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Old Time Radio Westerns
The Ice Man – Tales of the Texas Rangers (03-02-52)
00:30:55
A strange burglar, who eats before he robs and who wields a mean ice pick, is finally tracked down by the Rangers. Original Air Date: March 02, 1952Host: Andrew RhynesShow: Tales of the Texas RangersPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• Joel McCrea (R...
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Andrew Rines
Foreign welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Tales of the Texas Rangers. Original air date is March 2, 1952. And on this episode, a strange burglar who eats before he robs and wields a mean ice pick is finally tracked down by the Ranger. Rangers. Title of this episode is the Iceman. Hope you enjoy. And again, thanks for listening. 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. Before we bring you today's story of the Texas Rangers, let's talk a moment with Bill Harris and Alice Fay during a break in the rehearsal rehearsal for today's Phil Harris Alice Fay Show. Thank you, Bill Foreman. You know, folks, I welcome this opportunity to talk with you about the great lineup of stellar entertainment in store for you this evening right here on NBC. Right after Tales of the Texas Rangers. Tallulah Bankhead will bring you all of her darling guest stars on the big show. And I know that she has some of your favorite entertainers with her today. And I hope you'll listen to the big show. And then right after Tallulah and her guests, it's time for my show, the show. Our show. You could be right. Our show, the Phil Harris Alice Fay show with Frankie Remley, brother William Julius Abruzio and little Alison Phyllis. And don't forget the Theater Guild on the Air. Phil. That's right. Immediately following our show, you'll hear your favorite stars of Hollywood and Broadway and great plays on Theater Guild on the air. So we hope you'll stay tuned right here to NBC. Thank you, Phil Harris and Alice Fay. And now, here's today's adventure of the tales of the Texas Rangers. And now, from the files of the Texas Rangers, the case called the iceman. It is 3am on September 17, 1948. In a farmhouse nine miles north of Rayner, Texas. Helen Dryer wakes from a sound sleep, raises herself on her elbow and listens for a moment. Then she leans across and taps her husband urgently on the shoulder. Wake up. All right, I'll get up. What's the matter? Somebody danced in. I don't hear nothing in the kitchen. Yeah, yeah, I hear it now. I'm going down there. No, no, I can't let him. You get hurt, honey. Please call the sheriff. Don't take any chances. Please. Well, maybe you're right. Where the dickens. That fool. Oh, here it is. Operator, get me the sheriff, quick. Sheriff Holmes speaking. Sheriff, this is Ted Dryer. I have to talk up. I can't hear you. There's a burglar in my house. Who'd you say this was? Ted dryer, Farm Road 22. Man's down in my kitchen. Well, I'll get out there right away. He's coming along the hall downstairs. I think he's heading upstairs. Yeah. Don't try to stop him. I'll get there as quick as I can. Daddy. Coming up here? Yeah. What do you sleep and honey, whatever happens, don't move. You're not going. No. No. No. It. Is he gone? Yeah, honey, he's gone. Did you see what it looked like? It was too dark. The sheriff reached the Dryer farmhouse 20 minutes after the departure of the intruder. He found Mrs. Dryer in a state of hysteria and sent her upstairs with her husband. After a cursory investigation, he immediately contacted the Texas Rangers and requested assistance. Ranger Jace Pearson was assigned. Arriving on the scene at 4:25am the sheriff led him directly to the kitchen. Hey. You see what I mean, Jace? Yeah. I'm glad you called us, Sheriff. Looks like it might be the one we've been after a long time. I kind of figured it was Way broke into the kitchen and raided the icebox first. I can't get over that eating the family's food before he tackles a job. He's pretty cool. It's one of the things that's made him so hard to catch. Let's see if he's left another one of his trademarks. You looking for anything special, Jace? I've found it. What is it? Method he uses to trip the latch on the screen door. Pushes an ice pick through the screen. Does he always carry that ice pick with him? Far as we know, he does. Cap Stinson over at headquarters calls him the Iceman. Yeah, Eyes man or no, I sure don't relish having him in my county. Afraid you have him around town for one more night anyhow. Well, I would make you say that. It's part of his M.O. always hits two nights in a row in the same area. Pix House is pretty far from town and the second place is always on the opposite side of town from the one he worked the night before. Shouldn't be hard to nab him then. That's what we've thought for over a year now. We even know a couple of other interesting things about him? He never enters a house where there's a dog. And he wears gloves on the job. And even knowing this, we haven't been able to catch him. So you haven't been getting any fingerprints on him then, huh? Well, I sure wish somebody at least get a look at him. We've learned a lot about him since he's been operating, but we still don't have any idea what he looks like. Well, maybe the dryers can tell us something. She ought to be feeling better by now. Just a second. What's this on the floor? You have a piece of paper handy I can use to sweep some of it up? Here's a sheet out of my notebook. That do the trick? Thanks. Yeah, I thought so. What is it, Jason? Smell it? I say it was snuff. So would I, Mr. Dreyer. Use it? Nope. Ted smokes cigars. It looks like we've just discovered another one of the Iceman's habits. And every time we do, we get just a little bit closer to catching him. I sure hope you're right. Let's go up and see if the dryers can tell us anything. Ms. Dryer was right jumpy when I got here. Not much wonder either. She was the one first heard him moving around in the kitchen. How much money to get here? Over $80. Ted had just been to the bank. All right if the Ranger and me come in? Sure. Come on in, Sheriff. Find anything to help you? No. We think so. How you feeling now, Ms. Dry always, Dylan. Shaky. I don't think I'll ever sleep again tonight. The way he came right into this room. Now, honey, honey, it's all over. I know. I'm still so sure. Yeah, sure. Don't you and a sheriff want to sit down, Ranger? No, thanks. We'll just be a few minutes more. I've been thinking since it happened. Maybe I did wrong not trying to stop him. You're lucky you didn't, Mr. Dreyer. A couple of people have tried. He's pretty handy with an ice pick he carries. Has he killed anybody? No, but he's come close. He gets cornered. He's like a weasel. You seem to know a lot about this fella. We never laid eyes on him. Well, then how? That's not hard, Ted. Our man's been operating for over a year in different parts of Texas. And the Ranger's got a good idea of his MO ammo modus operandi. It's the pattern habitual criminals follow on a job. Almost like a signature. But what we really need is some description. Of the man himself. I wish we could help you, but it was rat dark in our room and he didn't use a flashlight. Well, I saw his shadow when he crossed in front of the window. So did I, honey, but that's not what the ranger wants. We appreciate you trying anyhow. What do you figure we ought to do next, Jake? Be light in a few minutes we'll see if there are any tracks to follow outside. Won't stand much chance of catching up with him this late. I know. We might get a line on something almost as important. The direction he took when he left here. As soon as it was light enough for trailing, we went outside. Back at the house we found a spot where the thief had rested on the ground prior to the burglary. Near the front door we discovered tracks leading southeast across the fields. I unloaded charcoal from the trailer and the sheriff borrowed a horse from Mr. Dryer. Tracks were easy to follow. After about three miles we pulled up. Yeah. What do you make of that, Jason? Looks like he stopped to rest again. Way the brush is crushed, I'd say he'd spent quite a while here. Yeah, and I don't think. Why would a man who just broke into a house stop so close to the place you're off. Could have been waiting for some. How far is the main highway from here? Pretty close. Just over that ride. Let's see if the tracks lead there. You don't. Come on boy. If you're right about his waiting for something, it could be he's got a partner with a car meets him on the highway at some special time. Maybe. But our iceman strikes me more as the type who would work alone. Tracks look like they're going to lead right onto the highway. Jason. Suppose to do. Where do we go from there? See if he crossed the road. If he did, might give us some indication of where he was heading. And if he didn't? That's something we'll have to try and figure out. Tracks stop at the highway. All right. Take a look over here. Why Jace. It's a snuff box. Looks like it's been run over by a car. Uh huh. Or something heavier. Sheriff, we just might have the answer to one of the biggest problems about our man. What's that? Transportation. How he gets back into town after a job. I don't follow you. J. Come on back here. These marks in the gravel. Yeah? What do they look like to you? Well they could be tire marks from dual wheels. Double spurt of gravel where they started off. And up there where the snuff box was. You can see where the front wheels turned. You figure he might have been picked up by a truck? It's a little too long for a truck. Could have been one of those big trailer jobs. Then the rear wheels wouldn't have traction. No. I got a hunch it was a bus that picked our friend up. Well, there is a bus due in town from this direction at 4:50. And make it pass here around 4:30. Just right for the Iceman to make it. You mean he might plan his jobs around bus schedules? It's possible. I reckon we better try to locate the driver who brought in that bus. That shouldn't be too hard. Drivers all change at Rayner and we're going to get into town. See if he remembers picking up a passenger at this spot. Hey Jake, we could really be on to something. We got a few other angles to check before we're sure. But if they pan out, we've got just one more detail in the Iceman's MO and this might be the one that trips him up. We reached the Continental Trailways bus depot at 8 that morning and located the driver who had brought in the 450 bus. He remembered picking up a single passenger eight miles from Rainer but was unable to describe him. I left the sheriff in the depot restaurant and called Austin. Twenty minutes later I had the information I needed. I joined the sheriff at the restaurant counter. Grab a seat, Jason. I ordered you some eggs and coffee. Told girl keep them hopping you got here. Thanks. Hey miss, you can bring the ranger's order now. Find out anything from Austin? Plenty. Every job the Iceman's pulled has been at a time and place where he could have used a bus to get back to town. Hey, then we are onto something. Yeah, we're going to try to take advantage of it tonight. Thanks, Ms. Jay. How do you feel you're working? According to Iceman's mo He'll pick a house south of Rayner tonight. We can be sure it'll be somewhere not too far from the main highway. Other than you reckon we can get him when he tries to board the inbound bus? We're going to try. I check the schedule. The early morning bus from the south gets to Raina at 5:06. We'll be tailing it all the way in. Sounds like it might work. How far out do you want to pick it up? 15 miles ought to do it, but we'll make it 20 just to be safe. 20 miles? We'd have to be out on the highway at 4 I reckon we ought to leave here about 3. Uh huh. Better go catch a few hours sleep now, Sheriff. I don't think we'll get much tonight. At 3 the next morning, the sheriff and I drove south on the highway out of Rayner. It was still dark when we picked up the inbound bus at 4:17am we tailed it for 5 miles without seeing anyone. 10 miles from town and still no results. The 7 mile mark. The sheriff leaned forward in his seat. Hey, Jason, can you get a little further over to the right? Did you see somebody? I'm not sure. How about now? Yeah, that's better. Yeah, up at the top of the next hill. The bus headlight just caught him standing at the side of the road there. Hold on, Sheriff. We're going around the bus, then we're gonna roll machine now? Yeah. Stay on your toes in case he makes a break when we stop. Right. Jason, get close to him. Watch out for that ice pick. I'll try not to get that close. Get ready. Well, can you beat that? A woman. I ought to kick myself. She had me fooled too. There ought to be some kind of law against women wearing slacks. Reckon she works in the aircraft plant now. We'll let the bus pass us again. Might still be between here and town. What do we do if we don't spot him? Turn around, come out again. There's another bus due at 903. Pick it up at the same place and tail it. He's got to be around here somewhere and we're gonna find him. The bus we were following picked up no more passengers on the way to town. We repeated the procedure with a 903 bus. Still no results. Little before 10 that morning, the sheriff and I walked into his office. Swear. I don't understand it. Jeez, I just don't understand. How come he didn't show up? Beats me, Sheriff. For a year or more, man operates a certain way, picks off two houses and two consecutive nights. I don't know. Maybe I was all wrong about that bus routine. No, I don't think so. Once you figure his pattern, it's laid out too clear. Couldn't be only coincidence about his robbing houses near the main highway just an hour or so before a bus passes. I guess not. But if taking a bus into town is part of his ammo. Where was he? No robbery reported last night. Could be he decided to lay low for a night or two. That doesn't figure. He. He wasn't scared the night before. Made an $80 haul from the dryers and never Even knew they were awake. Looks like he might have cleared out. What are your plans now, Jace? I reckon I better start back to headquarters. Cap says he's got enough work lined up to keep me busy a month. Well, I'm sure sorry it didn't pan out. I sort of had my heart set on helping to haul in that little weasel. Well, keep in touch with us, Sheriff. If you hear anything, give us a yell. I sure will, Jason. Thanks for everything, Sheriff Holmes. Yeah. What? Yeah, wait a minute, J. Oh, Jace, Call me Sheriff. Yeah. Come here. All right. Now give me that again. I see. Sure. Okay, we'll handle it. So on. What's up? Reckon Captain Simpson will have to get along without you for another day. I don't think you'll want to leave now anyhow. Why not? Our man died. Did hit last night. Robbed an old fella named Earl Sweezy 10 miles south of town. I guess I was wrong about that bus routine after all. Maybe. But I got an idea last night was something new for your iceman. He stole the old man's car, used it for his getaway. I wonder what made him break his MO like that. I reckon he had to get away fast. What do you mean? He stabbed old man Sweezy with his ice pick. In just a moment, we will continue with Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCray as Ranger Jace Pearson. Have you ever stood on a western plain and watched the black funnel like cloud of a tornado sweep across the countryside? Have you ever seen the destruction left in its wake? Whenever and wherever disaster strikes, your Red Cross must be prepared. Prepared to care for the injured, the homeless, the destitute following the sweep of a tornado, the raging waters of a flood, the blow of a hurricane. The need for help is immediate and urgent. If you are there on the scene, you will certainly do all you can to help. But even if you are hundreds of miles away, you can still answer the call of the victims through your Red Cross. For you, all of us are the Red Cross. Our Red Cross sets up shelters for the homeless, provides food and clothing and medical care. Then, when the danger has passed, our Red Cross stays on for the long and expensive job of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation. Rebuilding shattered lives and homes. Many people lack the resources to make a new start after disaster losses. Then they turn to you, and you answer their call through your Red Cross. Give and give generously to the 1952 Red Cross Fun Drive. And now the second act of Tales of the Texas Rangers. We continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and our authority authentic story. The Iceman. We left immediately for Earl Sweezy's farmhouse. On the way, the sheriff told me as much of the stories he'd heard over the phone. The old man had surprised the intruder and struggled with him before he was stabbed twice in the shoulder. When we pulled up to the house, the doctor was just leaving. He informed us that Mr. Sweezy was not badly hurt and was waiting for us. Well, Sheriff, come in, come in. You too, arranger. Thanks, Mr. Sweezy. Hey, Earl, you shouldn't be walking around with that bad shoulder. Now, Sheriff, don't you be talking like that doctor telling me to stay in bed. It'd be more to death. Stay in bed? The doc said you did lose some blood and I've got a lot more. Takes more than an ice pick to be letting all the blood out of old Errol. Sweezy, we'd like to ask you a few questions about what happened last night. And I expect you'll be wanting to hear the whole thing just the way it occurred. Now come into the kitchen with me. I want to show you just the way things will was when I surprised this. Oh, we can stay right here for now, Mr. Sweezy. I think you'd be more comfortable. Now don't be spoiling the excitement for me, Ranger. I've been looking forward to telling you about this ever since you let me know you was on your way out. Will you be coming with me? You fought with the burglary in the kitchen. That I did. I was up in my bed sleeping sound as you please, when I heard the rattling and shuffling down here. What time was this, Mr. Sweetie? Now, I wouldn't be knowing exactly, Ranger, but I had a feeling for some time after, oh, three or four o' clock. Uh huh. Here we are. I've left everything the way it was, except that I've cleaned up a little bit of blood that was in the floor there. You put up quite a fight at that, didn't you? I'm proud to say I did. If it hadn't been for that ice pick he was so fond of wielding, it had been a different story altogether. What happened after you heard him down here, Mr. Sweezy? Oh, yes. Well, I come down the stairs easy. Like when he got to the kitchen door. What do you suppose I seen his fellow doing? He was probably eating. Ah, somebody already told you about it? No, Mr. Sweezy. That's the way this man operates. Breaks into a house, eats, and then takes whatever money he can find. Is that so? Now, well, well, I'll be Quick about telling you the rest, stranger. I could just make out this fella sitting at the table eating. I give a good run and a jump and before you know it, we was fighting like two wild cats. And then he put this ice picking shoulder. Next thing I remember, I come to and it was bright daylight. I got up and I made it over to Hank Lower's farm. Don't you have a phone here, Earl? Never felt the need of one till now. Sheriff, did you get a look at the man while you were fighting? Well now, Ranger, that's hard to say. I, I, I, I seen him and I didn't, what with his being so dark and all. Well, could you describe him? Well, the most I could say is about the size of him. He, he was about my height and quick. Quick? Oh, he was quick as a scared rat. There's something else I forgot. What's that, Mr. Sweezy? The eyes. I expect that was the only part of his face I really seen. Mean eyes looked at you the way a bobcat does when you get him cornered. You think you'd be able to identify him if you saw him? I said I seen him and I didn't. But I'm thinking I could identify him. We heard in town he stole your car. Is that true? It is. And I'm glad you asked me, Ranger. I was almost forgetting to give you the license number. Yeah, I, I got it right out. Thanks. That'll be all for now. And you better take it easy for a while with that shoulder. Oh, don't be worrying about me. I'll be ready whenever you need me again. I hope that'll be soon, Mr. Sweezy. We put out a tracer on Mr. Sweezy's car. Around noon of the third day, the car was found covered with brush off a small dirt road near Route 190. We were checking the area when I received a radio call. KTXA to Unit 10. Unit 10 to KTXA. Go ahead, KTXA. Iceman has been located through standard MO check in town of Delaney. Reported breaking and entering during early hours this morning. Delaney? That, that's 50 miles north of here. 10 4, does KTXA know exact location of crime with reference to center of Delaney house? Belongs to O' Brien Edwards. Location 12 miles east of town. 10 4, this unit will proceed immediately to Delaney. Unit 10 clear. It's already hit east of town. Should be west for his second strike. Want to tail a bus again tonight, Sheriff? If it means another crack at this iceman, you just try and stop Me? Let's get rolling. Jace In Delaney, we checked the bus schedules and learned there was a Continental Trailways local inbound from the west. At 4.57by4, we'd intercepted the bus and started tailing it toward town. At 4.25we spotted a man standing at the side of the road a quarter mile ahead of the bus. Passed the bus and pulled up 10 yards from the man, keeping him in our headlights. We made no attempt to run. As we got out of the car, I saw him throw something open the brush. Kid. Yeah? Stay where you are, mister. We want to talk to you. A bus is coming. I gotta get in town. Wave the bus on, Sheriff. Sure. Look what you doing? I gotta get on that bus. We'll give you a ride into town. You've got no right to do this. What's your name? Go tag. Where do you live? I don't have to tell you nothing. I asked you where you live. I want an answer. Dallas. What are you doing out here tonight? Maybe I've been visiting a friend. Your friend have a name? Look, you got no business asking me questions like this. Risk him. Sheriff. Yeah, you keep your hands off me. Shut up. Yeah. Looks like the beginning of pay dirt, Jace. Box of snuff, wallet full of money and a pair of cotton gloves. I want to use these gloves. My gloves. Got a right to use them any way I want. You ought to learn the law a little better. I suppose. You go get that ice pick you just threw away. I don't know what you're talking about. See if you can find it, Sheriff. I'll find it if it's the last thing I do. Now, look. How long you gonna stand out here asking me questions? Until we're finished. Where were you tonight? Told you before. Visiting a friend. Who? Maybe I can't tell you. Maybe she got a husband. Jace find it? Yeah. Sharp and shiny. Here. How many houses you break into with this tiger? I never saw that before. I don't think I'd claim it either if I'd stabbed as many people with it as you have. Wasting your time. You promised me a ride into town. Am I gonna get it? Yeah. But not to the town. You think you're gonna get a ride a long way back to a town called Rayner? We arrived in Rayner around 10 that morning. We locked Tagger in the county jail and contacted Mr. Sweezy. We told him we wanted him to make an identification and arranged to have a special show up in the cell block. Tagger and five other men were to be Presented to him in the hope that he could identify the man who'd entered his house. Come on in. Got the six of them over there in one set. Fine. This will be far enough, Mr. Sweey. Wait here while the sheriff brings them in. Out. I'll have them out for you in a second, Ranger. If I'm not able to identify this man, do you have enough on him to send him away anyhow? Maybe without identification, a good lawyer could get him off. All right. I'll come on out of there. Come on. And stop talking. Now. Form a straight line in front of the cell. Get moving, I'll ya. You'll get a little closer. Now, Mr. Sweezy, maybe these men look familiar to you. I'm not able to say for certain, Ranger. Just take your time. That one. Start from the left. That might be him. You? No, the next man. Step out. How about it, Mr. Sweezy? Maybe if he was to talk. Anything special you want to hear him say? Maybe if he was to say, I'll get you. That's what he said when he was fighting. We hear you say, I'll get you. Look. What is it? Say it. I'll get you. Maybe if he used to whisper. That's the way he says when I heard him whisper those same words. I don't know how you heard the ranger whisper, I get you, Mr. Sweezy. Ranger. I can't be sure. I just wouldn't want to be saved. Well, thanks anyhow. Sheriff. Look. Wait a minute. What is it? I was just remembering. In the fight the other night, just before he put the ice pick in my shoulder, I had a hold of him and I scratched the back of his neck. Are you sure? Wasn't I almost forgotten? If that's the man, he'll have a mark of my fingernails across the scruff of his neck. All right, you turn around. Look what you're trying to do. Turn around. You can't make me do nothing. Out of water. It is him. That look. He got in his eyes. Just in. Ignore them eyes. Any place. It's him for sure. Come on, let's get back in that cell. I said in the cell. You can't put me in it. I get out. I get out. I'm still on. Add it all you want, tagger. It's going to take more than an ice pick to get through that door. 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 the $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 and 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. I'll 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. On November 17, 1948, George Tagg was tried in the Raina County Court on dual charges of felonious assault and burglary. He was convicted and sentenced to 23 years in Huntsville Penitentiary. 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, Lillian Whitfield Connor and Parley Bear. Technical advisor was Captain MP Lone Wolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed and adapted by Charles E. Israel and the program is produced and directed by Stacy Keats. Hal Gibney speaking next. The Big show brings you 90 minutes of drama, comedy and music on NBC. 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 podcasttrwesterns.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.