August 16, 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.
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
Heralds of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae as Ranger
Jase Person. Another authentic reenactment of a case transcribed from
the files of the Texas Rangers. Names, dates, and places
(00:43):
in the following story are fictitious for obvious reasons. The
events themselves are a matter of records.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Daytime radio listening is a big part of missus America's
way of.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Life, and on NBC, daytime radio is a big.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Part of our overall schedule of top listening entertainment. Tune
here tomorrow and each day Monday through Friday for such
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quiz Master Walter O'Keeffe, Strike at Rich, the Program of
the Heart presided over by Warren Hall, and Welcome Travelers,
bringing Tommy Bartlett's interesting interviews with travelers in the Windy City.
(01:21):
Radio also gets his ears boxed every day when Bob
and Ray satirized the industry which made them famous. Later,
Dave Gaaway strolls through a pleasant quarter hour of enjoyable
radio listening and invite you to join him for the proceedings. Yes,
All through the day, NBC presents America's most popular radio
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(01:43):
from the housework blues, let us brighten your day with
the entertainment available on this station of the NBC Radio Network.
Join us tomorrow morning, won't you? And now Today's tales
of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
And now from the files of the Texas Rangers, the
case called Cover Up.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
It is eight o'clock on the morning of Thursday, July fourth,
nineteen forty six, seventeen miles north of Lunap of Texas.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Farmer Lee Gayer crosses the cornfields to the farm of
Ruffel Hines, his neighbor.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
And closes friends.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
When he reaches his friend's house, Gaina goes up on
the front porch, opens the door and walks in.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Right, where are you?
Speaker 6 (02:38):
Right?
Speaker 7 (02:38):
You back there in the bedroom? Who are you? What
are you doing here? You get out of here. Please?
Speaker 3 (02:45):
You can't come in?
Speaker 7 (02:46):
What do you mean? I can't come in? Who are you?
What are you doing with that pail of water? I
don't clean up the floor? Now you go.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
You can't stands so fast, mister Hines, He's gone, he said.
Don't let nobody in the house of did you go out.
Speaker 7 (03:00):
And I'm not going anywhere? Not? I get this straight. Now,
where'd he go?
Speaker 8 (03:05):
I don't know, sanyo.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
He said that he'd go on vacation.
Speaker 8 (03:08):
That's what he said.
Speaker 7 (03:09):
Well, his car's outside. He couldn't go nowhere without his car.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
But he did. He go for four weeks.
Speaker 7 (03:14):
I don't believe it. Mister Hines, my best friend. He
wouldn't go up like that by telling me what he did.
You're lying? Who are you? What you're doing?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Here?
Speaker 8 (03:22):
Are you working?
Speaker 7 (03:23):
Don't I never saw you before?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Sanyo? Hinds it? He hired me this morning before he leaves.
Speaker 7 (03:29):
He laughed, Eh, I come his watching glasses and all
the rest of his stuff.
Speaker 8 (03:35):
He's still on the dresser.
Speaker 7 (03:38):
Hey, where's his water? I don't know. I didn't. I
think you did. I don't see what you got. Wait
a manue, what's that on the floor where that's where
I'm pointing? This looks like blood? Oh see that is
sin on the bed too? What did you do with
Where is it? You tell me? I beat it out here? Please?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
And he having noose blease. He tells me to clean
up the blood. That's a lion.
Speaker 7 (04:01):
You tell me what you did with mister Hines. You
tell me quicker at you?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
I see nothing letting me go.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
I said, kill me, I seed.
Speaker 9 (04:08):
You off for the.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
You're not just me not come back?
Speaker 7 (04:14):
Give you?
Speaker 6 (04:16):
I get you.
Speaker 7 (04:17):
You love's a killer.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
Lee Gainer chased the stranger across the fields and into
a wooded area. When the man ducked into the woods,
Gainer lost sight.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Of him and was unable to pick up his trail.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
He then returned to his friend's house and called Sheriff
Art Buckley, who in turn requested aid from the Texas Rangers.
Ranger Jas Pearson was a sign and arrived at the
farmhouse shortly after the sheriff.
Speaker 7 (04:46):
There's a blood on the floor, Ranger, and he's trying
to clean it up with that bucket of water, and
there on.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
The bed, blood splatted all over his billar you say
this fellow told you mister Hines, I don't knowse bleed.
Speaker 7 (04:57):
Yeah, but I don't believe that Rus never had an
news bleeding his life. And now I've known him since
we was kids.
Speaker 8 (05:03):
I'd take you that Mexican killed him.
Speaker 7 (05:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
If anything's missing, yeah, Rush's wallet.
Speaker 7 (05:09):
Take a look at this rushing. Everything else is here,
except that is his calm and his glasses. I know
Rush better and I know my own brother, and I
tell you wouldn't go anywhere without his spects and make
sure it look bad all right? Yeah, you know how
much money your friend was carrying in that wallet? Not
just about Rush drew three hundred bucks out of the
bank on Tuesday morning. It's fixing to buy a gungee
(05:29):
from Dave Morgan. Is that your friend's car parks out
in front? Yeah, he sure wouldn't be going any place
without that.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Why don't we trying to pick up that Mexican's trail
and I'd still.
Speaker 7 (05:38):
Be out in the wood and he was heading into
the hills when I lost you mind, Jane might be
afraid to come out.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yeah, did you look around to see if you could
find mister Hines and the barn any place like that?
Speaker 7 (05:48):
Oh no, No, I didn't stayed in the house waiting
for you to come. Now, Just where did you chase
that fellow into the woods over there? And any other
farms over that way? Not on each side of the hills.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
It's a good gency's still out there. I'll get my
horse from the trailer and see if I can pick
up his track in the meantime, Sheriff, why don't you
look around near the house?
Speaker 7 (06:07):
Sure think jays, come see you later. Now go along, Rangel.
I know that hill country pretty good.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
All right, Maybe you can identify that Mexican if we
catch up to him.
Speaker 7 (06:17):
Got an awful big head shot on us.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Yeah, but if he's still on foot, he won't get far.
I took charcoal out of the trailer while Gayner got
one of the horses from the corral, so save time.
He didn't saddle up, but rode bareback. We went to
the spot in the woods where Gayner dlst sight of
the man short distance away. I picked up his tracks.
(06:40):
They were fairly easy to follow, and for twenty minutes
we covered a good deal of ground, and near the
hills the trail petered.
Speaker 7 (06:46):
Out better, spread out a little more.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Hey, wait a minute, ool charger. Yeah here they are. Yeah,
oh what turned here?
Speaker 8 (07:06):
Track?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Swing over that way where I don't see him. Look
right along there, See how that brush is trampled.
Speaker 7 (07:12):
Oh yeah, sure, got better ice for tracking than I have.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Eat up, churky, what's down this way?
Speaker 7 (07:19):
The road swings around in the loop.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
It's like he was heading for it. Come on, get
up for somebody's given him a lift. Maybe we can
catch up to him.
Speaker 7 (07:28):
There's the road over there, angel, and you can see
if you do that breaking the brush.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, And there's someone walking along that shoulder right now.
That's him.
Speaker 8 (07:37):
He's what up? Church, he's what?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Hold out there?
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Sir?
Speaker 8 (07:41):
Hey, you.
Speaker 6 (07:44):
Stop right there, stop hold up my wool wool Church?
Speaker 1 (07:50):
This is him?
Speaker 7 (07:51):
All right?
Speaker 3 (07:54):
You bouse it, skunk? What do you want from me?
Speaker 7 (07:56):
And tell you all right?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Stand sell Priskin? Why you these what you're looking for?
Just checking to see if you're carrying any weapon?
Speaker 7 (08:04):
Are you the one working back there in that farmhouse?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
No, no, don't lie to me. I didn't do nothing.
What's your name?
Speaker 8 (08:10):
Suttle those mendoza?
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Let's see your wallet here? We're forty dollars in here.
Where's the rest of us?
Speaker 8 (08:17):
That's all I got?
Speaker 7 (08:18):
Why did you kill him?
Speaker 3 (08:19):
I didn't?
Speaker 7 (08:20):
Where's mister Hines? What'd you do with him?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I didn't do nothing.
Speaker 7 (08:22):
He hired me. He go on to cash and like
I thought him, why I meant him around? Make him telling?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
You're not gonna tight him?
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Why are you gonna let killing run?
Speaker 4 (08:31):
I'm gonna see justin we'll see.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Justice down on the cart. Not the way you want
to do it, all right, Mendoza, Let's get back to
the house. We took Carlos Mendoza back to the farmhouse,
where we joined the sheriff. His deputies had arrived and
we're searching the area for Russell Hines. Mendoza continued to
deny that he had killed or robbed anyone.
Speaker 8 (08:54):
But you got to believe me.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I wouldn't kill nobody. What were you doing here?
Speaker 5 (08:58):
I told you, and you'll hind she give me a
job to clean up the place and stay.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Here while he goes away this morning? What time? Oh
about doing you live around here?
Speaker 8 (09:09):
No? No, I was coming through with my family. I
got a trailer about ten miles down the road. That's
where mister Hines picked me up. He asked me if
I want a job while he got.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Away on vacation.
Speaker 7 (09:20):
Rush wouldn't have gone away with that, telling me I
know we.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Are all right, Gainner, just keep out of this with you.
Where were you coming from? And those eagle pass and
where were you going to wake?
Speaker 8 (09:30):
I got a coussin up there. He'll write me that
he got a job for us in the cotton field.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
You say, mister Hines hired you. He bring you over
here in his car.
Speaker 8 (09:37):
See he bring me in his car and show me
what to do. Feed the chickens and the stock, and clean.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Up the blood and the floor. That blood didn't get
there when you killed Hines.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
No cheering, No no, he said that he got a
nose bleed and I am to clean it up.
Speaker 7 (09:51):
You were just working here. Why were you trying so
hard to keep mister Gain around of the house so
he couldn't see what you were doing. No, no, sand
your hind call me to he said, don't let nobody in.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
The house while I'm going nobody. He keeps saying that
you claim mister Hines went on a vacation. Now come,
his car is still here.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
Some friends gonna pick him up and take him to
the training, That's what he's saying.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Then he walk out of the door.
Speaker 7 (10:15):
You're gonna believe that, ranger. How about that forty bucks
in his wallet?
Speaker 8 (10:18):
Yeah, where'd you get that?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
If you take mister hines wallet?
Speaker 8 (10:21):
No, No, I didn't took it.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Are you sure you didn't throw his wallet out in
the field with the rest of money in it so
you could go out and pick it up later.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
No, no, I didn't take knocking.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Where'd you get the forty dollars?
Speaker 8 (10:32):
Mister Hines give it to me. He gave me pay
for two weeks.
Speaker 7 (10:35):
Rest wouldn't have done that. He'd give it to me
to pay his hands off at the end of each week.
I know because they've done it before.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
He did give it to me. He did, I said, Sheriff,
Let's take mister Gaynor and this fellow down to your
office and get their statements in writing.
Speaker 7 (10:47):
Good night, he of jaj Come on, Mendoza, you're taking
me to jail. You sure are?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
You take Mendos in your car, Sheriff. I'll follow along
with mister Gaynor. Okay, Ja over here Mendoza and Sheriff
better tell you that. But he's not to let anyone
on the ground. Yeah, this business take long, Ranger, No,
not too long. Here's my car, get in not did
I mind the court?
Speaker 7 (11:13):
Hey, God, do one thing.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
He's that guy gets what he deserves.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
My stock's gotta be fed and rushes too. I'm gonna
be in tanneled. The ain't gotta make ranges for it.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I'll see you get back as soon as possible. Excuse
me unittend to ktx A unit. Tend to KTXA kd
x A go ahead. This unit requests lab crew be
dispatched immediately the Hines Farmhouse on farm Road three O six,
seventeen miles north of Leenopol. Ten fourth will really your
(11:42):
message to love the ten ten for no other traffic
unit ten clear, no other traffic kdxes. Well, you need
a lab crew four when you got the guy and
I'll probably find a lot of things we missed. More
evidence we get the better. I saw something over there
in the brush. Looked like a man.
Speaker 7 (12:04):
Man.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Yeah, it was like somebody got up out of the
brush and fell back again. To saw him for a second.
How far off was he right around here? I think
there he is behind that mesquite.
Speaker 8 (12:19):
Rushly.
Speaker 7 (12:22):
Look at the blood on his head.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Must have been left for dead. We better get him
to a hospital than fast.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
In just a moment, we will continue with Tales of
the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Chase Pearson.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
At this time of the year, we spend a lot
of time out of doors, hiking and camping and on
picnic trips in the woods in the mountains, that means
more danger of forest fires. This summer, thousands of acres
of valuable timberland will be destroyed because of carelessness. And
in these days of defense emergency, our natural resources are more.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Vital than ever.
Speaker 8 (13:12):
It's up to you to be sure that you do.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Not cause the tragedy, the shameful waste brought about by
a forest fire. Just follow a few simple rules. Crush
out cigarettes, cigar and pipe ashes, break matches in two
after using them, drawn all campfires, then stir and drawn
them again. Find out the law before using any kind
of fire. Forest Fires destroy timber, wildlife and the water supply.
(13:35):
They destroy the natural resources on which our nation depends.
So don't be careless for a moment when you're in
the mountains or woodlands. Forest Fires are our most shameful waste.
So remember only you can prevent forest fires. Now Act
two of Tails of the Texas.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Rangers continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and
our authentic story cover up.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Russell Hines had been beaten severely about the head and
remained unconscious all the way into town. We got him
to the local hospital where he underwent emergency treatment. I
phoned the sheriff to come over. Two hours later, mister
Hines was conscious and able to talk to us. Sheriff
Lee Gaynor and I walked down the corridor toward his room.
Speaker 7 (14:31):
I'd sure like you know what that makes you can
hit him with?
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Doc says there was something around like a piece of pipe, and.
Speaker 7 (14:36):
I get my hands on. Men dozed. It'll take more than.
Speaker 8 (14:38):
Thirty fours did you to sew up his head?
Speaker 3 (14:41):
You better wait out here, mister Gaynor.
Speaker 7 (14:42):
Yeah, but I want to see not to serve mister
Hines anymore, and we have to all right, go on, Sheriff,
mister Hines, we'd like to ask.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
You some questions.
Speaker 7 (14:59):
Yes, and feel better now?
Speaker 8 (15:01):
Yeah, that's better.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Can you tell us what happened?
Speaker 8 (15:06):
I don't think I can tell you very much.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Anything at all will help.
Speaker 8 (15:10):
Well. I I woke up and heard somebody over by
the dresser. All I could see was a flashlight turning
on me.
Speaker 9 (15:18):
You couldn't see who it was, No, sir, it was
too dark. Decided to don't see very good without my glasses.
I guess he he saw I was awake.
Speaker 8 (15:28):
He came toward me, and wow, I got hit over
the head.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
That's all I remember you know a fella by the
name of Carlos Mendoza. Who Mendoza, No, sir, never heard him. Well,
he claims you hired him to take care of your place.
That's a lot of blownie.
Speaker 8 (15:45):
I don't have a hired man, had one, but he
had to leave last Tuesday.
Speaker 7 (15:50):
Who was he?
Speaker 8 (15:51):
Fella by the name of Phillips, Howard Phillips.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
You think he could have done it, well, I don't.
Speaker 8 (15:58):
See how he used to.
Speaker 9 (16:00):
You're anxious to get off to work in the county
rodeo over the fourth of July.
Speaker 8 (16:05):
He certainly wouldn't be coming back here.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
The kind of a man was he?
Speaker 8 (16:09):
He was pretty good, seemed all right. He kept me
break a horse?
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Was he with you along?
Speaker 8 (16:15):
No, just a couple of days.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
And you don't know anything about this fellow Mendoza.
Speaker 8 (16:19):
Mesa, he says he works for me. He's crazy.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Well, thanks a lot.
Speaker 7 (16:25):
Better.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Let you get some rest now. We talked to you
tomorrow later on, okay.
Speaker 7 (16:33):
And it looks like this Mendoza boy, he's gonna have
to come up with a better story. I mean, since
Hines says he never heard of him, Mendoza must have
been the one who attacked him. Could be well this
rush know anything about these guy men Dooza. No, huh,
I told you. I told you that loudsy cotton figures
just lying to save his own skin. Sure looks that way.
Everything's pointing to him.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Yeah, but just because mister Hines doesn't know him, it
doesn't prove Mendoza attacked him.
Speaker 7 (16:57):
What do you mean, Jays, but something miss.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Hines said that hit me kind of funny, Sheriff, mister Gayner,
didn't you tell us it was after eight when you
walked in on Mendoza? Well, yeah, what's that prove? Mister
Hines says he was wakened by a flashlight in his eyes.
This time of year, it's daylight by five point thirty
in the morning.
Speaker 7 (17:15):
What are you driving at, Jason? Well?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Look, if Mendoza did attack mister Hines and drag him
out into the brush, why would he come back to
the house and still be there three or four hours later?
Speaker 7 (17:24):
Maybe he got scared and come back to wipe up
the blood.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
It was mister Hines's blood. I wouldn't put the finger
on Mendoza. Why wouldn't he just keep going? I don't know, Jason,
I may be wrong. But mendoza story just don't sound logical.
Maybe not. Okay, mister Gaynor will take you down at
the Sheriff's office and get your statement. Okay, mister Gaynor,
(17:47):
your friend tells us he had a hired hand by
the name of Howard Phillips working for him a few
days ago. Yeah, that's right. You know what this Phillips
looks like.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
Oh yeah, tall and skinny, black, curly hair, the beard,
big beard. No, no, he's shaved, but his beard kind
of dark. You know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Go on, get in, mister Kinner. You think he could
have known about mister Hines caring so much money, Well.
Speaker 7 (18:11):
I imagine he could have it.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Rushed think it was him, and he didn't seem to
think so.
Speaker 7 (18:16):
And I don't either. And I know for a fact
he took off of the county road. He had Harley
on Tuesday, Rush drove him down to the busy pull himself.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
You haven't seen him around since Noshi, and that's probably Mendoza.
After we got Lee Gainner's statement, we had a deputy
drive him home who wanted to keep him and Carlos
Mendoza as far apart as possible. As soon as he
(18:43):
had left. The sheriff brought Mendoza down from the lock
up so we could question him again. In here, Mendoza,
take this chair by the desk. Mendoza, we found mister Hines.
Well you find him, yeah, And he says he didn't
(19:03):
hire you.
Speaker 7 (19:04):
Then he don't tell the true He says he never
heard of you, Mendoz.
Speaker 8 (19:08):
Then he lies.
Speaker 7 (19:09):
He said to me take care of the farm for
two weeks.
Speaker 8 (19:12):
He even pay me rag.
Speaker 7 (19:13):
He lies.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Why would he want to lie?
Speaker 8 (19:15):
I don't know what he hire me. I tell you
he take me there.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
He showed me what to do.
Speaker 8 (19:20):
And I do it.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
And he told you not to let anyone in.
Speaker 8 (19:22):
See.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Had you ever seen mister Hines before?
Speaker 8 (19:26):
No, saneor never?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Doesn't it seem kind of funny that he'd ask you,
a total stranger, to stay in his house and tell
you to keep everyone else out.
Speaker 8 (19:34):
But he needs somebody.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
He said that he'd go on vacation, and you saw
him leave, then you're lying. He can't go anywhere without
these glasses never left on the dresser, eh Glaser. But
Senor Hines don't wear glasser.
Speaker 7 (19:48):
That mister Hines we know does.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Wait a minute, if mister Hines doesn't wear glasses. Just
what does he look like, Senor Hines?
Speaker 5 (19:57):
Yeah, well U big man, about as big as you,
but the kind of boney Hey he got black hair.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Chase, he looked like he needed to shave.
Speaker 7 (20:08):
Sees you sure.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Why you ask me?
Speaker 7 (20:13):
That sounds like Howard Phillips Chase.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
It sure does. Maybe when he thought he'd killed Hines,
he put Mendoza nout to take the.
Speaker 8 (20:20):
Wrap moderated Josh.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
And it was not I don't think it was Carlos.
Speaker 7 (20:26):
Then Phillips probably never did go to that rodeo.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
He might have and come back last night to steal
the money. He could have gone back to the rodeo
this morning and used it as an alibi. Let's go
to that rodeo and find out. We released Mendoza with
the understanding that he stayed around town to identify Phillips
(20:49):
in Casey was our man. The County Rodeo was being
held at Harley, Texas. We got there too late for
the afternoon performance. Sheriff and I questioned a couple of
hands who suggested we look up a man named Jay L. Major.
He rendered stock to the rodeos all over the state
and was supposed to know everyone in the business. They
described him as the biggest man with the biggest voice,
(21:10):
and the biggest cigar in all Texas. Said we could
find him in town at the hotel.
Speaker 7 (21:16):
There it is, Jay, other side of the street.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Uh huh, let's cross here. I hope this man Major
can give us a lead. Some description we got at
this guy Major should make him easy to spot. Go ahead, Jay, Thanks,
looks like.
Speaker 7 (21:32):
The rodeo house taking over the whole lobby.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Yeah, I think I see Major where sitting on that
leather couch talking to those men.
Speaker 7 (21:41):
Oh yeah, it must be him. Pretty good description at that.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
Yeah, fourteen men working all day to build the Holy Man.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Pardon me, are you mister Major?
Speaker 6 (21:54):
Yeah? Sure I am.
Speaker 7 (21:56):
What can I do? Boy?
Speaker 3 (21:57):
I'm Ranger Pierson. This is Sheriff Buckley, and we talked
to you privately.
Speaker 6 (22:01):
Why sure, boys, I see you later. Got a good
story about a holy dancer. I want to send you
about right where did you want to talk?
Speaker 7 (22:12):
Let's go over by the stairs. All right, eh?
Speaker 3 (22:16):
They tell us you know most of the rodeo people
in Texas.
Speaker 6 (22:19):
Mister Nachu, A lot most of them right there, All
of them been renting stock to rodeos over twenty eight years.
One of you boys got a match.
Speaker 7 (22:31):
I got some here. You're sure, yeah yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Looking for somebody, Yeah, man named Howard Phillips, Philip Philip Phi,
Sure he's rodeo man supposed to be working this one
over the holidays.
Speaker 7 (22:57):
What's he look like? Tall?
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Lanky, usually looks like you need to shave, curly, black hair. Phillips.
Speaker 6 (23:05):
What's his lie? Bulls, Cam, Milkin, bron We don't know.
I can't think of any performers named Phillips. Got another
man here? You are much brides, but she die tall
lank You fellas say that's right, recollect you know Wiley
(23:26):
Phillips got killed by Bramer.
Speaker 7 (23:29):
Couldn't be him?
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Deceive Howard Phillips, black hair, Yeah, curly?
Speaker 8 (23:36):
Maybe Missus Major knows him.
Speaker 6 (23:38):
Dolly Dolly come over here, and then Missus Major is
one of the best trick riders in the business.
Speaker 7 (23:46):
She'd know anybody. I don't know.
Speaker 6 (23:49):
Pretty soon dollar, honey. Whereas don't want you to meet
some friends of mine, Ranger.
Speaker 8 (23:54):
Pearson and Shares uh Buckley's.
Speaker 7 (23:58):
Glad to meet your man.
Speaker 6 (24:00):
These fellas looking for a big, lanky man curly hair.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
What coach you said was black. His name is Hard Phillips, ma'am,
Howard Feller, Yes, ma'am. His face is dark like he
needs to shave.
Speaker 5 (24:13):
Oh sure you know him, honey, I do slim fellows,
slim fella, This fellaw works the shoots.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
Sure that's him. Nobody calls him Howard though, Why sure,
tall fella, curly haad. Of course I knew, I knew him,
know everybody in the business.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
You know where he is. Now?
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Nobody gonna be at the rodeo grounds for the evening performance.
We head and now and a half.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Y'all want to come along, I'll point him out to you.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Thanks, ma'am. We'd appreciate that. We're kind of anxious to
meet him. The sheriff and I went out for the
rodeo grounds with mister and Missus Major. Slim Phillips hadn't
arrived yet. We stationed a few of the local police
outside the grounds and took up positions in the arena
by the shoots. Phillips was due to word. Missus Major
(25:01):
had gone. I had to get her horse and was
warming it up for the evening performance.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
Look at that woman ride. Bet you never saw a
nothing like that before, reindeer, and.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Your wife sure knows how to handle a horse.
Speaker 6 (25:14):
And I watched it, and your girl dollar perfect Russian drag,
wasn't it? Sure was a beautiful palomino she's got He
had picked it out of herself.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Awful, good doll, mighty nice, ma'am.
Speaker 7 (25:35):
Wow, thank you ranger. Oh, by the way, just all
slim told him you want to say him? You did?
Speaker 3 (25:39):
What when?
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Just now?
Speaker 3 (25:40):
I yelled to him over by the corral.
Speaker 6 (25:42):
Come on, Sheriff, what's the matther reindeer.
Speaker 7 (25:46):
She's long on talent but short on memory.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Down that way, sheriff.
Speaker 7 (25:50):
Yeah, you see him?
Speaker 3 (25:52):
No here, that must be him running through the crowd.
Speaker 7 (25:56):
Philip, stop, wait you go.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
You don't know pen somewhere, Sheriff. You circle around through
the crowd, work this way through the pins. Maybe we
can fush him out where you be, Jason. I'll stop
from the runway and work towards you.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
Okay, what's yourself?
Speaker 5 (26:09):
No?
Speaker 7 (26:09):
Jay, get up up?
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Hi, Philip all right way on?
Speaker 7 (26:24):
Okay, hope.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
You ain't gonna take me, no.
Speaker 7 (26:33):
I said, ho, I've had enough. Don't hit me again.
Don't hit me. Get out?
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Okay, yeah, Sheriff, Now, hold out your hands, Phillips.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
Dreamers are getting a little bit edgy, Jays. We better
get him out of this pen.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Yeah, so he can walk right into another.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Come on, in just a moment, we will tell you
the results of the case you.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Have just heard.
Speaker 8 (27:17):
Today.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
There's a continuing lineup of great radio shows on this
NBC station with a variety of entertainment features. Later this afternoon,
Best Plays will present The Philadelphia Story, Philip Barry's highly
successful comedy of Manners. Starring in the Philadelphia Story on
Best Plays will be Betty Furness, Joan Alexander, and Myron McCormick.
Speaker 7 (27:38):
In the music department.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
This afternoon, you're invited to keep tune for a full
hour concert from world famed Hollywood Bowl. Today's concert will
feature Dorothy Warren, Showal Jan Pierce.
Speaker 7 (27:48):
And Igor Goren.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Another highly entertaining program today on NBC will be broadcast
from Meredith Wilson's music Room. Meredith will have lovely Esther
Williams as his special guest. I'm sure you'll enjoy hearing
them talk about music, swimming, and anything else that happens
to pop up in the course of their informal conversation.
So for the finalist in radio entertainment, be sure to
(28:11):
keep tuned to the NBC Radio Network and all the
conclusion of Tales of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
And now here are the results of the case you
have just heard.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
Howard Phillips was positively identified by Carlos Mendoza as the
man who had hired him and impersonated Russell Hines. On
September ninth, nineteen forty six, he was found guilty of
burglary an assault with intent to commit murder. Phillips was
sentenced to fifteen years in the State Penitentiary at Huntsville.
Speaker 7 (29:01):
Next week.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
Of vacation in the file Dove That the Rangers.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Joel McCrae is currently seen in San Francisco's Story, a
Warner Brothers release. In the cast, you heard Tony Barrett
as Carlos Mendoza.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
The role of Mister.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
Major was portrayed by Paul Frees, and Dolly Major was
Betty lou Gerson. The part of Lee Gaynor was played
by Lamont Johnson. Leo' curley with the Sheriff, and Luke
Ruthman was heard as slim Phillips technical adviser was Captain M. T.
Lonewolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed
(30:09):
and adapted by Betty Mears, and the program was produced
and directed by State
Heralds of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae as Ranger
Jase Person. Another authentic reenactment of a case transcribed from
the files of the Texas Rangers. Names, dates, and places
(00:43):
in the following story are fictitious for obvious reasons. The
events themselves are a matter of records.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Daytime radio listening is a big part of missus America's
way of.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Life, and on NBC, daytime radio is a big.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Part of our overall schedule of top listening entertainment. Tune
here tomorrow and each day Monday through Friday for such
smile provoking programs as Double or Nothing with your genial
quiz Master Walter O'Keeffe, Strike at Rich, the Program of
the Heart presided over by Warren Hall, and Welcome Travelers,
bringing Tommy Bartlett's interesting interviews with travelers in the Windy City.
(01:21):
Radio also gets his ears boxed every day when Bob
and Ray satirized the industry which made them famous. Later,
Dave Gaaway strolls through a pleasant quarter hour of enjoyable
radio listening and invite you to join him for the proceedings. Yes,
All through the day, NBC presents America's most popular radio
programs comedy, drama, music and information. So if you suffer
(01:43):
from the housework blues, let us brighten your day with
the entertainment available on this station of the NBC Radio Network.
Join us tomorrow morning, won't you? And now Today's tales
of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
And now from the files of the Texas Rangers, the
case called Cover Up.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
It is eight o'clock on the morning of Thursday, July fourth,
nineteen forty six, seventeen miles north of Lunap of Texas.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Farmer Lee Gayer crosses the cornfields to the farm of
Ruffel Hines, his neighbor.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
And closes friends.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
When he reaches his friend's house, Gaina goes up on
the front porch, opens the door and walks in.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Right, where are you?
Speaker 6 (02:38):
Right?
Speaker 7 (02:38):
You back there in the bedroom? Who are you? What
are you doing here? You get out of here. Please?
Speaker 3 (02:45):
You can't come in?
Speaker 7 (02:46):
What do you mean? I can't come in? Who are you?
What are you doing with that pail of water? I
don't clean up the floor? Now you go.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
You can't stands so fast, mister Hines, He's gone, he said.
Don't let nobody in the house of did you go out.
Speaker 7 (03:00):
And I'm not going anywhere? Not? I get this straight. Now,
where'd he go?
Speaker 8 (03:05):
I don't know, sanyo.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
He said that he'd go on vacation.
Speaker 8 (03:08):
That's what he said.
Speaker 7 (03:09):
Well, his car's outside. He couldn't go nowhere without his car.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
But he did. He go for four weeks.
Speaker 7 (03:14):
I don't believe it. Mister Hines, my best friend. He
wouldn't go up like that by telling me what he did.
You're lying? Who are you? What you're doing?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Here?
Speaker 8 (03:22):
Are you working?
Speaker 7 (03:23):
Don't I never saw you before?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Sanyo? Hinds it? He hired me this morning before he leaves.
Speaker 7 (03:29):
He laughed, Eh, I come his watching glasses and all
the rest of his stuff.
Speaker 8 (03:35):
He's still on the dresser.
Speaker 7 (03:38):
Hey, where's his water? I don't know. I didn't. I
think you did. I don't see what you got. Wait
a manue, what's that on the floor where that's where
I'm pointing? This looks like blood? Oh see that is
sin on the bed too? What did you do with
Where is it? You tell me? I beat it out here? Please?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
And he having noose blease. He tells me to clean
up the blood. That's a lion.
Speaker 7 (04:01):
You tell me what you did with mister Hines. You
tell me quicker at you?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
I see nothing letting me go.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
I said, kill me, I seed.
Speaker 9 (04:08):
You off for the.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
You're not just me not come back?
Speaker 7 (04:14):
Give you?
Speaker 6 (04:16):
I get you.
Speaker 7 (04:17):
You love's a killer.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
Lee Gainer chased the stranger across the fields and into
a wooded area. When the man ducked into the woods,
Gainer lost sight.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Of him and was unable to pick up his trail.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
He then returned to his friend's house and called Sheriff
Art Buckley, who in turn requested aid from the Texas Rangers.
Ranger Jas Pearson was a sign and arrived at the
farmhouse shortly after the sheriff.
Speaker 7 (04:46):
There's a blood on the floor, Ranger, and he's trying
to clean it up with that bucket of water, and
there on.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
The bed, blood splatted all over his billar you say
this fellow told you mister Hines, I don't knowse bleed.
Speaker 7 (04:57):
Yeah, but I don't believe that Rus never had an
news bleeding his life. And now I've known him since
we was kids.
Speaker 8 (05:03):
I'd take you that Mexican killed him.
Speaker 7 (05:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
If anything's missing, yeah, Rush's wallet.
Speaker 7 (05:09):
Take a look at this rushing. Everything else is here,
except that is his calm and his glasses. I know
Rush better and I know my own brother, and I
tell you wouldn't go anywhere without his spects and make
sure it look bad all right? Yeah, you know how
much money your friend was carrying in that wallet? Not
just about Rush drew three hundred bucks out of the
bank on Tuesday morning. It's fixing to buy a gungee
(05:29):
from Dave Morgan. Is that your friend's car parks out
in front? Yeah, he sure wouldn't be going any place
without that.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Why don't we trying to pick up that Mexican's trail
and I'd still.
Speaker 7 (05:38):
Be out in the wood and he was heading into
the hills when I lost you mind, Jane might be
afraid to come out.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yeah, did you look around to see if you could
find mister Hines and the barn any place like that?
Speaker 7 (05:48):
Oh no, No, I didn't stayed in the house waiting
for you to come. Now, Just where did you chase
that fellow into the woods over there? And any other
farms over that way? Not on each side of the hills.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
It's a good gency's still out there. I'll get my
horse from the trailer and see if I can pick
up his track in the meantime, Sheriff, why don't you
look around near the house?
Speaker 7 (06:07):
Sure think jays, come see you later. Now go along, Rangel.
I know that hill country pretty good.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
All right, Maybe you can identify that Mexican if we
catch up to him.
Speaker 7 (06:17):
Got an awful big head shot on us.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Yeah, but if he's still on foot, he won't get far.
I took charcoal out of the trailer while Gayner got
one of the horses from the corral, so save time.
He didn't saddle up, but rode bareback. We went to
the spot in the woods where Gayner dlst sight of
the man short distance away. I picked up his tracks.
(06:40):
They were fairly easy to follow, and for twenty minutes
we covered a good deal of ground, and near the
hills the trail petered.
Speaker 7 (06:46):
Out better, spread out a little more.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Hey, wait a minute, ool charger. Yeah here they are. Yeah,
oh what turned here?
Speaker 8 (07:06):
Track?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Swing over that way where I don't see him. Look
right along there, See how that brush is trampled.
Speaker 7 (07:12):
Oh yeah, sure, got better ice for tracking than I have.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Eat up, churky, what's down this way?
Speaker 7 (07:19):
The road swings around in the loop.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
It's like he was heading for it. Come on, get
up for somebody's given him a lift. Maybe we can
catch up to him.
Speaker 7 (07:28):
There's the road over there, angel, and you can see
if you do that breaking the brush.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, And there's someone walking along that shoulder right now.
That's him.
Speaker 8 (07:37):
He's what up? Church, he's what?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Hold out there?
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Sir?
Speaker 8 (07:41):
Hey, you.
Speaker 6 (07:44):
Stop right there, stop hold up my wool wool Church?
Speaker 1 (07:50):
This is him?
Speaker 7 (07:51):
All right?
Speaker 3 (07:54):
You bouse it, skunk? What do you want from me?
Speaker 7 (07:56):
And tell you all right?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Stand sell Priskin? Why you these what you're looking for?
Just checking to see if you're carrying any weapon?
Speaker 7 (08:04):
Are you the one working back there in that farmhouse?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
No, no, don't lie to me. I didn't do nothing.
What's your name?
Speaker 8 (08:10):
Suttle those mendoza?
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Let's see your wallet here? We're forty dollars in here.
Where's the rest of us?
Speaker 8 (08:17):
That's all I got?
Speaker 7 (08:18):
Why did you kill him?
Speaker 3 (08:19):
I didn't?
Speaker 7 (08:20):
Where's mister Hines? What'd you do with him?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I didn't do nothing.
Speaker 7 (08:22):
He hired me. He go on to cash and like
I thought him, why I meant him around? Make him telling?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
You're not gonna tight him?
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Why are you gonna let killing run?
Speaker 4 (08:31):
I'm gonna see justin we'll see.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Justice down on the cart. Not the way you want
to do it, all right, Mendoza, Let's get back to
the house. We took Carlos Mendoza back to the farmhouse,
where we joined the sheriff. His deputies had arrived and
we're searching the area for Russell Hines. Mendoza continued to
deny that he had killed or robbed anyone.
Speaker 8 (08:54):
But you got to believe me.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I wouldn't kill nobody. What were you doing here?
Speaker 5 (08:58):
I told you, and you'll hind she give me a
job to clean up the place and stay.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Here while he goes away this morning? What time? Oh
about doing you live around here?
Speaker 8 (09:09):
No? No, I was coming through with my family. I
got a trailer about ten miles down the road. That's
where mister Hines picked me up. He asked me if
I want a job while he got.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Away on vacation.
Speaker 7 (09:20):
Rush wouldn't have gone away with that, telling me I
know we.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Are all right, Gainner, just keep out of this with you.
Where were you coming from? And those eagle pass and
where were you going to wake?
Speaker 8 (09:30):
I got a coussin up there. He'll write me that
he got a job for us in the cotton field.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
You say, mister Hines hired you. He bring you over
here in his car.
Speaker 8 (09:37):
See he bring me in his car and show me
what to do. Feed the chickens and the stock, and clean.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Up the blood and the floor. That blood didn't get
there when you killed Hines.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
No cheering, No no, he said that he got a
nose bleed and I am to clean it up.
Speaker 7 (09:51):
You were just working here. Why were you trying so
hard to keep mister Gain around of the house so
he couldn't see what you were doing. No, no, sand
your hind call me to he said, don't let nobody in.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
The house while I'm going nobody. He keeps saying that
you claim mister Hines went on a vacation. Now come,
his car is still here.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
Some friends gonna pick him up and take him to
the training, That's what he's saying.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Then he walk out of the door.
Speaker 7 (10:15):
You're gonna believe that, ranger. How about that forty bucks
in his wallet?
Speaker 8 (10:18):
Yeah, where'd you get that?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
If you take mister hines wallet?
Speaker 8 (10:21):
No, No, I didn't took it.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Are you sure you didn't throw his wallet out in
the field with the rest of money in it so
you could go out and pick it up later.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
No, no, I didn't take knocking.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Where'd you get the forty dollars?
Speaker 8 (10:32):
Mister Hines give it to me. He gave me pay
for two weeks.
Speaker 7 (10:35):
Rest wouldn't have done that. He'd give it to me
to pay his hands off at the end of each week.
I know because they've done it before.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
He did give it to me. He did, I said, Sheriff,
Let's take mister Gaynor and this fellow down to your
office and get their statements in writing.
Speaker 7 (10:47):
Good night, he of jaj Come on, Mendoza, you're taking
me to jail. You sure are?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
You take Mendos in your car, Sheriff. I'll follow along
with mister Gaynor. Okay, Ja over here Mendoza and Sheriff
better tell you that. But he's not to let anyone
on the ground. Yeah, this business take long, Ranger, No,
not too long. Here's my car, get in not did
I mind the court?
Speaker 7 (11:13):
Hey, God, do one thing.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
He's that guy gets what he deserves.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
My stock's gotta be fed and rushes too. I'm gonna
be in tanneled. The ain't gotta make ranges for it.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I'll see you get back as soon as possible. Excuse
me unittend to ktx A unit. Tend to KTXA kd
x A go ahead. This unit requests lab crew be
dispatched immediately the Hines Farmhouse on farm Road three O six,
seventeen miles north of Leenopol. Ten fourth will really your
(11:42):
message to love the ten ten for no other traffic
unit ten clear, no other traffic kdxes. Well, you need
a lab crew four when you got the guy and
I'll probably find a lot of things we missed. More
evidence we get the better. I saw something over there
in the brush. Looked like a man.
Speaker 7 (12:04):
Man.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Yeah, it was like somebody got up out of the
brush and fell back again. To saw him for a second.
How far off was he right around here? I think
there he is behind that mesquite.
Speaker 8 (12:19):
Rushly.
Speaker 7 (12:22):
Look at the blood on his head.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Must have been left for dead. We better get him
to a hospital than fast.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
In just a moment, we will continue with Tales of
the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Chase Pearson.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
At this time of the year, we spend a lot
of time out of doors, hiking and camping and on
picnic trips in the woods in the mountains, that means
more danger of forest fires. This summer, thousands of acres
of valuable timberland will be destroyed because of carelessness. And
in these days of defense emergency, our natural resources are more.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Vital than ever.
Speaker 8 (13:12):
It's up to you to be sure that you do.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Not cause the tragedy, the shameful waste brought about by
a forest fire. Just follow a few simple rules. Crush
out cigarettes, cigar and pipe ashes, break matches in two
after using them, drawn all campfires, then stir and drawn
them again. Find out the law before using any kind
of fire. Forest Fires destroy timber, wildlife and the water supply.
(13:35):
They destroy the natural resources on which our nation depends.
So don't be careless for a moment when you're in
the mountains or woodlands. Forest Fires are our most shameful waste.
So remember only you can prevent forest fires. Now Act
two of Tails of the Texas.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Rangers continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and
our authentic story cover up.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Russell Hines had been beaten severely about the head and
remained unconscious all the way into town. We got him
to the local hospital where he underwent emergency treatment. I
phoned the sheriff to come over. Two hours later, mister
Hines was conscious and able to talk to us. Sheriff
Lee Gaynor and I walked down the corridor toward his room.
Speaker 7 (14:31):
I'd sure like you know what that makes you can
hit him with?
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Doc says there was something around like a piece of pipe, and.
Speaker 7 (14:36):
I get my hands on. Men dozed. It'll take more than.
Speaker 8 (14:38):
Thirty fours did you to sew up his head?
Speaker 3 (14:41):
You better wait out here, mister Gaynor.
Speaker 7 (14:42):
Yeah, but I want to see not to serve mister
Hines anymore, and we have to all right, go on, Sheriff,
mister Hines, we'd like to ask.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
You some questions.
Speaker 7 (14:59):
Yes, and feel better now?
Speaker 8 (15:01):
Yeah, that's better.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Can you tell us what happened?
Speaker 8 (15:06):
I don't think I can tell you very much.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Anything at all will help.
Speaker 8 (15:10):
Well. I I woke up and heard somebody over by
the dresser. All I could see was a flashlight turning
on me.
Speaker 9 (15:18):
You couldn't see who it was, No, sir, it was
too dark. Decided to don't see very good without my glasses.
I guess he he saw I was awake.
Speaker 8 (15:28):
He came toward me, and wow, I got hit over
the head.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
That's all I remember you know a fella by the
name of Carlos Mendoza. Who Mendoza, No, sir, never heard him. Well,
he claims you hired him to take care of your place.
That's a lot of blownie.
Speaker 8 (15:45):
I don't have a hired man, had one, but he
had to leave last Tuesday.
Speaker 7 (15:50):
Who was he?
Speaker 8 (15:51):
Fella by the name of Phillips, Howard Phillips.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
You think he could have done it, well, I don't.
Speaker 8 (15:58):
See how he used to.
Speaker 9 (16:00):
You're anxious to get off to work in the county
rodeo over the fourth of July.
Speaker 8 (16:05):
He certainly wouldn't be coming back here.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
The kind of a man was he?
Speaker 8 (16:09):
He was pretty good, seemed all right. He kept me
break a horse?
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Was he with you along?
Speaker 8 (16:15):
No, just a couple of days.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
And you don't know anything about this fellow Mendoza.
Speaker 8 (16:19):
Mesa, he says he works for me. He's crazy.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Well, thanks a lot.
Speaker 7 (16:25):
Better.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Let you get some rest now. We talked to you
tomorrow later on, okay.
Speaker 7 (16:33):
And it looks like this Mendoza boy, he's gonna have
to come up with a better story. I mean, since
Hines says he never heard of him, Mendoza must have
been the one who attacked him. Could be well this
rush know anything about these guy men Dooza. No, huh,
I told you. I told you that loudsy cotton figures
just lying to save his own skin. Sure looks that way.
Everything's pointing to him.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Yeah, but just because mister Hines doesn't know him, it
doesn't prove Mendoza attacked him.
Speaker 7 (16:57):
What do you mean, Jays, but something miss.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Hines said that hit me kind of funny, Sheriff, mister Gayner,
didn't you tell us it was after eight when you
walked in on Mendoza? Well, yeah, what's that prove? Mister
Hines says he was wakened by a flashlight in his eyes.
This time of year, it's daylight by five point thirty
in the morning.
Speaker 7 (17:15):
What are you driving at, Jason? Well?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Look, if Mendoza did attack mister Hines and drag him
out into the brush, why would he come back to
the house and still be there three or four hours later?
Speaker 7 (17:24):
Maybe he got scared and come back to wipe up
the blood.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
It was mister Hines's blood. I wouldn't put the finger
on Mendoza. Why wouldn't he just keep going? I don't know, Jason,
I may be wrong. But mendoza story just don't sound logical.
Maybe not. Okay, mister Gaynor will take you down at
the Sheriff's office and get your statement. Okay, mister Gaynor,
(17:47):
your friend tells us he had a hired hand by
the name of Howard Phillips working for him a few
days ago. Yeah, that's right. You know what this Phillips
looks like.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
Oh yeah, tall and skinny, black, curly hair, the beard,
big beard. No, no, he's shaved, but his beard kind
of dark. You know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Go on, get in, mister Kinner. You think he could
have known about mister Hines caring so much money, Well.
Speaker 7 (18:11):
I imagine he could have it.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Rushed think it was him, and he didn't seem to
think so.
Speaker 7 (18:16):
And I don't either. And I know for a fact
he took off of the county road. He had Harley
on Tuesday, Rush drove him down to the busy pull himself.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
You haven't seen him around since Noshi, and that's probably Mendoza.
After we got Lee Gainner's statement, we had a deputy
drive him home who wanted to keep him and Carlos
Mendoza as far apart as possible. As soon as he
(18:43):
had left. The sheriff brought Mendoza down from the lock
up so we could question him again. In here, Mendoza,
take this chair by the desk. Mendoza, we found mister Hines.
Well you find him, yeah, And he says he didn't
(19:03):
hire you.
Speaker 7 (19:04):
Then he don't tell the true He says he never
heard of you, Mendoz.
Speaker 8 (19:08):
Then he lies.
Speaker 7 (19:09):
He said to me take care of the farm for
two weeks.
Speaker 8 (19:12):
He even pay me rag.
Speaker 7 (19:13):
He lies.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Why would he want to lie?
Speaker 8 (19:15):
I don't know what he hire me. I tell you
he take me there.
Speaker 7 (19:19):
He showed me what to do.
Speaker 8 (19:20):
And I do it.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
And he told you not to let anyone in.
Speaker 8 (19:22):
See.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Had you ever seen mister Hines before?
Speaker 8 (19:26):
No, saneor never?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Doesn't it seem kind of funny that he'd ask you,
a total stranger, to stay in his house and tell
you to keep everyone else out.
Speaker 8 (19:34):
But he needs somebody.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
He said that he'd go on vacation, and you saw
him leave, then you're lying. He can't go anywhere without
these glasses never left on the dresser, eh Glaser. But
Senor Hines don't wear glasser.
Speaker 7 (19:48):
That mister Hines we know does.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Wait a minute, if mister Hines doesn't wear glasses. Just
what does he look like, Senor Hines?
Speaker 5 (19:57):
Yeah, well U big man, about as big as you,
but the kind of boney Hey he got black hair.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Chase, he looked like he needed to shave.
Speaker 7 (20:08):
Sees you sure.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Why you ask me?
Speaker 7 (20:13):
That sounds like Howard Phillips Chase.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
It sure does. Maybe when he thought he'd killed Hines,
he put Mendoza nout to take the.
Speaker 8 (20:20):
Wrap moderated Josh.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
And it was not I don't think it was Carlos.
Speaker 7 (20:26):
Then Phillips probably never did go to that rodeo.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
He might have and come back last night to steal
the money. He could have gone back to the rodeo
this morning and used it as an alibi. Let's go
to that rodeo and find out. We released Mendoza with
the understanding that he stayed around town to identify Phillips
(20:49):
in Casey was our man. The County Rodeo was being
held at Harley, Texas. We got there too late for
the afternoon performance. Sheriff and I questioned a couple of
hands who suggested we look up a man named Jay L. Major.
He rendered stock to the rodeos all over the state
and was supposed to know everyone in the business. They
described him as the biggest man with the biggest voice,
(21:10):
and the biggest cigar in all Texas. Said we could
find him in town at the hotel.
Speaker 7 (21:16):
There it is, Jay, other side of the street.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Uh huh, let's cross here. I hope this man Major
can give us a lead. Some description we got at
this guy Major should make him easy to spot. Go ahead, Jay, Thanks,
looks like.
Speaker 7 (21:32):
The rodeo house taking over the whole lobby.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Yeah, I think I see Major where sitting on that
leather couch talking to those men.
Speaker 7 (21:41):
Oh yeah, it must be him. Pretty good description at that.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
Yeah, fourteen men working all day to build the Holy Man.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Pardon me, are you mister Major?
Speaker 6 (21:54):
Yeah? Sure I am.
Speaker 7 (21:56):
What can I do? Boy?
Speaker 3 (21:57):
I'm Ranger Pierson. This is Sheriff Buckley, and we talked
to you privately.
Speaker 6 (22:01):
Why sure, boys, I see you later. Got a good
story about a holy dancer. I want to send you
about right where did you want to talk?
Speaker 7 (22:12):
Let's go over by the stairs. All right, eh?
Speaker 3 (22:16):
They tell us you know most of the rodeo people
in Texas.
Speaker 6 (22:19):
Mister Nachu, A lot most of them right there, All
of them been renting stock to rodeos over twenty eight years.
One of you boys got a match.
Speaker 7 (22:31):
I got some here. You're sure, yeah yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Looking for somebody, Yeah, man named Howard Phillips, Philip Philip Phi,
Sure he's rodeo man supposed to be working this one
over the holidays.
Speaker 7 (22:57):
What's he look like? Tall?
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Lanky, usually looks like you need to shave, curly, black hair. Phillips.
Speaker 6 (23:05):
What's his lie? Bulls, Cam, Milkin, bron We don't know.
I can't think of any performers named Phillips. Got another
man here? You are much brides, but she die tall
lank You fellas say that's right, recollect you know Wiley
(23:26):
Phillips got killed by Bramer.
Speaker 7 (23:29):
Couldn't be him?
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Deceive Howard Phillips, black hair, Yeah, curly?
Speaker 8 (23:36):
Maybe Missus Major knows him.
Speaker 6 (23:38):
Dolly Dolly come over here, and then Missus Major is
one of the best trick riders in the business.
Speaker 7 (23:46):
She'd know anybody. I don't know.
Speaker 6 (23:49):
Pretty soon dollar, honey. Whereas don't want you to meet
some friends of mine, Ranger.
Speaker 8 (23:54):
Pearson and Shares uh Buckley's.
Speaker 7 (23:58):
Glad to meet your man.
Speaker 6 (24:00):
These fellas looking for a big, lanky man curly hair.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
What coach you said was black. His name is Hard Phillips, ma'am,
Howard Feller, Yes, ma'am. His face is dark like he
needs to shave.
Speaker 5 (24:13):
Oh sure you know him, honey, I do slim fellows,
slim fella, This fellaw works the shoots.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
Sure that's him. Nobody calls him Howard though, Why sure,
tall fella, curly haad. Of course I knew, I knew him,
know everybody in the business.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
You know where he is. Now?
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Nobody gonna be at the rodeo grounds for the evening performance.
We head and now and a half.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Y'all want to come along, I'll point him out to you.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Thanks, ma'am. We'd appreciate that. We're kind of anxious to
meet him. The sheriff and I went out for the
rodeo grounds with mister and Missus Major. Slim Phillips hadn't
arrived yet. We stationed a few of the local police
outside the grounds and took up positions in the arena
by the shoots. Phillips was due to word. Missus Major
(25:01):
had gone. I had to get her horse and was
warming it up for the evening performance.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
Look at that woman ride. Bet you never saw a
nothing like that before, reindeer, and.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Your wife sure knows how to handle a horse.
Speaker 6 (25:14):
And I watched it, and your girl dollar perfect Russian drag,
wasn't it? Sure was a beautiful palomino she's got He
had picked it out of herself.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Awful, good doll, mighty nice, ma'am.
Speaker 7 (25:35):
Wow, thank you ranger. Oh, by the way, just all
slim told him you want to say him? You did?
Speaker 3 (25:39):
What when?
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Just now?
Speaker 3 (25:40):
I yelled to him over by the corral.
Speaker 6 (25:42):
Come on, Sheriff, what's the matther reindeer.
Speaker 7 (25:46):
She's long on talent but short on memory.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Down that way, sheriff.
Speaker 7 (25:50):
Yeah, you see him?
Speaker 3 (25:52):
No here, that must be him running through the crowd.
Speaker 7 (25:56):
Philip, stop, wait you go.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
You don't know pen somewhere, Sheriff. You circle around through
the crowd, work this way through the pins. Maybe we
can fush him out where you be, Jason. I'll stop
from the runway and work towards you.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
Okay, what's yourself?
Speaker 5 (26:09):
No?
Speaker 7 (26:09):
Jay, get up up?
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Hi, Philip all right way on?
Speaker 7 (26:24):
Okay, hope.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
You ain't gonna take me, no.
Speaker 7 (26:33):
I said, ho, I've had enough. Don't hit me again.
Don't hit me. Get out?
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Okay, yeah, Sheriff, Now, hold out your hands, Phillips.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
Dreamers are getting a little bit edgy, Jays. We better
get him out of this pen.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Yeah, so he can walk right into another.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Come on, in just a moment, we will tell you
the results of the case you.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Have just heard.
Speaker 8 (27:17):
Today.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
There's a continuing lineup of great radio shows on this
NBC station with a variety of entertainment features. Later this afternoon,
Best Plays will present The Philadelphia Story, Philip Barry's highly
successful comedy of Manners. Starring in the Philadelphia Story on
Best Plays will be Betty Furness, Joan Alexander, and Myron McCormick.
Speaker 7 (27:38):
In the music department.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
This afternoon, you're invited to keep tune for a full
hour concert from world famed Hollywood Bowl. Today's concert will
feature Dorothy Warren, Showal Jan Pierce.
Speaker 7 (27:48):
And Igor Goren.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Another highly entertaining program today on NBC will be broadcast
from Meredith Wilson's music Room. Meredith will have lovely Esther
Williams as his special guest. I'm sure you'll enjoy hearing
them talk about music, swimming, and anything else that happens
to pop up in the course of their informal conversation.
So for the finalist in radio entertainment, be sure to
(28:11):
keep tuned to the NBC Radio Network and all the
conclusion of Tales of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
And now here are the results of the case you
have just heard.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
Howard Phillips was positively identified by Carlos Mendoza as the
man who had hired him and impersonated Russell Hines. On
September ninth, nineteen forty six, he was found guilty of
burglary an assault with intent to commit murder. Phillips was
sentenced to fifteen years in the State Penitentiary at Huntsville.
Speaker 7 (29:01):
Next week.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
Of vacation in the file Dove That the Rangers.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Joel McCrae is currently seen in San Francisco's Story, a
Warner Brothers release. In the cast, you heard Tony Barrett
as Carlos Mendoza.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
The role of Mister.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
Major was portrayed by Paul Frees, and Dolly Major was
Betty lou Gerson. The part of Lee Gaynor was played
by Lamont Johnson. Leo' curley with the Sheriff, and Luke
Ruthman was heard as slim Phillips technical adviser was Captain M. T.
Lonewolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed
(30:09):
and adapted by Betty Mears, and the program was produced
and directed by State
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