October 23, 2025 • 30 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):
The National Broadcasting Company presents.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
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. Tales of the Texas Rangers,
(00:26):
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 from the files of the
(00:54):
Texas Rangers come these stories based on fact only. Names, dates,
and places are big dishes for our reasons, they amounds
themselves are a matter of record.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Case Fortnight Conspiracy.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
It is two pm the afternoon of October seventeenth, nineteen
twenty six. Captain Clint Stenson of Texas Ranger Company B
is seated in his office across the desk frum him.
It's a woman sobbing bitterly.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
It killed him. I shot him down in cold blood
where they shoot the dog.
Speaker 6 (01:40):
I get a grip on your show, Missus Windleo.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Oh help me, please help me. It was a good man.
Oh baby's only seven months old. Now it is dead
and the man had killed him?
Speaker 7 (01:53):
Is walking the streets of Crescenters though nothing happened.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Yes, in Ames County, that's where I keep.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
From I see you.
Speaker 7 (02:00):
Some pretty funny things have been happening in Ames County.
Who is the man who killed your husband?
Speaker 5 (02:05):
A man named Ray thought it happened four days ago,
but he wasn't even arrested. The grand jury said that,
according to the evidence, he killed ed and self defense.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
Any witnesses testified with that.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
Yes, three of them. But they were lying.
Speaker 6 (02:21):
They were lying.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
I had never cared a gun in his life.
Speaker 6 (02:24):
Are you sure of that? A wife doesn't always know.
I knew.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
Why can't you help me? What kind of a world
am I living in? What kind of a world am
I bringing my baby up in when his father could
be killed without anybody even lifting a hand?
Speaker 7 (02:41):
Now, just take it easily, Get me a sheriff porch
at Presenter in Ames County?
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Yes, what are you calling him for?
Speaker 7 (02:54):
I want to help you, missus Wendell. If there's anything
that calls for help, you won't.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
Get the truth. And sherieff Porch, he said, just severed.
Funny things are happening in Ames County.
Speaker 7 (03:02):
Funny things are liable to happen in any county where
it's a big oil strike, drifters and floaters crowded.
Speaker 6 (03:08):
You can't always condemn a sheriff what happens?
Speaker 5 (03:11):
You mean, he's just too bad if a man gets murdered.
Speaker 6 (03:13):
I didn't say that man.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yes, sure of porchs Kevin, go ahead, Hello, hello, Cavin Stintzon.
Speaker 7 (03:23):
How are you fine, Sherriff? I like a little information,
sure thing? What about man named Ed Wendell shot and
killed in Precenter by a man called Ray Thorpe.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Well, ain't much I can turn it. Kevin Thorpe killed
Wendall in self defense. Wendell's always been a sort of
a hot head, trouble maker, started to fight with Thorpe
and pulled a gun on him. Forpe had to kill
him to save his own hide.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
I understand there were witnesses.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
If sure, were three of them, and one of the
three was my deputy.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
Open and shut case, I see, Well, thank sherriff, just checking?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Uh what brought the case to your mind? And you
have some sort of a complaint.
Speaker 7 (04:03):
Wendell's wife thinks he was murdered in cold blood.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Well, cavitn you know women can't believe anything wrong about.
Speaker 6 (04:09):
The men folks. That happens.
Speaker 7 (04:12):
Thanks sir, anytime, goodbye, goodbye.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
You don't have to say anything.
Speaker 7 (04:19):
I know what he told you, Missus Wendell. I'm sorry,
but there's nothing much I can do.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
He left the house smiling, wave the baby, and he
never kissed back. They wouldn't even let me see him.
And then after he was killed.
Speaker 6 (04:35):
What's that, Missus Wendell.
Speaker 7 (04:38):
Are you telling me that you never saw your husband's
body after he was deadly?
Speaker 5 (04:41):
No, they wouldn't let me. They said he was a
law because of the way he got killed.
Speaker 7 (04:45):
There's no law like that. Are you sure you're telling
me the truth?
Speaker 5 (04:48):
Why would I lie to you?
Speaker 6 (04:50):
You never saw the body?
Speaker 5 (04:51):
No, I tell you. They buried him in the county
cemetery they after he was killed.
Speaker 6 (04:56):
Do you know if an autopsy was performed?
Speaker 5 (04:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 7 (05:00):
I see you, Missus Wendell. If I can get an
order to have your husband's body exhumed, will you give
your permission?
Speaker 8 (05:09):
Yes?
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Oh, they won't let you do it.
Speaker 7 (05:12):
They're not going to know it's being done.
Speaker 6 (05:17):
Is put out a call for Jace Pearson.
Speaker 7 (05:19):
Tell him to report to me immediately and bring Steve
Clark into then get me headquarters at Austin. By late afternoon,
Captain Stinson had a magistrates authorization to.
Speaker 6 (05:37):
Exhume the body of Ed Wendell.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Later the same night, Texas rangers Jace Pearson and Steve Clark,
accompanied by a medical examiner and Missus Wendall, were at
the Ames County Cemetery, three miles from the county seat
at CRESCENTA.
Speaker 6 (05:54):
Boxlet is almost.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Clear, Jesson. All right, Steve, hold it. See we can
get the top off now. Want to flash that light
down here?
Speaker 6 (06:02):
Doc Oh yeah sure, Jason.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Missus Wendell, maybe you better go wait in the car.
Man no more should have to identify the body and
to hut Jason. I guess you're right. All right, Steve.
Let's get the cover off right.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
And it's got it.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Lifted it up over the edge of the hole.
Speaker 6 (06:26):
He's be covered with a sheet.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Yeah, we lift it out to you. I got this
in all right, lift I get hold now, yeah, I'll
help you. All right.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
That doesn't books me, Jason.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
I'll pull you up.
Speaker 6 (06:42):
Right all right now, grabbing my rest. Got it.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
They we'll have to replace the cover and shovel the gravy,
and again we can do that as soon as Missus
Wendell identifies the body. Need to ask you like this man?
It's all right, I know he does. What can it matter, Jase?
You gotta pocket knife, have to slip his sheet? Yeah here, doc,
h well, Missus Wendell, he don't look anymore. Man better
(07:24):
taking the car, Steve, come, man, there's nothing more you
can dose? Hm, just a sheet on him. Didn't even
bury him with his clothes. It wasn't even embulked. Here's
something strange here, Jase. Yeah, have me rolled the body over.
We'll let shot out further. Sure, no marks on the head,
in the chest? Huh Yeah, here's what we're looking for. Yeah,
(07:49):
this man was shot alright, shot in the back. The
medical examiner took the body into the funeral parlor and
Steve Clark took Missus Wendall home. It was after two am,
but what I had to do, couldn't wait. I located
(08:09):
the home of the county Attorney Lou Morrison and a
ranch about ten miles out of Criscenta. I got him
out of bed. What's on your mind? This timin d
Ranger official business seems to me you could have waited
and come to Cordas in town in the morning. A
few men I'm after might be disappearing from town by morning.
I had to wake you up. I need some warrants, Lawrence,
(08:31):
somebody in Chrissenna. Yeah. The first one for a man
named Ray Thorpe, on what charge the murder of Ed Wendell.
Thorpe killed Wendall in's self defense. He's already been exonerated
by the grand jury. Look, mister Morrison, I've just come
from the cemetery. We exsumed Wendell's body. A body can't
be exhumed without an order. We had an order from
a magistrate at the other end of the county, and
(08:53):
Wendell's body proved Thorpe couldn't have killed him in self defense.
Because Wendell was shot in the back. It's impossible. Did
you see the body before he was buried? Well, no
I didn't, But but there were witnesses. The witnesses lied,
mister Morrison. I want a murdered warrant for Ray Thorpe.
(09:13):
All right, Ranger, you seem to have some evidence. I'm
going to my office and write him up. You can
get judge Pegget to send him thanks. I have to dress.
You said that you you wanted several warrens. That's right,
three more beside Thorpe's. So for the witnesses who claimed
(09:33):
that Thorpe shot in self defense on what charge? That's
a funny question from a county attorney. A charge of
perjury before the grand jury. I got the warrants, but
Morrison's attitude told me they weren't going to be easy
to serve. I'd arranged to meet Steve Clark at an
all night cafe and percentna he was waiting there. Get
(09:56):
the warrant. Yeah, Jase, there's something funny about this on
it smells to high heaven and say that again, there's
more to this than just a murder. County attorney didn't
want to cooperate, and one of Thorpe's witnesses is a
deputy sheriff. Yeah, it looks like the law's trying to
cover Wendell's death. And I think I found out why
missus Wendell spilled it when I was taking her home.
Said that her husband was planning on having some kind
(10:17):
of a meeting at his house on the night of
the day that he was killed. She say, what kind
of a meeting? Yeah, it's about the county elections coming
up next month. What about him? A sheriff Forts and
county Attorney Morrison are both running for re election, but
nobody's running against him, both unopposed candidates. Yeah, that's why
Wendell called a meeting. He didn't like it. He was
fixing the stir of the town up for a writing vote.
How come missus Wendall didn't mention that before. I guess
(10:39):
it didn't seem to have any connection with her husband
getting killed before you finished with your coffee. Yeah, let's
get those warrants served. This town's gonna get awful hot.
Dark works on a ranch out beyond the oil fields.
I'll go out there and pick him up while you, mister,
(11:00):
where did come from? Caught a flash from the corner
across the street.
Speaker 6 (11:03):
Something moving in the shadows.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Let him have it.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
He's mounted, Jason.
Speaker 7 (11:11):
He cut through the alley, but the fields behind town
can't get.
Speaker 6 (11:13):
A shot at him.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Now, come on, let's got our horses out of the trailer.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
He packed everybody. I'm on, Sharky, I'm on, yeah, get.
Speaker 7 (11:37):
There.
Speaker 6 (11:37):
He is, Jase chopping the rise now, gonna go far.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
His horse is breaking the stride.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Looks like he's going to lane. I must have picked
up the stone. He'll have to leave him soon. He's
out of sight.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Now, be careful after we cross the rim. He may
run on foot and keep going, or he may drop
in the cover and trying to pick us off. Anyway,
he wants the place all right with me.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Here's the top of the rice.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Hunch along your saddle. There's his horse, Jason Rider. He's dismounted.
Speaker 6 (12:02):
How fast and drop hold on. He's in that clump
of mesquite.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, I know it. Keep flatten the moon touches the
top of that brush beside. You reach over a nudget,
draw fire, you get him. I don't know. The skeet
seems bent over, like there's some weight on part of it.
Crawl tard it, keep your gun ready, better stay a
few feet apart. No sign of movement. We'll know in
(12:31):
a minute. I can see a boot sticking out of
the mesquite. Must be laying off flattered. He's hit. All right,
We can get up and no more trouble with the im.
Jason right between the eyes. Some shot hitting the man.
(12:54):
You couldn't see. I knew he was firing a rifle.
He had to be drawn a sight, so I just
fired a little above into the right out of the flash.
Wonder who he is to find that out later? Better
get his horse and have to lead him back. Yeah, easy, boy, easy,
Now come on with fix wed hoarse. Turn him a
little steve that the moon hit this side of his saddle.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Ye round boy, way.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
See a couple of letters burned into the letter and
look like initials. Hey RT, yeah, RT, I guess we
can tear up that warn for Ray Thorpe.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
You are listening to Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as Ranger Chase Pearson. We continue now with
tonight's case Conspiracy, an authentic story from the files of
the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
It was sun up when we got back to the
main street of Crescenta. The town was waking up for
the day, and shopkeepers and morning crews headed for work
in the oil fields followed us to the funeral home.
I was unstrapping Thorpe's body from my saddle when Sheriff
Porch came through the crowd. Let it through here through well,
howdy Rangers, Yeah, see you got Thorpe all right, about
(14:22):
time somebody got him. Heah, I know, County attorney told
me what's found out. Could have knocked me over with
a feather. Not bad, all right, Steve, grab his feet.
Let's carry me in, right, I'll get the door for you.
Put him down there, all right?
Speaker 6 (14:41):
Sure is?
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Harry tried to fight it out. Eh, tried to ambush us.
You mean, and somebody better explain how he knew we
were after him? Reckon, you can blame me for that, ranger.
What do you mean by that? County attorney called me
right after Judge Paget signed your warrens for you. I
knew where Thorpe was hanging out when the hotspots outside
the town. Thought I'd go out and pick him up
for you. When I told him you was after me.
(15:04):
He sort of caught me off balance and bolding and
a convenience sheriff, especially since you let him out once
before after he'd shot a man in the back. I
didn't know that. I never looked at Wendow's body. I well,
I was home sick. My deputy handled a cage. Same
deputy that said Thorpe shot in self defense. Yeah, same one,
Joe Slade. I got a warrant for him too, I know.
(15:27):
That's why I got him locked up in a jail.
Right now, you're getting mighty cooperative shiff.
Speaker 9 (15:32):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Slade was right with me when I heard you wanted him.
I know my job. I'm trying to help you. How
about the other two witnesses, Thorpe had ralelh Kine and
Arthur Sampson. I still got warrants for them. You'll find
them out in the oil field. I reckon. They got
two operating wells and they're drilling a third just past
the old Starcade north of town. You'll need horses. The
roads too muddy for a car. I'll right out with you. Thanks,
(15:55):
we can handle it. You need a rest. You've been
working too hard. They're not drilling, Jasony're just pulling the
drill stem out of the hole. Yeah, probably jumped the
pin on the bed. Funny thing Kane and Samson being
mixed up in this window killing. You think a couple
(16:16):
of oil men with producing who else will be on
the side.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
Of the law.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Something behind this we haven't hit yet. See man by
the tool shed's watching us. Oh yeah, doesn't seem to
be doing much work. Maybe he's one of our boys.
Don't take long to find out, he would ask him
in a second.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, ooh ooh, Hodie Rangels hardy, Oh, I can talk
to you for a minute. Mind telling your crew to
knock off?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Oh thanks? Oh the boys, cut paw? What's on you mind?
What's your name? Kane? Rollo?
Speaker 6 (16:52):
Keane? Arthur Samson around?
Speaker 4 (16:54):
That's him up on top of deck greasing the grinch.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
Out.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Time to come on, all.
Speaker 6 (17:00):
Right, Rangers, want you to come down. Send the hook
up for me?
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Just second?
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Look what's this at?
Speaker 2 (17:08):
I got warrants for you and your partner. Oh well,
full perjury before the county grand jury. You must have
the wrong names, Range, I never testified bull grand jury.
Who you trying a kid? Mister records you'll show whether
you did or not. So if you didn't, you got
nothing to worry about. I'll get your partner down.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
Here, all right, boys, send a hook up.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Look you mind if I get my coat it's right.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
There to two ship go ahead. I can watch you.
Speaker 6 (17:38):
I think.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Got that power heyd drive clamps of from the top
of the Derek. Yeah, get right where we were standing.
Thanks for the poor Yeah you heard Ranges that come
close to being nasty. Accident. It came close to being nasty,
and I don't think it was close to being an accident.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (17:59):
You know what I mean? Pretty convenient time for you
to step into that tool shed. I'm just lucky rain
starting right now. Your luck's running out. All right, Samson,
you can climb down.
Speaker 6 (18:10):
Sorry, I have to range it.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
I just knocked it off for that book. If anything
else falls from that, Derek, you're gonna come with it.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
Oh, come on now, climb down. No, man can't be
too careful if he wants to live.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Rang These oil fields can be dangerous. Something else can
be dangerous too, Kane. Something you're gonna find out about. Yeah,
let's say breaking the law in the state of Texas.
We heard it Kane and Sampson back to Precenta and
marched them into the jail. All right, boys, stip In,
(18:48):
go ahead, now see you're right to the ceuth. You know,
the law ranger gotta check your guns here in the office.
If you come inside the cell block, game, unbuckle him
and hang him in the cabinet. All right. I want
to talk to your deputy Joe Slade anyhow, Steve. You
better take care of the horses. Right, well, let meet you.
We can eat at the cafe in about an hour. Okay, Jase,
(19:10):
I'll see you later, all right, Sheriff, go on, can't
move you too, Samson. You know you're not gonna keep
us here along an we'll see her. Charge. Won't stand
up into the tank with Sladen. I was wondering when
(19:34):
I was gonna get company, Sheriff, if I knew you
wouldn't let your star deputy dialogue and shut up. You
get out of the gateway and let these men in. Slater, Sure, Rangers, Sure,
come in, Chilly. I want to talk to you, Slade.
Why sure, jes Spears, ain't you you got a reputation
for being pretty good with the gun. I'm still alive.
(19:57):
Why did you lie to the grand jury?
Speaker 6 (19:59):
Me? You got the wrong boy?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Rangers. Oh, it's my off as form. You're gonna give
me the same story I got from your two pals,
that size, Ranger, same stuff.
Speaker 6 (20:11):
Sure, slave never appeared before the grand jury either.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
It's all your imagination, Ranger. If the three of you
have one brain to go around, you'll tell the truth.
You're not in here without evidence. The Grand jury records
are being subpoenaed.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
Listen to the man, fellas, he knows all about the law.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
You're in for a few surprises, Ranger, a few big surprises.
Seeing the three of you are sent to Huntsville, isn't
gonna be a surprise to me, a Ranger? Yes, sir,
I see you've got a gun. Sare You're not supposed
to bring a gun past the cell block gate either.
It won't do no harm. You don't make me use it,
(20:52):
you see, Range, surprises? Like I said, I go away
from that cell gate. Ranger. All right, now you get
in there with him. What's the idea you're under arrest order?
The county attorney for what? For the murder of Red Thorpe.
The sheriff was showing his colors openly. Now he was
(21:14):
part and parcel of all. It was crooked and Ames County.
I was dumped into a cell with three men. It
would gladly kill me if I gave him the chance.
Don't stay off in the corner by yourself, Range, That's
fine enough, Slade. I'm keeping this side of the cell
for myself. Don't come past the middle, any of you.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Who's gonna stop us sheriff is gone for the day.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Yeah, since Simon here, thanks to you, there ain't nobody
on doss. I didn't come to this town alone. You
know you're counting on help from out other range. You
don't get too happy about it.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
Probably somebody breathing.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Down his neck right now, just like we're breeding down yours.
Be too bad. If you got to brooden about the
way you killed Thorpe sheriff forgot to take your belt away,
you might hang yourself.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
You got real broken.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Sure, I might even stab myself with this.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
He's got a knife, lousy pocket.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Now do you think you're gonna scare.
Speaker 6 (22:08):
Three of us with that?
Speaker 2 (22:09):
No, not three of you, But I'm figuring it's good
enough to scare one of you, the one who comes
at me first. You better get together and figure out
which one of you's gonna be, because he's the one
who's gonna get killed before I do. I didn't dare sleep.
(22:30):
I had to watch every move they made. There was
no sign of Steve Clark. In the morning, the sheriff
came in, He took kan Sampson and slaid out for
the arrangement before the judge. When he came back he
didn't bring him back with him. Here's some food for him.
Stop playing the sheriff. You know I'm not gonna eat
anything you give me. Shoot yourself. You may be here
(22:51):
a long time, longer than most of your prisoners. Stay.
What happened to him? Eve's any of your business? Judge
Padge had released him. You call grand jury records, no evidence.
Seems like the grand jury records have been misplayed. I
suppose the county attorney took care of that. This town's
gonna come down around your ears. Sheriff, you can't what's hat?
(23:12):
Maybe what I've been expecting? What happened to Steve Clark? U?
Speaker 6 (23:16):
Should I know?
Speaker 2 (23:17):
You mean you don't know whether you amen got him
or not? Well, you couldn't have gotten.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
A Wii watch your hurry, Sheriff.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
All right, now, keep your hands away from that cup
cabinet here at cabbage Spencer, Kay, I'm all right, Steve.
Speaker 6 (23:30):
Have you out for a minute, jas take the key seat.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
You can't let him out. He's my prison.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
You've got a rick for him, and to keep the
record street here in your mind. Party boy. Glad to
see you, Steve.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
I was afraid you caught one on the bank, no note.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
They tried to take me after I left here, but.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
I got away on Longhor not run him.
Speaker 6 (23:46):
Had the ride cross country most of the night to
get to a phone.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Let's go. We got a lot to clean up.
Speaker 6 (23:51):
Yeah, Captain's got a lot of information on what there
is to clean up.
Speaker 7 (23:56):
Yeah, I sure I have things that Porch could have
told you. Jess Porch is a rich man, aren't your ports?
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Well, I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
I'm talking about bank accounts all over the stag, big
fat accounts belonging to you in the county. Attorney Morrison
and Judge Paget, I've been checking on you for two days.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
You can't prove nothing wrong about that. Yes we can, Sheriff.
We've just come from the courthouse. Your friends didn't have
time to burn all the records. You're getting a little
pail riff.
Speaker 7 (24:23):
It was just business, that's all nice business, you and
others like your forming a combine to rob the people
of this county. We can convict you on fifty conspiracy
accounts along with complicity and Wendell's murdered killing.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Wendow wasn't my idea. Morrison ordered it when Wendell started
to raise a fuss about the administration.
Speaker 7 (24:41):
That's all I wanted to hear. Jace, you and Steve
go after Morrison. He's not in town, must be at
his ramp. What about the others.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
We had a shooting match with Sampson and Kane as
we left the courthouse. They were making a run in
the car. Some of our boys took them to the
hospital for patching up. How about Joe Slay, No trace
of him, but I got a hunch we'll find him
with Morrison. Morrison's accounts show slaves on his payroll, probably
burning more papers out at the ranch. Let's go on
(25:12):
the ride to County Attorney Morrison's ranch. Steve Clark gave
me the insight on a gigantic racket that had been
working in Eames County.
Speaker 6 (25:18):
Yeah, Jas Caton dug it all up.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
On the awe strike came Morrison's crowd brought up County
landed auction, but no options were actually held. Of course,
Morrison and his pals didn't take the land in their
own names.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
They had turned it over to men.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Like Caine and Sampson, strong arm boys who'd give him
a kickback. There must have been some of the townsmen
known what was going on. I sure they did, but
they were scared Stiff didn't always take force to do
it either.
Speaker 6 (25:41):
How can you fight a crook when he's in control
of the lawyer had.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
To fight him with a couple of men who wanted
to run for office were beaten out of the idea.
That's why Morrison and Porch had no opposition. There's Morrison's
ranch up ahead. Yeah, I see it, Hey, Jason, Look,
here's a car coming down the ranch road.
Speaker 6 (25:56):
Real they were raising dust too, Step on it.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Block him off the intersection before they get out on
his highway. Beat him to it, all right, And they
spotted us cars turning and we're almost the ranch road.
He slow, you get cut chase, No, get their tires
when I turn in after him, Yeah, good shot, And
he turned turtles come out, Look out, Steve, that's slave.
(26:23):
Break him for the trees.
Speaker 6 (26:24):
I'll get him.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
You'll dig Morris out of the rack, right, you'll mess Slade.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
I won't miss again.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
You're gonna have to step out and take better.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
Aim than that I got. Morse and Jason, you're a slave.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Will lie You better listen to him? Slaid all right, ranger,
I guess it'd be crazy to shoot it off. I'm coming.
Speaker 6 (26:45):
I'm dropping my gun. Both hands up.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Get that arm from behind your back.
Speaker 5 (26:52):
I can I hurt.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
Marm my back when the car turns.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Come on.
Speaker 6 (26:58):
Morrison still had one rattlesnake trick left in me.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Here his last one'll send somebody out for his body.
All right, Morrison, let's get back to town. My company
should have all your friends rounded up by now, including
that phony grand jury you stacked. You won't keep us long.
I wouldn't bet on that, Morrison. You won't be handling
the prosecution this time, and the judge won't be one
(27:24):
of your partners. Yet. Moving, mister, you've got a long
way to go.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
The Ames County conspiracy was smashed and twelve key men
were convicted and sentenced to jail terms ranging from ten
to fifty years. Since then, Ames County has become a
model American community, and.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
Now here again it's the start of our show, Joel McCray.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Texans are mighty proud of their estate, and the story
the best illustrates that pride has made the rounds for
many years. It was started by an old Texas ranger
whose son was going off to war and parting. The
ranger gave him this advice, Son, you're gonna be with
fellas from all over the world. There's one thing you
must never do. Never ask a man where he's from.
If he's from Texas, he'll tell you. And if he isn't,
(28:35):
don't embarrass him by asking. Good night, folks, See you
next week.
Speaker 9 (28:42):
Next week Joel McCray and another authentic reenactment of a
case from the files of not Texas Rangers. Joela McCrae
is currently seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor production Frenchy.
(29:07):
Tonight's cast included Tony Barrett, Lillian Baia, Herb Ellis Ken,
Christy byron Kin, Tom McKee, Lamont Johnson, and Herb Vigrants.
This story was transcribed and adapted by Joela mrcott and
the program was produced and directed by Stacy Keat Hell Gibney.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
Seat.
Speaker 8 (29:36):
Three Chiants Mean Good Times on NBC Tomorrow Evening, Gordon
McRae sings for You as The Railroad Hour presents a
melodic adaptation of One Touch of Venus. Gordon's guest for
tomorrow's Railroad Hour production is Ginny Simms. The Telephone Hour
Tomorrow brings you a celebrated contralto Marion Anderson as featured artist.
Miss Anderson will offer a group of spirituals and operatic selections,
(29:58):
accompanied by Donald Vorie in the orchestra.
Speaker 6 (30:01):
Phil Baker asks
Speaker 8 (30:02):
The sixty four dollars question next on NBC
The National Broadcasting Company presents.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
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. Tales of the Texas Rangers,
(00:26):
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 from the files of the
(00:54):
Texas Rangers come these stories based on fact only. Names, dates,
and places are big dishes for our reasons, they amounds
themselves are a matter of record.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Case Fortnight Conspiracy.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
It is two pm the afternoon of October seventeenth, nineteen
twenty six. Captain Clint Stenson of Texas Ranger Company B
is seated in his office across the desk frum him.
It's a woman sobbing bitterly.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
It killed him. I shot him down in cold blood
where they shoot the dog.
Speaker 6 (01:40):
I get a grip on your show, Missus Windleo.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Oh help me, please help me. It was a good man.
Oh baby's only seven months old. Now it is dead
and the man had killed him?
Speaker 7 (01:53):
Is walking the streets of Crescenters though nothing happened.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Yes, in Ames County, that's where I keep.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
From I see you.
Speaker 7 (02:00):
Some pretty funny things have been happening in Ames County.
Who is the man who killed your husband?
Speaker 5 (02:05):
A man named Ray thought it happened four days ago,
but he wasn't even arrested. The grand jury said that,
according to the evidence, he killed ed and self defense.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
Any witnesses testified with that.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
Yes, three of them. But they were lying.
Speaker 6 (02:21):
They were lying.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
I had never cared a gun in his life.
Speaker 6 (02:24):
Are you sure of that? A wife doesn't always know.
I knew.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
Why can't you help me? What kind of a world
am I living in? What kind of a world am
I bringing my baby up in when his father could
be killed without anybody even lifting a hand?
Speaker 7 (02:41):
Now, just take it easily, Get me a sheriff porch
at Presenter in Ames County?
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Yes, what are you calling him for?
Speaker 7 (02:54):
I want to help you, missus Wendell. If there's anything
that calls for help, you won't.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
Get the truth. And sherieff Porch, he said, just severed.
Funny things are happening in Ames County.
Speaker 7 (03:02):
Funny things are liable to happen in any county where
it's a big oil strike, drifters and floaters crowded.
Speaker 6 (03:08):
You can't always condemn a sheriff what happens?
Speaker 5 (03:11):
You mean, he's just too bad if a man gets murdered.
Speaker 6 (03:13):
I didn't say that man.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yes, sure of porchs Kevin, go ahead, Hello, hello, Cavin Stintzon.
Speaker 7 (03:23):
How are you fine, Sherriff? I like a little information,
sure thing? What about man named Ed Wendell shot and
killed in Precenter by a man called Ray Thorpe.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Well, ain't much I can turn it. Kevin Thorpe killed
Wendall in self defense. Wendell's always been a sort of
a hot head, trouble maker, started to fight with Thorpe
and pulled a gun on him. Forpe had to kill
him to save his own hide.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
I understand there were witnesses.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
If sure, were three of them, and one of the
three was my deputy.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
Open and shut case, I see, Well, thank sherriff, just checking?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Uh what brought the case to your mind? And you
have some sort of a complaint.
Speaker 7 (04:03):
Wendell's wife thinks he was murdered in cold blood.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Well, cavitn you know women can't believe anything wrong about.
Speaker 6 (04:09):
The men folks. That happens.
Speaker 7 (04:12):
Thanks sir, anytime, goodbye, goodbye.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
You don't have to say anything.
Speaker 7 (04:19):
I know what he told you, Missus Wendell. I'm sorry,
but there's nothing much I can do.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
He left the house smiling, wave the baby, and he
never kissed back. They wouldn't even let me see him.
And then after he was killed.
Speaker 6 (04:35):
What's that, Missus Wendell.
Speaker 7 (04:38):
Are you telling me that you never saw your husband's
body after he was deadly?
Speaker 5 (04:41):
No, they wouldn't let me. They said he was a
law because of the way he got killed.
Speaker 7 (04:45):
There's no law like that. Are you sure you're telling
me the truth?
Speaker 5 (04:48):
Why would I lie to you?
Speaker 6 (04:50):
You never saw the body?
Speaker 5 (04:51):
No, I tell you. They buried him in the county
cemetery they after he was killed.
Speaker 6 (04:56):
Do you know if an autopsy was performed?
Speaker 5 (04:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 7 (05:00):
I see you, Missus Wendell. If I can get an
order to have your husband's body exhumed, will you give
your permission?
Speaker 8 (05:09):
Yes?
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Oh, they won't let you do it.
Speaker 7 (05:12):
They're not going to know it's being done.
Speaker 6 (05:17):
Is put out a call for Jace Pearson.
Speaker 7 (05:19):
Tell him to report to me immediately and bring Steve
Clark into then get me headquarters at Austin. By late afternoon,
Captain Stinson had a magistrates authorization to.
Speaker 6 (05:37):
Exhume the body of Ed Wendell.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Later the same night, Texas rangers Jace Pearson and Steve Clark,
accompanied by a medical examiner and Missus Wendall, were at
the Ames County Cemetery, three miles from the county seat
at CRESCENTA.
Speaker 6 (05:54):
Boxlet is almost.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Clear, Jesson. All right, Steve, hold it. See we can
get the top off now. Want to flash that light
down here?
Speaker 6 (06:02):
Doc Oh yeah sure, Jason.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Missus Wendell, maybe you better go wait in the car.
Man no more should have to identify the body and
to hut Jason. I guess you're right. All right, Steve.
Let's get the cover off right.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
And it's got it.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Lifted it up over the edge of the hole.
Speaker 6 (06:26):
He's be covered with a sheet.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Yeah, we lift it out to you. I got this
in all right, lift I get hold now, yeah, I'll
help you. All right.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
That doesn't books me, Jason.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
I'll pull you up.
Speaker 6 (06:42):
Right all right now, grabbing my rest. Got it.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
They we'll have to replace the cover and shovel the gravy,
and again we can do that as soon as Missus
Wendell identifies the body. Need to ask you like this man?
It's all right, I know he does. What can it matter, Jase?
You gotta pocket knife, have to slip his sheet? Yeah here, doc,
h well, Missus Wendell, he don't look anymore. Man better
(07:24):
taking the car, Steve, come, man, there's nothing more you
can dose? Hm, just a sheet on him. Didn't even
bury him with his clothes. It wasn't even embulked. Here's
something strange here, Jase. Yeah, have me rolled the body over.
We'll let shot out further. Sure, no marks on the head,
in the chest? Huh Yeah, here's what we're looking for. Yeah,
(07:49):
this man was shot alright, shot in the back. The
medical examiner took the body into the funeral parlor and
Steve Clark took Missus Wendall home. It was after two am,
but what I had to do, couldn't wait. I located
(08:09):
the home of the county Attorney Lou Morrison and a
ranch about ten miles out of Criscenta. I got him
out of bed. What's on your mind? This timin d
Ranger official business seems to me you could have waited
and come to Cordas in town in the morning. A
few men I'm after might be disappearing from town by morning.
I had to wake you up. I need some warrants, Lawrence,
(08:31):
somebody in Chrissenna. Yeah. The first one for a man
named Ray Thorpe, on what charge the murder of Ed Wendell.
Thorpe killed Wendall in's self defense. He's already been exonerated
by the grand jury. Look, mister Morrison, I've just come
from the cemetery. We exsumed Wendell's body. A body can't
be exhumed without an order. We had an order from
a magistrate at the other end of the county, and
(08:53):
Wendell's body proved Thorpe couldn't have killed him in self defense.
Because Wendell was shot in the back. It's impossible. Did
you see the body before he was buried? Well, no
I didn't, But but there were witnesses. The witnesses lied,
mister Morrison. I want a murdered warrant for Ray Thorpe.
(09:13):
All right, Ranger, you seem to have some evidence. I'm
going to my office and write him up. You can
get judge Pegget to send him thanks. I have to dress.
You said that you you wanted several warrens. That's right,
three more beside Thorpe's. So for the witnesses who claimed
(09:33):
that Thorpe shot in self defense on what charge? That's
a funny question from a county attorney. A charge of
perjury before the grand jury. I got the warrants, but
Morrison's attitude told me they weren't going to be easy
to serve. I'd arranged to meet Steve Clark at an
all night cafe and percentna he was waiting there. Get
(09:56):
the warrant. Yeah, Jase, there's something funny about this on
it smells to high heaven and say that again, there's
more to this than just a murder. County attorney didn't
want to cooperate, and one of Thorpe's witnesses is a
deputy sheriff. Yeah, it looks like the law's trying to
cover Wendell's death. And I think I found out why
missus Wendell spilled it when I was taking her home.
Said that her husband was planning on having some kind
(10:17):
of a meeting at his house on the night of
the day that he was killed. She say, what kind
of a meeting? Yeah, it's about the county elections coming
up next month. What about him? A sheriff Forts and
county Attorney Morrison are both running for re election, but
nobody's running against him, both unopposed candidates. Yeah, that's why
Wendell called a meeting. He didn't like it. He was
fixing the stir of the town up for a writing vote.
How come missus Wendall didn't mention that before. I guess
(10:39):
it didn't seem to have any connection with her husband
getting killed before you finished with your coffee. Yeah, let's
get those warrants served. This town's gonna get awful hot.
Dark works on a ranch out beyond the oil fields.
I'll go out there and pick him up while you, mister,
(11:00):
where did come from? Caught a flash from the corner
across the street.
Speaker 6 (11:03):
Something moving in the shadows.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Let him have it.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
He's mounted, Jason.
Speaker 7 (11:11):
He cut through the alley, but the fields behind town
can't get.
Speaker 6 (11:13):
A shot at him.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Now, come on, let's got our horses out of the trailer.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
He packed everybody. I'm on, Sharky, I'm on, yeah, get.
Speaker 7 (11:37):
There.
Speaker 6 (11:37):
He is, Jase chopping the rise now, gonna go far.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
His horse is breaking the stride.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Looks like he's going to lane. I must have picked
up the stone. He'll have to leave him soon. He's
out of sight.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Now, be careful after we cross the rim. He may
run on foot and keep going, or he may drop
in the cover and trying to pick us off. Anyway,
he wants the place all right with me.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Here's the top of the rice.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Hunch along your saddle. There's his horse, Jason Rider. He's dismounted.
Speaker 6 (12:02):
How fast and drop hold on. He's in that clump
of mesquite.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, I know it. Keep flatten the moon touches the
top of that brush beside. You reach over a nudget,
draw fire, you get him. I don't know. The skeet
seems bent over, like there's some weight on part of it.
Crawl tard it, keep your gun ready, better stay a
few feet apart. No sign of movement. We'll know in
(12:31):
a minute. I can see a boot sticking out of
the mesquite. Must be laying off flattered. He's hit. All right,
We can get up and no more trouble with the im.
Jason right between the eyes. Some shot hitting the man.
(12:54):
You couldn't see. I knew he was firing a rifle.
He had to be drawn a sight, so I just
fired a little above into the right out of the flash.
Wonder who he is to find that out later? Better
get his horse and have to lead him back. Yeah, easy, boy, easy,
Now come on with fix wed hoarse. Turn him a
little steve that the moon hit this side of his saddle.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Ye round boy, way.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
See a couple of letters burned into the letter and
look like initials. Hey RT, yeah, RT, I guess we
can tear up that warn for Ray Thorpe.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
You are listening to Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel McCrae as Ranger Chase Pearson. We continue now with
tonight's case Conspiracy, an authentic story from the files of
the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
It was sun up when we got back to the
main street of Crescenta. The town was waking up for
the day, and shopkeepers and morning crews headed for work
in the oil fields followed us to the funeral home.
I was unstrapping Thorpe's body from my saddle when Sheriff
Porch came through the crowd. Let it through here through well,
howdy Rangers, Yeah, see you got Thorpe all right, about
(14:22):
time somebody got him. Heah, I know, County attorney told
me what's found out. Could have knocked me over with
a feather. Not bad, all right, Steve, grab his feet.
Let's carry me in, right, I'll get the door for you.
Put him down there, all right?
Speaker 6 (14:41):
Sure is?
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Harry tried to fight it out. Eh, tried to ambush us.
You mean, and somebody better explain how he knew we
were after him? Reckon, you can blame me for that, ranger.
What do you mean by that? County attorney called me
right after Judge Paget signed your warrens for you. I
knew where Thorpe was hanging out when the hotspots outside
the town. Thought I'd go out and pick him up
for you. When I told him you was after me.
(15:04):
He sort of caught me off balance and bolding and
a convenience sheriff, especially since you let him out once
before after he'd shot a man in the back. I
didn't know that. I never looked at Wendow's body. I well,
I was home sick. My deputy handled a cage. Same
deputy that said Thorpe shot in self defense. Yeah, same one,
Joe Slade. I got a warrant for him too, I know.
(15:27):
That's why I got him locked up in a jail.
Right now, you're getting mighty cooperative shiff.
Speaker 9 (15:32):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Slade was right with me when I heard you wanted him.
I know my job. I'm trying to help you. How
about the other two witnesses, Thorpe had ralelh Kine and
Arthur Sampson. I still got warrants for them. You'll find
them out in the oil field. I reckon. They got
two operating wells and they're drilling a third just past
the old Starcade north of town. You'll need horses. The
roads too muddy for a car. I'll right out with you. Thanks,
(15:55):
we can handle it. You need a rest. You've been
working too hard. They're not drilling, Jasony're just pulling the
drill stem out of the hole. Yeah, probably jumped the
pin on the bed. Funny thing Kane and Samson being
mixed up in this window killing. You think a couple
(16:16):
of oil men with producing who else will be on
the side.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
Of the law.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Something behind this we haven't hit yet. See man by
the tool shed's watching us. Oh yeah, doesn't seem to
be doing much work. Maybe he's one of our boys.
Don't take long to find out, he would ask him
in a second.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, ooh ooh, Hodie Rangels hardy, Oh, I can talk
to you for a minute. Mind telling your crew to
knock off?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Oh thanks? Oh the boys, cut paw? What's on you mind?
What's your name? Kane? Rollo?
Speaker 6 (16:52):
Keane? Arthur Samson around?
Speaker 4 (16:54):
That's him up on top of deck greasing the grinch.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
Out.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Time to come on, all.
Speaker 6 (17:00):
Right, Rangers, want you to come down. Send the hook
up for me?
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Just second?
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Look what's this at?
Speaker 2 (17:08):
I got warrants for you and your partner. Oh well,
full perjury before the county grand jury. You must have
the wrong names, Range, I never testified bull grand jury.
Who you trying a kid? Mister records you'll show whether
you did or not. So if you didn't, you got
nothing to worry about. I'll get your partner down.
Speaker 6 (17:27):
Here, all right, boys, send a hook up.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Look you mind if I get my coat it's right.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
There to two ship go ahead. I can watch you.
Speaker 6 (17:38):
I think.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Got that power heyd drive clamps of from the top
of the Derek. Yeah, get right where we were standing.
Thanks for the poor Yeah you heard Ranges that come
close to being nasty. Accident. It came close to being nasty,
and I don't think it was close to being an accident.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (17:59):
You know what I mean? Pretty convenient time for you
to step into that tool shed. I'm just lucky rain
starting right now. Your luck's running out. All right, Samson,
you can climb down.
Speaker 6 (18:10):
Sorry, I have to range it.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
I just knocked it off for that book. If anything
else falls from that, Derek, you're gonna come with it.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
Oh, come on now, climb down. No, man can't be
too careful if he wants to live.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Rang These oil fields can be dangerous. Something else can
be dangerous too, Kane. Something you're gonna find out about. Yeah,
let's say breaking the law in the state of Texas.
We heard it Kane and Sampson back to Precenta and
marched them into the jail. All right, boys, stip In,
(18:48):
go ahead, now see you're right to the ceuth. You know,
the law ranger gotta check your guns here in the office.
If you come inside the cell block, game, unbuckle him
and hang him in the cabinet. All right. I want
to talk to your deputy Joe Slade anyhow, Steve. You
better take care of the horses. Right, well, let meet you.
We can eat at the cafe in about an hour. Okay, Jase,
(19:10):
I'll see you later, all right, Sheriff, go on, can't
move you too, Samson. You know you're not gonna keep
us here along an we'll see her. Charge. Won't stand
up into the tank with Sladen. I was wondering when
(19:34):
I was gonna get company, Sheriff, if I knew you
wouldn't let your star deputy dialogue and shut up. You
get out of the gateway and let these men in. Slater, Sure, Rangers, Sure,
come in, Chilly. I want to talk to you, Slade.
Why sure, jes Spears, ain't you you got a reputation
for being pretty good with the gun. I'm still alive.
(19:57):
Why did you lie to the grand jury?
Speaker 6 (19:59):
Me? You got the wrong boy?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Rangers. Oh, it's my off as form. You're gonna give
me the same story I got from your two pals,
that size, Ranger, same stuff.
Speaker 6 (20:11):
Sure, slave never appeared before the grand jury either.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
It's all your imagination, Ranger. If the three of you
have one brain to go around, you'll tell the truth.
You're not in here without evidence. The Grand jury records
are being subpoenaed.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
Listen to the man, fellas, he knows all about the law.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
You're in for a few surprises, Ranger, a few big surprises.
Seeing the three of you are sent to Huntsville, isn't
gonna be a surprise to me, a Ranger? Yes, sir,
I see you've got a gun. Sare You're not supposed
to bring a gun past the cell block gate either.
It won't do no harm. You don't make me use it,
(20:52):
you see, Range, surprises? Like I said, I go away
from that cell gate. Ranger. All right, now you get
in there with him. What's the idea you're under arrest order?
The county attorney for what? For the murder of Red Thorpe.
The sheriff was showing his colors openly. Now he was
(21:14):
part and parcel of all. It was crooked and Ames County.
I was dumped into a cell with three men. It
would gladly kill me if I gave him the chance.
Don't stay off in the corner by yourself, Range, That's
fine enough, Slade. I'm keeping this side of the cell
for myself. Don't come past the middle, any of you.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Who's gonna stop us sheriff is gone for the day.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Yeah, since Simon here, thanks to you, there ain't nobody
on doss. I didn't come to this town alone. You
know you're counting on help from out other range. You
don't get too happy about it.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
Probably somebody breathing.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Down his neck right now, just like we're breeding down yours.
Be too bad. If you got to brooden about the
way you killed Thorpe sheriff forgot to take your belt away,
you might hang yourself.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
You got real broken.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Sure, I might even stab myself with this.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
He's got a knife, lousy pocket.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Now do you think you're gonna scare.
Speaker 6 (22:08):
Three of us with that?
Speaker 2 (22:09):
No, not three of you, But I'm figuring it's good
enough to scare one of you, the one who comes
at me first. You better get together and figure out
which one of you's gonna be, because he's the one
who's gonna get killed before I do. I didn't dare sleep.
(22:30):
I had to watch every move they made. There was
no sign of Steve Clark. In the morning, the sheriff
came in, He took kan Sampson and slaid out for
the arrangement before the judge. When he came back he
didn't bring him back with him. Here's some food for him.
Stop playing the sheriff. You know I'm not gonna eat
anything you give me. Shoot yourself. You may be here
(22:51):
a long time, longer than most of your prisoners. Stay.
What happened to him? Eve's any of your business? Judge
Padge had released him. You call grand jury records, no evidence.
Seems like the grand jury records have been misplayed. I
suppose the county attorney took care of that. This town's
gonna come down around your ears. Sheriff, you can't what's hat?
(23:12):
Maybe what I've been expecting? What happened to Steve Clark? U?
Speaker 6 (23:16):
Should I know?
Speaker 2 (23:17):
You mean you don't know whether you amen got him
or not? Well, you couldn't have gotten.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
A Wii watch your hurry, Sheriff.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
All right, now, keep your hands away from that cup
cabinet here at cabbage Spencer, Kay, I'm all right, Steve.
Speaker 6 (23:30):
Have you out for a minute, jas take the key seat.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
You can't let him out. He's my prison.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
You've got a rick for him, and to keep the
record street here in your mind. Party boy. Glad to
see you, Steve.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
I was afraid you caught one on the bank, no note.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
They tried to take me after I left here, but.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
I got away on Longhor not run him.
Speaker 6 (23:46):
Had the ride cross country most of the night to
get to a phone.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Let's go. We got a lot to clean up.
Speaker 6 (23:51):
Yeah, Captain's got a lot of information on what there
is to clean up.
Speaker 7 (23:56):
Yeah, I sure I have things that Porch could have
told you. Jess Porch is a rich man, aren't your ports?
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Well, I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
I'm talking about bank accounts all over the stag, big
fat accounts belonging to you in the county. Attorney Morrison
and Judge Paget, I've been checking on you for two days.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
You can't prove nothing wrong about that. Yes we can, Sheriff.
We've just come from the courthouse. Your friends didn't have
time to burn all the records. You're getting a little
pail riff.
Speaker 7 (24:23):
It was just business, that's all nice business, you and
others like your forming a combine to rob the people
of this county. We can convict you on fifty conspiracy
accounts along with complicity and Wendell's murdered killing.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Wendow wasn't my idea. Morrison ordered it when Wendell started
to raise a fuss about the administration.
Speaker 7 (24:41):
That's all I wanted to hear. Jace, you and Steve
go after Morrison. He's not in town, must be at
his ramp. What about the others.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
We had a shooting match with Sampson and Kane as
we left the courthouse. They were making a run in
the car. Some of our boys took them to the
hospital for patching up. How about Joe Slay, No trace
of him, but I got a hunch we'll find him
with Morrison. Morrison's accounts show slaves on his payroll, probably
burning more papers out at the ranch. Let's go on
(25:12):
the ride to County Attorney Morrison's ranch. Steve Clark gave
me the insight on a gigantic racket that had been
working in Eames County.
Speaker 6 (25:18):
Yeah, Jas Caton dug it all up.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
On the awe strike came Morrison's crowd brought up County
landed auction, but no options were actually held. Of course,
Morrison and his pals didn't take the land in their
own names.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
They had turned it over to men.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Like Caine and Sampson, strong arm boys who'd give him
a kickback. There must have been some of the townsmen
known what was going on. I sure they did, but
they were scared Stiff didn't always take force to do
it either.
Speaker 6 (25:41):
How can you fight a crook when he's in control
of the lawyer had.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
To fight him with a couple of men who wanted
to run for office were beaten out of the idea.
That's why Morrison and Porch had no opposition. There's Morrison's
ranch up ahead. Yeah, I see it, Hey, Jason, Look,
here's a car coming down the ranch road.
Speaker 6 (25:56):
Real they were raising dust too, Step on it.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Block him off the intersection before they get out on
his highway. Beat him to it, all right, And they
spotted us cars turning and we're almost the ranch road.
He slow, you get cut chase, No, get their tires
when I turn in after him, Yeah, good shot, And
he turned turtles come out, Look out, Steve, that's slave.
(26:23):
Break him for the trees.
Speaker 6 (26:24):
I'll get him.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
You'll dig Morris out of the rack, right, you'll mess Slade.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
I won't miss again.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
You're gonna have to step out and take better.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
Aim than that I got. Morse and Jason, you're a slave.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Will lie You better listen to him? Slaid all right, ranger,
I guess it'd be crazy to shoot it off. I'm coming.
Speaker 6 (26:45):
I'm dropping my gun. Both hands up.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Get that arm from behind your back.
Speaker 5 (26:52):
I can I hurt.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
Marm my back when the car turns.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Come on.
Speaker 6 (26:58):
Morrison still had one rattlesnake trick left in me.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Here his last one'll send somebody out for his body.
All right, Morrison, let's get back to town. My company
should have all your friends rounded up by now, including
that phony grand jury you stacked. You won't keep us long.
I wouldn't bet on that, Morrison. You won't be handling
the prosecution this time, and the judge won't be one
(27:24):
of your partners. Yet. Moving, mister, you've got a long
way to go.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
The Ames County conspiracy was smashed and twelve key men
were convicted and sentenced to jail terms ranging from ten
to fifty years. Since then, Ames County has become a
model American community, and.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
Now here again it's the start of our show, Joel McCray.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Texans are mighty proud of their estate, and the story
the best illustrates that pride has made the rounds for
many years. It was started by an old Texas ranger
whose son was going off to war and parting. The
ranger gave him this advice, Son, you're gonna be with
fellas from all over the world. There's one thing you
must never do. Never ask a man where he's from.
If he's from Texas, he'll tell you. And if he isn't,
(28:35):
don't embarrass him by asking. Good night, folks, See you
next week.
Speaker 9 (28:42):
Next week Joel McCray and another authentic reenactment of a
case from the files of not Texas Rangers. Joela McCrae
is currently seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor production Frenchy.
(29:07):
Tonight's cast included Tony Barrett, Lillian Baia, Herb Ellis Ken,
Christy byron Kin, Tom McKee, Lamont Johnson, and Herb Vigrants.
This story was transcribed and adapted by Joela mrcott and
the program was produced and directed by Stacy Keat Hell Gibney.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
Seat.
Speaker 8 (29:36):
Three Chiants Mean Good Times on NBC Tomorrow Evening, Gordon
McRae sings for You as The Railroad Hour presents a
melodic adaptation of One Touch of Venus. Gordon's guest for
tomorrow's Railroad Hour production is Ginny Simms. The Telephone Hour
Tomorrow brings you a celebrated contralto Marion Anderson as featured artist.
Miss Anderson will offer a group of spirituals and operatic selections,
(29:58):
accompanied by Donald Vorie in the orchestra.
Speaker 6 (30:01):
Phil Baker asks
Speaker 8 (30:02):
The sixty four dollars question next on NBC
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.