Gunsmoke: The Lynching

and in the territory on West. There's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers. And that's with the US Marshal and the smell of gun smoke. Gun smoke, starring William Conrad, the story of the violence that moved West with young America, the story of a man who moved with it.

Matt Dillon, United States Marshal. Uh, see that horse over here?

Alright, let me get this new surrounding a deady neck and you'll be swinging in no time. There, too tight as if I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable. That's enough of that camp. Huh? Who said that?

I did. I said it. Rice, do it. No matter you turn in yellow, and get this over with camp. Why devil? Because that's what he is. That's why. Shut up. I'll take care of you in a minute.

Rice, you got anything against my hangin' this murderer? Just don't double them. That's all. Get it over with. I'll do it my way. It's my brother E. Shah, isn't it? And in the back, too.

Right? Maybe you'd like me to turn his bushwhack a loose. Is that it? Well, ask him his name. Nobody's even asked him his name. You'll hate this knife. All of you. I was in on a lynch at once and I swore I'd never be in on another.

Well, I guess the joke's on you, isn't it? Look, I hear you laugh again, Kim. So help me. I'll shoot you. Maybe you shouldn't be here, right? How can you hang a man you don't even know his name?

What do I care what his name is? So long as he pays for murder and job. What's your name, fella? What do you care? You don't let stop him. You just want to know your conscience.

That's all. Tell me your name. It's Billy Saxon. That's my name, Billy Saxon. How's it sound? Billy, why'd you kill Joe Powell? That's enough talk. What difference did he make? He'd kill him and that's all I need to know.

Yeah, what do you care? He's gonna hang me anyway. Sure am. Right now. Billy, I... I got a rifle. I'll end it for you when we ride off. You won't have to strangle for a long time.

Thanks, Mr. Thanks. Get back, Rice. I'm gonna slap that horse out from under him. You ready? That's for you! But as concealed the hour of their death, Grant that we may pass our days in the practice

of holiness and justice, and that we may be able to quit this world in the peace of a good conscience, amen. Amen. May Joe Powell rest in peace. Amen. Go ahead, boys. Here we go.

Good morning, Camp. I'm sorry to be here about Joe. You're late for the burial, Marshall. Well, I was out at Fort Dodge last night. I just heard about it this morning. Uh, preacher, we are in the valley of the shadow of death, Marshall Dillon.

I left you all through here now. I wonder if you'd read a few prayers over another man. We got him in a grave just over the hill with another man. Man is born into trouble.

And the sparks fly upward, Job 5'7". Who was this man, Marshall? How did I? He was murdered last night. I didn't hear about any murder outside of Job here. Where was this shooting, Marshall? It wasn't a shoot.

It was a lynch. I just buried my brother, Marshall. Billy Saxton shot him in the back. Aren't you using the word murder? A little loose around here? Only the law can hang a man without it being murdered.

The law's too slow sometime. You know something about this? All I say is to be shot by my brother and he deserved hanging. Hanging maybe? Lynch is a different matter. What difference did Mick? He got what was coming to him.

He had a fair trial coming to him like any man. For example, Cam, I'll try to see that you get one. What? If you're guilty of leading that lynch party. I'll say it odd, Marshall. You accusing me?

I got no evidence. And you won't get me. Where's the man in the country old stands still for Bushwacken? Sex didn't got his due and that's that. Maybe. All right, come on, preacher. That's burying.

Who's so shed at man's blood by man? Shout his blood, be shed. Gender's just nine, shake. Show me the grave, Marchoff. Why don't you just arrest Cam Powell, Mr. Dylan? Hey, he won't admit anything, Chester.

I can't find a witness. Must be somebody who'll talk. Cam's a bigger man than ever now with Joe that the others don't want to cross him. He owns a lot of land, all right? And Joe also owned a piece of the bank.

Cam will get that now. Right, she's always neat money, so they won't talk. Yes, and maybe they're ashamed too, Mr. Dylan. Yeah, maybe. I saw Lynch in once. And not a man there could look in the eye for a long time afterwards.

You weren't in on it, were you, Chester? Oh, my gracious, no, Mr. Dylan. I was just a small boy. That was back in Waco. They hung the cousin of mine there. Oh, why? Well, sir, it's kind of hard to explain.

He was about as honest as I ever knew. Outside of some loose notions about other people's cattle. But Mr. Dillon, I just don't believe that struck him as stealing. Why not? Well, because there wasn't anything personal about it, if you know what I mean.

Well, I don't, but maybe you can explain it to me. Well, sir, just that there was all those cattle running loose on the plains, and I guess they seemed like a natural part of the landscape to him.

He figured anybody could own them. Your cousin wasn't very bright, was he, Justin? I didn't know him well enough to say, Mr. Dylan. But anyway, they shouldn't have lynched him. No. Now they shouldn't have.

And nobody's going to get by with lynching around dodge if I have anything to do with it. No, sir. I heard Billy Saxon was at the Texas Trail last night. Maybe I can start there.

He sure must have hated Joe to kill him like that, Mr. Dylan. Yeah. I'll be back later Chester. Yes, you're Mr. Dylan. Hello.

Well, I can remember when you'd give me a smile. What's the matter? Nothing, right? Someone's been bothering you? You might put it that way. Where were you last night, Matt? Why weren't you around? Yeah, Chester and I rode out the Fort Dodge on business.

It was late, so we slept there. I thought this town could go one night without trouble. You sure thought wrong, didn't you? You're upset about the lynchings, I did. That's it. Aren't you? I heard Billy Saxton spent some time in here yesterday.

I hate men. I think they're awful. Savage, bitch. It'd be worse if it weren't for the law, Kitty. Now tell me about Saxton. He could tell you himself mad if you hadn't picked last night to wander out of town.

Not Kitty. This isn't like you. I'm sorry, Matt. that map. He seemed like such a nice kid. Where was he from? I never heard of him around here before. The Dakota somewhere. It was just a cow punch. Looking for a job. No more a gunman than I am.

Oh, you can't be sure, Kitty. He say he'd ever been in Texas? My pals came from Texas, didn't they? Never really. Well, he never mentioned taxes one way or the other. What did he talk about?

Of course, mostly. How you'd like to have a little spread of the zone someday, and a woman. I see. And he talked nice about it. He wasn't like these hard cases around here, if anything of them.

Cam Powell was in this morning. told me not to talk about Billy. Especially to you. Now, what do you think? I told him I'm not afraid of him, but maybe you are. So why didn't he warn you of him talking to me?

That's pleasing. I also told him if I was a man, I'd kill him. Who else was in on a kitty? I don't know. One thing though. I still had ten in here last night. must have been afterwards he sat over there in that corner and got drunk all by himself real drunk not like that

but maybe he was in on it couldn't stand himself afterwards maybe that's why you had to get drunk i'll go see him anyone who is there to be in trouble too when they met yeah i have a feeling cam really had a good thing and if i can prove it i'll have him up for murder

I'll keep my ears open, Matt. Thank you, you know. Think all right after the Stuart Ranch. Rice isn't a man who can lie with much conviction. Good luck, Matt. Yeah, I'll see you later. We'll return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment.

But first, do you know how old the school building in your community is? If it's over 25 years old, the chances are that it's woefully inadequate to the present demands on it. Join with the groups in your community working for better school conditions remember better schools build a stronger america now the second act of

gun smoke anybody wrong down by coming out of the car well thank you mister got a part of coffee in the stove marshall thank you man but i'd like to find right first

anything wrong marshall i'd just like to talk to him right from home really last night he was also drunk First time in years. If you'll forgive me, Miss Stewart, I better find him. All right.

Guess I'd rather Rice told me about it himself. Must be something else. Camp Powell was by earlier. Haven't been around in months. And what would you say Rice was, ma'am? Hasn't straight far from the house today.

He's coming in for coffee. Think he's drunk at gallon already. I'll be back for some myself in a little while. Sure, sure, my friend. Hi, she in here. I'm here. Where's it? Matt Dillon.

Hello, Rice. Can I take a little of your time? I just give to the house. Marshall, but I think it'd rather talk to you. Miss Stewart already asked me. She, uh... She hasn't heard about what happened in the Dodge West.

Nice, has she, right? No. Marshall, she hasn't. How come you... how come you didn't mention it to her? When I tell my wife it's my business, Marshall. Yeah, sure. I know she's bound to hear about it later.

Maybe she'll wonder why you didn't tell her right off. And still my business? She said Camp Powell was here this morning. Anything wrong with that? You don't feel very good today, do you, Rice? I got drunk yesterday.

Last night I got drunker. Is that what's bothering you? Well, I'm not as young as I used to be. That's all. You're a poor liar, Rice. I figured you would be. Yeah. I suppose I mean...

Look, Rice, I've known you for four years, and I've never heard a bad word against you. But yesterday you were a little drunk and got mixed up and something you're ashamed of now. Cam Powell's threatened you if you talk about it.

Isn't that right? That's right, Marshall. What have you decided what you're gonna do about it? I don't know, Marshall. I just don't know. Well, then maybe I'm wrong about you. Maybe you're no better than Cam and the rest of us.

But he's done with now, Marshall. Why can't we just forget it? We just can't forget our lynching, right? That'd make it too easy for the next one. I don't kill the man that starts another one.

And why are you gonna let Cam get by with this one? Well, by heaven or not, I should have stopped it then. I don't know what was wrong with me, but I'll face up to it now.

What do you want to know, Marshall? Why were you? One job got shot. After long, Horn. Lot six of us were having supper. Job went down the street for some cigars, and then we heard a shot out back, and we run through the kitchen, found a cook outside old Billy Saxon.

He shot Jobe when he passed the street under the alley. The cook feared? Well, she said he did. Then what happened? And Cam went crazy when he found Jobe was dead. I don't know, Marshall, but before I knew it, we'd slipped out of town with that boy.

Cam hung him on that little tree about a half mile down the road. Yeah, I know. I cut him down. I remember he grabbed Saxon's gun when we were not black. I can't get it off my mind.

Nobody ever even looked at the boy's gun and see if it had been fired. Can't just... I'm the cook's word for it. All right, right. Thank you. Will you be a witness if I need you?

I'll see you through now, Marshall. All the way. I feel better already. Let's go get some of your wife's coffee, right? already. Let's go get some of your wife's coffee rice. Then I got to get back to dodge.

It's good coffee, Marshall. Mr. Dillon, I'll be right. What's that you've got all over you?

Hey, Mr. Dillon. Quite, see? Hey, where'd you get it? What are you up to now, Chester? I since seen Louis for it, sir. I thought he'd be a good idea to make the hitching rail out back off white.

Well, what for? Well, sir, we might be in an awful big hurry some night in that. All right, Chester. All right. All right. Look, I want you to go get cleaned up. I want you to have supper at the Longhorn tonight.

Well, I sure do thank you, Mr. Diney. No, no, Chester. I want you to go there alone. Oh. Yes, sir? It's for a reason. Do you know the cook over there, Hank? Something or other?

That's Hank Ashford. He's not a very good cook, Mr. Dillon. How long has he been around? Oh, about a week. I don't think he likes cooking much. You don't seem to be very willing either.

Well, it doesn't matter. I thought if he'll be around for a long. Why not, sir? I'm guessing that he'll be wanting to get out of dodge fast after you let it drop real casual like mine, but I've ridden off to a rescan powell.

Is that so? You're gonna bring Cam in tonight, Mr. Dillon? No, no. You're just gonna make Hank Ashford think I am. And don't let anyone else hear about it, though. I've got it, you. You happen to know where Hank rooms.

the dot house mister diana that's pretty fancy for a cook in the yes you alright you go to separate about six o'clock and gambling that hank ashford will be packing his things at the dot house by seven all right mister diana evening marcho evener uh... hope you're not looking for a room we're all filled up

texas mostly well that's fine what rooms hank ashford dot the three ten marshal top of the stairs straight down the hall on Hey, uh, even up to anything. Looked to being a mile of a hurry when he come in.

He's here now. Went upstairs just a couple minutes ago. Now, stop him up, Marshall. Forward. Leave that gun lay where it is, mister. Put it in my bow.

That's likely to get you in trouble that way. You're the more, shall we, G? You leaving Tom, Hank? Yeah, I am. Why? I'm tired of coopin' this, what? You got Billy Saxon's gone up here, Hank.

Whoa. Or shall I tear you stuff apart and find it myself? Oh, it's in that drawer there. But I wasn't that leaching, Marshall. I can prove it once. Yeah, I'm sure you want. I thought this gun killed Joe Powell.

But did. I cleaned it, that's all. Hey, you're pretty neat, Hank, for a hash-hous cook. Yeah, catch this. And you handle that gun pretty well, too, for a cook. Look at the way you hold him at now.

I don't want that gun. What are you trying to prove, Marshall? You're a gunfighter, not a cook, Hank. All right, Marshall, I used to handle a gun, but I'm looking for the peaceful life now.

Any law against a man changing? No, but you're under arrest anyway. What for? I'll think of something. Let's go. Thank wouldn't need any breakfast, Mr. Dillon. No, that's too bad. He says you won't be here long anyway.

They all say that, don't they? They may be right. I see Cam Powell coming across the street for him right now. You gonna let him go, Mr. Dillon? We'll see. All right, Marshall. What's the bail on high gas for it?

There's no bail at all, Cam. What do you mean, no bail? You can't hold a man like this. I'm not holding him. Anytime. And what you're resting for on the first place? Oh, let's say, uh... suspicion?

Suspicious? Or what? Drunkenness? He wasn't drunk. No, but he might have got drunk. You're pretty high-handed with that bad, John Shadillin. You tell me, Cam, you ought to know about the M.I.H.H. Hand it. Very wasting time. Turn them loose. I want to get out of here.

I'll get him this deal. Right handyman to have around, I can't. What does that mean? Well, he can cook. Probably turn his hand the most anything. Sort of a jack of all trades. I wouldn't know, Marshall.

Thanks for bailing me out, Cam. I didn't have to bale your yard. You're free. You had right, Marshall? That's right, Hank. I'll go on and enjoy yourself. I sure will. Then I'll start behaving the drink.

Come on, Cam, let's see if the allerf again is open. Mr. Dillon? Yeah. You think Hank shot Joe Powell, don't you? Hell, that'd be my guess, Justin. Then why'd you let him go? No evidence.

They lynched the only witness. I'd have made him a little nervous now. They'll get real chumpy with the help of some liquor. Well, what good will that do, sir? Just might hang themselves to a castell with a proder too from me.

Well, cool. Yeah. You're still here, gentlemen? May I buy you a drink? What are you doing here, Marshal? Why do you want to buy us a drink? I'm parked under. Give me that bottle there.

Yeah, I might have liked this. Let's get out of here. Wait a minute, Hank. I'm too big a man and dodged to get pushed around by any Marshal. I just want you to have one drink before you leave, gentlemen.

Yeah. Just one. And there you can. And for you. Wow, gentlemen. Here's the, may he rest in peace? Billy Saxon. You looking for trouble, Marshall? The other one who's got trouble, Hank. What do you mean?

You turned me loose yourself. Yeah, I know. But what about Cam? Well, you think Cam is gonna let you go after everything you've told me? What should tell him, Hank? Nothing, he's lying and I told him nothing.

What are you talking about, Marshall? Just that I've got about all the evidence I need, Cam. What you ask Hank, you can tell him. Go on. Hank, if you crush me, I'll see you die for it.

You believe him, do you? Well, go ahead. You didn't have a guts to shoot your brother yourself. Shut up. Who you gonna hide? If you shoot him, last year. Shut me up. Shut me up, man.

You should have hit your gun soon enough. Come on, ready. If you let me shoot that boy when he stumbled on me with it. I've been all right. You've been rich, Tam, but you sure ain't smart.

I'm gonna kill you, right? Ha, ha, ha. You were drawn me and I'll have two pals tomorrow. All right, hold it. Follow me. We've heard enough. Hank, Marshall's heard all he needs. You're done for now.

Yeah? Well, I shot a Marshall and Trinidad once, but see why I can't shoot one in dark. Don't try it, Hank. Why not, Marshal? Good riddance. You're under arrest, Cam. Hank shot Joe Marshall. You heard him say so.

I heard him. But I'm still interested in who murdered Billy Saxon. You're right back where you started, Marshal. Tell us about that, Lynchant. I know about it. But I still am. I'm not proud of it, but I was there.

I witnessed the whole thing. the whole thing. I'll take your gun now, Cam. I guess you win, partial. Nobody wins this time, Cam. Now maybe the next time anybody gets an idea about the legend of Manner on him, they'll think twice, lead the way. Smoke, under the direction of Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, US Marshall. Tonight's story was especially written for

Gun Smoke by John Meston with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in tonight's cash were pulled up off john dainer and tom telly with john datton ralph moody and lee malar parley bary's cester and georgia ellis's kitty join us again next week as matt billin u s marshal fights to bring lonard of

the wild violence of the west in gun smoke this is the cb s radio network