Ben Slade's Saloon: Gunsmoke (May 24, 1952)

“Ben Slade's Saloon” is an episode of Gunsmoke, the old-time radio show, first broadcast May 24, 1952. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Marshal Matt Dillon investigates the third stabbing murder in two months when a man named Jones is found dead near his wagon with a large sum of money missing. The victim had spent the previous evening at Ben Slade's Saloon playing cards and winning substantial winnings, making Slade a prime suspect when the money disappears.

Dodge City and the surrounding Kansas territory, primarily at Ben Slade's Saloon and the Jones farm

Characters: Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc, Miss Jones, Alvin Jones, Ben Slade, Ben Ramirez, Evita Ramirez

Listen for: The marshal's methodical questioning of suspects and Doc's analysis of the murder weapon, pointing to a serial killer using the same knife technique

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.