Grass | Gunsmoke (08-25-57)

Summary

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Old Time Radio Westerns: Gunsmoke – “Grass” (08-25-57)

Episode Overview

In this classic episode of Gunsmoke, titled “Grass,” the storytelling gravitates around themes of fear, justice, prejudice, and the harsh realities of frontier life. The host, Andrew Rhynes, introduces a digitally restored audio adventure where Marshal Matt Dillon is caught between a frightened, isolated homesteader and vengeful neighbors determined to take justice into their own hands. As suspicion, misunderstanding, and frontier “justice” escalate, the episode explores just how difficult (and deadly) it is to settle the untamed West.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

Introduction to Harry Pope and His Fears – [03:01–05:17]

• Kitty introduces Harry Pope, a newcomer from Boston grieving his late wife, struggling to make a life on the prairie. He’s living alone and trying to farm, but is terrified by what he’s convinced are Indian threats.
• Pope’s complaints: He claims Indians “come scratching around at night . . . and they hoop and holler some too” ([03:59] Harry Pope).
• Matt Dillon is skeptical: “Indians just don’t scratch around at night. And they don’t come whooping and hollering either. . . . It’s probably your imagination . . .” ([04:20] Matt Dillon).
• Pope admits he doesn’t own a gun, prompting Matt to suggest buying one for protection.

Sudden Violence & Accusations – [05:17–07:27]

• Chester and others discuss Harry’s behavior and the alleged incident overnight.
• Ned Honeyman accuses Pope of murder: “He killed Joe Carter last night. . . . Blasted easterner. I’m looking forward to seeing him hung.” ([05:54] Ned Honeyman).
• Matt investigates, promising to ride out and check the facts himself.

Unraveling What Happened at the Hut – [10:01–12:32]

• Pope recounts the attack: “Well, Marshall, them Indian was back again. . . . I came outside and shot at ‘em like you said. . . . I just hope the whole tribe don't come after me.” ([10:04] Harry Pope).
• Matt reveals that the “Indians” were actually two local ranch hands, Carter (now dead) and Brandt, riding by to harass him.
• Matt expresses sympathy: “I don’t think you intentionally murdered Carter, if that’s any help.” ([12:10] Matt Dillon).
• He warns Pope not to run and promises to look further into the event.

Confrontation with Honeyman and Brandt – [12:49–14:32]

• Honeyman, intent on vengeance, pushes for Pope’s arrest.
• Chester summarizes local opinion: “He’s crazy, I guess.”
• Matt tries to explain the difference between murder and self-defense, but local attitudes are rigid: “He killed Joe Carter. What difference it make?” ([13:45] Ned Honeyman).
• Matt refuses to arrest Pope outright, further aggravating tensions: “He said he thought they were Indians—and I believe him” ([14:00] Matt Dillon).

Matt Dillon’s Plea and Pope’s Pride – [16:07–17:35]

• Matt explains the truth to Pope and advises him to leave for his own safety: “It isn’t your fault, but you got enemies now, and you’d be a whole lot safer somewhere else.” ([16:38] Matt Dillon).
• Pope refuses: “No, I won’t leave. Let ‘em come. I’ll fight it out with ‘em. . . . I ain’t done nothing wrong. A man’s got a right to defend hisself.” ([16:52], [16:58] Harry Pope).
• Matt tries to warn him, but Pope stands his ground.

Tragedy Strikes – [17:35–19:53]

• Matt hears two rifle shots and rushes back to find Pope murdered, shot in the back while working his small farm.
• He intercepts Earl Brandt, who confesses: “I just shot that Yankee sodbuster.” ([18:36] Earl Brandt).
• Brandt admits he and Carter had tormented Pope for sport: “We were just having a little fun. . . . I could even hear him crying inside.” ([18:53], [19:01] Earl Brandt).
• Matt forces Brandt to help bury Pope, vowing to see him tried for murder.

The Law and Frontier Justice – [20:56–24:12]

• Matt confronts Honeyman: “He [Pope] took two rifle bullets in the back. . . . All Pope had in his hands was a hoe.” ([22:07], [22:52] Matt Dillon).
• Honeyman is forced to confront his complicity: “I guess I’m as guilty as he is.” ([23:01] Ned Honeyman).
• Matt articulates the gulf between the law and personal vengeance: “The law is new out here, Honeyman. And sometimes I think the only time people want it is when it seems to act the way they’d act themselves if there weren’t any law. But it won’t work that way. According to the law you’re right or you’re wrong. You’re guilty or you’re not guilty.” ([23:12–23:41] Matt Dillon).
• Honeyman offers to testify and share blame in court, hoping to help the law take root in the community.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Indians just don’t scratch around at night. And they don’t come whooping and hollering either. Now, you probably heard talk about Indians and you’re scared of them. It’s probably your imagination that’s done the rest of it.” – Matt Dillon ([04:20])
• “He killed Joe Carter last night. . . . Blasted easterner. I’m looking forward to seeing him hung.” – Ned Honeyman ([05:54])
• “I don’t think you intentionally murdered Carter, if that’s any help.” – Matt Dillon ([12:10])
• “We were just having a little fun. . . . I could even hear him crying inside.” – Earl Brandt ([18:53–19:01])
• “He took two rifle bullets in the back. . . . And all Pope had in his hands was a hoe.” – Matt Dillon ([22:07], [22:52])
• “The law is new out here, Honeyman. . . . According to the law you’re right or you’re wrong.” – Matt Dillon ([23:12–23:41])
• “Would it help the law if I get up in court and take my share of the blame for this?” – Ned Honeyman ([23:44])

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Event | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | [03:01] | Kitty introduces Harry Pope and his fears | | [05:54] | Ned Honeyman accuses Pope of murdering Carter | | [10:04] | Pope describes the fatal encounter at his hut | | [12:10] | Matt explains the reality to Pope; shows empathy | | [13:03] | Brandt’s version; calls for vigilante justice | | [14:00] | Matt refuses to immediately arrest Pope | | [16:38] | Matt advises Pope to leave for his own safety | | [16:52] | Pope refuses to abandon his farm | | [18:36] | Brandt confesses to killing Pope | | [20:56] | Matt confronts Honeyman with the facts | | [22:07] | Matt describes Pope’s death to Honeyman | | [23:12] | Matt’s reflection on law, justice, and the frontier | | [23:44] | Honeyman promises to take responsibility in court |

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Tone & Style

The episode is steeped in the gritty, measured dialogue Gunsmoke is famous for—laconic, pragmatic, and haunted by moral ambiguity. The pacing moves from nervous tension to bleak inevitability, with Matt Dillon’s slow, thoughtful investigation giving way to the harsh, non-negotiable outcomes of the American West.

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Summary

This episode is a powerful meditation on fear, misunderstanding, and the meaning of justice on the lawless frontier. Harry Pope’s naïveté and loneliness are contrasted with the cruelty of bored local ranch hands and the impatience of those who’d rather take the law into their own hands. Matt Dillon stands as the lone advocate for legal justice, but even he cannot prevent tragedy when community cruelty and ignorance prevail. The final moments—with Matt and Honeyman pondering blame, justice, and what law really means—underscore the ongoing struggle to civilize the Wild West, hinting that real law will take root only when everyone accepts its rules and responsibilities.

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Transcript

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[Commercial Narrator]

Foreign.

[Andrew Rines]

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Rines and let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke Original Air Dates Aug 25, 1957 and the title is Grass. Hope you enjoy. And again, thanks for listening.

[Narrator]

Around Dodge 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.

[Matt Dillon]

Gun Smoke.

[Narrator]

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

[Narrator/Interjection]

a man watchful and a little lonely.

[Matt Dillon]

What's up everybody?

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[Kitty]

There he is. Matt. That's Harry Pope at the bar there. Little short fella.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh yeah. Where did you tell me he was from, Kitty?

[Kitty]

Boston, or near there.

[Matt Dillon]

He's a long way from home.

[Kitty]

Well, he told me his wife died and he wanted to move someplace else. So he came out here about four months ago and built himself a little sod hut out in the prairie. Planted some corn, he's trying to raise a few pigs, that's all.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Uh huh.

[Matt Dillon]

You say he's scared to death, huh?

[Kitty]

Yeah, that's what he told me.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, maybe it's all in his head.

[Kitty]

Come on Matt, walk over with me, huh?

[Narrator]

Okay.

[Harry Pope]

Hello Miss Kitty.

[Kitty]

This is Marshall Dillon. Harry Pope.

[Matt Dillon]

How are you Mr. Pope?

[Harry Pope]

Friend, nobody ever called me Mr. Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, all right. Kitty here tells me that you've been kind of worried lately.

[Harry Pope]

Well, it's the Indians, Marshal. They come scratching around at night and they hoop and holler some too.

[Matt Dillon]

Tell me, do they do this every night?

[Harry Pope]

No, sir, but maybe once a week they do.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Uh huh.

[Matt Dillon]

What makes you think they're Indians?

[Harry Pope]

Well, I can hear them. That's why I got a good stout door or they'd have been in on me long ago.

[Matt Dillon]

Look, Harry, if what you'd been hearing was Indians, you'd have been done for a long time ago. Indians just don't scratch around at night. And they don't come whooping and hollering either. Now, you probably heard talk about Indians and you're scared of them. It's probably your imagination that's done the rest of it.

[Harry Pope]

No, sir, they're Indians all right. They're right there. I can hear them talking.

[Matt Dillon]

Then why don't you shoot them?

[Harry Pope]

Well, I don't have a gun.

[Matt Dillon]

Then maybe you better get one. Man needs a gun out here.

[Harry Pope]

But if I kill any of them, don't you think they'll go after the whole tribe?

[Matt Dillon]

No, Harry, I don't think they will.

[Harry Pope]

Well, all right, Marshall, I'll try it. I'll get me a gun today.

[Chester]

See, I nearly forgot. Matt Chester said not to wait for him. He'd have supper later.

[Matt Dillon]

Now what's he doing, Doc?

[Harry Pope]

He's talking.

[Chester]

Talking to a girl, Matt.

[Ned Honeyman]

Pretty girl, too.

[Chester]

And he was doing all the talking when I left. She just stood there shaking her head.

[Matt Dillon]

Smart girl.

[Narrator/Interjection]

I don't know, man.

[Ned Honeyman]

Marshall. Dylan.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, hello, Honeyman. You know Doc Adams here. Ned Honeyman.

[Ned Honeyman]

Are you Doc?

[Matt Dillon]

Why don't you sit down?

[Narrator/Interjection]

Yeah.

[Ned Honeyman]

Marshall, you know that new fella, Harry Pope?

[Harry Pope]

Pope?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, I met him a couple of days ago.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Why?

[Ned Honeyman]

He killed Joe Carter last night.

[Narrator/Interjection]

He what?

[Ned Honeyman]

Carter's worked for me a long time. He was one of the best friends I ever had. We buried him this morning.

[Matt Dillon]

Did they have a fight?

[Ned Honeyman]

Pope shot him in cold blood, that's all. Out near that hut of his. Blasted easterner. I'm looking forward to seeing him hung.

[Matt Dillon]

Were you there, Honeyman?

[Narrator/Interjection]

No.

[Ned Honeyman]

Earl Brandt was there. He brought Joe's body back to the ranch.

[Matt Dillon]

Brandt works for you too, doesn't he?

[Ned Honeyman]

Yeah, but not as long as Joe.

[Matt Dillon]

Tell me what happened.

[Harry Pope]

I did.

[Ned Honeyman]

Pope murdered Joe Carter. They were riding by that dirty little sod Buster's hut last night and he come out and shot Joe and killed him.

[Matt Dillon]

Maybe it was a mistake.

[Ned Honeyman]

Honeyman, you don't kill men by mistake. Marshall. Now are you gonna arrest him?

[Matt Dillon]

Well, I'll. I'll ride out there first thing in the morning.

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[Matt Dillon]

Another visit with Joe and Daphne Forsyth.

[Daphne Forsyth]

Joe. Joe. Joe, stop reading that paper and talk to me.

[Chester]

I'm listening. Go ahead.

[Daphne Forsyth]

Well, I was talking to Mrs. Snider today. You know, she's the one whose boy had 31% less cavities.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Uh huh.

[Daphne Forsyth]

Well, she thinks that we should buy bigger savings bonds.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Uh huh.

[Daphne Forsyth]

She says that when people can afford it, it makes more sense. Oh, she says there are a lot of different denominations. They start at $25, but then there are 50, 100, 200 and even $500.

[Chester]

Is that so?

[Daphne Forsyth]

And then with the ones we've already bought through the payroll savings plan, we'd have quite a nest egg.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Uh huh.

[Daphne Forsyth]

Are you listening to me?

[Narrator/Interjection]

Uh huh.

[Daphne Forsyth]

Did you know that the total accumulated compounded semiannual interest of the Series E Savings Bond will amount to 93 and a third percent of the original purchasing price.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Uh huh.

[Daphne Forsyth]

I thought so. Joe, what did I say?

[Chester]

You said that United States Savings Bonds are a safe, easy way of investing.

[Daphne Forsyth]

I did.

[Chester]

That they help guide our country's freedom and they're the best investment in America's future.

[Daphne Forsyth]

I said something else too.

[Chester]

Oh yeah, you said that the total accumulated compounded semiannual interest of the Series E Savings Bond will amount to 93 and 1/3% of of the original purchase price.

[Daphne Forsyth]

Well now, how did you do that?

[Chester]

Husband's trade secret.

[Harry Pope]

Hello, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Harry.

[Harry Pope]

Well, Marshall, them Indian was back again. All right, not for last, but I came outside and shot at him like you said. And they rode off. I just Hope the whole tribe don't come after me.

[Matt Dillon]

Now, Harry, how many Indians were there?

[Harry Pope]

Just two. That's all I saw anyway.

[Matt Dillon]

Now, you say you shot at him.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Did you hit him?

[Harry Pope]

Well, I couldn't tell. It was too dark. I tried to, though.

[Matt Dillon]

Tell me what happened, huh?

[Harry Pope]

Well, sir, I heard him just like before. But this time they put a couple of shots in my hut there. I opened the door a little and I heard one riding off right over that away. I took a couple of shots at him, and then the other one started shooting at me from somewhere. So I ducked inside again and waited. But they didn't come back.

[Matt Dillon]

They weren't Indians.

[Harry Pope]

You always keep saying that, Marshall, but I know better.

[Matt Dillon]

There were two men who worked for Ned Honeyman. One of them, Joe Carter you killed. Earl Bryant was the other man. He took Carter's body back to the Honeyman ranch. Oh, my. I'm afraid you made a bad mistake, Harry.

[Harry Pope]

Oh, but how. How do you know about this, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

Ned Honeyman told me.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Well, he.

[Harry Pope]

He could be lying.

[Matt Dillon]

Honeyman has his faults, but Lyon isn't one of them. Harry, has there been any trouble between you and these men?

[Harry Pope]

Oh, no, sir. I hardly know them. Well, they've ridden by a few times, that's all. But I wouldn't have shot at him if I'd known who they was. Except it couldn't have been. They were shooting at my hut first. Just don't make no sense at all. You going to arrest me, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

Look, Harry, the Indians that you've been hearing around your place don't exist. Indians just don't act that way. But I believe that you think you've been hearing them. Now, maybe it's getting worse with you. And so the other night you heard those men riding by and you just started shooting.

[Harry Pope]

You think I'm crazy, don't you?

[Matt Dillon]

I don't think you intentionally murdered Carter, if that's any help.

[Harry Pope]

Then you. You ain't going to arrest me?

[Matt Dillon]

No, I'm not. Not now. I'm gonna talk to Brandt and Honeyman. But in the meantime, don't get scared and try to run, Harry. Cause you wouldn't get very far.

[Harry Pope]

All right.

[Ned Honeyman]

Morning, Marshall. This here is Earl Brandt. I brought with me. Marshall, I figured you'd want Brandt's report for the trial.

[Earl Brandt]

Me and Carter was good friends. I aim to see that Yankee sod Buster hung.

[Matt Dillon]

All right, Brandt, tell me about it.

[Earl Brandt]

Nothing to it, Marshall. Me and Carter was riding past his place and he come out and started shooting at us.

[Matt Dillon]

He killed Carter.

[Earl Brandt]

I Took a couple of shots at him and drove him back inside that hut of his. And I packed Carter onto the ranch.

[Matt Dillon]

Will you swear to that in court?

[Earl Brandt]

Why shouldn't I? Marshal, that little murderer been telling you something else?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah. He thought he was shooting at Indians.

[Ned Honeyman]

Indians? Why, that miserable dog.

[Matt Dillon]

You weren't there, Honeyman. How do you know what happened?

[Ned Honeyman]

Brandt told me what happened. Who else would have shot Carter?

[Narrator/Interjection]

Brandt?

[Matt Dillon]

Why do you think Pope shot at you?

[Earl Brandt]

Well, I don't know, Marshall.

[Chester]

He's crazy, I guess.

[Matt Dillon]

Is that all?

[Ned Honeyman]

That's enough, isn't it? He killed Joe Carter. What difference it make?

[Matt Dillon]

The difference between murder and something else.

[Ned Honeyman]

Well, bring him in here and ask him. I'll beat the truth out of him if he lies.

[Matt Dillon]

He isn't here.

[Harry Pope]

What?

[Matt Dillon]

I didn't arrest him.

[Ned Honeyman]

Why not, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

He said he thought they were Indians and I believe him.

[Ned Honeyman]

Marshall, no man can kill a friend of mine and claim he thought he was shooting Indians. Now, if the law won't see justice done, we will.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm warning you, Honeyman. You try to kill Pope and I'll arrest you. And if you do kill him, you'll hang for it.

[Narrator]

We're wasting time.

[Matt Dillon]

My guess is you and Carter have been hounding that man, making him think there have been Indians after him.

[Harry Pope]

Why

[Matt Dillon]

are you trying to drive him out of the country?

[Earl Brandt]

Your talk gets crazier all the time, Marshall.

[Ned Honeyman]

For the last time, Marshal, you gonna do anything about Carter's murder?

[Matt Dillon]

It wasn't murder, Honeyman. Don't you see that?

[Ned Honeyman]

He's dead and Pope shot him. That's all I know. That's all I need to know. Come on, Brent.

[Matt Dillon]

What's up everybody?

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[Matt Dillon]

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[Matt Dillon]

Another visit with Joe and Daphne Forsyth.

[Chester]

Hey honey, I'm home. Daphne.

[Daphne Forsyth]

Drop dead.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Uh oh.

[Chester]

What's the matter honey?

[Matt Dillon]

That afternoon I rode out to see Pope. It was a bad situation and I did a lot of thinking about it. There was only one solution I Could figure out, and I wasn't sure that that'd work. I found Pope Wheaton. A few miserable rows of corn that he planted out in front of his hut.

[Harry Pope]

Well, you told me a lot, Marsha, but I don't understand it all.

[Matt Dillon]

Look, Harry, I don't know why they did it, but Carter and Brandt were the Indians that you thought you heard.

[Harry Pope]

I know.

[Narrator/Interjection]

You what?

[Harry Pope]

Well, I figured that you know what Indians are like and that you wasn't lying to me. So it must have been Carter and Brandt.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Oh,

[Matt Dillon]

look, Harry. Honeyman and Brandt want you arrested. They're threatening to take it into their own hands.

[Harry Pope]

I see.

[Matt Dillon]

Listen, you're not gonna like this, but. Well, it'd be better if you left here now. It isn't your fault, but you got enemies now, and you'd be a whole lot safer somewhere else.

[Harry Pope]

No. No, I won't leave. Let him come. I'll fight it out with him.

[Matt Dillon]

It doesn't mean more bloodshed.

[Harry Pope]

Like you said, Marshall, I ain't done nothing wrong. The man's got a right to defend hisself.

[Matt Dillon]

I know, but you won't have any peace here.

[Harry Pope]

I won't leave, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

All right, Harry, but think it over anyway, huh?

[Harry Pope]

I have.

[Matt Dillon]

I. I'm sorry about this.

[Harry Pope]

Thank you, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

So long.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Goodbye.

[Matt Dillon]

Pope went back to weeding his corn and I rode off past his little hut and around the narrow bluff he built it against. I'd gone maybe a half a mile beyond when I heard two rifle shots behind me. I turned and raced back to the bottom edge of the bluff, where I dismounted and walked up to where I could see around it. And just then I heard a horse coming along the trail and I stepped back and waited. Whoever it was had passed within a few feet of me. Bryant, hold.

[Earl Brandt]

Don't shoot. Just keep your hands up.

[Matt Dillon]

Now throw one leg over and slide off slow.

[Earl Brandt]

How long you been here, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

Turn around. All right, you can put your hands down now.

[Earl Brandt]

I might as well tell you, Marshall. I just shot that Yankee sod, Buster.

[Matt Dillon]

Now, that's something to be real proud of, Brent.

[Earl Brandt]

He killed a friend of mine.

[Matt Dillon]

Hope meant no harm to either one of you. What were you trying to do to him? You and Carter?

[Earl Brandt]

We were just having a little fun.

[Matt Dillon]

Fun?

[Earl Brandt]

Well, we'd have a drink or two and ride over now and then, give

[Matt Dillon]

him a few war hoops.

[Earl Brandt]

He'd just sit in his hut and shake. One night, I sneaked up to the door and I could even hear him crying inside. He was sure scared that time.

[Matt Dillon]

That must have Been a lot of fun.

[Earl Brandt]

Not as much as next day when we'd ride back and hear all about how the Injuns was after him.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, he'd been all right if he

[Earl Brandt]

hadn't gone and bought himself a gun.

[Matt Dillon]

I advised him to.

[Ned Honeyman]

You did?

[Matt Dillon]

I'm sorry if I spoiled your fun. Brent Carter's dead because of you. Does Hanuman know about this?

[Earl Brandt]

I told him I was gonna get Popizzle.

[Matt Dillon]

And he agreed?

[Earl Brandt]

Well, he just said he sure hoped somebody'd get him.

[Matt Dillon]

All right, Brant, let's go bury him. I ain't gonna bury him.

[Earl Brandt]

Let him rot.

[Matt Dillon]

Bryant, you will bury him or I'll

[Narrator/Interjection]

bury both of you.

[Matt Dillon]

Now you take your choice. Sure, It was too late to try to teach Brant anything. But Ned Honeyman was a different matter. I wanted to be sure he understood what really happened. Otherwise he'd spread the word against me and against the law. And there were a lot of men who'd be glad to listen to. We buried Pope near his little hut and then rode on into Dodge. I kept off Front street and rode up to the jail from the rear. Chester told me Honeyman was up at the Long Branch. So after Brandt was locked up, I went on to the saloon. Hello, Honeyman.

[Ned Honeyman]

What do you want, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

I've been talking to Brant. He's told me the whole story.

[Ned Honeyman]

Where is he, anyway?

[Matt Dillon]

He told me that he and Carter had been having fun, as they called it, with the Pope, making him think they were Indians.

[Ned Honeyman]

I don't believe it. But even if they had, is that reason enough to kill a man?

[Matt Dillon]

Pope was acting in self defense. He wouldn't have shot Carter otherwise. It was a mistake. But Carter brought it on himself. I don't believe it. Honeyman, do you want law in this country or don't you?

[Ned Honeyman]

Well, maybe that depends on who's representing it.

[Matt Dillon]

That doesn't matter. The law's the same.

[Ned Honeyman]

The law says you can't kill a man and go free, doesn't it?

[Matt Dillon]

It says you can't murder a man.

[Ned Honeyman]

Who decides which it is, Marshall?

[Narrator/Interjection]

You or me?

[Matt Dillon]

I'd like you to decide this time, Honeyman.

[Ned Honeyman]

All right, Marshall. Go arrest Pope and get him hung. That's how I decided.

[Matt Dillon]

Pope's dead. You wanted him killed. He's been killed.

[Narrator/Interjection]

What do you mean?

[Matt Dillon]

You said this morning you'd take justice into your hands, didn't you? Well, yes, but he was out weeding that little patch of corn of his he planted and he took two rifle bullets in the back.

[Ned Honeyman]

Who did it?

[Matt Dillon]

Are you satisfied? Honeyman is that how you wanted it? All Pope had was a sod hut and a few pigs. He didn't know what this country was all about. He might have learned, but your friends got him so scared that he'd sit in his hut and cry.

[Ned Honeyman]

Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

And then one night he loaded his gun and went outside to fight. It took a lot of courage, Honeyman, for a man like Pope. But he did it today. I told him that he'd better leave his place. That you and Brandt had threatened him and give him trouble.

[Ned Honeyman]

What'd he say?

[Matt Dillon]

He said he wouldn't go. He said he'd stay and fight. He didn't get a chance to fight. What's a man like Pope know about protecting himself? Brant shot him in the back twice. And all Pope had in his hands was a hoe.

[Ned Honeyman]

Marshall, I don't know what to say.

[Matt Dillon]

Brandt's in jail. I'll see him tried for murder and he'll be hung.

[Ned Honeyman]

I guess I'm as guilty as he is.

[Matt Dillon]

You could have stopped it, but you encouraged it. You wanted justice, Don Honeyman, and fast by.

[Ned Honeyman]

I didn't understand.

[Matt Dillon]

You didn't take time to. The law was too slow for you. Well, the law is new out here, Honeyman. And sometimes I think the only time people want it is when it seems to act the way they'd act themselves if there weren't any law. But it won't work that way. According to the law, you're right or you're wrong. You're guilty or you're not guilty. People out here are having a hard time accepting that. But there won't be much law till they do. And men like Pope will go on dyin no matter how many Brants get hung for it.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Marshall,

[Ned Honeyman]

I'm not very proud of what happened. Would it help the law if I get up in court and take my share of the blame for this?

[Matt Dillon]

I don't know, Honeyman. But it might.

[Ned Honeyman]

And I'll do it.

[Narrator/Interjection]

Good.

[Ned Honeyman]

Good night, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Good night, honey.

[Kitty]

Hey everybody.

[Lady Luck Ritzky]

Lady luck here. And we're celebrating America's 250th birthday. Now all summer long I'm going to be celebrating by playing on spinquest.com which is an American owned social casino. It obviously features over a thousand slot games and live blackjack, live craps, live bubble craps. Head on over to spinquest.com. get yourself a 30 coin pack for just 10 bucks.

[SpinQuest Announcer]

Spin Quest is a free free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual, even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Harry Pope]

Oh, no.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Liberty Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[Narrator]

Gun Smoke Produced and Directed by Norman McDonnell. Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, US Marshal the music was composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Sound patterns were composed by Ray Kemper and Bill James. Featured in the cast were Parley Baer As Chester, Howard McNear as Doc and Georgia Ellis as Kitty. George Wolf speaking. Join us again next week for another story of the western frontier of America in the 1870s on Gunsmoke. This is the united states armed forces radio and television service.

[Chester]

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.

[Bretzky]

Oh, I have had no luck lately. Wait.

[Lady Luck Ritzky]

Lady Luck Ritzky. I got you. I've had so much luck on spinquest.com they have all of my favorite games, slot games, live, blackjack, craps and bubble craps. You can even get a $30 coin pack for just 10 bucks.

[Bretzky]

10 bucks for 30. I'm headed over to spinquest.com right now.

[SpinQuest Announcer]

Spin Quest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Commercial Narrator]

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[Autotrader Spokesperson]

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[Commercial Narrator]

Really? I can get super specific with dealer listings and see cars based on my budget.

[Autotrader Spokesperson]

You can really have it delivered or pick it up. Mommy's kid is walking up the slide.

[Lady Luck Ritzky]

Really? Auto trader, Buy your car online?

[Commercial Narrator]

Really?