Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 663, Tales of the Texas Rangers, Double Edge

hello good evening and Welcome to our Thursday night episode of Brad's oldtime radio show a huge thank you for joining us once again for our regular late night visit to those Dusty Studio archives of oldtime radio shows right here at my home in the beautiful lime Bay I'm Brett I'm your host for Night Time Podcast welcome to another episode uh now listen we've got Facebook Instagram YouTube and Tik Tok every what every night at the moment George and I George is my eldest he's 12 but every night of the week at the moment for the past week or so 7:30 uh UK time George and I have been doing a live on Tik Tok yeah I know I'm really down with the kids as you can probably tell from the fact I've just used the line down with the kids but if you want to check it out please do we just have a little bit of a chat with everybody and it's become very popular we've made it like a little safe place which I think is important in this day and age don't you good well I'm glad you agree now then if I could ask a little favor oh George is just arrived look I was just telling people in my podcast about how you and I do a live every night at 7:30 at 7:30 yeah we do and we're really popular aren't we well well you are yeah and the really nice thing was today one of our viewers sent you some sweets big box of sweets you and William so George and William have been oh by George and William have been bunching away way on a big box of Suites today so big thank you to uh our little supporter down there at exor for that now then time for our latest episode of tales of the Texas Rangers this one's called double edge first broadcast on the 3rd of August 1952 tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCrae as Ranger jce pearon another authentic reenactment of a case transcribed from the files of the Texas [Music] Rangers names dates and places in the following story are fix ious for obvious reasons the events themselves are a matter of [Music] record I'd like to talk to the ladies for a moment we can't eliminate your work for you I wish we could but if your job is keeping a home in order we'll try to lighten the load with a series of wonderful weekday radio shows on this same NBC station Walder O'Keefe is your genial host on double or nothing and oeps okay set your dial to double or nothing and the laughter will add a bit of brightness to your day another friend of yours is radio's Warren Hall who daily presides over strike it rich the program with a heart the program that can give you a lift while bringing Financial happiness to a contestant Dave gay is another Gloom Chaser in NBC's daytime schedule and Bob and Ray this year's Peabody award-winning Comics make subtle fun of radio in a rib tickling way so be sure to include them in you're listening to yes as I said before I wish we could eliminate your housework but since we can't maybe listening to these fine BC shows will help to pass the time more quickly why don't you try it out tomorrow and every day this week now tales of the Texas Rangers and now from the files of the Texas Rangers the case called double [Music] edge it is 11:30 on a Monday morning in June J during the early 1920s in the town of Holden Texas an elderly woman puts through a telephone call to the bank that's right operator a 423 J now you be quiet baby you know your mother doesn't like you to cry Mr Vans yeah this is Agatha Winford how are you today well just fine thanks Miss Winford uh say would you hold on a second please uh just a minute it's your Bine now what can I do for you miss W oh I'm over here at Miss Johnson minding her baby while she's marking and I thought she wouldn't mind if I used her phone to call you yes ma'am well I just got a notice from you this morning and I want to tell you the banks made an awful mistake in my account what is the mistake Mrs wi well I know I've got $43 left in my checking account but that notice you s said I've only got 23 now that's just not so now we're very careful here ma'am maybe you made some kind of mistake in your dish no I didn't would you please excuse me m Winford can you hold on while I take care of a customer here well all right thank you thank you yes [Music] at I'll be with you in a minute baby baby baby I I oh [Music] well now baby don't you cry that's a good baby now you just be nice while I finish talking to Mr Vance here Mr van look give me all the money you got still busy put it in this paper bag give me the rest in the back of the drawer I don't have anymore you want your brains blown out give me that money all right he you Mr Mr van quiet back oh that's all I got who you kidding go in that other draw and clean it out yes sir what am I going to do what's his phone doing off the hook I don't know oh bring it up yes oh oh oh this is awful Operator Operator oh why don't you answer Operator Operator Mrs Winford notified the sheriff that the bank was being held up within a matter of minutes the sheriff raced to the scene only to find that the holdup man had already made a getaway after a preliminary survey the sheriff requested assistance from the Texas Rangers ranger jce Pearson was assigned and arrived at the bank 15 minutes later over here Jay howy Sheriff I'm glad you could get here so fast I was only about 10 Mi away when my headquarters contacted me fellas that held up this place sure had a lot of nerve how many were there only two as far as I can gather one of them kept the customers in the back the other one got the money from the teller took nearly $6,000 anybody able to identify them nope they were both wearing bandanas over their faces how about their getaway any body see them after they left the bank not a soul that I could find seems like they just disappeared in the thin air we did get one break though what's that well the teller keeps an extra $200 in his drawer just in case the bank is held up 1020s with a special marking how are the Bills marked there's a Green Dot ined in under the first letter the serial number naturally the bank's got a record of the numbers it'll help us some we'll get out of circular by tomorrow morning every bank and police officer in Texas will have a copy it beats me how these fellas had so much nerve had it planned right down to the last move they even took into consider oh there's Jim Vance coming out of that office he's a teller reckon he's bringing that list of serial numbers uhhuh hey got that list of numbers for us Jim yes sir right here but there was something else I want to see you by what's that well now I forgot all about this in excitement the man who was holding customers in the back he passed me on his way out yeah seemed to be having trouble with his bandana He Slipped down a little just he got alongside my winter you mean you got to look at his face what no not exactly but I did say one thing remembered it while I was writing out those numbers just now he had a a mole under his eye but a good size one too which eye was it under there right no I got to twist it I was facing him so it must have been his left eye well at least we got some information for that bulletin Jace yeah let's put it on the [Music] wires we broadcast the list of serial numbers and a vague description of the bank robbers the first day brought no results on the morning of the the second day I received a call from Sam crane constable in the town of Compton 30 mi from the scene of the robbery he told me the bank in Compton had reported receiving one of the marked bills the day before Sheriff wasn't free at the moment so I went to Compton alone 10: that morning I entered the Constable's office well Jay howy crane good to see you again real good it's been a long time since we worked together over a year what about that marked Bill Bank tell you who brought it in it took the bank a little while to find out had to go through all their deposit SLI from yesterday finally told me it was the owner of a hardware store here man by the name of Alan are you sure about that yeah and we might be lucky was the only 20 in his deposit for yesterday haven't you checked him yet well no I thought it might be better if you did it see Allan and I don't get along very well don't think he'd be too Cooperative with me this thing's too important to take a chance uh-huh tell me where his place is I'll go see him it's just down the street I'll go along with you Jace but if you don't mind I'll let you do the talking sure you figure this Alan could have been involved the robbery himself him no Jay's old man Allen's over 60 how come you two don't get along well about a year ago I bought some tools from him no good any of the old Buzzard never would let me have my money back I sure hope you can give us something to go on well if Allen does remember who handed him this bill my guess is it'll turn out to be somebody who just passed through comp maybe so Constable oh hiy miss pmer Constable have you had any luck well to tell the truth I've been pretty busy since you came in this morning anyhow I was sure your husband would be back by now not I told you he went out yesterday afternoon right after he got that phone call Jeff's never stayed away like this without saying where he was going now Mrs Palmer he'll turn up but he didn't even take the car whenever he goes away he always takes it maybe he's over at his brother's place bet you haven't even called there have you well no I haven't well why don't you go home then he's probably been trying to reach you but it's 20 miles over to his brother's house he couldn't get there without the car maybe got a ride now you run along home before he gets worried wondering why he can't reach you well all right keeping you busy huh yeah that husband of hers is always taken off are you sure he's not missing n if Palmer takes an otion to go somewhere he goes he's only been away one night uhhuh I swear it never rains but it pours for three weeks nothing's happened here now I got more work than I can handle well here's the hardware store hope old man Allen memories better than I think it [Music] is oh you Constable thought I told you didn't want to business with you no more don't worry Alan I wouldn't think of buying anything from this store Ranger Pearson here wants to ask you a few questions well all right what's on your mind Ranger we have that bill crane for sure Jay Mr Allen you deposited this bill in the bank yesterday what's the matter counterfeit it's part of the money that was stolen from a bank in Holden Oh you mean in that big robbery over there on Monday that's right that's so I read about it in paper this was the only 20 you deposited yesterday do you remember who brought it in here let me see G no Ranger don't re going to do I was afraid he wouldn't Jason just what do you mean by that con now wait a minute both of you I'm sorry Ranger just give me a second or two maybe I can remember the fell that brought it in just take your time see now it's no no use I just can't bring him to mind do you have any idea if it was yesterday morning or in the afternoon you got the bill couldn't say what time did you take the money to the bank about 2:30 same time I always do I see and how much cash do you usually have on hand when you open the store in the morning maybe $25 $30 just enough to make change if somebody handed you a $20 bill anytime before noon it would pretty much clean out your cash drawer wouldn't it yeah Reon it would well then isn't it a pretty good chance you received the bill sometime between noon and the time you went to the bank well I never thought of it that way but I still don't oh wait a minute yep it's coming back to me now I just finished eating and this fell come in and bought a box of shotgun sh he was the one that gave me the 20 you sure about that yes I'm sure did you know the man Mr Allan I've seen him around town and don't know his name could be lives in one of them Farms outside Compton could you give us a description of him well I ain't much of a hand at telling people what other people look like well do you remember if he had a mole under his left eye mole tell you the truth Ranger I'm just not sure maybe it did but I can't swear one way or the other all right Mr Alan thanks a lot now one thing I'll say if I wish to see this fellow again I'd know him I hope we can show him to you soon come on crane let's get back to your [Music] office I still think the old man made a mistake Jace that bank job wasn't pulled by any local boys maybe not there's no doubt one of the men where after was around here we got to see if he's still around oh Miss Palmer what are you doing here I'm sorry to make a test to myself Constable that's all right I called Jeff's brother and he isn't over there I don't know where he is no he'll turn up Something's Happened to him I know it Ranger maybe you can help me isn't there anything I can do to find my husband well you could have the Constable file a missing person's report that way all the police in the state would be on the lookout for him when you do that const oh sure miss palmer but I think before you do that you ought to give Jeff a little longer to show up I can't wait any longer I couldn't sleep all last night I know something's happened to us all right out file a report it's so long since I filled one out I'm not even sure I've got the form I got some in the car if you need them oh here's one now Mrs Palmer you're all upset why don't you go on home I'll fill this out myself don't forget crane Mrs Palmer has to sign the form oh yeah probably be better if she fills in the description anyhow what kind of a description do you need Ranger the usual description height weight color of hair and eyes anything we can use to identify him well Jeff looks just about like anybody else now no two people are alike Mrs Palmer there must be something that's different about him I can't think of anything except maybe a mole what's that he's got a mole under his left [Music] eye in just a moment we will continue with tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Jace Pearson as a civilian at home what is your obligation to a soldier in a foxhole in Korea maybe you haven't considered that question if you haven't it's understandable a foxhole in Korea is pretty remote after all from your everyday life and it wouldn't help if you were constantly worrying but if you have stopped to consider it the least we can do here at home in the states is to help keep America financially strong that's the best way to back up the men in the Army Navy and Air Force one of the best ways to help keep America financially strong is to buy United States defense bonds regularly if you think you can't afford it look into the payroll savings plan where you work you'll probably change your mind you can have any amount you specify saved from each paycheck when there's enough for a defense Bond it is purchased and turned over to you and remember today defense bonds offer you more interest to quicker return on your money they're now even better invest more in fence bonds now tales of the Texas [Music] Rangers we continue now with tales of the Texas Rangers and our authentic story double [Music] edge I was fairly sure now that Jeff Palmer was one of the two men we were after continued questioning of his wife convinced me she knew nothing of the bank robbery we put out an APB on Palmer 3 days later I had a call from the sheriff a man whose description matched fers had been found dead in a creek near Compton quickest way for me to get there was on Horseback through 2 miles of brush when I reached the creek I forded it headed Upstream to the spot where the sheriff and his men were waiting ay Sheriff it's a good thing you had your horse Jake saved you 20 mil of driving yeah who who Char who boy who found the body those Fells over there they were out fishing spotted man arm sticking out of the water body had been wired to an Old Log but it looks like one of the wires worked loose uhhuh let's take a look at it yeah right over here Jason pretty sure it's Palmer well description checks with the one his wife signed so I reckon it's him here we are yeah shot four times fellow who did it must have been standing right next to him somebody really wanted to make sure he was dead I wonder why Palmer was killed well there's only two reasons I can think of either to shut him up or keep him from getting his share of the money maybe both sounds reasonable if we find the second man in that bank robber we'll probably have the one who killed Palmer there don't seem to be much to go on one thing we can be pretty sure of he was killed right here how do you figure that attempts been made to covered up but you can still see quite a bit of blood on the ground here yeah I noticed that but I thought he could have been killed somewhere else and brought here then there wouldn't be all this blood not much bleeding after death well it would have been smart if the killer to do the job here certainly not not many people around no we'll have to go over the area you check that cabin up on the hill Sheriff where through those trees no I didn't notice it before person who lives there could have heard the shots we better talk to him okay opening in the Bri we can go up through here uh-huh it pretty much trampled from here on up the hill somebody's come down almost to the spot where Palmer was killed in the past few days too from the look of it you think who whoever lives in that cabin had something to do with this business could be they might have been hiding out here together and then hey Jay a man just ducked behind that tree up there yeah look he's starting up the hill hold it right where you are hold it I said Mr rer I I ain't done nothing nobody saying you have what's your name Dad Dan bton sir you live in that cabin up there yes sir stay around there pretty much do you most of time except about once a week I take my mule and go into town you heard any shooting around here in the last couple of days I yes sir I have when was this uh reing about 4 days ago I I was smoking some meat back in the cabin now I hear some shooting did you come down the hill to see what it was Mr Ranger please don't ask me no more questions Dan it's very important we find out what happened you could help us well all right sir soon as I hear the shots I I come about halfway down the hill could you see anybody uh I've seen a man bending over another man on the ground I duck down quick here in here's brush I was scared if he'd see me he'd shoot me too did you see his face yes sir you know who he was no sir I don't think you're telling us the truth then Mr Ranger I just live here in my cabin and I don't hurt nobody and I don't want nobody hurting me Dan tell us who the man was you saw down here the other day I can't Mr Ranger I'm scared nothing's going to happen to you I can promise you that well like I say I was hiding here in the brush I I I didn't see this man's face good till he picked the other man up and carried him over to the creek then I see him Real playing who was it then the constable in the Compton Mr Sam crane we questioned the old man further he was absolutely sure it was Constable Sam crane he had seen we took Dan back into town with us when we arrived at the mortuary where the dead man's body had been taken we put Dan in an office next to the morg and I phoned the constable and asked him to come over as quickly as possible the sheriff and I stayed in the room with Palmer's body 5 minutes later crane walked in I got here as quick as I could Jace what's this old oh sheriff hoty C me you wanted me for something I found the body of a man it could be Palmer I'd like you to identify him well sure but why me why didn't you get Miss Palmer wanted to be sure we were right before we call her down here there's no use getting her any more upset than we have to well I didn't know him very well Jay didn't you funny I got the idea you did that the body over there yeah better her take a look where'd you find in a creek about 10 mies from here pull the sheet back with you Sheriff sure well crane oh you can cover him up again it's Jeff Palmer who killed him I thought maybe you could tell us that me where were you at 11:30 Monday morning Monday uh-huh where were you well I don't know jaay reckon I was in my office working I reckon you weren't crane look how about Tuesday the day after the bank was robbed in Holden the afternoon that Jeff Palmer disappeared jce why are you asking me all these questions because we think you and Palmer robbed that bank in Holden what morning after the stickup you got the circular saying some of the money was hot oh wait a minute J you went out to warn Palmer when you found out he'd already spent some of the money and would probably be traced you had to shut him up you took him out the creek and killed him you're crazy jce if I did that you think I'd have reported finding one of the stolen bills you had to do that if you hadn't reported it the bank would and you knew it that's a pretty serious accusation you're making Jace I wouldn't be making it unless I was pretty sure of what I was saying how can you be so sure come in the next room with us crane what for you'll find out better take take his gun Sheriff look you still that's better now come on fine friend you turned out to be you think I like doing this Dan yes who's this Dan take a look at this man yes you know him uh yes sir you sure you know him hey yes sir he's Mr Sam crane where'd you see him last Mr Ranger just tell us where you saw him Dan out out the creek at my place you like it crane Dan when you saw him out of the creek what was he doing he he take some man off the ground and put him in the creek that's a lie Jace I've known you for 10 years you're going to take his word against mine yes I am without give me a chance you had your chance when Palmer's wife came in and reported him missing you tried to brush her off you're a liar I didn't know why you were so LAX then but I do now you were afraid we'd find your partner's body why I'll kill you you life I don't think you will try that again crane you can't railroad me like this I'm still a police officer that's something I've been ashamed of for the past 3 Hours come [Music] on during the ride to the county jail crane said nothing but the hate and bitterness showed in his eyes we booked him for murder and locked him up we searched his house and found the money from the bank robbery sewed inside a mattress 2 months later crane was tried in the district court at Holden for armed robbery and murder as the arresting officer I was subpoena and took the stand against him trial lasted a week when the jury left the courtroom I went outside and stood on the courthouse steps after a while the sheriff came out and walked toward me well it's all over Jas jury recommended the chair they didn't seem to have any trouble deciding he was guilty no I reckon not I didn't know you'd walked out till after the jury came back sorry you didn't get to hear the verdict it's all right Sheriff I wasn't anxious to hear it jce you don't mind my saying so you're you're taking this thing too hard maybe so crane is no good he's rotten clean through you ought to be glad you helped him get what he deserves somehow I can't feel that way it's bad enough send the man to the chair anytime somebody you known and worked with yeah reckon I understand how you feel he ow the deputies are bringing him out now I was hoping I'd see you before they took me away Pearson hello crane wait a minute boys I got a few words to say to Pearson here never mind what you got to say Charlie take him on a second what were you going to say crane you think you're pretty smart don't you testifying against me like you did I only did what I had to yeah well listen Pearson I'll get you I'll get you of the last thing I do sorry you feel that way you hear me Pearson I'm going to get you take him away boys I'll get you Pearson I'll get you dirty scum we got to have his face pushed in come on Sheriff let's go get some coffee I went back to headquarters a week later on the day crane was to be taken from the county jail to the penitentiary I received a message saying the sheriff wanted to see me I drove to Holden and went to the Sheriff's Office sorry to bring you all the way back here jce I hope you're not going to be sore at me what's up well it's about crane I I was supposed to leave for Huntsville with him two hours ago oh trouble is there oh no not a bit matter of fact ever since he was sentenced Crane's been a changed man what do you mean well his whole attitude's different Jace he even asked the judge to move up his electrocution date said he wanted to get it over with as quick as possible then he asked to see you Jon what for you've got no idea how sorry he is for the way he acted last week when he begged to see you well well it was one favor I just couldn't refuse it I'm glad you didn't where is he I got him locked up back here we're all to leave you want to wait till I bring him out I'll go with you I just can't get over the way he's changed I reckon it's knowing he's going to die it didn't well whatever it is I'm happy to hear he has changed you know how bad I felt about this whole thing yeah and last week I thought you were wrong now I'm ready to eat my words here we are crane okay Sheriff I got a hold of Jace for you oh thanks sherff hello crane j i I don't know how to say this don't worry about it I understand no I I've got to say it I I figured out a dozen ways at telling you and and none of them seems right reckon the best way is just to say I'm sorry that's all right crane I've been thinking about it the way I blew off at you I was wrong you just did what you had to do Jay will you shake hands with me sure I will right reckon we better get moving boys would you do a favor for me Jason if I can there's a a girl over in cted we've been going together a few years might have been married someday you want me to go see her would you jce drop in on her every now and then and see if she's getting along all right I'll be glad to I'd like to show you a picture of her sheriff is that my Satchel over there yeah all packed and ready to go there's a picture of my girl in it could I have it sure Clan it it's right on top I feel real sorry for Jace all the publicity this it in the leather frame yeah I never deserved a girl like her in the first place here you are thanks what do you think of her Jace pretty girl you bet she is here let me get it into a better light now you can see what I wanted you to see j's got a razor blade I told you I got a little late my my arm my arm drop that blade drop it now put the cffs on on him Sheriff yeah you're dirty L should have known better than to trust him where'd you get that razor blade anyhow I had it hidden in the picture frame say your hands bleeding Jay did he get you bad just Nick me a little shut up in your throat I told you to shut up come on CR the last favor you'll get from me get your l me come on Sheriff I hope you got room in your car for one more this boy needs lots of company [Music] in just a moment we will tell you the results of the case you have just heard Monday means music on NBC and tomorrow evening you're invited to relax in your favorite easy chair or Outdoors where you can catch a breath of a breeze and listen to the finest in musical entertainment on NBC The Railroad hour once again will bring you an original Operetta by Jerry Lawrence and Bob Lee with music composed and conducted by Kon Dragon your railroad hour host Gordon mcra will be joined by lovely Lucille Norman to bring you Starlight later the telephone hour will present the brilliant young pianist Nicole AO as the special guest of the evening and of course Monday's musical entertainment wouldn't be complete without the voice of Firestone tomorrow evening the voice of Firestone presents soprano Roberta Peters and the music of Howard Barlo and the Firestone Orchestra and chorus yes Monday night is truly a night to relax and beat the heat by finding the coolest spot available and listening to NBC's great musical programs be sure to hear them all tomorrow now the conclusion of tales of the Texas [Applause] Rangers and now here are the results of the case you have just heard Sam crank was taken to Huntsville Penitentiary and confined in the special sail block set aside for condemn prisoners 93 days later still defined he died in the electric [Music] chair next week Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment of a case from the files of the Texas Rangers [Music] Joel McCrae is currently seen in San Francisco story of Warner Brothers release the cast included Tony Barrett Virginia Greg Frank gell parley bear Paul mcy and Robert Bice technical adviser was Captain Mt Lone Wolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers this story was transcribed and adapted by Charles E Israel and and the program was produced and directed by Stacy Keats tales of the Texas Rangers is heard each week overseas through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service Hal Gibney [Music] speaking tonight here at the Hollywood Bowl concert on [Music] NBC welcome back hope you enjoyed our latest episode of tales of the Texas Rangers and don't forget comedy for the end of the week tomorrow Dad's Army going live at 5:00 p.m. UK time now as I mentioned earlier we've got a supporter page patreon.com Sunday night mystery go check it out we'd like that that' be nice thanks for listening I'll be with you seven days a week each and every week and I'll see you tomorrow on Brett's Al radio show love you bye