Around Dodge City and in the territory on West, there is just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with the U.S. Marshal and the smell of gun smoke.
Music
Gun Smoke, starring William Conrad, the story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man who moved with it.
I'm that man, Matt Dillon, the United States Marshal, the first man they look for and the last they want to meet.
It's a chancey job, and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely.
Music
I got our horses saddled, Mr. Jones. I swear I'm so hungry I could eat a whole hog. Yeah? Well, the hog you got this morning is cooking on that stick right there, Chester.
Is it done? Well, that depends on how hungry you are. It's done. Thank you. That's hot, ain't it?
Sure will be good to get back to Dodge tonight and sleep in the bed again, won't it? You know something, Chester? Civilization's made you soft.
Maybe so, but I get my entire day using my back for a mattress and my belly for a covering.
Obviously you were born for greater things than rooting around on the prairie and living in the rain.
It ain't been raining, Mr. Jones. No, no, it hasn't, Chester, but it will sooner or later. It's bound to rain.
Yes, sir. I wish we'd brought some more bacon. Say, Mr. Dillon, don't old man Granby live around here somewheres?
Uh-huh. Well, maybe we could borrow a little from him. According to what I've always heard, old Granby wouldn't lend anybody anything.
Yeah. You really think he is a rich miser, like they say? Oh, I don't know, Chester. You know, sometimes a man's entirely different from his reputation.
I only met Granby once or twice. He seemed like a nice enough old fellow.
It's the same. I wouldn't want to live out here all alone with nothing but a few horses for company.
Yeah, well, he's used to it. Yeah, but even if he does have a lot of money hid away somewheres, there's no place to spend it out here.
Granby's pretty old for the pleasures Dodge has to offer, Chester.
Now, mind you, I hope I ain't never that old. You know, at the rate you're burning yourself out, you never will be, so don't worry about it.
Mr. Dillon, I'll be mighty quiet for a young fellow who's free and still full of blood and stuff. Sure.
I do. Look over yonder. Huh? Over there, that string of dust laying right on the ground there. Ain't that funny?
Yeah, I've been watching that. Not on the ground, though. There's a dry wash that runs along there.
I think somebody's driving the stock down it. Maybe it's old man Granby.
Maybe. Now we go over and say hello, huh? All right.
Uh, Mr. Dillon? Yeah?
If it is old man Granby, maybe we might could just ask him by a little dab of big one, reckon?
Well, there's no harm in that. Oh.
That looks like horses down there. Yes, sir. I can see their heads now.
But I don't see nobody driving them. They belong to them, isn't it?
Let's wait here.
Yonder he comes. That's not old Granby.
Let's ride down and say hello anyway.
That's Granby's brand on those horses. You must have hired him a hand. Yeah, maybe.
Hello. Hello. You working for Granby?
I ain't working for nobody, mister. Oh? And where is he? Where is who? Granby.
I don't know no Granby. Those are his horses you're driving. They are? Yeah.
I ain't driving them. What do you mean? They got ahead of me in the wash there, that's all.
I see. You a cowboy? Yeah, sure. I'm a cowboy.
Somehow you don't look like one. You don't ride like one either.
You're asking the questions, mister. And no decent cowboy would run another man's horses down a dry wash just because he didn't want to get up on the bank and ride around them.
I told you they got in front of me, is all. How come you're not carrying a gun?
Does a man have to carry a gun? No. I'll bet you're the only man within a thousand miles of here who isn't carrying one.
Well, maybe I got a better conscience than the rest of you. Maybe.
But look mister, you've run those horses about five miles off of old Granby's place. You want to give us a hand, we'll run them back.
I'm in a hurry. It won't take long. The old man might be a couple of days fighting them if we don't.
You worry about him. I got to get in to die. We'll ride in with you afterwards.
I ain't gonna do it. It'd look a lot better if you did.
I'd like to, mister, but I can't. I'm leaving now. So long.
Well, forever more, mister Dillon. You just gonna let him go?
Wait a minute, Chester. I'm gonna let him hear what lead sounds like.
Don't shoot! Don't shoot me!
All right, then ride back here.
Don't kill me, mister. I'm not gonna kill you. I'll let you try to run away.
Why would I try to run away? You just did, Chester.
Has she? Ride down the bank and hit those horses off. Start them back up the watch. We'll be out of here by the time they're back.
All right, sir, Mr. Dillon. You stay right close to me, fellow.
Don't you try anything smart.
When we get to Granby's, if he says it's okay, then you can go wherever you like.
I don't know Granby. I never been there.
Then we'll show you the way. Come on, let's go.
Another visit with Joe and Daphne Forsythe.
Joe? Joe? Joe, stop reading that paper and talk to me.
I'm listening. Go ahead.
Well, I was talking to Mrs. Statham.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm listening. Go ahead.
Well, I was talking to Mrs. Snyder today.
You know, she's the one whose boy had 31% less cavities.
Uh-huh.
Well, she thinks that we should buy bigger savings bonds.
Uh-huh.
She says that when people can afford it, it makes more sense.
Oh, she says there are a lot of different denominations. They start at $25, but then there are a 50, a 100, 200, and even $500 bonds.
Is that so?
The ones we've already bought through the payroll savings plan, we'd have quite a nest egg.
Uh-huh.
Are you listening to me?
Uh-huh.
Did you know that the total accumulated compounded semi-annual interest of the Series E savings bond will amount to 93 and a third percent of the original purchasing price?
Uh-huh.
I thought so. Joe, what did I say?
Uh, you said that United States savings bonds are a safe, easy way of investing.
I did.
That they help guard our country's freedom.
And?
They're the best investment in America's future.
I said something else, too.
Oh, yeah. You said that the total accumulated compounded semi-annual interest of the Series E savings bond will amount to 93 and one third percent of the original purchase price.
Well, now, how did you do that?
Husband's trade secret.
Old man Granby sure can find his horses all right now, Mr. Jones.
Yeah. But I want this cowboy here to meet him.
We'll see if he's in the house.
I'll wait for you.
Get off our horse, fellow. Go on.
That's better.
All right, come on. We'll take a look.
Well, what are you waiting for?
Nothing.
You go ahead, Chas. It looks like I'm going to have to herd this man in.
Yes, sir.
You've been kind of bulky ever since we ran into you, haven't you?
I just don't like being dragged around. I never did.
Well, I just want you to meet old Granby. He'll be grateful for your help.
And run his horses back here.
I know what you think, mister. You think I was stealing them horses.
Well, I never heard of the old man. I was never near this place.
So you told me that you're here now.
I ain't afraid of you or nobody.
Let's go into the house. Come on.
Mr. Dillon?
Yeah, what is it, Chas?
Old Granby, he's in there.
What's wrong?
Right in the room there, Mr. Dillon. He just hang in there.
What?
Somebody went and hung him right in his own house.
I don't want to see him no more. You go take a look at him.
Pull your gun and hold him on this man, Chas. If he makes some moves, shoot him.
Yes, sir.
Now, you just stand right there real quiet like...
I ain't going to do nothing.
You sure ain't?
Just because I happen to be in the country don't mean I killed nobody.
Mr. Dillon will decide about that.
Who is this Mr. Dillon, anyway?
He's a United States Marshal. That's who he is.
A Marshal?
A Marshal. Looks like you run into the wrong people, fella.
I'll hold your gun, Chester, and he'll search you.
All right. Here.
Turn around.
Take it easy.
Now, the house is all torn up.
You must have been looking for old Granby's money.
I was never in that house.
Ain't nothing on him. Not a thing.
All right, Chester. Here's your gun.
Here, catch it.
Thank you.
What's your name, fella?
Trimble. Joe Trimble.
Where are you from?
Up north.
Up north where?
All over.
What are you doing down here?
Making a change.
Sure.
Some cowboy you ran into told you about Granby being rich.
So you came here and you kicked the old man around,
and then you hung him, and then you tried to find the money.
That's a lie.
This is the first time I was ever near the place.
I'm sure you did it, Trimble, but I wish I had more evidence.
The court of law just might not convict you the way things stand.
You're gonna let me go?
No, I'm not gonna let you go.
I'm arresting you, and you're gonna stand trial,
and I'm gonna do my best to see you hung.
I didn't do it, I tell you.
And I'll go free, too. You'll see.
Now, there's something mighty wrong about you, Trimble,
and I can't figure it at all.
But I'm sure gonna find out.
Another visit with Joe and Daphne Forsythe.
Hey, honey, I'm home. Daphne.
Drop dead.
Uh-oh, what's the matter, honey?
Don't you speak to me, you... you don Juan.
Don Juan? Daphne, I'm no don Juan.
No Jabal Espano.
Very funny. Ha, ha, ha.
Well, it was no prize winner, but...
Neither are you, you... you lethario.
I've often wondered, what's a lethario?
I don't know, but that's what the wives on TV always call their husbands.
I guess it applies.
You want me to go out and come in again?
As far as I'm concerned, you can go for a long walk,
preferably on a short pier.
Well, oh, come on, Daphne, what's wrong?
Your good friend Harry called, and he spilled the beans.
Which beans?
He said, quote,
Tell Joe he was right about those blondes. They're great, unquote.
Blondes?
That's what he said.
Ha, ha, ha.
Well?
He didn't say blondes, he said bonds.
Savings bonds.
What?
Sure, I buy them on the payroll savings plan.
And I told Harry he ought to do it too.
Savings bonds have a guaranteed interest that pays back four dollars for every three,
which is a pretty good investment.
That's a pretty good story, too.
It's true, so help me.
That's why Harry's so happy.
Savings bonds are great.
Well, maybe you're right.
You wouldn't really fool around with blondes, would you?
You're too faithful and sweet and kind and...
Fast talking.
We let Joe Trimble dig a grave up behind the house,
and then we laid old Granby in it and covered him with dirt.
I was pretty sure now that the old man had never had an extra dollar in his life
and that he'd been killed for no reason at all.
Down anyway, Trimble had done a pretty thorough job of looking for the money,
and he'd found nothing.
On the ride into Dodge, I tried to figure out just what he was,
but he didn't seem to fit anywhere.
He wasn't a cowboy or a hunter or a gambler,
or even just a drifter.
After we got him locked up in jail that night,
Doc and I went over to Long Branch for a drink with Kitty.
I was telling him about it.
How old is this fellow, man?
Around 25, I guess, Doc.
Oh, well, then he couldn't be running away from home.
He's a little old for that, Kitty.
Yeah, well, anyways, he'll hang him.
Well, I hope the judge agrees with you, Doc.
And why shouldn't he?
Well, I guess what I got so far is circumstantial evidence.
Well, then you should have shot him out on the prairie.
It's a good thing you're not a lawman, Doc.
Well, maybe if I were, there'd be fewer killings around here.
I doubt it.
You going up to Hayes for the trial, Matt?
Yeah, I have to.
That'll take a week, I suppose.
Oh, Bob, why?
Nothing.
Only you've just been away for ten days.
Oh, I gotta earn a living, Kitty.
You can make more money gambling right here in Dodge.
Oh, now, Kitty, don't start that again, will you?
Good evening, Marshal.
Miss Kitty, Doc.
Hey, here.
I'd like a word with you, Marshal.
Sure, Major, sure.
If you'll excuse us.
We'll go to the bar there.
I'll be back, Kitty.
No hurry, Matt.
Doc's got a lot of money.
I'll buy you a drink any time, Kitty.
Well, that's the best offer today, Doc.
Let's go, Major.
I had to come to Dodge on other business, Marshal,
but I wanted to pass the word to you that we're looking for a man.
Oh, the Army, you mean?
Yes, a deserter.
No?
Not from Fort Dodge.
Where was he stationed, Major?
He was with the Seventh Cavalry at Fort Lincoln.
Up in Dakota, huh?
For some reason, they think he headed south.
Now, I don't have much of a description of him,
just that he was a private, about 25, curly, blond hair,
a scar on his left hand.
That fits.
What was his name?
He enlisted as Joe Gould, but he's known to have used the name Trimble.
Well, he's right here in Dodge, Major.
He what?
I got him locked up in jail.
Well, that's fine, Marshal.
But how did you know that...
I think he murdered an old man who lives about a day's ride north of here,
and I'm going to have him tried for it.
That won't be necessary now, Marshal.
I'll take over custody of him.
Then he'd be tried at Fort Lincoln for desertion.
I want him tried for murder,
and I got to be there to present the evidence.
Well, you could go up to Fort Lincoln.
No, Dakota's out of my territory, Major.
Besides, this is a civil crime.
The Army wants that man, Marshal.
I'm sorry, Major. He's going to be tried in the haze first.
He's still a soldier, even if he did desert.
Well, if a judge lets him off, you can have him, but not otherwise.
Major, he tortured and hung an innocent old man,
and I'm going to do my best to see him punished for it.
I'd like to take this up with my superiors.
Well, you'd better hurry. I'm going to haze with him tomorrow.
I hope you won't regret this, Marshal.
I won't, Major.
Not if Trimble was properly punished, I won't.
I didn't wait till morning,
but started out for haze with Joe Trimble that night.
The trial lasted a week.
In spite of all the arguments I made,
the judge finally decided that there wasn't enough real evidence to convict him.
I even tried to make Trimble confess, but he was too smart for that,
so there was nothing to do but bring him back and turn him over to the Army.
I sent word to Fort Dodge,
and the next morning the Major himself appeared to take him into custody.
Well, Marshal, looks as though you didn't have much of a civil case after all.
He killed old Granby, I know he did, but the law is the law, Major.
Yes, and in the Army, orders are orders.
But I'm sorry your judge didn't convict him after all.
How's that, sir?
Now, Chester.
Yes, sir?
Bring Trimble out, will you?
Yes, sir, I will.
Well, I'll give the Army credit for one thing, Major.
What's that?
Trimble and I rode back some 80 miles yesterday,
and when we got here, he wanted to sit up and play cards with Chester.
Well, there may be some bad men in the cavalry, Marshal,
but they're all tough on the march.
Here you are, Mr. Dillon.
Howley's yours, Major.
Private Trimble.
Sir.
You're under military arrest, Private, not privileged to salute.
Besides, you enlisted as private gul, not Trimble.
Yes, sir.
Report to the guard outside.
Yes, sir.
Now, just a minute, Trimble.
You know that you're mighty lucky, don't you?
You should have died for what you'd done.
I told you I'd go free, Marshal.
It'll catch up with you someday, Trimble.
It always does, somehow.
That's all I wanted to say.
Yes, sir.
Well, thank you, Marshal.
I'll be getting along.
Major, you said you were sorry that the judge didn't convict him.
Why have you changed your mind?
Marshal, now he won't even be tried.
Not for some months, anyway.
Right.
You mean that the Seventh doesn't want him anymore?
Oh, they want him all right.
My new orders are to send him right up to the Dakotas.
Seems that the Seventh Cavalry needs every man available.
They're leaving Fort Lincoln soon on an expedition
against the Sioux and the Northern Cheyenne.
The Sioux, huh?
I wonder if old Sittenboll is still the chief medicine man with him.
Sure he is.
But at any rate, the Seventh will be heading into Montana territory.
Yeah, not if they're after Sittenboll's tribe, they will.
He's always had a large camp over on the Little Bighorn.
Yes, I know.
By the way, who's in command of the Seventh Cavalry now?
An officer I served under a couple of years.
I never did care for him much.
Colonel George Custer.
Gun smoke.
Produced and directed by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.
The music was composed and conducted by Rex Corey.
Sound patterns were composed by Ray Kemper and Bill James.
Featured in the cast were Parley Bear as Chester, Howard McNear as Doc, and Georgia Ellis as Kitty.
George Wolfe speaking.
Join us again next week for another story of the Western frontier of America in the 1870s on Gun Smoke.
This is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
The United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.