 Texas Rangers starring Joel McRae as 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. Every day Monday through Friday there's top entertainment all day long when you've set your radio dial to NBC. Listen for Double or Nothing and you'll hear one of radio's funniest quiz shows. Yes, 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 Hall brings you every day on Strike it Rich is just what the doctor ordered if you suffer from the housework blues. From Chicago Tommy Bartlett brings you Welcome Travelers and 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 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. And now here's today's tales of the Texas Rangers. And now from the files of the Texas Rangers the case called Smart Kill. It is approximately 11 o'clock on the evening of May 14th 1939 in the small South Texas town of Carville. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Woodley have been spending the evening at the home of friends. Call to the telephone but a moment ago Ed Woodley has faced flush with excitement. Now hurries across the room to his wife's side. I thought that. Come on we got to get out of here and would leave you taking leave of yourself here I picked up the coat and purse quick now and face it. Tonight I'll call you tomorrow John the world. I'll explain in a minute. Push over I'll drive well I never would be what's the big idea of running out on a party that way. I think I did right not busting up the party. Well you certainly didn't help it any now would you mind telling me why you made such a spectacle of yourself and why you're driving this car like a maniac after that phone call from Sheriff Fuller he said our feed and grain companies on fire and burning like fury knowing that's what he said look off there you can see the flames in the sky now oh oh why didn't you tell me before I couldn't see any point and tell about it the party would have busted it up for sure I'm sorry I spoke like I did don't blame it show up the fire departments there we'll know as soon as we get around this bend. Oh yes it was right you sure got a good start the fireman can hardly get near it. It's cheerful. Pretty much on the way to go up like she's filed high with feed grain and cotton. Oh I sure wish I could get in there for just about two minutes so don't you dare try to get near there. I wish Martha all my leg is in there I don't know how I'll ever get speed on paperwork. Firemen are having a terrible time getting close you can feel like heat all the way over here. Thank the Lord it didn't happen when someone was in there. That's your office right where that window is isn't it Ed. Yeah but it might just. Well Martha I don't know what is it. Martha The way the flames jump around you just imagined it. Yeah there's nothing there now Ms. Woodley. I'll tell you. Would anyone have gotten in there tonight Ed. Of course not there isn't she's right. Yeah there's someone in there. I know I saw him just before he fell back. Just one thing man pray for him it's too late for anything else. Fire raged far into the night completely destroying the feed and grain building. Sheriff Fullo suspecting criminal intent asked for the help of the Texas Rangers. Ranger J. S. Pearson was assigned arriving at Carville the following morning. He and Sheriff Fullo went immediately to the scene of the fire only to find a good many curious town spoke already there. It's a good thing my deputies were out here all night J. S. folks just wouldn't stay away. Morbid curiosity sheriff. According to what you told me the body should be right around here someplace. Yeah just about. Well that's just over there sheriff. What is. What we're looking for. What's left of. Good Lord. That's awful. Fire is a pretty awful thing to watch where you need to. Hard to tell what's burned through and what's still solid. Did a real thorough job it's not going to be easy getting an identification. It's too far gone. I was afraid of that. Fire like this didn't just roar up in a minute share if it took time this fellow whoever he is wasn't drunk or hurt why didn't he get out I never thought of that I want to see the front and back doors sure thing this way J. Here's the back door right here sure not much left of it this helps that lock up big one locks from the outside still locked let's get to that front door over this way. Be careful Sheriff a lot of these spots still hold their heat and know it. Front door should be about here someplace. This is it look at it sure another padlock this one locks from the outside to. Guess that answers your question of why he didn't get out it sure does it couldn't have been an accident he was put in here that makes it murder with malice share that figures well what's the next move right now there's only one important thing identification of the body since the J. P. is through with him have an autopsy performed sure not much left of him to work with I know maybe his teeth will tell us something but that'll take some time just won't be just standing idle in the meantime Sheriff there's a lot of work to be done a lot of work later the sheriff and I were at the home of Ed Woodley the man who owned the burned out building both Woodley and his wife looked haggard and weary eyed over their coffee cups it was easy to believe they'd been at the fire all night once the sheriff introduced us Woodley lost no time getting to the point where would you find out Ranger you know who that man needs you know Mr. Woodley we don't I'll be in the kitchen if anybody wants anything body was pretty well burned Mr. Woodley gonna be hard to identify we can use your help if you've got any idea who he could be or how he got in there not least I did in the world so the building always kept locked at night always Ranger from what I could see they're just two doors how many windows to they look burglar proof to me they were but not fireproof you own the feed and grain business by yourself Mr. Woodley no Sam Taylor's my partner in the business got that form of the joint mine I see Mr. Woodley who else beside yourself has a key to the building why there was only two keys Rangers Sam's got one and I got the other yeah this is mine right here what can I find your partner oh great you'll have to wait on that Ranger Sam has been on the road from on a week he does it traveling for us think he's in Dallas now but he should be home the day or so you think Mr. Woodley don't you know well Sam's not much of a hand for phone and me Ranger and what do you mean he and his wife they only been married about a year I guess you'd call him a kind of love sick fella when he's on the road he does all his phone into his wife we'll look her up I don't suppose I've been much helped you Ranger just can't figure how a thing like this could happen be a lot easier to figure later on Mr. Woodley after we find out who the man was in the fire the sheriff and I got in the car and drove to the farm of Sam Taylor at Woodley's partner though the two partners farms that joined each other there were both big spreads in the drive took a good 15 minutes main house is just a little farther down the road Jason good-looking farm sheriff yeah you don't have to worry about Sam Taylor or Ed Woodley everybody in town knows they got no use for each other but business-wise they do right well for themselves you get the feeling Woodley's got no use for his partner's wife sheriff yeah well she is kind of uppity keeps to herself mostly that's one of the reasons Sam Taylor isn't as popular as he might be this is just turning here James tell me something are you figured Woodley burned down his own building for some reason say you like insurance doesn't figure you want to do that you sure wouldn't put a body in there yeah that don't make sense who runs this place for him got a Mexican who handles most of it yes oh Sheriff Fuller morning Miss Taylor this is Ranger Pearson Ranger howdy ma'am but is there something I can do for you we'd like to talk to you for me of course won't you come in I hope we're not interrupting anything of course not what gave you that idea I thought I heard you're talking to someone oh that must have been the radio you'll have to forgive the house being so untidy I've been able to get at my housework what with people phoning to tell me about fire excuse me I'll just turn that radio on won't you sit down thank you ma'am now what can I do for you it's about your husband Mrs. Taylor Mr. Woodley says he's out of town that's right out of town working while mr. Woodley stays at home can't even prevent the business from burning down you know that there was a body found in the fire mrs. Taylor so I hear we'd like to talk to your husband exactly where is he now why how could he possibly have anything to do with this he's in Dallas where's he staying at the Barclay hotel have you heard from him since he's been away yes he called me from there night before last and you haven't heard from him since no that's what we wanted to know thanks for your help mrs. Taylor you're quite welcome range you have you any idea yet who could have started this fire we're more interested in the man who died in it of course goodbye man goodbye hey Jason wait till we get the car what were you gonna say share when she first opened the front door did you hear a door in the back slam did better than that where I was through the window I could see a man high tailing it away from the house look like a Mexican tall good-looking fella yeah our tour Ramirez he's the foreman I was telling you about I wonder what he was doing in the house this time of day that's what I was thinking well what do we do now chase run up to Dallas and hear what Sam Taylor has to say we made a good time on the road and at five o'clock that afternoon walked into the lobby of the Barclay hotel in Dallas as we approached the desk the room clerk fussy little man about 50 looked up at us over his bifocals yes sir can I help him what room is Sam Taylor in please oh he's in room 401 or was that 403 I just let me check on that will it please you know Jason if Sam Taylor had anything to do with that fire be in register here give him a pretty strong alibi I know I'm terribly sorry sir I was mistaken that's all right what room is he in well that's just it sir he isn't in any room mr. Taylor checked out three days ago in just a moment we will continue with tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCray as Ranger Jayce Pearson you've seen it happen time and time again children playing a ball rolls into the street a child rushes after it full in the path of a speeding automobile perhaps the driver stops in time the chances are he can't and another tragedy another accident due to carelessness is chalked up to become a figure our next year statistical chart of traffic accidents let's all keep this year's traffic accident rate as low as possible stay within the speed limit don't endanger your life by trying to get somewhere too quickly better late than never maybe a tired old saying but it's also good common sense be alert and careful every moment you're behind the wheel never drive after drinking stick to your side of the road and watch for warnings at grade crossings remember it's your life that's at stake you can't afford to be careless a life you save maybe your own now we return you to tales of the Texas we continue now with tales of the Texas Rangers and our authentic story smart kill we were fairly sure that Mrs. Taylor had lied about receiving her husband's call from the Dallas hotel since the record showed he had left there three days before as we approached Carville the following morning we were radioed at the autopsy report was waiting for us the sheriff's office we decided to look at it first before our talk with Mrs. Taylor anything interesting in adjacent plenty sheriff there was a removable bridge in the victim's mouth doc turned it over to lab crew boy that could sure help yeah listen to this a broken knife blade approximately three inches in length found lodged in the third rib just below the heart stabbed from condition of the rib knife was apparently driven in with great force the rib bone itself deflecting the blow away from the heart but I saw him at the window trying to get out of that burning building sounds like something the killer didn't figure on what do you mean I got a hunch the victim wasn't supposed to be alive when he was put in there oh you're fuller oh yeah Johnny we just got in yeah we just been looking over the autopsy report well good we figured you would let us know if you hear anything huh fine that was your lab man Jayce he just wants you to know he sent out pictures of the victim's bridge work to all the dentists in the county let's hope we get a quick identification on those teeth and we won't be working only on theories Jayce you're thinking that body could be Sam Taylor aren't you what else can I think sheriff he left Dallas more than three days ago Mrs. Taylor lied to us about that phone call I think that body in the fire stands a pretty good chance of being Taylor come on let's get out to Mrs. Taylor's and see what she's got to say morning Ranger Sherry Fuller morning Miss Taylor we'd like to have another talk with you if you don't mind well I would it be all right if I dropped around the office later in the day instead I think it's important enough that we talk now Mrs. Taylor very well come in I didn't know that you had visitors but that's all right Arturo this is Ranger Pearson and Sherry Fuller Arturo Ramirez our foreman Ramirez let's not only our foreman he also cooks the best Mexican food in the state he's making enchiladas for lunch now if you gentlemen would care to stay thanks just the same Mrs. Taylor it's a little early for lunch well of course you won't be ready for a while yeah I see yes and your say good Mexican cooking takes a lot of time you know it must be started early in the day well if you have no further need of me I return to the kitchen when I started this is Taylor why did you tell us your husband called from Dallas two days ago because he did why we went to Dallas after we left here yesterday your husband checked out of the Barkley Hotel three days ago but that's impossible excuse me a minute hello just a minute it's for you Ranger thanks hello Pearson they did good who that definite I see thanks a lot that was a lab man sheriff and deputy told him we'd be here dentist about 15 miles from here identified that bridge work who was the dead man Jace who we thought it was yeah it's not easy to say this Mrs. Taylor what is it they've identified the man in the fire it was your husband I'm afraid so man would you rather we came back at another time Mrs. Taylor hate to ask questions at a time like this but there are some things we have to know look what is it you want who's your husband's beneficiary Mrs. Taylor I know what you're thinking that I had something to do with his dad but you're crazy do you hear me this is our job Mrs. Taylor I'll give you something to think about I'll show you you want a suspect do you just wait till I show you this insurance policy thousand dollars and who's the beneficiary on that one who isn't taste Edward Woodley the sheriff and I left Mrs. Taylor got in the car and drove to the adjoining farm of Ed Woodley I wanted to know about that policy I'd just been shown well you're sure that policy has been in effect for about three years one of those personal policies why was it taken out well it's pretty common practice when two partners are important to a business ask any insurance man if Sam dies I collect I die he collects why didn't you mention it when we were here before didn't seem a reason to I still don't why are you so interested in that policy anyway because you're about to collect on it the dead man in the fire was your partner Sam but how did it are you sure Ranger we're sure I think you better come down with us to the sheriff's office mr. Woodley what for why because you profit by your partner's death that could be a pretty good motive for murder for a minute I thought Woodley was gonna give us trouble then without a word he got his hat and came along with us when we got to the sheriff's office we left Woodley with a deputy and went into the inner office to see Johnny Blanch our lab man he was packing the dead man's effects in a cardboard box as we entered well finished up Johnny yeah there's nothing much more I can do until I get this stuff to the lab hope we didn't keep you waiting too long oh no I've been making out a receipt for you sheriff I'll just sign it and get along I see that receipt Johnny sure thing yeah thanks what can coins anything wrong Jayce sure I listed everything Johnny would you mind if I take a look at that box not at all everything there yeah everything you got on your list but I don't know something's wait a minute the key where is his key what key the one Taylor used to get in the building there wasn't any key found on Taylor's body well if there wasn't we got the wrong man sitting in the outer office how do you mean Jayce don't you see sheriff there were only two keys to the building one for each partner Taylor's is missing now if Woodley were the killer he wouldn't have to steal Taylor's key you mean someone used Taylor's key to get him into the building sure looks like it yeah but Jayce Mrs. Taylor'd be the only other one who could profit by her husband's death and she wouldn't have the strength to get him in there unless she had some help yeah but who had Mexican form of hers he seemed obliging in a lot of ways maybe the motive wasn't money after all yeah they were pretty friendly Sheriff let's you and I pay another visit the lady who was so broken up by her husband's death after we got a search warrant we took Mr. Woodley to his house 10 minutes later the sheriff and I were knocking at Mrs. Taylor's front door there was no one home we decided to wait till she showed up 30 yards from the house was Ramirez shack the door was unlocked so we went in and looked yes this door here is just crammed full of expensive shirts something interesting here too what do you got a piece of luggage and look at those initials ST Sam Taylor sure doesn't stand for our tour or a mirrors more shirts yes he didn't have enough room for him in the drawer yeah well this sure proves Taylor came back home yeah probably found Ramirez in the house that's what started it all hey wait a minute Jason there's a car coming could be there and leave the bag here let's get outside we can just about meet him at the house here I want to hear him explain what we found in that shack they'll try this will be the last time Mrs. Taylor I put the car away so you leave the car right where it is Ramirez get out of it come over here see I call Mrs. Taylor I got a search warrant here I'll start with your handbag you know right to do this here's a key sheriff same kind Woodley has that's my husband's keys that's the first time you've told the truth Mrs. Taylor what about you Ramirez miss and your yes you you've got an idea where we can find half a knife knife what night the one mr. Taylor was stabbed with you're crazy here here's my knife yeah shiny and new but how you're gonna explain Taylor shirts and luggage in your chakra mirrors I want to hear that 40 dollar bag and a couple of dozen shirts you just couldn't resist with me what's her idea to make the fire so it would look like an accident you won't have to worry about that anymore Mrs. Taylor I don't think you're gonna see each other for a long long time in just a moment we will tell you the results of the case you have just heard throughout the remainder of the day you'll find more great entertainment awaiting you on this NBC station be sure to hear the first night are starring Barbara Lottie and Olin Suley in a drama entitled found one mother then it stars in khaki and blue featuring talented members of the armed forces with Meredith Wilson as guest master of ceremonies and be sure to hear the hilarious Phil Harris Alice Bay show featuring the comedy addicts of Frankie Reveley Julius Abruzio and brother William remember to that theater guild on the air brings you over 21 the hilarious comedy of army life by an army wife Ruth Gordon who will star in the airplay along with Van Heflin later tonight Jack Parr will be around to ask the $64 question Sunday is fun day on NBC because of the many fine shows sent your way to add to your listening pleasure so remember for fine entertainment all the rest of the day keep tuned to this station of the NBC radio network at home or away at work or at play wherever you go there's radio and now back to the conclusion of today's tales of the Texas Rangers here are the results of the case you have just heard on July 11th 1939 Peggy Taylor and Arturo Ramirez were tried for the murder of Samuel Taylor they were found guilty Peggy Taylor was sentenced to the women's prison at Gory for 40 years and Arturo Ramirez was sent to Huntsville Penitentiary for the rest of his life and here again is the star of our show Joel McCray folks I want to take this opportunity to thank you again for the many wonderful letters that we've received from you listeners hearing from you brings us just a little closer to our family of friends who listen to tales of the Texas Rangers each week I want to tell you a little story about our good friend and technical advisor captain M.T. Lone Wolf Gonzales several years ago Kilgore Texas found an oil field at his front door in eight weeks the dusty sleepy little village of 900 population became a sprawling brawling city of 25,000 strangers streamed in by the thousands and with the good people came the motley horde of confidence men gamblers and professional thugs soon the honest hardworking people of the community found themselves at the mercy of these racketeers Gonzales was ordered to go in and clean up the community in his first offensive he rounded up 500 persons whom he considered undesirable and clapped them in jail when I asked him how he could tell the good people from the bad he said well in those days it wasn't hard at all I just looked at their hands if they had working man's hands with calluses on them I figured they were trying to make an honest dollar but if their hands were smooth and lily white I reckon they weren't up to too much good into the who's gal they'd go wasn't wrong very often either it's a long post see you next week next week Joel McCrae and another authentic reenactment of a case from the files of the Texas Rangers seen in san francisco story a Warner Brothers release the cast included tony barrett parley bair virginia greg barney philips vettie lou gerson and Howard mcnair technical advisor was captain mt lawn woek and solace of the texas rangers this story was transcribed and adapted by anthony barrett and the program was produced and directed by stacy keith hell givney speaking next it's the chase on nbc