought to be back soon.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Well, aren't you gonna ask us in? Mac? Sure?
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Sure thing?
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Make yourself at home.
Speaker 6 (22:18):
Un there's stand you got Bonner's nephew today heard a
couple of women chewing about it on the party line.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
He got him temporarily. What do you mean temporarily? He
didn't kill anybody. Mac. You had an argument with Bonner
yesterday what about I reckon, that's my business, yours and Bonner's.
But he's dead now, so that makes it my business.
Speaker 6 (22:36):
Better. Talk up, Mac, Well, I've been running up a
big bill. Will was cutting me down a little. You
admit you owed him money. Why wouldn't I admit it?
I pay my bills?
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Any an sways otherwise as a liar. Nobody is saying otherwise. Mac.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
You keep a gun around here anyplace?
Speaker 6 (22:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:53):
What kind?
Speaker 6 (22:54):
Smith and Wasson thirty eight? It's right there on the
mantel over the fireplace.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
I'll get it, Jase, Oh, don't wipe off any prints.
Stick a pencil in the muzzle and lift it that way.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Ok, pencil won't go in Gay something jamming it.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Let me see, I have to worry about prints on
that outside has been white clean with an oil rag.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Looks like paper jammed in there.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Must soon find out. Take these shells out, poke the
pencil through there.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Why is Max's charge page from the ledger? What are
you trying to pull?
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Make it easy, Mac, We're not. After you smell this
gun and look at it, Sheriff. It was used, then reloaded,
but never cleaned.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
That gun hasn't been touched in years.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Mac. This gun killed Will Bonnard almost killed his wife
last night. Jody Pelham did it after you told him
about Bonner's nephew.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
But why would he tear out that page and plant
it here.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
So he could use Mac here to give himself a
double cover up. He made the call to the rooming
house and got Ben Bonner to run, But he knew
if Ben was caught any place and could set up
an alibi, there'd be a second search. That's why he
tore out the page and planted it here on Mac.
I'm sure glad you know it wasn't me. If it
was you, you'd have burned the page.
Speaker 6 (24:04):
That dirty little Hey there he comes, Now that's the pickup.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
You want to help us nail him all?
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I'd like to blow his brains out of this a.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Better way I di him feel safe here? Let me
put these cuffs on you quick. What I've done back
in the mantle, Sheriff.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
But are you sure the junk is ma.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Boy?
Speaker 1 (24:23):
I didn't know anybody was here, mag heck was the matter?
What are you doing with those things? On?
Speaker 3 (24:29):
What's your guess? Jody? What's in that bag you're carried?
What I used to pick me up a bottle of
package Stone Edgeville. What you use for money? You don't
get credit on liquor.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Well, mag Mac, he paid me some wages this morning. Oh,
I get it. I kind of wondered where he got
the money, now you know?
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Huh.
Speaker 5 (24:49):
Well, when I got up last night and found he
was going to I saw have got the wondering this morning, you.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Shut up man?
Speaker 3 (24:55):
All right, Sheriff, I guess we can take him in.
You better come along the make a statement. Jody, sure, sure.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
I hate to do a thing like this to a friend,
but I guess he deserves it.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Don't know, Bonner like he did. Yeah, I thought you'd
feel that way. Let's go. You might as well admit
you fired the gun. Mac A die Fenleman. Test will
prove you did. What kind of test is that man
fires a gun? The nitrate from the powder gets into
the pores of his hands. Chemical application shows it up.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Well, he's washed his hand since last night, I reckon, Oh,
Washington won't get it out.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Stays for a couple of days. You fired a gun recently, Jody, No, No,
Then we make the same test on your hand. It
will show you the difference. Well, you don't have to
do that. I don't understand that kind of stuff. Anyway,
It's too bad. I thought you might like to see
how we work. Get in watch him, Sheriff. All right,
Austin ought to have that information I requested before. Sheriff. Yeah,
(25:53):
this might bore you. Jody, you tend to k t XA.
This unit back in service, been waiting.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
For you have information You're inquested on subject? Jody Pelham,
what's that?
Speaker 10 (26:08):
Two years Huntsville bargery, three years Louisiana State ptitentry, burgery
and safe.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Cracking ten four unit ten clear?
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Any exit? Austin shut this car. You got me get
out of here, watching sharpon making use his gun. Judy,
you can rot.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Never mind that mac here. Take these keys and put
the cuffs on the right man, Sheriff. We might as
well have him there. He'll be wearing them a lot
until he reaches the death cell. At Huntsville.
Speaker 9 (26:48):
Jody Pelham was tried and convicted for the wanton murder
of Will Bunner on the morning of December sixth, nineteen
forty nine, at Huntsville Penitentiary.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
His sentence was carried out death and the jov and
now here again is the star of our show, Joel McCrae.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Folks, Tales of the Texas Rangers is moving to a
new time. You won't hear us next Sunday, but the
week after that we'll be back just an hour and
a half later than usual on NBC, right after Theater Guild.
So we'll see you in two weeks on Sunday, November
twenty sixth, and I hope you'll be listening. Good night,
good night, Joel.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
See you one week from this coming Sunday. Remember, friends,
as Joel told you, Tales of the Texas Rangers will
come to you an hour and a half later, immediately
following Theater Guild, beginning next Sunday. At this time you'll
hear head of Hopper's Fine Program. The week after next,
November twenty sixth, Joel McCrae as Ranger Jace Pearson will
(27:56):
be with you again.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
A week from Sunday.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Joel McCray and another authentic reenactment of a case from
the files.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Joel McCray is currently seen starring in the MGM production
Stars in My Crown. Tonight's cast included Tony Barrett, Bill Johnstone,
jodeval Virginia, Greg Parley Bear, and Byron Kine.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
This story was transcribed and adapted by Joel Murcott, and
the program was.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Produced and directed by Stacy Keach. One week from next Sunday,
Tales of the Texas Rangers will be back with you
immediately following Theater Guild. Consult your local radio schedule for time.
This is Hal give me speaking.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Three chimes mean good times on NBC mm hmm
Popular Podcasts
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.