Sell Out | Tales of the Texas Rangers (06-01-52)

Summary

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Podcast Summary:

Sell Out | Tales of the Texas Rangers (06-01-52)
Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Air Date: September 17, 2025

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Overview

This episode of “Old Time Radio Westerns” presents a digitally restored broadcast of “Sell Out,” an original 1952 episode from Tales of the Texas Rangers. The drama follows Ranger Jace Pearson as he investigates a fatal hardware store hold-up in the small Texas town of Corvel, unraveling the case through eyewitness interviews, forensic clues, and classic Western tenacity. The episode stands as a riveting crime mystery with compelling performances, evoking the golden era of radio with a rich restoration of sound and atmosphere.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. The Crime: Hardware Store Robbery and Shooting

• Setting: Corvel, Texas, September 1949.
• Victim: Jim Reeves, retiring hardware store owner preparing to move away.
• Incident: During the closing of his sale, Reeves and assistant Nancy Taylor are accosted by a masked robber demanding money (04:08 – 06:47).
• Outcome: Reeves attempts to chase the assailant and is shot; he dies shortly after at the hospital.

Notable Quote:

• “This gun ain’t no toy. What do you want—I want you to get moving and open up that cash register.”
  — Robber (05:19)

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2. Investigation Begins

• Lead Investigator: Texas Ranger Jace Pearson, with the Corvel County Sheriff.
• Eyewitness Statements:
  • Nancy Taylor (store assistant): “I told you, he had a bandana on. I couldn’t see.” (07:49)
  • Witnesses give conflicting details about the getaway car’s color and the robber's height.
    • Nancy insists on a black (or dark green) sedan and says the robber was “big, broad shouldered, kind of husky” (16:02), while druggist Charlie Pratt claims the car was light-colored (13:18) and the robber was not especially tall.

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3. The Community Response & Emotional Fallout

• The townspeople are deeply shaken by Reeves’ death, underscoring his kindness and the loss felt by many.
• Carrie Reeves, Jim’s wife, is devastated. The sheriff and Jace show compassion, aiding her in the aftermath (10:01 – 11:03).

Notable Conversation:

• “Good folks are more trusting, that’s why. I swear I don’t know what Carrie’s gonna do now, Jace.”
  — Sheriff (10:29)

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4. Piecing Together Clues

• License Plate: Druggist Charlie Pratt partially catches a license number: 2144 (08:44).
• Contradictory Eyewitness Testimony:
  • Pratt insists car was light-colored, not black.
  • Nancy’s account is increasingly inconsistent, raising suspicions.

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5. Turning Point: Used Car Dealer

• The stolen car is traced to Andy Roark’s used car lot in El Montro—he often loans cars on dealer plates (21:12–23:44).
• Records show he lent a light-colored sedan to Robert Thatcher (Nancy’s boyfriend), who matches newly consolidated witness and evidence profiles.

Notable Moment:

• “Here it is. This is the one, Ranger. I'm just as sure as I'm standing…”
  — Charlie Pratt on identifying the suspect vehicle (23:01)

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6. Confrontation & Confession

• Thatcher’s Flight: Rangers go to Thatcher’s home; his mother says he’s had a falling out with Nancy and left (24:01–25:20).
• Tracks lead the Rangers to where Nancy is hiding by the creek, terrified, and claiming Thatcher intended harm (26:29–27:44).
• Nancy’s story shifts multiple times. Under pressure, she finally admits Thatcher confided in her and reveals he hid the money in the Elvira bank, planning to retrieve it on Monday (28:19–28:40).

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7. Climax: The Arrest

• Rangers stake out the bank. When Thatcher arrives to withdraw the loot, he is apprehended after a tense stand-off (29:17–30:14).

Memorable Quote:

• “All right, Thatcher, let's have that cash.”
  — Sheriff (29:41)
• “I didn’t mean to kill the old man, Ranger. The gun just went off in my hand. Honest.”
  — Robert Thatcher (30:08)
• “Yeah, guns have a way of doing that when you point them at people.”
  — Sheriff (30:14)

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8. Resolution and Sentencing

• Ballistics confirm Thatcher’s guilt; he confesses and is sentenced to life imprisonment. Nancy Taylor, for her part in misleading investigators and helping Thatcher, receives 15 years (31:54–32:14).

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Character Insights & Memorable Moments

• The character of Jim Reeves is portrayed as deeply caring—his loss resonates with the town and listeners alike.
• Nancy Taylor shifts from a sympathetic witness to a complicit, unreliable narrator, illustrating the complexities of loyalty and justice.
• Classic Western justice prevails, with Ranger Pearson’s dogged pursuit and methodical breakdown of misleading accounts.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Crime & Hold-up: 04:08 – 06:47
• Initial Investigation: 07:28 – 08:44
• Community Fallout: 10:01 – 11:03
• Witness Contradictions: 12:44 – 16:15
• Car Dealer Interrogation: 21:12 – 23:44
• Confronting Nancy: 25:20 – 28:06
• Bank Stakeout & Arrest: 29:17 – 30:14
• Sentencing: 31:54 – 32:14

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Notable Quotes

• “This gun ain’t no toy. What do you want—I want you to get moving and open up that cash register.”
  — Robber (05:19)

• “Good folks are more trusting, that’s why. I swear I don’t know what Carrie’s gonna do now, Jace.”
  — Sheriff (10:29)

• “Yeah, guns have a way of doing that when you point them at people. And when you hold someone up with them, they usually backfire.”
  — Sheriff (30:14)

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Overall Tone

The story balances somber reflection on loss and justice with tense investigative drama; its dialogue is rooted in the straightforward, morally grounded language of classic Westerns. The performances, atmospheric sound design, and methodical narrative pacing immerse the listener in both the grit and the heart of the Texas frontier.

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Final Note

This episode is a stellar example of mid-century radio storytelling, reanimated through expert restoration and curation. For listeners, it delivers both nostalgia and the enduring thrill of a well-told Western crime drama.

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Transcript

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[Andrew Rines]

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. Now let's get into this episode.

[Joel McCray (Ranger Jace Pearson)]

Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCray 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.

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[Joel McCray (Ranger Jace Pearson)]

And now, from the files of the Texas Rangers, the case called sellout.

[Narrator]

It is 6:30pm Friday, September 15, 1949, in Corvel, Texas. Jim Reeves, owner of the local hardware store, is waiting on his last customers at the end of the first day of a closing out sale. That'll be $24.61 for the lot. Thank you, Ms. Clooney. And I sure hope everything will be satisfactory. Here's my ticket for the deep freeze, Jim. 148 bucks. I'm on. Eh, that'll do it, Charlie. Couldn't pick one up for a price like that any other time. I know it. Ah, Jim, I just can't believe you're really leaving us. Getting too old for this kind of work, Charlie. Me and Carrie been looking forward a long time to living near Beth up there in Fort Worth. I'm sure glad the sale's been going so well. Been such a flock of people in and out of here all day. Looks like the Bijou on bingo night. Yeah, it's going real good. Think we'll be sold out tomorrow. Well, ain't gonna say goodbye now, Jim. Cause I'll be seeing you tomorrow anyway when I pick up that deep. Of course you will. Night, Charlie. And thank you, Nancy.

[Nancy Taylor]

Did you call me, Mr. Reeves?

[Narrator]

Yeah. I'm going to lock up now. Reckon you're about as tired as I am.

[Nancy Taylor]

I'm sure sorry I got the ticket on that pressure cooker Mixed up, Mr. Reeves.

[Narrator]

Ah, don't you fret about a little thing like that, Nancy. You've been doing a good job. Don't know how I'd have got along without you. Better get what you want back there, mister, cause I'm going to lock up now. Guess he didn't hear me. Sorry, mister, but we're closing up for tonight. Sale will still be on tomorrow. What are you doing with that bandana on your face? Shut up and do like I tell you. This gun ain't no toy. What do you want I want you to get moving and open up that cash register. Well, go on, get going unless you want a load of lead in your belly.

[Nancy Taylor]

What is it, mister?

[Narrator]

It's all right, Nancy. Just stay where you are. Now, come on, open up that register and put the loot in this paper bag.

[Nancy Taylor]

Oh, Mr. Reeves.

[Narrator]

Keep that trap shut, sister. Stay back. Don't get scared, Nancy. Mister, the money in this cash register is everything I got in the world, and I'm not going to give it up to her. Sneak and see. You'll put it in here. I'll plug you.

[Nancy Taylor]

Mr. Reeves, do like he tells you, or else you might get hurt.

[Narrator]

All right, come on. Come on, hurry up. I, I, I'm. Hurry. Put the change in the bag, too. That all of it? Yeah. Yeah. Okay, then. Now move over to that wall and turn your back. Go on. You too, Sissel. Go on. Hurry up, I say. Okay, now don't either one of you make a move for five minutes if you know what's good for you. Dirty sneak. Heath. I'm not gonna let him get away with it.

[Nancy Taylor]

Please, Mr. Reeves, do like he told me.

[Narrator]

You know I hate. I'm gonna get his license number anyway.

[Nancy Taylor]

Mr. Reeves, please don't go out there. Mr. Reeves.

[Narrator]

Stop that man. Stop him. Jim Reeves was rushed to the local hospital and the sheriff of Corville county was summoned at once. Immediately, he notified the Texas Rangers. Ranger Jace Pearson arrived at the scene 45 minutes later and began talking to Nancy Taylor, the girl who witnessed the hold up.

[Sheriff]

I know you've been badly shaken up, Ms. Taylor, but I'm gonna have to ask you to get hold of yourself and answer some questions.

[Nancy Taylor]

He never did anything to hurt anybody in his whole life. He was always helping people.

[Sheriff]

You want to help us find who shot him, don't you?

[Nancy Taylor]

Oh, yes, of course.

[Sheriff]

All right, then. Try to remember what the man looked like.

[Nancy Taylor]

I told you, he had a bandana on. I couldn't see.

[Sheriff]

How tall was he?

[Nancy Taylor]

I don't rightly know, Ranger, but he was a big fella.

[Sheriff]

How big?

[Nancy Taylor]

About as tall as you are, I reckon. Mr. Reeves was always so good to everybody.

[Sheriff]

You know what kind of a car the man was driving?

[Nancy Taylor]

It was black.

[Sheriff]

Are you sure?

[Nancy Taylor]

Yeah, I'm certain. It was a black sedan.

[Narrator]

Yes. Sheriff, hospital telephone. Jim Reeves just regained consciousness. We better get over there as fast as we can.

[Sheriff]

Okay. I'll talk to you later, Ms. Taylor.

[Nancy Taylor]

Is it going to be all right, Sheriff?

[Narrator]

I'm sorry to upset you anymore, but I'm afraid not, Nanc. Doc says it's only a matter of time. No, you stop right now.

[Nancy Taylor]

I told him not to run out there. I tried to make him say his son.

[Sheriff]

Get some rest if you can, Ms. Taylor. We'll see you later.

[Narrator]

You poor kid.

[Sheriff]

Yeah. Not a very nice experience for a girl.

[Narrator]

Get anything, Jace?

[Sheriff]

Not much. She says she's sure the car was black.

[Narrator]

Charlie Pratt thinks the last four digits on the license were 2144, but he isn't sure.

[Sheriff]

Who's he, Sheriff?

[Narrator]

He's the druggist down at the corner.

[Sheriff]

Did he see the shooting?

[Narrator]

Nobody heard the shots and ran out in the street just as the car was driving off.

[Sheriff]

214 4, huh? Yeah. We better send that out just on the chance he was right.

[Narrator]

Yeah, I guess it wouldn't hurt.

[Sheriff]

Unit 10 to KTXA. Unit 10 to KTXA. KDXA to Unit 10.

[Narrator]

Go ahead.

[Sheriff]

Subject wanted for hold up and shooting in Corville county this evening. Believed to be about 6ft 2. Said to be driving black sedan 1 witness reports last 4 digits of license may be 2144. 2144. Alert all units and have license division check records of cars this description with matching digits. Unit 10 now proceeding to county hospital with sheriff to interrogate victim 10 4.

[Narrator]

Will alert all units.

[Sheriff]

10 4. If no other traffic. Unit 10 clear. No other traffic.

[Narrator]

I guess just about everybody in Corval.

[Sheriff]

Is going to feel as bad about.

[Narrator]

This as Nancy does. I'm feeling kind of shook up myself.

[Sheriff]

Known him a long time? Oh, yeah.

[Narrator]

Not nicer fella never lived than Jim Reeves. Carrie, that's his wife. Well, it'll be just like killing her too, when they tell her.

[Sheriff]

You been able to locate her yet?

[Narrator]

Nope. Neighbor says she's taking a bunch of things she didn't need over to a family on some ranch out yonder.

[Sheriff]

Just like Carrie.

[Narrator]

Thinking of other folks even when she's moving and all.

[Sheriff]

Where were they moving?

[Narrator]

Fort Worth. And they were both looking forward so to going up there.

[Sheriff]

Daughter's got a little cottage in the back of her place.

[Narrator]

Jim and Carrie were always talking about Beth's kid. And what a good time they were gonna have being grandparents to bunky thugs.

[Sheriff]

Have a way of picking on good people. I don't know why. There are plenty of bad ones around.

[Narrator]

Good folks are more trusting, that's why. I swear I don't know what Carrie's gonna do now, James.

[Sheriff]

Her daughter will help her, won't she?

[Narrator]

Oh, sure. But Carrie's too conscientious to live on. Beth. Jim worked a lot longer than he should have. Just so they could retire independently. I think Harry'd take a old age pension first.

[Sheriff]

Well, maybe we can raise some money for her on the hardware stuff that's left.

[Narrator]

Maybe, but I think Jim sold out most of his stock today.

[Sheriff]

Might get that money back for her yet. I sure hope so, Jason. I hope Mr. Reeves can give us some kind of a lead. To go on would help. Here we are.

[Narrator]

Room 3. We can go right in, Jason. Carrie? She's coming to you as fast as she can, Jim. Sheriff?

[Sheriff]

Yeah, that's me.

[Narrator]

Have you got that fella yet?

[Sheriff]

No, but we're going to.

[Narrator]

This is Ranger Pearson, Jim. Howdy. Yeah, Sheriff.

[Sheriff]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

Carrie's gonna need that money off of that. Don't you worry about anything now. No, don't give me that. Should have. I heard the doctor. Heard him talking. Feels so tired.

[Sheriff]

Mr. Reeves, have you any idea who the man was who held you up?

[Narrator]

No. Must be getting old. Ought to be able to handle a fellow his size.

[Sheriff]

I thought he was a big man.

[Narrator]

Let us see.

[Sheriff]

How tall was he?

[Narrator]

About five foot.

[Sheriff]

Yes, James. Yeah. A few minutes after we left Mr. Reeves room, his wife arrived at the. The sheriff and I had to tell her he had just died. She took it even harder than we thought she would. We didn't want Mrs. Reeves to stay alone that night, so we drove her to a neighbor's house. By the time we left her, it was too late to talk to the druggist, Charlie Pratt. So we went down to his drugstore the next morning.

[Narrator]

Morning, Charlie. Hello, Sheriff. You fellas located that runaway skunk yet? Not yet, but we're sure trying to. Ranger Pearson here wants to talk to you. Charlie.

[Sheriff]

Just wanted to check a couple of things with you.

[Narrator]

I just can't believe it yet. Jim Reeves and me been playing dominoes together every Saturday for nine to 10 years now. It's terrible. It's just terrible. That's what it is. My wife and I were just saying. Charlie, did you get a look at the man?

[Sheriff]

No.

[Narrator]

When I come out, he was whizzing around this corner in that light color sedan like a bat out of Hades.

[Sheriff]

Nancy Taylor said the car was black.

[Narrator]

Poor kid was so shook up, she probably don't know what she said. Could be.

[Sheriff]

You're certain the car was light colored, Mr. Frank?

[Narrator]

I'm positive. You see, I was sitting up here at the counter. I was eating my supper. I remember that. Cause I was thinking at the time how good them codfish balls tasted.

[Sheriff]

Did you hear the shots?

[Narrator]

I sure did. It nearly knocked Me off my stool. Then I ran out into the street and I saw this car screeching around the corner. I tried as hard as I could to get the license. We're sure grateful for that, Charlie. Then I saw Nancy come running out of the store. She was the first one to get the gym, and I reckon I got there next.

[Sheriff]

You say the car turned the corner right here?

[Narrator]

Yeah. That poor kid. What a terrible sight for a young girl like that. Why, it's liable to give her nightmares for weeks. My wife says, Sheriff, if the car.

[Sheriff]

Turned the corner here and Nancy came out of the store afterwards, then she couldn't have seen it.

[Narrator]

Well, I saw it. And you can strike me pink if I'm not right about its being kind.

[Nancy Taylor]

Of a light color.

[Sheriff]

Well, Thanks a lot, Mr. Pratt.

[Narrator]

Yes, long Charlie?

[Nancy Taylor]

Anything more I can do to help.

[Narrator]

You, you just let me know. Nancy's ma says she just went all two pieces last night. I'd sooner take Charlie's word for the colored car.

[Sheriff]

Look up the street, Sheriff. Yeah. She couldn't possibly have seen that car. No, not if I turned the corner.

[Narrator]

Before she came out. Well, I reckon Nancy's kind of mixed up about things.

[Sheriff]

Yeah, she must be. I think we ought to have another talk with her, though. We may have radioed the wrong description of the car. We headed for Nancy Taylor's house. When we got there about 11, her mother told us she'd gone over to pay her respects to Mrs. Reeves. We drove over to the neighbors where Mrs. Reeves was staying and waited in the car till Nancy came out. She was with her boyfriend, and we asked him to drive her down to the sheriff's office. We just gotten out of our car when they drove up behind us.

[Narrator]

I'll wait out here for you, honey.

[Nancy Taylor]

Will it take long, Sheriff?

[Narrator]

I can't tell. Why don't you come inside and wait, Bob? He'll be all right, won't he, Jake?

[Sheriff]

Sure.

[Narrator]

Okay. Try not to keep her any longer than you have to, will you, Sheriff? She had an awful bad night. Mrs. Taylor said. We'll make it as short as we can, Bob, but there are two or three things we want to clear up.

[Nancy Taylor]

But, Ranger, I've told you everything I know about it. What more do you want to ask me that I haven't already talked to you about?

[Sheriff]

I want to be sure and get your statement down as soon as we can, Nancy. The quicker we get at it, the more clearly you'll remember what happened. Yeah.

[Narrator]

Here, sit down here now.

[Nancy Taylor]

Thank you.

[Sheriff]

Here's a chair for you, Bob. Nancy, we know when a thing like this happens, everybody gets a little excited.

[Nancy Taylor]

Oh, he's the worst thing I've ever been through. He was the sweetest old man. And poor Ms. Reeves. Oh, I wanted to say something to make him feel better. I just couldn't think of a thing.

[Sheriff]

Let me ask you something, Nancy. How tall did you say that fella was?

[Nancy Taylor]

Well, I don't know exactly he. Except he was pretty big.

[Sheriff]

We talked to Mr. Reeves before he died. He seemed to think the man was fairly short range.

[Nancy Taylor]

I'm just sure he was a big, broad shouldered man, kind of husky.

[Sheriff]

As well as being tall, there's another thing, Nancy.

[Nancy Taylor]

Yes, sir?

[Sheriff]

You told me the car you saw was black.

[Nancy Taylor]

Yes, sir.

[Sheriff]

Are you sure it wasn't a lighter color?

[Nancy Taylor]

Well, it could have been a real dark green, I guess. Why?

[Sheriff]

We're having a little trouble getting the description of the car straight. Mr. Pratt says it was a light color.

[Nancy Taylor]

He's wrong, Ranger. I was closer than he was.

[Narrator]

Of course.

[Sheriff]

He says by the time you came out, the car had turned the corner.

[Nancy Taylor]

Well, that isn't so. I ran right out there when I heard the shots and I saw the car. It was either black or else maybe a very dark green. What's the matter? Don't you believe me?

[Sheriff]

It's your statement. I want to write it down and have you sign it now. Uh huh.

[Nancy Taylor]

Can you wait, Bob?

[Narrator]

Excuse me, Ranger. I don't mean to be butting in, but couldn't you do that tomorrow? Nancy's been under an awful strain ever since this happened and I know you'd get better results if you just let her get some rest. I'll get it.

[Sheriff]

The sooner we get an accurate description of the car, the better chance we have of catching the fellow.

[Nancy Taylor]

Well, as I say, I'm not too sure whether it was black or green.

[Sheriff]

That's all right. You can put that down in your statement.

[Narrator]

Jason, maybe we better take Nancy's statement later.

[Sheriff]

How come?

[Narrator]

License division says the number Charlie Pratt gave us belongs to a car dealer in El Montro.

[Sheriff]

Got a lot of cars there with the same dealer's number.

[Narrator]

Green and black sedans both.

[Nancy Taylor]

You mean you found the car the fella used?

[Sheriff]

We don't know, but it looks like we're getting warmer.

[Narrator]

Maybe now you'll be able to track.

[Sheriff]

That guy down, huh?

[Narrator]

I hope so.

[NBC Radio Announcer]

Name of the dealer is Andy Roark Case.

[Sheriff]

Nancy, you stand by to identify him. We'll get that killing on Bandit before you know.

[Joel McCray (Ranger Jace Pearson)]

In just a moment we will continue with tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCrae as Ranger Jace Pearson, this.

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Friends at this moment, throughout the country, millions of motorists are beginning to wend their way home along crowded highways from a long Memorial Day weekend. It is at times such as these when accidents happen more frequently. When death and driving draw closer together, you can help to decrease the accident and death rate on our nation's highways. Excessive speed for driving conditions is a major cause of many motor accidents. Control your speed at all times to keep within the safe speed, not just the legal limit. America's professional truck drivers are taught to drive ahead of themselves to avoid accidents. By seeing them threatened before they can happen, they know that careful driving keeps them from having accidents which may take lives. Speed is the number one killer on the highways, so drive carefully today on your way home from an enjoyable weekend. And tomorrow, wherever you go in your car. Exercise caution, courtesy and the golden rule for the life you save may be your own now the second act of Tales of the Texas Rangers.

[Joel McCray (Ranger Jace Pearson)]

We continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and our authentic story. Sellout.

[Sheriff]

The sheriff and I decided the druggist, Charlie Pratt, was the best one to help us spot the car. We told the Taylor girl to be available in the event we picked up the killer and we headed for El Montro. As we drove up to the dealer's place, two highway patrolmen were talking to a large man in the used car lot. Okay, Mr. Prad.

[Narrator]

All right, Lindsey.

[Sheriff]

That must be Roark. Stand over there with the patrolman.

[Narrator]

Say, Jace. He's a big guy, isn't he? I guess Nancy's description was right.

[Sheriff]

Yeah. Howdy, boys. You Andy Roark?

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Sheriff]

Like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind.

[Narrator]

Well, I've answered so many from the highway patrol today, I'm getting kind of used to it.

[Sheriff]

That's fine.

[Narrator]

Look, Ranger. What is this? Sergeant here says you got me mixed up in that murder up in Corval yesterday.

[Sheriff]

That's right. Witness saw your license on the murder car.

[Narrator]

That's a dealer's license. Got it on most of my cars sitting here in the lot.

[Sheriff]

Where were you about 6:30 yesterday evening, Mr. Roark?

[Narrator]

I was out demonstrating one of my cars to a customer.

[Sheriff]

What's his name?

[Narrator]

I don't know. Some fella going through town.

[Sheriff]

You know where we could reach him?

[Narrator]

No, I don't.

[Sheriff]

That's not much of an alibi, Rourke. You got any black sedans or dark green ones in here?

[Narrator]

Sure. I got two black sedans and one dark green. One Ranger. I'm dead sure it was a lighter color.

[Sheriff]

Mind if we look around?

[Narrator]

Help yourself. Only get it over with, will you?

[Sheriff]

I wouldn't be given orders if I were you, Roark.

[Narrator]

Sorry, Ranger. I'll be around if you need me.

[Sheriff]

Suppose you come along and start showing us those sedans.

[Narrator]

Okay. There's the two black ones over there and the dark green ones over yonder.

[Sheriff]

Take a good look at these cars now, Mr. Fran.

[Narrator]

No, no, it wasn't neither one of these. I'm still dead sure. It was kind of light colored.

[Sheriff]

You got any light colored cars, Rourke?

[Narrator]

What color?

[Sheriff]

We don't know exactly.

[Narrator]

Hey, hey. Here it is. This is the one, Ranger. Ignore it. Just as sure as I'm standing.

[Sheriff]

Are you positive?

[Narrator]

Yeah, that's the one. See those vertical guards in the bumper? Well, the reason I couldn't get the whole numbers because those stuck up in front of the plate. I remember now.

[Sheriff]

Was this the car you were demonstrating yesterday, Mr. Roark?

[Narrator]

Say, say, wait a minute.

[Sheriff]

I'm waiting.

[Narrator]

Come to think of it, I loaned that car to a fellow yesterday.

[Sheriff]

What was his name?

[Narrator]

Darn if I can remember now. Come in here and wanted a grease job done on his car. Needed transportation and took kind of a shine of this sedan. Thought I might sell it to him if I let him use it for a few hours.

[Sheriff]

Don't you keep a record of the names of people who borrow your cars?

[Narrator]

Yeah, yeah, I got it right in my book here now. Yeah, here it is. Robert Thatcher, RFD 43 Corvel.

[Sheriff]

Let me see that.

[Narrator]

Robert Thatcher.

[Sheriff]

Uhhuh. Nancy Taylor's boyfriend. We headed back to Corville by 6:30. We'd picked up a warrant for Thatcher's arrest and drove out to his house. His mother answered the door.

[Narrator]

Howdy, Miss Thatcher.

[Nancy Taylor]

Well, hello, Sheriff.

[Narrator]

Is Bob at home?

[Nancy Taylor]

No, he ain't.

[Sheriff]

Oh.

[Narrator]

Well, when do you expect him?

[Nancy Taylor]

Why, I don't rightly know.

[Narrator]

Sheriff Ranger and I'd like to talk to you for a minute, ma'.

[Sheriff]

Am.

[Nancy Taylor]

Well, all right. Come in.

[Sheriff]

When did Bob leave, Mrs. Thatcher?

[Nancy Taylor]

About an hour ago, I reckon. Why?

[Sheriff]

Can you tell us where he went?

[Nancy Taylor]

I didn't have no chance to ask him. What you want with him, Ma', am.

[Narrator]

I'm sorry to be the one to.

[Sheriff]

Break it to you, but it looks.

[Narrator]

Like he's in trouble.

[Nancy Taylor]

Serious trouble.

[Sheriff]

Yeah, we want to talk to him about Jim Reeves murder. We have evidence he was probably driving the murder car the evening it happened.

[Nancy Taylor]

I don't believe it.

[Sheriff]

You know if Bob owns a gun?

[Nancy Taylor]

No, we don't.

[Sheriff]

Have you ever seen a.32 around the house?

[Narrator]

No. I sure am sorry to distress you with this, ma'. Am. It does look funny. Bob's taken off so sudden.

[Nancy Taylor]

Wait a minute. The reason Bob took off, Sheriff, was cause he'd been having a fuss with his girlfriend, Nancy Taylor. Yeah, but the kids come home this afternoon and they told me they were going in low. That don't sound like he's mixed up in no murder, does it?

[Sheriff]

Did Nancy go with him?

[Nancy Taylor]

No, they had a little tiff while they're sitting out in the car. You know how kids are. Used to be kind, ornery like that myself. And while Bob was packing, Nancy run off.

[Sheriff]

You know where she went?

[Nancy Taylor]

No. Oh, she's all upset. And Bobby run after her. When he come back, he said he left her down by the creek somewheres. He was mad. But I reckon he'll cool off and come home for a nightfall.

[Sheriff]

Mrs. Thatcher, I've only one horse in My trailer. Have you got one the sheriff could borrow?

[Nancy Taylor]

Well, yes, I think so. Why?

[Sheriff]

I reckon we better see if Nancy's all right.

[Nancy Taylor]

Ranger, if you're thinking my Bob might have done something to Nancy, well, you're wrong.

[Sheriff]

Maybe we are, ma', am, but we're not taking any chances. Mrs. Thatcher stood by the corral fence staring after us as we picked up the double tracks and rode out the across across the field. They led to a dry wash and were fairly easy to follow. Oh, char, Look, Sheriff. Yeah, that's your steps. Turn back here and hers. Go on.

[Narrator]

You think she's all right, then?

[Sheriff]

I hope so. Let's move on a little farther and see where these tracks lead.

[Narrator]

Get up.

[Sheriff]

Come on. Oh, wait a minute. Hold it, Sheriff. Ho, ho. Ch.

[Narrator]

What is it, Jace? Ho, ho, ho.

[Sheriff]

The tracks stop here. Must be close by.

[Nancy Taylor]

Here I am, Ranger. I thought it might be him again. That's why I was hiding. I was scared. I'm mighty relieved at you, Ranger.

[Narrator]

Sit down here on this log a minute, Nancy. You look pretty tuckered.

[Nancy Taylor]

I'm not talking, Sheriff. I'm plum terrified. If I couldn't run fast, I'd be dead by now. He was gonna get me. He meant it, too.

[Sheriff]

Bob Thatcher?

[Nancy Taylor]

Yeah. You see, when he heard you were going down to car lot, he knew you'd finally borrow that car. So he told me all about it.

[Sheriff]

Killing Jim Reeves, you mean?

[Nancy Taylor]

Yeah, of course. I was just horrified. I didn't want to have any more to do with him. Imagine killing that sweet old man.

[Sheriff]

Yeah, I was thinking about it.

[Nancy Taylor]

Well, when I told Bob how I felt about crime and the like, he just turned on me, started slapping me around. Oh, it was awful. Scared me half to death. He said he'd kill me if I wouldn't run off with him. Imagine trying to get me mixed up in this thing.

[Sheriff]

You are mixed up in it.

[Nancy Taylor]

Why, Ranger, I didn't have anything to do with Jude.

[Sheriff]

You had plenty to do with framing the holdup that led to the killer.

[Nancy Taylor]

Now, didn't you, Ranger? I just can't understand how you can even think anything so awful, let alone say it to me.

[Sheriff]

You can stop crying, Ms. Taylor, because it isn't fooling anyone anymore.

[Nancy Taylor]

What do you mean?

[Sheriff]

I mean, you tried to throw us off the track by lying to us and giving us wrong information about the man's height and the color of the car.

[Nancy Taylor]

Gee, Ranger, he was my boyfriend. I was just trying to protect him until I could persuade him to give himself up. I was just being loyal. You know how Women are.

[Sheriff]

I thought you said a minute ago you didn't know anything about it till this afternoon.

[Nancy Taylor]

Did I? I'm just all mixed up, that's all.

[Sheriff]

You sure are. You're coming in with us now, Ranger.

[Nancy Taylor]

Listen, would it help you, honey, if I told you what Bob told me about the money?

[Sheriff]

What about the money?

[Nancy Taylor]

Well, you see, he put it in the Grain Exchange bank down in Elvira Saturday morning. Before he knew about the license number. Yeah, well, the bank was closed at noon Saturday and all day Sunday he couldn't get it out.

[Sheriff]

You mean he's going to pick it up Monday morning?

[Nancy Taylor]

Oh, I'm dead sure he will. That is, knowing Bob, I don't think he'd leave without it.

[Sheriff]

Without even knowing him? I don't think so either. Come on, Ms. Taylor. Taking you into town. Gonna drop you off the county jail.

[Nancy Taylor]

Who, me? Well, I've just been trying to help you, arranger.

[Sheriff]

You have. And we'll be on hand to meet your boyfriend when the bank opens Monday. When the bank in Elvira opened Monday morning, the sheriff and I were staked out across the street and around the corner from the building so we could see Thatcher. When he showed up, we told the manager of the bank our plan and he gave us a key to the back door. Two minutes after the bank opened, Thatcher appeared. Soon as he was inside, we moved up closer.

[Narrator]

You think we ought to grab him now, Jace?

[Sheriff]

No, wait till he draws the money out. You go in the front, Sheriff. I'm gonna hot foot it around to the back door.

[Narrator]

You got the key?

[Sheriff]

Yeah, right here. Now, don't go up to him until you see me open the back door, Sheriff. Remember that. Because then if he gives us any trouble, I can grab him. Okay, J.

[Narrator]

All right, Thatcher, let's have that cash. All right, Sheriff. Don't you come any closer. I'm warning you. Down that gun. Thatcher, you've already killed one man. What makes you think I'd mind killing another? The first one's the hardest, you know. Put that gun down. You don't step aside, Sheriff, I'll put a bullet right in your gullet with this gun, Thatcher. We need it for evidence.

[Sheriff]

Give me that gun.

[Nancy Taylor]

Give it to me.

[Sheriff]

All right.

[Narrator]

I didn't mean to kill the old man. Ranger, get up. The gun just went off in my hand. Honest.

[Sheriff]

Yeah, guns have a way of doing that when you point them at people. And when you hold someone up with them, they usually backfire.

[Joel McCray (Ranger Jace Pearson)]

In just a moment, we will tell you the results of the case you have just heard.

[NBC Radio Announcer]

Friends later today, Meredith Wilson joins your Sunday lineup of enjoyable radio programs on the NBC Radio Network. Meredith Wilson's Music Room is the locale of his new Sunday show and you'll hear Meredith's Talking People as well as your favorite music. So remember to tune for Meredith Wilson's Music Room later today. Also on your entertainment list today is the First Nighter presenting Barbara Luddy and Olin Soule in another presentation from the Little Theater off Times Square. Then more drama awaits you on Theatre Guild on the Air, today's Theater Guild presentation, a dramatic story entitled Remember the Day. It stars Helen Hayes and MacDonald Carey. And from the Armed forces of our nation comes another fine program today. Stars in Khaki and Blue, it's called. You'll enjoy this program and the talented servicemen and women to whom it gives an opportunity to perform. Yes, Sunday brings most enjoyable listening for you on NBC. So stay tuned to this station. Stay tuned for Meredith Wilson's Music Room, the First Nighter Theater Guild on the air and all the rest. Now the conclusion of today's Tales of the Texas Rangers.

[Joel McCray (Ranger Jace Pearson)]

And now here are the results of the case you have just heard.

[Narrator]

Ballistics prove that the bullet which entered Jim Reeves body came from Thatcher's.32 revolver. Thatcher signed a full confession and was sentenced to life imprisonment in the state penitentiary at Huntsville. Nancy Taylor received a sentence of 15 years in the women's prison at Gorey.

[Joel McCray (Ranger Jace Pearson)]

Next week, Joel McCray in another authentic reenactment of a case from the files of the Texas Rangers technical advisor was Captain MT Lone Wolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed and adapted by Betty Mears and the program is produced and directed by Stacy Keach. Hal Gibney speaking.

[NBC Radio Announcer]

Next. The chase brings you more adventure on most of these NBC stations. This is NBC.

[Andrew Rines]

This has been a presentation of OTRWesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube become one of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank our most recent ranch hands, Steve and Ron W. Who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com and you can call and leave us a voicemail 707-986-8739 this episode is copyrighted under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Like Copyright for more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.

[Nancy Taylor]

Sam.