 You're about to hear a story based on actual events to protect the innocent names and places have been changed Auto light and its 96,000 dealers bring you mr. Richard Widmark in a story taken from life tonight's presentation of Suspense Tonight auto light presents the hunting of Bob Lee the true story about the most famous of all Texas views Starring mr. Richard Widmark Hey folks here it comes you're so right Johnny plug check cold weather is on its way And now's the time to take your car to your neighborhood auto light spark plug dealer for a change of oil grease Some anti-freeze check those spark plugs do right Johnny because the spark plugs are the very heart of your car's ignition system And when they're right your chances of starting even in coldest weather are better than ever If your spark plugs are worn out then your auto light spark plug dealer will install ignition engineered resistor type or standard type auto light spark plugs for smoother performance quick starts and gas savings So prepare for cold weather driving now and check those spark plugs do yes friends See your neighborhood auto light spark plug dealer this week Just call Western Union by number and ask for operator 25 She'll quickly tell you the name and location of your nearest auto light spark plug dealer and remember from bumper to tail light You're always right with auto light and now with the hunting of Bob Lee and the performance of mr Richard Widmark auto light hopes once again to keep you in suspense Lee ranch Fannin County June 26 1868 editors Texas news Bonham, Texas gentlemen If you will permit me the use of your valuable columns I would like to give you a true statement on what is known as the pilot Grove difficulty Notwithstanding that there's been no killing in the village except dr. Pierce But to begin I Was raised in this state. I came home from the war a hated man merely because my fortunes had not suffered during the wars at those of my neighbors and That was the basis for the hatred. I Was too prosperous They used my habit of dressing as an excuse for the first real trouble For when I rode into the village into pilot Grove, I wore a black suit and a hat with a plume in it It was that hat that started the trouble. They were waiting in front of Nelson's salute What do you have to say to me they want to know who you are to be dressing like that Are you lauding it over us with your fancy suit and a plume in your hat? Why should I lord it over anybody I dress the way that pleases me no man would ever wear a hat like that It's for a woman I'm wearing it Evans. We can see that that makes you worse than a woman only one reason you'll wear it You think you're better than us takes more than a plume to make you better And I'll see that hat pulled down around your neck you want to try that Evans You talk mighty brave still up on your horse, then I'll get down Oh stand there stand there. Well, I'll take it from him Evans now Evans If you or any one of the rest of you think you can tell me how to dress This is the time to begin go ahead Evans. We're behind you. Don't take it from him Evan She'll have a hat Donna's so Get him now you got some dirt on your Devil look at him look at it He did boys look at the back of his head Do you hear that Lee I Heard Evans is dead and you kill him Lee he fell under my horse. You knocked him there It was a fair fight and I knocked him down Your sword was that way you killed him Lee and we'll get you for he's not down the one will die and pilot grove You can remember that Lee you pay for this Alright boys, that's right. There's no sense in my talking to you You all know it was a fair fight, but you've built up a hate and you'll think what you want to think So do what you want to do. I'll be waiting you won't wait long You Madison You can give me back my hat. I Want to say this strongly gentlemen. I Did not kill Hugh Evans those men knew I didn't know they would have killed me then they were all armed But nobody drew a gun So I left them in a road back home where my wife and my brother waited for me Why did you fight Bob? Why did you let them make you fight I had to Cory I hold still You shouldn't have by now they got you Evans dead couldn't help that Henry hold still It's what they've been waiting for something like this Sometimes a man can't sit back Sometimes it's smarter to a man can't be insulted in the street and sit back Now I'm not a man for trouble. I came home to live in peace They started this I've done nothing that I wasn't pushed into Way they're thinking as you kill one of theirs now, they'll kill you if they can then that's what they'll try There's nothing I can do about the way they're thinking But I'll wait for it As this group of men had been known before to raid ranches for profits I thought they might ride the mine if they were planning retaliation however groundless So I prepared accordingly. I Sent me three ranch hands to take all the horses saving two into hiding a few miles away And then at nightfall with lamps on lighted and with my wife afforded such protection as possible My brother and I sat down with our rifles at open windows and waited Now these might seem to you gentlemen unnecessary precautions But they would not seem so if you knew this band of cutthroats However, we were relieved some time after when we heard two horses approach the house saw two men dismounting honesty near the front door The Union soldiers, what do they want? I don't know put your rifle aside Who is it Bob Union soldiers? Why'd they come here? We find out Light another lamp coin Evening men. We're looking for Bob Lee You found him I'm Bob Lee. What do you want? I've come to take you to Sherman. I have orders to put you under arrest Put me under arrest for the murder of Hugh Evans. That was no murder. It was a fair fight and I knocked him down But he died by accident. You'll have a chance to say all that to my officers at Sherman He'll come peaceably won't you Lee? Course I'll come peaceably Bob the Union army is a just army and I'll be treated fairly corny That's more like an expect from boring and beer and the others Course I'll go peaceably In truth, I was anxious to yield myself to arrest Because I knew that by fair trial no army court could find me guilty of murder So I surrendered in good faith believing in right But I was soon to learn that those two men who took me weaponless from my house were not Union troops at all They were imposters with forged orders shame in the uniform and they turned me over to boring and tenor a dozen others in Choctaw Bottom where I was summarily tied to a tree before a fire You can say what you want Lee, but you'll be thanking us for what we've done here I'll thank the day that sees the end of you boring and you Sam Bear and Wilson and Maddox Lewis Peacock all of you Yeah, you might have seen your last one. Do you ever think of that? Are you trying to scare me Maddox? Because you don't none of you do you want to get yourself killed Lee never mind Maddox don't listen to him We brought you here to give you a chance to live You Give me a chance to live. That's what I said. Ask arrest the boys What kind of talk is that? To give me a chance to live You mean you think you hold the right to give anybody a chance to live You're nothing but feel all of you I say kill him and be done with This isn't the time for talk like at least Some of the boys are just as soon knock your brains out right now You don't hear me back in the back Wait We brought him here to give him a chance. I get it over with Now listen to me Lee You want to live don't you? You got a wife to live for your young man comes back from a war. He doesn't want to die. See what you have to say Blair there has a paper. We're asking you to sign You don't sign it. We'll kill you here now Getting the file out there and read it to This is what those thieves demanded of me in their note That I sign over to them a bill of sale upon my ranch the buildings the cattle and horses and all other property That I promised payable on demand $2,000 in gold and that I and my family leave the state forever They threatened to kill me if I did not sign and also to kill me if I fail to meet the demands So balance and certain death against probable death in the future. I decided to give them my signature But I forced myself to suffer their beatings and their insults for three long hours So that they get no inkling of a plan that was in my mind now after being released I thought to set about proving the illegality of the note they held and turn the civil law upon the scoundrels So in the company of my brother the next morning I rode into pilot Grove to inquire about legal counsel Although we still sought peace we went on I with two pistols and a rifle my brother with two pistols It so happened that a first stop for information at Nelson saloon and in front of there saw one of the men from the night before Jim Maddox. I didn't notice out there if he was armed, but he was not when he followed us in a few minutes later They come Bob, I'm not starting to play Maddox But if you feel like backing up some of the things you said last night Alone your gun come in to say I was sorry about that The rest of the boys got me riled up Sure didn't expect to see you in town this morning while I'm here I Came in to prove that notice signed isn't worth anything And you can tell boring and the others that if you've got enough brains to understand that note was my dear Lee I didn't have nothing to do with it Then we've got nothing to talk about Goodbye You talk too much Bob. I can't be driven by anybody. This isn't a time for pride You got to let him know first chance you get you came out on top last night. That's wrong Bob Maddox will get the boring before they wanted me without a chance to draw Maddox. That's no Bob What did you Bob? What do you do? Autolight is bringing you mr. Richard Widmark in the hunting of Bob Lee tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills suspense That's potent and pertinent patter Johnny plug check cold weather is coming fast And it's not a bit too soon to have the oil and grease changed and he frees put in check those Right Johnny because when they're right your chances of starting even in coldest weather are better than ever So visit your auto light spark plug dealer his exclusive auto light plug check indicator will instantly show you if your spark plugs Are right for the cold driving days ahead if cleaning or adjustments are needed He has the latest equipment to do the job quickly if replacements are needed He has resistor type or standard type auto light spark plugs their ignition engineered for smoother performance quick starts and gas savings And used as original factory equipment on many leading makes of our finest cars trucks and tractors So plan now to have your car winterized this week and remember check those spark plugs, too Be sure see your neighborhood auto light spark plug dealer because from bumper to tail light You're always right with auto light And now auto light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Mr. Richard Widmark in Elliot Lewis's production of the hunting of Bob Lee a dramatic report Well, calculate it to keep you in Suspended what I am writing you gentlemen is the truth It was a cold-blooded shooting The bullet ended one side of my face tearing the cheek and breaking the jawbone Came out on the other side of my head just in front of my ear Maddox left me for dead and Well, I might be had it not been for the timely aid and skill of the late Dr. Pierce who I mentioned at the beginning I may add here that this excellent person Later who nursed me in his own home was later killed by this gang He was murdered in the presence of his family for the reason that he saved my life In time I was well enough to return to my ranch But my face will always be twisted by scars My cattle had been stolen One of my hands had been killed and the other two frightened had sought work elsewhere The difficulty had become a true feud My wife had been removed to safety in Hunt County, and I was forced to take up arms myself I'll stand with you. Whatever you say Bob. We can't be outed anymore. I don't see how to get any worse Except for one thing Henry Once we start out. We can't come back here. There's nothing to stay for anyway. All right We'll pack some food and blankets right out late this afternoon It's sure the ranch is being watched so we'll ride north so we're leaving Then tonight when we're clear, we'll cross over the blackjack come back the other way where to Bob I made a list Henry and I put Jim Maddox at the top under him the same beer and William Dixon and Israel Boran and Louis Peacock It was at this time that my brother and I were first called outlaws That is not now nor never was true All we wanted was peace and there was no law and order We never killed an unarmed man or never without given a man a chance Why that first night when we got to the Maddox shack he was alone there with his guns hung up We could have killed him through the window. It's far enough. I want to win alone. I can see how you would Yeah, but he might remember my voice If you knock on his door, and if yes You tell him you're John Baldock that borns ancient. All right, Bob Step to the side when he opens John Baldock boring sent me. Well, I've come to clear it up with you and me Maddox I'm not armed You said that before You'll put your gun on or what if I won't then I'll kill you where you stand Put it on you'll have a chance to draw. You don't have to watch me turn around buckle your gun on Turn around so you can see where it is Bob. It's all right. He tried to draw from where was hanging. I Think this is a night. We'll remember Henry Sam beers next on the list Then we moved into Jernigan thick at the safety because barren and peacock and the others had enlisted aid from Kansas Some 30 strong we were told hired killers So we were forced to move by night Right Henry. I'm all right. I look farm on the right side. You're on the left. We'll go in there Move farther down while we can they see us now Sam beer William Dixon The lead brothers have come to clear it up with you and us We want you to stand up from your table and start a play so we won't have to kill you sitting there What are you gonna do? The leaves have had from these men If they have any friends here, this is the time to speak up One day about 12 after that when my brother and I returned from hunting to the shack in Jernigan thicket We were surprised to see Israel barren waiting for us unarmed and with his hands in the air What does he want? You can see I came a piece then leave in peace barren where the whole whole stance ever Leave barren and come back wearing your gun. No You've got no right to come in peace. Can't we hear? Brother was killed there in the thicket by rifles hidden in the brush Barren and his hired gunman took advantage of the fact that we always gave our enemies a chance and lured us in with an unarmed man. I Killed Israel barren after that and I looked for peacock, but I couldn't find him and then I learned he put a thousand dollars on my head and More gunman came to hunt me from Kansas I moved to Gibson Thicke at then to Thatcher and there were so many men I could hardly move at all And then finally after three months Although I vowed that I'd die before I ran. I left the county and rode to see my wife What have they done? What have they done so that we can't be man and wife and live the way we want to live is finished now I've seen my brother killed I've avenged him I've done what I can I can't do any more There are things to do There are places we can go we started in fan county we can start someplace else Yes Yes, yes, we can But I've have one more thing I have to do carry I Write a letter about this trouble. We've had to the newspaper in Bonham When the people read it, they'll know the truth That I'm not a criminal That I wanted peace And I couldn't have it and so I say in conclusion that I have done what I can to procure peace I Have been driven farther than most men I think and any violence I have done has been justified And finally I am still willing to surrender myself to any impartial civil authority at any time Since I know I am right I'm sorry to take so much of your valuable time in your newspaper space But a great many people have no idea of the true origin of all this trouble. I Remain yours Robert Lee There's no danger here Bob Are you sure if Pete I could follow that I've known I'm sure Cori I'll post the letter be back in 30 minutes Then we can talk about where we'll go Well after four months Cori, I I think there should be much to talk about You wait in the house Please I will you go inside True story of the Old West presented by auto light tonight star mr. Richard Widmark That was a powerful story Richard Widmark a Western drama. We'll remember for a long time. Thanks. Hello I really enjoyed playing Bob Lee and may I thank the other members of the cast for their wonderful support They were a great team. Hmm reminds me of the auto light team dick working together for better performance Yes, I see what you mean. Yes auto light makes over 400 products for cars trucks tractors planes and boats and they're engineered to work together perfectly Auto light makes a complete line of ignition engineered spark plugs both standard and resistor types Auto light batteries including the famous auto light stay full in fact auto light makes complete electrical systems No wonder from bumper to tail light. You're always right with auto light Next week on suspense our star will be mr. Joseph cotton as a man who in a most unusual fashion tried to clear himself of the suspicion of murder a dramatic report we call The Trials of Thomas Shaw In weeks to come we shall also present mr. John Hodiak mr. John Lund and mr. Frank love joy all on suspense Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morrowick and conducted by Lut Bluskin Mysterio Lee was the ballad singer The hunting of Bob Lee was based on the book by C.L. Sonicson and was adapted for suspense by gilded out Featured in tonight's cast were Kathy Lewis Luke Roadman, Junius Matthews William Conrad Harry Bartell Byron Kane and Joseph Curran Tonight's appearance of mr. Widmark was made possible through the kind permission of 20th century Fox Studios whose current release is the Desert Fox starring James Mason And remember next week on suspense mr. Joseph cotton in another story based on actual events a dramatic report. We call the trials of Thomas Shaw For the location of your nearest auto light spark plug or battery dealer or your nearest authorized auto light service station phone Western Union by number and ask for operator 25 Switch to auto light. Good night. This is the CBS radio network