Gunsmoke: "Barton Boy" (Original Air Date: October 1, 1955)

Podcast: Gunsmoke | OTRWesterns.com
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode: Barton Boy | December 20, 2025

Overview

In this episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon investigates a brutal train robbery that leaves Ed Barton dead and his young son Billy gravely wounded. The episode follows Dillon’s meticulous efforts to protect Billy—the only witness to the crime—and unravel a plot that digs unexpectedly close to home. Centered in Dodge City’s gritty realities, “Barton Boy” is a classic Western morality story of betrayal, greed, and the pursuit of justice.

Key Discussion Points and Plot Breakdown

1. Train Robbery and Its Aftermath

• Setting: The episode opens with Matt Dillon and Chester witnessing a new record-length train arrive in Dodge City. (05:28)

• Discovery of Crime: The usually uneventful task of collecting a strongbox takes a dark turn when they find Ed Barton, the baggage clerk, murdered and his son Billy wounded in the baggage car.

  "There he is, laying over there in the corner." – Chester (07:37)

• Immediate Suspicions: Dillon quickly deduces that the killer locked the baggage car behind himself and likely escaped near the Walnut Creek crossing when the train slowed. (08:00-09:10)

2. Billy Barton’s Testimony

• Billy’s Condition: The boy survives a graze but his grief is palpable.

  "Oh, it ain't the hurting, Doc." – Billy Barton (11:13)

• Identification by Voice: Billy confides that while he never saw the gunman’s face, he’d recognize the unique, “kind of weak” voice if he heard it again. (12:49)

  "I'd know his voice all right, even if he's trying to fool me... it's kind of weak like." – Billy Barton (12:49)

3. The Search for the Killer

• Protecting the Witness: Dillon places Billy in a jail cell for his safety, recognizing the risk the killer poses to the only eyewitness. (13:15, 14:04)
• Suspect Roundup: Over the ensuing days, Matt and Chester parade possible suspects past Billy, with each attempt fruitlessly ending in, "It ain't him, marshal." (15:36-16:48)
• The Town Grieves: Laura, Ed’s fiancée, is devastated, and Kitty hints at town intrigue and prior relationships (10:00-10:44, 19:21).

4. Subtle Clues and Rising Tension

• Motivation Comes Clear: Matt reasons the robbery required inside knowledge—only he, Ed, and Mr. Botkin of the bank knew the shipment schedule. (21:00)

  "That killer knew... exactly which trip to hit. Now, it was somebody from this town. Had to be." – Matt Dillon (21:00)

• Laura’s Actions: Laura tries to comfort Billy, offering him a special treat: a slice of rum cake. She also hints at wanting to adopt him. (18:27-19:54)

• Poisoned Cake: When Billy gives the cake to a stray dog—which dies—Matt recognizes an attempt on the boy’s life and acts swiftly.

  "The dog... it's been poisoned." – Matt Dillon (23:47)

5. The Culprit Unmasked and Justice Served

• Piecing it Together: Discussions reveal Laura has resumed seeing Taggart, who has a distinctive, husky voice—the very detail Billy noted. (21:43)

• Confronting the Guilty: Matt and Chester confront Taggart at Laura’s place. When Taggart runs, Matt kills him as he resists arrest. (27:20-27:38)

• Laura’s Desperation: In a grimly poignant moment, Laura, armed and unhinged, confronts Matt. He coolly talks her down.

  "If you'd have had your way, it had been a kid instead. So you better put that gun down and take your chances with a jury." – Matt Dillon (28:49)

• Moral Conclusion: Laura admits defeat, acknowledging the turning point:

  "That kid. That's what beat us. The minute I heard he was alive, I knew it was starting to go wrong." – Laura (29:21)

• Matt’s Final Word: He delivers a classic Western admonition:

  "It started long before that, Laura... The day you were born." – Matt Dillon (29:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It's a chancy job, and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely." – Matt Dillon, on being a marshal (04:13)
• "I don't know exactly. It's kind of weak like. Or something. It's hard to explain, but I'll know it anytime I hear it." – Billy Barton describing the killer (12:57)
• "Somebody's gonna pay for it, Kitty." – Matt Dillon, on pursuing justice for Ed and Billy Barton (20:43)
• "The killers here in Dodge, and the money's here. And sooner or later, I'm going to find them both." – Matt Dillon (21:21)
• "If you'd have had your way, it had been a kid instead... You're under arrest." – Matt Dillon, confronting Laura (28:49)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Opening & Robbery Discovery: 05:28–08:27
• Billy’s Testimony: 11:13–13:07
• Witness Protection & Suspect Parade: 14:04–16:55
• Laura’s Rum Cake & Betrayal: 18:27–19:54; 21:43
• Poisoned Cake Realization: 23:15–23:47
• Climactic Showdown: 26:28–29:37

Episode Tone & Style

The episode maintains the brooding, methodical tone characteristic of Gunsmoke’s best, with Marshal Dillon’s relentless pursuit of justice and a town wrestling with its own undercurrents of greed and vulnerability. Dialogue is terse, plainspoken, and often heavy with foreshadowing and subtext; emotion simmers beneath the surface but always feels real and immediate.

Conclusion

"Barton Boy" exemplifies Gunsmoke’s strengths: morally complex storytelling, authentic Western atmosphere, and a commitment to justice—even when it comes at great personal cost. Matt Dillon’s investigation brings heartbreak and closure, but no real victory—only the resolve to keep standing guard over a “lonesome town” that’s never quite as quiet as it seems.