 AutoLite and its 98,000 dealers bring you Mr. Victor Mature in tonight's presentation of Suspense. Tonight, AutoLite presents a true story, the tragic and mysterious history of the most famous early California Bandit, as told in The Love and Death of Joaquin Murrieta, our star, Mr. Victor Mature. Hi, Senator. How's life in the legislature? It's all right there, but not in my automobile. How's that, Senator? My car bucks like a cantankerous constituent. Sounds like spark plug trouble, Senator. You know, if spark plugs aren't functioning properly, you just can't get the smooth and economical performance you expect from your car. Well, how do I veto the trouble? Just visit your neighborhood AutoLite spark plug dealer. He's an expert on cleaning and adjustment, and he services all makes of cars. But suppose my spark plugs are worn out and need replacing, Harlow? Why then your AutoLite spark plug dealer will replace them with a set of super smooth, world famous, ignition engineered AutoLite spark plugs, either standard or resistor type. So friends, pick up your phone and call Western Union by number. Ask for Operator 25, and she'll gladly tell you the location of your nearest AutoLite spark plug dealer, the man with ignition engineered AutoLite spark plugs. And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with AutoLite. And now, AutoLite Presents transcribed the love and death of Joaquin Murrieta, a true story starring Mr. Victor Mature, hoping once again to keep you in suspense. To whomever it may concern, I'll leave this letter to explain how with justification, the son of a Grandi in Mexico, the son of wealth and prestige and courtesy, can be turned into an outlaw and a killer. The beginning was near Calveras in a peaceful summer evening, given over to the singing of birds and the peaceful occupation of such as I, a peace which was interrupted. Joaquin! You were hurt, man. What fighting have you done? They've killed Carmen. What is this? She fought them, and they killed her. But why, man? For nothing. We were where we were. That is why, at our claim, I was working and they came. I recognized one, that O'Brien from down the stream. He said to me, we want this claim. You have no right to it. And I said to him, clearly, I have right. All in California have rights. It's written down that way. But they left their horses and O'Brien beat me for my words. Two of them holding me and O'Brien with his fist and then his gun. In great graveness. When I went down it took me much time to get up. So much, I don't know. But I heard Carmen calling me. Then I came to her. And they had hurt her. And she died. What did you do with Joaquin? First I cried with her until now my tears are gone. Then I swore to her that never would I rest until I avenged her. Avenged her? The life that will lead to? That is what you want, truly? Yes. More than anything. There is nothing else left. I know your feeling. I am with you, Joaquin. How did she die? By this knife. That of O'Brien. Yes. I remember him. Here it is. And I plan to return it. Not as part of the justification. I remarked that my wife Carmen and I left Sonora, Mexico to go to the California gold fields. With dreams of happiness and wealth. And when we arrived in that country, we found it invaded by many without faith or decency of law to govern them. They wore their evilness as they wore their beards without shame professing only hatred for our people. Seeing in us only a conquered race without any right or privilege. Thus came about the death of my wife. And bad fortune, not my own instead. But I died partly. The night she died fully. Part of my mind went with her. That which I kept would allow nothing but hate and desire for revenge to come to it. Later that same night on the road to the place where I was sleeping, I saw a figure riding towards me. This was the first time I was sure that that part of my mind had gone with Carmen. The moon was high and white. And when I saw this man was one of them. I knew it was O'Brien. Amigo, I'm lost. Which is the way to Calveras? Your way off, way off. What is this, way off? You're going in the wrong direction. Calveras is that way. Which way? The shadow's Amigo. It's hard to see which way you point. I don't see why it should be. Right back there. What's the matter, Amigo O'Brien? My name's not O'Brien. I got my bridle. What do you want? You don't need a knife to find the way. No, Amigo. No? You stay, Amigo O'Brien. You may go. I've done nothing to you. What you've done to me. What have you done? You've killed half of me. Now you will do something else for me. And then I looked at him. And with the moon, right, I saw it was not O'Brien. And then I knew I was a killer. And that a price would be put on my head. Those things were true. And I quickly drew around me. Those who had been hurt also. Though none so deeply. You were cautious. We never rode together until we were near this place. That's good. Who came with you? Manuel Garcia. Greetings, Joaquin. What I hear of you must have been very hard. A very much emotion. That part's finished. You choose to ride with us, Manuel. I am here, Joaquin. For what other reason? To smell the night air? What they did to your brother, is it enough? Enough. He bought a horse from them. And committed the crime of riding him home. On the way others stopped him, accused him of stealing the horse. They tied him to a tree and horse whipped him. Then without the privilege of being conscious, they hanged him from the same tree. Would you judge that to be enough? Welcome, man. I will kill well, Joaquin. Who else, Manuel? Luis Guerra. Yes, Manuel. Here is one you do not know, Joaquin, but he is conditioned. Luis Guerra. Good evening. You're young, Luis. Young enough to come to California with my mother and father. The land of gold. What you found instead? They are dead. Our claim is worked by others. Is it enough, boy? To ride with us? You are young and none of us know how long we will ride or how long we will live. I saw them die. It was enough. Pedro Gonzales and Fernando Fuentes. And there were more. Lots more. All carrying hate in their hearts. We left that place all pledged to do the same thing. Revenge for the wrong is done to us. The light is bringing you, Mr. Victor Matur, in the love and death of Joaquin Murrieta. Tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills. Suspense. Say hello. You mention both auto light standard and resistor type spark plugs. Right, Senator. And both are ignition engineered by the same auto light engineers who design complete ignition systems used as original equipment on many of our finest makes of cars, and tractors. Well, what's the auto light resistor spark plug? Hello? My senator, it's the greatest advance in spark plugs for automotive use in the past 25 years. It is? It surely is. The built-in auto light resistor makes possible such amazing advantages as double spark plug life, smoother engine performance and quick starts. And the resistor spark plug is only one of a complete line of auto light spark plugs for every use. And the nearest auto light spark plug dealer has them. Eh, Harlow? You can bet you're Hamburg on it, Senator. Friends, see your auto light spark plug dealer for a spark plug check-up soon. To learn his location, just phone Western Union by number and ask for Operator 25. And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with auto light. And now, auto light brings back to our Hollywood sound stage, Mr. Victor Mature in Elliott Lewis' production of The Love and Death of Joaquin Murrieta, a true story well calculated to keep you in suspense. There was much killing there, Calveras, and soon much looting. I searched for O'Brien, whose knife I carried, but found him not. Then there was more killing in many places, San Jose, Marisville, and many others. In the beginning, I had an excitement so great that I could not tell it. But during that time, I listened. And I didn't hear the bird. The excitement started to pass away. And I found that I followed my men instead of leading them. It was after an attack near Orris Timbers that Manuel Garcia and boy Luis came to me when we were at camp near the ranch of San Sepatero. They knew I no longer received satisfaction. What is it, Joaquin? You do not drink with us? You do not laugh? In seriousness, Luis, and I have been speaking of this, you're not like before. In the raids, you only watch. You do not fight. There's nothing. I have good men. And a leader who listens for the call of a bird. There has been talk of this. Let them think what they wish. What is it, Joaquin? We are your friends. Tell us. Look, I have no stomach for it anymore. For what, man? For all the killing. This, this I hear from you, you who brought us together, who was something very barbarous in the beginning, was something very brave in the beginning. Yes, yes, Juan, from that one you hear all this, I'm going back to Calveras. Oh, yes. To listen for the bird or to fight the posse that was so cowardly as to drive us away. My mind is set. Back to Calveras? Why? Is it truly the bird? Joaquin? In this, to me, there is something more personal and terrible. More than to any of you. In the beginning it was part of me. Yes, yes, call it the bird. But now this general killing, one camp than another. To me it only builds a reputation for our people that's not good. There is much gold that builds to it, has a reputation. I didn't start for gold. I started to kill a man and I haven't found him. You have found many. None who is personal. And that I don't like. Dear Brian, whose knife you carry? Yes, so, Brian, that I could go back and find him and I would join you again. You go alone? That is not my choice. One to go with me. If your mind is set, I will go. There's a smaller price on Luis's head. He's not knowing so well. I'll go Joaquin. That is what you want. Thanks, Luis. I waited many weeks so that I would not have to ask you. If I had known Joaquin. Thanks. I wish the morning would come so that we could leave. Luis, listen Luis. Juan. What Joaquin? What is there to hear? Nothing, my friends, nothing. You do not comprehend. I knew my thinking was right in the omen of the next morning. A golden sunrise in the soft south wind. Luis and I did our journey in leisure and without hiding. And in four days we reached Calveras which had increased to a city of tents and rough buildings during the time we'd been gone. This place has missed us. We had it burned to the ground. Perhaps we'll come back someday. I hope so. I'll be around for anyone who seems to recognize us. I am looking, my friend, but for anyone who would not know Joaquin Murrieta. The town was filled with strangers. We clearly found this to be the truth. All had heard of Joaquin Murrieta, but none alive had seen him. Luis and I found sleeping room on the border of the town. And for three days I searched for O'Brien. On the fourth night I heard news of him. Wait. Luis, we'll have a drink in this place. Come. He was chased out of here and he'll be chased till he's dead. Will I, Luis? Who knows? I heard he had a pretty good reason for going on the war path. That his wife was killed. Joaquin? That ain't true. He was trespassing where he didn't belong. Working a claim that didn't belong to him. Luis, no. I didn't hear that part. Joaquin, help me. He knew him. He was there when it started. Help me. Said Murrieta was a born killer. Help me. And Brian, he's in a new posse now that's going to start out hunting for him. Well, I'm glad it's O'Brien and not me going out to hunt Murrieta. Joaquin, no. Let go, Luis. Cutthroat's big enough to beat it out. Born as notches, senors. Pardon the intrusion. I heard you speak of two things close to me. Well, this Maddo Brian, who's a friend of mine and the other is Joaquin Murrieta. What about Murrieta? Well, I've just come from the south and I heard where this Murrieta is. I would like to tell Senor O'Brien. Well, there's a price on Murrieta's head. Why should you want to help somebody else get it? Senor, I am of the same people. And I don't sell my people. Murrieta, he was sent crazy by what happened. The rest of us are not crazy. Where'd you hear he was? To the ranch San Sepateris. You know where? See, but I tell only Senor O'Brien. Senor, there's no reason for that gun. How do I know who you are? You all look the same. Come on, Sam, keep him covered with me. Take this gun. Yeah. All right. You want to go to Maddo Brian, do you? See, Senor. Then Sam and me, he'll take you. Go on. You say you were south. Why? You were selling horses. Where? Los Angeles. How'd you hear about Murrieta? I'm a friend of mine. Yeah, you don't talk straight. We'll see what Maddo Brian has to say about this. Help me. It was a rare situation with many possibilities. I'd seen Louis slipping away when I went to the table to these men. And I knew clearly that he would come to my aid if he could. But my worry was that he would come too soon before these men could take me to O'Brien. Then my worry was that he would not come at all. Lamson, you must be home. Hey, what? Thank you, Louis. For nothing. O'Brien will come out with this noise. You want my gun? No, friend. I have his knife. And that's as it should be. Oh, what's the matter? There. Say you, Louis. There's been some trouble, Senor. Some man, they took my gold, Senor. I'm shot. Get out of those shadows where I can see you. Senor, but don't shoot. Keep coming. Senor. Marietta. Remember well, O'Brien. Remember well. Look in. Moment of this, Louis and I have been only a junk in front of the passe. But last night, we heard them ride by as we lay hidden. And all this day, we have heard or seen nothing. We've rested, feeling safe. And I've used the time for the writing of this history, which now has ended. I know the debt can never be paid. There is no way ever to avenge Carmen's death fully. But I've done my best. But now I've had enough. I hope to follow this letter soon to Senor and take up the peaceful life of the gentleman again. My loss will never be. What is it? I think I heard something. I don't know. Where? From below. How close? I don't. There. Look, a horseman. Won't we ever stop running? Come on. Louis, above us. Look. This is no good, man. That way, Louis. Then towards the grove. They're there too. What did this day of rest do to us? Perhaps that was the end of the history that was written there in a canyon, which is now a residential section of Los Angeles. But supporting details are scarce and rumors are many and varied. There were those who said that Murrieta did die that day. There were others who said that only one body was found and that there was some doubt as to who it was. And there are others who said that during the following days a rider was seen in bloody clothing traveling by night. It could have been Murrieta, they said, moving toward Mexico. Perhaps following the sound of a bird, but no longer a voice. Suspense presented by AutoLite, tonight's star, Mr. Victor Mature. This is Harlow Wilcox again, speaking for AutoLite, the world's largest independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment. AutoLite is proud to serve the greatest names in the industry. That's why during these early months of 53 the AutoLite family joins together in saluting the leading car manufacturers who install AutoLite products as original equipment. Our AutoLite family is made up of the nearly 30,000 men and women in 28 great AutoLite plants from coast to coast and in still other AutoLite plants in many foreign countries. Our family also includes more than 18,000 people who have invested a portion of their savings in AutoLite, as well as 98,000 AutoLite distributors and dealers in the United States and thousands more in Canada and throughout the world. Our AutoLite family will salute the Plymouth Division of Chrysler Corporation on the next AutoLite Suspense television program. If you live in a television area, check the day and time of suspense on television so that you'll be sure to see this program. Next week, the roaring twenties and the violent people who occupied them, as with song and story, we tell about St. James Infirmary, our star, Miss Rosemary Clooney. That's next week on Suspense. Suspense is produced and directed by Elliott Lewis, with music composed by Lucian Morrowick and conducted by Lud Gluskin, portions of the program were transcribed. The love and death of Joaquin Murriotto was adapted for suspense by Gil Dowd. The guitarist was Jose Barroso. In tonight's story, Harry Bartel was heard as Luis, William Conrad as the narrator, Virginia Gregg as Carmen, Joseph Kearns as O'Brien, Harley Bear as Juan, Hiaverback as Joe, and Jack Crushan as Manuel. Victor Mature appeared by arrangement with 20th Century Fox producers of Taxi, starring Dan Daly. And remember next week, Miss Rosemary Clooney in St. James Infirmary. Tonight, AutoLite is pleased to congratulate the Boy Scouts of America and their leaders, on their 43rd year of guiding boys to a future of fine citizenship. This is the CBS Radio Network.