 The national broadcasting company presents Joel McCrae in Tales of the Texas Rangers Tonight transcribed from Hollywood another authentic re-enactment of a case from the files of the Texas Rangers The Tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Jase Pearson Texas more than 260,000 square miles And 50 men who make up the most famous and oldest law enforcement body in North America Files of the Texas Rangers come these stories based on fact only names dates and places are fictitious for obvious reasons The events themselves are a matter of record pace for tonight the lucky dollar It is 730 of a simmering hot night August 14th 1945 In a small south Texas town not far from Corpus Christi Joe Barry is counting up the day's receipts of his modest story. His wife Clara is locking up in back What the I didn't turn them off mom one of the fuses must have blown No, I just put in a whole new unit didn't I hey you just stay where you are Claire I'll get my flashlight here and see what the trouble is And don't worry honey, I'll be careful See what we got here now All these futures look good Joseph everything seems all right in here more must be in the main switch box. I'll take a look outside Well, I'll be done Main switches pull If you're back to me and give me a flashlight what who are you never mind Consciousness he staggered to the phone and called Sheriff Jennings who in turn requested help from the Texas Rangers Ranger a jace person was at the scene of the crime a short time later Just like Barry said Sheriff the people this master switch outside the store to draw out the storekeeper And he must have thought Joe was alone in the store sure he did too bad. He wasn't Mrs. Barry'd be alive now Well, let's go inside against Sheriff. I'd like to ask Barry a few more questions You know Jason this is many like another hold up we had in this area just a week ago Yeah liquor store no gunplay, but otherwise just the same main switch pulls only went out to check the fuses Nobody saw the thief nobody but it could be the same guy could be Mr. Barry yes, Ranger Find anything more maybe I Know this is hard on you, but I'd like to ask a few more questions Go right ahead Ranger ask all you want I'll do anything to catch the devil that Murdered my wife. I know You're sure you didn't get a good look at the burglar something you could remember as identification. No, sir He came up on me out of nowhere. No sound nothing until he spoke then we fought But that voice I'd remember that whispering voice anywhere. He spoke you didn't mention that before Joe Didn't I? It's kind of hard to think right now, sir with poor Clara What the burglar say mr. Barry? Not much ranger But I know that voice I know it all right go on try to remember it word-for-word He said hold everything pop keep you back to me and hand over your flashlight And then when I fought him Let go you old fool That's all he hit me in the next thing I knew I saw Clara It's all right mr. Barry. I won't ask you to talk much more now But would you mind coming over to the cash register for a minute sure? Come with me There was so little in the till ranger only forty five dollars it was Forty-five dollars for my Clara Look here mr. Barry. Can you tell me about this piece of adhesive stuck on the front of the register? Looks like something was pasted here. It was ranger That murdering skunk even took the first dollar this store ever made my lucky dollar lucky dollar here Had it stuck up there on the register with a couple of pieces of adhesive tape He took it not all of it mr. Barry look here a corner of the bill is still stuck under this piece of adhesive Must have torn off when he grabbed it. It's not much to go on Jay's it's a start sheriff dollar bill that matches this torn corner And the bullets from Mrs. Barry's body How can we help him Jay's and best thing for him is some rest sheriff I'll leave it to you all right What about you? I'm hoping we can pick up some fingerprints on the register here and from the outside switchbox I'll radio the lab crew to fly down here, and we'll see what they can find Meantime we'll notify all banks to be on the lookout for a sticky dollar bill with one corner missing Lab crew came in from Austin and gathered all evidence by the next day I had a report from Captain stinson on that very robbery and homicide Jay's yeah captain any make on the bullets or prints But on the prints that's another thing the lab dug up something interesting. What's that no direct Prince Jay's But the thief walking gloves There's an imperfection in the weave of the left thumb. It's not a lot to go on captain I know a Jay's you got any more leads not exactly, but we don't think it was done by somebody just passing through Because sheriff Jennings had a similar robbery in this area last week with the same MO pulled the switch and worked in the dark Swarms of them It's hard to say Now I got an old dollar bill working for me too captain. Yeah good I guess all we can do now captain is sweat it out and wait for that dollar bill to pay off Stinson made good his promise by next morning every bank in the area had a description of the missing lucky dollar and photos of the torn corner Three days went by then on the 19th of August a man walked into state bank Yes, what can I do for you money? Here is money to pay for the loan on my house. Oh, we have a loan on your house. See your name, please Ramos one Ramos. I'll get your records. Mr. Ramos What is wrong? Say or this dollar bill you gave me a Corner's torn away, but it's good. The dollar is good. No. Oh sure sure, but Just a minute, please. Oh okay Hello, hello operator. Get me the sheriff's office Sheriff's office Jenny speaking. Oh, yes, Jim. What can I do for you? He did yeah, I say hold on a minute. What's up? Sure mean by the name of Ramos just pass a dollar at the bank that answers the description of the lucky dollar We've been looking for he's still there don't stall him. We'll be right over. Hello, Jim We're coming right over and don't let that Ramos get away This is the missing lucky dollar. All right, Sheriff see how it matches, but I swear to you Ranger I do nothing wrong. I come to the bank to make payment for my house. Where'd you get this dollar Ramos? I don't have to range your kids. I'll be where it comes from one day I work one place one day another place who knows where I get paid the dollar. That was your last job We I work for five days for mr. Larsen chair. You know I cross it tracks Arson only lesson runs a sort of swap shop in the Mexican settlement jays. It's a dump But holy does a pretty good business. Let's go see mr. Larsen and maybe he'd be able to tell us something about Ramos And the lucky dollar Tell him mr. Larsen sure Ramos works for me Ranger, but only for a few days mr. Larsen look carefully at this dollar What about it ever see it before? Not a random Ranger dollars a dollar ain't it not always feel this one for instance Kind of sticky and the edge is torn try to remember already. It's very important to you To me an old lady was shot down killed By someone who stole this particular dollar and old lady that dollar come from someone no no no no no I didn't do it Ranger. I earned the dollar here from mr. Larsen take it easy Ramos say Maybe I do remember this dollar Ranger you do and it seems to me a little Mexican girl give it to me Sure, I remember because it stuck to the other money. She give me know who we can find her I think she works at one of the cotton farms near her serve I don't know for sure, but she give me this dollar and two more to pay down in a red silk dress Yeah, I'll show you it's in the back room. Never mind that mr. Larsen just when did she pay you on the dress? Just last evening Ranger. Yeah, I keep open at night for the workers the cotton pickers. I Paid off Ramos when we closed up Must have given him that sticky buck along with the rest of his pay I told you mr. Larsen give me that dollar a girl say when she'd be back for a dress today You've never seen the girl before mr. Larsen. You don't know her name or where she lives No, didn't you give her some kind of receipt for her deposit? Oh sure But just for the three bucks when she brings in the receipt and the rest of the money she gets to dress Don't need a name and address for that What do you think I think we'll wait for the lady sheriff mean time Ramos see your angel stick around town. I may want to talk to you again Now mr. Larsen you mind if we wait for the girl in the back room, of course not Ranger just come this way Ain't much to look at all the junk by me Make yourselves comfortable as you can don't worry about us mr. Larsen just go on about your business as if we weren't here When the girl comes in let us know you can depend on that Ranger I will Jason Do you reckon OD's telling us the truth? I don't know sheriff. We ought to find out pretty soon I got a hunch that lucky dollar is gonna hit the jackpot You are listening to tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Jayce Pearson We continue now with tonight's case the lucky dollar an Authentic story from the files of the Texas Rangers Room for some time Larsen had a good trade plenty of customers, but nobody wanting a red silk dress Then about an hour later a Mexican girl walked into the store for my dress. You know that red dress. Jays easy sheriff Got the rest of the money Yep, that's right and you wait here now and I'll go get the dress It's her Ranger You young lady Mind telling me your name where you live I live right now at mr. Compton's farm My whole family works there my mother father brother that's got count and I know him Jays owns one of the biggest farms in these bars When does he pay his pickers sheriff like the rest once a week Saturdays? Because you paid this dollar down on a dress last night cheetah. It's a dollar We've been looking for this dollar. Yeah, where'd you get it? From my pay I get for working in the field speaking cotton. If you were a picker How come you're off work at this time of day? I want to get my new dress. I ride into town one of the prox you can walk off your job anytime you feel like a cheetah It's my business you're wrong there young lady. It's plenty of our business when you pass a stolen dollar Stolen come on. You're going back to the Compton farm with us Sheriff Jennings and I drove cheetah Marsalis back to the Compton farm The girl had her new red dress, but it didn't seem to make her happy We found Prescott Compton at one of the trucks near the main house weighing the cotton as pickers were bringing in That's Compton right over there Is this is Ranger Pearson we'd like to talk to you this girl worked for you mr. Compton Cheetah well sure she does ranger a whole Marsalis family works for me to find people Hey, what are you doing away from the fields? Cheetah? You haven't got yourself in any trouble She passed this dollar bill that was stolen in a robbery and killing four days ago, mr. Compton Cheetah can't seem to remember where she got it unless it was from you Not for me. She didn't that robber was four days ago. I Pay off on Saturdays ranger where a whole family is hired like the Marsalis I pay the head of the family in this case father. Let's see that dollar ranger. Here you are No, sir didn't get this for me. I'd swear. I've been paying my picks off with new bills new bills Well cheetah, I didn't do anything wrong ranger. I don't know where that dollar came from Well, we'll soon settle this ranger cheetah's brother is working right close here Carlos Carlos What do you want cheetah where you being papa look everywhere for you the ranger here once there's some questions Carlos But some money your sister had been a little trouble trouble trouble with cheetah what you done Did your father give her any spending money Carlos? Hey papa give us all a little see ranger see 50 Maybe 75 cent and he never give cheetah as much as eight or nine dollars at a time Oh, no, sir. You'll never cheetah never had that much any idea where she might have gotten it I can guess from dandy bird from who dandy bird Donald dandy bird is working me for a year ranger Trust with us as far as I know except he fancies himself sort of the latest manner Cheetah Did Donald bird give you this dollar? Hey, take it easy Marsalis. She'll get the money from no other place on your Dandy and no system mind go to take money from a man like that. Where does bird work? Mr. Compton Well callers can take you right to his truck ranger. See you better show you the way ranger and you little sister You pick your copy here close to the house where I can keep an eye on you when we come back with your fine dandy Come on sheriff Carlos let's get started for birds truck Carlos Marsalis directed this along the road through the copy fields to where Donald bird had been working Trailer was there, but the truck was nowhere in sight Hey, that's strange, sir. I know he was working here Hey, Sam come over here a minute, huh? Maybe moved to another part of the field. No, I don't think so sheriff. What do you want college? Where's dandy bird this ranger? He won him what dandy drove out of the field three four hours ago Mr. Rangy had full load. He's in town. He sure is boss at the cotton gin This dandy get himself some kind of trouble I go to make him play me trouble if he don't leave cheer alone Your sister was she drove into town with dandy? She did and she lied to us twice sheriff bird was at the gin when she came to the store for a dress Sure, we were thanks for the information Sam Carlos season you can you give us a good description of dandy bird? See see he's about as tall as the sheriff that makes in 5 14. He's a thin blonde color eyes in blue Pale blue cold like a snake size no skies no distinguishing marks. No, sir Only he is always dressed up even in a truck at work. He dresses fancy. That's what I call him dandy That's a pretty good description. Jayce couldn't be hard to pick him out in the crowd Oh, please run. You let me go with you to town. No, you can do more good back at the farm Carlos, I'll drop you there you keep an eye on your sister until we contact you again Buenos we'll head back for town sheriff. We'll pick up dandy at the cotton gin There was a big lineup of trucks at the college in but we didn't see any driver that answered dandy's description Sheriff Jennings and I went up to the loading platform and headed for the superintendent's office Yes, sir, what can I do for you range of person would like some information, mr. Cullen. Why sure come on in my office So we can hear ourselves talk Yeah, have a chair gentlemen Oh How can I help you you know most of the drivers by side don't you mr. Collins? I'd say so ranger the regulars anyway, but there's a heavy crop this year You saw the line of trucks outside. Well, there's lots of new drivers a man We want is regular mr. Collins works for press company man's name is Donald or dandy bird dandy Why sure I know him funny you should ask for him to somebody else wanted him Yeah, phone call came in here about half hour ago phone call. Mm-hmm I went out on the platform and gave a yell Dandy moved up close to the head of the line and he climbed out and came back in the office with me Then you heard the conversation what there was of it ranger I wasn't paying much attention But seems to me he did say something about meeting somebody at the same place tonight Any high tailed out of here, and I haven't seen them since you any idea where he went No, and I wish I did left the truck standing blocking the whole line You're looking for dandy bird ranger. I'd like to get my hands on him myself. Well, thanks mr. Collins Oh, well one thing more But do you know who called bird on the phone? I know sounded like some little Mexican gal I left Sheriff Jenny scouring the town for bird while I went back to the compound farm to have a talk with cheetah We didn't have much time. It was getting dark as I turned off the highway onto the Compton Road I saw Carlos Marsalis running toward me Yeah, what is it Carlos cheetahs? She's gone. What I thought I told you to keep an eye on her. I did I did But she went into a shock and I wait but when she don't come out I go in and cheetahs gone her clothes everything Then I look out the window. I see her stopping the bus I run after a body snow use the bus was gone a bus pass me coming down here pilot and Carlos will follow it Carlos Marsalis, and I followed that bus for 18 miles Then we saw cheetah get off in a town that wasn't more than a whistle stop She went into a dingy beer joint was small but plenty noisy Parked the car where it wouldn't be noticed and we sat there for almost an hour Why should my sister go into a place like that? I hope it's because of dandy. I hope he shows up That to the state Carlos you'll get what's coming to him. See but just to sit here and you're doing nothing. Yeah, wait a minute Look going into the cantina now. Is that bird? See see does him let me go home. Oh You stay here Carlos, and I mean it See you ready. Whatever you say, and I'll buy a beer, baby Dandy oh Dandy darling. I was so afraid you wouldn't go. I Told you I wouldn't on a phone didn't I But I was so frightened First that ranger then I had a big fight with my family Carlos even hit me poor kid I leave them Dandy. I leave my family because I love you. Yeah sure. Nobody followed you here kid No, no one even saw me leave the farm good. I can do without them rangers snooping on my tail Dandy What you do to make those rangers come for you? Oh, what does anybody do to get the rangers after them? Those guys are always looking for trouble. Hey, what about them beer? Then you tell me the truth For you, I leave my family Dandy. I love you Yeah, yeah, I know baby Just in time boy am I dry Like I said kid Dandy bird never makes trouble for nobody. I got plans for you Dandy, what's wrong? The ranger coming in the door. He's heading this way So you did leave the rangers here You stay where you are ranger don't go for your guns. I got the girl in front of me You stay close to me My life ranger you try to come in you hit her first Get this door open don't come any closer ranger. Don't shoot no more ranger. Don't shoot no more. I'm done You sure are Too bad you didn't stick to the cotton business Come on Dandy on your feet Cotton glove with the imperfect weave was found on Donald bird at the time of his capture Confronted with this and the undeniable evidence establishing his gun is the murder weapon Donald Dandy bird made a full confession Cheetah Marcellus was given a suspended sentence of five years Bird was sent to the state penitentiary at Huntsville for the rest of his life And now here again is the star of our show Joel McCrae with another interesting anecdote about the Texas Rangers In the early oil boom days of Texas the rangers were faced with a problem of rounding up lawbreakers and holding them in custody Until they could get them to the nearest jail, which might be 50 miles away Captain MT lone wolf Gonzalez now commander of company B. Texas Rangers Used a novel fresh air jail that became known as the ranger trot line It was simply a long chain strung up between two posts with 50 or 60 trace chains attached When an arrest was made he padlocked the free end of the trace chain to his prisoner and left him there to face the jibes and laughter of the local citizens Though it's no longer used today the ranger trot line started quite a few would-be bad men on the straight and narrow path and To this day there are some characters who still can't stand the sight of a trace chain Good night folks. See you same time next week Good night, Joel Folks there have been so many requests for the Texas Ranger prayer read by Joel McCrae a few weeks ago That there has been some delay in answering all of the mail If your copy of the Texas Ranger prayer has not been received as yet, please be patient You should receive your copy soon Next week Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment of a case from the piles of the Texas Rangers Only seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor production saddle tram Tonight's cast included Tony Barrett, Nester Piva, Peggy Weber, Lou Krugman, Herb Butterfield, Byron Kane, Wilms Herbert and Barney Phillips This story was transcribed and adapted by Virginia M. Cook And the program was produced and directed by Stacey Keach. This is Hal Gibney speaking Three times mean good times on NBC It's Yoho for the open sea tomorrow as the railroad hour presents Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera the Pirates of Tenzans Starring Gordon Macrae, Lucille Norman and Clark Dennis Gordon Macrae will star in the comedy character role of the Major General This will be the third of Gilbert and Sullivan's musical whimsies offered on the railroad hour For music in a more serious manner tomorrow, the NBC Symphony brings you another hour-long concert of some of the world's greatest music Under the baton of the brilliant young conductor, Guido Cantelli Now the $64 question Three times mean good times on NBC