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Andrew Rines (Host)
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 March 10, 1957 and the title is Dreb Hassell.
Matt Dillon
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. Gun Starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west for young America and the story of a man who moved with it. 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 chancer job and it makes a man watchful.
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Andrew Rines (Host)
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Kitty Grant
The town sure does seem deserted tonight, Mr. Jones.
Matt Dillon
That's pretty late, Jesse.
Kitty Grant
Well, it won't be like this much longer.
Matt Dillon
End of the month, the coal herds
Kitty Grant
will start rolling in. And there won't be no peace around here for fall.
Matt Dillon
You're a hard man to please.
Kitty Grant
Well, I ain't complaining. Be kind of nice to have some life and excitement.
Matt Dillon
Are you, Marshal? You remember me? Yeah, sure I remember you, Elvin. You've grown some. Sure, I've had two years to do it. Put on any sense, have you? Along with a wit. No. So I'm still not in jail. Yeah, I gave you a year, didn't I? Said you'd either be jailed or hung by then. I sure hate to disappoint you, Marshall Chester. You remember Alvin Grab, don't you? Yes, sir, I do.
Kitty Grant
And I still got no use for him.
Matt Dillon
You men sure ain't very friendly. What are your plans of him? Nothing much. Just got a hankering to see the old hometown. Your ma and Billy are getting along fine without you. Why don't you leave them alone? I figured they might need some help. Maybe you didn't figure it when you lived here and you haven't worried about them for the last two years.
Kitty Grant
Now, mark.
Matt Dillon
You shut up and listen to me. Two years ago, after I let you get away with everything but murder just for your ma's sake, I finally ran you out of town. And I told you not to come back. Yeah, I remember all right. You are back. By this time, you don't get any second chances. You make one wrong move, and I'm on you, Elvis. A man can change, Marshall. Some can and some can't. I'm Just telling you how you stand. And don't look yonder couple fellows right now behind the bank here. That's why you've been so talkative, huh?
Kitty Grant
You're there.
Safeway/Albertsons Announcer
Look.
Matt Dillon
Look out.
Kitty Grant
Look out now, Marshall, toward the river.
Matt Dillon
Hey, gra. Come back here. You're under arrest.
Kitty Grant
Not yet, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Now, while I got a gun in my whole station, there'll be a pull grip. Al. Dad. Chester. You going to go after him, mister? No, it's too dark now. We couldn't track him tonight.
Kitty Grant
Matt. That you, Matt? Yeah.
Matt Dillon
Over here, Doc.
Kitty Grant
Captain. Matt.
Matt Dillon
Take over, will you, Doc?
Kitty Grant
Sure.
Matt Dillon
See what.
Kitty Grant
Why, it's young Elvin Gribb.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Kitty Grant
I didn't even know he was around
Matt Dillon
this part of the country. Allie's come home now, Doc. Just stay.
Kitty Grant
Ram. This, Bob Islander. Just plain bone starved.
Matt Dillon
Pretty poor ground, all right.
Kitty Grant
I don't see how nobody could make a living off in a homestead like this.
Matt Dillon
That takes some scratching, I guess. Especially with just her and Billy to do the work.
Kitty Grant
He's saving his grub over the crowd. Bet she's already had. Seems like to me we could have took time for some breakfast before we rode way out of here.
Matt Dillon
And I wanted to tell her before somebody else did.
Kitty Grant
Hey,
Matt Dillon
let's give her a hand. Those calves are getting away from her. Circle those over there by the barn and I'll pick up these along the fence here. All right, that's good enough just to the rest of old fellow.
Kitty Grant
Yes, sir. Get in. You. Care enough to drive a body clean out of the mine? There are. Much obliged to you, Marshall Chester.
Matt Dillon
That's no trouble, man.
Kitty Grant
Well, come on up the halt, Marshall. I'll take on a pot of coffee.
Matt Dillon
Thank you. Why didn't you get Billy out here to give you a hand?
Kitty Grant
Billy? And he ain't the reason you're here.
Matt Dillon
Why should he be?
Kitty Grant
I'm worried sick, Marshall. He acted real funny all day yesterday. And this morning he shadowed up and took off for dawn. I heard him ride out of the yard first. I knowed of it.
Matt Dillon
I see.
Kitty Grant
I don't know where he went, what he's up to. He acted mighty strange. Like last night, he wouldn't look me in the eye. That ain't like him, Marshall. Really ain't like Elvin. Pray Lord he don't never get like him.
Matt Dillon
Elvin came back yesterday, Ms. Graveyard.
Kitty Grant
What?
Matt Dillon
He was around town last night and Billy seen him.
Kitty Grant
That's why he was acting the way he was.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, maybe.
Kitty Grant
I hope he'd never come back. Even if he is my own son. He'll work on Billy now. He'll get him started down the same road he's on, Mrs. Grant.
Matt Dillon
Oh, Bill was dead.
Kitty Grant
Dead?
Matt Dillon
Yes. And he and two other men broke into the Cattleman's bank last night. When I started to arrest him, he drew and fired at me.
Kitty Grant
Dead. Eldon. I think I better sit down here. Here, ma'. Am. Sit down in the chair. Well, I remember the winner. He was four and he caught the pox. I took care of him night and day for a whole week, thinking any hour we was gonna lose him. Might have been better if we had.
Matt Dillon
I'm sorry, Ms. Griffin.
Kitty Grant
Oh, I knowed for three, four years it was gonna end this way, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
I don't know. We should then some way to avoid it.
Kitty Grant
What did I do wrong, Marshall? Back along the years someplace that made him turn bad?
Matt Dillon
A person never knows, I guess, huh? They just do the best they can.
Kitty Grant
I gotta know. I got Billy to think of.
Matt Dillon
Do you think he knew, Ms. Grant? About Elvin being killed?
Kitty Grant
Not when he left this morning. He couldn't have. He was home all night. Nobody's been here.
Matt Dillon
He was probably meeting the three of them somewhere. Hideout, lady.
Kitty Grant
Yeah. I reckon there's a ham mission and some other vittles. What can I do, Marshall? Billy just can't go bad.
Matt Dillon
Well, Lee Sullivan won't be a wrong influence on him. Not now, anyway.
Kitty Grant
You really think that, Marshall? I ain't so sure. Must be a terrible feeling, man.
Matt Dillon
What are you talking about, Kitty?
Kitty Grant
Two men who got away last night. Not knowing who they are or where they are or when they'll step out from behind a building and try to shoot you in the back.
Matt Dillon
They don't have much reason to do that.
Kitty Grant
You killed Elvin Grub. He was in with him. Revenge is a reason.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Kitty Grant
Sometimes I just hope maybe they left the country.
Matt Dillon
I doubt if they have, Kitty. I think they're holed up somewhere around Dodge.
Kitty Grant
Matt, I don't see how you can be so calm about it.
Matt Dillon
I'm not calm, Kitty. Not till I find Billy Grant.
Kitty Grant
If you find him, you'll find them all.
Matt Dillon
Well, I hope so.
Kitty Grant
But you know he's joined up with him.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, you're probably right, Mr. Dillon. Here you are. What's the matter, Jesse?
Kitty Grant
Whoa, Greg. Did he come in here just now?
Matt Dillon
No, I had a score.
Kitty Grant
I just seen him out in the street. Some kid. That sure looked like him. He was heading right in behind Jesse.
Matt Dillon
Evening, Billy.
Kitty Grant
I don't think I have nerds. You dirty rocky killer.
Matt Dillon
Your brother chose the way I Did him. You knew what he was up against. Now, you better put that gun away.
Kitty Grant
Sure will, after I've gifted it in you.
Matt Dillon
Oh, Billy, I'll give a kid more chances than I would a man. But not enough to get myself killed. Now, you hand over that gun.
Kitty Grant
Stay back. More so. I ain't fooling.
Matt Dillon
Did the gang give you the gun? Did they send you in to do their dirty work for them?
Kitty Grant
Stop. Don't come no closer.
Matt Dillon
I'm not putting up with any more foolishness, Billy. Now, you give me that gun before I throw you over my knee and take a flat of my hand to you.
Kitty Grant
No.
Matt Dillon
I said hand that over. Thanks, Chester. Take him over and lock him up.
Kitty Grant
Come on, now, Billy, you're killing. You took a big chance, man. A crazy kid like that works in the gunfighter.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I'm no kidding. And I can't keep him in jail forever,
Kitty Grant
Sam.
Matt Dillon
BY Gee, Mr. Jones, I wouldn't mind
Kitty Grant
being in jail myself. Getting vittles like this. Keith.
Matt Dillon
That some of them wouldn't agree with you, Chester.
Kitty Grant
Getting them fetched to you just like a fancy hotel.
Matt Dillon
Now, here's your breakfast, Willie.
Kitty Grant
I don't want none.
Matt Dillon
Maybe you'll change your mind. All right, take it inside. Chester,
Kitty Grant
breakfast now. I told you, I don't want it.
Matt Dillon
All right, then we'll load it. Let them eggs and salt, boy, go to waste.
Kitty Grant
You can just eat cold mud tomorrow morning. I'm all out of here, Marshall. You ain't got nothing to hold me first.
Matt Dillon
Judge Bent says different. He's gonna set bail this afternoon or tomorrow.
Kitty Grant
Tomorrow, Peter.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, you'll probably let her. You really hate her, don't you, Billy?
Kitty Grant
Hate her?
Matt Dillon
You crazy if you don't, hater. Why are you doing the same thing to her that your brother did?
Kitty Grant
You shut up, Marcus.
Matt Dillon
Don't understand.
Kitty Grant
Elman was big. He took anything he wanted and didn't ask nobody.
Matt Dillon
He's not big now, Billy. No bigger than the rest of them out there on Boot Hill.
Kitty Grant
You're going to pay for that, Marshall. If they don't get you, I will.
Matt Dillon
They? Who's they, Billy? You'd like to know, wouldn't you? They're a pair of sneaking, thieving rats, the same as Elvin was. You don't owe them anything. Now, where are they?
Kitty Grant
Matt, you old man.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I'll be right up, Doc. You better think it over, Billy.
Kitty Grant
You think it over, Marshall. Maybe we'll call him Rat. From where I'm going to punch you for killing that Ruth. He's pretty head up Ain't he?
Matt Dillon
Yeah. Come on in, Doc.
Kitty Grant
Oh, Matt, you still got the grub boy here?
Matt Dillon
We just took him his breakfast.
Kitty Grant
Oh, good. I figured maybe he'd wanted to know about his ma. What about her? It was that herd of yearling calves
Matt Dillon
she's got out there. Seems that she was trying to whoop him by herself and they knocked her
Kitty Grant
down and trampled her.
Matt Dillon
But she hurt that she'd be laid
Kitty Grant
up in bed a week or so. She looks worse off than she is when you think the Indians had caught a million and beat her to a pulpit. My trouble never comes single once it starts.
Matt Dillon
Wait a minute, Doc. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. It might work. If she'll go along with it, that just might work. We leave the horses here.
Kitty Grant
All right.
Matt Dillon
Come on, Bella. Let's go in and see her.
Kitty Grant
What happened to her? Why won't you tell me what happened to her?
Matt Dillon
I guess she wants to tell you herself.
Kitty Grant
Ma. Ma, where are you?
Matt Dillon
All right.
Kitty Grant
Go on, Ma. You all so, Billy. At least I guess I will be. Doc says I will. But Billy, why they got handcuffs on you? You ain't nothing, Ma. Marshall said he know where you was and he bet you. But what's he done, Marsh?
Matt Dillon
Well, he just lost his head, old man. I might have been willing to forget that part, but hell, he's dead set on protecting a couple of bank robbers. And I figured a jail cell might change his mind for him.
Kitty Grant
Them two that was with Elvin, that's who it was. His partner's friends. That's who you're protecting now, Ma. They're a sneaking coward. Just as low and mean and worthless as Elvin had. Got to think he's dead, Ma. You got no call to talk about him like that. Dead yet. Better off dead. I'm his own Ma. Saint. You oughta been here this morning, Billy. Shake hands with your friends. Maybe you could have helped them. What you talking about? Look at me. How do you think this happened? They wouldn't do that. Your friends. Yours and Elvin. All I seen was the handkerchief over their faces. They said Elvin had told them I was keeping money for them. Money they'd stole somewhere. No, they didn't. They wouldn't have dragged me out in New York, eh? Used their boots, chunk of stove wood.
Matt Dillon
I'll kill em.
Kitty Grant
So help me, I'll kill em both. Why, then they're the same kind as Elvin. They were his friends. Well, they ain't my friends, Marsha. Their names is Chuck Stellar and Curly Tallman. They're at that old abandoned sod house west of Branch Fork Crossing, just above the ridge.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I know where it is, Willie. All right. Take the handcuffs off. Just a few.
Kitty Grant
Is he.
Matt Dillon
I'm sorry, Marshall. I acted pretty crazy. Well, I'll do once in a while. Do it.
Kitty Grant
Elvin must have been the same kind,
Matt Dillon
or he wouldn't have run with him. I guess he wasn't so big at all. No, Billy. Not very big, I'm afraid.
Kitty Grant
Billy, would you mind fixing me a cup of tea? Right away. Now, you just lay back there and rest. You're gonna be well in no time. I lied to him, Marshall. It was a white lie, though, wasn't it?
Matt Dillon
Yes, ma'.
Kitty Grant
Am.
Matt Dillon
About as white as they come, Ms. Grant. Well, Chester, I guess we better go bring him in.
Kitty Grant
Sa. Sam, produced and Directed by Norman McDonald.
Matt Dillon
Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, US Marshall. Featured in the cast were Polly Bear as chapter, Howard McNear as Doc, and Georgia Ellis as Kitty. George Walsh speaking. Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story on gun smoke.
Kitty Grant
Sam.
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If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem. With Grainger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
Procurement Manager Narrator
This is the story of the 1. As a procurement manager for a hospital system, she keeps every facility in her network stocked and ready. That's why she counts on Grainger to be her single source for thousands of products, from disinfectants to lighting, air filters and more. And with fast, dependable delivery, Grainger helps her keep every facility stocked, safe and running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickranger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
Grainger/Panasonic Advertiser
If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem. With Grainger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
Kitty Grant
Foreign.
Andrew Rines (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.
Grainger/Panasonic Advertiser
If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem. With Granger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
Procurement Manager Narrator
This is the story of the One As a procurement manager for a hospital system, she keeps every facility in her network stocked and ready. That's why she counts on Grainger to be her single source for thousands of products, from disinfectants to lighting, air filters, and more. And with fast, dependable delivery, Grainger helps her keep every facility stocked, safe and running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
Grainger/Panasonic Advertiser
If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem. With Grainger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
Podcast Host: Andrew Rhynes
Original Air Date: March 10, 1957
Podcast Episode Date: March 7, 2026
This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns features the classic “Grebb Hassle” from Gunsmoke, unpacking themes of family, redemption, and the relentless consequences of crime. Marshal Matt Dillon faces a tense showdown when an old troublemaker, Elvin Gribb, returns to Dodge City, upsetting his struggling family and dragging his younger brother and townsfolk into the crossfire. As secrets unravel, the episode probes questions of responsibility, change, and the hard choices confronting a lawman on the Western frontier.
Mrs. Gribb Attack: Doc reports Mrs. Gribb was injured: while tending calves, she was trampled—possibly due to the stress and chaos in the family (17:05).
The Turning Point — Truth for Billy:
“Grebb Hassle” maintains the gritty, somber, and deeply human tone that defines Gunsmoke. Dialogue mixes hard-edged realism with flashes of compassion, as characters wrestle with guilt, grief, and the hope for renewal. The restored audio and careful acting bring every emotional exchange to vivid life.
For listeners:
This episode is a poignant exploration of crime’s ripple effects across families and communities, driven by taut character drama and moral ambiguity. Through Marshal Dillon’s steady hand—and Mrs. Gribb’s desperate love—the frontier’s harshness is matched by moments of compassion and hard-earned wisdom.