The Devil's Share: Tales of the Texas Rangers (December 31, 1950)

“The Devil's Share” is an episode of Tales of the Texas Rangers, the old-time radio show, first broadcast December 31, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Frank Wellen, a dirt farmer, is found dead in his kitchen on the evening of October 26, 1939. Texas Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate the murder, which occurred around dinnertime. As Pearson questions Frank's brother Jeff and his fiancée Marjan, a dispute over money between Frank and Uncle Joe—a man who works the farm on shares—emerges as a possible motive.

A dirt farm in Texas, October 26, 1939.

Characters: Ranger Jason Pearson, Frank Wellen, Jeff Wellen, Marjan Galks, Uncle Joe, Belle, Sheriff

Listen for: The tense confrontation between brothers over a woman and money, and Ranger Pearson's methodical questioning of witnesses at the crime scene.

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.