Martha Nell: Have Gun, Will Travel (November 20, 1960)

“Martha Nell” is an episode of Have Gun, Will Travel, the old-time radio show, first broadcast November 20, 1960. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Paladin arrives in Greenwood to investigate the murder of a young man named Roy, who was killed in an alley after winning money at a saloon gambling table six weeks earlier. The sheriff, Clem, suspects someone local is responsible, and asks Paladin to look into the case with fresh eyes. As Paladin begins interviewing witnesses, including Roy's widow Martha Nell, he discovers that Sam, a local man who knew the couple and helped Roy get a job, has been growing close to the grieving widow.

Greenwood, a small town about 30 miles from San Francisco, 1875. The investigation centers around the town's saloon, general store, and rooming house.

Characters: Paladin, Sheriff Clem, Martha Nell, Sam, Roy (deceased), Sir Wong

Listen for: Paladin questions Martha Nell about her husband's final evening and learns that Roy was celebrating his first paycheck by gambling. Watch for clues about Sam's involvement and his increasing closeness to the widow.

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.