Chester's Murder: Gunsmoke (January 15, 1955)

“Chester's Murder” is an episode of Gunsmoke, the old-time radio show, first broadcast January 15, 1955. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

When gambler Charlie Pickett threatens to kill Chester over a drink bought for a girl, Marshal Dillon jails Pickett to prevent trouble. Later that night, Chester is found standing over Pickett's dead body with a fired gun in his hand, claiming he was knocked unconscious and someone else fired the shot.

Dodge City, Kansas - the Long Branch Saloon, back alley, and jail

Characters: Matt Dillon, Doc, Jake Buelly, Chester, Charlie Pickett, Sam, Anita Tucker

Listen for: Chester's desperate pleas of innocence as evidence mounts against him; Doc's examination of Chester's injury; the mystery of who really killed Pickett.

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.