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Hitchhiker – Tales of the Texas Rangers (02-10-52)
00:30:43
An escaped convict hitch-hikes a ride on a country road in an attempt to bypass the road blocks. Original Air Date: February 10, 1952Host: Andrew RhynesShow: Tales of the Texas RangersPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• Joel McCrea (Ranger Jayce Pea...
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Unknown Narrator
Foreign.
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Phil Harris
Welcome to the Old Time Radio Western Air Dane. And let's get started. 1952. And in this episode, an escaped convict hitchhikes a ride on a country road and attempt to bypass the roadblocks. The title of this episode is Hitchhiker. Hope you enjoy. And again, thanks for listening.
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Unknown Narrator
Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McRae as Ranger Jace Pearson. Another authentic reenactment of a case transcribed from the files of the Texas Rangers. Names, dates and places in the following story are fictitious for obvious reasons. The events themselves are a matter of record. Before we bring you today's Tales of the Texas Rangers, let's turn on our microphones down the hall in Studio A here at NBC's Hollywood Radio City, where rehearsal for the Phil Harris Alice Bay show is in progress. Yeah. Yeah. Now, that's the way we'll do it on the show. It sounded great, fellas. Bill, would you like to talk to the listeners during this break and rehearsal? Yeah, Bill, I'd love to. Folks, I'd just like to take a few seconds here to remind you about part of the fine lineup of entertainment for the rest of the evening right here on NBC, right after Tales of the Texas Rangers, listen to the big show with Tallulah Bankhead and. And all of her darling guest stars. I know you'll want to hear the music and comedy. The big show is lined up for you today. And then we come on to keep you entertained with our show starring Alice Fay, Frankie Remley, Julius Abruzio and some band leader, Phil. What's his name? Please, will you slow up a minute? It's the Phil Harris Alice Fay show right after the big show today. And I hope you'll listen, folks. And now let's return to Tales of the Texas Rangers. And now, from the files of the Texas Rangers, the case called Hitchhiker. It is shortly after dawn on the morning of April 4, 1947. Hod Carter of Boca County, Texas, is driving away from his small ranch on Farm Road 102. Suddenly, he sees a man on the side of the road Thumb. A ride on the list, young fell. Yeah. Now hop in, if you don't mind riding in this old crate. Just listen to her, boil. Yeah. What are you heading for? El Paso? Well, I ain't going that far, but I can take you to Elin. I be, sir. Kind out of your way, ain't you? Yeah, last ride left me off up the line and spent the night under a tree. Yeah, that's tough. Night's mighty cold for this time of year. You can cut down to 80 from Elkard, you know. Yeah. Yeah, I know. It's funny the way you popped out from nowhere. The dang near didn't see you. Glad you did. You stopping? Here's for some water. Why? Ain't any roach, right? No, no, no, it's all right now. Look at this map. Yep. Yourself. It won't take long. Howdy, Hyde. Not out of gas already? We just got some last night. Morning, Charlie. No get water in time? I'll give it work, cap. Sure is hot. Oh, let me see there. Yeah, it's that water pump leaking. Better let me put you in a new one, Hud. Oh, well, not right now, Charlie. I gotta get into town. Now, don't go putting it off. That pump ain't gonna get no better. I'll tell you what. I'll leave the car with you when I get. Well, you figure to take the shortcut? I usually do. Why? You run into my boy Clark down at the junction? He's working on the roadblock. Constable deputized him about an hour ago. Roadblock? What fer? Ain't you heard? Some guy broke trail at Poker. Slugged a deputy bringing in his dinner last night. No bag. Swiped his keys in his gun, carried the poor. Fell up tight. Don't say. Broke into the locker and change clothes too. Imagine that. What'd she look like? They ain't had time to get pictures out yet. Old thing only broke an hour ago when the sheriff came on to relieve his deputy. They don't expect to find their man way over here, do they? Crazy, ain't it? Last place in the world he'd head for. Oh, well, I guess they'll pick him up before long. Gotta be seeing you, Charlie. Around noon, eh? Yep. Okay. Don't forget now. I won't. Hey, ain't that something? That guy breaking jail. Yeah. How far away is that junction the gas mail was talking about? He's just around the bend up ahead. Pop? Yeah? When we go through that roadblock, I'm gonna be your nephew. I understand. What? Huh? Are you kidding, mister? This gun will show you if I'm kidding or not. Oh, hey, don't think I won't use it. Let me ask you who I am. I'm your nephew. I'm from Dallas. Been staying with you a few days. Get it. Say, you ain't. You ain't the fellow in the book. What do you think? Watch where you're trying. Now, look, mister, such a cop there. We just widen us down. I got a bad cold, see? I'll Keep my face covered with scratches. This gun's under my coat pointing straight at your liver. I ain't fooling, Pop. I got nothing to lose. One break and you're a garner. All I gotta do is let loose this hammer. Morning, Hun. How do you, Clark? We're checking everybody. Count of jailbreak. Yeah, your PA was telling me. I'm kind of new at this roadblock business. First time I ever been on one. Matter of fact, there's a bus car stop. You don't say. Sheriff's gonna get regular deputies here soon. Here's a call for the rangers too. You seem to be doing a good job, Clark. It's more fun than working in the gas station. Anyway. This is. Where do you hide? I'm supposed to check. You know, he's. He's my nephew. Fred Smiley, this is Clark Hollister. Fred, he met his dad up the road. Yeah, yeah. Howdy, Clark. Oh, I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Smiley. Fred's been down to visit me all the last couple of days from Dallas. Oh, Dallas, huh? Was up Dallas myself last year. You got a bad cold? Yeah. Yeah, I can't seem to shake it. Don't think we better get going, uncle. Yeah. Clark, can we move on now? I got a lot of things to do down to Elkin. Well, gosh, I'm supposed to ask strangers for identification papers and stuff, you know. Shocks you, being Hot's nephew. Sure. Go ahead. Okay, boys. Pass this one through down there, huh? By 9am the deputized citizens at the roadblocks had been replaced by regular law enforcement officers. A manhunt under the supervision of Texas Ranger Jace Pearson and Sheriff Sam Ford combed the county with dogs and horses but failed to locate scent or trail of the escaped prison. Next afternoon, Ranger Pearson and the sheriff will completing a routine check near the eastern edge of the county. Not many folks around here, Jase. Couple of small ranchers in the store or two just about lined it up. Doesn't look too promising. Sheriff, we had another roadblock at that junction we just passed. I see the constable's already called it off. There's not much use keeping the boys out any longer. A man's probably a long way off by now. Must get through yesterday morning before we set the blocks up. That's the way things break sometimes. Sheriff. There's Charlie Hollister's gas station up ahead. Charlie gets to see everybody in these parts. Anything out of the way happened, you know about it. Evening. Howdy, Charlie. Shake hands with Ranger Pearson. Glad to know you, Mr. Hollister. Likewise, Ranger. Got a line on your jailbreaker yet? And we're still working on it. We're pretty sure he's out of the county anyway. Any cars reported stolen? Nobody could have caught a ride before the news broke. Have you seen his picture, Mr. Hollister? Oh, they had it in the newspaper, but this is a lot better picture. Yeah. How about that young fellow back there? That's my son, Clark. Give me a minute. Meet Ranger Pearson, Clark. You know the sheriff. Oh, howdy, Ranger. Sheriff. Hello, Clark. Constable had you working on the roadblock, didn't he, Clark? Yeah, just for spare. They keep you busy? No. You've seen Reed's picture, haven't you, Clark? Oh, yeah, yeah. Sure didn't come through while I was on duty, though. Ring. Well, appreciate you helping out, Clark. Not all. Anytime you need me, Sheriff. Thanks. I'll call on you if I do. See you later, Charlie. We're going to check a few more houses up the line along. Oh, say, sheriff. Yeah? Hey, you're beginning to stop at Hod Carter's. Yeah. Why? Would you tell him I'm still waiting on him for that water pump? The old son's always going to leave me his car yesterday. You think, Charlie? I'll tell him. Probably got all about it. Nephew visiting him and all. What nephew? I never heard Hod had no nephew, neither I till I met him. Been with him a couple of days. Hudson. Sure is funny. I've known hard 30 years. He never mentioned any nephew to me. What'd this fellow look like, Clark? Well, couldn't rightly see. He had a bad cold, though. Was blowing his nose in big handkerchief. Better take another look at this picture. Try to remember. Well, gee, I'm not sure, but Hod told me it was his nephew. Wait a minute. Hod was riding some young fellow when he come through here. Let me see that picture again, Ranger. This look like him? Well, I ain't too sure. Come to think of it, he had his face buried in a road map. Didn't Hod tell you it was his nephew? No. Funny, ain't it? You'd have thought it was just some hitchhiker Hodd picked up. Sheriff, maybe we better get up to Carter's and check on this nephew. That's Hod's place up there ahead. I'll pull up here Hard. Lives here alone. Runs a few head of cattle. You'll get a kick out of Hod. The old coot's a real character. Doesn't seem to be in. I guess not. We could go in, see if anything's been disturbed. Odd. Never locks up. I left this breakfast stuff on the table. Yeah. Hard never was much of a housekeeper. This isn't today's breakfast, Sheriff. How do you mean? Jake? Looks like he's been gone a couple of days. This milk's sour. The butter's turning rancid. You're sure, right, Sheriff. What is it? Jeez. Didn't Carter say his nephew had been staying here with him? That's what he told Clark. There's only one plate here and one coffee cup. Hollister said the man with Carter looked like a hitchhiker. Yeah. Hid his face behind a map or a handkerchief when anybody might see him. By golly, you don't. Sheriff, we were hunting for one missing man. Now I got a hunch we're looking for two. Charlie Hollister and his son gave us a few more details, and then I put out an all points bulletin, including a description of Hod Carter's car. Sheriff and I started west, the direction the car had been heading when last seen. All night long, we woke up sleeping. Gas station operators, grocers and cafe owners. Don't seem likely they could go this far without eating or gassing up. I must have turned somewhere along the line. The question is north or south. You'll have to check both. You know, Jace, I'm worried about Hard. I can't see weaves. Lugging an old man very far. Well, Carter got him through a roadblock. Maybe he figured to use him again. You said everybody knows the old man. Yeah. Hard's a fixture around this country. Been here longer than I can remember. Ornery cuss sometimes independent as a hog on ice. But you couldn't help liking. Don't give him up yet, Sheriff. No. He's borrowing trouble. I guess not. County line up ahead a couple of miles. You going to stay with me? I'm glad to have you along. I'd like to, Jace. Like to a lot. But I ought to be. Unit 10 to KTXP. Go ahead. Unit 22 is trying to contact unit 10 direct. Give location, please. Unit 10 located approximately 80 miles west of Boca. Is unit 22 outside my range? Yes. Unit 22 is located at Starrett. Ask unit 22 to stand by. Unit 10 raising balloon aerial to receive. Unit 22, signal direct. 104 will relay your message to unit 22. 10 4. Unit 10 clear. ADXB. Picket balloon aerials in the trunk. Want to give me a hand, Sheriff? Sure thing, 22. That's Clay Morgan's unit. You know him? I can't see. I do. Here she is. I'll hook up the gas. Think he's got news on Reeves? That's possible. Stare it. It's long way south of here. I got 50ft of cable here and give me plenty of pickup. And I was thinking Reeves sure gave us a slip of his way down there now. We'll find out in a minute. You raise the balloon the rest of the way. Sheriff. I'll get back on the phone. Right. Jay, be careful not to get any kinks in that line. I'll watch it. Unit 10 to unit 22. Unit 10 to unit 22. Unit 22 to unit 10. It's my signal. Clear. Signal clear. Unit 22, have you information for this unit? Yes. Unit 10. God described your A.P.B. this date was observed in Starrett at 7:30 this morning. You hear him? All right, Chase. Fine place as the car was seen. 104 is identification positive. Unit 22 positive. Unit 10. Witness here identified driver from photo as fugitive from Boker county. What about hot? I'll check. Unit 10's bulletin described two men in car. Did your witness identify the second passenger? Also witness states one man in car at the time fugitive only. In just a moment we will continue with Tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Chase Pearson. This week, nearly 3 million of our nation's youth are celebrating the 42nd anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. These 3 million youths are currently benefiting from the Boy Scout program. And on the sidelines looking on with approval are more than 19 million former Scouts. For the past 42 years, the boy Scouts of America have been training good citizens. Today, the program goes forward through the efforts of the nation's 735,000 adult volunteer Scout leaders. Perhaps you would like to help as a Scout leader if you would call your local scout headquarters and volunteer your services. This year, the nation Scouts are setting forth on a new three year program known as Forward on Liberty's Team. The scout leaders see the new program as a challenge that the youth of America may have available a program of character development so that they may be trained on their honor to do their duty to God and their duty to their country. Happy birthday to the Boy Scouts of America. And now let's return to Tales of the Texas Rangers. We continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and our authentic story. Hitchhiker. I dropped the sheriff off at the next town where he could phone for a ride back to Boca and I really burned rubber. An hour later I pulled up in the rear of the highway patrol office in Starrett where I'd arranged to meet Clay. Clay was saddling his horse outside. Howdy, Jake. You sure made good time. Oh, Clay, I didn't want to hold you out for that. I think we really got your fugitive bottle up this time. Yeah, I came through one of your roadblocks. Yeah, I thought we might take our horses down the other way and work in. That's a good idea. Why don't you load your horse in my trailer with charcoal? You can take my unit. All right. Come on, Dano boy. Over this way. Come on. What's the story? Clay Reeves pulled up at the five point station just outside town here. Got his tank filled and high. Tailed off without paying. All right. Well, Dan, hold it up, boy. Which way did he go? Well, he took off east from the station. East, huh? It's been hidden just about every way but up. He broke jail. Yeah. Yeah. Re must know the car is hot by this time, Jace. Word from old man Carter, though, eh? No. They will find him in a gully somewhere. We got men backtracking toward Bokeh for his body. All right, in you go, boy. Come on. You mind getting that phone, Jay? All the boys are out in the blockade. I'll take it. There you are, Danny boy. That's right. Get an ambulance out there right away. Thanks. Watch up, J. Carter's been found on a side road 12 miles south of here. How is he? Pretty bad, but he's still alive. Let's get going. I guess we beat the ambulance here. J.T. pardon us, folks. Stand back, please. Hey, let us through here. Thank you very much. Let us through here, Mr. Carter. Danger. How easy. Jace. Took a real pistol whipping. Don't want to move him, my dear. Concussion. I'm all right. Does it hurt you to talk? No. No. Reeves do this to you? Yeah, I run. He slugged me. How long goes this been, Mr. Carter? I don't know. What time is it now? 10:15, Mr. Carter. Hour, maybe. Maybe longer. It must be longer than that. Jace. Gas station man reported Reeves was alone. That's nearly three hours ago. I was with him then. You were? Yeah. Made me grounded down on the floor. Keep that gun on my neck. You used the tool? If I had let out a piece. Well, that puts us a lot closer to him. Which way did he go, Carter? I couldn't tell. You go every which way. Get off main road. Is that car moving from here? Don't try to turn your head. Yeah, the car's gone. Didn't think he did go after running to that tree. Must have been that tree There, Chief. Yeah, I took quite a smack from the looks of it. Hey, the angles become this good. He was driving. Wheel. I see. But you don't know where he was heading. I don't. Wait a minute. He did say once he was going to try for Mexico. Right over here, boys. Over here. Thanks, Mr. Carter. You're going to be all right. Did he say Mexico, Jake? Yeah. We got to stop him before he gets there. Time was running short now, and we knew it. We alerted all officers to be on the lookout for Reeves within 50 mile radius. Then we continued up that road, wandered into the foothills. Getting worse all the time. Reeves have to be pretty desperate to take this kind of punishment. Yeah. Road's not much better than a cow path from here on. You been up here before, Jace? Yeah, only goes a few miles more. There's a couple of Mexican families, have shacks up there in the hill. Reeves will never make Mexico on this road. Then he wouldn't know that. He'd think it goes straight through. Yeah, man on foot might keep going. Rough hiking over those hills, though. Reeves mightn't have any other choice. Maybe sooner than we figure. How so? Jason, look at our temp gauge. Boiler. He's driving would be blowing up by this time. Yeah, you'd think so. Keep an eye out for it. He might have. What's the matter, Jeff? Look behind us. Hey, how you like there, podcast car? Not a bad hiding place behind those rocks. Coming from our direction. You'd have never guessed it was there. I wouldn't have seen it at all if I hadn't been watching the rear view mirror. Boy, that wreck sure didn't do this car anymore. I don't think that's what stopped it, though. That puddle under the radiator. That water pump's still leaking. Leaves might have pulled up here for a little shut eye while the engine cooled down. Yeah, while he waited. Water drained right out of the bottom. There's not a house in such. Mr. Reeves drew himself a long walk. Here's his track. Start down the road. Oh, what? Chief, he's turned off to the right. Yeah, Looks like he's aiming for that dry wash. Nothing ahead of that but the mountain. He's still figuring to get to Mexico. He should do it the hard way. Yeah, unless maybe he saw something out there. Something we don't see. See? Come on, Clay. Let's get the horses and find out. He seems to know where he's going all right. Yeah, heading straight to the mountain. I can't see why I didn't stick to the road. Oh, Reeves knows what he's doing. He's been playing too smart so far to pull any w W Chary Woo, boy. Oh, Dan. Whoa. What you got there, Jason? Here's our answer. Burrow track. So that's what he saw from the road. A burrow. He came up to it, got on. Yeah. See where the marks overlapped? Reed's footprints? Yeah, I see. Then he rode off toward the mountain. Wait a minute. Somebody was on that burrow already. There's a trail coming toward us. A grazing animal wouldn't walk that straight. Yeah, you're right, Jake. Going away. The tracks are cheaper. Can double. He said there were Mexicans in these hills, huh? A couple families. They'd have water and food. Yeah, and Reeves needs both. We better keep going, Clay. We followed the burro trail across the dry wash from there. It took practically a straight line through the brush and rocks toward the base of a jagged ridge in the distance. But before we got there, a figure came into view from behind one of the lower foothills. Jake. Jason Burrow coming his way. Yeah, with a Mexican on him. Come on, Sharky. Yep. Let's move, boy. Come on. Hold it. Hold up. Hold it. Howdy. Big surprise to see you rangers way down here. Yeah. We're looking for a man. Here's his picture. You see him around here? He is the same man you are looking for. This man? Yeah. Where'd you see him? But he is in my house now. I meet him on the road. I ride him on Nita here to the house. I leave him to sleep on hammock. He's very tired out. He asked me to put water in his car and drive it back to the house. He promised me $. He won't give you a dollar, my friend. More likely to give you a bullet. Oh, mother mia. He's a bad man. He's plenty bad. Now, tell me, is there a way we can ride up to your house without his seeing us? See the road? She go there. But he is all in the up. We may have to rush him. We can't do that play. This man's wife and children are there. They will be killed. We'll have to get Reeves away from the house somehow. Yeah. Senor, you say this man expects you to drive his car to your house for him? See? See? Well, then you're not going to disappoint him. Let's go back and get the water in the car. You mean I'm going to drive the car to him the way he want me? Yeah. Only we're Going to be in the back seat. Come on, Clay, let's go. Chucky, I am very scared. There's nothing to be scared of. You just do as we tell you. Is that your house up ahead? You see that? Get down. He was healed. Okay, Clay, you latch onto Reeves little trick down on the floor. Right, Jake. See him yet? I can't see the Hermit for your, but he is not there. No. What could have gone? Yeah, I guess Maria, my wife, she maybe gave him something to eat in the house. Okay, stop the car. Off to one side, 50ft from the house. I am almost there, seor. All right, now remember what we told you. I am plenty scared. Buck up. Just don't cross it. You'll make out all right. I could believe that myself. Don't say that again. Say yours. Yeah, you can. She is ready. Okay, put the water in. Put the water in. She's all ready to go. All right, all right. Don't. Oh, no, no, senor. So far, so good. Let him get in the car before we take him home. What's the big idea of parking all over there when you drive to the door? I am sorry, senor. I didn't know. Senor, I. I don't want no money. Senor, please. I know you say you pay, but it's all right. I don't want it. You're going to board five. What do you mean you don't want money? You need money bad. What's a big idea anyway? Just what's the new, you know. Come on up, Willie. You don't have to take him now, Frank. Get away from him. Put your hands up. Good work, Jace. You got him pulling that gun. That was a mistake, Reeves. I'm sorry I didn't kill you, toppet. All right, just try these cucks on for side reasons. Oh. Oh, my hat. Yeah, let's see it. You're just Nick, but it'd be a long time before you use that thumb again for hitchhiking. In just a moment, we will tell you the results of the case you have just heard. Hello, friends, this is Jack Par. I'll be with you later this Evening with a 64 question, but right now I'd like to remind you about some of the other great shows this evening on the NBC Radio Network. In just a few minutes, you'll hear the Big show with Tallulah Bankhead and a big array of guest stars. And of course, Meredith Wilson will be on hand to direct the Big Show Orchestra and chorus, you will hear 90 minutes of scintillating comedy and music today on the big show. And then right after the big show, stick around for the Phil Harris Alice Fay show with Frankie Remley, Julius Abruzio, Brother William and the entire Harris household. It's a program that's sure to please you. Later today, Theater Guild on the Air will bring you stars from Hollywood and Broadway in an exciting Broadway play. And right after Theater Guild on the Air, I'll be back with a Pocket Full of Money and the 64 question. I'll be talking to a lot of contestants tonight and maybe you'll hear one of your neighbors. So why not stay tuned right now to the NBC for a whole evening of great entertainment. Be looking for you in our radio audience tonight. And now let's get back to the tales of the Texas Rangers. And now here are the results of the case you have just heard. Al Reeves was returned to Boca county, where he was convicted not only of the crimes for which he had been waiting trial, but for jailbreak, armed robbery and kidnapping as well. Sentence was set in 10 years on each count, 40 years in all to be served in the state penitentiary at Huntsville. And here once again is the star of our show, Joe McCray. There's an interesting story I heard a short time ago from our good friend and technical adviser, Captain Mount Lone Wolf Gonzalez. It seems that a good many years ago, a Ranger captain was assigned as bodyguard to escort President William Hill, tasked on a tour through Texas. At every stop made by the party, the ranger captain was required to precede the president as they stepped from the train amid shouts of there's a Texas Ranger. The president of the United States found his popularity and appeal in Texas second to that of the Ranger. Somewhat embarrassed, the ranger turned to the chief executive and said, Mr. President, don't mind them. They just don't want me to feel bad. So long, folks. See you next week. Next week, Joel McCray and another authentic reenactment of a case from the files of the Texas Rangers. Joel McCray will soon be seen in San Francisco Story, a Warner Brothers release. The cast included Tony Barrett, Tim Graham, Lou Krugman, Nestor Piva, Ed Begley and her Bellis. Technical advisor was Captain MP Lone Wolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed and adapted by Lawrence Gold and the program was produced and directed by Stacy Keach. Hal Gibney speaking. Next, the big show brings you 90 minutes of drama, comedy and music on NBC. Foreign.
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Phil Harris
This has been a presentation of OTRWesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate our shows in your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook join in the conversation by going to otrwesterns.Com Discord and don't forget to send us an email podcast trwesterns.com this episode is copyright under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Like Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and again, thanks for listening.
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Unknown Narrator
It.