Box O’ Rocks | Gunsmoke (09-23-56)

Summary

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Gunsmoke – “Box O' Rocks” (September 23, 1956)

Podcast: OTRWesterns.com
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Starring: William Conrad as Matt Dillon
Episode Theme:
This episode of Gunsmoke centers on a mysterious coffin, a missing prospector, and a clever scheme in Dodge City. Marshal Matt Dillon unravels a tale of deceit, cowardice, and revenge when what seems to be a simple funeral turns out to be the linchpin for a much deeper plot.

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Main Theme & Purpose

The story opens with the community gathering for the funeral of Packy Roundtree, a shiftless old prospector. When Marshal Dillon and Doc discover the coffin contains only rocks and straw—no body—the search is on for Packy, who is either missing or faking his own death. As Matt investigates, he uncovers Packy's desperate attempt to escape an old nemesis, Jeb Cruder, and the larger secret of a hidden silver mine.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. A Suspicious Funeral (04:08–06:42)

• The funeral for Packy Roundtree begins: Reverend Blouse delivers a eulogy that paints Packy as a pillar of the community.
  • “Is he talking about old Packy Roundtree, Mr. Dillon? … Packy wasn't nothing but a measly, miserable, shiftless old grub staker.” — Chester (05:23)
• Doc, Matt, and Chester notice irregularities around Packy’s death and the coffin.
• On opening the coffin: “There's nothing here but some straw and a bunch of rocks.” — Doc (06:42)

2. The Search for Truth (07:30–11:45)

• The investigation reveals Packy left a will, witnessed by Reverend Blouse, granting all he owned to a “Preston Hawkins.”
• At the assay office, it’s found the rocks from the coffin are valuable ore—lead and silver.
  • “Pete said somebody else come in with a piece of this same kind of rock this afternoon. Some stranger.” — Chester (10:43)
• Suspicion shifts to a stranger in Dodge—Jeb Cruder—a known bully and old adversary of Packy.

3. Cruder’s Role & Tensions Rise (11:45–19:42)

• Matt questions Jeb Cruder in the saloon. Cruder is hostile but admits looking for Packy, claims ignorance about “Preston Hawkins,” and expresses surprise at the funeral ruse.
  • “You don’t have the guts to draw it anyway.” — Matt Dillon to Cruder (13:37)
  • Cruder tries to save face after being bested in a brief confrontation.
• Chester wakes Matt late at night with word that Reverend Blouse wants to confess to the Marshal (16:27).

4. The Parson’s Confession (19:45–23:25)

• Reverend Blouse admits to assisting Packy in faking his death. Packy, fearing Cruder, legally changed his name to Preston Hawkins.
  • “Packy Roundtree was dead to all intents and purposes.” — Reverend Blouse (20:32)
• Cruder attacked the parson, forcing him to reveal the mine’s location.

5. The Silver Mine Showdown (23:26–28:54)

• Matt and Chester follow Cruder to Packy’s hidden mine, where a confrontation ensues.
• Packy appears alive, working the mine, revealing his history of being bullied and even maimed by Cruder.
  • “The fact is, Marshal, I’m a… I’m a goddamn coward. ... When it comes to Jeb Cruder, I ain’t got none at all.” — Packy “Preston Hawkins” (26:57)
  • “He put a bullet through (both my legs). I wouldn’t sign.” — Packy (27:45)
• As explosives detonate in the mine (unknown to Packy, Cruder is trapped inside), the fate of Cruder is sealed.

6. Closing & Irony (28:54–End)

• Packy is unwittingly responsible for Cruder likely perishing in the mine shaft during the explosion.
• Matt, ever the dry observer, notes the twisted fate and Packy's obliviousness.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Discovery at the Funeral:
  • “There's nothing here but some straw and a bunch of rocks.” — Doc, on opening Packy's coffin (06:42)
• Packy's Confession:
  • “The fact is, Marshal, I’m a goddamn coward. ... When it comes to Jeb Cruder, I ain’t got none at all.” — Packy (26:57)
• Confrontation with Jeb Cruder:
  • “You don’t have the guts to draw it anyway.” — Matt Dillon (13:37)
  • “Don't overdo it, huh? A man can get too civil sometimes.” — Matt Dillon, mockingly to Cruder after their fight (15:01)
• The Parson’s Justification:
  • “Packy Roundtree was dead to all intents and purposes.” — Reverend Blouse (20:32)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Funeral and coffin discovery: 04:08–06:50
• Ore and will investigation: 09:30–12:10
• Cruder's confrontation: 12:20–15:25
• Parson’s confession: 19:45–21:45
• The mine and resolution: 23:26–29:15

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Tone

True to classic Gunsmoke, the episode alternates between dry, laconic wit and moments of tension. The dialogue is colorful and vivid, with each character’s personality coming through: Matt’s cool authority, Chester’s rustic humor, Doc’s sardonic realism, and the parson’s blustery earnestness.

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Summary

“Box O’ Rocks” is a quintessential Gunsmoke tale: A simple event in Dodge City—an unremarkable prospector’s funeral—unravels to a story of fear, cunning, and hard justice on the frontier. The episode serves up tightly written dialogue, clever plot twists, and the signature blend of darkness and dry humor that marks Dodge City. It reminds listeners that on the frontier, not everyone is as they seem, and sometimes, even a box of rocks can hide the truth.

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Transcript

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[B]

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke. Original air date is September 23, 1956 and the title is Box O rocks.

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Gun Smoke Brought to you by L and M. The modern cigarette that lets you get full exciting flavor through the modern miracle of the pure white miracle. Tip Live Modern Smoke L and M 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 U.S. marshal and the smell of gun smoke. Gunsmoke Starring William Conrad. The transcribed 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, United States Marshal, the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job, and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely. Oh, my land. Mr. Dylan, I think the parson's gonna make a funeral speech. It looks that way. All right. I declare, if I have to listen to any of that gone to glory talk, I'll just bust a gallus. Well, it can't last too long. Quiet down Folks, we gotta show the proper respect for this here chap that's deceased. Matt. Oh, Matt. What? Oh, Doc, this is the first time I've ever seen you at one of these Boot Hill parties. Well, I imagine you attend regular though, don't you, Duck, since you've put so many of them here. No more than you have, man. No more than you have. Hey, you fellas down there in the hole that's deep enough. We ain't going to plan him standing. All right, neighbors, huddle in close. Now, let's get back to the kind of send off that's due and give it to him. Oh, Reverend Blouse sure does love the sound of his own voice. He gets a three dollar fee for this chesting. Oh, Zimmer, you really have a reason for being here? Yeah, I have, Doc, but I don't know just what to do about it. All right, folks, I come out here to Boot Hill for the same reason the rest of you come. So we could pay our last respects to a fellow neighbor we knowed and loved. Packy Roundtree. I can't recall I ever seen Packy at any of my meetings. Never seen many of the rest of you there for that matter. But I still looked on him like all of you did, as a fine, upstanding, courageous, God fearing gentleman. Good, honest, hard working. A credit to Dodge City and the whole doggone country. Roundabout. Is he talking about old packy round tree, Mr. Dillon? That's what he said. But Packy wasn't nothing but a measly, miserable, shiftless old grub staker. That's while he was alive, Chester, and safe, bedding down in that happy hunting ground we're all a yearning toward. Well, now, he's got a long journey ahead of him, folks, so let's get him started on his way. You fellas, that's going to be pallbearers. Get your ropes looped under the edge of that coffin. We'll put him down gently. Doc, did you ever hear of a sawbones over at Walnut Springs by the name of Stearns? No. Why? Because that's who signed the death certificate. Well, it must have been some doctor who was just passing through. Yeah, maybe. Something eating you, Matt? Yeah, Doc. All together now, boy. We lift him up, lower him into the grave and then slip the rope. Just a minute, Parson. Come on, Chester. Well, I'm sorry, Marshall. Didn't know you was aiming to speak. I'm not. Well, but you won't, Reverend Blouse. I'm gonna have to take a look at the corpse. But But Marshall is. I told you that his horse rolled on him something terrible. He's broke up bad. Well, I've seen men broke up bad before. Chester. Yes, sir. Take that pick over there and pry a board loose on top of the coffin. Now. Resent this, Marshall. Why is reflection on my calling? All due respect to you, Parson, but I still got my job to do. Violent deaths have to be certified by the marshals. But I told you what happened and I brought in package body myself. Yeah, that's right, Parson. Already in his coffin nailed up tight. You about got it, Chester? Yes, sir. There it is. We'll be able to, Mr. Dillon. Yeah, I see it. Let me have a look here, Matt. I can tell you in two minutes what he died. What who died of, Doc? There's nothing here but some straw and a bunch of rocks. Why don't you live modern? Live modern Live, live, live modern Change to L and M Only with L M can you enjoy the full exciting flavor of today's finest tobaccos. Through the modern miracle of the L M miracle tip through the pure white miracle tip L M tastes richer, smokes cleaner, draws easier. No other cigarette plane or filter gives you all the flavor you want. The rich exciting flavor you get only from L and M. So light up, free up, let your taste come alive. Live modern Smoke L and M Make today your big red letter day and start to live the modern way Live, live, live modern Get L today it Jackson, Prager, Raymond, Blake, Morales, Snyder, Creed and Ah, there's nobody named Hawkins in these bulletins. Man, that is not here either, Doc. But I didn't figure it would be. You think maybe the parson's lie? No, I figured it just wouldn't be as easy as finding a name in a stack of wanted bulletins, that's all. I can understand Packy Roundtree taking on a partner. Why the old coupe never had one before. And now duck. But that's who the Reverend claims turned the coffin over to him out at Walnut Springs. A man named Preston Hawkins. He said he was Packy's partner and he gave the Reverend a will to file, leaving everything Packy owned to him. It's the darnest thing I ever heard of. That's that all right. But the coffin was full of rocks, Matt. Packy may not even be dead. So the will's worth nothing. No, but it might have been if that box had been buried according to plan. Sure. All I own I leave to my pardner, Preston Hawkins. But Packy never owned anything in his whole life. Man, that's got me beat, Doc. If it was anybody but Reverend Blouse who'd brought in that box. Oh, what'd you find out at the assay office, Jesse? Well, sir, Pete done everything but run these rocks through his furn. What did he decide? He said they might have come from any one of a dozen different places. But they ain't float rock out of some river bottom. What do you mean? Pete says they're fresh broke, like they've been mined. He says they're pretty good ore. Lead and silver. Yeah. Maybe Paki did own something after all. And Pete said somebody else come in with a piece of this same kind of rock this afternoon. Some stranger. What? Well, what did he look like? Heavyset, beefy Pete. Seen him around town last couple weeks. Wonder who it could be. I don't know, Doc. That's something I'm gonna find out. It's the man there by the end of the bar mat. See the one I mean? With a calico shirt? That's right. Heavy set, bull necked. He sure fits the description. You know him, Kitty? No, I don't wanna. He's giving the girls here a lot of trouble, Matt. He's the kind that likes to knock people around. Especially if they're smaller than he is. That'd cover plenty of ground. There aren't many bigger. He's the man you're looking for, Matt. I'm sure of it. He's been around Dodge about three weeks. And he's asked about Paky too. And he calls himself Jeb. Cruder, huh? That's right. What's it all about, Matt? Maybe Cruder knows. I'll talk to you later, kiddie. You're watching now, Matt. He's mean. Evening, Cruter. Well, if it ain't the marshal. Have a drink, law man. Grudder. I understand you took some rock into Pete Will's assay office this afternoon. Any log in it? I also understand that you've been trying to find Paki Rountree. Not so well, Marshal. Suppose you go do your understanding someplace else. Mr. Cruter, in Dodge City, a man answers questions with a civil tongue in his head. It's a kind of a habit we got here. Are you able to teach me about it? Are you? Yeah, I think I am. I'll kill you. Get your hand away from that gun. You don't have the guts to draw it anyway. All right, now get up. Come on, on your feet. Cruder. Oh, Marshall, I. I didn't mean no offense. I. I asked you some questions. Well, I've been Looking for Packy, all right. Come here a couple of weeks ago. I knowed him for years, but ain't seen him in a long time. Did you find him? No, sir. And then that happened out there at Boot Hill this afternoon. Well, I was just pull axe, Marshal. You know any reason why Packy'd pull a trick like that? No, sir, I sure don't. I thought I might trace him through them rocks, so I took some out of Packy's coffin. But the assayer couldn't help me none. Ever hear of a man named Preston Hawkins? No, sir. I just don't know nothing about this, Marshal. If I did, I tell you, I sure wouldn't want you to think I meant any offense a while ago, sir, because I was. Don't overdo it, huh? A man can get too civil sometimes. All right, all right. I gotta talk to you, Mr. Dillman. All right. Just a second. Mr. Dillon. Mr. Dillon. What's the matter? Chester? I am right sorry to wake you up, but the parson's over at the office and he says he's got to see you. Reverend Blouse. He sure picks a fine hour to come calling. Well, he ain't calling exactly. Truth is, he's awful upset. Mr. Dillon. No, what about? You won't never believe this, but the parson says he wants to confess. Why don't you Live modern Live modern Live, live, live modern Change to L M yes, have an L M Enjoy a really modern cigarette. A cigarette that gives you all the full, exciting flavor of today's finest tobaccos. No other cigarette, plane or filter gives you the flavor. You get through the modern miracle of the L M Miracle tip through the pure white miracle tip L and M tastes richer Smokes cleaner, draws easier so light up, free up Let your taste come alive Live modern Smoke L and M Make today your big red letter day and start to live the modern way Live, live, live modern Get L it. With all due respect, parson, that's about the tallest story I've heard in years. Well, I didn't lie to you, Marshall. I maybe just let you mislead yourself a little. Now, you claim that Pakirantree met you outside of Walnut Creek and asked you to help him, huh? He was in mortal fear of his life, Marshall. That's the only reason I done it. He showed me the paper where he had gone to in Hayes and got his name changed legal to Preston Hawkins. Yeah. Go on. He gave me that will of his at the same time leaving everything to Hawkins, or rather to his self under his new Name. And he gave me the coffin and asked me to bring it to Dodge and have a burial service. Well, in a way, since he changed his name legal, Packy Roundtree was dead to all intents and purposes. That's just how I looked at it, Marshall. And if it was the only way of helping him out of his trouble, I was glad to do it. Now, you say Packy claimed he was doing all this just because he was scared? He was scared. Why, he turned white every time he mentioned Jeb Cruder's name. Seems Cruder got the Indian sign on him years ago and bullied him ever since. That's why he always kept moving on, always hoping Cruder wouldn't find him again. And this time he couldn't move on because he'd stumbled into that pocket of silver. Or that's right where Walnut Creek cut sharp up through the Comanche hills. Well, from what I saw at Jeb Cruder, Packy story holds together pretty solid. Cruder's a coward and a bully, all right. He sure is. How do you figure I got my head cut open this way? I was gonna ask you about that. Cruder forced his way into my house tonight. What? Yeah, he buffaloed me with his gun barrel. And he threatened to shoot my wife if I didn't tell. Didn't tell what? How to get the package Silver mine. I had to, Marshal. I didn't have no choice. Why, Chester, get a couple of horses saddled fast. There's smoke coming up over yonder, Mr. Dillon. Yeah. You must have a cabin there in the brush. Now, wait a minute. Now, there's the opening to his mine. Shafter. Well, I declare, if that don't beat all. He sure has got things mighty well hid. Mr. Dillon. Yeah? There's a horse tied in the bushes. Huh? I wonder if by any chance. Hit the ground, Chester. There goes somebody running across the creek. Yeah, and it's Jeb Cruder. Well, he's heading for the mine shaft. Hold it, Cruder. He run inside. Yeah, but it's probably the only way back out. Come on, Tristan. Darn fool. Marta had better sense than to run for a place he can't get out of. I guess he was surprised. He wasn't expecting anybody to ride in on him. Now, you stop right there in your tracks. Why, it's pack your round tree. Just take it easy, Chester. Fine darn thing. Man works all night in his diggings and can't even get his breakfast without somebody shooting up a ruckus or. Well, they're all gone. If it ain't the Marshal Morning Pecky, or Preston Hawkins? I guess it is. Now, I reckon you know the whole story then, huh? Yeah, so does Jeb Cruder. Cruder? We just chased him into your mine shaft over there. Oh, you don't say so. Oh, now that's mighty interesting. Yeah, we were just going in after him. I reckon he'll keep for a while. Let's sit down. Look, Packy, I think we. No, sit down. Sit down. Marshall, that's the only way out. He can't get out no other way. We might as well turn on a chance. Yeah. No, I want to tell you about Cruder and why I done what I done. See, the fact is, Marshall, I'm a. I'm a goddamn coward. Oh, what do you mean? Well, I just ain't got the courage most men got. When it comes to Jeb Cruder, I ain't got none at all. I want to tell you about three years ago out in Montana Territory when I thought I'd got clean away from him. I had me little flock of sheep build it up from nothing. Then Cruder showed up again. He hog tied me, Marshall, to make me shine over the sheep to him. Look, I want to show you my legs here. It's how come I limp like a dude. Packy, later, huh? Could we hear the rest? He held his gun six inches from the calf of my leg and put a bullet through it. I wouldn't shine. Then he put a bullet through the other one. I signed Marshall. Well, he ought to be hung doing a thing like that. That come from the mine shaft? Yeah, right on time. Well, that's darn good fuel. Come on, Chester. Let's see if we can get him out of there. Oh, no, no, no, no, Marshall, you. You can't go in there now. You can't see I worked all night and got me around to drilling 13 holes and loaded them up. Five, six. Yeah, I touched him off just before I went up to the cabin. But you don't understand. Cruder's in that shaft. Packy. Cruder. Oh, dog gone if it didn't clean. Slip my mind, Marsh. Seven. There's nine. Ah, that was a darn good round. Broke down a lot of rock. There's 10. I reckon I'll stick to this brand of fuse from now on. Packy, what am I gonna do with you? It ain't pleasant to be shot in the legs, Marshall. That's a living. Sure hope the parson kept that coffin I built. Come in handy if we can find anything to put in it. Besides just rock. That's 13. I guess that's the end of it. Marshall. Yeah, guess it is. Blackie. In a moment, our star, William Conrad. Have you ever asked a naturalized American how he or she feels about the business of voting? If you have, it's probably given you a whole new slant on the matter. To those men and women who were born in other countries, the right to vote is a precious privilege. They line up before the voting booth on election Day with the same high sense of pride and responsibility that one might feel upon being awarded some rare degree. Actually, the right to vote should give us all the same heady thrill. It is we, you and I, who determine the course of our country and the conditions of our own lives with those votes we cast on Election Day. Just one reminder. Make sure your opinions will be counted. Make sure you cast your vote by being very sure to register. Registration days differ in varying localities. Check on the time in your community and get your name on the rolls. Then take advantage of all of America's media of communication for informing yourself on the issues involved. And then, when Election Day comes, go to the polls with pride and responsibility and vote. And now, William Conrad. You know, it took a lot of courage to stand on a frontier street facing some gunfighter who wants to take your life. Yet next week a man does just this, knowing full well that he can't even draw his gun. And that was the West. Gunsmoke, produced and directed by Norman MacDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. The script was specially written for Gunsmoke by Les Crutchfield with editorial supervision by John Meston. The music was composed and conducted by Rex Corey, sound patterns by Ray Kemper and Bill James. Featured in the cast were Ralph Moody, Paul Dubov and Joseph Kearns. Harley Bair As Chester, Howard McNear is Doc and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal, fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the west in Gunsmoke. This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate our shows in your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube and send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com youm can call and leave us a voicemail 707-986-8739 this episode is copyright under the Attribution Non Commercial Share like copyright. For more information, go to otrwesterns.com/copyright. Have a great day and thanks for listening.