Gunsmoke: Billy the Kid

in the territory on West. There's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers. And that's where the US Marshal... ...and the smeller... ...gun smoke. Here are the violins that moved West with Young America.

The story of a man who moved with it. Matt Dillon, United States Marshal. Borted for murder. Watted? Marded. Clay Richards. Clay Richards. H-31. I had six feet. Eyes brown. Eyes brown hair red.

Hey, how'd you like me to print his picture on these notices? I got a woodcut. Let me show you. Ernie! That's your marshall copy of that front page. Interviewing Clay's wife yesterday, I noticed a tin type on the mantle.

They're wedding photographs. So, first thing you know, I snitched it. It's very thoughtful. Yeah, oh, I'll take it Ernie. I'll take it here and then I propped it up in front of me and carved me this wood guy Ain't she prime ain't she just elegant real elegant good likeness don't you think?

Of course. He was seven right years younger with it. Yeah, it's a good likeness Sure doesn't show what makes a law-abiding man like you try to rob a bank Doesn't look like a man who murdered an old cashier in a Chinese cook who just happened to be over though But it's a good likeness.

Yes, sir, it is. A picture like this sure dresses up the front page, don't it? Yeah, it's a little masterpiece, Mr. Heitar, a notable contribution to the culture of Dodge City. Well, thank you, Marshal.

Does fetch the eye, don't it? I'm printing an extra 500 copies of the weekly, and I bet I sell them all. Too bad the cashier's shot went wild. If he'd managed to kill Clay or even wing him, why I bet I could sell a thousand extra copies.

We must be thankful for the blessings we do receive, Mr. Heitar. Oh, I am Marshall. I am. I just poured out yesterday afternoon. I didn't know what I was going to build my columns with and then like manna from heaven.

Two murders in the bank robbery attempted bank robbery. Mr. Hightower. He turned and ran for he got his hands on so much as a dollar. Still as you say like man. I'm talking business. What is it, Chester?

You can wait. Yes, Mr. Dillon. Yeah, a print clays picture on those notices. Mr. Hightower. No, where were we? Uh, eyes brown hair red. Oh, yes. Also known as red, brick top and sorrow. He, uh, didn't answer to no other nicknames, did he?

No, that's what they called him. All right, tenant big letters, $400 reward. Dead, alive. And at the bottom, apply Matt Dillon Marshall Dodge City. You have print 200 copies. How soon can you send Chester over for him?

This afternoon. Good morning, Mr. High Dog. Chester. The coaster's undoing and good. Richard is probably over the line in Oklahoma, Colorado, but now, in Strawberry Room, he is the fastest mechanic. He has no money.

He panicked and ran out of the bank for he got a penny. I think he'll try to get help from his wife or brother or friend of first chance he has. Maybe tonight. I say he's around here somewhere.

I, uh... I'm sorry I turned on you like I just did. Well that's all right, Mr. Dunne. Out all night with a posse in those feet, man's bound to touch it. Nah, it's not that.

It's the way... It's the way people use the thing like this. The men riding posse last night, they enjoyed it as though they were hunting fox or possum. High tower back there, he acts like it was a birthday treat, especially gotten up for him.

Everybody finds a way to use it. What was it you wanted to tell me? Oh, I got a kid. A little boy locked up in the cell. He would run away from home back in Cottonwood.

Ed is late, turned him over to him when he comes through on the stagecoach just now. Kid about 12 years old. Who's this? Whid woman? Miss Bonnie. She runs their boarding house in Cottonwood. Ed says kids always run away a little while, guess.

He flagged Ed for a ride on the road, halfway between there and here. in here soon said seen him stand there with his bundle on the shoulder he knows what he was up to so he told kid he'd help him and then turn him over to us we got all right we'll send a telegram to the mother to come fetch you well come

on in Chester shut the door you're letting in ever horse flying Kansas Dylan I think you better cancel the order for them notices what the Dutch one's coming up the street and he's leading us for our own and play Richard He was raped across his back.

Like a sack of wheat across the saddle. Last time I saw him, two days ago, he was standing at the bar, left in his head off. A sack of wheat across the saddle. And followed by half the salooned bones and loafers in town.

All right Chester, make him keep back. All right now stand back you fellas. Come on now, back, stand back. Sigler, happen, Sigler. My old Billy Goat, he pushes open the fence last night and runs away.

I got you Goat, what about Clay? Hi, I tell you. This morning I go to look for the goat. I walk here, there. On the river I see Clay. He sits there. I say, hello Clay, you good?

I'm dirty, Dutchman. You know the dog. Hey, what's your best friend? He helped you buy your farm. Say you killed her. Clay? Me? No, no, my brother, he was like, we were in the war together, bit I, Lisa.

You don't care, they're both the war. Not so! I can't nobody, not since, get his book. Play instead or whatever, and I'll find him. I don't even own a pistol. I have to have to have a cigarette inside quick.

Yeah, yeah. Chester, give me a hand with Clay. You know me, let's just take his legs. All right, kick a door, shut the steel.

I don't care, Clay. Honest table, Chester. What'd you do with Clay's gun as holster is empty? Gun. Clay's... I ain't got it. I don't even own one. Chester, see if it slipped out. Here's a holster with empty coming up the street.

First thing I noticed. Maybe it's over on this. Another customer? Well, that's three in less than a day. Oh, bountiful harvest. My fees this month will keep me in luxury. In luxury! Doc, I, uh, want to have an inquest as soon as possible.

As soon as I finish the autopsy shouldn't take long with a practice I've had this week. You know, late afternoon all right with you, I'll take him up to my office right now. No thank you, Chester. I can carry him all by myself here.

You just open the door there like a good fella. Uh oh. Yeah, Marshall, tell the city fathers I'd like to make a deal when the corpses are as famous as this one. Heh, a back in 53 in San Francisco, and I knew earned the fortune, exhibited in the head of Joaquin Maria.

Tell him that they'll let me keep the remains. I'll do the autopsies for now. Shut the door, Chester. Zegler, where is the Jamaican clay on the river? By the fort, this side, by the fort, ride out there, Chester, and see if you can find clay's gun.

Maybe he dropped it when he was shot. I did not shoot, could he? Sure. I did not, I had no reason to. I did not, I did not. You listen to me. Maybe you think Dodge has got so big, I don't know about everything that goes on here.

Well, if you do, you're wrong. If you think I don't know about the bank, having an overdue mortgage on your farm, you're wrong. Four hundred dollars is reason enough for a struggling farmer like you.

No. Couldn't have done such a thing. I am a human being. Do a peace officer zig-r-r-ats enough grounds for suspicion. But whether you did it or not, we decided it should trial. In the meantime, you just stopped yammering about it.

Try. Even when I shoot somebody, I stand trial. If they find his justifiable homicide, then they probably will play being a wanted man, and he'll let you off. And if not, please, I am permitted to go now.

Go. Are you crazy? I found this stock up. I must look after you. You sit right down. You want to be lynched? You're trying to get yourself murdered? Have you forgotten about Clay's brother, Adam?

Adam would not believe I shot you. What difference does it make whether he believes it or not? not. His brothers have been killed. Everybody's looking to him to do something about it and he knows it. You want me to guess where he is right this minute? He's in one of them saloons lapping up courage to come in here and ask me to give you to him for a present. You want

to know who's with him? Ever loafer? Ever bum? Ever slobbing town? Slapping him on the back and telling him what a shame it is. Hakin' him on to kill you so that they can have some excitement and some fun. Well maybe you deserve killing, but it's my job to uphold the law and I'm not letting you out of here. You might spend your time trying to

think up a better story. That is if you intend to stay in this town. All right now think back didn't clay go for his gun before you shot him. If I'm not under the rescue head no right to keep me here. I got to look after my farm. I go. All right Chester walking. Yes Mr. Dylan. Come on now.

I've never seen you. I've never seen you. Step out, Sonny. This cage is bespoke. Who's in there, Chester? That little run away from Cottonwood. Oh! Hey, come over here, son. Come over here to me, you're...

You are. You do, do you? You bet. You're Matt Dillon. I know you're right off. He's pointed out to me one day back home. says he was the fastest gun throw on Kansas. Why'd Earp wouldn't be awful interested to hear that, I'm afraid.

Miller says you was faster than older, faster than Wild Bill Hickok and Hay City and that master sooner any of them. How many fellas have you killed? It don't keep score or something. It's something you try to forget.

Not me. Some day I'll be famous like you. For every filler I kill, I'll put a notch on my gun. people see those notches and they don't know they better not try to run away from home, but don't you know your mother's likely to worry about you.

Oh, she will worry. She's too busy working. You ain't gonna make me go back. Are you wouldn't do that, would ya? Well... Because it wouldn't stop me for long. I'd only run away again. Well, who are you off to in such a sweat?

Oh, Texas, California, Mexico. I can accomplish things there, not like living an old cottonwood. If you let me go, someday when I'm famous you can tell people you help get me started. Well, that's a pretty strong inducement.

I'll have to think about it for a while. And look, while I'm making up my mind, I want you to give me your word. Word of a man who'll be famous someday that you won't try to run away from me.

Otherwise I'll have to have Chester lock you up again. Aw, shake on the head. Good. Good. Chester, I want you to go look for Cleves Gun. Yes, you know. And on the way, step off and send that telegram.

You know? Oh, that telegram. Yes, Mr. Dylan. Where's Sinclair? It's all right, Chester. Go ahead. Yes, Mr. Dylan. Where's that murder and dog? Oh, there you are. You're not a single step further Adam. I want him, Dylan.

He murdered Clay, shot him down without giving him a chance. How do you know? Because Clay wouldn't have let anyone catch him off God except a friend. Well not Dylan, give me that Dutchman. Try to take him.

Just like that. It's like that. And it's true what the fellas say. You made a deal with the Dutchman. They're given the reward to protect him if he'd kill Clay for you. That was the deal wasn't it?

Yeah. The fellas say why I'd make such a deal? Dylan, it ain't no longer a secret around town that you and Francey warned each other. But Clay was in the way you had him killed so you could get his wife.

Do you deny it? No. No. You'll serve as well as any other crazy story to work you up. You think you're safe behind that star, don't you? Well, Clay has friends, lots of them. I'm coming back with them friends.

They will get the Dutch one and you and anyone else are trying to stop us. All right, Adam. I'll be with you. Yeah. You wait. We'll see something previous than didn't I, Mr. Dylan? Yeah, almost. I don't know that part of whiskey ought to do it.

Mmm. Turn for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment, but first, many radio shows win high popularity with the prizes and cash they give away. But there's one show that's tops because the head man gives away as little as possible. What other radio program could it be but the Jack Benny show, so be listening.

Here's the second act of gun smoke. The Son You say something mr. Villan? Yeah, oh my drawer in front of you there you'll find a small bottle of oil in there. No, no one of the right to Yeah, I sit now bring a little brush to her Here it is. Thanks, bud It's a right nice gunny head. That's not bad, but a little stiff just a little

Stitch. Do you want to have a trigger? I never seen no gun without a trigger before Oh, you're a move a trigger or a tie back against a guard and all you have to do is a hammer Like that faster Yeah, that's better now I remember that what's no world for I remember everything you told me about the Texas holster and the spring holster and the double

Role and filing off the site I didn't like the chest. No, sir. Not any. I went to the store first and asked Mr. Denton what kind of ammunition play Richard used to buy, and he told me Clay had a double action 44.

I scarred that riverbank a half mile each way from the Ford and not a sign of it. I got that telegram off. You know who ought to be here pretty soon. It's only seven to eight miles from it.

It's like fire in the town? You don't know the services for Mr. Grinnell to cash in. So, so... It's awful hot wet Yeah Any of your guns need oiling just I don't think so you sure when Adam left He said he'd be coming back with some friends kind of know I stopped at the olive for Gantam

Just now to rinse out of my mouth Adam was there talking mighty ugly and mighty big He's got a size. We'll fall in When do you think any minute now mr. Dylan it want me to take Bob out of here to one of the hotels maybe I think you'll be safer here, Chester behind stone walls and dodging about the streets rubbing neck.

You keep your head down, son. You hear? Matt, Matt, I gotta talk to you. She ought to be a mornin'. If she cared for Clay at all anymore, she ought to be in black. Matt.

Oh, Lord, I find her more beautiful when we're tired. Matt, have you heard what they're sayin'? What are they sayin', Francie? You and me, that you may Pete Ziggler kill him because of... I'm sorry that got back to you, Francie.

It's all over Dodge. Adam almost strangled me before they dragged him off. I didn't shoot play. I paid you William. Shut up, Ziggler. Shut up, I'm fucking a dick! Francis, just one of those crazy stories, they needed one and they made one up.

But Matt, everyone believes it. When my way down here, people were pointing, whispering, old women clucking their tongues at me, they believed it. They'll forget it as soon as this is over. Remember that even if we once did go with each other it was finished and done with even before the war and before

You even met clay no they won't forget it But the rest of my life as long as I stay here Yeah, doc what is it? What is it? Tops he's finished I examined his liver and lights. That's his Mrs. Richards, doc Oh, oh, I beg your pardon me. I'm not sure I have no disrespect for the departed.

Well, well, Clay was shot all right, but from the knee through the room and the coagulation of the blood, I'd say it happened some time yesterday. I'd say the cashier's bullet didn't go wild after all. How could a dead man gallop away?

Well, the wound wasn't what killed Clay. The ball hit the rib case and bounced off. Twenty-two caliber it was. And what did kill him was the stab in the back, right through the spine. Inflicted some time this morning. Now, near as I can judge by a a small blade all through three inches long.

It could have been a Barlow knife. Thanks, Doc. You did it, please, except my eye condor and scissors and so rich in. You call the inquest, any time you're ready, Marshall? Chester, close the door.

You see, you see, I didn't do it. I didn't shoot him. All right, then, you're standing, maybe. You're such an epic character, gun. Look, Francie, go home and give matters a chance to simmer down.

I'm going to ask you for something. Yeah. Turn Pete's Hitler house into the street. What? Francie, they're itching to get their hands on him. Let him have him. It'll prove that story's a lie that you didn't make a deal with him.

Please, man, I have to live here. Tell me, I have to give me like that. Francie, go home and leave town or hang yourself or anything you like. Just go away. Now wait. Right now.

I bought me a bottle at the Alipagans, Mr. Dillon. Was careful, Dr. Drain? No. Yes, if you don't know it's over. There'll be others. Funny. No, I missed that bell. Oh, it'll quiet, ain't it?

It's just what? Just about on schedule. Are you ready, Chester? Yes, Mr. Dillon. I use a shotgun if I were you as more effective when there's a mob to be dealt with. Oh, yes, Ryan.

Ziegler, are you two son? If trouble starts light on, flat on the floor and keep her head down all the time. Don't go out to see what's happening. You understand me? Yes, sir, Mr. Dylan.

All right. Let's go. Hello. Chester, I want you to stand here in the doorway after I go out, where you can cover the back door and meet at the same time. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

All right, Chester. Open door. It's my duty. The war and all of you that you're in the breach of the peace. I've sworn up all the law. I've ordered to do it and I'm prepared to do so again.

Give us a dutchman, don't add any! I ask you to be sensible and to leave quietly. But if you refuse to listen to reason, if you insist upon being fools, if you've already decided to act like wolves instead of humans, then there's nothing I can say to make you change your minds.

That's what I love, that's what I love. Alright, you want Peter Ziegler? Well, he's not going twenty feet behind me, so come on and get him any other. One at a time or all at once, come on!

Which one of you wants to die first? I like couldn't even see your hand move. And my shell, oh don't tell me, don't tell me.

Doc, you make one single funny remark and I'll knock you down. You're just taking me to your office and get to work. Well, I never do mean to offend my shell. In my line of work, well, bodies, they're just so much lumber.

They call the jokes about them, you please, but not to me and not in my hearing. In my line of work, there's nothing numerous about death. Give them a hand, Chester. You know, I can handle the marshals. Thank you. Thank you. Just to see.

Can you direct me to the marshals office? Uh, yes ma'am, right here. I'm marshal Dylan. I left Cottonwood soon as I got your telegram. I'm Ms. Bonnie. Where's my boy? my boy. Oh, we have him. I'm saving son here. Let me help you down. It's a horse Chester. Right. Sorry. Put it all that trouble. The matter is he is a wild one

and no mistake takes after his father one scrape after another. He was no trouble with all enjoy children like to have more on Bob Bob your mom is here son. Chester Where's the boy? You let him slip past you?

No, sir, Mr. Dylan. He never got past me. Look, the back door is open. He seen me and he hired Taylor to the devil. We'll round him up for you, man, don't worry. Oh, I don't know why I bought a hole in him back.

If he's run away once, he's run away a thousand times. This time he ran because I wouldn't buy him a gun. He wanted a real one. That boy just gun crazy. I swear. He got him a nice ball and knife instead.

I reckon it didn't signify an awful rut. Marlow, man. Chester, find that kid. Marsha. Has he done something bad with it? I told him to use it carefully. He promised he'd use it carefully. Never mind, Chester.

He's got plays, Strobe Harry Rowan. We'd never catch up here. Oh, I tried to bring him up right. I tell him to be good, but he don't listen. He just don't listen. Now, call me yourself, man.

Just call me yourself. Here's your little bundle, Mr. Dunlin. Give it to me. That's pretty heavy. Hear your buttered nuts and I am opening it with you. The movie was born in another betrigulation too.

Now please ma'am. What's he got in it Chester? A shirt, stockings, a piece of sausage, and this. 44 double action. Yes Mr. Dylan. That's Clay's gun. Sonny didn't manage to keep it long, did he?

I am if he wants a gun that bad he's bound to get hold of another one somewhere somehow. Chester, go Mr. Hintower over. Come on, Jim! Master, could you let him be the drink of water?

Well, oh, Ziegler, I forgot all about you. Chester, where are the keys? Yeah, right there on the desk. Now, it'll be safe for you to go home now. I can go back by the phone.

Hey, that's right, I'll send for you for the trial. Well, Duncan should... Duncan, shut... Watch where you're going, you dumb, you don't. Wait, excuse me. Wait, wait. Yes, Marshall. Mr. Hyde Tower, it appears that we can do business after all.

I've got some paper in the pencil, and I want some notices printed. Fire away. I want it for murder. I want it for murder. Yeah, what's the boy's name? Bonnie. William Bonnie. William Bonnie. William Bonnie.

Age 12. I had about five feet. hair like I suppose he's known by any other name I know everybody just called him Billy for the kid also known as Billy the kid gun smoke under the direction of Norman Mcdonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon US Marshall

tonight's story was specially written for gun smoke by Walter Newman with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey Featured in tonight's cast were Don Diamond, Harley Bear, Harry Bartell and Howard McNair, with Richard Beals, Paul Duboff, Georgia Ellis and Mary Lansing.

Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshall, fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the West in Gun Smoke. It was long time favorite, Samus and Andy are rising to new heights in their CBS radio series on Sunday nights.

Heard on most of these same stations, Amos and Andy find trouble as constantly as ever, and make it just as funny and as human as they have for more than 20 years. Be sure to hear Amos and Andy this Sunday won't you, right after the Jack Benny show.

This is Roy Rowan speaking, and remember there's fast, funny quizzing on the Bob Hawke show, every Monday evening. This is the CBS Radio Network.