Tales of the Texas Rangers: Quicksilver

It's National Wheaties Week! Yes, it's National Wheaties Week and Wheaties present Joel McCray in tales of the Texas Rangers. On stage tonight transcribed from Hollywood another in the Wheaties big parade of exciting half-hour presentation.

The Texas Rangers come these stories based on facts. Only names, dates and places are fictitious

for obvious reasons. The events themselves are a matter of record. Case for tonight, quick silver. At 11.30 on the night of May 22nd, 1947, the Stockholm Ranch, located in the middle of Carson County, Texas, was darkened for the night.

When the occupants were awakened by the barking of a dog. Jim, wake up. What's the matter, Flo? You hear Jeep bark? Kind of. It's half asleep. It's funny. He barked and then shut up real fast.

I might have took off after something. We could have kept on barking then. It sounded like it was- Yeah, it'd be quite a second. See? Don't hear him anymore. Yeah. What are you gonna do?

Gonna take a look, see. It ain't like Jeep to bark at nothing then shut up. Jim. Jim. Hmm? What's the matter? I... Jib somebody came in the house. Oh, you probably just heard the kid tossing in his sleep.

No. I... I got a funny feeling. All right, I'll put on a light and have a look. I'm coming along. I want to go and see if anything can happen! It's National Wheaties Week! Time to buy Wheaties, eat Wheaties, buy more Wheaties, eat more Wheaties!

Time to join America in a brighter morning! Sure, it's National Wheaties Week! Everybody's eating them. You have some too. Have them for fun, have them for flavor, have them for feeling good and working good and looking good.

Have Wheaties for any reason at all, but get them! Whole wheat, crisp, whole wheat, gold and whole wheat. There's a whole kernel of wheat in every Wheaties' flake. You try them. See how Wheaties at 7 can help at 11.

It's National Wheaties' Week. On May 29, 1947, the bodies of Jim and Flo's Stockholm and their 10-year-old son Carl were discovered by a playmate of Carl's. Sheriff Lachan's notified the Texas Rangers and Ranger Jace Pearson was assigned to the case.

Raises just like it was, Jase. Sipping for the bodies. And I'm a mess, isn't it, Sheriff? Yeah. All three of them in their night clothes, you said. Yeah, yeah. This here is Jim and Flo's bedroom.

I see. The bed clothes must up, whoever did the killing will come up. Likely the dog woke him. Oh, yeah. Jeep, you said. Found him dead, a piece from the house. Clubbed over the head.

Okay, let's say Flo and Jim's Stockholm were awakened by the dog. Jim would get up to see what was a matter. Flow went with him probably to see if the kid Carl was okay. They didn't get no further than this room here, right outside the bedroom.

Yeah, oh, three of them. Funny Jim's Stockholm didn't have a gun. Yeah, if he thought somebody was in a house of prowling around outside, he'd have grabbed his gun. I know that something stopped him.

What are you thinking about, Jase? Just that the killer might have got in Carl's room. room. That's right over here. Maybe Carl spotted the killer, Hollard, and that'd make both Jim and Flow jump fast. Jim wouldn't think of grabbing his gun.

Window here. Been Jimmy'd up. You see that? Yeah. I guess you're right. Killer coming this way. Get some yelled. Tried to get out. Got as far as the room out here. There's That's what they were killed with, Jason.

Flatiron. An old-fashioned flatiron. Yeah, he was as a door-stop. Kill it, Brad didn't, used it. Wonder why he didn't shoot. How far away is the next ranch, Sheriff? Six miles, at least. Why? Just figuring maybe the killer didn't want to risk the noise of shots.

Must have picked up the flatiron. Why kill a little kid, too? Didn't want anybody to be able to identify him. Yeah, likely. Well, what now, Jason? I'd like to find comb this house for fingerprints meantime. I got a few things I'd like you to find out in town Prince anywhere except those we knew over the murdered people the motive for the crime was robbery

Jim Stockholm kept fairly large sums of money on and to pay cash for whatever he bought We didn't find a penny in the house. The whole thing looks hopeless Like the sheriff said when he came back to the Stockholm ranch Yeah, a coroner can't give us much, Jayce.

He ain't no way of telling how long they've been dead. We could find out what day the murders were committed. We'd have something, not much, but something. Yeah, but how? How are you going to find that out?

Nobody saw the Stockholm's before they were killed? Sure. Jim went into town on the 22nd week ago. Out here if nobody sees his neighbor for a week, he nothing thought about it. So the murders could have been committed anytime between the 22nd and the day the bodies were discovered.

That's the way it sizes up, Jayce. Killers got at least a week to make tracks for... Well... Texas is big. Nah, nah. And Sheriff... That fence there. Mm. Near the corral. Well, it's a hog, and it's...

Hey... The hogs are gone. Yeah. Busted through. Come on. And I've noticed it before. Never thought about looking for the hogs. Who would? Look here, Sheriff. Where the fence is busted through. Look at these.

Here. Hog bristles. Lots of them. Caught on the broken part of the rail. Hogs broke out and pushed through here. Yeah, but look here, case. What's it got to do with what we're after? What made these hogs go wild and break out?

It's my guess they got off all hungry. Sure. And went looking for something to eat. Come on. We're going to the barn and take a look at the hog feed. Then we're going at a town.

We found three sacks of hog feed in the barn. Two of them were full, unopened. A third had just about enough mash taken out for one feeding. Sheriff Larkins and I went into town and the sheriff asked a few questions I wanted answered and I checked at the feed store.

Sure, Jim Stockham bought all his feed in here, Ranger. You remember when he was in last, ma'am? Bet I do. Last time anybody saw him. The 22nd? That's it. What'd he buy? Mmm. Three sacks of hog mash.

Well, you got all the information you wanted, Jason. Thanks, Sheriff. Now ma'am is there anything else you can remember about that day? Stockholm seemed troubled or anything? No, just stopped in for a minute. Only said was he had to get back with the mash.

He was all out. Are you sure of that? Just sure of them standing here. And your sure it was the 22nd? I can make it real sure Ranger. Got all the sales in this book.

See, 50, 50, 50, 50. Yeah, here it is. 22nd. Three sacks of hog mash to Jim Stockholm. Thank you, ma'am. Let's go, Sheriff. You're welcome, Ranger. You helped a lot. What have you got, Jason?

The Stockholms were killed on the 22nd. How do you know? Jim Stockholm bought these three sacks of feed on the 22nd. He said he was all out at the ranch. He had to get home and feed the hogs.

We found two of the bags, unopened. Yeah, and a third with only about enough mash out of it to give the hogs one meal. Which means he fed the hogs on the 22nd, but he didn't the next day or the next.

Cause he was dead. That's it. Now we got a lot of checkin' to do, and it's all gonna hinge around the 22nd. We questioned everybody, but it all added up to a big round zero.

Everybody knew Jim Stockholm and liked him. He didn't have an enemy. Everyone we questioned could account for his time on the 22nd. Nobody'd seen a stranger in town. So I played a hunch. Sheriff Larkins and I rode over to the Stockholm ranch trying to pick up anything.

Then about eight miles north of the ranch we got a break. Hey, Chase! Chase! Yes, Sheriff? Where are you? What do you got, Sheriff? I don't know. Looks like ashes. Empty bean can there, too.

Like somebody cooked himself a meal here. Horse's tracks around there, too. One horse. Yeah. Like they might be about a week old. Might not mean a thing, Chase. Could be anybody's horse. Sure could, but nobody in town saw a stranger.

little town like that people notice a stranger right away but if a man came riding from this direction chances are nobody'd see him still could be anybody I know I'm gonna take a real close look okay I'll cover this spot good chef come here get something right is horse to this mesquite see more stood

here a piece of mesquite broken off here's something else take a look dirt Just ordinary Earth. Take a good look. Different from the Earth around here. Sure is. Different color and different texture. Sheriff, I gotta hunch this dirt scraped off a boot when he got back in the saddle.

It's scraped off by a stirrup. Here's a bigger hug of it. Yeah, reddish color. You ever see dirt like this around here? No. The hunk's gonna have a funny shade. Backed in against the instep of a booty to take this shade.

You had any rain around here lately? The dryer's a bone. There's only one way Earth packs up in an instep if it's wet. Man who left this couldn't have come far. Come on. Let's see if we can find a couple of his footprints.

We picked up a few prints. I took their measurements. And we went back into town. I asked some more questions. Meantime, I sent the Earth samples to the lab for analysis. By the time I got back to my headquarters, Captain Stinson had the report.

Looks like this Earth came from southwest Wheeler County, Chase. At least the lab thinks so. Wheeler County Southwest well kind of fits captain fits what? That part of Wheeler County is not far from Stockholm range No, it isn't just about as far as it to take wet earth to dry out and get hard enough to scrape off a man's boot

Yeah, I see What else you got a few horse hairs. I picked off the mesquite bush looks like the fellow is riding a sorrow And something else plastic cast of his boot prints It's a pretty big booth.

Big man, maybe 6'2 or 3". You're right. But the new fingerprint says no real evidence. This fellow who's book prince you got, he might have been anybody. Might never have gone near the Stockholm ramp.

Yeah, I know that, Captain. He didn't pick up any of his book prints around the house, did you? No, place was pretty messed up. A lot of people got there before I did. Yeah, that's one break a criminal always gets.

If only people'd stay away. If only they'd have enough sense to realize. Sure, but they don't. They don't mean any harm though. Okay, what's next? Look for a man six feet, two or three riding a sorrel?

I'd like to get him. Starting where? Well, Texas, I guess. It's National Wheaties Week! Yup, yup, yup, and in celebration of National Wheaties Week when everybody eats Wheaties, even trombone players. Here's that well-known radio musician Abe Lincoln.

Honest, his name really is Abe Lincoln. And here he is, stepping off and behind the scenes to say, get your weedy's aha come on a if you didn't come out from your trombone to say just that no but that's the idea folks a week is big parade has been bringing you some pretty solid entertainment

this summer i can say it because i've worked along with all the other fellows helping put this entertainment on the air and now it's national weedy's week and we hope that every one of you who's enjoyed these programs will go out and get your weedy's The backstage folks like me, the people whose voices you usually never hear,

we'd sure like it if we thought you'd enjoy our programs enough to go out and get some Wheaties. If you like the Texas Rangers, buy a box of Wheaties on Monday, will ya? Thanks and good night Abe.

Remember, it's National Wheaties Week. I kicked around for a few days, covering all the ground I could between the Stockholm ranch and winter county, and then I reported back to Kevin Stinson. Kinda picked up something interesting, Kevin.

like what, Jason? Weather reports. Map of Wheeler County. The places I've marked in red had rain within the last three weeks. Oh, well, what about it? Well, this place. Right here. The only spot of the marked places that will show the same kind of earth we had analyzed.

I checked. Mm-hmm. So it's narrowed down to that. But you can't arrest a man just because he happened to be in a place where it rained. I know I'm working on a shoestring, but there's no other lead, nothing.

Might be, I'll hit a stone wall or pick up some poke who just happened to pass through the spot where we found the Prince of Earth, but it's a chance cap, the only one. Well, suppose you chased down that lead in Wheeler County and your man's gone.

Well, I don't expect to find him there. He left there and landed at Stockholm Ranch, maybe. And left no fingerprints. It's not a single piece of evidence. And still the only lead. You want to stick to Wheeler County, huh?

That's about it, Captain. Maybe pick up a description of a possible suspect. Well, where do you start? Well, here's what I think. The man we're looking for is a drifter. Maybe a pope that picks up work here and there where he can get it.

The fact that he ate a can of beans and cooked it himself means he didn't have a nickel to buy a decent meal even though he was near a town. That kind's usually a drifter. Made a buck here and a nickel layer, you see what I mean?

Alright, Jace. Play the hush. But if the lead peters out... I'm hoping it won't. See you later. Are you keeping touch? Yeah. Radio or phone? So long. Was in Wheeler County, southwest. I checked one ranch after another, some big, some small.

What I wanted to know was, had anyone seen a man about 6, 2 or 3, a man wound a sorrow and didn't have steady work. I once read where a man found a needle in a haystack, did it on a bet.

Well my needle could be in any haystack. Then on the Claud Edwards ranch near Ramsdell, I ran into something. I remember a pope, but like that ranger, big fella had himself a sorrow. Did he work for you, Mr. Edwards?

Couple of days. Refred in looking for something to do. I don't usually have work for more and more on hand, but this fella came in just about when I needed somebody else and... What was his name?

Orwell. Yeah, that was it. Orwell. Now, when was he here? Oh, let me see now. Had to be around the 19th, 20th. When did he leave? He'd do something, Ranger. I don't know, Mr. Edwards, but I'd sure like to hear everything you know about him.

Well, he worked for a couple of days and come in and ask for his pay. That was maybe the 22nd. Are you sure? Put your darn sure. It's awful important. All right, I'm sure. We had a spell of rain about him.

I had him in the roof. He didn't like it none. Did he say where he was going, anything at all? Didn't say, and I didn't ask. Just handed him his pay. So I'm in town later and dropping it in a card game.

Then he let out. Alright. Now I want the best description of him. You can possibly give me everything you can remember. What do you look like? How he talked, acted? I'll try, Ranger. But how are you going about finding him?

Why now? He might be clear in a Mexico, anyplace. I'm gonna do my best, Mr. Edwards. And I'm not sure that's gonna be enough. I got a description of Orwell. Six feet, two dark hair, rotissaro, tight lip, and not too easy to get along with.

Black mustache. Now, little people notice things unless it's something they really want to see. What description we had was sent out. Fifty-fold leads came through, a hundred. But every once in a while, one came through that matched something else.

Captain Stinson and I talked it over. Maybe it is something, Grace. Look. A hundred different leads, but there's one that shows up every so often. This one. Same description. Drifter gambles a lot had a dozen different jobs. There's something else, Chase. Look at the pattern here. Yeah, I am Listen keeps moving southwest always away the others jump around

Last report came from San Carlo two days ago. Mm-hmm I like to mosey into San Carlo and see if I can pick up anything from there. I figure this Orwell's move and slow He's counting on being safe by now. What if you find him? There's still not much evidence evidence, we'd have to get a confession out of him. Nothing we've got will stick in a

court. I got an idea about that. Let me try it, Captain. San Carlo, I picked up a few more scraps about Arlo. From what I'd learned, I tried to think like the man I was trailing. Tried to figure out his next move. He gambled a lot, so every town I hit, I asked questions, went to ranches and asked about poker games and

The crap came. Orwoe was like Quicksilver. Yeah, he was here, left. Uh-huh. He was there, left after picking up a few dollars. But the pattern stayed the same. Always moving southwest. Then on the Macmellat branch near the New Mexico border.

Oh well? You say all well, Ranger? That's the name. He's riding a Sorrow Horse. Well, I don't like to say for sure, but I took on a fellow name of all well and he did come in riding a saur. Soon as he hit the bunkhouse he'd try to shake up poker game.

Where is he now? Well I sent him out this morning to ride fence. Stock was getting through. How long ago did he leave? Three or four hours. Maybe a little more. Tell me something else.

Not sure. Did he have any money when he left this morning? Funny asked about that ring. Matter of fact it touched me for a five against any pay he had He's coming. He, uh, what'll be coming back soon now?

Almost time to chow. He touched you for five. He won't be back for chow. I'm going after him. I followed the fence rider's trail. It was well in the afternoon when I spotted a rider up ahead.

I took off my badge and stuck in my pocket. Put my guns and my waistband under my jacket and caught up with him. Howdy. Who are you? Name is Pearson. You're Arwell, huh? Yeah, why?

You're gonna send me out to look for you. Oh, I hope. Yeah, formin' back a melod's ranch. What fur? Well, we gotta get back to the North fence. You wasn't workin' there when I left.

It's just got took on. I guess we better get back to the North fence, boss. That's important. That's so. Say, come to think of it. You're not even on the ranch anymore. I hit the boundary fence a piece back.

Alright, I got news for ya, mister. I ain't ridin' fence. Now you take off. You see about that North fence, huh? You mean you're quittin'? Right the first time, mister. Now so long. Hey, hey, hold it a minute.

Down right unsociable. Oh, boy. Hold it. You're downright nosy. Me? I didn't mean to be. Say, you mind if I write a piece with you? Yeah, I do. I kind of like company. Thought you was just took on at the Mellowx Place.

Seems to me you're right and wrong, mister. No, I got no hankering for work either. Not with 500 in my jeans. 500? A poke like you with 500? He got lucky in a crap game the night for last.

And why'd you take the job? A man can always use a couple more bucks. Well, I guess I'll be riding on. Hey, hey, wait. Ah? Okay. I kind of like helping him myself. You want to ride a piece with me?

It's okay. On the rest of the day, and I found out Orwell was planning to head into Mexico. We bet it down early. And along toward midnight when Orwell thought I was asleep, he raised up and moved toward me.

You sleeping? Something you want, my saddlebag, Orwell? Ha ha ha, thought you asleep? No.

Don't reach for it, Orwell. I'll blow your head off. What are you getting this head up about? Man, starts to go through my saddlebags when I'm sleeping, I get touchy. I'm just looking for cigarettes and no need for that gun.

Yeah? Sure. Wasn't looking for 500, will you? You called me a crook. You name it, Orwell. Ha ha ha. You, you are touchy. Okay, okay. Put that gun away, piers, and you're like like a kid.

I'll tell you how I was just looking for cigarettes. Sure. Yes, I did, maybe bust a strap. Okay, bring that saddle bag. Cigarettes are in it. Ah, sure. Uh, left or right one? All right.

Hey, yeah. You open it this time. What you got in there? Mm, stuff. Okay. Cigarettes are wrapped up in that piece of blanket. Help yourself. Well, thanks. Cigarettes in here? Feels like a ton of iron.

Could be. Flat iron, huh? Funny thing to be carrying around. Why? I knew a man once carried around a cow scout tied to his saddle horn. Why are you carrying this? No, no. Why are you asking?

Who? Who are you? I told you. Name's Pearson, Jay Pearson. Cigarettes are there. Help yourself. I don't want any. Suit yourself. Mind handing me that flat iron, Orwell? Why? I just want it. Go on.

Go on, hand it to me. No. You're looking real pale or wet. You're not scared of coyotes, are you? Shut up. Iron makes a good nutcracker. Maybe I carried it for that. Shut up, I said!

Go on, Orwell. Hand me the flight, all right. Pick it up. It's not so heavy. It's heavy enough. Man could pick it up like this, lift it up over his head, and bring it down.

I'm like, why not? Why you? Unless I have to. Who are you? Harrison, Texas Rangers. Figured I had caught up with.

This we better start going, Arlo. You're not hurt too bad. Shoot my moonlight kind of spoils an anzame. Come on, let's go. More well confessed to the murders of Jim and Florence Stockholm and their son Carl.

On July 15, 1947, Orwell was convicted. His sentence, death in the electric chair. Joel McGray, your Texas Ranger, is asking me to ask you to have some Wheaties. Yes, have some Wheaties because it's National Wheaties Week.

The week when everybody goes out and buys a box and enjoys a dish of America's famous whole wheat flakes. Start early in National Wheaties Week so you'll have time to buy them and eat them and buy some more and eat some more.

Wheaties that is. And while you're enjoying a partner, you're getting wide awake energy, whole wheat energy. There's a whole kernel of wheat in every Wheaties' flake. Begin a better breakfast with Wheaties and see if you don't find yourself striding high, wide and handsome right through the morning.

Rangers can ride better, salesmen can sell better, plumbers can plumb better with a better breakfast. Milk and fruit and wheaties. Get yours. Breakfast of champions. It's National Wheaties Week. Sweet Joel McCray and another authentic reenactment of a case from the Piles of the Texas Rangers.

Joel McCray will soon be seen starring in the MGM production stars in my crown. The night's cast included Joni Barrett, DJ Thompson, Byron Kane, Lou Krugman and Russell Simpson. This story was transcribed and adapted by Russell Hughes and the program was produced and directed by Stacy Peac.

Hell give me speaking. And this is the Wheaties Man, Frank Martin, inviting you to listen on Tuesday night to the Penny Singleton show on the Wheaties Big Parade. See you then. Remember, it's National Wheaties Week.

Come on, everybody to the Wheaties Party. Eat a lot of Wheaties like the Champions do. Dance together, cheat to cheat. This is National Wheaties Week. Eat a lot of Wheaties like the Champions do. to the Champions II. We tease a breakfast to champion.

Tomorrow, Sigmund Romburg conducts the Summer Symphony on NBC.