 of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McRae as Ranger Jase Pearson. Another authentic re-enactment of a case transcribed from the files of the Texas Rangers. Places in the following story are fictitious for obvious reasons. The events themselves are a matter of record. Friends, every day, Monday through Friday, there's top entertainment all day long when you set your radio dial to NBC. Listen for double or nothing and you'll hear one of radio's funniest quiz shows. Walter O'Keefe consistently comes up with great comedy entertainment Monday through Friday on Double or Nothing. Listen and you'll agree. And then there's the program with a heart, Strike It Rich. The grand entertainment that Warren Hull brings you every day on Strike It Rich is just what the doctor ordered if you suffer from the housework blues. And from Chicago, Tommy Bartlett brings you Welcome Travelers, interviews with the many interesting guests who each day pass through the windy city. And for more fun, listen for Bob and Ray, those two zany comics. Then of course there's Music and Charm with Dave Garroway. So remember, every day, Monday through Friday, chase your blues away with the wonderful daytime programs on this station of the NBC Radio Network. Now here's today's Tales of the Texas Rangers. Now from the files of the Texas Rangers, the case called Illegal Entry. It is 10.30 on a night late in August 1940. In the southwest Texas town of El Corso near the border, the streets of the Mexican section are dark and quiet. A man stands smoking a cigarette in a doorway on one of the darker streets. When he hears steps approaching, he throws his cigarette away. Hey, senor. I want to ask you something. What is it? You know some people named Gomez live on this street? Senor, on this street are maybe 10 Gomez families. Which one you mean? They're supposed to live at number 624. I couldn't find the house. This is no surprise. The house numbers, they go only to 500. This can't be. Here, look, it's written on this piece of paper, 624. Yeah, it's too dark. I cannot see the paper. Can you see this knife? You make one move, you never move again. What do you want? Your money. Give it to me, Oliver. I got no money. Give it to me. I say I got no money. If I got money, you're not going to get it for you. Give me the knife. Yeah, I'll give it to you. My arm. Can you help? Come back here. Shut up, you. Get back in that room. What? You shut up, rice. Let you throw it. It's easy. You all alone here? It's easy, sir. What do you want? Where's that door lead to? Out the back. Come on, we go out. It's not, senor. You'll need to use this knife on you. It's not, senor. Come on, I say. Wait a minute. There's a pocketbook on the table. You got money in there? Senor, please. It's my paper to hold. Please. Cagetti. See? See? This is better. Now we go down. Come here. Go on. Go down. And remember the knife and knee will right behind you. What did you do? Come on. Hurry. Get good. Come here. Now look. We're going out to the street. Anybody stop us. We're just out for a walk. You hear that? No. Now, put your arms through mine. That's the knife? See? And if you tip off anybody, I push that knife right through you. Now come on. Walk. This way to the right. Where are you taking me? Shut up and walk. Come on faster. The people searching for the fugitive became suspicious when they saw a light on the Maria Santos front door and failed to receive an answer to their knocking. The sheriff was summoned. When he gained entrance to the room and saw the back door open, he phoned for assistance from the Texas Rangers. Rangers Jase Pearson and Clay Morgan were assigned. Ranger Morgan arrived first, and after preliminary investigation, went out to his car to send a radio call. Can KDXA give Lab Crews approximate time of arrival? Lab Crew will be at El Corso within two hours. 10-4, unit 22 clear. Over here, Jase. Been here long, Clay? Oh, maybe half an hour left the sheriff in charge upstairs. Port Igot said a whole lot of men stabbed somebody. Yeah, and then took off, happened about two hours ago. A fellow hurt bad. Just his arm. He helped chase the thief. People around here think the man went into this building. What do you think? I know he's not here now. There's a room upstairs with a back door open. Man could have gotten in and taken the girl that lived there along with him for protection. Sure, she wasn't in on the deal. Well, I thought of that. But the fellow who was stabbed said there was only one person. Stuff from the girl's purse has dumped all over the place. She could have been robbed too. Anybody get a good look at the thief? A victim said the man was Mexican. Couldn't see his face, though, too dark. Any possibility of prints up in the girl's room? Well, they found a few on her purse. Pretty blurred. They could be the girls I call the lab anyhow. Uh-huh. Well, looks like our best bet's to find that girl. You have a description of her? Better than that. Found a picture in a room. Yeah, one on the left is her. I'm going to take it over to the sheriff's office now and put it on the wire. Anybody doing a house to house? Yeah, the deputies are taking care of that. Well, I better get moving. You coming along? No, I reckon I'll get upstairs and have a quick look around. And I'll give those deputies a hand looking for the girl. Okay, Jay. See you as soon as I get there. Clay! Clay! Oh, hello, Sheriff. Oh, howdy, Jayce. It's just in time. Hi, what's up? My deputy called. They've located Maria Santos. She all right? I don't know. My men found her in a boxcar down at the freight yards. When we arrived at the freight depot, we saw tenants carrying Maria Santos on a stretcher toward an ambulance. She'd been badly beaten, but she was still conscious. We decided that since she was the only person who had seen the man we were after, it was necessary to get a statement from her immediately. I got the doctor's permission to question Maria on the way to the hospital. As soon as she was settled in the ambulance, I climbed in. He could still be around the yard somewhere, Clay. Yes, Sheriff, and I'll go over the place with a fine-toothed comb. See you later, Jayce. I'm Ranger Pearson, Miss Santos. Oh, did you find him yet? No, that's why I'd like to ask you a few questions. Will it hurt you too much to talk? I can talk, Senor. It's only the... Oh, my God. Did he stab you? When we walked away at freight yards, he held a knife at my side, and he kept sticking me. You get a good look at his face. Oh, yes, Senor. The face I will never forget. Have you ever seen him before? No, Senor. I don't think he's from El Corzo. Maybe... Maybe he's from Mexico. Can you give me an idea of what he looked like? Something that will help us identify him. Well, he had two scars. What kind of scars? One under his eye, a little one, and a bigger scar at the corner of his mouth. Make him look like he's always smiling. But this man, he's not the kind who smiles. Did he take you directly from your room to the freight yards? He made me walk through the streets with him. Sometimes we pass people out. I want to yell, but he held a knife at my side. He kept sticking. What happened when you got the freight yards? Well, we walked and he kept on walking. I was tired, but he wouldn't let me stop. Then I hear the jeep cry. The sheep? You see, on the freight train, the train began to move and he... All of a sudden these men, he gets excited. He makes me run over to a boxcar that stands by itself. Was that when he hit you? I think so. It's hard to remember now. Did you see where he ran after he hit you? No, Senor. The last thing I remember, I see his face. His mother looked like he was smiling. Then you don't have any idea if he ran toward that moving train. No. Senor, this man, you think maybe he'd get away on the train? That's hard to say, Miss Santos. We're going to do our best to find out. As soon as we reached the hospital, I got a ride back to the freight yards. Our man had not been found. I figured it was more than an even chance that the freight train Maria described. I checked with a train master. He informed me that a train carrying sheep had left several hours before. It was a slow freight doing Lubbock at noon the next day. I picked up Clay and we headed north on the highway, which paralleled the railroad tracks. I ought to be catching up with the train pretty soon, Jayce. What do you figure I'm doing when we come alongside? How much we can do till it's light. I was thinking about that. If we try to stop the train now, it won't be light for over an hour. I know. Hey, that's it up ahead. Aren't those caboose lights? Looks like them. It's not moving very fast. It gives you a funny feeling knowing our man might be riding that, baby. Wish we could be sure, though. I got a hunch he had a train getaway in mind when he took the girl down at the freight yards in El Corso. What are we going to do? Drive alongside the train till daylight? That's too risky. If he is aboard and happens to spot us, he'll get suspicious and skip. It'd be better if we stop someplace up ahead and wait for him. You got any ideas? Not yet. Get the map out of the glove compartment, will you, Clay? Yeah. What do you want? No. See if you can locate the next station the train's due to pass through. All right. Let's see. Yeah, nearest town from here it'd be Hamlet, about 12 miles up ahead. 12 miles. That won't give us too much time. Anything north of that? Not for 40 miles. Then it'll have to be Hamlet. What do you have in mind? We need some advice about the best place to have the train stopped. You got to get word of the engineer and warn him what's going to happen. Unit 10 to KTXA. This unit now alongside northbound freight train number 24, positioned 12 miles south of Hamlet. Believe man who committed El Corso hold up aboard train. Can KTXA relay message immediately to Railroad Operations Chief? In order to make search of train as early as possible after daylight, this unit requests that engineer stop train at some suitable point north of Hamlet, Texas. Suggest unpopulated open area to be selected to reduce chance of fugitives escape. 10-4. This unit will check with Hamlet Station Master to learn if message was received in time for him to deliver it to train. 10-4. Unit 10 clear. 88 sails. Now there's the engine, Jason. Sure is a strain in up that hill. Yeah, let's hope it keeps on moving slow. A lot of things have to happen before that train passes through Hamlet. Door must be around the other side. Yeah. Sounds like the station master's doing some typing. Could be the message for that freight. If he doesn't type any faster than that, the train will be in Lubbock before he finishes. Howdy, gents. Hey, you must be them rangers. One and a half 24 stop. That's right. Just got the message in on the ticker here. Typing it up now. And don't let us disturb you. Oh, you ain't disturbing me. Not a bit. As long as I've been here, I learned how to type pretty good. And talk same time. Uh-huh. Gonna have the engineer stop 24 up at Twin Forks Junction. If that's all right with you, fellas. How far is that from here? 18 and a half miles. Or it'd be good in light time she gets there. Pretty flat country. No, flat and far in your hand. You can see two, three miles both sides of the track. That's fine. Isn't that the train? Yep, yep, that's her. Right on time, too. Well, are you sure you're gonna finish that message before it gets here? Why, sure. No, she's got a good quarter mile yet. There we are. Now, just get me a cup of water hoops. Am I landed? I'll be ready. Can we help you? Nope. I got them right over here. Yep. They understand there's some kind of criminal on that train. We think so. I don't want to rush you, but that train sounds pretty close. Ah, now don't too worry, Ranger. She's only down by the first switch. Got plenty of time. Old Steve Dillon and his conductor will have their arms through those hoops just when they're supposed to. Say, you rangers want to come out on the platform with me? Yeah, we'll come along, but we'll have to stay out of sight in case our man happens to be watching. Yeah, sure. You can stand right behind these posts here. Thanks. Can't nobody see from the train behind these here posts. Be back in a minute or two, Rangers. By the way, he was moving. I was sure he wouldn't make it. I reckon when you've been at this as long as he has, you get pretty good at time. Got the one hoop? Yeah. Keep your eyes open, Clay. Maybe we'll spot somebody aboard. Not if he'll poke his nose out now. Probably sleeping. Maybe so. Mostly sheep cars. Not likely he's the one of those. Yeah, it's hard to say. There's enough others to hide in. Grabber, John! Well, Kelly got the message, Rangers. Breaking the rest is up to you. Thanks. Come on, Clay. Let's go meet a train. In just a moment, we will continue with tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCray as Ranger Jase Pearson. Have you ever seen lightning strike? Then you know how cerebral palsy strikes swiftly, crazily without warning. And it could happen to you or to your child. If you should be stricken as a result of an accident or shock or illness, you'd need costly and highly specialized care. But would that care be available? It's shocking but true that right now, 92 out of every 100 who suffer from cerebral palsy must go without that necessary care because there just aren't enough facilities. Think of it, hundreds of thousands of people suffering needlessly when they could be helped. But in spite of this tragedy, there's still hope. Real hope that stems from present-day research and treatments. You can help the more than 550,000 sufferers of cerebral palsy get these vitally needed benefits and become self-sufficient citizens. Send your contributions to United Cerebral Palsy, care of your local postmaster. Forget them not. And now the second act of tales of the Texas Rangers. We continue now with tales of the Texas Rangers and our authentic story, Illegal Entry. We drove toward Twin Forks Junction where the train was due to stop. On the way, we radioed headquarters and asked for some officers from the nearest town before them were waiting when we arrived just past daybreak at the junction. As I gave them in last-minute instructions, the train was visible in the distance. We don't have much time, men, so we better get moving. Constable, you take a man and head down the track. Work from the caboose forward as soon as the train stops. You have the two men cross the track when the train stops, split up, and work from the middle toward both ends. If you spot them, sing out. In fact, we better get the rifles, James, just in case you make some break across that flatland. I sure hope he hasn't jumped off somewhere along the line. If he got on, I don't think he jumped. He doesn't know we're on this trail. I guess you're right, it said. He'd be anxious to get as far as he could from El Curso. Hey, she comes. We better get over in the signal engineer exactly where we're wanting to stop. It's like he's going pretty fast. Reckon that old station master got the message mixed up? Don't think so. She's starting to slow down now. Let's go. Not in here. The next one's a cheap car. Probably won't find him in there. We'll just check to make sure he's quite, huh? A gondola car down there. Really? Somebody poke his head over the side just for a second. Come on, we know you're in there. Come on out. You sure you saw him? Hold this rifle. I'm going up and getting right. I'll keep it covered, James. I'll watch yourself. Okay, you. Come on, get up and get out of that corner. I said come on. I guess you. I can drop that knife. Let me go. I said drop that knife. That's better. Now I'll take it. My shoulder. Come on, get out of this car. Move. Okay, up over the side. Yeah. What you want from me? I didn't do nothing. It looks like the boy we want, Jason. Those two scars on his face. Check with the description. Tell the engineer to go ahead and play. Sure. Okay, we've got him. What's your name? I didn't do nothing. What do you want me for? What's your name? Jose Lagura. You're under arrest, Jose. For what? Robbery, assault, and kidnapping. Come on. I don't go, no. Grab him, James. You don't get me. You got the wrong pants, and I didn't do nothing. Maybe not. A couple of people saw you last night. Could be you changed your tune when they see you again. Come on. We took our prisoner back to El Corso and delivered him to the sheriff. For two hours, Jose denied all charges against him. At noon, the sheriff had him taken back to his cell. We phoned the hospital and learned that Maria Santos and Felipe Rivera, the man who had been stabbed, were both well enough to come down and make an identification. I picked up the two witnesses, and at one o'clock, we walked along the courthouse corridor. Senor, you're sure when I see this man, he will not hurt me? Not much chance of that, miss. He scares me. Just to remember, he's enough to make my back bone cold. I'd like to have him alone for five minutes. Only five minutes. He is a bad one, this man. Yeah? Just go right in. That's what we wanted to know. Second to the girl's name. Yeah, I'll hold on. Getting some interest in dope on our boy, Jayce. Good. You remember Miss Santos and Mr. Rivera? Sure. Both of you feeling better today? Sheriff in the next room? I'm doing some paperwork. You folks make yourselves comfortable. I'll be right back. I got the witnesses outside, Sheriff. All right, Jayce. I'll phone upstairs, have my deputy bring Jose down. I'll be in there as soon as I finish this report. Take your time. Hey, Jayce. Uh-huh. Seems Jose is quite a record. He ran in Mexico. What's he been up for here? Petty theft. People were on a labor contract about 15 months ago. About a 60-day sentence after he'd been here a month. He was deported as soon as he was released from jail. How about in Mexico? He wanted there for armed robbery. Could be why he didn't head back over the border after last night. There might be another reason. What's that? A girl by the name of Lupi Alvarez. At his trial, he told the judge he stole the money so he could marry her. Howdy, folks. Wrecking you can identify the man who roughed you up last night. I know Simeon, but if I hear his voice... I will know his face. It's hard to forget. I should have been down here by now. I better go see what's holding up the works. Remember now, when he comes in, you don't have to say anything till he's out of the room again. Just take a good look at him. You will ask him to talk, Simeon? Sure, we'll have him talk. I'm still afraid, Simeon. What's that? Sounds like the sheriff's calling us. Come on. Where are you, Sheriff? Holy, it's the deputy. What happened, Sheriff? He's been slugged and his gun's gone. Jose's gotten away. We sent out an all-points bulletin on Jose, and we started combing the town for him. He had disappeared without leaving a trace. We decided that Lupi Alvarez, the girl whose name appeared on Jose's record, might possibly give us a lead. An aunt told us that Lupi and her family were in North Texas picking cotton. Could be found on a farm outside Middle River. On the afternoon of the next day, we arrived at the farm. Lupi was out in the fields, but the foreman pointed out her mother lugging a sack of cotton toward the scales. Yes. Yes, I am, Rosa Alvarez. Excuse me. I'm so out of breath, but it's hard work to carry the cotton. We'd like to talk to you about your daughter, Mrs. Alvarez. Oh, Lupi? Lupi's done nothing, senority. We know that. We're trying to find a friend of hers, Jose Lagura. Oh, this one. He's no friend of Lupi. Didn't she used to go with him? No, senor. Oh, once Lupi, she go out with Jose. Oh, but she don't unlike him. Jose, he's crazy for her. He run after her. He make Lupi afraid. He's a bad one, this Jose. No, senor. Lupi, she doesn't even know he's back from Mexico. How'd you know he was back? Why should I not know, senor? He was here only a few hours ago. What? See, when I bring the load of cotton before this one, Jose, he stand by the scale. He look like crazy, man. He see me, he ask me where Lupi is. You tell him. Me tell Jose where Lupi is? No, senor. I lie to him. Do you know where Jose went? See, first he try to borrow money from me. When I say no, he go to Juan. The boy who drive one of the trucks to the cotton gin. He ask Juan for a ride into town. Does he take him? See, Juan he does not like Jose. But he's a nice boy. He take Jose with him. Juan come back yet? No, senor. Many trucks come to the cotton gin. Sometimes Juan have to wait 6-8 hours. Maybe he's still there. Please, senor. If you find Jose, you will not tell him where Lupi is. He will make trouble for her. Don't worry, senor. If we find Jose, we're going to see he doesn't make trouble for anybody. Not for a long while. We went to the cotton gin and found Juan, the boy who driven Jose into town. His truck was in the middle of a line of trucks which move slowly toward the gin. Juan told us Jose had borrowed $3 from him and gone on into town to get something to eat. He had asked Juan to wait at the gin saying he wanted to ride with him back to the farm. We decided our best chance for picking up Jose was to watch Juan's truck. We stood behind an empty wagon near the gin and waited. I don't know, Jayce. It's been over an hour. Maybe we had done better to cover the town instead of waiting for him here. Maybe, and I think he'll head back here. He want to get out to the farm, make another try to see Lupi. He could have walked. He's got a sure-ride here with Juan. All the same, I'd feel better if I knew exactly where he was. Don't forget he's got that deputy's gun. Lay. Walking toward the truck. Yeah, look at the way he's staggering. Since he didn't use that $3 for food. Let's go. What time do you work all the time, Juan? Forget about Juan. You can talk to us now. No, no. Get the gun fight. I got it. Are you fine? Come on, Jose. You're a popular boy back in El Corso. We want to get you there fast. No, I don't go. Let's get moving. Don't go to El Corso. You'll only be for a little while, Jose. And I think the state will give you a more permanent home. In just a moment, we will tell you the results of the case you have just heard. Later today, friends, you're invited to hear the sparkling premiere performance of a new radio series, Best Plays. Best Plays will present a series of one-hour adaptations of many of the nation's great stage shows. Today you will hear Maxwell Anderson's Winter Set, co-starring Burgess Meredith and Maureen Stapleton. Then later be sure to hear Meredith Wilson's Music Room. Meredith will bring you the finest in recorded music as well as interviews with some of the music world's greatest artists. Meredith Wilson's Music Room is another new addition to your Sunday lineup of great radio listening on the NBC Radio Network. And tomorrow you'll hear more top musical entertainment on NBC. Monday's musical offerings this week include Eleanor Stieber on The Voice of Firestone, Dorothy Warren-Schold and Gordon MacRae on The Railroad Hour, and Michael Rubin on The Telephone Hour. So make your Monday evening listening a relaxing pleasure by tuning to all these wonderful musical shows. Now here is the conclusion of tonight's Tales of the Texas Rangers. And now here are the results of the case you have just heard. Jose Locura was tried and convicted on counts of armed robbery, felonious assault and kidnapping. He was sentenced to 23 years in the state prison at Richmond, Texas. The Mexican government requested that upon his release he be sent to Mexico to serve sentence for crimes committed in that country. Bill McCrae in another authentic re-enactment of a case from the files of the Texas Rangers. Joel McCrae is currently seen starring in San Francisco's story a Warner Brothers release. In the cast you heard Herb Ellis as Ranger Clay Morgan. The role of Jose Locura was portrayed by Tony Barrett and Lillian Bayef was Maria Santos. Jeanette Nolan was heard as Rosa Alvarez. Hal March played the role of the sheriff and the station master was Jan Arvin. The organizer was Captain M.T. Lone Wolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed and adapted by Charles E. Israel and the program was produced and directed by Stacey Keith. Hal, give me speaking. Tonight, The Chase brings you more adventure on NBC.