July 20, 2025 • 29 mins
Chronicles the cases of a law enforcement officer in the American West, blending traditional Western themes with modern investigative techniques. The stories are based on real cases.
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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 Jace 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
(00:55):
Texas Rangers come these stories based on fact only, names, dates,
and because our fictitious for obvious reasons they advanced themselves
are a matter of record.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Case fort Tonite the Devil Share.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
It is six forty five pm October twenty sixth, nineteen
thirty nine. Frank Wellen, a dirt farmer, is sitting down
to a simple evening meal when the door to the
kitchen opens and his brother Jeff Whalen comes in. Ated, Jeff,
I thought you was going to spend a couple of
weeks up at Big D so I changed my mind.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Come back log against it.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Didn't say there was yeah, just fix some need get
you played.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Stop playing big brother. I won't eat.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
I can rust them oon grubb, you can call it
fat back and beans grub.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
What's the matter with you and ith? Jeff? Nothing? Just
leave me alone. You've been acting like this.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
Requite a spell thought, taking a tripp or to you
some good, Jeff?
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Why'd you come back? I met Luther Riggs up in
Big d He told me you and mark Jan was
fixing to get married.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Ah, so that's it. Why didn't you tell me?
Speaker 6 (02:16):
Because of the way you've been acting, I was going
to tell you when you come back.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
He should have had to talk with me, Frank, mar
John used to be my girl. Mama used to be
eight now, Jeff, maybe you should ask me a few
things about mar Jane.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Maybe there's a couple of things you ought to know.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
Anything I want to know about mar Jan, She'll tell
me yourself. Far as your concerning ain't nothing to tell.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
No, you all to learn a little about women, Frank,
you might learn a lot if you didn't spend so
many days looking at the rear rant of a mule,
so many nights poking your nose into that bible.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
Lell If it's hurt.
Speaker 6 (02:55):
Me any, I reckon I find out when judgment comes. Meantime,
I ain't taking your word for it.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Meantime, you ain't bringing mar John here either. Maybe you're
forgetting it. I'm half owner of this point.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
You're never approved by anything you grew here.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
The law says I'm half owner with or thout grown anything.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
You want to bring a wife here, you better buy
my eye. You have my share for two thousand dollars
in good riddings, Jeff, you got yourself a deal.
Speaker 6 (03:22):
I'll give you eight hundred cash in the morning, the.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
Notes for the rest.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
You give them a two thousand cash in the morning.
Speaker 6 (03:27):
I ain't got that kind of money, and you know it.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Who do you think you're kidding? You had a good crap.
You got that much in the bank right now?
Speaker 7 (03:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (03:34):
Yeah, I got it, and almost half of it belongs
show Uncle Joe for working on shares work you wouldn't
raise a hand to do.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I don't care about you are Uncle Joe. Let him weag,
not me.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Jeff, get this and get it straight.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Uncle Joe is going to get everytt nickel that's coming
to him whenever and however he wants it.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
He's worked for it, Okay, Frank, I just guess you
and me and my Joanie.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
I'm gonna live here like one big, happy family.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
Maybe my jan like that more you think you, Jeff,
if you wasn't my brother, I'll get your money for
you somehow. I'll get it and you can clear out.
I wouldn't have my chair around dit like you for
a million dollars.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Oh, she used to be mighty. Find a dirt like me.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
Jeff, shut up, don't say nothing else, Jeff, don't open
your mouth. It's only remembering when we was kids together.
In the memory, I'm on Paul's keeping me from.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Being too bad because I ain't like you. Memories.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Don't bother me, doll You ain't gonna do anything to me, Frank,
and I'm gonna get what I want, and I'm gonna
get it all.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Now, including my dad.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
Jeff, put dead bread knife back on the table.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
I took a knife to you once before, Frank. Paul
stop me that time. Put Paul ain't around anymore me
that nut you. I bet you sure what BA was
here this time. Jeff Whalen waited until next morning before
(05:21):
reporting the death of his brother Frank to the local sheriff.
The sheriff asked for the assistance of a Texas Ranger.
Ranger Jase Pearson was assigned to the case.
Speaker 7 (05:31):
Well, jeez, I went all over the place earlier this
morning when I was called here. Now you've been all
over it. If you see anything I must have missed.
It doesn't seem to be much to see except the body.
I want to talk to the brother now he's still
waiting in the parlor. Yeah, now, I'll see him in
a minute. Look at the table where Frank Whalon was eating.
I was cutting his bread from this whole loaf crumb.
(05:52):
Show that there was a sharp, clean cut this eaton.
That's the only one on the table, though, that's not
sharp enough to slice the red that way. He might
have cut the bread then put the knife away. It's possible,
but it doesn't figure.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Oh no, it doesn't. Fellus. HiT's down to his food.
Speaker 7 (06:08):
He don't put nothing the way until he's through. And
Whalen wasn't through the looks of it. He just started
to eat.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
What you're looking at the drawers for.
Speaker 7 (06:17):
Murder weapon, Maybe something like this bread knife could be.
I guess that knife's clean, Yeah, too clean. Look at
the blade and the handle.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
Well, what about him?
Speaker 7 (06:30):
The other knives in this drawer don't shine like this one.
This one's got special treatment. Hey, I see what you're
driving at. You figured it was rubbed with a scar
and pad to remove blood.
Speaker 5 (06:41):
Maybe hunt and something.
Speaker 7 (06:42):
We'll have to find out, but it's worth a bet
it's been cleaned up too well to help us any though,
And we might as well put it back in the drawer.
It seems like that knife the only thing we got
to go on, Jason, And we're not even sure.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
That I know.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
And we better have a talk with Whalen's brother right now.
Sure Jeff won't be able to help much.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
Why not.
Speaker 7 (07:02):
He just got back from Dallas early this morning, called
me soon as you found the body. Oh, I didn't
know that. I alway might as well see him anyhow.
Marjane gulfs in the parlor with him, Jason.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
Oh, she and.
Speaker 7 (07:12):
Margin and Frank Whalen was fixing to get married. Folks
tried to keep her away when the news got out,
but she came anyhow. It's just as well she might
know something. She's broke up pretty bad. Parlor's here, sliding
door hollow. Yeah, the ranger'd like to talk to you
(07:33):
and mar Jane, now.
Speaker 8 (07:36):
Nice, Frank, I want to see him now.
Speaker 7 (07:39):
I think it'd be better if you didn't, ma'am, for.
Speaker 5 (07:42):
Your own good Margine, this.
Speaker 8 (07:44):
Night only last night I was home. I soon pillowcases.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
No, come on, please, mom, love? Do you have to
talk to him now? I can tell you anything you
want to.
Speaker 7 (07:55):
Know, all right, But I think she'd better come into
the next room then. Okay, ma'am, why don't you just
stretch out on that sofa?
Speaker 5 (08:06):
Unrest? All right?
Speaker 7 (08:09):
Jeff, when did you find your brother's body?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Well, like a total sheriff by five o'clock this morning
when I come home.
Speaker 7 (08:17):
He was killed last night around dinner time. Where were
you then.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
On the road?
Speaker 7 (08:21):
I reckon having up the big d for the last
five six days, and you'd drive back, didn't have nothing
to drive back in?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Our hitch rides come back same way I.
Speaker 7 (08:31):
Went and got here at five am. When did you
leave Dallas?
Speaker 5 (08:35):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Yes, dafternoon, I guess about two o'clock. Why why are
you asking me this? You're supposed to find out who
kept Frank.
Speaker 7 (08:43):
I don't get steaming, Jeff, Rangers got a reason for
asking you didn't touch anything in the house when you
got in ranger.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
First thing I saw was my brother laying down to
catching floor in a hot tail back to the high
one called sheriff, waited right that he come thick?
Speaker 5 (08:57):
Now, okay, you're.
Speaker 7 (09:00):
They've been having trouble with anybody. You know of any
reason why anybody might want to kill him?
Speaker 4 (09:05):
No, nothing I can thank, Oh, sip, go ahead, je
Why just something kind of my mind, Sheriff.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
But couldn't be here. Couldn't be.
Speaker 7 (09:15):
Who come on, Jeff, your brother's laying dead in there.
We got to know every little thing, no matter how small.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Well, all right, it's just far I left. Frank did
have a little argument with Uncle Joe.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Uncle Joe, who's he old sharecropper?
Speaker 5 (09:29):
Been working a good piece of this.
Speaker 7 (09:30):
Farm, per Frank. What was the argument between him and Frank?
Speaker 5 (09:33):
Well?
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Oh oh, Joe claimed that Frank owed him some money
from the crop.
Speaker 7 (09:36):
Frank said it didn't. It's both pretty hot about it.
That doesn't sound like your brother, Frank or Uncle Joe.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
I know it don't.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
It was probably just a misunderstanding it straight. Now, That's
what I told you. Wasn't worth mentioning.
Speaker 7 (09:49):
When it comes to murder, anything is worth mentioning. And
this sounds like it might be plenty important, Sheriff, we
better ask Uncle Joe to would come for his movements
last night. I haven't seen him around, but his granddaughter
Bell might be able to tell us something. He's been
standing around outside the house ever since we got here.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Look, I'd like to go back to Marrow, John.
Speaker 7 (10:07):
She needs somebody with her, all right, go ahead and
tell Belle to come in here, will you?
Speaker 5 (10:11):
All right?
Speaker 3 (10:12):
I sent her right in.
Speaker 7 (10:14):
Oh, just a second, Jeff, Yeah, you must be pretty tired.
You have much trouble catching rides. Last night I.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Got one long ride in a truck.
Speaker 7 (10:25):
You know who owned the truck or anything about the driver?
Speaker 3 (10:28):
No, I didn't talk to the driver much. A slept
most of the time. I think it was out of
state truck.
Speaker 7 (10:35):
Truckers usually don't like sleeping rider beside them on a nighthaul.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Well, this fellow let me sleep on the shelf up
in the back of the cab.
Speaker 7 (10:44):
Oh, I see all right? Send Bell in. Okay, you've
been asking him a lot of funny questions. Yeah, and
he's been giving me a lot of funny answers.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
What do you mean, Jason?
Speaker 7 (11:00):
And stuff about sleeping on the shelf in a truck cab.
He never slept in that suit he's wearing. It's too
well pressed, so he changed clothes when he got home
this morning, he said. He ran to call you the
minute he saw his brother.
Speaker 8 (11:14):
Will see me, mister Angel.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
Yes, Belle, come in, Belle. You and your grandfather, uncle Joe,
You live on this farm.
Speaker 8 (11:24):
Yes, sir, that little house down there near the medd
You can see it, just.
Speaker 7 (11:29):
The two of you, Yes, sir. Where was your grandfather
last night?
Speaker 8 (11:34):
Who was home? Sirck you don't never go no, please?
Speaker 7 (11:37):
Was he home all night? Where was he at dinner time?
Speaker 8 (11:41):
Homes? Honest? Only tell me? Left was for a few
minutes to be He didn't leave the house at all.
No time. He didn't leave the house.
Speaker 7 (11:51):
A look, Bell, You started to say something, then you backed.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
Away from Bell.
Speaker 7 (11:57):
If you want to help us and your grandfather, you
better talk. With all this going on, Why isn't your
grandpa around? Why do you run off?
Speaker 8 (12:05):
He didn't run off. He went to the church to
pray for mister Frank. You love mister Frank.
Speaker 6 (12:11):
You wouldn't never heard it.
Speaker 8 (12:12):
Mister Frank was good to us.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
Where's their church chair? Left? Fork of the road decided town.
Speaker 7 (12:18):
But he probably ran off someplace and find out about
that later. If he isn't at the church, let's go.
Uncle Joe was at his church, all right. We saw
him kneeling in the dim light.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
When we opened the.
Speaker 7 (12:35):
Door, Sheriff beckoned to him, and he came out into
the sunlight. Tears were streaming down his face.
Speaker 9 (12:42):
I was just saying the press, mister Frank, share, I
didn't know you'd been needing me fay thing.
Speaker 5 (12:50):
Where were you at dinner time last night? Uncle Joe?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Why are you asking me that?
Speaker 7 (12:54):
Mister Church, Just answer the question, Uncle Joe.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
You can't be figuring to die kill mister Frank, is you?
We just want to know where you were.
Speaker 9 (13:04):
I never heard mister Frank. He's the best man I
ever knew. Why he's even helping me so as I
could buy my own strip of land and send my
own you, Uncle Joe.
Speaker 7 (13:14):
I want an answer and tell the truth. Bell already
tried to lie for.
Speaker 9 (13:18):
You, begging your pardon, mister Shepherd. Don't nobody never have
to lie for me, sir. The truth ain't never hurt me.
I ain't never hurt the truth, but.
Speaker 7 (13:27):
You'd better tell it just a minute, Sheriff, Uncle Joe,
did you leave your house at supper time yesterday?
Speaker 5 (13:34):
Yes, mister Ranger, I did.
Speaker 9 (13:36):
Where'd you go to mister Frank's house like I did
that the evening to bring him some of Bell's fresh
bread first supper.
Speaker 7 (13:43):
Uncle Joe, I better tell you right now that anything
you say from here on can be used against you,
used against me for what, sir, ain't nothing. I'm ashamed
to tell. How long did you stay there?
Speaker 5 (13:56):
Mister Frank was cooking him some food. I just stayed long.
Speaker 9 (14:00):
I'm enough to leave the bread and to fix up
with him to meet him Friday at the bank.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
So as he could give him the money. What money?
What was mine from working on sheds?
Speaker 7 (14:09):
Are you saying Frank Whalen was holding money of yours?
You had an argument about whether or not he owed
you that money, didn't you?
Speaker 5 (14:15):
Mister Frank? And me ain't never had no arguments, sir.
He was my good friend.
Speaker 7 (14:21):
Hey, Jay, sure comes one of my deputy's Ben Sloman.
I thought he and the other boys were beating around
the farm. You know, they might have found something already
been out of Sheriff, I thought you got wrapping a newspaper.
This what a bloody nice Where'd you get it?
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Reckon?
Speaker 7 (14:39):
Old Uncle Joe here could tell you as well as
I can. We found it in the weeds out behind
his shack on Whaling's farm.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
You are listening to Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel mc pray as Ranger Jase Pearson. We continue now
with tonight's case, The Devil's share an authentic story from
the piles of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 7 (15:15):
Uncle Joe stared at the bloodstained knife the deputy had
found behind his house. The stare was a look of recognition.
You ever seen this knife before, Uncle Joe? Come on,
answer me. You know we've seen it before. Sheriff can
tell just by looking at him.
Speaker 9 (15:29):
How about it, Uncle Joe? Yes, and mister Rangel, yes,
name it's just old Whitland knife. But I never used
that or nothing else on mister Frank, and we'll go.
Speaker 7 (15:40):
You're under arrest for the murder of Frank Whalen.
Speaker 9 (15:43):
Mister Sheriff, I'm telling you here outside of God's.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
Own house, I've never done it.
Speaker 7 (15:49):
I think maybe you better deputize a few more men, Sheriff,
we might need him.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Why what for?
Speaker 7 (15:55):
People around here thought mighty hire Frank Whalen Jace. They
aren't gonna cut into the idea of him getting killed.
But somebody took in a help and.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
You can't blame him for that.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
I can blame anybody for anything that doesn't follow the law.
You're not going to have any problem with Uncle Joe, Sheriff.
I'm going to take him off your hand.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
Now hold on, Jason.
Speaker 7 (16:12):
He's my prisoner, and I'll guarantee his safety. I know
you'd protect him. That isn't why I'm taking him. I'll
give you a receipt for him and bring him back
here later. We are you taking him On the radio
for Unit eighty eight the Ranger plane to pick us
up and fly us to Austin, and you'd better hand
over that knife, Ben that goes with me. I put
(16:36):
through my call to Camp Maybury, Austin, and the Ranger
plane picked us up at the nearest airfield.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Uncle Joe tightened up.
Speaker 7 (16:42):
As we took off, and his lips moved like he
was praying. After that, he relaxed. When you've taken me too, sir,
Ranger Camping Lab at Austin. Uncle Joe, you know what
a lie detector is Austin. Well, that's a kind of
a machine. It's called a polygraph. It can tell whether
a man is lying or telling the truth. Now, whether
(17:04):
or not you take the test is up to you.
We can't force you.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I'm colored.
Speaker 5 (17:09):
Folks would have worked right on me. Yeah, it'll work
all right now, Joe.
Speaker 9 (17:15):
If you say it's all right, mister Ranger, then I
do it. I trust you, sir, us good folks like
mister Frank was. We landed at Camp Maybury.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
I dropped the.
Speaker 7 (17:33):
Bloodstained knife at the lab and then took Temple Joe
upstairs to the polygraph room. He wavered a little when
we seated him in the chair and fixed the bands
to make sure his blood pressure, pulse and respiration.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
Sir, this chip say an electric chair is he? Don't worry.
It won't hurt Temple Joe.
Speaker 7 (17:50):
Ready to go, Jays, Okay, I'll be waiting in the
next office.
Speaker 10 (17:59):
No matter what I ask you, Uncle Joe, I want
you to answer yes or no.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
That's all I understand. Yes is your name, Uncle Joe?
Speaker 5 (18:10):
Yes? Is Bell your granddaughter? Yes? Do you go to church? Yes? Sir.
Speaker 7 (18:26):
I waited in the next office, knowing what was happening.
The technician would go through the list of questions, the simple,
harmless questions that would register truthful reaction on the graph,
and then he'd start to hit the questions that mattered,
the questions about Frank quaelon.
Speaker 10 (18:41):
Yes, did you have an argument with him about money?
Did you use a knife on him?
Speaker 5 (18:48):
No, sir? Did you kill Frank Whalen? No, sir. Was
the knife with the blood on it yours? Yes? Do
you know how the blood got on it?
Speaker 10 (19:00):
No, sir, He is not the truth, So help you God, Yes, sir,
that's all I guess.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
Are you just staying put?
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Uncle Joe, I'll take those things off in a minute.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Yes, we're all finished. Jase, h, I was a reaction.
Looks like he's telling the truth, Jase all the way
down the.
Speaker 7 (19:25):
Line, even about not having an argument with Frank Whalen
over money.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
According to the graph, no argument.
Speaker 7 (19:30):
He wasn't lying, good because that means somebody else was lying.
I'm gonna take him back to just a second day,
Kenny speaking. Yeah, I'll tell him. He'll be right down.
And that was the lab on that knife you brought in,
and they typed the blood. It isn't human blood, Jase,
(19:51):
It's chicken blood.
Speaker 5 (20:01):
Unit eighty eight.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
Flew us back to the airfield where I had left
my car and horse trailer. The sheriff had been notified
that we were turning, and he met us at the
jail with a couple of deputies. At my request, Uncle
Joe agreed to spend the night in the cell for
safe keeping, and I filled the sheriff in on what
I'd found out at Austin Chicking Blood. I don't get it, Jason.
(20:23):
Why didn't Uncle Joe say he'd used that knife to
kill a hen? Because he didn't That knife was planted
where it was found, and whoever planted it didn't expect
the investigation to go any further. Uncle Joe kept the
knife in the shed behind his house. Killer got it
during the night after the murder, stuck a hen.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
With it and tossed it in the weeds.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
Have to be somebody who knew the place pretty well
to find that knife and do the plan.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
It was somebody who knew the place. Frank's brother, Jeff.
Speaker 7 (20:49):
Frank's brother, Jeff, what do you know about him? Have
you ever been in any trouble? Not around here? And
we better check and find out where he stayed in Dallas?
And who saw him while.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
He was there? We don't know for sure he was Oh,
he was there all right?
Speaker 7 (21:01):
How do you know?
Speaker 5 (21:02):
Because Luthor Riggs saw him.
Speaker 7 (21:03):
Luthor just rode back in Dallas this morning. I met
him about an hour ago, and he told me it
seemed Jeff there, awlong was Rigs up in Dallas just overnight?
Speaker 5 (21:11):
Quick business trip? Why?
Speaker 7 (21:13):
And that seemed kind of funny that Jeff hitchhiked back
here in such a hurry when he could have stayed
over until this morning and gotten a sure ride with
somebody he knew.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
Didn't think of that? Where does Riggs live? Farm? Four
mile out?
Speaker 7 (21:25):
Let's drive out there. I want to see him.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
How is here? Come out to give me a hand
with my milk?
Speaker 7 (21:40):
No thanks, Let go that car for a minute. Luther,
want you to meet Ranger Pearson?
Speaker 8 (21:44):
A surety?
Speaker 5 (21:45):
Howdy howdy?
Speaker 7 (21:47):
Sheriff tells me you met Jeff Whaling up in Dallas yesterday.
That's right when I reckon it was just about nine
o'clock here. I'd been driving most to night to get there.
Stopped for red light and there was Jeff just fixing
across the street.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
You talk to him at all.
Speaker 7 (22:02):
Sure, tell him to hop in and I'd take him
wherever he was going. He said he was just drifting around.
So we went and had some breakfast together. Him he'd
tell you he was heading back for home, not right off.
He didn't sounded at first like he was playing to
spend quite a while. And Big D didn't say nothing
about coming home until well until after I told him
(22:24):
that mar Jan's folks had told me that mar Jan
and Frank was getting ready to set the date. Do
you mean he didn't know his brother was going to
get married? Didn't seem to, matter of fact, now that
you mentioned it, he'd right upset when I brought it up.
Maybe it was because of Frank not telling him, or
maybe it was because maybe it was what go ahead.
(22:46):
I think I can answer that one. Jason, mar Jen,
and Jeff used to walk out together about a year ago.
Then mar Jam's da broke off with him, took up
with Frank.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
Later.
Speaker 7 (22:55):
I tried ranger, but Jeff never looked like it bothered
him none. The way a man looks doesn't have anything
to do with what goes on inside of him. Thanks
for your help, Riggs, Come.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
On, Shriff, the.
Speaker 7 (23:07):
Yeah, looks like you dug up a motive wish. Yeah,
if we need evidence to go with it. Jeff left
Dallas a lot earlier than he told us. He did
not much chance of digging up anybody who gave him
a lift, I guess, and I'd say no chance at all.
Something else we can look for, though, what's that? Remember
my saying that his clothes didn't look like he'd slept
in him or driven a long way in him. Yeah,
(23:29):
I did. The only reason either change clothes would be
because the things he'd been wearing might have gotten blood on.
I'm not saying you're wrong, Javes, but we combed that house.
There wasn't nothing there. No, they'll be on the farm someplace.
Speaker 8 (23:42):
What make you think so?
Speaker 7 (23:44):
Jeff couldn't risk being seen around any place last night.
Any movie we'd make would have to be on foot.
He had no other way, So it's a good bet
he stuck close by the farm until he called you
this morning. I got my horse in the trailer to
pick up one for you and take another look around, Jays.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
We been out here half the night.
Speaker 7 (24:10):
I don't think we're gonna find anything. Maybe not come
on back to my place.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
And let's hit the sect. Then we wake up. We
can start out fresh.
Speaker 7 (24:18):
And I want to wait too long. We come here
by daylight, Jeff, we'll see us looking well.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
I'm beat.
Speaker 7 (24:24):
Can't we just go into the trees you're we yonder
and rest a while? Yeah, I guess so se dawn
in about two hours. We can move faster than with
a little light. Good, Come on and go over to
the trees.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
We'll all take a breathing.
Speaker 7 (24:36):
Come on, charky. We moved into the trees, dismounted and
hobbled the horses. The sheriff dozed off quickly, and then
I began to nod, and an hour later I came
out of it. There was a bright glow across the fields,
beyond some cornstalks, and it wasn't the morning sun. To
(25:00):
put my hand over the Sheriff's mouth and shook him shot.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
Look over there, it looks like a fire. Yeah, just
beyond the corner. Come on, quick and quiet. What do
you think it is?
Speaker 7 (25:14):
Jeff Whalen burning those clothes we've been looking for. Ran
for the cornfield, and when we got into it, the
light rustle of the morning wind and the stalks covered
our approach, came to the edge of the field and
saw him, Jeff Whalen, dumping kerosene in a pile of
smoldering cloth.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Loja, those boys that hole.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
And old well covered over.
Speaker 7 (25:39):
He dumped the pose in there last night, and now
he's come back to burn him. He must have been
some water oil. They're smoothing. They won't burn right, and
he will if he keeps a corn kerosene on him
long enough.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
Let's get him.
Speaker 7 (25:52):
Oh, Jeff, that's enough drop that can drop it, I said,
for sure, Sure, I'll drop it what. He threw the
can onto the fire, and a sheet of flame leaped
up between us like a blinding flare. I dove across it,
trying to clear my eyes. Look out, case, she's.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
Got a knight was on him before I saw him.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
I played flash.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
I dug for my gun, but I couldn't bring it
up in time. The knife slashed into my shoulder and
went to the ground. He landed on top of me,
but as he raised his hand to strike, I got
my gun free with my left hand and slapped the
barrel against the side of his head.
Speaker 7 (26:27):
You all right, case, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
I guess my shirt will need a little stitching your shoulder.
Speaker 7 (26:33):
You need a little stitchen too.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Couldn't risk a.
Speaker 7 (26:36):
Shot, you were too close. Come on, gotta stamp that
fire up before all the evidence is burned. Well, that's
doing a kerosene on the ground burning. I kicked what
we need out of the fire. Plenty left for your lap.
Speaker 5 (26:46):
You work on, good thinking, sheriff coming to Jason.
Speaker 7 (26:51):
Yeah, all right, Jeff, come out of it. Come on, what.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
Did jump me for?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
I was only burning some old fun.
Speaker 7 (27:01):
Yeah, we know the old things you happened to be
wearing when you killed your brother. You were right about
that thread knife, Jason. Look here's what he used on you.
You got nervous about that too, didn't you. Jeff decided
to get rid of everything and let old uncle Joe
ride for you.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Oh look, you're crazy.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 7 (27:17):
Yeah, and talk kind of a foreign language. But maybe
the grand jury you'll understand me when they invite you
from murdering your brother.
Speaker 5 (27:26):
Come on, get on your feet. Move.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Jeff Wellen was tried and convicted for the brutal knife
murder of his brother Frank on August second, nineteen forty
at Huntsville, penitentiary.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
He died in the electric chair.
Speaker 7 (28:03):
This is Joel McCrae wishing you all a very very
happy New Year. Good night, folks, See you next week.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Next week, Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment of a
case from the files of the Texas Rangers. Joel McCrae
is currently seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor production
Saddle Trend. The night's cast included Tony Barrett, Tom McKee,
Parley Bear, Peggy Weber, Roy Glenn Wilms, Herbert and Rye Billsberry.
(28:38):
This story was transcribed and adapted by Joel Murcott, and
the program was produced and directed by Stacy Keach Hal Gibney.
Speaker 11 (28:45):
Speaking NBC whiches, use season of the t a briving
(29:07):
not tomorrow man, Happy New Year.
Speaker 6 (29:13):
Stay tuned for the sixty four dollars question tomorrow Remember
the Cotton Bowl Game on NBC's
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 Jace 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
(00:55):
Texas Rangers come these stories based on fact only, names, dates,
and because our fictitious for obvious reasons they advanced themselves
are a matter of record.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Case fort Tonite the Devil Share.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
It is six forty five pm October twenty sixth, nineteen
thirty nine. Frank Wellen, a dirt farmer, is sitting down
to a simple evening meal when the door to the
kitchen opens and his brother Jeff Whalen comes in. Ated, Jeff,
I thought you was going to spend a couple of
weeks up at Big D so I changed my mind.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Come back log against it.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Didn't say there was yeah, just fix some need get
you played.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Stop playing big brother. I won't eat.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
I can rust them oon grubb, you can call it
fat back and beans grub.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
What's the matter with you and ith? Jeff? Nothing? Just
leave me alone. You've been acting like this.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
Requite a spell thought, taking a tripp or to you
some good, Jeff?
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Why'd you come back? I met Luther Riggs up in
Big d He told me you and mark Jan was
fixing to get married.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Ah, so that's it. Why didn't you tell me?
Speaker 6 (02:16):
Because of the way you've been acting, I was going
to tell you when you come back.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
He should have had to talk with me, Frank, mar
John used to be my girl. Mama used to be
eight now, Jeff, maybe you should ask me a few
things about mar Jane.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Maybe there's a couple of things you ought to know.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
Anything I want to know about mar Jan, She'll tell
me yourself. Far as your concerning ain't nothing to tell.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
No, you all to learn a little about women, Frank,
you might learn a lot if you didn't spend so
many days looking at the rear rant of a mule,
so many nights poking your nose into that bible.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
Lell If it's hurt.
Speaker 6 (02:55):
Me any, I reckon I find out when judgment comes. Meantime,
I ain't taking your word for it.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Meantime, you ain't bringing mar John here either. Maybe you're
forgetting it. I'm half owner of this point.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
You're never approved by anything you grew here.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
The law says I'm half owner with or thout grown anything.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
You want to bring a wife here, you better buy
my eye. You have my share for two thousand dollars
in good riddings, Jeff, you got yourself a deal.
Speaker 6 (03:22):
I'll give you eight hundred cash in the morning, the.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
Notes for the rest.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
You give them a two thousand cash in the morning.
Speaker 6 (03:27):
I ain't got that kind of money, and you know it.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Who do you think you're kidding? You had a good crap.
You got that much in the bank right now?
Speaker 7 (03:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (03:34):
Yeah, I got it, and almost half of it belongs
show Uncle Joe for working on shares work you wouldn't
raise a hand to do.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I don't care about you are Uncle Joe. Let him weag,
not me.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Jeff, get this and get it straight.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Uncle Joe is going to get everytt nickel that's coming
to him whenever and however he wants it.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
He's worked for it, Okay, Frank, I just guess you
and me and my Joanie.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
I'm gonna live here like one big, happy family.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
Maybe my jan like that more you think you, Jeff,
if you wasn't my brother, I'll get your money for
you somehow. I'll get it and you can clear out.
I wouldn't have my chair around dit like you for
a million dollars.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Oh, she used to be mighty. Find a dirt like me.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
Jeff, shut up, don't say nothing else, Jeff, don't open
your mouth. It's only remembering when we was kids together.
In the memory, I'm on Paul's keeping me from.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Being too bad because I ain't like you. Memories.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Don't bother me, doll You ain't gonna do anything to me, Frank,
and I'm gonna get what I want, and I'm gonna
get it all.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Now, including my dad.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
Jeff, put dead bread knife back on the table.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
I took a knife to you once before, Frank. Paul
stop me that time. Put Paul ain't around anymore me
that nut you. I bet you sure what BA was
here this time. Jeff Whalen waited until next morning before
(05:21):
reporting the death of his brother Frank to the local sheriff.
The sheriff asked for the assistance of a Texas Ranger.
Ranger Jase Pearson was assigned to the case.
Speaker 7 (05:31):
Well, jeez, I went all over the place earlier this
morning when I was called here. Now you've been all
over it. If you see anything I must have missed.
It doesn't seem to be much to see except the body.
I want to talk to the brother now he's still
waiting in the parlor. Yeah, now, I'll see him in
a minute. Look at the table where Frank Whalon was eating.
I was cutting his bread from this whole loaf crumb.
(05:52):
Show that there was a sharp, clean cut this eaton.
That's the only one on the table, though, that's not
sharp enough to slice the red that way. He might
have cut the bread then put the knife away. It's possible,
but it doesn't figure.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Oh no, it doesn't. Fellus. HiT's down to his food.
Speaker 7 (06:08):
He don't put nothing the way until he's through. And
Whalen wasn't through the looks of it. He just started
to eat.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
What you're looking at the drawers for.
Speaker 7 (06:17):
Murder weapon, Maybe something like this bread knife could be.
I guess that knife's clean, Yeah, too clean. Look at
the blade and the handle.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
Well, what about him?
Speaker 7 (06:30):
The other knives in this drawer don't shine like this one.
This one's got special treatment. Hey, I see what you're
driving at. You figured it was rubbed with a scar
and pad to remove blood.
Speaker 5 (06:41):
Maybe hunt and something.
Speaker 7 (06:42):
We'll have to find out, but it's worth a bet
it's been cleaned up too well to help us any though,
And we might as well put it back in the drawer.
It seems like that knife the only thing we got
to go on, Jason, And we're not even sure.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
That I know.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
And we better have a talk with Whalen's brother right now.
Sure Jeff won't be able to help much.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
Why not.
Speaker 7 (07:02):
He just got back from Dallas early this morning, called
me soon as you found the body. Oh, I didn't
know that. I alway might as well see him anyhow.
Marjane gulfs in the parlor with him, Jason.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
Oh, she and.
Speaker 7 (07:12):
Margin and Frank Whalen was fixing to get married. Folks
tried to keep her away when the news got out,
but she came anyhow. It's just as well she might
know something. She's broke up pretty bad. Parlor's here, sliding
door hollow. Yeah, the ranger'd like to talk to you
(07:33):
and mar Jane, now.
Speaker 8 (07:36):
Nice, Frank, I want to see him now.
Speaker 7 (07:39):
I think it'd be better if you didn't, ma'am, for.
Speaker 5 (07:42):
Your own good Margine, this.
Speaker 8 (07:44):
Night only last night I was home. I soon pillowcases.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
No, come on, please, mom, love? Do you have to
talk to him now? I can tell you anything you
want to.
Speaker 7 (07:55):
Know, all right, But I think she'd better come into
the next room then. Okay, ma'am, why don't you just
stretch out on that sofa?
Speaker 5 (08:06):
Unrest? All right?
Speaker 7 (08:09):
Jeff, when did you find your brother's body?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Well, like a total sheriff by five o'clock this morning
when I come home.
Speaker 7 (08:17):
He was killed last night around dinner time. Where were
you then.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
On the road?
Speaker 7 (08:21):
I reckon having up the big d for the last
five six days, and you'd drive back, didn't have nothing
to drive back in?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Our hitch rides come back same way I.
Speaker 7 (08:31):
Went and got here at five am. When did you
leave Dallas?
Speaker 5 (08:35):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Yes, dafternoon, I guess about two o'clock. Why why are
you asking me this? You're supposed to find out who
kept Frank.
Speaker 7 (08:43):
I don't get steaming, Jeff, Rangers got a reason for
asking you didn't touch anything in the house when you
got in ranger.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
First thing I saw was my brother laying down to
catching floor in a hot tail back to the high
one called sheriff, waited right that he come thick?
Speaker 5 (08:57):
Now, okay, you're.
Speaker 7 (09:00):
They've been having trouble with anybody. You know of any
reason why anybody might want to kill him?
Speaker 4 (09:05):
No, nothing I can thank, Oh, sip, go ahead, je
Why just something kind of my mind, Sheriff.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
But couldn't be here. Couldn't be.
Speaker 7 (09:15):
Who come on, Jeff, your brother's laying dead in there.
We got to know every little thing, no matter how small.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Well, all right, it's just far I left. Frank did
have a little argument with Uncle Joe.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Uncle Joe, who's he old sharecropper?
Speaker 5 (09:29):
Been working a good piece of this.
Speaker 7 (09:30):
Farm, per Frank. What was the argument between him and Frank?
Speaker 5 (09:33):
Well?
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Oh oh, Joe claimed that Frank owed him some money
from the crop.
Speaker 7 (09:36):
Frank said it didn't. It's both pretty hot about it.
That doesn't sound like your brother, Frank or Uncle Joe.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
I know it don't.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
It was probably just a misunderstanding it straight. Now, That's
what I told you. Wasn't worth mentioning.
Speaker 7 (09:49):
When it comes to murder, anything is worth mentioning. And
this sounds like it might be plenty important, Sheriff, we
better ask Uncle Joe to would come for his movements
last night. I haven't seen him around, but his granddaughter
Bell might be able to tell us something. He's been
standing around outside the house ever since we got here.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Look, I'd like to go back to Marrow, John.
Speaker 7 (10:07):
She needs somebody with her, all right, go ahead and
tell Belle to come in here, will you?
Speaker 5 (10:11):
All right?
Speaker 3 (10:12):
I sent her right in.
Speaker 7 (10:14):
Oh, just a second, Jeff, Yeah, you must be pretty tired.
You have much trouble catching rides. Last night I.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Got one long ride in a truck.
Speaker 7 (10:25):
You know who owned the truck or anything about the driver?
Speaker 3 (10:28):
No, I didn't talk to the driver much. A slept
most of the time. I think it was out of
state truck.
Speaker 7 (10:35):
Truckers usually don't like sleeping rider beside them on a nighthaul.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Well, this fellow let me sleep on the shelf up
in the back of the cab.
Speaker 7 (10:44):
Oh, I see all right? Send Bell in. Okay, you've
been asking him a lot of funny questions. Yeah, and
he's been giving me a lot of funny answers.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
What do you mean, Jason?
Speaker 7 (11:00):
And stuff about sleeping on the shelf in a truck cab.
He never slept in that suit he's wearing. It's too
well pressed, so he changed clothes when he got home
this morning, he said. He ran to call you the
minute he saw his brother.
Speaker 8 (11:14):
Will see me, mister Angel.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
Yes, Belle, come in, Belle. You and your grandfather, uncle Joe,
You live on this farm.
Speaker 8 (11:24):
Yes, sir, that little house down there near the medd
You can see it, just.
Speaker 7 (11:29):
The two of you, Yes, sir. Where was your grandfather
last night?
Speaker 8 (11:34):
Who was home? Sirck you don't never go no, please?
Speaker 7 (11:37):
Was he home all night? Where was he at dinner time?
Speaker 8 (11:41):
Homes? Honest? Only tell me? Left was for a few
minutes to be He didn't leave the house at all.
No time. He didn't leave the house.
Speaker 7 (11:51):
A look, Bell, You started to say something, then you backed.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
Away from Bell.
Speaker 7 (11:57):
If you want to help us and your grandfather, you
better talk. With all this going on, Why isn't your
grandpa around? Why do you run off?
Speaker 8 (12:05):
He didn't run off. He went to the church to
pray for mister Frank. You love mister Frank.
Speaker 6 (12:11):
You wouldn't never heard it.
Speaker 8 (12:12):
Mister Frank was good to us.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
Where's their church chair? Left? Fork of the road decided town.
Speaker 7 (12:18):
But he probably ran off someplace and find out about
that later. If he isn't at the church, let's go.
Uncle Joe was at his church, all right. We saw
him kneeling in the dim light.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
When we opened the.
Speaker 7 (12:35):
Door, Sheriff beckoned to him, and he came out into
the sunlight. Tears were streaming down his face.
Speaker 9 (12:42):
I was just saying the press, mister Frank, share, I
didn't know you'd been needing me fay thing.
Speaker 5 (12:50):
Where were you at dinner time last night? Uncle Joe?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Why are you asking me that?
Speaker 7 (12:54):
Mister Church, Just answer the question, Uncle Joe.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
You can't be figuring to die kill mister Frank, is you?
We just want to know where you were.
Speaker 9 (13:04):
I never heard mister Frank. He's the best man I
ever knew. Why he's even helping me so as I
could buy my own strip of land and send my
own you, Uncle Joe.
Speaker 7 (13:14):
I want an answer and tell the truth. Bell already
tried to lie for.
Speaker 9 (13:18):
You, begging your pardon, mister Shepherd. Don't nobody never have
to lie for me, sir. The truth ain't never hurt me.
I ain't never hurt the truth, but.
Speaker 7 (13:27):
You'd better tell it just a minute, Sheriff, Uncle Joe,
did you leave your house at supper time yesterday?
Speaker 5 (13:34):
Yes, mister Ranger, I did.
Speaker 9 (13:36):
Where'd you go to mister Frank's house like I did
that the evening to bring him some of Bell's fresh
bread first supper.
Speaker 7 (13:43):
Uncle Joe, I better tell you right now that anything
you say from here on can be used against you,
used against me for what, sir, ain't nothing. I'm ashamed
to tell. How long did you stay there?
Speaker 5 (13:56):
Mister Frank was cooking him some food. I just stayed long.
Speaker 9 (14:00):
I'm enough to leave the bread and to fix up
with him to meet him Friday at the bank.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
So as he could give him the money. What money?
What was mine from working on sheds?
Speaker 7 (14:09):
Are you saying Frank Whalen was holding money of yours?
You had an argument about whether or not he owed
you that money, didn't you?
Speaker 5 (14:15):
Mister Frank? And me ain't never had no arguments, sir.
He was my good friend.
Speaker 7 (14:21):
Hey, Jay, sure comes one of my deputy's Ben Sloman.
I thought he and the other boys were beating around
the farm. You know, they might have found something already
been out of Sheriff, I thought you got wrapping a newspaper.
This what a bloody nice Where'd you get it?
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Reckon?
Speaker 7 (14:39):
Old Uncle Joe here could tell you as well as
I can. We found it in the weeds out behind
his shack on Whaling's farm.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
You are listening to Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring
Joel mc pray as Ranger Jase Pearson. We continue now
with tonight's case, The Devil's share an authentic story from
the piles of the Texas Rangers.
Speaker 7 (15:15):
Uncle Joe stared at the bloodstained knife the deputy had
found behind his house. The stare was a look of recognition.
You ever seen this knife before, Uncle Joe? Come on,
answer me. You know we've seen it before. Sheriff can
tell just by looking at him.
Speaker 9 (15:29):
How about it, Uncle Joe? Yes, and mister Rangel, yes,
name it's just old Whitland knife. But I never used
that or nothing else on mister Frank, and we'll go.
Speaker 7 (15:40):
You're under arrest for the murder of Frank Whalen.
Speaker 9 (15:43):
Mister Sheriff, I'm telling you here outside of God's.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
Own house, I've never done it.
Speaker 7 (15:49):
I think maybe you better deputize a few more men, Sheriff,
we might need him.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Why what for?
Speaker 7 (15:55):
People around here thought mighty hire Frank Whalen Jace. They
aren't gonna cut into the idea of him getting killed.
But somebody took in a help and.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
You can't blame him for that.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
I can blame anybody for anything that doesn't follow the law.
You're not going to have any problem with Uncle Joe, Sheriff.
I'm going to take him off your hand.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
Now hold on, Jason.
Speaker 7 (16:12):
He's my prisoner, and I'll guarantee his safety. I know
you'd protect him. That isn't why I'm taking him. I'll
give you a receipt for him and bring him back
here later. We are you taking him On the radio
for Unit eighty eight the Ranger plane to pick us
up and fly us to Austin, and you'd better hand
over that knife, Ben that goes with me. I put
(16:36):
through my call to Camp Maybury, Austin, and the Ranger
plane picked us up at the nearest airfield.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Uncle Joe tightened up.
Speaker 7 (16:42):
As we took off, and his lips moved like he
was praying. After that, he relaxed. When you've taken me too, sir,
Ranger Camping Lab at Austin. Uncle Joe, you know what
a lie detector is Austin. Well, that's a kind of
a machine. It's called a polygraph. It can tell whether
a man is lying or telling the truth. Now, whether
(17:04):
or not you take the test is up to you.
We can't force you.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I'm colored.
Speaker 5 (17:09):
Folks would have worked right on me. Yeah, it'll work
all right now, Joe.
Speaker 9 (17:15):
If you say it's all right, mister Ranger, then I
do it. I trust you, sir, us good folks like
mister Frank was. We landed at Camp Maybury.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
I dropped the.
Speaker 7 (17:33):
Bloodstained knife at the lab and then took Temple Joe
upstairs to the polygraph room. He wavered a little when
we seated him in the chair and fixed the bands
to make sure his blood pressure, pulse and respiration.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
Sir, this chip say an electric chair is he? Don't worry.
It won't hurt Temple Joe.
Speaker 7 (17:50):
Ready to go, Jays, Okay, I'll be waiting in the
next office.
Speaker 10 (17:59):
No matter what I ask you, Uncle Joe, I want
you to answer yes or no.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
That's all I understand. Yes is your name, Uncle Joe?
Speaker 5 (18:10):
Yes? Is Bell your granddaughter? Yes? Do you go to church? Yes? Sir.
Speaker 7 (18:26):
I waited in the next office, knowing what was happening.
The technician would go through the list of questions, the simple,
harmless questions that would register truthful reaction on the graph,
and then he'd start to hit the questions that mattered,
the questions about Frank quaelon.
Speaker 10 (18:41):
Yes, did you have an argument with him about money?
Did you use a knife on him?
Speaker 5 (18:48):
No, sir? Did you kill Frank Whalen? No, sir. Was
the knife with the blood on it yours? Yes? Do
you know how the blood got on it?
Speaker 10 (19:00):
No, sir, He is not the truth, So help you God, Yes, sir,
that's all I guess.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
Are you just staying put?
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Uncle Joe, I'll take those things off in a minute.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Yes, we're all finished. Jase, h, I was a reaction.
Looks like he's telling the truth, Jase all the way
down the.
Speaker 7 (19:25):
Line, even about not having an argument with Frank Whalen
over money.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
According to the graph, no argument.
Speaker 7 (19:30):
He wasn't lying, good because that means somebody else was lying.
I'm gonna take him back to just a second day,
Kenny speaking. Yeah, I'll tell him. He'll be right down.
And that was the lab on that knife you brought in,
and they typed the blood. It isn't human blood, Jase,
(19:51):
It's chicken blood.
Speaker 5 (20:01):
Unit eighty eight.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
Flew us back to the airfield where I had left
my car and horse trailer. The sheriff had been notified
that we were turning, and he met us at the
jail with a couple of deputies. At my request, Uncle
Joe agreed to spend the night in the cell for
safe keeping, and I filled the sheriff in on what
I'd found out at Austin Chicking Blood. I don't get it, Jason.
(20:23):
Why didn't Uncle Joe say he'd used that knife to
kill a hen? Because he didn't That knife was planted
where it was found, and whoever planted it didn't expect
the investigation to go any further. Uncle Joe kept the
knife in the shed behind his house. Killer got it
during the night after the murder, stuck a hen.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
With it and tossed it in the weeds.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
Have to be somebody who knew the place pretty well
to find that knife and do the plan.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
It was somebody who knew the place. Frank's brother, Jeff.
Speaker 7 (20:49):
Frank's brother, Jeff, what do you know about him? Have
you ever been in any trouble? Not around here? And
we better check and find out where he stayed in Dallas?
And who saw him while.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
He was there? We don't know for sure he was Oh,
he was there all right?
Speaker 7 (21:01):
How do you know?
Speaker 5 (21:02):
Because Luthor Riggs saw him.
Speaker 7 (21:03):
Luthor just rode back in Dallas this morning. I met
him about an hour ago, and he told me it
seemed Jeff there, awlong was Rigs up in Dallas just overnight?
Speaker 5 (21:11):
Quick business trip? Why?
Speaker 7 (21:13):
And that seemed kind of funny that Jeff hitchhiked back
here in such a hurry when he could have stayed
over until this morning and gotten a sure ride with
somebody he knew.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
Didn't think of that? Where does Riggs live? Farm? Four
mile out?
Speaker 7 (21:25):
Let's drive out there. I want to see him.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
How is here? Come out to give me a hand
with my milk?
Speaker 7 (21:40):
No thanks, Let go that car for a minute. Luther,
want you to meet Ranger Pearson?
Speaker 8 (21:44):
A surety?
Speaker 5 (21:45):
Howdy howdy?
Speaker 7 (21:47):
Sheriff tells me you met Jeff Whaling up in Dallas yesterday.
That's right when I reckon it was just about nine
o'clock here. I'd been driving most to night to get there.
Stopped for red light and there was Jeff just fixing
across the street.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
You talk to him at all.
Speaker 7 (22:02):
Sure, tell him to hop in and I'd take him
wherever he was going. He said he was just drifting around.
So we went and had some breakfast together. Him he'd
tell you he was heading back for home, not right off.
He didn't sounded at first like he was playing to
spend quite a while. And Big D didn't say nothing
about coming home until well until after I told him
(22:24):
that mar Jan's folks had told me that mar Jan
and Frank was getting ready to set the date. Do
you mean he didn't know his brother was going to
get married? Didn't seem to, matter of fact, now that
you mentioned it, he'd right upset when I brought it up.
Maybe it was because of Frank not telling him, or
maybe it was because maybe it was what go ahead.
(22:46):
I think I can answer that one. Jason, mar Jen,
and Jeff used to walk out together about a year ago.
Then mar Jam's da broke off with him, took up
with Frank.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
Later.
Speaker 7 (22:55):
I tried ranger, but Jeff never looked like it bothered
him none. The way a man looks doesn't have anything
to do with what goes on inside of him. Thanks
for your help, Riggs, Come.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
On, Shriff, the.
Speaker 7 (23:07):
Yeah, looks like you dug up a motive wish. Yeah,
if we need evidence to go with it. Jeff left
Dallas a lot earlier than he told us. He did
not much chance of digging up anybody who gave him
a lift, I guess, and I'd say no chance at all.
Something else we can look for, though, what's that? Remember
my saying that his clothes didn't look like he'd slept
in him or driven a long way in him. Yeah,
(23:29):
I did. The only reason either change clothes would be
because the things he'd been wearing might have gotten blood on.
I'm not saying you're wrong, Javes, but we combed that house.
There wasn't nothing there. No, they'll be on the farm someplace.
Speaker 8 (23:42):
What make you think so?
Speaker 7 (23:44):
Jeff couldn't risk being seen around any place last night.
Any movie we'd make would have to be on foot.
He had no other way, So it's a good bet
he stuck close by the farm until he called you
this morning. I got my horse in the trailer to
pick up one for you and take another look around, Jays.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
We been out here half the night.
Speaker 7 (24:10):
I don't think we're gonna find anything. Maybe not come
on back to my place.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
And let's hit the sect. Then we wake up. We
can start out fresh.
Speaker 7 (24:18):
And I want to wait too long. We come here
by daylight, Jeff, we'll see us looking well.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
I'm beat.
Speaker 7 (24:24):
Can't we just go into the trees you're we yonder
and rest a while? Yeah, I guess so se dawn
in about two hours. We can move faster than with
a little light. Good, Come on and go over to
the trees.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
We'll all take a breathing.
Speaker 7 (24:36):
Come on, charky. We moved into the trees, dismounted and
hobbled the horses. The sheriff dozed off quickly, and then
I began to nod, and an hour later I came
out of it. There was a bright glow across the fields,
beyond some cornstalks, and it wasn't the morning sun. To
(25:00):
put my hand over the Sheriff's mouth and shook him shot.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
Look over there, it looks like a fire. Yeah, just
beyond the corner. Come on, quick and quiet. What do
you think it is?
Speaker 7 (25:14):
Jeff Whalen burning those clothes we've been looking for. Ran
for the cornfield, and when we got into it, the
light rustle of the morning wind and the stalks covered
our approach, came to the edge of the field and
saw him, Jeff Whalen, dumping kerosene in a pile of
smoldering cloth.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Loja, those boys that hole.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
And old well covered over.
Speaker 7 (25:39):
He dumped the pose in there last night, and now
he's come back to burn him. He must have been
some water oil. They're smoothing. They won't burn right, and
he will if he keeps a corn kerosene on him
long enough.
Speaker 5 (25:49):
Let's get him.
Speaker 7 (25:52):
Oh, Jeff, that's enough drop that can drop it, I said,
for sure, Sure, I'll drop it what. He threw the
can onto the fire, and a sheet of flame leaped
up between us like a blinding flare. I dove across it,
trying to clear my eyes. Look out, case, she's.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
Got a knight was on him before I saw him.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
I played flash.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
I dug for my gun, but I couldn't bring it
up in time. The knife slashed into my shoulder and
went to the ground. He landed on top of me,
but as he raised his hand to strike, I got
my gun free with my left hand and slapped the
barrel against the side of his head.
Speaker 7 (26:27):
You all right, case, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
I guess my shirt will need a little stitching your shoulder.
Speaker 7 (26:33):
You need a little stitchen too.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Couldn't risk a.
Speaker 7 (26:36):
Shot, you were too close. Come on, gotta stamp that
fire up before all the evidence is burned. Well, that's
doing a kerosene on the ground burning. I kicked what
we need out of the fire. Plenty left for your lap.
Speaker 5 (26:46):
You work on, good thinking, sheriff coming to Jason.
Speaker 7 (26:51):
Yeah, all right, Jeff, come out of it. Come on, what.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
Did jump me for?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
I was only burning some old fun.
Speaker 7 (27:01):
Yeah, we know the old things you happened to be
wearing when you killed your brother. You were right about
that thread knife, Jason. Look here's what he used on you.
You got nervous about that too, didn't you. Jeff decided
to get rid of everything and let old uncle Joe
ride for you.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Oh look, you're crazy.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 7 (27:17):
Yeah, and talk kind of a foreign language. But maybe
the grand jury you'll understand me when they invite you
from murdering your brother.
Speaker 5 (27:26):
Come on, get on your feet. Move.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Jeff Wellen was tried and convicted for the brutal knife
murder of his brother Frank on August second, nineteen forty
at Huntsville, penitentiary.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
He died in the electric chair.
Speaker 7 (28:03):
This is Joel McCrae wishing you all a very very
happy New Year. Good night, folks, See you next week.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Next week, Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment of a
case from the files of the Texas Rangers. Joel McCrae
is currently seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor production
Saddle Trend. The night's cast included Tony Barrett, Tom McKee,
Parley Bear, Peggy Weber, Roy Glenn Wilms, Herbert and Rye Billsberry.
(28:38):
This story was transcribed and adapted by Joel Murcott, and
the program was produced and directed by Stacy Keach Hal Gibney.
Speaker 11 (28:45):
Speaking NBC whiches, use season of the t a briving
(29:07):
not tomorrow man, Happy New Year.
Speaker 6 (29:13):
Stay tuned for the sixty four dollars question tomorrow Remember
the Cotton Bowl Game on NBC's
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