 Texas Rangers starring Joel McRae is Ranger Jase Pearson. Another authentic re-enactment of a case transcribed from the files of the Texas Rangers are fictitious for obvious reasons. The events themselves are a matter of records. You know, when Thursday rolls around, it'll bring more top radio entertainment to you over these NBC stations. Thursday starts right off in high gear with Robert Young starring as heroic and harassed Jim Anderson of Father Knows Best. The Anderson's are just like your family, but funnier, for the head of the household can get himself involved in situations that take the concerted effort of wife and progeny to get unraveled. And usually Jim rises from the battle, bloody but unbowed, and still firmly convinced that Father Knows Best. For adventure fans, Thursday holds the promise of top mystery listening also, as NBC presents Mr. Keene, Tracer of Lost Persons, who matches his deductive reasoning against the violence and murder of crime. Later join Jack Webb as Sergeant Joel Friday of Dragnet, the true story of your police force in action. Father Knows Best, Mr. Keene, Tracer of Lost Persons, and Dragnet. Hear all these and more Thursdays on NBC. Now back to Tales of the Texas Rangers. Oh, from the files of the Texas Rangers, the case called Clip Job. It is 10 o'clock on the evening of January 24th, 1950. A bitter wind whips through the streets in the North Texas town of Bolton. As the clock in the town hall strikes the hour, an elderly woman makes her way to a lighted drug store. Thank you, Mr. Gerard. Thank you. Good night. Can I help you, ma'am? Are you Mr. Crandor? Yes, ma'am. Some people have told me you know everybody here in town. Well, ma'am, I reckon I do. I've had this drug store 23 years. Do you know a man named George Collie? Collie? Collie. No, ma'am, I don't believe a do. What's it look like? Well, he's a big man. Kind of stout with gray hair. He's in the oil business. Well, ma'am, I might be wrong, but I don't recall anybody looks like that by the name of Collie. Of course, he could be new around town. Oh, no. He said he's lived here for years. Have you asked anybody else in town if they knew? Yes. I've asked all day. Hmm. And you're sure you've got the right town? Mr. Collie said Bolton. He told me he lived on Corsi Street. That's right, ma'am. We got a Corsi Street here. I went to the address he gave me. People there never heard of Mr. Collie. I guess I've come a long way. For nothing. I'm sorry, ma'am. You've been very kind. Oh, not at all. Anything else I can help you with? I'll just look around a little if you don't mind. Well, sure, sure. Just take your time. Well, go ahead wrapping up these orders. Mr. Crandor. Yes, ma'am? That bottle up there. How much does it cost? This one? Large one, just above it, with a red label. Oh, that bottle's not for sale, ma'am. We sell it for the ounce. How much is it, ma'am? $1.25. But it's poison, ma'am. You'll need a prescription to buy it. Description? Yes, ma'am, from your doctor. Oh. Thank you very much. You feeling all right, ma'am? Yes. I'm all right. Oh, you don't look so good to me, ma'am. You better come over here to the soda fountain and sit down. I don't want to get. Please leave me alone. Operator. Operator. Get me dark homes and hurry. County Hospital, where she was found to be in the first stage of starvation. Some letters in her handbag identified her as Mrs. Agnes Howell of Minden. Early the next morning, she regained consciousness and was able to talk. Upon hearing a story, Sheriff Ted Dreyer asked for assistance from the Texas Rangers. Ranger Jase Pearson was assigned and joined the sheriff at the hospital shortly after 8 o'clock. Sure glad you got here so quick, Jase. This one's a little too rough for me to handle. Want to give me a fill in before we see Mrs. Howell? Well, Jase, I could, but I'd rather have you hear it direct from her. No, down this way. They had to put her in a charity ward. Didn't she have any relatives up in the town where she came from? Minden? Nope, I checked. Her husband died four months ago. She didn't have nobody else. You know, Jase, that poor old lady hadn't eaten in 48 hours? No money. When I went through her pocketbook for identification, I found 13 cents. Here we are. Mrs. Howell's a third bed down. Morning, Mrs. Howell. Mrs. Howell, this is Ranger Pearson. I'd like you to tell him everything you told me. What's the use? He can't get my money back. $6,000. All I had in the world gone. Somebody stole your money, ma'am? I didn't know he was going to steal it. Mr. Collie, you seem like such a fine man. Everything he said, I believed. I'm so ashamed. Now, now, Mrs. Howell. I'm sorry. I'm all right now. Yes, Mr. Collie, do you know his first name? George. He seemed like the kind of man you could trust. Big and sort of stout with nice gray hair. When he'd come to the house, he said he'd been a friend of my husband's. How long ago was this, ma'am? Well, a month, I think. When I told him my husband was dead, he seemed so upset. He said he had a check for my husband. $500 was the profit from one of Mr. Collie's oil wells. Had your husband ever said anything to you about investing in an oil well? No, but lots of people around men that have made money from oil. I didn't think there was anything wrong. Did Mr. Collie give you the check? Well, no. He said he wanted to do me a favor. He said he'd double my $500 in three days. When he came back, he told me he'd done even better. He had $1,200 for me. Then he said if you'd put the rest of your money to it, he'd make a lot more. Is that it? He told me I'd get at least $50,000. How did you know? I just had an idea. You gave him the money, didn't you, ma'am? Yeah, I did. He promised me $50,000. It seemed like such a lot. It is, ma'am. And so's your $6,000. When'd you first get suspicious of Mr. Collie? About two weeks after he left. He said he'd be back in a week. When he didn't show up for a month, Ms. Howell decided to come over here to Bolton and look for him. I had to. There wasn't any more food in the house. I was ashamed to go to the neighbors. Our life saved us. I was such a fool. I'd like to get my hand on this. Collie fell up in just five minutes. I hope I can oblige you, Sheriff. Mrs. Howell, when Collie was in your town, did he stay at a hotel? Yes, he did. The fuller hotel. It's the only one in Minden. Mr. Collie seemed like such a nice man. And I still can't believe it. That's just what he counted on, ma'am. Come on, Sheriff. Let's take a ride over to Minden. The next corner, Jayce. Four hotels at the end of the block. You know, there's one thing I can't understand. How did this Collie know to come right to Ms. Howell? It's an old racket, Sheriff. He's what we call a hearse chaser. Scouts around till he finds a widow with a little bit of money, and then he goes to work. But how did he happen to find Ms. Howell? He didn't just happen. Probably use the local newspaper. Check the obituary columns for a few months back. I don't know what to do about it. Check the obituary columns for a few months back and picked out his victim very carefully. The rest was easy. Yeah, too easy. Sounds like he really knows his business. If he's the one I think he is, he's one of the smartest. We've been after him over a year. Haven't been able to get close to him, huh? Not yet. Most of the women he's swindled don't come to us till months after it's happened. That makes it tough, all right. Here's the hotel, Jayce. You sure were doing right coming over here to Minden. Seems like a mighty cold trail. A cold trail's ever cold, Sheriff. Not as long as it's a trail. And this is one I want to follow right to the end. Kirk don't seem to be around. I reckon that'll bring somebody. Sorry, Chance. I was just having a bite of lunch in the back. Oh, Sheriff, I didn't recognize you at first. This is Ranger Pearson. Howdy, Ranger. Anything wrong? We'd like to get a little information from you. Well, now I'd be right proud to answer anything you've got to ask. Always glad to help out a Ranger. Do you remember a man named George Collie stayed here about a month ago? Well, that's real funny. You asked about Mr. Collie. Oh. Kind of stuff, fella. Gray hair, smokes big black cigars all the time. He's the one you mean? You ain't seen him around here lately, have you? Nope. But me and my wife was talking about him just last night. Anything special made you remember him? You bet there is. Ain't often a man keeps a big wad of cash in my safe like Mr. Collie did. $6,000 it was. He brought it in the last day he was here. How'd you know it was $6,000? I hadn't made him count it before he put it in the envelope. All $100 bills it was. I asked him why he didn't put that much money in the bank. Said he didn't trust banks. How long did Mr. Collie stay here? Two and no, three days. They have three days. Oh, I never forgot. There was something else he put in the safe. What was that? Gold ring with a diamond, biggest end of your thumb. I said to him, sorry, joking. Now, Mr. Collie, you act like we got crooks here and he answers real serious. You never know. Just like that. You never know. We have a look at his hotel bill. Mr. Collie done something wrong? Better just go ahead and get what the ranger asked. Oh, sure. It didn't mean to get nosy and have it for you in a minute. What do you want with Collie's hotel bill, Jay? Sometimes they're like diary sheriff and this one might give us the lead we're looking for. Here you are, ranger. $21.50, paid in full. Cash. It's a pretty big bill for three days. Well, he had some cleaning and laundry done. Rush, so it was actually, you can say it right here. Mm-hmm. This item number four, $2.30 for telephone. Is that for local calls? No, we don't charge for local calls. I reckon Mr. Collie must have phoned off town. Any idea who he phoned? That might be real hard to say, ranger. We just get the charges and put them on the bill. Thanks. Come on, Sheriff. Where are we going, Jayce? Down to the phone company. Think we might be on to something? I don't know, but it could be Mr. Collie left us a little message without knowing it. At the phone company office, we learned that Collie had called him as Sally Ronson in Dallas. The number belonged to a fancy roadhouse near town. I left the sheriff in Bolton and headed for Dallas. On the way, I radioed company B and asked them to have somebody locate Sally Ronson and keep her under surveillance till I arrived. When I pulled up in front of the roadhouse at 10 that night, ranger Clay Morgan was waiting for me. Over here, Jayce. Hello, Clay. I got your message, Jayce. Cap wants me to work with you on the rest of the case. Get a line on Sally Ronson, huh? She had tap dances in the floor show inside. Just watch the end of her act. She's got another show tonight. Let's go in. Sure. Jayce, you think this girl was mixed up on the first chase and racket with Collie? It's hard to say, but he called her long distance and it's enough to start on. The manager said her dressing room was down at the end of the hall. How much did Collie get from the old lady in Minden, Jayce? 6,000. Everything her husband left her. She must have been an awful easy mark. Maybe, but Collie's a pretty sharp article. Is this Sally Ronson's dressing room? Yeah. Just a minute. She sounds a little tired, as she's a little frayed at the edges. How much is it? Oh, I thought you were the kids in the drug store. I'm Ranger Pearson, ma'am. This is Ranger Morgan. All right, if we come in for a few minutes. Why not? Excuse me for not having shoes on. I'll go get my slippers. It's all right, ma'am. We just want to ask you a few questions. Getting so, I never want to have shoes on when I'm not dancing. You know how bad it makes you feel when your feet get tired. Yes, ma'am. Sit down. No thanks. You look like I'm tired all the time now. Seven years of dancing in places like this. What kind of questions do you want to ask? You know a man named George Collie? No, should I? He phoned you from a town called Minden about a month ago. Lots of men phoned me. I get the idea I'm glamorous because I'm a show gal. Glamorous with swollen feet. You sure you don't remember herring from George Collie? Ranger, look, I'd like to help you, but I don't even know him. Now let's try again. It's a middle-aged man, stout, gray hair, smoked strong cigars. Oh, him? Well, why didn't you say so? The oil man. But his name's George Connor. Is that what he told you it was? Yeah, I guess he's got two names. Or 20. Why did he call you? To make a date. He always takes me out when he's near where I'm playing. Makes me tired with all his big talk, but he buys a good dinner. He in trouble? Yeah. You seen him recently? A week, maybe 10 days ago. You expect to see him again soon, Miss Ronson? Look, Rangers, I can't afford to get mixed up in nothing. Bad publicity. He'd ruin my bookings. We'll see you don't get mixed up in it. When are you supposed to see him again? Tomorrow. Club's closed, and I don't have to work. He's coming in town. Said he'd pick me up at my place at 6. Want me to call you when he gets in? No, ma'am. If you don't mind, we'll wait there with you. This is one date we're all going to keep together. In just a moment, we will continue with Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCray as Ranger Jase Pearson. Here's an important message about a serious problem. During the last four infantile paralysis epidemics, a total of $79 million was spent by the March of Dimes in caring for those stricken with this dread disease. These were the four worst infantile paralysis epidemics in history. The funds are now gone. This is a crisis, and it can become a disaster. Unless you help more generously than ever before, thousands of crippled children might never walk again. Imagine the feelings of the young parents of a three-year-old when they hear the terrible diagnosis verdict, your child has infantile paralysis. Thousands of parents heard those words last year. By contributing to the March of Dimes, you can speed the day when those words need never be spoken again. You, by your contribution, can speed the research, research which is now pressing forward so hopefully toward an early solution to polio. Join the 1952 March of Dimes today. Send contributions to your local March of Dimes headquarters. Remember, this fight is yours. And now, back to the Texas Rangers. We continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and our authentic story, Clip Job. Put out a bulletin on George Collie with instructions to pay special attention to the area around Dallas. The next day, we staked out in the lobby of Sally Ronson's hotel on the chance that Collie might show up early. A little after five, we joined her in a room and waited for Collie to keep his 6 o'clock date. At 6.30, he hadn't arrived. Sally made coffee for us on a hot plate she kept in her room. Can't understand why. Don't show up. He's never missed a date with you before, has he, Miss Ronson? No. Here's your coffee, Ranger. It's not very strong, but it's hot. Thanks. Thank you, ma'am. I wish I'd never got mixed up with him. I didn't know he was a crook. It's not your fault. Suppose he puts up a fight when he sees you here. He might have a gun. Men like Collie don't often carry guns, ma'am. No need to get upset, Miss Ronson. You just relax. Let us worry about Collie. Yeah. You got a coin for the radio, Ranger? Oh, sure. Here. Thanks. You've never been this late before. Jayce, you don't think he spotted us when we came up here, do you? No, I doubt it. He probably doesn't have any idea we're after him. Ranger, I can't help it. I'm getting scared. Couldn't I go somewhere and let you wait for him here? I'm afraid not, ma'am. Can't take the chance of him seeing you on the street. But it becomes. Answer it, ma'am. It might be him. What'll I say? Just what you would ordinarily. Let him think there's anything wrong. I'll try. Hello. All right, operator. Hey, turn off the radio. Well, I'll get the radio, Jayce. Well, if it can be helped. Uh-uh. No, it's all right. Yeah, and so long. Yeah, it was him. Said he had some business and can't get to Dallas till day after tomorrow. Did he say where he was calling from? He didn't, but the operator said the call was from Wilford. Wilford? I'd see that's about 150 miles from here. Uh-uh. Oil country. Chances are, Collie's working another clip job. Jayce, you figure we might be able to pick him up there? We'll give it a try. Call headquarters, Clay. Get them to cover this hotel. We're going ahead for Wilford. We arrived in Wilford late that night. The check of the hotels failed to locate Collie. Early the next morning we went to the local newspaper office. We learned that a man answering Collie's description had been in a week before going over back issues. We checked the obituary columns of the same issues and got the names of four newly widowed women who might qualify as Collie's intended victim. We called at their houses and made inquiries. Just before noon, a Mrs. Helen Petrie gave us the break we were looking for. Well, yes, I know the man you're talking about, but his name's not Collie, it's Sanders. How long have you known this, Mr. Sanders? Well, I've only known him a week, but he was a good friend of my husband. Did he tell you that, ma'am? Yes, he did. And he's the most honorable man I ever met. He brought me $500, he said, he owed my husband. From an oil investment? That's right. And he was so disturbed when he heard my husband had died. Said he just had to do something for me. He took the $500 away with him, didn't he, ma'am? Well, yes, but three days later he was back and you know he had $900 with him, all for me. Did he say anything then about you investing more money so you could make an even bigger profit? Indeed he did. Matter of fact, I've got a check ready for him now. $5,200. Ranger, how do you know about all this? This may come as a shock to you, ma'am, but you're Mr. Sanders is one of the slickest swindlers in Texas. Swindler? Well, that's downright ridiculous. Mr. Sanders is one of the finest men I ever met. I don't believe any of these things you're saying about him. I'm afraid what Ranger Pearson says is true, ma'am. We know of at least one woman who's already lost all her savings because she trusted him. Mr. Sanders wouldn't do a thing like that. You're sure you're not mistaken, Ranger? There's no mistake, ma'am. This man's a criminal. Well, I don't know what to say. Makes me feel weak all over. Mr. Sanders, he seemed so kind and then so honest. I know, ma'am, and we're sorry to have to tell you that he isn't. What can I do when he's coming to pick up the check? When? Two o'clock today. I just don't know what I'm going to do. We'd like you to see him, ma'am, and we want you to give him your check just the way you plan to do. Well, I don't understand, Ranger. Would you give us permission to set up a hidden microphone in this room? Of course, but whatever for? We want to have a record of this man at work, just for our own use. You mean you want me to talk to Mr. Sanders like nothing's happened? That's right, and don't worry, ma'am. We'll be right in the next room. Oh, it's not that it's... Well, I'm not sure if I can face him knowing what I do now. I never was much good at acting. Just do your best, ma'am. That's all we can ask. Clay? Yeah, Jason? I'm about pulling the car into a side street where it can't be seen and bring the tape recorder back with you. Sure. Better step on it. Got a lot to do before two o'clock. I'm sorry to be moving your furniture around, ma'am, but I have to get this microphone set. It's nearly two o'clock, Ranger. I'm just about finished. Uh-huh. Now, we'll try a test with Ranger Morgan in the next room. Testing, Clay. Wrap on the wall if I'm coming through. All right, Mrs. Petrie, we're ready for your visitor. Oh, I've never been so nervous in all my life. You'll do all right. Just be as natural as you can. Ranger, you sure now you want me to give him the check? It's very important that you do. Oh, I wish I wasn't so nervous. I better get into the next room. Ranger, I think... Good luck, ma'am. All set to record, Jason. Mrs. Petrie, are you scared as she sounds? Yeah, she's pretty nervous. You think she'll be able to carry it off? It's a chance we have to take. Boy, you didn't get in here with any time to spare. Yeah. Give me that other set of earphones. Here you go. Thanks. Hello, Mr. Sandman. Howdy, ma'am. Good to see you again. Won't you come in? Well, thank you, ma'am. I've got the check all ready for you. Oh, there's no hurry on that, ma'am. Mostly I just stop by to have a nice, friendly chat with you. Listen to that, Jason. Yes. Well, won't you sit down? Thank you, ma'am. Sure is nice to sit a spell in a warm house on a cold day like today. Oh, brother. Yes, it is cold out. Ma'am, if you don't mind my saying so, you don't seem like yourself today. I don't. No, ma'am. Seems like you're upset about something. Oh, no, no. I'm perfectly all right. No, ma'am. Don't try to fool me. I might not be much of a hand with the ladies, but I do know when a friend's feeling upset, and I reckon I know just what's troubling you. You do? Yes, ma'am. It's that business deal we were talking over yesterday. Now you just put your mind at ease. If it's going to worry you, we'll forget the whole thing. Oh, no. No, no. I want you to take the chance. Well, ma'am, you won't regret it for sure. Another month's time, you'll be a rich woman. But I understand how you feel. And you know your husband was such a fine fool. I'd hate to think of his widow worrying over money. Oh, it's all right, Mr. Sanders. Oh, you are. And I don't blame you. Probably seems like a right lot of money to let go of, even if it is only for a short time. Well... I'll tell you what. If you feel like you can't afford it right now, you just tear up that check. No, I thought it over when my mind's made up. I do want to go into your business. Well, all right, ma'am. But only if you're sure you want to. Well, the check's in my desk. What a shame, ma'am, such a pretty face. Oh, I'm so clumsy. I better clean up the pieces for somebody to show me. Oh, you, you just let me handle that, ma'am. I'll have it up right away. Thank you. I'll go get the check in the meantime. This is crazy if he hasn't noticed something wrong for now. There we are, ma'am. Here's the check, Mr. Sanders. $5,200. Well, Mrs. Beatrice, now that you have made up your mind, I can tell you you've made the what? Ma'am, your hand's shaking. It's nothing up. You know, ma'am, I just got a hunch we shouldn't do business today. I'll be back to see you some other day. Mr. Sanders! Jason's taken off. Goodbye, ma'am. Come on. Let's stop him, Clay. Right. Jason's in his car. Hold it, Collie! You got us tired, Jason. Yeah, let's go. You might've killed me. It would've been too good for you, Collie. What are you calling me Collie for? My name's Sanders. You must have a tough time keeping track of all your names. Put out your hands, Collie. Arrest? What for? Swindling. Me? You're making a mistake, Ranger. No, Collie, you made the mistake when you swindled Agnes Howell over in Minden. Agnes Howell? I don't know anybody but that name. I think she'll know you. Come on, Collie. She's spent a long time looking for you. Let's not keep her waiting any longer. In just a moment, we will tell you the results of the case you have just heard. There's more good radio listening Wednesday night on NBC. Wednesday, come to Ivy College in the town of Ivy USA. Yes, walk the pleasant campus of Ivy College with Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Coleman as Dr. and Mrs. Hall of Ivy. There's adult comedy and heartwarming human philosophy in each sparkling broadcast of the halls of Ivy. Then, PV, Gildy, Judge Hooker, Leroy and all the gang bring you a half hour of mirth and music with the one, the only, the great Gildersleeve. Mr. Groucho Marx is your genial paymaster of ceremonies on You Bet Your Life, Radio's Marriest Quiz Show. There's prize money for lucky contestants and fun for everyone as Groucho Marx asks the questions and provides the laughs. And for a high adventure on Wednesday, hear both Big Story and Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator. Yes, Wednesday means top entertainment on NBC. Stay tuned to the NBC radio network. Every day of the week, the finest entertainment is as close as this station. And now back to tales of the Texas Rangers. Here are the results of the case you have just heard. George Collie was brought to trial on March 13, 1950. During the two months preceding his trial, Agnes Howell and three other women from various parts of the state filed charges against him for fraud. Of the $6,000 Mrs. Howell had lost, $3,800 was recovered and returned. On April 26, 1950, George Collie was sentenced to 20 years in Huntsville Penitentiary. The Texas Rangers. Technical advisor 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 Keach, Hal Gibney speaking. Next it's The Big Show. All this and Tallulah 2 on NBC.