 of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McRae as Ranger Jase Pearson. Another authentic re-enactment of a case transcribed from the files of the Texas Rangers. Places in the following story are fictitious for obvious reasons. The events themselves are a matter of record. Every day, Monday through Friday, you're invited to a new program on NBC as J. Sims brings you inside news from Hollywood. Yes, this is another NBC stellar daytime lineup of interesting and entertaining daytime radio programs. You'll enjoy such other favorites as Walter O'Keefe, who emcees America's funniest daily quiz program, Double or Nothing, Warren Howell, who presides over the program with a heart strike at rich, and Tommy Bartlett, the emcee with a roving microphone to welcome travelers as they stream through Chicago. And there's more entertainment too with Dial Dave Garroway. Dave has an easy, relaxed manner that's certain to give you an idea or two on how to beat the heat. And every day, Monday through Friday, NBC presents the two boys from Boston, who this year won the coveted Peabody Award, Bob and Ray. If you're tired of the same old thing on comedy shows, be sure to listen to Bob and Ray for a new concept of humor. A concept you're sure to enjoy. Now, here are tales of the Texas Rangers. And now, from the files of the Texas Rangers, the case called Last Stop. It is Thursday night in July, 1931. A local passenger train speeds through the rocky country of West Texas. While the engineer watches the track ahead, the perspiring fireman shovels coal into the flaming firebox. The steam gauge is still down, Whit. Oh, bring it up, Johnny. Can't afford to lose no more time. We'll make it all right. Hey, keep watching that gate for me, will you? Yeah. There. That's about all she'll take. I just hope it's enough. How are we doing now? Picked up 12 minutes, still way behind schedule. Well, we'll make it up, Charlie. 30 minutes on a short run like this? Yeah, it's a darn shame we had to have a hardbox. That firework had done his job. We wouldn't have lost all this time. And personally, it won't help us none. Well, anyhow, the Super can't blame us. No. Hey, say, did you see Mr. Evans? Uh-huh. Now, what did he say? I have to leave in December. When you get to be 65, you've got to retire. Well, you deserve a rest after all these years. Whit, what am I going to do with myself? I'll just be around the house all the time, getting in every way. Well, you'll be able to go out to the park and play checkers. Sleep till noon. Ain't that what you always wanted? Yeah, I used to think so. Hey, how much time do you think we'll make up? Oh, another 10 minutes, maybe. We can pick up a couple of minutes on this downgrade. Ah, I see. Yeah, that'll still make us 33 minutes behind. Yeah. How's the gauge? 248, right on the nose. Hey, you know, Charlie, this retirement ain't so bad. Why, you and the Mrs. should go back east. Visit your kin folks, maybe. It wouldn't cross you. Hey, there's something on the track. Huh? Well, what is it? Oh, the track. We're going to hit. Ah! Sheriff Wagner of Ravenna was notified of the wreck. He alerted the railroad and local doctors. While a relief train was dispatched to the scene, the sheriff requested the assistance of the Texas Rangers. Ranger Jase Pearson was assigned. He arrived as the last of the injured who were being removed from the splinted coaches. Sheriff! Sheriff Wagner! Jase! Yeah? Over here with this flag. OK. Hey, Tom, when you get through down there, give him a hand on the relief car. OK, Sheriff. Oh, oh, Charlie, go do it. Huh? Looks pretty bad, Sheriff. Yeah, sure is, Jase. That's a fireman they're taking now. Excuse me, Ranger. Sure banged up. Doc says he might have to amputate his leg. Anybody killed? Engineer Charlie Hanson got pinned under the cab. Most of the passengers are all right, though. How'd it happen? I don't know. That's why I called you. Could have been an accident. But I just ain't sure. You looked at the track yet, where the train jumped off? I haven't had time until now. I was helping the doc give first aid. Well, why don't we take a look up there? Sure. You get a flashlight? Right here. How come you got here on horseback, Jase? I left my car on the other side of the canyon. Figured it would be faster cut in cross-country. Yeah, you'll probably see it 35, 40 minutes that way. Uh-huh. Watch out, Sheriff. Rail's sticking up there. Yeah. Boy, what a mess. Track's torn up all the way around a bit. It's hard to find out what happened. It sure does. Maybe it was a loose track. Yeah, an axle on the train might have broken. Yeah, we sure knew. A fireman's not in any condition to talk and none of the others have any idea. Hold on, Sheriff. What is it, Jase? Take a look here. This railroad tie? What about it? This tie could have caused the wreck. You see these marks here and here? Well, old guard's doubt. Kind of like it's been burned. It could have been done by the friction of the front wheels of the engine. Marks are the right distance apart. Yeah. Then this must have been on the track, Jase. Somebody had to put it there. You think somebody wrecked a train on purpose? Well, it looks that way, Sheriff. How many trains come through here a day? Only two. One going west and one east. What time does the train go and east come through? About supper time. That tie must have been laid across the tracks no more in three or four hours before the wreck. Yeah. That's right. You keeping a deputy on guard here tonight? Keeping two of them out here. Good. Maybe one of them can take this tie into town. Sure thing, Jase. What time did this wreck take place? I don't know yet. I haven't had time to really question anybody. Chef, it's you. Yeah. We got them all into the relief train. Anything else I can do? I don't think so, Mr. Morton. You sure have been a big help. Uh, this is Ranger Pearson. Howdy, Ranger. Howdy. Mr. Morton's the one calling me about the wreck, Jase. Did you see it happen, Mr. Morton? My boys did. Did they see anyone around the tracks beforehand? Didn't mention it. They couldn't have anyhow. Too far away. Where were they? On the hill, looking for some stock. I guess you can't see it in the dark. My place is just the other side of it. What time did it happen? Gosh, I don't know, Ranger. I was pretty excited. I guess I didn't notice. You called me at five after nine, Mr. Morton. It must have happened just about nine. Only took the boys a couple of minutes to ride down the house. Your boys here now? No. I made them stay at home. Sure glad I did. Never saw anything so terrible in my life. All those folks suffering. The train's ready to leave, Jase. Yeah. Who's that shouting? Huh? Oh, there's Carl. He's standing there over on that rise, yelling at the train. Does it all the time. He's kind of pitiful, fella. Is he that young fellow who lives in the shack by the wars? Yeah, he's the one. His sister took care of him until she died a couple of years ago. Now he just tends his goats and a few chickens. Never bothered anybody. I don't know of him. Why is he yelling at the train? Oh, he hates trains. He ain't had no use for him since one of them killed his cow a while back. Maybe we better talk to him, Sheriff. We'll see you later, Mr. Morton. Sure thing, man. I think Carl might have done it to get eaten with a rear root. That's possible. He's got a grudge against them, and he's not quite right. He sees us. Carl, we want to talk to you. Hey, he's running. Come on, Sheriff. We got to catch him. Carl was clever as a bobcat. He knew the country and slipped away from us in the dark. We spent over an hour searching for him through the rocks and royals without success. Finally, the sheriff and I went over to his shack and concealed ourselves in the dense brush about 50 yards away. We stayed there the rest of the night. The longer we waited, the more convinced we were that Carl had something to do with wrecking the train. Nine o'clock the next morning, he still hadn't shown up. I declare, Jason, I'm so stiff and sore and hardly moved. How are you feeling, Sheriff? Hell, that sure run-down looking shake is good. Don't see what keeps it up. No. Sheriff, maybe we're wasting our time here. Think maybe he's not coming back? Can't tell with a man like that. Might have scared him off for good. Yeah, especially if he did wreck that train. Uh-huh. Why don't we get somebody to keep an eye on this place? And we can start looking for Carl again out in the brush. That's a good idea. Wait a minute, Sheriff, get down. What is it, Jason? Over there, other side of the clearing. Yeah, there he is, just coming in now. He's making sure the coast is clear. I guess he figures it's safe. He's going in. Let's get him. No, not yet. Let him get inside first. Okay, let's go. Where can he see he's just coming in? That window's so dirty, I don't think he can see anything. Why don't you go out and back, Sheriff? There might be another door. Okay. Give me time to get around there. Hello, Carl. We know you're in there. We want to ask you some questions, Carl. I'm going to open it, Jason. The door's locked. Open the door, Carl, or we'll break it down. I guess we'll have to, Sheriff. Yeah, it shouldn't be hard. It's pretty flimsy. You ready? Yeah. Now, grab his arm, Sheriff. On the way into the Sheriff's office, Carl sobbed and trembled hysterically. We could get no information from him. Sheriff Wagner and I saw it was necessary to let him calm down before continuing the questioning. We'll have a hot meal and let him rest. We'll put the railroad tie in the Sheriff's office. A few hours later, we sent for Carl. Sit down, Carl. You still mad at me? No, we're not mad at you, Carl. We want to know about that train. Dirty trains. One of them killed Mary. Who's Mary? Mary's this cow, Jason, the one that got hit. Is that why you were yelling at the train? Yeah. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. Tell us, Carl, is that why you ran away? You thought we chased you because you yelled at the train? Well, didn't you? No, that wasn't the reason. You know what happened to the other train? Yeah, got busted up. Did you do that, Carl? No. No, I just yell at the train. What were you doing yesterday? Well, I was home for a spell, taking care of my goats. How about yesterday evening? What were you doing then? I was over at the Radford's. What do you mean, George Ranted? Uh-huh. What were you doing over there? We was killing hogs. What time did you leave the Radford's, Carl? Well, not for a long time. They gave me supper. Mrs. Radford's a nice lady. Sheriff, you better call them. Find out if Carl was over there yesterday and what time he left. Okay, Jason. Carl, did you go down by the tracksman? Before the train was wrecked last night? No. I don't like trains. You see that railroad tie in the corner? Yeah. That was the tie that wrecked the train. Did you put it on the tracks? No. No, I didn't do it. Bye. Jason, that train was wrecked about nine, wasn't it? That's what Mr. Morden said. And Carl here didn't do it. How do you know? He didn't leave the Radford until ten. In just a moment, we will continue with tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCray as Ranger Jase Pearson. On our highway, excessive speed is the number one killer. It takes more than half of the lives lost in traffic accidents in many states. Last year, speeding drivers caused 15,000 deaths in the United States. Only you as a driver can help reduce the terrifying toll of human lives. Slow down for safety's sake, and you'll be doing your part in the current campaign against the number one killer on the highway is speed. Control your speed at all times to keep within the safe speed, not just the legal limit. The men who drive for a living, America's professional truck drivers, are taught that excessive speed for driving conditions is a major cause of many motor accidents. They're taught to drive ahead of themselves and to avoid accidents by seeing them threatened before they can happen. You can learn to do this too. Always keep your eyes on the road ahead and avoid rushing headlong into that fatal accident. Remember, speed kills. Slow down. The life you save may be your own. Now back to tales of the Texas Rangers. We continue now with tales of the Texas Rangers and our authentic story, last stop. After we took Carl home, we checked at the hospital. The doctor told us the fireman of the wreck train, Whit Bernard, was in fair condition and that amputation was not necessary. The doctor gave us permission to talk to him and walk down to Bernard's room. Mr. Bernard? Yeah? I'm Ranger Pearson. This is the sheriff. Yeah? We'd like to find out what happened, Mr. Bernard. Tom, Charlie's dead. Yes, sir. Mr. Bernard, do you remember what happened just before the wreck? I just sat down. Charlie yelled there was something on the tracks and we was going to get it and grab the brake. That's all I remember. You didn't see anyone, man, standing by the track, maybe? No. How fast was your train going? About 60. Never should have been speeding like that down those grates. Charlie, maybe to be alive now, we'd been going slower. Might have been able to stop. You were going faster than usual? Yeah. We were behind schedule. Supposed to be in Blankford. Just about the time we jumped the tracks. About nine, huh? I don't know. Eight-thirty. We understood the wreck didn't happen until nine. I don't know. It was closer to eight-thirty. Are you sure? Yeah. I looked at my watch just as we topped the rise. Sheriff, did that rancher, Mr. Morden, call you a little after nine? That's right, Jace. It was 905. And he claimed his boys saw it happen just a couple of minutes before that. I sure did. Why'd he tell us that? Recognize line? I don't know. Let's go over there and find out. Sheriff and I went to the Morden ranch. We arrived there about sundown. Mr. Morden was just coming out on the porch as we drove up. Sheriff. Howdy. Hello, Morden. I was just about to call my boy into supper. How about eating with us? No, thanks. I'm making a part of Mulligan. Here's plenty. No, thanks. We'd like some straight answers to a few questions. We're a sure thing. We're pretty sure now what caused the wreck. Is it so? What was it? Somebody put a tie across the tracks. You mean on purpose? Mm-hmm. Well, that's awful. That's the same as murder. It sure is. You called the sheriff at five minutes after nine last night. Is that right? I guess so. The sheriff remembered the time. How long before that did your boys tell you about the wreck? Oh, less than a minute. I phoned right away. Where were the boys standing when they saw it happen? Up on that hill behind the house. Come on back. I'll show you. Did they hear the crash? Yeah. How come you didn't hear? Well, I was in the house and the hill's in the way, I guess. There it is. Couldn't have taken them more than a couple of minutes to reach the house from there. No. Mind if we ask your boys about this? No, of course not. Come on. Young Dan's over in the barn, milking. What's the matter, Sheriff? Something wrong? I'll tell you, Mr. Morton. According to what you say, the wreck must have taken place about nine o'clock. It actually happened at eight-thirty. Eight? It couldn't have. We want to know why you're a half hour off, Mr. Morton. Well, I don't know. I can't understand it. Say, you don't think I had anything to do with the wreck? We don't know yet, but somebody did. Well, I'll tell you right now, it wasn't me. Maybe your boys will be able to tell us something. Come on. I just don't get it. You sure it wasn't an accident? We're sure. Dan! Dan, didn't you tell me? Hold on, Mr. Morton. We'd like to ask the questions. All right, Rangy. Dan, this is Sheriff Wagner and Ranger Pearson. They want to talk to you. Howdy. Dan, exactly where were you when you saw the train wreck last night? Well, we were up on the hill, looking for some stock that wandered off. Ain't that right, Pa? Yeah, son. Did you come down and tell your father right away? Yeah, as soon as we saw it. Are you sure you didn't stay a while to watch? Oh, no, sir. We rode right down. What did you see? Well, we heard a big awful noise. We looked down that way. We just saw the end of the crash, kind of. Just as the cars were falling over. You saw them turn over? Yes. Yes, sir, we did. Son, are you sure you saw it? Yeah, Pa. If you don't mind, Mr. Morton, let us ask the boy. Dan? Yes, sir. Tell me the truth now. Did you go down to the wreck before you came home to tell your father? No, we didn't. Honest. Did you ever handle a railroad tie, Dan? Tie? You ever want to put one on a track to see what would happen when a train hit it? No. No, I never did. How long you figure it took you to come down the hill? Just a couple of minutes. We came right away, honest. You couldn't have, Dan. The train was wrecked a half hour earlier than you say. Well... Dan, did you put the tie on the tracks? How about it? Was it you? I didn't want it. Boyd made me help him. Oh, Pa. There, there, sir. Ranger, I feel sick. My own boy, he did this awful thing. Why did you do it, son? Boyd, he said he'd show me how to bust up a big log without any word. Oh, Dan, I didn't want to, but he called me a sissy. What? Well, I helped him drag one of the ties out of the track. You waited there and watched the train hit it? Yes, sir. Well, when the train went down the bank and all them cars piled up, well, we got scared and rode away. Lloyd made me promise not to tell. Where is Floyd? On his way to Houston, I guess. You mean you don't know where your son is? He's not my son. He's my boss's son. You see, I'm a tenant farmer here. A star's been owns the place, lives in Houston. What's the boy been doing out here? Well, he kept getting in trouble at home. My father sent him to military school. When that didn't do any good, he asked me to take him for the summer. I thought it might straighten Floyd out being here. And I thought it was starting to do some good. When did he leave? This afternoon. I thought it was kind of funny why he wanted to leave all of a sudden. I had to talk him out of it, but he said, no, he wanted to go home. So I called his father long distance. His dad said put him on the bus. Did you? Yeah. Which bus was it? Four o'clock. I got him into town, but two, but we just missed that bus. Did you see him get on the four o'clock bus? Yeah, sure. I waited with him. Didn't want him to take it, because he'd have to stay in Bismarck tonight and catch the morning bus for Houston. But no, he was said, I'm going today. Do you have a picture of Floyd you can give us? Well, I got a snapshot of the two kids together. That'll do. We'll see if we can catch up to him in Bismarck. I'm afraid your boy's going to have to come into town with us, Mr. Floyd. Look, he wasn't Dan Ford. He's got no mother to raise him. And I guess I just didn't do a good enough job. We have no choice, Mr. Morton. He wouldn't have done it if it hadn't been for Floyd. Floyd's 17, he's two years older, and he was always talking Danny to things. Oh, there's Floyd's great talker. Every time we call him down about something, he'd talk himself out of it. Don't worry, Mr. Morton. He won't talk himself out of this. We took Dan Morton and his father to the sheriff's office in Rabina. Then Sheriff Wagner and I drove to Bismarck. The baggage clerk at the trailways bus station there identified Floyd Osburn from his photograph as having checked a suitcase at 7 o'clock. There was no bus leaving for Houston until 9.15 the following morning. During the night, we canvassed a number of hotels, but were unable to locate the boy. The next morning, we were back in the bus station standing next to the Houston bus. Floyd Osburn still hasn't shown up. If that kid don't hurry, he's going to miss this bus. Yeah, he's still got time. They've got 10 minutes before they pull out. What if it doesn't show up? Then we'll get him at home. What do you think he's doing? Waiting until the last minute? Yeah, looks like it. Let me see that snapshot of the two kids, Jase. I just want to be sure I'll know them. Yeah, I hear you. Never mind, Sheriff. Here he comes. You're in a hurry. Must overslept. Let's take him. What do you think you're doing? Cut it out, son. Hold still. Your name, Floyd Osburn? So what? This is Ranger Pearson. I'm the sheriff of this county. What about it? You were staying with Mr. Morden, weren't you? Was that a crime? No. A wreck in a train is. What? You don't think I wrecked that train? Who's been telling your stories? It's no use, Floyd. We know you did it. Well, this is crazy. I'm the one who reported the wreck. Well, I mean, Dan was two miles away from there when we saw it. You and Dan laid a tie across the tracks. You were right there when it happened. That's a dirty lie. We don't think it is. Well, it is. Look, look, look. If you want the truth, I'll tell you. Dan did it. I told him not to. It was Dan who did it. That's no good, Floyd. Dan's not big enough to have carried that heavy tile by himself. Well, his father helped him. Oh, old man Morden, him and Dan did it. I don't think the court's going to believe that either, Floyd. Well, you're not taking me to any court. Floyd, stop. He's going to get a hit for that car. I was close. There he goes, running toward the drugstore. Stop, Floyd. You're not hurt, but you're not running away again. I didn't. Well, now you know, and you'll never forget it as long as you live. Come on. In just a moment, we will tell you the results of the case you have just heard. Every day of the week, during your every waking hour, NBC is sending the finest in radio entertainment to homes around the world. Monday night is music night on NBC, with such stellar programs as The Voice of Firestone, The Railroad Hour, and The Telephone Hour. Tuesdays bring a variety of evening programs. For mystery, there's Barry Craig, a confidential investigator, and the adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel. And for fun-filled listening on Tuesdays, hear Truth or Consequences and Meet Your Match. Wednesday evening, more people listen to Groucho Marks and The Great Gilder Sleeve than to any other radio shows in America. You will want to join the millions who know that Groucho and Gildy each will provide top radio entertainment. Then Thursday evenings, be sure to hear Mystery on NBC with some of the best adventure programs on the air. Dragnet is just one of the fine Thursday night shows on NBC. And so it goes throughout the entire week. This station joins with NBC to provide you with great radio entertainment. And now, the conclusion of Tales of the Texas Rangers. And now, here are the results of the case you have just heard. Floyd Osbourne and Dan Morton were brought to trial on January 8, 1932. Because of the nature of the crime and his extreme youth, Dan Morton was released in the custody of his father. Floyd Osbourne was sent to the state school for boys at Gatesville. Joel McCray and another authentic reenactment of a case from the files of the Texas Rangers. Tony Barrett, Leo Curley, Burt Holland, Glenn Christie, Whitfield Connor, and Jeffrey Silver. Technical advisor was Captain M.T. Lone Wolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed and adapted by Robert A. White and the program was produced and directed by Stacey Keats. Tales of the Texas Rangers is heard weekly overseas through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service. Hal Gibney speaking. Tonight here the Hollywood Bowl Concert on NBC.