
Original Air Date: March 05, 1961Host: Andrew RhynesShow: GunsmokePhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• William Conrad (Matt Dillion)• Parley Baer (Chester)• Georgia Ellis (Kitty)• Howard McNear (Doc) Special Guests:• Anne Whitfield• Sam Edwards• John...
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Andrew Rines
Limu Emu and Doug.
Matt Dillon
Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their.
Tom Potter
Car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual.
Matt Dillon
Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.
Tom Potter
Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.
Narrator/Announcer
Cut the camera.
Matt Dillon
They see us.
Andrew Rines
Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty.
Tom Potter
Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Savings vary Underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates.
Andrew Rines
Excludes Massachusetts foreign. Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. Now, let's get into this episode.
Tom Potter
Around.
Narrator/Announcer
Dark 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.
Tom Potter
Gun smoke.
Narrator/Announcer
Starring William Conrad. The 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.
Narrator/Announcer
Nothing suits the lively pace of modern life better than Pepsi Cola. Light, bracing, clean tasting. Pepsi. Think young, drink young.
Matt Dillon
Say Pepsi, please.
Narrator/Announcer
And get an extra carton of Pepsi Cola.
Tom Potter
So go ahead and fix a drink that lets you drink young as you think. Yes, get the right one, the modern, light one.
Melinda Miles
Now it's Pepsi.
Tom Potter
For those who think young. Hello, Melinda.
Melinda Miles
You're late.
Tom Potter
Never mind. I'm here, ain't I?
Melinda Miles
Now, Tom, stop.
Tom Potter
Well, don't you love me no more?
Melinda Miles
You're over an hour late. Paul will be back any minute now.
Tom Potter
It's too bad. I left town as soon as I could. I sold at Bay Mare today, Melinda.
Melinda Miles
But I thought you were gonna breed her.
Tom Potter
I was offered too good a price for her.
Narrator/Announcer
Close to $100.
Tom Potter
Got it in my pocket.
Melinda Miles
But you didn't need the money, did you?
Tom Potter
I gotta buy you a ring.
Melinda Miles
Honey, the ring isn't important. We can get one later, when we're settled.
Tom Potter
No, no, you're gonna have a ring right off. You don't want people to think I'm too poor to buy you a ring, now, do you?
Melinda Miles
It isn't that, Tom.
Tom Potter
No, no, you just quit worrying. Everything's gonna be all right. We are gonna get married soon, ain't we?
Melinda Miles
I hope so. Tom, listen. It's Pa. It's him and Roy Taylor.
Tom Potter
You know that Roy Taylor follows him around like a shadow.
Melinda Miles
He's Pa's right hand man, Tom.
Tom Potter
Yeah, I found that out the day Taylor talked your PA into firing me. Where? Look who's come a calling.
Matt Dillon
Linda, what's he doing here?
Melinda Miles
Tom came here to see me, Pa, not you.
Matt Dillon
And I give him credit for that much sense.
Tom Potter
Are you telling me I can't call on Melinda when I want?
Matt Dillon
When I decide that, I'll show you, not tell you.
Melinda Miles
Now stop it, both of you. Pa, if you're gonna act like this every time Tom comes out here, I'll meet him someplace else.
Matt Dillon
Oh, there's no need to fly off the handle. But I gotta wonder about a man who spends all his time courting.
Tom Potter
Look, Mr. Miles, I know what you think of me, but I'm gonna have my own ranch soon. And that's a whole lot better than taking wages from somebody else, if you ask me.
Matt Dillon
Your own ranch? Why, sure, Mr.
Tom Potter
Miles. You're forgetting he owns two, three head of horses. I got six head tailow. And they're as good as any around. Well, they may be the best horses in the whole world, but that don't hardly make no ranch.
Melinda Miles
He's gotta start somewhere, hasn't he?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, he sure does. But I wish he was in Texas doing it. Come on, Taylor, we got work to do.
Tom Potter
Don't you mind him, Tom. You'll make out fine. A hard worker like you.
Melinda Miles
Why you. No, Tom. That's all he wants is for you to start trouble here.
Tom Potter
Me, start trouble?
Melinda Miles
Forget about them. They're just mad cause they know they can't do anything about us.
Tom Potter
No, no, they can't, can they?
Melinda Miles
Come on, I'll make you some coffee.
Tom Potter
All right. Fine. Evening, Chester. Ah, hello, Miss Kitty. Who are you staring at over there? Tom Parker. That Taylor playing clipper with Roy Taylor? You'd think he'd have better sense than that. Why? Taylor goaded him into that game. Taylor's been having a big run of luck.
Melinda Miles
Oh, a run of luck can always.
Tom Potter
Stop with the next hand, Chester. Well, it ain't stopped yet. Like poor old Tom bout to lose his shirt. Tom's a nice boy. He just needs a little more growing up. Melinda Miles seemed willing to wait for him. Oh, yeah, I heard he's been courting. Looks like Tom didn't do so good. He's leaving the table. Hello there, Tom. Huh?
Narrator/Announcer
Oh, hello, Chester.
Tom Potter
Miss Kitty. Have a drink, Tom? No, no thanks. On the house. No, thanks.
Narrator/Announcer
It's getting late.
Tom Potter
I'm gonna turn in. Didn't you do no Good at all, Tom. No, I didn't, Chester. Now, Taylor will go and tell old man Miles and Melinda, too, that I lost all my money.
Narrator/Announcer
I can just hear him.
Tom Potter
Well, you can get back at Roy Taylor the next time. That's right. I ain't worried about it. But right now I'm going to bed. Good night. Good night, Tom. Well, at least he's a good loser. Yeah, but it ain't going to help him with Melindy. And he knows. Happened right in that alley, Ms. Dillon. Stockholm to be there by now.
Matt Dillon
You say Taylor won a lot of money at the Long Branch last night, huh?
Tom Potter
Yes, sir. But he'd give most of it to Bill Fence put in the safe there.
Matt Dillon
Any idea how much he kept on it?
Tom Potter
Well, I was right there, but I didn't watch too close.
Matt Dillon
How about how much?
Tom Potter
A little over $100, I'd say. All right, man, let us through. Step aside. Give over, Alvin.
Narrator/Announcer
Let us through.
Tom Potter
Oh, hello, Matt.
Matt Dillon
What do you think, Doc? Well, there's nothing I can do for him. He's dead now. Go through his pockets. Doc Chester said he had some money on him. He might have been robbed. All right, all right. You ment dead. Nothing you can do, so let's move.
Tom Potter
Well, it's just a doggone shame when a man can't walk down Front street at night without getting himself murdered.
Matt Dillon
Did you find anything, Doc?
Tom Potter
There's no money on him now, Max. Robbed, huh? Murdered and robbed?
Matt Dillon
It looks that way.
Tom Potter
Mr. Dillon, I hate to say this, but you know Tom Potter? Sure.
Matt Dillon
Why?
Tom Potter
Well, sir, he lost his whole stake to Roy Taylor tonight.
Matt Dillon
There were other men in the game. They lost two, didn't they? For sure.
Tom Potter
But there was already bad blood between Tom and Taylor.
Matt Dillon
Oh, Harry Miles daughter, you mean?
Tom Potter
Yes. Oh, Chester, Tom Potter isn't the kind of man to do this. Well, now, it'll come up, Doc. You just wait and see.
Matt Dillon
I'll find Tom and talk to him tomorrow. But right now we better go get a wagon.
Tom Potter
A wagon? You mean you're going to take Taylor.
Matt Dillon
Out to the ranch this time of night? I think Harry Miles would appreciate it, Doc. He and Taylor were pretty good friends.
Tom Potter
Miles ain't gonna take this easy.
Matt Dillon
No.
Tom Potter
I'll go get a wagon. Stone.
Narrator/Announcer
A world of good listening is jam packed into those new CBS Radio Network features heard throughout your listening week on this station, weekdays and weekends. A total of 43 times a week, nuggets of information come to you as an exclusive network service. In your area where you're listening now, the roster includes Such five a week favorites as David Schonbrunn's you, Man in Paris broadcast. Nancy Huntschman's A Woman's Washington, Zachary Scott with Man and Wife. Douglas Edwards sidelights Alan Jackson's information central and personal story in the week to comedian Orson Bean will tell his personal story in his own words. A story of laughs and tears, of hits and misses by the world's greatest living authority on the life of Orson Bean. Tomorrow through Friday, enjoy over this station, Orson Bean's personal story and the rest of the timely, informative CBS Radio Network features now part of each day's listening right here.
Matt Dillon
By heaven, Marshall, I won't stand for this. I'll find the killer sooner or later. Miles. I want him now. We know who he is. There's nothing can be done about it until morning. Well, if I've been in town, some would have been done tonight.
Tom Potter
Maybe we done wrong bringing Roy's body out here.
Matt Dillon
No, I didn't mean that. I appreciate what you done. Roy belongs out here.
Melinda Miles
Coffee's ready.
Tom Potter
My, that sure does smell good.
Matt Dillon
Chester, tell Melinda what you told me.
Tom Potter
Oh, well, now, that don't mean nothing.
Matt Dillon
Go ahead, Chester. She'll hear it anyway.
Melinda Miles
Tell me, Chester.
Tom Potter
Well, my land, it ain't nothing really. I. Well, Tom lost every dollar he had on him tonight playing poker with Roy Taylor.
Matt Dillon
Oh, and then waited for him in the alley and murdered him to get it back. Now, Miles, nobody knows that. I know it and that's enough.
Melinda Miles
Chester.
Tom Potter
Yes, Mom?
Melinda Miles
Were you in the game?
Tom Potter
Well, no, but I kindly watched it.
Melinda Miles
What time did Tom leave the long branch?
Tom Potter
About midnight, I think. He said he was going to bed.
Melinda Miles
And what time was Roy Taylor killed, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
About 1:30. What are you driving at, Melinda?
Melinda Miles
It's an hour's ride from here to Dodge, isn't it?
Matt Dillon
That's right.
Melinda Miles
At one o', clock. Tom Potter and I were standing right out there by the big oak, talking.
Matt Dillon
Now look here, Melinda.
Melinda Miles
It's true, Pa, and I'll swear to it in court.
Matt Dillon
Marshall, I'll be riding into Dodge about noon tomorrow. Don't you believe your own daughter. We'll see. Tom couldn't have a better alibi. But look, Miles, I'll question him first thing in the morning. I'll do my own questioning, Marshal. Behind a six gun? Now, you know better than that, Miles. Roy Taylor was a good friend of mine. Marshall, nobody's gonna shoot him down like that and get by with it. I'll find the man who did it. Well, good. I'll be at your office at Noon. I want to see. Well, what do you think, Tom?
Tom Potter
That's a mighty pretty ring, Mr. Jonas.
Matt Dillon
Just got it in not more than a week ago.
Tom Potter
$100, you say? That's as low as I can go, Tom. All right, I'll take it. Oh, be right with you, Marshall. Well, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
Morning, Tom.
Tom Potter
Want me to put the ring in a box, Tom? No, I'll take it as is. Here's your money. Right.
Matt Dillon
$100.
Tom Potter
Thank you.
Matt Dillon
Hundred dollars.
Tom Potter
Something wrong, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
You went broke last night, didn't you?
Tom Potter
Oh. Oh, yeah, I see. I heard about Roy Taylor.
Matt Dillon
He was robbed of a little over $100, Tom.
Tom Potter
You know where I was, Marshall. Where? Well, now, you probably won't believe me, so you go out and ask Melinda Miles. She'll tell you.
Matt Dillon
All right, Tom, but where did you get this money?
Tom Potter
I sold two of my horses this morning for $110.
Matt Dillon
And who did you sell them to?
Tom Potter
George Rand. But he left town with him an.
Matt Dillon
Hour ago, and he lives 75 miles north of here.
Tom Potter
I sold him over at the stable. Marshal Moss Grimmick was there.
Matt Dillon
Then you wouldn't mind walking over there with me, huh?
Tom Potter
Why should I? Oh, Mr. Jonas, don't say anything about this to anybody, will you? I want it to be a surprise. Why, of course not, Tom. Thanks. Let's go, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Have any luck? I'm afraid not, Chester. I haven't turned up anything.
Tom Potter
And you're eliminating Tom altogether.
Matt Dillon
I had to. Moss Grimmick was there when he sold those horses to George Rand. Tom's in the well.
Tom Potter
I'm kind of glad to hear it. He's a good boy, you know. Old man Miles sure can churn up storm coming in here at noon today, expecting you to have the killer already locked up. You think he meant it when he said he'd kill Tom if you ever come courting Melindy again?
Matt Dillon
I'm afraid he did, Chester. Did you tell Tom about it? Sure I did.
Tom Potter
For all the good it'll do. Oh, my heavens.
Matt Dillon
What is it?
Tom Potter
Speak of the devil. Look down there. He's with Melinda.
Narrator/Announcer
They're coming in here.
Melinda Miles
Hello, Chester.
Tom Potter
Oh, Melinda.
Melinda Miles
Marshall, we've been looking for you.
Matt Dillon
What's the trouble, Melinda?
Tom Potter
Her pa, that's what's the trouble.
Matt Dillon
What's he done?
Melinda Miles
He came home and said he'd shoot Tom on sight if he came around the place again.
Matt Dillon
What are you doing in town?
Tom Potter
She come to find me, Marshall. She's got an idea, and it's a good one, too.
Melinda Miles
Oh, I thought it all out, Marshall. And there's only one way to settle this business.
Matt Dillon
And how's that?
Melinda Miles
Tom's innocent. Pa told me you're convinced of it yourself.
Matt Dillon
Well, I don't think any court would convict him.
Melinda Miles
Then you've got to arrest him and have him tried.
Matt Dillon
What?
Tom Potter
It's the only way, Marshall.
Melinda Miles
He'll be found not guilty, and it'll put Pa to shame and he'll have to leave us alone. You've got to do it, Marshall, right now.
Matt Dillon
You agree with all this, Tom?
Tom Potter
Sure I do.
Narrator/Announcer
Melinda's right.
Tom Potter
It's the only thing that'll work.
Melinda Miles
You'll do it, Marshall, won't you?
Matt Dillon
No. No, I can't do it.
Melinda Miles
But, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
I'm sorry, Melinda, but the law can't be used that way.
Melinda Miles
Then you won't help it.
Matt Dillon
I didn't say that. I've been doing some thinking. Maybe I'll come up with something. But meantime, you get back home. And Tom, you stay away from there. I don't want any more killings.
Tom Potter
Come on, Melinda. I'll take you back to your horse.
Melinda Miles
You give up awful easy, don't you?
Narrator/Announcer
I didn't say I'd given up.
Tom Potter
Come on. Come on.
Matt Dillon
Chester.
Tom Potter
Yes, sir?
Matt Dillon
I'm riding out of town for a couple of days.
Tom Potter
What?
Matt Dillon
Keep an eye on things here, will you?
Tom Potter
Well, yes, sir, but by jing, this sure is a fine time you'd go. Horseback riding is all I can say.
Matt Dillon
I need the exercise.
Narrator/Announcer
Everybody likes good news. Since this is true, wouldn't expanded CBS News broadcasts find greater favor with the vast CBS Radio listening audience if they simply omitted bad news? There's a pretty obvious answer to that one. And it goes like this. Of course not. Expanded CBS News has only one object. To present all the important global news swiftly and without bias. This takes more than just good intentions. It takes thousands upon thousands of miles of complex communications links, hundreds of skilled newsmen. There's that matter of experience, too. The kind of experience only years can create. In a sense, expanded CBS News is a network within a network, a service acting around the clock to meet your need to know, to keep you informed of important events, no matter where they happen. For longer, stronger coverage of world happenings. It's expanded CBS News on CBS Radio. You can depend on it.
Melinda Miles
Chester, is the marshal here?
Tom Potter
No, Melinda, he ain't. We gotta find the marshal.
Narrator/Announcer
Chester.
Tom Potter
What's the matter with you two? What are you riding up front street together for?
Melinda Miles
We decided to run away. I met Tom this afternoon. Your home.
Tom Potter
But her PA saw us, and he's right on our trail.
Melinda Miles
He'll kill Tom. I know he will.
Tom Potter
You're a darn fool, Tom. Mr. Dillon told you to keep away from her. That don't help me now.
Melinda Miles
You've gotta do something, Chester.
Tom Potter
All right, get on inside the office, both of you. I'll lock you up and stand guard. He'll have to go through me first.
Melinda Miles
Oh, thank you. Come on, Tom.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Tom Potter
Now, wait. I don't rightly admire being shot like a rat in a trap.
Narrator/Announcer
Well, I don't see you standing out.
Tom Potter
In the opening facing him.
Melinda Miles
That's unfair.
Tom Potter
Well, I didn't say it was easy, Tom Potter.
Melinda Miles
Now it's too late.
Matt Dillon
You stand right where you are, boy.
Melinda Miles
Pa, please.
Matt Dillon
Linda, I warned you what had happened.
Melinda Miles
You can't.
Tom Potter
Now, wait a minute, Mr. Miles. There ain't gonna be no killing around here.
Matt Dillon
I don't aim to kill him here. I'm gonna take him out on the prairie, give him an even chance with me.
Tom Potter
No, you ain't. I ain't even gonna let you do that.
Matt Dillon
You can't very well stop me, Chester.
Tom Potter
Oh, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
What's going on here?
Narrator/Announcer
Nothing.
Matt Dillon
You're gonna stop Marshall.
Melinda Miles
He's about to kill Tom. Marshall?
Matt Dillon
He's not gonna kill anybody. Come here, Tom. I took a ride up to George Ryan's.
Tom Potter
What?
Matt Dillon
He told me to give you this.
Tom Potter
Why?
Matt Dillon
You wanted to be sure you got your money.
Tom Potter
No, it isn't mine.
Narrator/Announcer
He doesn't owe me a thing.
Matt Dillon
Yes, he does. $110. He said he'd pay you in a coup, remember? Here it is.
Tom Potter
He paid me.
Narrator/Announcer
Blast you.
Matt Dillon
What is all this, Marshall? I remember Moss Grimmick saying he didn't actually see any money changing hands that day.
Tom Potter
Oh, he darned.
Matt Dillon
Melinda. You got word into Tom about the alibi you'd set up for him, didn't you? Well, didn't you?
Melinda Miles
Yes. The cook's helper. I woke him up and made him ride into town with a note before dawn.
Tom Potter
Melinda Miles.
Matt Dillon
I expect it was Tom who shot Roy Tillow after all. I knew it. I knew it all along.
Tom Potter
You know too much, you. No, you don't.
Melinda Miles
Tom, get me.
Matt Dillon
All right, Chester, take him in and lock him up. Yes, sir.
Tom Potter
Come on, Tom.
Matt Dillon
Why? He was gonna shoot me. You can be thankful he didn't. Miles, Melinda's gonna be needing you now more than ever. You're right, Marshall. Thank you. Thank you.
Melinda Miles
Oh, God.
Matt Dillon
Come on, Melinda. This time we went home. Hi, this is Dennis James to make a point about reliable, effective Kellogg's All Brand. Repeat after me, please. What do you want? When you need brand.
Tom Potter
What do you want when you need brand?
Matt Dillon
Reliability.
Tom Potter
Reliability.
Matt Dillon
Now what do you get in Kellogg's All Brand?
Tom Potter
What do you get in Kellogg's All Brand? Reliability, right?
Matt Dillon
You see, Kellogg's All Brand is the reliable brand that millions depend on for the effectiveness they want. It's the real Battle Creek formula that brings you more bran bulk in every serving. More of the vital brand bulk that helps you keep regular. Kellogg's All Brand is also low in calories and mighty pleasant tasting. You can trust Kellogg's for that. The crisp toasted shreds have the kind of good bran muffin flavor that most folks are partial to. So next time you are shopping, get Kellogg's All Brand and you'll get reliability.
Tom Potter
That's what you get in Kellogg's All Brand. Reliability.
Narrator/Announcer
Gun Smoke, produced and directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt D. Marshall. The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston and adapted for radio by Frank Ferris. Featured in the cast were Ann Whitfield, Sam Edwards, John Dana and Vic Parrot. Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story on Gun Smoke.
Matt Dillon
This is the CBS Radio Network.
Tom Potter
Foreign.
Andrew Rines
This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com.
Matt Dillon
Become one.
Andrew Rines
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Tom Potter
Sam.
Podcast: OTRWesterns.com | Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Release Date: October 12, 2025
In this episode of Gunsmoke titled “Melinda Miles,” Marshal Matt Dillon investigates the murder of Roy Taylor amid growing tensions between Tom Potter, a hard-working but struggling young man, and the staunch, protective father of his sweetheart, Melinda Miles. The story revolves around love, jealousy, and the quest for justice in Dodge City, Kansas, ultimately revealing how lies and desperation can lead to tragedy.
“No, no, you’re gonna have a ring right off. You don’t want people to think I’m too poor to buy you a ring, now, do you?” – Tom Potter ([03:54])
“At one o’ clock, Tom Potter and I were standing right out there by the big oak, talking.” – Melinda Miles ([12:32])
“I’m sorry, Melinda, but the law can’t be used that way.” – Matt Dillon ([17:07])
“Melinda, you got word into Tom about the alibi you’d set up for him, didn’t you? Well, didn’t you?” – Matt Dillon ([21:29])
Retaining Gunsmoke’s classic Western blend of taut dialogue, moral ambiguity, and heartfelt drama, the episode delivers an engrossing tale of love, pride, and frontier justice. Key moments are marked by the characters' raw emotion and the dilemmas faced by Dodge's lawmen.
“Melinda Miles” is a tightly plotted Gunsmoke episode that explores the fallout from jealousy and rash decisions. Centered on a doomed romance, an ill-fated gamble, and a manufactured alibi, the narrative highlights both the nobility and flaws of its characters—most notably the youthful desperation of Tom Potter and the unwavering code of Marshal Dillon. The episode underscores the show’s enduring strength: drama rooted in the realities of human weakness and the harsh ethics of the Old West.