Podcast Summary: Gunsmoke — "Snakebite" (08-12-56)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Podcast: Gunsmoke | OTRWesterns.com
Original Air Date: August 12, 1956

Overview

This classic Gunsmoke episode centers on Marshal Matt Dillon as he navigates a case of senseless violence and wrongful accusation in Dodge City. The story weaves together the fates of a lonely old drifter named Pony Thompson, a murdered partner, and the hard lessons of justice on the frontier.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The Incident in Dodge (02:44 – 06:11)

• A peaceful day is disrupted when Walt Gorman shoots a playful puppy in the street.
• Chester, Matt Dillon’s loyal deputy, is shocked:

  “Why, he shot him. Well, what a mean, miserable thing to do. That little pup wasn’t hurting nothing.” — Chester (03:26)

• Marshal Dillon confronts Gorman and his partner Hicks, confiscating their weapons and warning them to leave town by noon the next day.

2. Enter Pony Thompson (07:33 – 09:52)

• The dog’s owner, Pony Thompson, is introduced — a drifter overwhelmed by life indoors, who comes to town only once a year to get drunk.
• Pony, grieving his loss, hints at a desire for retribution but is advised by Dillon to let the law handle the matter.
• Dillon refuses to disclose the shooter’s name, sensing trouble:

  “That wouldn’t help you, Pony.” — Matt Dillon (09:15)

3. Tension at the Saloon (09:52 – 12:42)

• At the Long Branch Saloon, Pony drinks alone, while Kitty and Dillon observe. Walt Gorman and Hicks enter, and Gorman provocatively approaches Kitty.
• Kitty famously calls out Gorman’s cowardice:

  “Tell me something, mister. You have to be awful brave to shoot puppy dogs.” — Kitty (10:52)

• A near-confrontation is defused as Dillon compels Gorman and Hicks to leave.

4. A Murder in the Night (12:53 – 14:52)

• The next morning, Chester discovers Gorman murdered in a stable, his throat cut and Pony Thompson passed out beside him, blood-spattered and with the murder weapon at hand.
• Pony, protesting his innocence and deeply disturbed by the idea of confinement, is arrested:

  “I told you how I am. I just can’t stand this... I’d rather die.” — Pony (14:52)

5. Jailbreak and Manhunt (15:30 – 18:09)

• Pony overpowers Chester and escapes jail, heading for a hideout along the Arkansas river.
• The posse — Dillon, Chester, and the ever-suspicious Hicks — set out in pursuit.
• Hicks, eager to join and pressing for a gun, is rebuffed by Dillon:

  “I want Pony Thompson alive. He’d be no good to me dead.” — Matt Dillon (19:46)

6. A Death in the Wild (18:39 – 21:41)

• At dawn, the group finds Pony dead inside a cave.
• The cause is soon evident — he was killed by a rattlesnake bite, the two telltale puncture wounds visible on his neck.
• Dillon observes:

  “He’d been sitting right down there in front of his cave for about eight hours. Now, he could have hollered for help, but he didn’t... Rather than face jail, he stayed in there and died.” — Matt Dillon (21:20, 21:47)

7. The Truth Unveiled (21:41 – 22:27)

• Hicks’ insistence on how Gorman died (mentioning he was stabbed in the back) raises Dillon's suspicion.
• Chester confirms he never shared that detail with Hicks — only that Gorman’s throat was cut.
• Dillon accuses Hicks of the murder, stating Pony died for nothing:

  “I don’t know why you killed your partner, and I don’t much care. But we’ll find out after we get Pony buried properly. ... And you’ll dig the grave, Hicks, and you’ll dig it deep. The old man deserves that much from you.” — Matt Dillon (22:14, 22:27)

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• Kitty’s Scorn:
  “Tell me something, mister. You have to be awful brave to shoot puppy dogs.” (10:52)
• Pony’s Desolation:
  “I told you how I am. I just can’t stand this... I’d rather die.” (14:52)
• Dillon’s Justice:
  “And you’ll dig the grave, Hicks, and you’ll dig it deep. The old man deserves that much from you.” (22:27)

Important Timestamps

• [02:44] — The puppy is shot, leading to tensions with newcomers Gorman and Hicks
• [07:33] — Introduction of Pony Thompson, the dog’s owner
• [10:52] — Kitty confronts Gorman in the saloon
• [12:53] — Discovery of Gorman’s murder and Pony’s arrest
• [15:30] — Pony’s escape from jail
• [18:39] — The posse hunts for Pony at dawn
• [21:10] — Pony found dead by snakebite
• [22:14] — Hicks' guilt is revealed

Conclusion

This tightly woven episode of Gunsmoke is a meditation on loneliness, the rush to judgment, and the misunderstandings that can lead to tragedy. The story demonstrates Marshal Dillon’s commitment to justice and empathy, and ends with a somber reflection on the cost of a hasty accusation and a wrongful death on the western frontier.