Hellbent Harriet | Gunsmoke (02-10-57)

Summary

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Old Time Radio Westerns

Episode Summary: “Hellbent Harriet” | Gunsmoke (02-10-57)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns, hosted by Andrew Rynes, presents the Gunsmoke drama “Hellbent Harriet.” In this digitally restored production, listeners are plunged into a tale from the American frontier, exploring justice, intuition, and the burdens women bear in a harsh land. The story centers on the suspicious death of Jim Morney and his widow Harriet, whose conviction about her husband’s murder drives the plot toward a surprising and evocative conclusion.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. The Suspicious Death of Jim Morney (03:34–08:46)

• Marshal Matt Dillon and Harriet Morney return to her homestead to deliver grim news: Jim Morney is dead, apparently killed in a riding accident.

• Harriet immediately voices her doubts, insisting her husband was murdered, not killed by misadventure, and accuses Burl Albin (a neighbor with designs on her and her land).

  “Jim didn’t die by no accident. He was done for in cold blood.”
  — Harriet Morney (08:09)

• Matt listens thoughtfully, but physical evidence appears to support an accident (dragging by a horse).

2. Doubt, Intuition, and Hardened Experience (09:31–11:13)

• Doc expresses skepticism at Harriet's suspicions, reaffirming that the wounds fit a horse accident and suggesting grief is clouding her judgment.

• Matt, however, can’t shake Harriet’s certainty, recognizing an uncommon groundedness about her.

  “She’s so sure, Doc. It’s not just a matter of suspicion. She knows. And the way she says it, it gets you wondering if maybe she could be right.”
  — Matt Dillon (10:34)

3. Suspect and Motive (12:24–13:53)

• Matt confronts Burl Albin at the saloon, probing into his interest in the Morney farm and relationship with Jim and Harriet.

• Burl is unrepentant about his dislike for Jim and his attempts to buy the land but firmly denies any wrongdoing.

  “That woman… she doesn’t get along too well with her husband.”
  — Burl Albin (13:19)

4. A Sign from the Earth (15:10–17:48)

• Harriet calls for Matt, claiming she’s received a “sign” from her late husband—revealed after a violent storm.

• She produces a club with a horseshoe nailed to its end, explaining that the floodwaters unearthed it from the wash where Jim died.

  “Well, today it happened... I want to show you something I pulled out of that driftwood... It’s just an old limb off a mulberry tree.”
  — Harriet Morney (16:04–17:07)

• Matt deduces the club is the murder weapon, suggesting Jim was beaten and the scene was staged.

  “He beat him to death with a club with a horseshoe nailed on the end of it.”
  — Matt Dillon (17:23)

5. The Confrontation and Confession (18:07–19:47)

• Matt summons Burl to confront him with the club, applying psychological pressure.

• Burl, shaken, inadvertently incriminates himself by referencing details only the murderer would know (removing the horseshoe).

  “That ain’t the club—I took the shoe off after...”
  — Burl Albin (19:33)

• Attempting to flee, Burl draws on Matt and is shot dead.

6. Justice and Truth—Or Luck? (20:02–20:44)

• Chester observes that failing to destroy the club was Burl's fatal mistake.

• Matt notes the implausibility that the club would just show up—implying Harriet fabricated it to flush out the truth.

  “She was hoping for just what happened. That Burl’d be thrown off balance enough to give himself away.”
  — Matt Dillon (20:29)

• The question remains: Was it Harriet’s intuition, luck, or the earth itself that brought justice?

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Memorable Quotes

• “Earth folks, he called it. With their feet in the ground like rift, drawing strength on the land.”
  — Harriet Morney (07:41)

• “A murderer’s not always in his right mind.”
  — Matt Dillon (19:38)

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Timestamp Guide to Major Segments

• 03:34–08:46 – Death of Jim Morney, Harriet’s suspicions
• 09:31–11:13 – Doc and Matt debate, Harriet’s mental state
• 12:24–13:53 – Matt questions Burl Albin at the saloon
• 15:10–17:48 – Harriet’s sign from the earth; club discovered
• 18:07–19:47 – Confrontation with Burl; confession and outcome
• 20:02–20:44 – The club’s unlikely appearance and discussion of justice

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Tone and Style

The episode exemplifies the rugged, solemn mood of classic Gunsmoke: a blend of stoic plains justice, dry skepticism, and the resilience of a “strong earth woman.” The dialogue crackles with the tension between law, intuition, and frontier hardship. Harriet’s character is especially memorable for her firm dignity and elemental connection to the land.

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For listeners or readers new to Gunsmoke, “Hellbent Harriet” is a rich parable about the elusive path to justice on the frontier, where truth may depend as much on gut feeling and circumstance as on evidence—and women, underestimated by all, may just be the strongest force of all.

Transcript

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[Harriet Morney]

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 February 10, 1957 and the title is Hell Bent Harriet.

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[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 the U.S. marshal and the smell of gun smoke. John Starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America. 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 chance, a job, and it makes a man watchful and a little lone.

[Harriet Morney]

There's a light in her window, Ms. John. She's home all right.

[Matt Dillon]

Wait not to hear.

[Harriet Morney]

I guess I was kindly hoping she wouldn't be putting it off.

[Matt Dillon]

Wouldn't help any.

[Harriet Morney]

It's not bad business, though. Anyway, look at it.

[Matt Dillon]

That's not. All right. Let's leave the horses here. All right.

[Harriet Morney]

Jim Morney got himself a good piece of land out here. Put in a lot of hard work on it, too. Yeah, that, too. Jim?

[Matt Dillon]

No, ma'. Am. I'm afraid it's not ma'.

[Harriet Morney]

Am. I'll show you. You found him?

[Matt Dillon]

Yes, I'm long about dark.

[Harriet Morney]

Come in. Marshall. Been out since early this morning, Marshall. Might be your drilling. Coffee.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, thanks, man, but we got her right onto the dodging.

[Harriet Morney]

First thing Jim always wants when he's been out in the weather all day is a good hot cup of coffee. Won't hardly say two words for it. Gets it. He was dead, I reckon. Yes, sir. I know he wasn't just hurt, or he'd have got back home one way or another. Jim was like that for three days and nights. My mouth kept saying he's alive someplace, but my inside's no different. I knowed right along he was dead. Jim and me. With that quote.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm sorry, Ms. Corny.

[Harriet Morney]

Where was he? Marsh?

[Matt Dillon]

About three miles north of here. A little gully that branches off a big wash. He was most likely right in the gullies for antelope and his horse threw him. The way I figured, his foot hung in the stirrup.

[Harriet Morney]

He got dragged.

[Matt Dillon]

We came out of the horse right after noon. After that, we knew what to look for.

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I.

[Matt Dillon]

I figured he died real fast this morning.

[Harriet Morney]

I'm glad, sir.

[Matt Dillon]

Doc figured the same thing.

[Harriet Morney]

Been lightning all evening way off there in the west. Spring rain's about due, I reckon.

[Matt Dillon]

Yes, that's building uptown.

[Harriet Morney]

He layin out there in the night somewhere.

[Matt Dillon]

Marshall. A doc took him into the Dodge, ma'.

[Harriet Morney]

Am.

[Matt Dillon]

We had a buckboard brought. Doc's sending a woman up from town to stay with you for a while.

[Harriet Morney]

That won't be needed. It ain't that hard. Lord knows I got a hurt growing inside of me by the minute. But I'll learn to make room for it, live with it. Well, man, there's always been strong, him and me. Earth folks, he called it. With their feet in the ground like rift, drawing strength on the land. Marshall Dim didn't die by no accident. He was done for in cold blood.

[Matt Dillon]

What do you mean by that?

[Harriet Morney]

Neighbor fellow over there. West covets our land. Burl Albin. Reckon he covets me, too, the way he acted. Took to calling me Harriet a while back instead of Mrs. Morney. Jim took his fist to him over that.

[Matt Dillon]

But Jim was dragged and then kicked to death by his horse, Miss Morny.

[Harriet Morney]

I know different, Marshall. Jim and me were that close. The Lord ought to strike Earl Alton with lightning for what he done. Or maybe he will if I help some.

[Matt Dillon]

What are you gonna do?

[Harriet Morney]

I don't rightly know, Marshall. Not before I think on it. I gotta lay down and think and listen. A long time maybe, and finally I'll know. Jim and me were that close. Oh, for heaven's sakes, Matt, have you gone clean out of your mind?

[Matt Dillon]

I'd hate to think so, Doc.

[Harriet Morney]

Well, that's the biggest piece pop a cock ever heard of.

[Matt Dillon]

It sounds different, though, when you hear her say.

[Harriet Morney]

I don't care who says it, Matt. You saw Jim Morney's body, same as I did, and all the marks on it. What'd it look like to you?

[Matt Dillon]

Like he'd been dragged and his horse had kicked into this.

[Harriet Morney]

And that's exactly what happened to him.

[Matt Dillon]

Did you go over the body again like I asked you to this morning?

[Harriet Morney]

Oh, man, I've done nothing else all day but go over it. Only I sure figured you must have some better reason for assing than just the wild ravings of a widow that's half out of her mind with grief.

[Matt Dillon]

Harriet Morny's not the kind to go out of her mind or even half out of it, Doug. I don't know about that.

[Harriet Morney]

Those strong ones fool you sometimes, man. They break up inside instead of on the surface.

[Matt Dillon]

Maybe. Not that Burl Albin isn't capable of murder.

[Harriet Morney]

In my opinion, he's sneaking a catamount. But confounded Matt. He sure couldn't teach a man's horse to throw him and then to kick him to death.

[Matt Dillon]

No, I guess not. Guess not.

[Harriet Morney]

By golly, you're still half convinced.

[Matt Dillon]

No. But she's so sure, Doc. It's not just a matter of suspicion. She knows. And the way she says it, it gets you to wondering if maybe she could be right. That's all.

[Harriet Morney]

Maybe Burl Alban has had his eye on the Morny farm, but so have

[Matt Dillon]

a lot of other people. More than likely.

[Harriet Morney]

It's mighty good land.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah.

[Harriet Morney]

And then too, last fall, Alban got out of line with Mrs. Morny and Jim had to knock some sense into it. Yeah, I heard about it. But it doesn't change the fact that Jim Morney was kicked to death by his horse. It's plain fact that against a widow woman's family.

[Matt Dillon]

All right, Doc, all right. I won't argue with you. That's good. That's good.

[Harriet Morney]

Then get a good night's sleep and forget.

[Matt Dillon]

I said I wouldn't argue with you about it. I didn't say I'd forget it.

[Harriet Morney]

You know, it's funny things, John. The only time the old long grand seems foley. Like when it's raining outside, I guess

[Matt Dillon]

about any place that seemed cozy. Like tonight. Chester. Yes, sir.

[Harriet Morney]

People just like chickens, ain't they? Comes up a shower and they go scooting underneath the house shaking their tail feathers.

[Matt Dillon]

Plenty of them seem to have scooted us here. Sam and Kitty will make more out of this rain than the farmers. Yeah.

[Harriet Morney]

You dance to me. What is it, Mr. John?

[Matt Dillon]

Alvin. Standing over there at the fire. I've been wanting to talk to him. Where? About Jim Mar's death?

[Harriet Morney]

No, I thought you forgot all about that. He's been two weeks now.

[Matt Dillon]

Talking won't do any har. Chester. I'll be back in a minute, Matt.

[Harriet Morney]

I've been so busy I didn't even know you were here.

[Matt Dillon]

I just came in a minute ago. How are you, Kitty?

[Harriet Morney]

Oh, I haven't had time to stop and find out. I haven't been such a Marvin yet at the Santa place. Any bill in the real room?

[Matt Dillon]

Good business. Yeah, I gotta see a fella over there at the bar. Kitty and then we'll have a drink.

[Harriet Morney]

Oh, sure, Matt. I'll join you later.

[Matt Dillon]

All right. Evening, Burl. Oh, Marshall. Well, let me buy you a drink. I already got one, thanks. How things going? Oh, no complaints, Marshall. This rain ought to do you some good, huh? Some. Coming a mite early though. I understand that you've been trying to buy up the morning place. I made a fair offer. Didn't get nowhere though. Dang fool woman thinks she can run that farm alone, she's got another thing coming. She thinks that's what you were counting on about Morny getting killed. Yeah, I know what she thinks all right. What she's been saying she doesn't get along very well with her husband. Did you burn? I didn't get along with him at all. But the fact remains, Marshall, he was robed, dragged, kicked to death by his own horse. Yeah, and Miss Marnie doesn't put much stock. In fact, they're gonna have to take

[Harriet Morney]

that woman away one of these days. Mr. John. Mr. John. Could I see him?

[Matt Dillon]

Excuse me. Yeah, sure. What is it, Justin?

[Harriet Morney]

The hopping boy is rolled in, Mr. John. Good morning, Sandy.

[Matt Dillon]

What for?

[Harriet Morney]

She wants you to come out there tonight right away. What she told the Hawkins boys. Say she's found out how to make the lightning strike.

[Matt Dillon]

All right then. We'll go right away.

[Harriet Morney]

ID clarifies anywhere. I just clean start to melt and run.

[Matt Dillon]

You're never satisfied, Chester. Two months from now it'll be the

[Harriet Morney]

test on these weekends. In between the holes would be nice.

[Matt Dillon]

I'll watch for it.

[Harriet Morney]

Oh, she really has lost her mind.

[Matt Dillon]

I don't know. Justin.

[Harriet Morney]

Come in.

[Matt Dillon]

All right. How you doing this morning, Marshall?

[Harriet Morney]

Chester. Sorry, ma'. Am. Pull up. Sheridan set.

[Matt Dillon]

Go.

[Harriet Morney]

Say you fragment. Mighty sorry to have to bring you out in this. But when happenings choose their own time, the body can't alter them.

[Matt Dillon]

It wasn't a bad ride, man. The storm's let up a lot.

[Harriet Morney]

Didn't it rain this afternoon though?

[Matt Dillon]

It was a real cloudburst for a while.

[Harriet Morney]

Come down in buckets out here. The big wash out there was running banks hole for an hour was up.

[Matt Dillon]

That was quite all right.

[Harriet Morney]

Stumps and tree limbs, brush, I don't know what. All come washing down. Kept snaggin up and jamming their back of the corral. I had to go tricksin out every 20 minutes and work it loose. Cause the water wouldn't back up and flood the barn.

[Matt Dillon]

It's a lot of work for a woman running a place like this long.

[Harriet Morney]

For some women maybe. But I'M strong like I told you. One of the earth folks.

[Matt Dillon]

There's still a limit,

[Harriet Morney]

Marshall. I was made to go out there to that wash today. That's why the storm was and the branch is snaggin up.

[Matt Dillon]

I don't understand.

[Harriet Morney]

Well, Jim was earth folks too. 10 days ago. I give him back to the earth after the ceremony that day I stood up there on Boot Hill and I talked to Jim. I asked for him and the earth to get together to give me a sign to let me know what to do. Well, today it happened.

[Matt Dillon]

This morning. The Hawkins boys said something about lightning striking.

[Harriet Morney]

It ain't struck yet, Marshall, but it's ready to. I want to show you something I pulled out of that driftwood in the wash this afternoon. I reckon it was buried shallow like up on one of the gullies. Or maybe just throw it into a thicket and left. Anyhow, the rain fetched it down to me. It's just a old limb off a mulberry tree. That's not a limb, that's a club.

[Matt Dillon]

Look at the other end of it, Chester.

[Harriet Morney]

My greatest sake.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah.

[Harriet Morney]

Figure he might have roped Jim off his horse or. Or maybe he caught him on foot. Anyway, it looks like that's what he used.

[Matt Dillon]

He beat him to death with a club with a horseshoe nailed on the end of it.

[Harriet Morney]

Mr. Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

Come on in, Chester. Shut the door.

[Harriet Morney]

He's coming, Mr. Dillon. Right down the street there.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, I know. I saw him from the window.

[Harriet Morney]

I can't figure what he's been doing. He rode into town a half hour

[Matt Dillon]

ago having a couple of drinks. I guess he doesn't know why I sent for him. And he's worried you gonna leave that

[Harriet Morney]

club laying right there on table in plain sight.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah. Pull the chairs up around the table, will you?

[Harriet Morney]

All right. If he sees that club gets him in the sink, he'll figure out some lie.

[Matt Dillon]

It may be, but I'm heading the other way. All right, Sit down over there just a minute and don't say anything. And don't pay any attention to that club, huh? Good morning, Marshall. Come on in, Burl.

[Harriet Morney]

Yeah.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, we sure did have ourselves a fine wreck raining yesterday. Yeah. Sit down, bro. Sit down. Yeah, sit down. Well, yeah, sure. What were you saying about the rain?

[Harriet Morney]

Eh?

[Matt Dillon]

The rain? Oh, well, just some fine rains. All what you want to see me about, Doctor? You'll know, girl. Chester didn't say nothing except you wanted to see me. Well, that's not so much to see as hear you, I guess. Hear me? Hear me what Here, you tell me how you killed Jim Morning. Christ. How you beat him to death with a club and made it look like he was thrown and kicked by his horse. It's a lie. That woman's lying on me. This club lying on you too?

[Harriet Morney]

That ain't the club.

[Matt Dillon]

I took the shoe off after. After you'd use it. Maybe you just thought you did, Burl. You dreamed that. A murderer's not always in his right mind. No, you ain't gonna do this to me. You're under arrest for murder.

[Harriet Morney]

No.

[Matt Dillon]

I'll kill you. Don't be a fool. Don't try it, Burl.

[Harriet Morney]

How did you.

[Matt Dillon]

He was a fool, Chester. No jury would have convicted him on that kind of evidence.

[Harriet Morney]

Seems to me he was kind of a fool not to have done like he claimed. Ripped that horseshoe off the club after he'd used it.

[Matt Dillon]

He wasn't just claiming he did rip it off.

[Harriet Morney]

But there it is. Right there on the table.

[Matt Dillon]

Sure, the club Ms. Morney made, Ms. Morny. We're just stretching chance too far chancer to figure that thing would turn up right at her doorstep. She's not a very good liar either. None of you. Watch her eyes.

[Harriet Morney]

But why would she do a thing like that?

[Matt Dillon]

She was hoping for just what happened. That Burl'd be thrown off balance enough to give himself away.

[Harriet Morney]

But how could she know that's how he done it?

[Matt Dillon]

A woman's intuition. Or pretty good guesswork. Or maybe the earth told her.

[Harriet Morney]

Chester, the earth.

[Matt Dillon]

Better go find Doc and get him over here. He's gonna have to make out a coroner's report. Gun Smoke produced and Directed by Norman McDonald. Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, US Marshall. Featured in the cast were Farley 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 mode.

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[Andrew Rines]

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[Grainger Purchasing Manager]

If you're the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, you know having a trusted partner makes all the difference. That's why hands down, you count on Grainger for auto reordering. With on time restocks, your team will have the cut resistant gloves they need at the start of their shift and you can end your day knowing they've got safety well in hand. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.