Wild Crop | Tales of the Texas Rangers (11-18-51)

Summary

Old Time Radio Westerns Podcast Summary
Episode: Wild Crop | Tales of the Texas Rangers
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Release Date: March 12, 2025

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of Old Time Radio Westerns, host Andrew Rhys presents "Wild Crop," a captivating installment of the Tales of the Texas Rangers series. Through the masterful voice acting of Joel McCrae as Ranger Jace Pearson, listeners are transported to the rugged landscapes of West Texas in 1947. This digitally restored classic Western radio drama immerses audiences in a tale of betrayal, investigation, and justice, echoing the timeless narratives of iconic shows like Gunsmoke and The Lone Ranger.

Setting the Scene

The story unfolds on a chilly October night in 1947, near Burrowville, West Texas. The serene yet tense atmosphere is brought to life with rich soundscapes—birds chirping, the rustle of button willows, and the distant sounds of the Wild West. The initial confrontation sets the stage for the dramatic events that follow.

Notable Quote:

"[00:15] Andrew Rines: Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines..."

The Confrontation

Two men, Bud Adams and Whitey Talmage, find themselves standing beneath a cluster of button willows, tension thick in the air. Their dialogue reveals underlying conflicts and personal stakes.

Key Exchanges:

• Bud Adams: "I only want to take a few."
  [02:05] Whitey Talmage: "Don't make me tell you things twice. What time is it?"

• Whitey Talmage: "We'll make him a little late tonight. We'll make him nice and pretty for her."
  [02:34] Highlights Whitey's aggressive intentions towards Pete Jennings.

The confrontation escalates quickly, leading to Pete Jennings being brutally beaten with brass knuckles, resulting in his untimely death.

Discovery and Initial Investigation

The next day, the grim discovery of Pete Jennings' body prompts the local sheriff to involve Ranger Jace Pearson. Ranger Pearson arrives with a keen eye for detail, beginning the meticulous investigation.

Notable Quote:

[07:00] Sheriff: "No one look around here kills that idea. I know."

Ranger Pearson and the Sheriff analyze the scene, noting the absence of evidence suggesting an accident. The autopsy confirms that Jennings was beaten with a metallic object, reinforcing the theory of foul play.

Interviews and Mounting Suspicion

As Pearson delves deeper, he and the Sheriff interview Mary Adams and her brother, Bud Adams. Mary appears distressed and protective of her brother, while Bud's behavior raises red flags.

Key Insights:

• Blood Type Evidence:
  [14:35] Ranger Pearson: "The other sample was type O. That's Bud's type."

• Marijuana Connection:
  [20:45] Sheriff: "That smoke smells like marijuana."

These pieces of evidence begin to paint a suspicious picture around Bud Adams, especially linking him to the murder through type O blood found at the scene and his possession of cannabis.

Notable Quote:

[13:07] Sheriff: "You think he was afraid somebody was after him? Is that it?"

The Pursuit and Capture

With mounting evidence, Ranger Pearson and the Sheriff narrow their focus to Bud Adams. The investigation leads them to Bud's residence, where a tense confrontation ensues.

Dramatic Confrontation:

[25:23] Bud Adams: "No. No. Give me them cigarettes. I gotta have them."
[26:00] Pete Jennings: "It was Whitey."

Under pressure, Bud confesses that Whitey Talmage was the actual perpetrator behind Jennings' murder. This revelation pivots the investigation, shifting suspicion away from Bud and pointing towards Whitey.

Resolution and Aftermath

The episode culminates in the apprehension of Whitey Talmage, who meets his end in a showdown with the Ranger and Sheriff. Bud Adams is exonerated from the murder but faces charges related to marijuana possession. Ranger Pearson's unwavering dedication ensures justice is served, reinforcing the esteemed reputation of the Texas Rangers.

Notable Quote:

[27:36] Sheriff: "I didn't do it. I suppose you didn't smoke this stuff either."

Conclusion

"Wild Crop" masterfully weaves a tale of deception, loyalty, and justice, showcasing the intricate processes of a Texas Ranger's investigation. The episode stands as a testament to the enduring allure of Western radio dramas, enriched by digital restoration that brings clarity and depth to every pivotal moment. Through compelling dialogue and immersive soundscapes, listeners experience the raw intensity of the Wild West, honoring the legacy of classic radio storytelling.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Whitey Talmage: "We'll make him a little late tonight. We'll make him nice and pretty for her."
  [02:34]

• Sheriff: "Man's cigarettes generally leave a few crumbs in the seams of his pockets. I'm kind of curious about the brand that Bud smokes."
  [20:30]

• Bud Adams: "Why did he kill him, not me? Why did he kill him?"
  [25:55]

• Sheriff: "You gonna jail for possession, Bud. And whether we convict you or not, you're gonna stand trial for murdering Jennings."
  [25:40]

This episode not only entertains but also offers a window into the methods and moral dilemmas faced by lawmen in the Old West. Through "Wild Crop," Old Time Radio Westerns continues to preserve and celebrate the rich history of Western radio dramas.

Transcript

[Bud Adams]

Foreign.

[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 McCrae]

The National Broadcasting company presents Joel McCray in Tales of the Texas Rangers from Hollywood. Another authentic reenactment of a case transcribed from the files of the Texas Rangers. Tales of the Texas Rangers, starring Joel McCrae. Ranger Jace Pearson, Texas. More than 260,000 square miles and 50 men who make up the most famous and oldest law enforcement body in North America. Now from the files of the Texas Rangers come these stories based on fact only. Names, dates and places. Places are fictitious for obvious reasons. The events themselves are a matter of record. Case for tonight.

[Sheriff]

Wild crop.

[Mary Adams]

It is 7:30pm A Saturday night in October 1947 in the fields near Burrowville, West Texas. Two men stand in the darkness beneath the cluster of button willows.

[Bud Adams]

What'd you say we light up, Whitey Later? I only want to take a few.

[Whitey Talmage]

Drags later, I said. Stick that button matches back in your pocket.

[Bud Adams]

All right, Whitey. You don't have to get tough about it then.

[Whitey Talmage]

Don't make me tell you things twice. What time is it?

[Bud Adams]

How do I know? You got my watch along with everything else.

[Whitey Talmage]

You act right tonight and I may give it back to you. You sure Jennings come this way?

[Bud Adams]

Of course I'm sure. Path through here is the shortest way from the ranch to my house.

[Whitey Talmage]

What time was your sister expecting him?

[Bud Adams]

Between 7:30 and 8. That's when he always comes.

[Whitey Talmage]

We'll make him a little late tonight. We'll make him nice and pretty for her. You can't keep him away from her, but maybe I can. What's so hot about a stinkin cowpoke?

[Bud Adams]

Don't ask me, ask sis.

[Whitey Talmage]

You getting smart, bud.

[Bud Adams]

I'm just telling you.

[Whitey Talmage]

Well, maybe you better stop telling me. Unless you want to give up smoking.

[Bud Adams]

I can get it someplace else.

[Whitey Talmage]

From who? You not only don't know where to get this stuff, you wouldn't have the money to buy it.

[Bud Adams]

I could do without it.

[Whitey Talmage]

Yeah? Yeah, I heard a lot of hemp smokers say that you need marijuana and I need your sister. And don't forget it. You told somebody's coming.

[Bud Adams]

Yeah.

[Jace Pearson]

Jennings.

[Bud Adams]

He must be. He's the only one comes this way. I reckon other hands go the other way to town in the ranch pickup.

[Whitey Talmage]

Remember what I told you. Just do like I said.

[Bud Adams]

Hey, what are them things you putting on your Hands.

[Whitey Talmage]

Brass knuckles.

[Bud Adams]

Look, I thought you said you were just gonna fight, that's all. Bud, you could kill a guy with them things.

[Whitey Talmage]

Let me worry about that.

[Bud Adams]

But I can't.

[Sheriff]

Be quiet.

[Whitey Talmage]

He'll hear you. All right, Bud. Get him off that horse.

[Sheriff]

Jennings.

[Bud Adams]

Oh, boy.

[Mary Adams]

Who's that? Me.

[Sheriff]

Bunny?

[Bud Adams]

Yeah? Why are you right here? I want to talk to you.

[Sheriff]

All right. Stay here, boy.

[Mary Adams]

Look like you've been waiting here for me.

[Bud Adams]

I have. Where do you think you're going, Janice?

[Mary Adams]

That's kind of a silly question, ain't it, Bud? I'm gonna call on your sister.

[Bud Adams]

I don't think so.

[Mary Adams]

And your thinking ain't what it should be. Why don't you grow up?

[Bud Adams]

I told you to stay away from her.

[Mary Adams]

I just wait for her to tell me that. Now I'm gonna tell you something. If you ever again lay a hand on her for seeing me like I got a hunt you did once, I'm gonna have you topping cotton from here to Houston.

[Bud Adams]

You wanna start something.

[Mary Adams]

But if you weren't Mary's brother, I'd.

[Bud Adams]

Kick your teeth at it.

[Mary Adams]

Oh, kid, why don't you grow up? Your sister's a big girl. We're gonna get married soon. Me gonna be in the same family, whether we like it or not. I love her. I'm not gonna hurt her.

[Bud Adams]

You darn right you ain't. Cause you ain't even gonna see her anymore, starting right now.

[Mary Adams]

You think you're gonna stop me, Bud? Here's your chance to stop trying.

[Bud Adams]

That suits me fine.

[Mary Adams]

Come on, you sneaky little nose.

[Sheriff]

You lousy.

[Mary Adams]

Get in this.

[Bud Adams]

Whitey.

[Sheriff]

Don't worry, boy. I'm coming out.

[Mary Adams]

Oh, you too, huh, Whitey?

[Sheriff]

Yeah, me too.

[Bud Adams]

Come on, Whitey. Give it to him, Whitey. He shut my mouth.

[Sheriff]

Kill him. You like it, Jennings? Come on. I got more.

[Pete Jennings]

Give it to him.

[Sheriff]

You can.

[Bud Adams]

Something on your head.

[Sheriff]

I got this.

[Pete Jennings]

It's going crazy.

[Joel McCrae]

And this.

[Bud Adams]

He cut my mouth.

[Joel McCrae]

Stop whining.

[Whitey Talmage]

Help me pick him up and stand him against that tree.

[Bud Adams]

What for?

[Whitey Talmage]

You want him running to the sheriff? Stand him up Then we started this.

[Sheriff]

Let's finish it.

[Mary Adams]

The body of Pete Jennings was discovered the following day when other ranch hands started a search for him. After finding his horse grazing while fully saddled, the sheriff was summoned and he in turn requested the immediate aid of a Texas Ranger. Ranger Jace Pearson was assigned.

[Jace Pearson]

Bodies in them button willows right ahead, Jase. Couple of my deputies are there with it.

[Sheriff]

Did you tell them not to tramp around?

[Jace Pearson]

They're experienced men.

[Sheriff]

Good. When did you say the ranch hand saw Jennings last?

[Jace Pearson]

Last night. Had his chuck with him, then rode out.

[Sheriff]

Night riding. What for?

[Jace Pearson]

Oh, he wasn't working. He was on his way to see a girl. Been going steady with Mary Adams.

[Sheriff]

He always go courting on a horse?

[Jace Pearson]

Well, he didn't have no car. Besides, the ranch road to the Adams place is no bargain. Reckon it was the easiest way for him to get there.

[Sheriff]

I see. Those your men?

[Jace Pearson]

Yeah. I staked around the grove to keep people out. Place was kind of crowded this morning when the JP Was here.

[Sheriff]

Looks like they shoot everybody off. Howdy, fellas.

[Jace Pearson]

Right in through here, Jase. There's a little path.

[Sheriff]

I see it.

[Bud Adams]

Oh, right.

[Jace Pearson]

There we are.

[Sheriff]

Oh, charcoal.

[Jace Pearson]

Not very pleasant to look at.

[Sheriff]

No.

[Jace Pearson]

When we first come out here this morning, I thought maybe it was an accident. Maybe his horse threw him or he hit a branch or something.

[Sheriff]

No one look around here kills that idea. I know.

[Jace Pearson]

Dead leaves on the ground, no rocks, nothing he could have hit that hard.

[Sheriff]

Whatever his face met up with was plenty hard. Flesh laid open to the bones, jaw and nose smashed. Any of the other ranch hands ride this way last night?

[Jace Pearson]

Nope.

[Sheriff]

Are you sure about that?

[Jace Pearson]

I checked. All but one of them rode into town on the pickup. I know where they all were. I'll show you the statements later.

[Sheriff]

You said one hand stayed?

[Jace Pearson]

Yeah, but he never left the bunkhouse.

[Sheriff]

You make sure of that?

[Jace Pearson]

I didn't have to. Jase. He's in bed with a broken leg. He's been there two weeks.

[Sheriff]

Guess we can count him out then. Any money on the body?

[Jace Pearson]

No, but this outfit pays once a month on the 15th. That's two days off. Cowpokes all figured to be broke.

[Sheriff]

Be a big surprise if they weren't. A whole fight must have taken place right around here. In a circle about 10ft.

[Jace Pearson]

Why?

[Sheriff]

The leaves are all ground apart. Other patches haven't been disturbed much. Hey, wait a second. Another spot over here.

[Jace Pearson]

Yeah, not much here. Not like the other spot.

[Sheriff]

Couple of leaves are stained here. Might be blood.

[Jace Pearson]

Pretty far from the body, Jase. Leaves over there. Stained a lot more.

[Sheriff]

Yeah, I know. You find any signs of pony tracks around the grove?

[Jace Pearson]

Too many. Most of the ranch hands were around here this morning when the body was found. They were all mounted then. I brought my boys in too.

[Sheriff]

I guess that'd wipe out any tracks that might have been around. We'll have a look to make sure.

[Jace Pearson]

Couldn't be helped, Jace.

[Sheriff]

Oh, I know that, sheriff. I wasn't being critical. Where are they gonna go over the body?

[Jace Pearson]

At the Funeral home in Burrowville. Medical examiner's waiting for us to bring the body in.

[Sheriff]

Better have somebody move it in on a buckboard.

[Jace Pearson]

I sent for one.

[Sheriff]

Good. I want to get a couple of jars for my saddlebag.

[Jace Pearson]

Jars?

[Sheriff]

Yeah, I want to take samples of those stained leaves around the body and in that other spot.

[Jace Pearson]

Well, why from both places, though?

[Sheriff]

Takes at least two men to make a fight, Sheriff. No rule says that one of them has to do all the bleeding. I packed the samples of bloody leaves and got them off to the Austin lab by plane. The medical examiner's autopsy on Jennings body showed that Jennings had been beaten to death with an object or objects of metallic hardness. The sheriff and I left the examination room and we came around the side of the funeral home. We looked through the glass window. Two people were in the waiting room. A man and a woman. The woman was crying. Who are they? Through the window there?

[Jace Pearson]

Mary Adams and her brother Bud.

[Sheriff]

She the one you said Pete Jennings was on his way to see when he got killed?

[Jace Pearson]

Yeah. You want to talk to her?

[Sheriff]

Might be able to give us a motive for the killing. We need one badly.

[Jace Pearson]

She looks pretty broken up.

[Sheriff]

I know, but this can't wait. Murders like this cool off too quickly unless you stay right on them.

[Jace Pearson]

I can't fight that. Come on.

[Sheriff]

Sis, please.

[Bud Adams]

You gotta get a hold of yourself.

[Jace Pearson]

Howdy, Bud. Mary. Oh, howdy, Sheriff. This here is Ranger Pearson. Jace is Mary Adams and her brother Bud.

[Sheriff]

Howdy. Howdy, ma'am.

[Pete Jennings]

Hello.

[Sheriff]

Like to ask you a few questions, man.

[Bud Adams]

Look, I know you got a job to do, Ranger, but do you have to talk to her now?

[Sheriff]

You think I would if it wasn't necessary?

[Bud Adams]

Well, you see the shape she's in.

[Jace Pearson]

Pete Jennings isn't in very good shape either, Bud. Mary may give us the help we need to get the man who killed him.

[Bud Adams]

She can tell you what you want to know later.

[Pete Jennings]

No, it's all right, Bud. I might as well talk to them now.

[Sheriff]

Thank you, ma'am.

[Pete Jennings]

When can I see him? Why do I have to wait here?

[Jace Pearson]

Well, it'll be a while yet, Mary. The doctor had to look him over first. Maybe you better just talk to us and then go on home.

[Pete Jennings]

No, I. I want to stay here. What do you want to know?

[Sheriff]

Pete Jennings have any trouble with anybody you know about, ma'am? I mean, was there bad blood between him and anybody?

[Bud Adams]

Pete?

[Pete Jennings]

Well, no. He was a quiet fella.

[Sheriff]

He ever in any trouble with the law, anything like that?

[Pete Jennings]

No.

[Bud Adams]

You mean not that he ever told you about?

[Pete Jennings]

Don't you start that again, Bud.

[Sheriff]

Just a minute, ma'am. What you mean by that, bud?

[Jace Pearson]

Nothing. Then why'd you say it, Tucker?

[Bud Adams]

I told you, it was nothing.

[Pete Jennings]

He just never liked Pete, that's all. Well, he's dead now. Why can't you leave him alone?

[Bud Adams]

I have nothing against him. I just didn't want him hanging around you, that's all.

[Sheriff]

Maybe you'd better excuse me, Sheriff. Maybe this isn't the time to talk to Ms. Adams after all. We'll wait until later.

[Jace Pearson]

All right, if you say so. J.

[Sheriff]

Sorry to bother you, ma'am. Come on, sheriff.

[Jace Pearson]

Now, what was the idea of that, Jace? Thought you wanted to talk to her.

[Sheriff]

I think I'd rather talk to her brother, Bud. Yeah. He seems to know something that she can't or won't tell us. He might talk more freely if she isn't around to argue with him.

[Jace Pearson]

He's looking up now.

[Sheriff]

He sees us out here, signal him to come out.

[Jace Pearson]

Right. He got it. He's coming now.

[Sheriff]

Let's walk down a way so she can't see us.

[Bud Adams]

You signaled me to come out.

[Sheriff]

Yeah. I wanted to get you away from your sister, keep from upsetting her any further.

[Bud Adams]

I appreciate that.

[Sheriff]

What were you gonna say in there about Pete Jennings?

[Bud Adams]

Oh, I don't know. He's dead. Don't seem right to talk about him.

[Jace Pearson]

Must have been some reason you objected to him seeing Mary.

[Bud Adams]

Would you want your sister taken up with a strange cowpoke that just drifted in from nowhere?

[Sheriff]

Cowpokes are always drifting. That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with him.

[Jace Pearson]

Whitey Talmad. You're the cow poop. You didn't beef when Mary used to go out with him.

[Bud Adams]

I know White. He's okay. You never heard of him getting in any trouble, did you?

[Jace Pearson]

Well, no, I.

[Sheriff]

You keep suggesting that Jennings had been in trouble, though.

[Bud Adams]

All I know is he sure could have been.

[Sheriff]

You got a reason for thinking so?

[Bud Adams]

Way he acted, always seemed scared.

[Sheriff]

By what?

[Bud Adams]

How should I know? Scared, that's all. A few times he asked me if I'd ever seen a tall Darkville around town. Stranger.

[Sheriff]

You ever ask anybody else about that?

[Whitey Talmage]

I don't know.

[Sheriff]

That all there was to it?

[Jace Pearson]

Why'd he ask you especially?

[Bud Adams]

I don't know. I'll tell you. I guess it was because. Well, I work on and off at the paint store near the Continental Trailways depot. Maybe he figured that I'd notice people getting off the buses.

[Sheriff]

You think he was afraid somebody was after him? Is that it?

[Bud Adams]

You figure it out. That's why I never wanted him around Mary. There was something wrong.

[Sheriff]

Ever tell him how you felt? Yeah, I told him. What'd he say?

[Bud Adams]

He told me to mind my own business.

[Sheriff]

Well, did you?

[Bud Adams]

Wasn't much else I could do, was there? I reckon Mary's old enough to pick her own bows.

[Sheriff]

You and Jennings ever have a fight?

[Bud Adams]

Of course not.

[Sheriff]

Where were you last night between 7 and 8 o'clock?

[Bud Adams]

Me? Let me see. Oh, I was at Whitey's place.

[Sheriff]

I thought you said this fellow Whitey was a cowpoke. He got a place of his own.

[Jace Pearson]

Yeah, Jase, he stopped punching cattle about a year ago. Bought a small place way out by Rocky Mesa.

[Sheriff]

Land out there isn't worth much. Still, he must have saved his money.

[Bud Adams]

No, he. He just hit it lucky once. Gambling. Look, I told you all I knew. I better get back to my sister.

[Sheriff]

All right, go ahead. You boys take a set of fingerprints from Jennings body? Sheriff?

[Jace Pearson]

Yeah, why?

[Sheriff]

I want to shoot a copy of them through to Austin.

[Jace Pearson]

They're at my office. You think Jennings might have had a record?

[Sheriff]

Might have. Whether he had one or not, we'll have to check back on him as far as we can.

[Jace Pearson]

Looking for what?

[Sheriff]

The tall, dark man that Bud says Jennings was so worried about.

[Joel McCrae]

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

[Narrator]

It is absolutely imperative that our armed forces have an adequate reserve of blood plasma at all times. The only answer to this crisis is you, the American people, who have never failed in such an emergency. The Department of Defense urges every one of us to contribute blood plasma. Blood cannot be manufactured or cultivated. It must be given by human beings to save a life. Make an appointment right away to donate a pint of your blood. Then know in your heart that you have saved a life.

[Joel McCrae]

We continue now with Tales of the Texas Rangers and tonight's case, Wildcroft. An authentic story from the files of the Texas Rangers.

[Sheriff]

I spent the next day drifting around the countryside asking questions about Jennings. Anybody who'd known him had the same answer. A nice quiet fellow. Got a few other interesting bits of information, too, before I got back to the sheriff's office at about sundown.

[Jace Pearson]

Oh, howdy, Jason.

[Sheriff]

Sheriff. Anything come in for me?

[Jace Pearson]

Yeah, about an hour ago, just after you called me from the Saunders ranch. I called back, but they said you'd left.

[Sheriff]

What do you got?

[Jace Pearson]

The report's from office. I wrote everything down here. You were right about that blood. Good thing you took a couple of samples from that ground out There.

[Sheriff]

Yeah. One type A that matches the medical examiner's typing on Jennings. The other sample was typo.

[Jace Pearson]

Too bad it wasn't the other way around. Type O is very common. The other report doesn't help much.

[Sheriff]

Fingerprint check? Yeah.

[Jace Pearson]

Jennings didn't have a record.

[Sheriff]

Didn't seem to be running from anything either. Report says he wrote to friends on his last job, place where he worked before he came here, and asked them to pass his address around and have people write to him here.

[Jace Pearson]

Shore left himself wide open to be followed by that tall, dark man.

[Sheriff]

Yeah, it wasn't any tall, dark man.

[Jace Pearson]

You sound pretty sure.

[Sheriff]

I was sure before I ever read this report. You know old man Crandall?

[Jace Pearson]

Runs the newsstand in the bus depot?

[Sheriff]

Yeah. He was one of the people I saw today. Jennings used to buy his tobacco there. Crandall liked him. They were pretty friendly. Crandall was right there to see every bus that came in.

[Jace Pearson]

Jennings ever ask him about a stranger?

[Sheriff]

No. Never asked anybody else I could find either. Never asked anybody but Bud Adams. Funny he should ask the one person who didn't like him.

[Jace Pearson]

Yeah, mighty funny.

[Sheriff]

To your knowledge, Sheriff, has Bud Adams ever been in a hospital around here?

[Jace Pearson]

I don't know, Jason. Must have been in one in the army, though. Come home with a medical discharge.

[Sheriff]

Fine. That'll do. Operator. Hello, operator. I want long distance, please. Get me Texas Ranger headquarters, Cam Mabry, Austin.

[Jace Pearson]

Yes, sir.

[Pete Jennings]

One moment, please.

[Jace Pearson]

What are you after, Jace?

[Sheriff]

A check of Bud's army record. I want to get his blood type. Austin dug up the answer in an hour. Bud Adams was blood type O. It fit. It wasn't enough to grab him, but it was enough to take us out to the Adams place for a few more questions. Mary Adams was there, more composed than she'd been at the funeral parlor. And somebody else was there, too. Whitey Talmage. We were introduced.

[Whitey Talmage]

Glad to meet you, Ranger.

[Sheriff]

Thanks. Your brother around, Ms. Adams?

[Pete Jennings]

He went out to the shed and back a while ago. I don't know what's keeping him so long.

[Sheriff]

Oh, he said he had something to fix.

[Pete Jennings]

Oh.

[Whitey Talmage]

Reckon you want to talk to these people, Mary, I just stopped by to tell you how sorry I am about the way things turned out for you.

[Pete Jennings]

Thanks, Whitey.

[Jace Pearson]

Don't rush off on our account, Whitey. Bud's the one we want to see.

[Sheriff]

Sure. Stay put.

[Pete Jennings]

Well, you can go through the house and out the back.

[Jace Pearson]

Fine. Come on, pete.

[Sheriff]

Oh, Whitey. Mr. Talmage.

[Joel McCrae]

Yeah?

[Sheriff]

Understand you used to be a cowpoke.

[Whitey Talmage]

Yeah.

[Sheriff]

You ever ride in the rodeo? Up at Abilene.

[Whitey Talmage]

Abilene?

[Sheriff]

No, I kind of thought I saw you up there once. Fella named Whitey, Road for a ranch. From this section, looks something like you.

[Whitey Talmage]

Wasn't me.

[Sheriff]

Understand you got your own place now.

[Whitey Talmage]

Yeah.

[Sheriff]

Bet it beats writing for somebody else.

[Whitey Talmage]

It sure does.

[Sheriff]

Bud told us about it today. Oh. Must have taken you about 10 years to save that much money on a cowpoke salary.

[Whitey Talmage]

Yeah, it was rough going.

[Sheriff]

Yeah. I get to talking about spreads and I forget what I came here for. Come on, Sheriff.

[Jace Pearson]

Oh, you flushed something there, Jason.

[Sheriff]

Maybe not.

[Jace Pearson]

Bud said Whitey bought his place with gambling money.

[Sheriff]

Now we're lawmen. Maybe Whitey didn't want to admit that to us.

[Jace Pearson]

Then what'd you rope him for?

[Sheriff]

If he used to go with a girl, he's moving back into the picture mighty fast.

[Jace Pearson]

Here's the old carriage shed. Sure dark in here.

[Sheriff]

Light a match.

[Jace Pearson]

Nobody here.

[Sheriff]

No, there was less than a minute ago. Is that a back door?

[Jace Pearson]

Yeah. Figure he ducked out there? Maybe we can catch him.

[Sheriff]

No, don't let him think we want to chase him. Better drop that match and light another one.

[Jace Pearson]

What are you sniffing at?

[Sheriff]

Still a little smoke in here.

[Jace Pearson]

So Bud was smoking a cigarette?

[Sheriff]

Yeah. Old jacket on the hook here. Wonder if it's his.

[Jace Pearson]

It is. I've seen him wearing it recently, on and off.

[Sheriff]

Good. Douse the match. I want to take this with me.

[Jace Pearson]

What for?

[Sheriff]

To send through to the lab at Austin.

[Jace Pearson]

What are you going to have him look for?

[Sheriff]

Man's cigarettes generally leave a few crumbs in the seams of his pockets. I'm kind of curious about the brand that Bud smokes.

[Jace Pearson]

Must be the cheapest brand from the smell of the smoke in here.

[Sheriff]

That's what I was smelling. If I'm right, Sheriff, it's not cheap. It's expensive in more ways than one. That smoke smells like marijuana. I shipped the jacket through to Austin on the night plane. And we had a telephone report shortly before dawn. Tobacco grains in Bud's pockets showed traces of cannabis sativa, the hemp leaf from which marijuana is made.

[Jace Pearson]

You look like you struck oil, Jase.

[Sheriff]

I did that.

[Jace Pearson]

Was it marijuana?

[Sheriff]

No doubt about it.

[Jace Pearson]

Man. Who smokes that stuff could turn killer in a minute. We better pick Bud up.

[Sheriff]

On what charge?

[Jace Pearson]

Possession of narcotics.

[Sheriff]

Not enough for that. Bud could say other people wore the jacket.

[Jace Pearson]

You mean we gotta sit here and let a hop head get away with murder?

[Sheriff]

No, we're going to the source. Find out where he got the stuff.

[Jace Pearson]

Well, there's none of it growing around here? He must be getting it from across the border.

[Sheriff]

I don't think so. Where do you figure this spread Whitey Talmadge bought up near Rocky Mesa. Was there a house on the land?

[Jace Pearson]

No, he had to build himself a place. Reckon his shack's the only one up there.

[Sheriff]

Sure it's the only one. Land there is dirt cheap because it's no good for grazing, no good for cattle, and you can't raise a crop on it. Only thing that'd grow up there is a weed. And that's what marijuana is, a weed.

[Jace Pearson]

I should have wondered why a couple could buy land up there. What are we waiting for?

[Sheriff]

Come on. Towing a double horse trailer on my car? You can load your pony in with charcoal. We'll drive as close to Rocky Mesa as we can get and the ponies can take us up to Whitey Spread.

[Jace Pearson]

Watch where your pony steps, Jace. This is rough country.

[Sheriff]

Which way is the place?

[Jace Pearson]

I don't know. We'll have to comb for it. Ride around the mesa. It's near the base someplace.

[Sheriff]

Must be over there. Where? Off to the right. See the smoke coming up.

[Jace Pearson]

Whitey must be home if he's got a fire going. We ought to be just in time for breakfast.

[Sheriff]

He won't feel much like feeding us. Cut over this way. It's like better footing for the ponies.

[Jace Pearson]

Right.

[Sheriff]

Get up, sir. Get over there. Sheriff. What?

[Jace Pearson]

Yase?

[Sheriff]

That's no cooking fire. Look. Look at all that smoke. Yeah, there's a regular cloud of it.

[Jace Pearson]

What do you make of that?

[Sheriff]

Why do you got scared? I think his crop's going up in smoke before we can get to it. Come on. Pound leather up. Shark. Arrain in, Sheriff. Oh, boy.

[Jace Pearson]

What is it?

[Sheriff]

Fresh tracks here. Look.

[Jace Pearson]

Two horses came this far and then turned back toward the mesa. Now why?

[Sheriff]

Look in the direction we came from and you'll see why.

[Jace Pearson]

Roads in clear view from this point, our car shows right down the slope between those rocks.

[Sheriff]

Bud must have come back here with Whitey last night. They were riding down this morning and spotted us.

[Jace Pearson]

Might have seen us taking the horses out of the trailer.

[Sheriff]

Come on. Let's see if we can save anything from that fire. Get up. Charge. Up, boy.

[Jace Pearson]

Come on. Took him a little time to ride back and fire that stuff. Jace, they can't be far off.

[Sheriff]

They can be a million miles off if we can't get some evidence to pin on them. They? Hey, there they are. Now where? Over to the right, past the smoke on the ponies. See them?

[Jace Pearson]

Yeah, but what do we do now?

[Sheriff]

You head for the fire. If you can get a clump of that stuff that isn't completely burned, grab it. Then come after me. Well, where are you going? After them. Come on, Chuck. They saw me coming and they split up. I had to make a fast decision. I had a feeling they were both in on the murder of Jennings. But all we had on them was a marijuana charge. I cut after Bud. He was my best bet for one reason. Growers like Whitey Talmage might not smoke the stuff, but I knew Bud did. And the ones who smoke it are the shakiest. I caught him just before he reached the road. Better rain in Bud, reign in boy. Or I'll stop you with a bullet and stop that party. That's better. Get off with your hands over your head.

[Bud Adams]

I ain't got a gun.

[Sheriff]

Just keep them up anyhow. Now, stand still while I dig out your cigarettes.

[Bud Adams]

I ain't got any, I tell you. I ain't got any.

[Sheriff]

No. What are these? You ought to smoke the kind they sell in stores. These look kind of homemade.

[Bud Adams]

The whities.

[Sheriff]

Whitey would have burned them like everything else is burning back there. But you couldn't resist sneaking a few, could you?

[Bud Adams]

Why'd you chase me? Why don't you go after him?

[Sheriff]

I'll tell you why. Because there was somebody else's blood on the ground besides Jennings. Type O blood. Your type. No. You killed him, Bud.

[Bud Adams]

No. No. Give me them cigarettes. I gotta have them.

[Sheriff]

Sure, you gotta have them. But you couldn't buy them, could you? Not enough money. What kind of a deal did you make? Did Whitey promise you a lifetime supply for killing Jennings so he could have your sister? I didn't.

[Bud Adams]

I didn't do it.

[Sheriff]

I didn't. I suppose you didn't smoke this stuff either.

[Bud Adams]

Leave me alone. Why don't you leave me alone?

[Sheriff]

Seen it in your eyes the first time I saw you. Whitey's gonna be free. He's burned everything we had on him. He'll be all right. But you're going to jail for possession, Bud. And whether we convict you or not, you're gonna stand trial for murdering Jennings. Your blood was found on that ground too. Your blood.

[Bud Adams]

Why did he kill him, not me? Why did he kill him?

[Sheriff]

Don't lie. You hit him with something hard. What was it?

[Pete Jennings]

It was Whitey.

[Bud Adams]

He had brass knuckles. I didn't want to kill him.

[Sheriff]

Why?

[Bud Adams]

He was just gonna beat him. Beat on his face.

[Sheriff]

All right, Bud. You hear that, sheriff?

[Jace Pearson]

I sure did. Everything was burned up out there, Jason. I grabbed What I could.

[Sheriff]

That's all right. We won't need the marijuana charge. Hold him. I'll meet you later where we left the car.

[Jace Pearson]

You going after Whitey?

[Sheriff]

Yeah. He cut south over the mesa. When they split there.

[Jace Pearson]

No roads down there. That's all Big Ben country.

[Bud Adams]

Right onto the Rio Grande.

[Jace Pearson]

He's heading for the board.

[Sheriff]

Don't worry, Sheriff. I'll make sure he never gets there. Up, Sharky, up. It was up to the horses, and I had the best. I raked charcoal all the way. Once I picked up the trail. A clear trail in the mixture of alkali and sand. In less than an hour, I had a dust cloud to follow. Then I saw Whiting his pony through the haze, the pony stumbled, almost fell. Whitey went off. He ran for a couple mesquite and dropped behind it. Oh, boy.

[J]

Smart Ranger.

[Sheriff]

You gotta stay there, Whitey. If you're smart, you'll surrender.

[J]

Listen to me, Ranger.

[Sheriff]

I'll make you a deal, Riot.

[J]

I got some dough. Almost 2,000 bucks. Maybe you found little evidence back there.

[Sheriff]

And maybe you didn't.

[J]

Take the money and let's call it even.

[Sheriff]

You're forgetting another little charge, Whitey. You killed a man. Why so quiet? Don't you want to make a deal on that one?

[J]

You're fluffing.

[Sheriff]

Am I? Bud spilled it all. Brass knuckles aren't going to do you any good now. Take the money, Ranger.

[J]

If I killed one man, I got nothing to lose killing another one. Is it a deal?

[Sheriff]

I'll tell you as soon as I deliver you to the warden at Huntsville or the county morgue. Now take your pick, Whitey, because I'm coming for you.

[J]

I'll take this.

[Sheriff]

Looks like you picked yourself a low card, mister.

[Mary Adams]

With Whitey Talmage dead, Bud Adams entered a plea of guilty of murder in the second degree. On July 8, 1948. He was sentenced to the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville for a term of 50 years.

[Joel McCrae]

Next week, Joel McCray and another authentic reenactment of a case from the files of the Texas Rangers. Joel McCray is currently seen starring in the Universal International Technicolor production Cattle Drive. The cast included Tony Barrett, Sam Edwards, Barney Phillips, Harley Bear, and Michael Ann Barrett. Technical adviser was Captain MT Lone Wolf Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers. This story was transcribed and adapted by Joel Murcott and the program was produced and directed by Stacy Keach, Hal Gibney.

[Bud Adams]

Speed.

[Narrator]

It's the Silver jubilee on NBC. Next here, the big show with guest stars including Fred Allen, Maxine Sullivan, Jack Pearl, Yul Brenner Gertrude Berg, Portland Hopper and your charming hostess Tallulah Bankhead. Then enjoy Mirth and music with Phil Harris and Alice Fay. Later, Theater Guild on the Air features Claudette Colbert and Gregory Ratoff in 20th century. Yes, for the best in radio programming, stay tuned to NBC. The NBC Radio Network is now entering its second quarter century as a great entertainment medium. Next, it's the Big show, all this and tallulah2 on NBC Foreign.

[Andrew Rines]

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