Hanging by a Thread: Tales of the Texas Rangers (November 26, 1950)

“Hanging by a Thread” is an episode of Tales of the Texas Rangers, the old-time radio show, first broadcast November 26, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

On May 5th, 1947, Sheriff Hanson of Finney, Texas receives a phone call from George Hawk saying he's going to kill himself, but when the Sheriff arrives at Hawk's ranch, he finds the man hanging from a wire in the barn. Ranger Jase Pearson is called to investigate what appears to be a suspicious death. Evidence at the scene suggests foul play rather than suicide, and a heated breakfast confrontation between Hawk and his two ranch hands—drunk old Tom and the quiet Brad Johnson—provides potential motives for murder.

Finney, Texas and the Hawk ranch on Gun Creek Road, May 1947

Characters: Ranger Jase Pearson, Sheriff Hanson, George Hawk, Millie Hawk, Old Tom, Brad Johnson

Listen for: The investigation into whether George Hawk's death was suicide or murder, and which of the ranch hands might be responsible.

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.