Around Dodge City and in the territory on west there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers and that's with a 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.
Mr. Dillon.
Yeah, what is it Chester?
Doc wants you upstairs.
Well I promised Mr. Green I'd be at the Dodge house in a few minutes Chester. Tell Doc I'll drop along later.
Young Lee Prentice is up there. He got shot last night.
What? Shot?
Yes sir. Happened out at his ranch. Doc thinks you ought to talk to him.
Alright let's go. I wouldn't have thought Lee Prentice had an enemy in the world.
No sir. He's about the nicest young fellow that settled around here in a long time.
Who brought him into town Chester?
Nobody did. He rode in alone. Doc don't know how he managed it.
Oh hello Matt.
Doc. Well I hear you took a bullet Lee.
It's not bad Marshal. Doc's got me all fixed up now.
Oh yeah sure but you're going to stay right here with me and take it easy for a few days Lee.
I'd be putting you out Doc.
Oh yes of course there'll be a nuisance but I'll manage somehow.
How did it happen Lee? Did you get in a fight?
I didn't even see him Marshal. It was still dark this morning and I was going out after my horses and then a bullet knocked me down.
That's all I know. I did an awful lot of shooting the next few minutes and whoever it was run off.
Would it be any particular man Lee?
I'd tell you if I knew Marshal. I don't want any trouble.
Alright I believe you.
Oh man it's a downright shame when a young fella like Lee comes to dodge and in one year makes as many friends as he has and then gets shot down by some murderer.
Now you've got to find out who did that.
I don't have much to go on Doc. In fact I don't have anything.
I don't care. You've got to do something.
Like what?
Well I'm not a lawman. How do I know?
Well there's one thing Doc and you too Chester.
What Mr. Dillon?
I won't say anything about where Lee is. Whoever did this is probably still around.
Well you mean he might come up here and try to finish him off?
He might.
Chester. You go fetch me one of those shotguns you keep downstairs.
Sure Doc.
Okay Doc but don't get trigger happy.
I know what I'm doing.
Doc, Marshal I'm sure sorry for all the trouble I'm causing.
It's no trouble Lee.
It's no trouble Lee. Oh all right Matt you go find him something to eat later this afternoon and bring it up here.
A nice old say roast chicken. That'd be just about right.
Sure Doc I'll be glad to.
Gee I'd...
See you later Lee. Come on Chester.
I'm glad I ran into you Matt. It was a good supper.
It was all my pleasure.
Matt.
Yeah what?
Have you got time to sit here and watch the crowd for a while? I don't have to be back at work just yet.
Sure, sure Kitty. You sit there.
Looks like Dodge is in for another big night tonight.
Yeah I suppose.
Just think. There's hardly one of these cowboys that won't be broke before morning.
Well they figure it's worth it.
Three months paying one night? They're crazy all of them.
Well what would you have them do with their money Kitty?
Well I don't know. Most anything's better than throwing it away.
Well most of these men have waited a long time for a night or two in Dodge. They don't care what it costs.
There's only one cowboy I ever knew who showed any sense.
Oh? That must be quite a fella for you to say that Kitty.
Well you know who I mean Matt. Young Lee Prentice.
Oh. Oh sure.
Remember last year how he drifted into town and made a killing at Pharaoh and then swore off gambling?
Yeah he stayed with it too. I never heard of his going near a game since.
Oh yeah he hasn't. Took his money and put it in that little ranch of his.
You gotta admire the boy.
Yeah Lee's all right.
He sure is a lot different from the rest of these saddle bums.
I wonder where he's been lately. He usually comes to town every day or so.
Well uh Kitty, I'll tell you. Lee's up at Doc's.
At Doc's? Then he is in town.
He's been there for a couple of days.
Well what's the matter? Is he sick or something?
No he's not sick.
Oh wait a minute Matt. Hey mister. Yeah you. Come here.
What do you want?
I'm Kitty. Remember?
Yeah I remember.
Well you don't act like it. You must have been drunker than I thought.
I'm in a hurry Kitty.
Well go on then. I won't tell ya.
Tell me what?
You remember asking me last night if I know anything about Lee Prentice?
Did I?
You really were drunk.
But if you're still interested, Marshall Dillon here just told me he's up at Doc Adams.
Oh. Well I don't need him now. Bye.
Oh just a minute mister.
Here. You're a stranger in Dodge huh?
I'll talk to you later Marshall. Not now.
What do you mean later?
After I've done what I come here for.
What's your name mister?
Jake Harbin.
You look like a gunman to me. Why are you looking for Lee Prentice?
Alright Marshall. If you're so nosy I'll tell ya. I'm going to kill him.
No you're not.
You can't stop me.
Jake Harbin huh?
What'd you hit him for Matt? What's this all about?
I don't know Kitty. But maybe I'll find out when he comes too. In jail.
Well. You're here early this morning Mr. Dillon.
Go bring Jake Harbin in here Chester will ya? I want to talk to him.
Yes sir. He's been saying he wants to talk to you too. He wouldn't tell me nothing.
Don't stick my nose into something that doesn't concern me.
He's all you say. No matter what I ask.
Marshall here Harbin.
Well it's about time.
Here he is Mr. Dillon.
Come over here Harbin.
You'd have saved yourself a lot of trouble if you'd have stayed around here last night Marshall.
What do you mean by Colecock and the man throwing him in jail?
Where are you from Harbin? Baker City.
Down on the Canadian River? Yeah.
Anybody goes to jail in Baker City they search him first.
What do you mean?
You'd have searched me last night you'd have found this.
What is it? Read it.
Afterwards you can apologize to me.
What is it Mr. Dillon?
It's a warrant Chester.
And that also says I'm a legal deputy.
You can telegraph Ben Goddard for proof if you want.
Who's Ben Goddard? He's the sheriff at Baker City.
That's all legal Marshall.
Yeah but who's the warrant for Mr. Dillon?
Lee Prentiss Chester.
For murder.
I want him dead or alive.
We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment.
But first, any way you look at it it's murder this Tuesday night.
When CBS radio's Mr. and Mrs. North look into the matter of a body that hurtled 30 stories from penthouse to sidewalk.
And it's murder too when a publicity stunt involving presumably blank cartridges backfires.
The details of that neat little plot are very truly yours on yours truly Johnny Dollar.
Also Tuesday night on most of these same stations.
Now the second act of gun smoke.
Chester.
Yes sir.
Go down and send a telegram to the sheriff of Baker City.
What did you say his name is Herman?
Ben Goddard.
Alright.
Ask Ben Goddard to verify this warrant for Lee Prentiss.
And also ask him if Jake Harbin here is a legal deputy.
We'll find out Marshall.
I expect we will Herman.
Get going Chester.
Yes sir.
I'll hurry.
This warrant says Lee Prentiss is wanted for murder Harbin.
It's kind of hard to believe.
No one Lee.
Well and you don't know him very well Marshall.
Cause he is a murderer alright.
And he'd have been caught a long time ago.
They'd have found out where he was hiding.
He hasn't been hiding.
Lee's lived here for nearly a year.
Right out in the open.
And so.
He's all through now.
Maybe.
If this is true.
I want to tell you one thing Harbin.
You tell me what?
Nobody whether he's a deputy or not is going to come to Dodge and kill a man.
Dead or alive Marshall you read the warrant.
I don't care what it says.
You wouldn't like it said that you're protecting a murderer.
Would you Marshall?
I don't know that he is a murderer yet.
But you came pretty close to being one.
I was going to explain it to you after I killed him.
I didn't want no interference.
Well you got it now.
What kind of law do they have in Baker City?
Don't they ever give men a trial down there?
Sure they do.
Why didn't you come here on arrest Lee and take him back with you?
Are they afraid to put him on trial?
Not hardly Marshall.
That they hired a killer like you to come up here and shoot him.
Look it's all legal.
In Baker City maybe it is.
But not in Dodge.
Well the laws are the same everywhere.
They should be Harbin.
But sometimes it depends on who's representing the law.
I don't aim to argue with you.
Now look let's get one thing straight.
You're not going to shoot Lee Prentice no matter what happens.
I'll kill you myself if you try it.
Okay.
Okay Marshall.
Why don't you talk to him being as you are such good friends.
Ask him how he'd like to stand trial.
I will Harbin.
But you stay away from him.
You hear?
Why sure Marshall.
I'm just trying to do my duty.
Come in come in.
Oh hello man.
Hello Marshall.
How you feeling Lee?
Fine.
Doc says I can leave anytime.
As long as he doesn't try to do any hard work for another week or so.
I'll take it easy Doc.
You better.
Lee.
Did you ever hear of a man called Jake Harbin?
Harbin?
Yeah.
Yeah I've heard of him.
Well he's the man who tried to kill you.
What?
How do you know?
He's here as a deputy with a warrant for you that are alive.
The warrant signed by the sheriff of Baker City.
Oh.
What's the warrant for Marshall?
Murder.
But it didn't say who.
No.
It didn't have to.
Not if Ben Goddard signed it.
It's for the murder of Jim Turner Marshall.
Oh.
How did you do it Lee?
I killed him.
He tried to shoot me in the back and missed.
Well that doesn't exactly make it murder does it?
His old man owns Baker City Doc.
And he owns the sheriff and Jake Harbin along with it.
That makes it murder.
Oh I see.
Is that why you left Baker City Lee?
That it killed me if I hadn't.
Oh what if you go back there and stand trial?
Old man Turner would run that trial Marshall. I'd hang sure.
No I won't go back. I'll die here first.
Well I don't blame you Matt.
It'd be legal murder that's what.
It isn't legal to fix a trial and hang an innocent man Doc.
That's what had happened though.
You're not thinking of turning him over to this so called deputy are you Matt?
Look Lee.
I believe you.
And I trust you.
Thanks Marshall.
Now tell me something. Do you trust me?
Well sure do. Of course why?
Well you may not like what I'm going to do.
What Marshall?
I'm putting you under arrest Lee. Right now.
Under arrest? What for?
I don't know.
Horse thieving?
Horse thieving?
Eat old man.
It'll do.
You're my prisoner now Lee. My prisoner.
Now come on let's go to jail.
I don't know I like being a horse thief Marshall.
Well it beats being a murderer Lee.
And besides I kind of doubt that we'll hang you for it.
Marshall.
What?
Look. There's Jake Harmon.
Yeah I see him.
I'd feel safer if you gave me my gun back.
Prisoners can't carry guns Lee. It wouldn't look right.
Lee Frentis!
Well Lee.
Marshall talked you to coming back to Baker City and stand in trial.
Still an old man Turner's payroll ain't you Jake?
I don't take no back talk from no murderer.
Why'd you try to ambush me the other morning Jake?
Afraid to face me?
I got a warrant for you.
Dead or alive why should I take any chances?
Nobody cares how you die.
I care Harmon.
Well you can't stand in the way of a legal warrant Marshall.
And you'll see as soon as you get that telegram from the sheriff.
It's too late Harmon.
What's too late?
I just arrested Lee myself. He's my prisoner now.
You what?
And as long as he's my prisoner nobody touches him.
Warrant or no.
You're being tricky Marshall.
What you arrest him for he ain't done nothing.
Might be hard to prove but anyway I'm holding him for a horse Stephen.
Now get out of the way I'm taking him to jail.
You're forgetting I can kill him anytime I want for free.
Like right now maybe.
Doc Lee.
Are you hit Lee?
No.
But it was mighty close Marshall.
I didn't think he'd try it.
You got him just in time.
The next shot he'd have killed me.
They sure don't care much how they do things where you come from do they Lee?
There's going to be trouble now Marshall.
Real trouble.
It seemed only fair to let the sheriff of Baker City know that his deputy had been killed.
So I sent him another telegram and I soon got a reply.
Ben Goddard himself was coming to Dodge.
The day was due to arrive I sent Chester to the stage while Lee Prentice and I waited in the lobby of the Dodge house.
Along with a couple of friends who thought it might be interesting to see how Sheriff Goddard was going to handle the situation.
The stage pulled in about noon.
And a few minutes later Chester and the sheriff walked into the hotel lobby while we were standing.
Here he is Mr. Dillon.
Hello sheriff.
You're Marshall Dillon.
And this is Mr. Green he owns the Dodge house.
Hi sheriff.
And Mr. Jonas one of our leading businessmen.
Gentlemen nice to know you.
And you know Lee Prentice.
I sure do.
You're going to a lot of trouble Goddard.
You an old man Turner.
It's worth it getting you back where you belong.
You'll hang sure now.
Lee didn't kill Jake Harbin sheriff.
No?
I did.
What?
He tried to shoot Lee in the back.
What difference it made if he's wanted dead or alive.
What are you interfering in this for Marshall?
You got no respect for the law?
Not for your kind of law.
Anyway Lee's wanted in Dodge and he's staying here.
What about my warrant?
You're claiming it ain't legal?
You can't arrest a man that I've got under arrest.
You're protecting them ain't you?
What'd you arrest them for?
Stealing horses.
I don't believe it.
I'm bringing the charges sheriff.
It was my horses he stole.
I thought you owned this hotel Green.
What are you doing with horses?
I also own a little ranch outside of town.
I raise horses.
Maybe but I know you're lying about Lee.
Am I?
Of course you are.
Marshall Dillon you ain't very smart.
No.
You'll have to bring Lee to trial won't you?
Of course.
You think Green here is going to swear to that story under oath?
You may be right sheriff.
I might have to change my mind once I get on the stand.
It might be I couldn't swear to it.
I didn't think so.
That trial won't last long and when it's over I'll take Lee back to Baker City.
Marshall Dillon.
Yes Mr. Jonas what is it?
There's something I haven't mentioned.
I kind of figured I'd wait until Lee's trial was over before I did.
Well go ahead Mr. Jonas.
Well the other day Lee came into my store and I went out back to fetch him a sack of grain.
Is that so?
He didn't know I was watching but I was.
And I told him to take a handful of money out of my cash box.
Now wait a minute.
Mr. Jonas are you charging Lee with robbery?
No not yet Marshall.
I'll wait and see if he gets off for horse stealing first.
Well Lee looks like you're in for nothing but trials and re-arrests and more trials.
It could go on for a long long time.
As long as his friends hold out Marshall and Lee's got quite a few of them in Dodge.
You're a pack of crooks treating the law.
That's what you are including you Marshall.
My prisoner Sheriff.
I won't stand for it I tell you.
What are you going to do about it?
We'd like to tell old man Turner about this.
You won't dare tell him Goddard.
You're licked and you know it.
Turner will have you run out of town if you're fool enough to go back.
Marshall I got to take Lee.
It's Lee's life or your job.
Alright Sheriff take him.
But you'll have to kill me first.
Or there's a train east in about an hour.
So make up your mind Sheriff.
Want me to follow him Mr. Dillon?
No Chester he'll leave.
Marshall gentlemen I wish I knew how to tell you.
Lee.
Yes Marshall.
Go on home.
But remember you're still under arrest and you're going to stay that way.
Until old man Turner's in his grave.
Gunsmoke under the direction of Norman McDonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon U.S. Marshall.
Tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey.
Featured in the cast were Sam Edwards, Lawrence Dobkin, John Danaer, Joe Duvall and James Nusser.
Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.
Join us again next week as Matt Dillon U.S. Marshall fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the west in Gunsmoke.
The FBI in Peace and War, a manhunt mystery packed with tension is yours on CBS radio this coming Wednesday night on most of these stations.
George Walsh speaking, crime photographer really quicks against criminals Wednesdays on the CBS radio network.