
Original Air Date: July 22, 1956Host: Andrew RhynesShow: GunsmokePhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• William Conrad (Matt Dillion)• Parley Baer (Chester)• Georgia Ellis (Kitty)• Howard McNear (Doc) Special Guests:• Vic Perrin• Lawrence Dobkin• Harry...
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Charlie Drain
How do.
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Andrew Rines
Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Rines, and before we get into this episode, I wanted to do a little PSA and remind you that I put out multiple shows a week of Old Time Radio Westerns. You can check them out by going to otrwesterns.com or looking up OTR Westerns on your podcast application of choice. We are releasing over 10 episodes a week so far, about a hundred a month. So definitely want you to check that out again. OTRWesterns.com check it out. I also wanted to invite you to check out my sister podcast site otnetcast and that's net c a s t so ot n e t c a s t netcast otnetcast.com we're currently releasing mystery genre shows and this is shows like the Shadow Escape, Suspense and the Whistler and we have plans on bringing other shows to to the network for you guys to listen to. So it's my non western old time radio channel that I can kind of do other genres that not only I like, but hopefully you would like too. You can check us out by going to otnetcast.com or searching o T N E T C A S T on your podcast app of choice. Now let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke original air dates July 22, 1956 and the title is Lynching Man.
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Narrator/Announcer
Gunsmoke brought to you by Chesterfield. Chesterfield packs more pleasure because it's more perfectly packed. Thanks to Accuray, they satisfy the most 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.
Matt Dillon
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.
Charlie Drain
Sam.
Matt Dillon
You know that man?
Charlie Drain
Shelby? No. Looks like some kind of tenderfoot to me. Who else is camping?
Narrator/Announcer
A grove of trees. Cut.
Charlie Drain
No water.
Matt Dillon
Have a little talk with him.
Charlie Drain
You look scared, Kringle.
Matt Dillon
Seen men look scared before.
Charlie Drain
Hello, Mr. Oh, camped here all alone? Yeah. Scouting around for some Homestead land. Good looking horse you got over there. He seems to be a good horse. He's awful young. I think I'll take a look. Sure. What you men doing out here? Oh, you just ride around?
Narrator/Announcer
We scout for things too.
Charlie Drain
Land?
Matt Dillon
Uh, we ain't the kind to settle.
Charlie Drain
Down to hard work like that. I had a little orchard back in Ohio. Raised apples.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Charlie Drain
Yeah, apples is fine. Wished I had one now. Hey, Kringle. Yeah? That there horse ain't got no brand on him.
Matt Dillon
No brand?
Charlie Drain
It washed off crossing the river.
Narrator/Announcer
You talking about washed off?
Charlie Drain
It did. I ain't lying. Well, it don't matter, Don. Go get your rope, Shelby. I'll get it. What you need a rope for? Well, now, don't you worry about that, mister. We'll take care of everything. What are you gonna do? I told you not to worry. Now, look, I ain't done nothing. Of course you ain't. We're just gonna save you from all that hard work you was planning on. No. All right, I got it. Shelby, hurry up. Maybe there's water in this grove, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Well, if there is, somebody's dug a well. Chester.
Charlie Drain
Oh, you've been here before.
Matt Dillon
I've passed by, I swear.
Charlie Drain
I'm gonna start toting me a water bag.
Matt Dillon
That's the easy way, Chester.
Charlie Drain
Bet it is.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, Somebody's had a campfire here recently.
Charlie Drain
Yesterday sometime, I'd say.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, that big rain last night washed out all the prints.
Charlie Drain
It sure did. Oh, God. There's gotta be a spring here somewhere. I'm gonna take a look.
Matt Dillon
You're wasting your time, Chester.
Charlie Drain
I don't mind.
Matt Dillon
I never saw a man who needed the comforts of home more than he does.
Charlie Drain
Mr. Dillon. Mr. Dillon. Come here, quick.
Matt Dillon
Huh?
Charlie Drain
Look.
Matt Dillon
Lynched.
Charlie Drain
Scared me half to death. I seen him hanging there.
Matt Dillon
It isn't a very pretty sight.
Charlie Drain
There ain't no horse around. Where's his horse?
Matt Dillon
He probably stole it. Then they caught up with him and took it back.
Charlie Drain
Who do you suppose done it?
Matt Dillon
I don't know. I don't know how we're ever gonna find out. Come on, let's cut him down and get him into the.
Narrator/Announcer
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Charlie Drain
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Charlie Drain
Chesterfield packs more pleasure Because Chesterfield's more.
Narrator/Announcer
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Charlie Drain
Matt, I don't know what I'd do if I rode into a grove of trees and found a man hanging there.
Matt Dillon
Hell, I hope it never happens. Kitty.
Charlie Drain
How can men do such things?
Matt Dillon
It's easy for some men.
Charlie Drain
I hope you catch him.
Matt Dillon
I'd like to. Kidding.
Charlie Drain
Who was he?
Matt Dillon
Man, we found an envelope on him. His name was Hank Blennis.
Charlie Drain
Must have been a newcomer. I never heard of him.
Matt Dillon
Well, he wasn't wanted by the law that I know of. But I guess he was a horse thief all right.
Charlie Drain
They wouldn't have lynched him otherwise, would they?
Matt Dillon
No.
Charlie Drain
Then why don't you find out who's had a horse stolen recently?
Matt Dillon
They wouldn't likely be talking about it now, Kitty.
Charlie Drain
Well, things could be worse, Matt.
Matt Dillon
Oh, what do you mean?
Charlie Drain
Suppose there wasn't any law at all and people wouldn't even have to hide what they do now. At least they know they're doing wrong.
Matt Dillon
That doesn't seem to stop them much.
Charlie Drain
Marshal Dillon?
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Charlie Drain
My name's Charlie Drain, Marshall. I run cattle up north on the Republican River. Happen to be in Dodge on business. And I heard about that lynching yesterday.
Matt Dillon
You know something about a drink?
Charlie Drain
I know I don't like it. My own PA was lynched, Marshall. A mob strung him up by mistake. I was just a boy, but I seen him do it. And it's laid in my mind ever since.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I can understand that. But what about this lynching?
Charlie Drain
It's a big thing with me, Marshall. I can't endure seeing no lynchers get off free.
Matt Dillon
Well, I don't like it myself, Dr.
Charlie Drain
Then you do something about it. Or I will. Now, Matt.
Matt Dillon
Maybe you better tell me what you got in mind, Dre.
Charlie Drain
A fellow named Gil Mather. Got a little ranch over on Dove Creek. I've heard round about that he's had a horse or two stole recently. And I've heard that he's talked to hanging whoever stole him. It looks to me like he went and done it, Marshal.
Matt Dillon
I know guilt, Mather.
Charlie Drain
Well, then maybe you better go bring him in.
Matt Dillon
Or you will.
Charlie Drain
I'll see him dead. I told you how I feel about things. I ain't fooling.
Matt Dillon
Marshall Train, I got some advice for you.
Charlie Drain
Is that so?
Matt Dillon
Why don't you take a walk around Dodge and talk to some people, huh? You ask them what I'm like when somebody tries to crowd me. Then you go sit down somewhere and think about it. You think about it real hard.
Charlie Drain
I didn't know Gil ma was married, Mr. John.
Matt Dillon
He isn't just it.
Charlie Drain
Well, then, who's that boy in the corral yonder feeding his horses?
Matt Dillon
That's Billy Drisco. He works for Mather often, huh?
Charlie Drain
You think Mather will fight?
Matt Dillon
I'm not arresting him, Chester. I got no evidence says he did it.
Charlie Drain
Well, what if he admits it?
Matt Dillon
And that's not often a man admits to a crime, Chester.
Charlie Drain
Guess not. Hello there, Marshall. Chester.
Matt Dillon
Oh, how are you, Mather?
Charlie Drain
Welfare to Midland. Marshall, what brings you out here?
Matt Dillon
I was told that you've lost some horses.
Charlie Drain
I didn't lose them, Marshall. They were stole. Three of them now.
Matt Dillon
Any idea who's been doing it?
Charlie Drain
If I knew, there'd be a man hanging from a limb somewheres.
Matt Dillon
There was one, mather, right about 20 miles north of here. A man called Hank Blennis.
Charlie Drain
Was he a horse thief?
Matt Dillon
Probably.
Charlie Drain
Who hung him?
Matt Dillon
Some people think maybe you did.
Charlie Drain
No, no, it wasn't me. But horse thieves has got to be hung, Marshall Mather.
Matt Dillon
Blennis was lynched Thursday. Where were you then?
Charlie Drain
You questioning my word, Marshall? Where were you, Marshal? You got any evidence, you come arrest me. Meantime, I got work to do. Contrary, ain't he, Mr. Jones? Yeah, it sure looks to me like he's hiding something.
Matt Dillon
Well, I can't arrest him for that. Come on, let's get back to town.
Charlie Drain
Doc.
Matt Dillon
Hey, Doc. Doc, you asleep?
Charlie Drain
Who said that? Oh, well. Oh, chew.
Matt Dillon
Man, you sure don't do much to dress this town up, Doc.
Charlie Drain
Oh, what man's got a better right to sit out here, rest his eyes for a few minutes? I was up the entire night nursing old Mrs. Jackstone through a fever.
Matt Dillon
Maybe we ought to tie a sign on you explainin that, Doc. Folks might not understand otherwise.
Charlie Drain
No folks can go to hang. I'm here if anybody needs em.
Matt Dillon
Well, a man would have to be mighty sick to need a doctor who looks like he's sleeping off a drunk.
Charlie Drain
Don't harp at me, Madillon. From what I hear, you're not exactly distinguishing yourself at your own trade.
Matt Dillon
Well, you got me there, Doc.
Charlie Drain
Yeah, you made your laugh. And since you admit it, then I won't say anymore to him.
Matt Dillon
Well, good.
Charlie Drain
Even though it does kind of look bad when people can go around stringing up anybody they please. And with no interference from the law.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, well, thanks for not saying any more about it, Doc.
Charlie Drain
Oh, I'm not one to twist the knife, now, you know that.
Matt Dillon
Oh, sure.
Charlie Drain
Marshal Dillon, I want to talk to you.
Matt Dillon
What's the trouble now, Drane?
Charlie Drain
I'm tired waiting, Marshal. Something's got to be done.
Matt Dillon
Drain, why don't you go back up to your ranch and leave all this to me, huh?
Charlie Drain
Cause you ain't doing nothing, that's why. You see them two men over there, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
What?
Charlie Drain
Them two standing over there.
Matt Dillon
Who are they?
Charlie Drain
One is Kringle and one is Jack Shelby. And they feel as strong as I do about all this.
Matt Dillon
All right, Drain. You don't have to go back to your ranch. I don't care where you go, but you get out of Dodge and you take your friends there with you. If I see any one of you around after sundown, I'll throw you in jail.
Charlie Drain
I take it back. Joking you, Matt. You are kind of up against him.
Matt Dillon
You know, Doc, I just thought of something.
Charlie Drain
Eh? What?
Matt Dillon
That fellow Blennis was obviously a dude. He wasn't even wearing the right kind of clothes for a man who'd been out here very long. Maybe he wasn't a horse thief at all.
Charlie Drain
Then why would anybody lynch him?
Matt Dillon
I'm going over to the stable, Doc. Maybe Moss Grimmick can help me.
Charlie Drain
That's the fellow, Marshal. That's him. That's what he looked like.
Matt Dillon
What kind of a horse was it, Moss?
Charlie Drain
A little three year old bay. Real young, but plum gentle. Had four white stockings.
Matt Dillon
Marshal, that gives me something to go on.
Charlie Drain
There's another thing, too. That horse wasn't branded. What? Well, I raised him myself, and I just never got around to putting no mark on him. Except for the no good stuff I bought.
Matt Dillon
What stuff?
Charlie Drain
Old fella sold it to me. Some kind of chemical powder. You wet it and then kind of paint your brain down with it. And suppose it'll take the hair off? But it don't work. I tried it on another animal. It just washed right off.
Matt Dillon
And whoever's got that little bay of yours could put his own brand on him, huh?
Charlie Drain
I'm a real fool, Marshall, believing you can brand a horse rubbing a little chemical powder on him.
Matt Dillon
Well, we all get taken sometimes, Moss.
Charlie Drain
I stopped your mather from getting took, though.
Matt Dillon
Oh, you did?
Charlie Drain
Yeah. He come in here the other day, asked me about it. I told him.
Matt Dillon
What day was that, Moss?
Charlie Drain
Thursday. Him and the boy, Billy Driscoll. They come to town every Thursday, Marshal. Come in early, spend the whole day why? Something wrong?
Matt Dillon
Hank Blennis was Lynch Thursday.
Charlie Drain
Well, you wasn't thinking. Gil Mather done it. Was you.
Matt Dillon
Charlie Drain was, and he still is. I better go find him. Moss.
Narrator/Announcer
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Narrator/Announcer
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Charlie Drain
I don't see nobody around at all, Mr. Dylan.
Matt Dillon
Maybe they're in the house, Chester.
Charlie Drain
Want for me to go see?
Matt Dillon
I will tie up here for the barn first.
Charlie Drain
Could be Mather and the boys eatin their dinner, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
At least you hope so.
Charlie Drain
Well, any man gets a little hungry now and then.
Matt Dillon
Wait a minute.
Charlie Drain
Why, there's Charlie Drain. Yeah, they was in the barn. And Mother. Two fellows. They must be Kringle and Shelby you told me about.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, that's him.
Charlie Drain
What are you doing out here, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
I'm looking for Gil Mather. Train.
Charlie Drain
He ain't around, Chester. Yes, sir?
Matt Dillon
See if he's in the barn.
Charlie Drain
I said he ain't around, didn't I?
Matt Dillon
Go ahead, Chester.
Charlie Drain
Yes, you can.
Matt Dillon
Then don't any one of you try to stop him. Now, which one of you is Kringle and which is Shelby?
Charlie Drain
I'm Kringle E. Shelby. Why?
Matt Dillon
And it's my job to know who people are. That's all.
Charlie Drain
Now you know.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, now I know.
Charlie Drain
If you ask me, it's your job to punish criminals, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
You're right, Dre.
Charlie Drain
Well, you ain't been doing very good at it.
Matt Dillon
I'm kind of slow, son.
Charlie Drain
You're too slow, Mr. Dillon. Mr. Dillon. They're in there. Gil Mathur and the boy. Both of them.
Matt Dillon
Don't stand in front of me, Chester.
Charlie Drain
They're dead. These fellows went and hung them. Both of them.
Matt Dillon
Keep your hand away from that gun, Kringle. You can't blame me.
Charlie Drain
Me nor Shelby. It was Drane's idea. He paid us to come along with him is all. Billy was just a kid. Why'd they have to hang him for? So he was a kid. He was keeping mighty bad company now wasn't he, Drane?
Matt Dillon
Both the boy and Gil Mather were in Dodge the day Hank Blennis was lynched.
Charlie Drain
Are you sure of that?
Matt Dillon
There are witnesses.
Charlie Drain
I don't want no more part of this. Come on, Shelby.
Matt Dillon
Hold it, Crinkle.
Charlie Drain
You ain't stopping me. Marshal.
Matt Dillon
Is that your bay horse over there with the four white stockings?
Charlie Drain
What about it?
Matt Dillon
Pretty smart of you to lynch a man rather than shoot him when you go to steal his horse.
Charlie Drain
What are you saying, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
They hung Blenna Strain. I guess they figured helping you with Mather and the boy put everybody off their track.
Charlie Drain
So they lynched him. They done it. Why, you dirty dogs. Please. Why, he killed me. He killed both of them. Sure, I killed them. They had it coming now, didn't they?
Matt Dillon
Give me that gun, Train. I said give it to him.
Charlie Drain
Lynchers all the time. There was nothing but a couple of dirty leechers. He's crazy, mister. I hate them.
Matt Dillon
Why do you think you're just dead in the barn there, Drain?
Charlie Drain
I made a mistake. I can't help that. I only wish I could have hung these two. They deserved it. Just like them fellas that lynched my pa. I never seen a man so mixed up. I hate lynching.
Matt Dillon
Sometimes a man can hate too much. Right now. Sometimes I can twist him till he gets where he doesn't really belong.
Charlie Drain
I don't know what you mean.
Matt Dillon
Hell, it doesn't matter now. Not anymore.
Narrator/Announcer
In a moment, our star, William Conrad. When you shop for those last minute vacation items, don't forget to pick up a couple of cartons of Chesterfields. You'll find it mighty convenient to have a carton or two along in your suitcase. Or if you're driving right in the glove compartment, Chesterfield packs more pleasure, more vacation pleasure because it's more perfectly packed. So buy Chesterfields. Buy em with a carton. Mild yet they satisfy the most.
Matt Dillon
You know, on the frontier bullets cost 8 cents apiece, so they were seldom wasted. But next week it's a stray bullet that kills a man. And that was the West. Good night.
Narrator/Announcer
Gunsmoke, produced and Directed by Norman McDonnell. Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. Our story was specially written for Gun Smoke by John Meston with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Sound patterns by Tom Hanley and Bill James. Featured in the cast were Vic Perrin, Harry Bartel, Lawrence Duncan, John Danar, Jack Moyles and James Nusser. Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.
Charlie Drain
Live.
Narrator/Announcer
Modern Smoke L M yes Heaven L M no other cigarette you can buy plain or filter gives you the full exciting flavor you get through the pure white L and M Miracle Tip through the modern Miracle tip L M tastes richer, smokes cleaner, draws easier so light up, free up, let your taste come alive. Live Modern Smoke L and M Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story on gun Smoke.
Matt Dillon
J.
Charlie Drain
Sam.
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Andrew Rines
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 Alike Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com.
Matt Dillon
Have.
Andrew Rines
A great day and thanks for listening.
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In this gripping episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon confronts the aftermath of a lynching on the frontier. The episode explores the dangers of mob justice, vengeance, and the difficulty of upholding the law in an unsettled land. Tensions escalate as personal trauma, community outrage, and the quest for justice collide, leaving Dillon with the challenge of preventing further bloodshed and finding the truth.
On the futility of vengeance
Marshal Dillon's resolve
Kitty’s perspective
The dialogue is hardboiled yet reflective, keeping to the somber, slow-burning grit that defines Gunsmoke. The episode leans heavily into moral ambiguity: lawmen are fallible, vengeance can go awry, and the difference between justice and retribution is painfully thin. The script is marked by sharp exchanges, concise statements, and understated but powerful revelations.
"Lynching Man" stands as a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked vengeance and mob justice. The episode demonstrates Marshal Dillon’s struggle to enforce law impartially in a world primed for violence, and it paints a potent portrait of how even righteous anger can corrupt, leading to senseless tragedy. The story closes with a somber lesson on the dangers of letting hate twist a man’s sense of right and wrong.
For listeners who appreciate classic Western drama, frontier morality tales, and nuanced character studies, this episode of Gunsmoke is essential listening.