Old Time Radio Westerns – "Fred Garth Jailed for Murder" (Dr. Sixgun, 10-07-54)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Date: October 17, 2025
Restored Classic: "Fred Garth Jailed for Murder" from Dr. Sixgun (October 7, 1954)

Episode Overview

This installment of Old Time Radio Westerns transports listeners to the lawless West, where frontier justice, honor, and loyalty are put to the test in “Fred Garth Jailed for Murder.” As Dr. Sixgun—physician, gunman, and symbol of fairness—tries to uncover the truth behind a damning accusation, a tight-knit community faces questions of guilt, evidence, and redemption. The tale weaves gripping courtroom drama, emotional confrontations, and a suspenseful race against mob justice.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Introduction of Characters and Setting (00:34–04:04)

• Dr. Sixgun is introduced as a legendary frontier doctor “a symbol of justice and mercy” (00:34).
• Pablo, a jovial, insightful peddler and narrator, enters, accompanied by his clever raven, Midnight.
• Fred Garth, the accused, is first met on the trail, full of aspirations and a mysterious urgency to return to Frenchman's Ford.
• Humorous banter between Pablo and Fred:

  “You are also a humorist.”
  — Pablo to Fred (04:02)

2. Fred’s Past and Return to Town (04:04–05:35)

• Fred reveals he left town three years prior after a "fair fight" that ended in a man’s death. He returns with business unfinished but is uneasy about his welcome.

3. The Crime and Arrest (05:35–10:14)

• At 11 PM, the express office is robbed; the clerk, Arnie, is killed.
• Fred is found wounded and arrested. Circumstantial evidence piles up: a red bandana (sold to Fred by Pablo), his identifiable horse and saddle, and the mail pouch from the robbery.
• Dr. Sixgun tends to Fred’s wounds in jail.
• Pablo expresses skepticism:

  “Such a man does not kill anybody. He was so happy, so light hearted.”
  — Pablo (09:30)

4. Doubt and Loyalty: Ginny Wheelock’s Plea (11:27–13:32)

• Ginny Wheelock, Fred’s intended, visits Dr. Sixgun, pleading for help and asserting Fred’s innocence.
• Emotional confession:

  “I was going to marry him. That's why he come back to town.”
  — Ginny Wheelock (12:29)

• Ginny and Pablo provide testimony to Fred’s character and intentions.

5. The Farce of Frontier Justice (13:32–16:09)

• The circuit judge, Passman, runs a hasty trial described sardonically by Pablo.

  "Fred Garf has no more chance than a rabbit in a bear trap."
  — Pablo (14:22)

• Fred is sentenced to death; the town prepares for his hanging.

6. Dr. Sixgun’s Investigation (17:03–22:19)

• Dr. Sixgun senses something amiss and visits Fred in jail. Fred, resigned to his fate, refuses to defend himself—he's protecting someone.

  “It's as if you're tying that rope yourself...I want to help you.”
  — Dr. Sixgun to Fred (17:42)

• Dr. Sixgun visits Mrs. Garth, Fred’s mother, and uncovers family dysfunction—Fred’s father is described as a mean, hopeless drunk (“Peas in the pod, mean clear through” — Mrs. Garth, 20:52).
• Mrs. Garth’s cynicism underscores the inherited cycles of violence.

7. Tension Mounts – The Mob Takes Over (22:19–25:02)

• Pablo reveals Dr. Sixgun sent a telegram to the governor to stay the execution.
• A mob, incited by Benton, storms the jail, intent on vigilante justice, ignoring due process.
• Dr. Sixgun and Pablo risk their lives trying to prevent the lynching.

8. The Truth Revealed—Dramatic Climax (25:02–26:07)

• Pablo arrives with Fred’s drunken father, who is revealed to be the real culprit; the stolen money is found on him.

  "He wouldn't turn in his father to be hanged."
  — Dr. Sixgun (25:33)

• Fred’s silence is explained: he couldn’t betray his own father.

9. Resolution & Reflection (26:16–28:11)

• The townsfolk are chastened; the real killer is brought to justice.
• Dr. Sixgun wraps up with Fred, who can now reunite with Ginny, but the shame and wounds of the ordeal linger.
• Pablo proposes legal charges for the mob leader, Benton, restoring order and actual justice.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Pablo: “A peddler is a great judge of character.” (10:31)
• Ginny: “But Fred didn't do it, Doc. I know he didn't. I love him.” (12:55)
• Judge Passman:

  “The prisoner has the right to a lawyer... So we cut cards low, man.” (13:47–14:13)

• Dr. Sixgun: “A man doesn’t come back to town to marry a girl and then pull a thing like that.” (17:13)
• Mrs. Garth: “They’re all peas and mean. I ought to know.” (21:00)
• Dr. Sixgun, condemning vigilante justice:

  "You almost hanged an innocent man." (25:31)

Important Timestamps

• [00:34] – Series and main characters introduced
• [05:35] – Crime and Fred’s arrest
• [09:30] – Pablo questions Fred’s guilt
• [11:27] – Ginny’s emotional plea
• [14:44] – The trial begins
• [16:00] – Fred sentenced to hang
• [17:03] – Dr. Sixgun challenges Fred’s silence
• [19:38] – Doc seeks answers from Mrs. Garth
• [22:19] – Pablo overhears Doc’s telegram for a stay
• [24:48] – Mob prepares for lynching
• [25:06] – Pablo exposes the real culprit
• [26:16] – Pablo and Dr. Sixgun restore order

Engaging Takeaways

• The story demonstrates the dangers of mob justice, the complexity of family loyalty, and the importance of persistent inquiry.
• Dr. Sixgun’s moral resolve and Pablo’s steadfast friendship are central to saving an innocent man.
• The enhanced soundscape enriches the classic Western drama, reinforcing the immersive experience promised by the podcast.

A powerful, layered Western radio drama where fate, character, and courage collide—and where justice, though nearly thwarted, is ultimately restored by dogged determination and the refusal to accept easy answers.