
Original Air Date: February 02, 1952Host: Andrew RhynesShow: Hopalong CassidyPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy)• Andy Clyde (California Carlson) Writer:• Clarence Mulford Producer:• Walter White Jr.
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Hopalong Cassidy
Foreign.
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 remind you to check out our other western podcasts released daily by going to otrwesterns.com or searching OTR Westerns in your podcast app of choice. I also wanted to invite you to check out our other podcast channel releasing non Western shows by going to otnetcast.com or by searching otnetcast in your podcast app of choice. Now let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Hopalone Cassidy Original Air Dates February 2, 1952 and the title is Death Comes Invited. Hope you enjoy.
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Hopalong Cassidy
From the library of radio programs of many years, Heroes of the Old West Live Again and Sagebrush Theater. With action and suspense. Out of the Old west comes the most famous hero of them all. Hop Along, Cassidy. Starring William Boyd and Andy Clyde of California. Well, Hoppy, what about our story? It's one I call Death Comes Invited. And it began one day in Eastern Nevada, near the town of Franklin. California and I were on our way back to the bar 20 with nothing more on our minds than where to stop for the night. Then California decided things were too quiet.
Sherry King
Oh, very mean art on the lone prairie where the coyotes.
Hopalong Cassidy
And they shoot people for singing like that. Oh, now, Hoppy, what's wrong with my boy? Nothing, except it sounds like you gargle with tags. Oh, when I feel so blamed good, I just scuttle it off some steam. Hey, look. That's a bunch of riding mighty hard. A hard looking bunch they are too.
Sherry King
All right.
Hopalong Cassidy
Think it's a horse trader? Why, we're not in that. That's no time to argue. Two of my men are riding double, as you can see. Their horses winded but not killed. You can have him, but we'll take yours quick. Now you have five seconds.
Sherry King
Get off of his shadows.
Hopalong Cassidy
That's better. Vic, you and Cash take these horses. Mister, we'll be coming after our horses even if we have to chase you to Texas. Easy, stranger. Jack Veno's got no grudge against you. And I reckon I understand a man's regard for his horse. We'll send him Jim Franklin a day or so.
Sherry King
Turn thieves watch.
Hopalong Cassidy
No, put it away. Dog gone.
Sherry King
I could have bored one shore before.
Hopalong Cassidy
They rounded that bench. Yeah, and maybe hit one of the horses. I'd rather have Copper back safe and take revenge. Come on. We'll ride that horse double into town. He sure is a tired horse. We won't go fast. That's better than walking. Oh, more company. Hey, hey. The old ger wearing the badge. It's a party.
Sherry King
Well, well. Howdy, gents. I'm Sheriff Callum. You see A bunch of hard cases riding fast and led by a tall chin, wearing two guns low but hard for cross draw.
Hopalong Cassidy
Right ahead of you, Sheriff. You're lying, Ike. We're getting a bump steer.
Sherry King
You notice my eyes? Ain't it for you, Johnny?
Hopalong Cassidy
Mark. Sheriff, I don't know who your deputy is, but I don't like being called a liar by anyone.
Sherry King
Don't blame me for all my dagger written at insult.
Hopalong Cassidy
What are we waiting for? You shut those guns again. Getting to all we're seeing is guns.
Sherry King
Just that easy, Johnny. Fellas reckon you dress up them guns like Johnny asked you to do. Don't want you to get excited when I arrest you for robbery and murder. All right, Johnny. You take these two homies back to town. We just.
Hopalong Cassidy
Sheriff. Can you read, Frank?
Sherry King
Hey, no. You see, it's Sarcastic Shannon. Just doing my duty.
Hopalong Cassidy
Well, before we get hanged by mistake, you better read the sign in front of you. We were held by Veno's gang, forced to change horses. They left this one and Ike. Let me handle them. I'll teach them to keep.
Sherry King
Johnny. Shut up. I'm reading pretty messed up in Chance Richards. Well, bust me give them their guns back.
Hopalong Cassidy
Why, you're out of your mind, Ike that.
Sherry King
You ain't the sheriff just yet, bucko. I say give back their guns. Strangers reckon the sign bears you out.
Hopalong Cassidy
Thanks. You lost your chance to catch that gang.
Sherry King
Maybe, maybe not. Better let the old fell ride. He looks a little feeble to me. All right, let's keep going. People. People. Why you g. Old bull. I can out ride out walk out fight you out shoot you out talk.
Hopalong Cassidy
Him six ways to Sunday. He's gone. You might as well head for Franklin. Oh, Betty, is a worse time getting off of a cold morning than I do that one.
Sherry King
He must be 90 if he's a dead.
Hopalong Cassidy
What will it be, Sar? Both of us. You mean straight Sar? That's right. But don't worry, we can handle it.
Sherry King
What's the matter, Mr. Buckeye giving you trouble?
Hopalong Cassidy
No, no, not me, Sherry. Not me.
Sherry King
I like the way you stand up. Name?
Hopalong Cassidy
Hop along. Cassidy. My partner, California Carlson. I'm. I'm plum pleased to meet you.
Sherry King
What man isn't? I'm Sherry King, born Maggie Bates. If you're the curious type. Hey, you are a good looking one, aren't you Cassidy?
Hopalong Cassidy
I think we better get our rooms at the hotel.
Sherry King
I'll do it.
Hopalong Cassidy
Huffy. No huge folk at now wait. Kind of. What now?
Sherry King
Now we'll be better off alone. Come on, let's try a Table, See? You can tell me how you'd like to take me out of all this. I won't even ask for a drink.
Hopalong Cassidy
Well, maybe you can tell me who Jack Venno is and what happened here this afternoon.
Sherry King
Veno, he's a gunfighter who brought a gang into this county a few months ago. Been raising Cain. Robbed the bank today and one of the tellers got in his way.
Hopalong Cassidy
The teller, is he.
Sherry King
They'll bury him tomorrow. But let's not talk about Veno.
Hopalong Cassidy
Funny, with Sheriff Cullum here, I'd think this would be the last place a bandit gang would start operating.
Sherry King
Cullum's getting old. Even Johnny admits it. That's Johnny Mark. A beau of mine. He's Cullum's deputy.
Hopalong Cassidy
I've met him.
Sherry King
Wish Cullum would catch Veno and get it over with. Every week or so a stage gets held up or a payroll stolen. Then for days column has Johnny out riding on those darn posses. Why? I don't know. They never find Venno and his men.
Hopalong Cassidy
Well, that's on your way, cowpoke. Jerry, I want to talk with you.
Sherry King
Paul Washington, my friend, Mr. Cassidy.
Hopalong Cassidy
Didn't you hear me? I said on your way. Yeah, I heard you. But I feel kind of lazy, so maybe a bullet between your feet will. Will what? Get it out, Washington. What's your beef? Maybe I made a mistake.
Sherry King
You sure did. When you reached for a gun, he beat you a mile. Paul.
Hopalong Cassidy
Shut up.
Sherry King
Why you.
Hopalong Cassidy
No, Sherry, don't hit him.
Sherry King
No man tells me to shut up.
Hopalong Cassidy
Uh huh. Yeah. Well, so long, Ms. Sherry. Nice to have met you.
Sherry King
Come again, cassidy. Buckeye. Yeah, Ms. Sherman. We're like dumb out back. Buckeye. You think I scared him off, Cassidy? No.
Hopalong Cassidy
He didn't look like the scaring type to me.
Sherry King
Yeah, I bet he hasn't got much money. The nice ones never do, do they?
Hopalong Cassidy
Hi, Sheriff. I saw you come back. Any luck?
Sherry King
There is Specs Jameson's critter sharp in a hole and pull it in after him, huh, Johnny?
Hopalong Cassidy
Yeah. Three stage holdups, two payrolls stolen. Now the bank. Town's getting awful riled up, Ike.
Sherry King
Thanks for telling me. They put up with me, Sheriff, for 20 years. Reckon I'll do for a bit longer. I'll fix Renault's wagon as soon as I figure out who's in coots with his gang cahoots. Somebody here in town tips his gang to payroll shipments and what stages to rob has to be. Ain't nobody lucky enough to be right every time.
Hopalong Cassidy
Who's in charge of the stage office in Wells Fargo.
Sherry King
Yeah, a man the name of Paul Washington. Oh, he's tough. But I reckon he wouldn't throw in with no outlaws against his own company.
Hopalong Cassidy
That wouldn't seem likely. Unless he needed money bad.
Sherry King
You don't? Could use rid of myself. What if the town getting itchy to kick me out of office?
Hopalong Cassidy
Well, if my partner and I can help call it.
Sherry King
Yeah, thanks. Let me know when and if those horses yours are returned. Maybe we can backtrack.
Hopalong Cassidy
I will.
Sherry King
Good. Johnny, my legs stiffen it again. Rub it out for me, will you, son?
Hopalong Cassidy
Now, that track seemed to come from up there. Sheriff, whoever brought our horses back last night came from those rocks.
Sherry King
Reckon so. That's the same country the gang hides in. Yeah. This could be a little dangerous now. Let's scatter out as we head up. No point in asking for an ambush.
Hopalong Cassidy
That don't sound so bad to me. Wonder if I should.
Sherry King
Oh, get it going hot. Get it going. Poppy. Hoppy here, California.
Hopalong Cassidy
Over where Johnny Mark is. Let's go a foot. Where's that old scatterway, Callum? He fall behind? He was on the other side of.
Sherry King
Mark Mark up on the ridge, rifleman. He got the sheriff and the leg.
Hopalong Cassidy
Keep that ambusher busy. We'll get around back of him. This way, California. Come on. We knocked your f. It's not far around that big rock. I hope there's only one man there. Careful now. Don't hear no shot. Maybe he's out of cartridges then.
Sherry King
Maybe he ain't.
Hopalong Cassidy
There he is.
Sherry King
Please, mister.
Hopalong Cassidy
Get his gun, California, and signal Mark to stop firing. We've got him. Oh, that's the hombre you plugged, Ike, huh? Yeah, but he's not saying anything. Well, maybe you didn't ask him right. You. What's your name?
Sherry King
Smith.
Hopalong Cassidy
What's yours? What's your real name?
Sherry King
Oh, yacht.
Hopalong Cassidy
That's all of that. Stay away from him, Mark. Come on, California. Let's get that prisoner on a horse. All right, son, wake up.
Sherry King
Oh, get him on his feet.
Hopalong Cassidy
He can stand some more. I don't see how. He's dead.
Sherry King
Oh, dead. Blasted, dead. Blasted clumsy docs anyhow.
Hopalong Cassidy
You want a bullet to chomp on old par?
Sherry King
No, I don't want no dad. Blasted bullet to chomp on the I.
Hopalong Cassidy
About what happened to that prisoner, Smith.
Sherry King
Ah, we'll talk about it later, Johnny. Reckon as it was an accident. But you've been warned plenty about getting robbed.
Hopalong Cassidy
Sure, I. Sure. But I was mad about him shooting you.
Sherry King
Town needs a sheriff now with me laid Up. That means you. If Veno ain't stop soon, we ain't neither one going to have jobs.
Hopalong Cassidy
Sheriff, have you ever thought of trying to trap Benoit?
Sherry King
How do you mean?
Hopalong Cassidy
Casty sending out a fake payroll for bait. You could have your pasta ready and trail on the stage if Beno hits it.
Sherry King
Sounds like ouch. Gamble. Try it, Mark.
Hopalong Cassidy
All right, Ike. I'll check with Washington tomorrow.
Sherry King
Sooner than ouch. Oh, Mark, before you go, give me a bullet, will you? And shoot that old goat if he cracks a smile.
Hopalong Cassidy
I say Mark's got only one asset. It's his big feet. You can always hear him coming. It'll be years before he gets promoted. Well, you're a big man now. Hey, wasten. Hey, where'd you get the bump?
Sherry King
Tell him, Paul. Guess he's modest. Sit down, Johnny. You too, Cassidy. There's one thing I like. It's lots of men around.
Hopalong Cassidy
I. We're after Washington. Me? Now, look, I was just buying her a drink on business. Oh. Let's go to my office. See you later. Sherry. Think over what I said. You can have everything you want. You're wasting your breath, Washington. I'm what she wants. How are you? Time's coming when you're due for a surprise, Johnny Mark. A big surprise. Hi, California. How's it coming? Just finishing toppers rub down. He sure's a great hog. You betcha. The trap all set? Yeah, for tomorrow night. Hope it works. There, that does it. You know, it's a shame everyone don't take care of his horse. See that bay over there? Been rid hard, but didn't get a rub down. No. Some riders are thoughtless horses. One of Johnny Mark's fame. But he was with us today on our own. Then someone else was riding one of his horses. I wonder. Maybe the hombre didn't want anyone to know he was out, so he rode that way instead of his own. We good company. What then? All stand quiet and let the grub hook. I'd assume, boy, you was not. I thought I was doing you a favor. When I sent back those horses. I didn't figure on you crossing me. Fire back, throwing them. That's right. I reckon we didn't have no agreement. There was still a mighty unfriendly return. All right. Forget that for now, though. I've come for Smitty. He in jail? Smitty? Oh, Smith. I'm afraid he's through with you, Veno, permanently. He's cashed. Oh, no, not Smitty. The ambush.
Sherry King
This.
Hopalong Cassidy
When we caught him, he had Kind of an accident. And hit his head on a rock that killed him. Smitty tripped, he fell off his hulks. Well, not exactly. Who did it then? Who's responsible for Smitty's death?
Sherry King
Not us, that's for sure. Then who?
Hopalong Cassidy
Tell me. It's not our place to tell you, Veno. Sorry. What if I threaten to kill you? I see. You got nerve, I'll grant you that. But I'll find out who did them. When I do, Smitty's gonna have. My guess is that Veno won't be satisfied to let Smith's death go unpunished.
Sherry King
Kind of looks that way with Johnny.
Hopalong Cassidy
Mark in a bad spot. If Veno learns the truth. Well, the stage with the fake payroll is about to leave. I better join the posse.
Sherry King
Sure, sure. Go. And good luck. If Veno's brings you to the rocky country, you'll never catch him.
Hopalong Cassidy
Seems queer how easy they duck the posse.
Sherry King
Second sight, that's what Venmo's got.
Hopalong Cassidy
Horse and ride with your posses.
Sherry King
Sure, sure, he's handy with a gun. J. You got a hunch about him, haven't you?
Hopalong Cassidy
Perhaps. I think I know how part of this thing fits together. After I search some saddlebags, I may have the rest of. They just left, Johnny. Everything all set? Aren't you coming with us, Washington? No, I think I better stay with a payroll. Want some guards? That's not necessary. I got a shotgun. Okay, let's go.
Sherry King
But take it easy.
Hopalong Cassidy
Be a big thunder in your camp if we can pull this off once, huh? Hey, I guess so. I got a feeling this thing ain't right. I wish Ike was along. Appears to me that Washington was mighty willing to be along with that payroll. Yeah. You two getting the same hunch? I am, very possibly. A few minutes ago, while I was at Liver stable I found out that it was Washington who took your bay yesterday. What? Well, that settles it. We'll set a trap for Veno all right. Around Washington's office. Slim Pat's a word. Shoot to kill. Poppy, you think we guessed right? Maybe we we guessed right. There comes the proof of it. Horses and riders.
Sherry King
It's him.
Hopalong Cassidy
It's Feno. They're sure acting at home, not even hurrying. Why should they? They had an invitation.
Sherry King
Veno, you're surrounded. Give up or die. That's the way out there.
Hopalong Cassidy
What a haul. How to make you the sheriff for this, Johnny? Not one of them outlaws escape. Five of them are done for, Johnny. Hoppies get washing inside the shack. Ben was over there cashing In. He's not dead. Well, he ought to be. But he's dead. Dying hard. Quick, give me a hand. We'll take him inside. You men take those prisoners to the jail. I'll join you there later. At least Washington left to get hung. Yeah.
Sherry King
Put him down here.
Hopalong Cassidy
Mark. Mark. What's the meaning of this? I'm no criminal. Be quiet then I'll talk. Johnny. No. I guess you'll never regain consciousness. Too bad. Well, maybe Washington will talk. He saw who shot Cullum. He saw. You mean he shot. He's Venno's partner. No, only an accessory after the fact. And Cullum's getting shot. You withheld information. That's what he was surprised with to be Johnny. He was gonna blackmail you to get the girl. Sherry. You're nuts. We got proof tonight that he tipped Veno to where the real payroll was. No, you did that. You double crossed him deliberately. You shot the sheriff. You were venom with the guns and stand with washed and faces to the wall. Don't be stupid, Johnny. You can't kill us all. We'll see about that. The curtains are down now. When I lock this door, it'll just be the four of us in private. Great popeyed rattlesnakes, I think you mean. Yeah, but first I want to know a few things. I gotta know if I made any mistakes someone else might catch. You made your biggest when you invited Veno to come here. He served his purpose. I got half the loot from his jobs. He discredited the sheriff. And now I'll be made sheriff and get the reward for the capture of Venno's gang. You should have gotten rid of that mirror in your saddlebags, Johnny. It gave you away. How? Simple. You used it as a heliograph to let Venno know the posse's position. When you began searching the rocky section with no trail to follow, the posse was hunting blind. All Veno had to do was keep circling around you. Pretty smart.
Sherry King
Go on.
Hopalong Cassidy
What tipped you to me? The way you tried to shut up that outlaw Smith. I didn't mean to kill him, just knock him out to keep him quiet. He was the only one besides Veno that knew I was Venno's partner. I'd have let him escape later. Oh, sure, and tonight you'd have killed him with Veno. When you called on them to surrender, you knew they'd fight. I did. Leno and Smith had to die. It was a necessity, Callum. No, Smith didn't shoot him, Johnny. The wound in his leg is horizontal. Smith was above him. He shot Cullum. The wound would have been slanted downward. I could have killed Ike, but I didn't. No credit to you. You knew if Cullum was killed, he'd have been a martyr to the town. And you'd have been a kid trying to fill a man's boots. This way. This way. I did what I failed to do. The town thinks I'm a hero. They'll elect me sheriff before tomorrow. That's enough. Got anything funny to say before I finish you3 off? Yeah. You heard the one about the man who was hanged for murder? You kill me, Cassidy. Now I'll do the same for you. Can you hear me? Thanks for getting Johnny. He killed Smitty dirty. What was Smitty to you? My, my sister's Keith. Promised her I'd look after it. Veno. He's gone California. He was the stubbornness dumbry I ever saw. Lucky for us. Yeah, he was a killer. But there was good in him. Well, we'll send someone back to take care of him. Come on, Washington. You're going to jail. Funny. Johnny's invite to Veno brought death to both of them. Uh huh. Vienna crook is mighty unhealthy work. Ain't that the truth. You know, I'm so happy I'm honest I, I, I could sing. Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you there Sheriff. Tell him up on crutches. He'd run you in for disturbing the beast. Maybe he's get more veneer from music than you got, Hop. That's what I mean A just listen anyway. You know something? I've been practicing. Yeah.
Sherry King
Oh, bury me not. Hey you Carson. Come here. Oh, I warned you California. Hey, just what's the big idea you old grizzly? No, no, no, no Sheriff, I didn't mean to disturb. That is we're just leaving. Why didn't you tell me you could sing? I, I ain't had no one to harmonize with in years. Try a course of the Old Mill Stream with me, huh? Well, I'll be delighted.
Hopalong Cassidy
But we best get away from hobby. He ain't get no appreciation of fine singing. One, two.
Sherry King
Strong.
Hopalong Cassidy
Listen again next week at this time when Sagebrush Theater will bring you another story of the old west recorded from the library of radio programs of many years ago. This is the United States Armed forces radio service.
Sherry King
Ram Sam it foreign.
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 you 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.
Sherry King
SA.
Podcast Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Release: August 21, 2025
This episode of Hopalong Cassidy, titled Death Comes Invited, is a classic Old West whodunit with a twist of betrayal, misinformation, and a tense showdown. Hopalong Cassidy and his loyal sidekick, California Carlson, ride into the town of Franklin in Eastern Nevada only to be swept into a string of crimes involving a notorious outlaw gang, a struggling lawman, and a town simmering with suspicion. Through clever deduction and gritty action, Cassidy uncovers a conspiracy at the heart of the turmoil, proving that in the Wild West, danger often arrives with a smiling face.
[04:52–07:00]
Hoppy (Hopalong Cassidy) and California find their quiet ride interrupted by a gang led by Jack Veno, who forcibly take their horses after a tense standoff.
Cassidy and California double up on a tired horse and head into town.
They encounter Sheriff Callum and his posse searching for the gang.
[07:08–12:08]
At the saloon, Hoppy and California interact with key townsfolk:
Sherry explains Veno’s recent crimes and hints at the sheriff’s diminished authority.
[12:08–16:00]
Sheriff Callum suspects inside help for the gang, tipping them off about shipments and payrolls.
Hoppy investigates local leads, especially Paul Washington, though the sheriff vouches for him.
Sheriff is wounded in a shootout with an ambusher. The captured suspect, “Smith,” dies mysteriously in custody.
[16:03–20:41]
[20:41–24:49]
The fake payroll draws out Veno’s gang. The lawmen ambush them, leading to a violent confrontation.
Veno is dying, and Washington is badly injured.
It's revealed Johnny Mark was the inside man, orchestrating Veno’s scheme and aiming for control of the sheriff’s office.
Johnny outlines his plan: exploit Veno to ruin the sheriff, then claim the reward and become sheriff himself.
Cassidy exposes Johnny’s use of a heliograph mirror hidden in his saddlebags to tip Veno.
Johnny attempts to kill all witnesses, but is stopped in a dramatic intervention.
[24:49–26:44]
Veno dies, revealing a human side: his motivation was a promise to his sister.
Hoppy and California reflect on the dangers of greed and duplicity in the West.
Sheriff Callum, recovering, shares comic relief by encouraging California’s terrible singing.
Sheriff Callum (to California, about his singing):
"Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie..."
(randomly, as comic relief at multiple points)
Hopalong Cassidy (on betrayal):
"Being a crook's mighty unhealthy work."
(26:28)
Final reflection:
"Funny. Johnny's invite to Veno brought death to both of them."
(26:23)
The original episode maintains a brisk, witty Western tone, mixing suspense with banter and comic relief. The interplay between the gruff Sheriff Callum, straight-shooting Cassidy, and colorful side characters like Sherry and California keep the storytelling lively and character-driven.
"Death Comes Invited" is a classic example of Hopalong Cassidy’s canny mix of action, suspense, and character—themes of loyalty, deception, and justice woven through gallows humor and gun-smoke. With restored audio delivering the crackle of gunfire and barroom banter, this episode is an engrossing return to radio’s golden age and a sterling showcase for the ever-vigilant Hoppy.