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Andrew Hines (Podcast Host)
Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Hines and let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke Original air dates November 21, 1952 and the title is Fingered. Hope you enjoy and again, thanks for listening.
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Gunsmoke Narrator
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Gunsmoke Narrator
And now gun smoke. Starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America. The story of a man who moved with it.
Matt Dillon
Matt Dillon, United States Marshall.
Chester
The cook sure must have had a bad night, Mr. Dillon.
Jim Cobbit
Well, how do you figure that Chester?
Chester
Well sir, I never saw so much chili pepper on a couple of poor eggs. You must figure everybody's got a hangover this morning.
Jim Cobbit
Almost everybody usually has of a Sunday around here.
Chester
Well now I clean up, forgot all about it being Sunday. So that's why Jim Cobbit's all dressed up. Over there, huh? First time I've ever seen him with his hair combed.
Jim Cobbit
Why, haven't you heard about Jim, Chester? He's going to get married. He's got his wife to be coming in on the train from back east today.
Chester
Jim Cobbit?
Jim Cobbit
Yeah.
Chester
Now, what sort of a woman would that be, Mr. Dillon? Who'd come clear to Dodge City to marry a fellow like Jim?
Jim Cobbit
Nah, Jim's a good man, Chester. It's just that, well, living out on that homestead of his year after year has made him grow a little off center. So loneliness will do that to a man sometimes.
Hank Lewes
Morning, Marshall Chester.
Chester
Morning, Hank.
Hank Lewes
Well, what do you think of that old go Jim Cobb at getting himself hitched?
Jim Cobbit
It's a fine thing, I'd say.
Chester
Well, Jim's no older than you are, Hank Lews.
Hank Lewes
No older. Maybe a lot less respectable.
Jim Cobbit
Now you're talking your usual nonsense, Hank.
Hank Lewes
Am I, Marshal? What about Jim's first wife who disappeared off of that place he had up north on Hackberry Creek? Just plain disappeared, she did. Jim never explained that. And nobody ever saw her again either.
Chester
Oh, you're worse than old woman with your gossip, Hank.
Jim Cobbit
Jim's never done anything to you, Hank. Nothing.
Hank Lewes
Except stake his homestead on the only spring south of the Smokey that didn't dry up. Cheated me out of it, that's what.
Jim Cobbit
He filed his claim two weeks before you did, Hank, and everybody knows it.
Hank Lewes
Sneaked into town, that's what he did. Sneaked into town behind my back.
Matt Dillon
Still telling your lies, ain't you, Hank?
Jim Cobbit
Lose?
Hank Lewes
No. Now you keep away from me, Jim.
Plymouth Car Advertiser
Keep. Keep away.
Matt Dillon
I've never bothered you, Hank, but I hear you talking around Lila when she gets here. I'll hurt you. I'll hurt you bad. Well, this is.
Hank Lewes
You want to hide from her, Jim? Maybe that business about your first wife.
Jim Cobbit
All right. Don't touch that gun, Hank.
Plymouth Car Advertiser
Not a move.
Hank Lewes
You arrested Marshall. You saw it.
Matt Dillon
Get up.
Hank Lewes
Put him in jail.
Plymouth Car Advertiser
Now.
Hank Lewes
I. I didn't touch him.
Lila Cobbit
Shut up.
Jim Cobbit
Now, you're just lucky you weren't killed. Now you get out of here and stay away from Jim. It's his wedding day. And if I find you bothering him again, I'll throw you in jail.
Plymouth Car Advertiser
Now go on, move.
Hank Lewes
Fine law we got around here, man.
Chester
Nothing happens.
Matt Dillon
Sorry to make trouble, Marshall, but I won't hold for his. Making that talk around Lila.
Jim Cobbit
Oh, forget it, Jim. Just keep clear of him for a while. What time's the wedding?
Matt Dillon
About 3 o'. Clock. least that's when the preacher said he'd come Down.
Chester
It'll be at the church, won't it, Jim?
Matt Dillon
Well, no. The preacher thought maybe it'd be better to do it somewhere else. It's because of.
Jim Cobbit
Yeah, yeah, sure, Jim. You know, Dodge City house would be a fine place, wouldn't it?
Matt Dillon
That's just what I'd plan, Marshall. I brought a jug of corn in with me in case anyone came around. Maybe, Jim.
Jim Cobbit
I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'm gonna be there for sure.
Chester
Yeah, me too, Jim. I certainly do enjoy wedding. I never got married myself, but I sure do like to watch.
Jim Cobbit
See you later, Jim.
Matt Dillon
Sure, Marshall, we'll be there.
Chester
Jim. By.
Jim Cobbit
Jim's bride, Lila turned out to be a handsome, high strung woman with nervous black eyes and a manner that bespoke a gentle breeding and background. I watched her and I wondered how she'd ever make out in this crude, raw country she'd chosen to come to. It was never mentioned how she and Jim had got together, but the few friends who gathered for the wedding didn't care. We were all pleased that Jim finally had a wife to break the loneliness that he'd set upon himself for so long. And after the brief ceremony at the Dodge City house, we told him so.
Chester
Well, it's about time, Jim. If you don't mind my saying so, ma', am, you should have filed on him long ago.
Lila Cobbit
Why, yes, I. I mean, of course.
Matt Dillon
Open the jug on the table there.
Jim Cobbit
Sigh.
Plymouth Car Advertiser
It's good corn.
Chester
Thank you, Jim. My throat is. You might dust it. Help yourselves to the liquor, boys.
Lila Cobbit
Thank you.
Jim Cobbit
Well, Congratulations, Jim and Ms. Cobbett. My best wishes to you, ma'.
Matt Dillon
Am.
Lila Cobbit
Thank you, Marshall Dillon.
Jim Cobbit
Now, you make Jim bring you to town and see us once in a while. He never came in much when he was alone out there.
Lila Cobbit
Oh, I'm sure he will, Marshall.
Chester
I sure hope so, ma'.
Plymouth Car Advertiser
Am.
Matt Dillon
Help yourself to the jug there, Chester.
Chester
Well, thank you, Jim. If I can get it away from s long enough, I.
Jim Cobbit
Will you stay in here tonight, Jim?
Matt Dillon
Well, no, Marshall. I brought the wagon on account of Lila here and it's slow way of traveling. Take a day and a half at best.
Lila Cobbit
But where will we sleep tonight, Jim?
Matt Dillon
Oh, I've got some blankets, lighter. We'll be fine.
Lila Cobbit
You mean out on the prairie?
Chester
Sure.
Matt Dillon
We'll bed down in the wagon if you're afraid of snakes.
Jim Cobbit
Oh, snakes can't get to you if you're in the wagon, man.
Lila Cobbit
But. But what about everything else? Indians?
Matt Dillon
No Injuns have been seen around here for months, I know.
Plymouth Car Advertiser
Oh, no, you're wrong, Jim.
Chester
A man from Walnut Creek told me he run into some Pawnees couple weeks ago. Only about a dozen though.
Lila Cobbit
Pawnee?
Jim Cobbit
Well, they didn't bother him, did they, sir?
Matt Dillon
No, no they didn't.
Chester
Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Yeah. See Lila?
Chester
Well, they didn't bother him cause he saw him first. He hid himself under a bank in the Cricket.
Lila Cobbit
Are there many Indians around?
Jim Cobbit
Oh, no, very few.
Chester
The army's been after him pretty steady ever since them crows raided the Gillette place. The engine's been making themselves scarce last few months.
Lila Cobbit
What happened at the Gillette place?
Matt Dillon
They had a little trouble, that's all.
Chester
Little trouble to kill Bob and rode off of Mrs. Gillette and the child, that's all.
Lila Cobbit
Oh no.
Jim Cobbit
Sigh. Why don't you go get yourself another drink, huh?
Plymouth Car Advertiser
Yeah.
Chester
Well, I was just thinking about doing that. Well, I suppose it'll be easier than Mrs. Gillette once she learns to talk crow. But still it's a hard life on a white woman suddenly being made a squall.
Jim Cobbit
The jug's almost empty. Si. You better hurry, huh?
Plymouth Car Advertiser
By golly.
Chester
Hey fellers, I got another swallow coming.
Matt Dillon
Liquor's worker don't say they don't pay.
Lila Cobbit
No, Jim. Is it true what he said about that poem?
Matt Dillon
Now Lila, don't you fret about that.
Lila Cobbit
Is it true? I want to know. Jim.
Matt Dillon
Yes, Jim?
Jim Cobbit
If you stayed in Dodge City tonight, well, you could start out before dawn tomorrow.
Lila Cobbit
No, Marshall. Jim thinks it's best we leave tonight.
Matt Dillon
There's nothing to fear, Lila. But if you'd rather stay, we can.
Lila Cobbit
No, we'll go, Jim. If you'll excuse me, I'll go change into something more suitable. Goodbye, Marshall.
Jim Cobbit
Goodbye, ma'.
Lila Cobbit
Am.
Jim Cobbit
We'll see you in Dodge City real soon, I hope.
Lila Cobbit
Of course I'll be down shortly, Jo.
Jim Cobbit
Maybe it was best that way for Lila to face out her first night on the prairie not far from Dodge. Nothing would bother him that close to town and it'd make it easier for her. On the next night and they left. And that's all we heard about them for a month or so. Dodge City was fairly quiet except for one week when a Texas herd arrived. Two boys were killed the next night and another a few days after. But then things cooled off and became peaceable again.
Chester
Thank lose is in town, Mr. Dillon.
Jim Cobbit
Oh no, Chester. Well, there ought to be a law against it, that's all.
Chester
He said he was coming here to see you in few minutes.
Jim Cobbit
Look, you talk to him, Chester. I think I'll go upstairs and pick on the doc for a while.
Chester
Oh, he doesn't want to see me, Mr. Dylan. I'll send him up when he comes.
Jim Cobbit
Chester, no.
Chester
Yes, sir. But he'll ask me where you are, sir. Now, what am I going to tell
Hank Lewes
him if I want to talk to you?
Jim Cobbit
All right, Hank, go ahead, talk.
Hank Lewes
You think I was lying about Jim Cobbard, don't you? Well, listen to this, Marshall. Lila's disappeared too.
Matt Dillon
What?
Hank Lewes
I saw it with my own eyes. I mean, I saw. She isn't there.
Jim Cobbit
What are you talking about, Hank?
Hank Lewes
I'm telling you, Marshall, Lila's gone. Just like Jim's first wife up on Hackberry Creek. She's plain disappeared.
Matt Dillon
Well, go on.
Hank Lewes
Well, I got a runty bay mare that's always running off and I rode by Jim's place to see if he'd seen her. Jim was just sitting there and he hardly pay me any mind at all. He was all alone. And when I asked him about Lila, he. He just walked off, wouldn't say a word.
Chester
Well, maybe she was just out on the prairie somewhere.
Hank Lewes
Then she stayed a long time. I was back next day and still didn't see her. Stock's gone too.
Jim Cobbit
When was this, Hank? About a week ago.
Hank Lewes
Now, Marshall, I think you ought to get out.
Jim Cobbit
I do my own thinking, Hank.
Hank Lewes
Well, all right, but you better get out there, Marshall. I've told you now.
Jim Cobbit
You told me and you can forget it. Just stay away from the Cobbard place, you understand?
Hank Lewes
All right, Marshall. I've done my duty, you better do yours.
Jim Cobbit
Goodbye, Hank.
Matt Dillon
Well, I. Goodbye.
Chester
What are you gonna do, Mr. Dillon?
Jim Cobbit
Only thing we can do, Chester. Go saddle our horses, will you? I got some things to clean up around here.
Chester
Yes, Mr. D.
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Gunsmoke Narrator
Now the second act of Gunsmoke.
Chester
Sure looks quiet around here, Mr. Dylan.
Plymouth Car Advertiser
Yeah,
Jim Cobbit
Yeah, come on. They're probably inside.
Chester
You think Lyle is here, don't you, sir?
Jim Cobbit
I will soon find out. Chester. Hello, jim.
Matt Dillon
Hello, marshall. Chester.
Chester
Hello, jim.
Matt Dillon
Come in.
Jim Cobbit
How have you been, Jim?
Matt Dillon
Hank Lewes told you, didn't he, Marshall?
Jim Cobbit
Where is she, Jim?
Matt Dillon
Hank Lou said I killed her, didn't he, Marshall?
Jim Cobbit
Now, Jim, you know I don't pay any attention to what Hank Lou says.
Matt Dillon
Then why'd you come here, Marshall?
Jim Cobbit
To help you. You're in trouble.
Matt Dillon
Lila isn't here. I'm in trouble all right.
Jim Cobbit
Well, what happened, Jim? Where is she? I don't know. What?
Matt Dillon
Well, Injuns. Party of crows. They took her. They took her?
Chester
Indians. My goodness.
Jim Cobbit
You mean you were raided here?
Matt Dillon
Maybe 10 days ago. A war party about 12 crows.
Jim Cobbit
Well, what happened?
Matt Dillon
Little Isla was out there by the spring. It was just getting dark. I was setting on the floor right there. Men in the saddle I'd torn the stirrup off of when I heard her come running up the path out back. Own sweat, yelling
Plymouth Car Advertiser
hello.
Chester
What is.
Lila Cobbit
Oh, I saw something up there. Oh, Jim. Jim, he was an Indian.
Jim Cobbit
Come inside.
Matt Dillon
Get on the floor in the corner there. How many? How many did you see?
Lila Cobbit
Oh, just him. I saw his skin behind that little rise. Oh, dam, don't let him get me now.
Matt Dillon
I don't see a thing out of this one. Look over here. Nothing. Must have heard you yell.
Lila Cobbit
Oh, Jim, what do we do?
Matt Dillon
Stand them off, that's all.
Chester
Wait a minute.
Matt Dillon
There's one.
Lila Cobbit
Oh, no.
Matt Dillon
Getting hard to see, Jim.
Lila Cobbit
The other side. They'll sneak up on the other side.
Matt Dillon
Be one behind that log out there. Oh, no, but we just wait.
Jim Cobbit
You get bolder in the dark.
Matt Dillon
I can pick him off easy.
Lila Cobbit
Oh, Jim, Jim, they'll carry me off like they did that other woman. I can't stand it, Jim.
Plymouth Car Advertiser
Here, take that six year old.
Lila Cobbit
Yes, yes, I will, I will.
Matt Dillon
You won't take you while I'm alive, I promise you that. Lila. Wait a minute. They're down at the corral. They're after horses. That'll show them. There he goes. There was one behind that log.
Lila Cobbit
Oh, dear, my God, Dan.
Matt Dillon
Sneaking up on us. We'll just wait. Let them get in the open. Wait a little more. Then when they jump and run on us, I. Well, go on, Jim.
Jim Cobbit
What happened then?
Chester
Yeah, what'd they do when they rushed you?
Matt Dillon
Well, one of them must have got in the window behind me when Ryla screamed, I was knocked out, and when I come to, the engines was gone. Ryla was gone, too.
Chester
Were you shot, Jim, or what? No.
Matt Dillon
Injun must have got behind me somehow and clubbed me, that's all.
Jim Cobbit
Did you try to follow him?
Matt Dillon
How could I, Marshall? They run off the horses, stole them.
Jim Cobbit
I see.
Matt Dillon
Anyway, I was out a long time. It wasn't a sign of anybody. Want to come to?
Jim Cobbit
Well, they could be in the Rocky Mountains by now. We'd never find them. I'll report this to Colonel Jenkins of Fort Dodge and he can spread the word through the army post.
Matt Dillon
Thanks, Marshall.
Jim Cobbit
I. I'm sorry, Jim, but I guess that's all I can do for you.
Matt Dillon
Sure, Marshall.
Jim Cobbit
Come on, Chester. Let's take a look around outside and then get back to Dodge City. Yes, sir.
Chester
So long, Jim. I Sure, I am sorry it happened for long. Jim's pretty broke up, Mr. Dillon. Yeah, that's terrible. Her a squaw now?
Jim Cobbit
Yeah.
Chester
My, aren't those pretty, Mr. Dillon. What is that bunch of columbine there growing right in a row? I think I'll just put one in my hat.
Jim Cobbit
No, wait a minute, Chester. I wouldn't pick them, Chester. They're too pretty to pick, huh?
Chester
Well, all right, sir. Jim Stock is gone. All right. You know, Mr. Dillon, Jim Cobb ain't the luckiest man in the world, is he?
Jim Cobbit
No, he sure isn't, Chester. Come on, let's get out of here. It was the day after we got back to Dodge City that the trouble started, as I expected it would. Chester spread the story about the Indians kidnapping Lilac, and it wasn't long before some of the men began to question it. A group of them, headed of course, by Hank Lewes, came to see me.
Hank Lewes
Marshall, we want to know when you're
Gunsmoke Narrator
going to arrest him.
Jim Cobbit
Hank, it'd be better if you'd let somebody else do the talking. Your record against Jim Cobbett's pretty strong.
Hank Lewes
Marshall's right, Hank. You always did talk too much. Anyway, I want justice done, that's all. And I mean to get it. Oh, shut up, Hank.
Jim Cobbit
Marshall, Hanks sort of talked us into thinking you don't need to do anything about Jim Covey. Is that true? What's your idea, Merritt?
Hank Lewes
Go out there and arrest him. And find Lyla's body if you can.
Jim Cobbit
You think Jim murdered her, is that it? Looks that way.
Hank Lewes
You sure don't believe his story, do you, Marshall?
Jim Cobbit
No, not all of it.
Hank Lewes
Jim did her in just like his first wife. That's what it's a sure thing Marshall, no. Injuns would have stolen the woman, left
Jim Cobbit
Jim lying there without scalping the engines.
Plymouth Car Advertiser
Just being made.
Jim Cobbit
That Merritt. I don't know what happened out there, but I'm gonna find out.
Hank Lewes
Then what are you waiting for? Marshall, the doc.
Chester
The doc?
Hank Lewes
What's he got to do with this?
Jim Cobbit
Ms. Prillif, you had a baby this morning. The doc was up all night and he's sleeping today. We're gonna ride out to Jim's tomorrow.
Hank Lewes
Well, I don't know what you need the dock for, but we'll wait and ride out with you.
Jim Cobbit
You won't ride anywhere, Hank. When I need a posse, I'll ask for it. I don't want a single man of you anywhere near the Cobbett place. Is that clear?
Plymouth Car Advertiser
All right.
Jim Cobbit
Now get out of here. I got work to do.
Chester
It's a mighty lonely looking place, Matt.
Jim Cobbit
I wonder what Lila Cobbit thought when she first saw it.
Chester
She must have been mighty fond of Jim to come here at all, seems to me.
Jim Cobbit
Yeah, but I hope Jim's still there.
Chester
Isn't that him there down by the corral, isn't it?
Jim Cobbit
Oh, yeah. Yeah. He's got a new horse.
Matt Dillon
Hello, Jim. What are you doing here, Doc?
Jim Cobbit
I had to bring the doc, Jim, to perform a sort of autopsy.
Matt Dillon
Autopsy?
Jim Cobbit
On Ms. Carbett? It's necessary, Jim, or I wouldn't do it.
Matt Dillon
Marshall.
Jim Cobbit
Now, don't do it, Jim. You wouldn't have a chance.
Matt Dillon
No.
Jim Cobbit
Take his gun, Chester. Yes. All right, Jim. Let you and me go on into the house, huh? I don't imagine you want to watch this.
Chester
Where is it, man?
Jim Cobbit
You want to tell him, Jim?
Matt Dillon
Over there under that roll. Columbine.
Chester
Well, I'll. So that's why you wouldn't let me pick any, Mr. Nellen.
Matt Dillon
I watered the ground a lot to make it hard. It was a good job, Jim.
Jim Cobbit
Come on, let's go in the house.
Matt Dillon
Shovels out back of the corral.
Chester
I'll get it. All that water didn't do any good.
Matt Dillon
In the house.
Jim Cobbit
Jim sat with his back to the wall, his hands clasped tightly across his knees. He was so gaunt and leathery that I wondered if he'd bothered to eat anything at all since this had happened. He just sat there as if waiting to be sentenced and not caring very much one way or the other. Finally, Doc and Chester were finished and they came into the house.
Chester
We put her back, Jim, right where you had her. And it wasn't easy, Matt.
Jim Cobbit
Yeah, I know, but what did you find?
Chester
Well, she was killed by 45. Fired at close range. Bullet entered her head just under.
Jim Cobbit
Never mind, Doc.
Chester
Jim's gun here is at.45, Mr. Dillon.
Jim Cobbit
You want to tell us about it, Jim?
Matt Dillon
You think I killed her, Marshall?
Jim Cobbit
It looks that way, Jim. But I still can't believe it. Thank you, Marshall. If you did it, Jim, you're gonna hang for it.
Matt Dillon
The crows didn't attack the house, Marshall. They never aimed to. They just dodged around out there, some of them, to cover for the ones that ran the Stockholm. They didn't want to fight, just the stock.
Jim Cobbit
It's happened before.
Matt Dillon
Lila screamed and screamed. I guess she went kind of crazy. Then I heard a shot. First I thought she was shooting at the engines. Then I saw her on the floor there. I didn't care after that. They could have come right in there. They could have done anything they wanted. I didn't care.
Jim Cobbit
You. You've given her your six gun, is that it?
Matt Dillon
Yes.
Chester
The crows didn't bother you after that? They just took the horses and left?
Matt Dillon
I didn't care about them. I buried Lila out there right away. And I sat there on the ground all night. Everything had been all right, Marshall. But when Hank Lewes came by, I got scared. I didn't want to talk to him, but I knew what. So I put water on the grave and tried to hide it. Except for the flowers I planted. I just couldn't not have planted flowers there.
Chester
He's telling the truth, Matt. Jim isn't lying.
Matt Dillon
No.
Chester
No, sir, he certainly isn't.
Jim Cobbit
There's no reason I know of why Jim should stand trial.
Chester
What about Hank? Lose Mr. Dillon. He'll make trouble.
Jim Cobbit
The three of us here have heard the story and seen the evidence. Hank's talk doesn't mean a thing. I have no cause to arrest Jim.
Matt Dillon
Then I can go, Marshall. Go? Go where? I don't want to live here anymore. It's like the other place up north. After my first wife rode off, she just said goodbye and rode off one day. I was ashamed of that. So I never told nobody what happened. I left the place like I'm leaving this one.
Chester
Well, you gotta settle down sometime, Jim.
Jim Cobbit
No.
Matt Dillon
No, I don't. I got bad luck both places. I won't settle down no more.
Jim Cobbit
We won't stop you, Jim.
Matt Dillon
I think I'll go now, Marshall. I don't want to spend another night here. I'll get my things together.
Jim Cobbit
Yeah, we'll wait outside. Come on, Chester. Doc. A half hour later, Jim was packed and ready to go. Silently, he shook hands with each one of us and then mounted and rode
Chester
off
Jim Cobbit
the prairie had dealt hard with Jim Covet, but the man was too tough and dry not to survive. Somehow he wouldn't try again to be happy, but he'd live, he'd make his way. We watched him disappear while the sun went and the land cooled and became still and quiet.
Plymouth Car Advertiser
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Jim Cobbit
Then on an official entry blank in 50 words or less, tell what you
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Gunsmoke Narrator
Gun Smoke under the direction of Norman McDonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. Tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Maston with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in the cast were John McIntyre and Jeanette Nolan with Paul Duvall, Jack Crucian and Harry Bartel. Harley Baer is chester and Howard McNear is DOC. Gunsmoke was brought to you by Plymouth along with a reminder that you visit your Plymouth dealer tomorrow and enter the Meet the New Plymouth contest. Remember, entries must be mailed before Monday midnight. Clancy Cassell speaking.
Matt Dillon
Foreign
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Andrew Hines (Podcast Host)
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.
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Podcast Host: Andrew Rhynes
Podcast Air Date: May 7, 2026
In this episode of Old Time Radio Westerns, host Andrew Rhynes presents a digitally restored classic episode of Gunsmoke titled "Fingered." The episode, first aired in 1952, brings listeners into Dodge City as Marshal Matt Dillon unravels a mysterious disappearance on the harsh prairie. With themes of loneliness, suspicion, and justice, "Fingered" explores the darker side of frontier life, where rumor and hardship are as dangerous as outlaws or raiding tribes.
Cast Introduction:
William Conrad stars as Marshal Matt Dillon, with supporting roles including Chester, Jim Cobbit, Hank Lewes, and Lila Cobbit.
(05:25) “And now gun smoke. Starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America. The story of a man who moved with it.” — Narrator
Opening Banter at Breakfast:
Chester complains about overly spicy eggs, setting a casual, domestic tone that quickly turns tense as gossip flows about Jim Cobbit, a reclusive homesteader.
(06:00) “The cook sure must have had a bad night, Mr. Dillon.” — Chester
A Lonely Man Gets Married:
Jim Cobbit’s wife-to-be, Lila, arrives from back east, and a simple, private wedding is arranged due to local prejudice and gossip about Jim’s past.
(09:32) “Jim's bride, Lila, turned out to be a handsome, high strung woman... I wondered how she'd ever make out in this crude, raw country she'd chosen to come to.” — Matt Dillon's narration
Foreshadowing & Rumors:
Suspicion stems from Jim’s past: his first wife disappeared, and Hank Lewes harbors a long-standing grudge over land and the spring.
Notable Exchange:
(07:09) "What about Jim's first wife who disappeared off of that place he had up north on Hackberry Creek? Just plain disappeared, she did." — Hank Lewes
(07:28) "Except stake his homestead on the only spring south of the Smokey that didn't dry up. Cheated me out of it, that's what." — Hank Lewes
During a post-wedding celebration, Lila grows anxious about stories of Indian raids and life on the lonely homestead.
(11:19) "Oh, snakes can't get to you if you're in the wagon, man." — Jim Cobbit
(12:14) "But still it's a hard life on a white woman suddenly being made a squaw." — Chester
Community Support & Doubts:
The townsfolk are pleased Jim has found companionship, but whispers remain about his character and luck.
A Month Passes:
News surfaces that Lila has disappeared from the Cobbit homestead, reinforcing dark rumors about Jim.
(14:30) “You think I was lying about Jim Cobbard, don't you? Well, listen to this, Marshall. Lila's disappeared too.” — Hank Lewes
The Accusation:
Hank reports Lila missing and insists Marshall Dillon act, implying Jim has murdered another wife.
Jim’s Account:
Matt and Chester visit Jim, who claims a party of Crow Indians raided the homestead, carried off Lila, and stole all the livestock.
(18:46) "You mean you were raided here?" — Matt Dillon
(19:14) [Flashback] "Oh, I saw something up there. Oh, Jim. Jim, he was an Indian." — Lila Cobbit
Jim’s Despair:
Jim recounts being knocked out during the raid. By the time he recovered, Lila and the horses were gone. He admits to being helpless and heartbroken.
Growing Doubt:
The town, led by Hank Lewes, grows restless, demanding Jim's arrest. Matt promises a fair investigation.
(23:54) “Go out there and arrest him. And find Lyla's body if you can.” — Merritt
Discovery & Autopsy:
With the town doctor, Matt returns to the Cobbit homestead. Lila is discovered buried beneath a row of columbine flowers that Jim planted.
(26:14) “You want to tell him, Jim? — Over there under that row. Columbine.”
Cause of Death:
Doc reveals Lila was killed by a .45 caliber bullet at close range — Jim’s own weapon.
Jim’s Emotional Testimony:
Jim describes the night: amidst the chaos of the Indian raid, Lila panicked and was accidentally shot with the six-gun Jim had given her for protection.
(28:12) "Lila screamed and screamed. I guess she went kind of crazy. Then I heard a shot... Then I saw her on the floor there." — Jim Cobbit
Resolution:
Matt believes Jim’s account, with Chester reinforcing his honesty. Jim is cleared of murder, but the tragic weight of his loss is clear.
Memorable Moment:
(29:31) “There's no reason I know of why Jim should stand trial.” — Matt Dillon
Jim’s Departure:
Jim decides to leave. The land has brought him only hardship and suspicion.
(30:15) "No, I don't. I got bad luck both places. I won't settle down no more." — Jim Cobbit
Finishing Reflection:
(31:03) "The prairie had dealt hard with Jim Cobbit, but the man was too tough and dry not to survive... he wouldn't try again to be happy, but he'd live, he'd make his way." — Matt Dillon's narration
The episode blends suspense, melancholy, and loneliness, delivering the authentic grit of the old West. Dialogue is direct, stoic, and marked by dry humor and simmering tension. The cast’s performances evoke empathy for outsiders and skepticism for easy answers in a landscape haunted by fear, gossip, and sorrow.
“Fingered” exemplifies Gunsmoke's nuanced storytelling, grounding frontier mythos in hard questions about justice, isolation, and humanity. The digital restoration showcased by Old Time Radio Westerns reinvigorates the rich ambiance — from creaking saloon doors to the endless prairie wind — making for a haunting, timeless listening experience.