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Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines and I'm excited to bring you another episode. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. You can find more western shows at our website by going to otrwesterns.com now let's get into this episode.
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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 with 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 chancy job and it makes a man watchful and a little lone.
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The lively crowd today. Agree, those who think young, say Pepsi please. They picked the right one, the modern light one. Now it's Pepsi for those who think young. So go ahead and pick the drink. Bedlift. You drink young as you think. Yes. Get the right one. A modern life one. Now it's Texas for those who think young.
Good morning, Kitty. Well, you're out early today. I'm a working man. I have to keep regular hours, you know. Then what were you doing in the long branch at 2:00 clock this morning? Morning? Well, sometimes it's a regular 24 hours. Like you. Well, at least I make good money at it. Kitty, would you really like to see me settle down and run a saloon? You might get to like it. All right, I'll do it. When?
When I'm about 50. Good morning, Miss Kitty. Oh, hello, Chester. Miss Dun. Here's a letter for you. Yeah, thanks.
As Zemblo says it, from Judge Rambo over in Wichita. Uh huh.
Anything important?
Yeah, court order for eviction. Seems Brandon Teak didn't file legally on his land over by Wagon Mound. You say Brandon Teak? Where did you know him, Kitty? Everybody knew him around Abilene. Yeah, he had a pretty bad reputation then. Doesn't he still? No, I haven't seen him for some time, Kitty. But he's married and he's trying to prove up some land. Well, I don't envy you trying to put him off it, Brandon. Teeth never shoved very easy. But I will cop. Well, Ms. Dillon, do you have to evict him off? Maybe the judge made a mistake or something. No, I'm no admirer of Judge Rambo, but he knows his law.
We'll write out there this afternoon, Chester. Be sure your gun's loaded, Matt. Maybe I won't need it, Kitty. You want to bet?
No, no, I guess nothing, Mr. Jones. You ask me, Keats went and built himself a mighty nice place out here. Yeah, he sou.
Hello, Teague. Hello, Marshall. Chester. All right, Teague, what brings you out this way? Well, here, you might as well read it yourself. What's this?
Court order.
Immediate eviction.
Well, what's this all about, Marshall? That's just what it says. Well, I got my deed to this place. Yeah, but you failed to register it at the land office. Well, now, nobody told me about that. I'm sorry, T. You're gonna be a whole lot sorrier you try to put me off this land. Marshal. Brandon, who you talking to? You. You stay inside, sir. It ain't nothing.
And it won't hurt if I come out.
This is my wife, Marshall Dillon and Chester Proudfoot. I. Dylan. I do, ma'. Am. Marshall. Is there trouble, Brandon? They say we got no legal right to this Place, Sarah. I didn't register the deed or some fool thing. No, now don't you worry. There ain't nobody gonna move us off, Laura. No law, it's a court order. I ain't wore a gun since I got married, Marshall, but I can sure or go put one on Brandon. Now, Sarah, you can't forget your promise, especially now. You can't. It's all the more reason for fighting, Sarah.
We're gonna have a child, Marshall, most any day now. Well, and we ain't moving. We ain't starting over. If we have to, we can do it. I'd rather die than see you go to fighting again, Bren. Now you think on it.
She sure don't make it easy on me, Marshall. What are you going to do? Take.
Well, it's a hard thing for a man like me to swallow, but I can't go against her and.
I ain't putting on my gun. Why don't you go in and tell her that? And when will I tell her? We got to get off the place. There's no hurry now. What about that immediate eviction? I'll be responsible for that. I guess I ought to be grateful to you. No, no, no, Teek, not to me. Goodbye. Goodbye, Marshall. Chester here. Bye.
My jinger Mint there. I thought he was gonna make trouble. Sure, yeah. When are you gonna put him off, Mr. Dillon? I'm going over to Wichita, Chester. I'll find out there.
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When it's cravenient. Okay, like a freshly baked cookie made with real butter, available right down the street at am, pm or a savory breakfast sandwich I can grab in just.
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A second at am, pm I'm seeing a pattern here.
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Well, yeah, we're talking about What I.
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Crave, which is anything from AM PM.
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Blue Monday tomorrow. Not at all. Tomorrow on Arthur Godfrey time, for instance, you can enjoy quips from the redhead himself. Plus the fine singing of Richard Hayes and the Mary Mayo Singers with Dick Hyman in the orchestra. Genial Gary Moore will be joshing with his sidekick Derwood Kirby on the Gary Moore Radio Show. Art Link letters House party will play host to more merriment. And Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney will regale you with grandsongs grandly sung. Listen to a lineup like that five mornings a week and you'll never have a Blue Monday or any other work day again.
Hello, Judge.
Marshall. Dylan. What are you doing in Wichita? I came to see you. That's so. How'd you know I was in here? Well, that's where I found you last time, Judge. Oh. Have a drink. No, thanks. It's about that court order you sent me. Which court order, Marshall? To evict Brandon Teak off his land near Wagon Mound. Oh, that. Yeah, I remember. What's the trouble? Is he putting up a fight now? No, he isn't. Well, you sure must have changed. I remember Teek around here. He was a wild one. He's married now, Judge. They're expecting a child any day. A child? I told them that they could take their time about moving. Take their time? That order was to evict them at once, Marshall. I know that.
Marshall Dillon, there is no room for sentiment in the law. Was right is right. What's legal is legal. Dick's been on that land over a year, Judge. How come this business about failing to register his deed just came up? It was only recently brought to my attention. And who brought it to your attention? Lee Sprague. Not that it makes any difference. Lee Sprague owns a lot of liner on Wagon Mound. And he's filed on this piece, too. There's nothing irregular about it, Marshall, if that's what you're thinking. Legally, I'm sure everything's correct, Judge, but.
But I just guess it isn't my kind of law, that's all. There's only one kind of law, the way you see it. Maybe you can't argue with facts, Marshall. Now, stop being a sentimental fool. Fool. Go do your duty. Look, Judge, Brandon Tikk's a changed man. He's done more than prove up that land. He's proved himself up, too. Homestead Act 1862, paragraph 12 after one year of the deed to such land is not duly recorded at the near. Never mind, Judge. I know how it reads. And start acting like it, I can hold even the US Marshalled in contempt of court, you know. Yeah, sure, I know. You got a lot of power, Judge. There's just one thing wrong. What's that? You never learned how to use it.
Marshall Dillon, I want to talk to you. Sprig. Come in, come in.
How do you know I was in Dodge today? I found out. It's.
About Brandon Teak.
Something wrong? No, not legally. Judge Rambo made that pretty clear.
You want to tell me what's bothering you, Marshall? Yeah, sure.
I think Brandon Tigg deserves that land more than you do.
Marshall, I'm in the land and cattle business. I'm making out mighty well. No man can accuse me of ever doing anything illegal or dishonest. But everybody knows I practice sharp. I'll go on practicing sharp, too, even against a man like Teek, who's hung up his gun and steeled down and tried to make a life for him and his family. What do you mean, his family? There's a child coming any day now.
And he's better off in town. Marshall. What? My wife stayed in the country. That's why I lost her.
Well, it looks to me like I'm doing Teek a favor. You got an awful easy conscience, Sprague. Oh, there's no use arguing, Marshall. You got your order. Now you go put them off. No, Sprague, I'm not gonna do it. What? I couldn't hold my head up if I had any part of the kind of law you and Judge Rambo want. You mean that?
Yeah, I mean that.
I ain't gonna let you stand in my way, Marshall, you're in for trouble.
It's Brandon teak and his misses both talking to that fella yonder. Ms. Dunn? Yeah. You recognize him, Chester? No, sir, I don't. He's a stranger than me.
I'm saying you just ain't got no right. Look like they're all head up over something, don't it? Yeah. Ms. De Carton, to be standing out in the he that a that way and settle this. Haley got nothing to do with it no more. That's the trouble here, Tig. I'll do. Man, you told me there was no hurry about our leaving, Marshall. Wait a minute. Where'd you got that badge, mister? Who are you? I'm Jim Haley, Marshall, Deputy sheriff from Witchita. Witchita? How'd you get Here? Well, I took the train to Dodge, and then they rented me a horse. Answer me, Haley. Judge Rambo sent me. I guess he felt the law needed a little enforcing down this way he's got a court order, Marshall, Just like the one you had. Plum legal. I want you people pack up, be out of here by tomorrow. Just a minute. I can take care of Marshall. No, Brandon. There'll be no fighting. Now, Sarah, I. You ain't going to do nothing except move te. And right now. No. No. Here.
Pick up his gun, Chester. Yes, sir. She hurt t.
I'll be all right. She only grabbed his arm. He's gone and hurt her, Marshall, flinging her off like that. Chester. Yes, sir. Jump on your horse and ride for Dodge. Tell Doc to get out here. F.
Oh, my. Ain't Doc never come out of that house? Ms. Dylan. It's been a long time, hasn't it? She shouldn't have grabbed me, but I didn't mean to hurt her. You just keep quiet, Haley. Nobody wants to hear from you. Ms. Dillness. Doc. Yeah. He's been over two hours. He don't look none too happy, does he?
Well, Doc.
The baby's dead. Matt. Oh, no. It's too bad. I didn't do it. I only pushed her. I told you to shut up, Haley. There wasn't a chance of saving the baby. It's her I've been working on. She's gonna be all right now, Matt. I'm good for that anyway. Doctor.
Doc tell you, Marshall? Yeah. I'm sorry to hear it, Teek. I'm sorry, too. But you can't blame me for it, Haley. I just now promised my wife I wouldn't kill you. Now, don't make me break it. Come on, Haley. I'll take you in the dodge with me. Now, look here. Ain't you forgetting I'm a lawman, too, Mark. I'd like to forget it. It doesn't make me very proud of being one. I come here to do a job, and I'm gonna do it. Soon as his wife can be moved, of course. Now this is all over. There's no reason for waiting longer. I promised her I wouldn't kill you. Now, Haley. But you come back here, I promise you I will. A man can take only so much. I'll be back. No, you won't. I'm gonna throw you in jail for a while. What? Take as soon as your wife's better, you come and see me. I don't know what I can do, but things aren't going on.
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Hello, Chester. Oh, Doc. Where's Matt? In the office talking to Lee Sprague. Well, it's a little late to be talking to him, isn't it? I'd say so.
Doc. You sure Brandon Te's coming to Dodge today? That's what he told me. There's a neighbor woman staying with his wife. Not that she really needs anybody now. Well, I'm proud to hear that. It's only been a week, but she's a strong woman. Oh, here we are.
He did come.
Hello, Doc. Chester. Ok. How's the patient? Oh, pretty good, Doc. She's being awful brave about it. I know how she feels. Only time will cure that. Yeah, I guess so. T.E. m's in the office. Warned you to go right on in when you got here. Okay.
Hello, Teak. Come on in.
You know Lee Sprague, don't you? Yeah. Yeah, I know him. Hello, Teek. Sprague and I were over at the land office this morning. I think we got everything straightened out. What do you mean? Here, take a look at this.
What is it? It's a deed to the land you're on, Teek. This time it's legally registered. Sure, I can see that. And it's registered in your name? That's right. Did you help him with this, Marshall? I wanted to be sure that there weren't any loopholes. And there aren't any, huh? No. You know, if it wasn't for my wife, you people would have to shoot me off that place. But I warned her. I can only stand so much. You send Jim Haley out there, I'll kill him on sight. I sent Haley back to Wichita this morning. Teek, I want to tell you something. Ain't you said enough spray? No. Now, listen. I'm a greedy man, Teek, and I'll take anything I can get legally. But Marshal Dillon here's been talking pretty hard to me lately. Sure. Sure, I've been listening to him, too. Well, it ain't Haley you ought to blame, Teek. It's me. Why, I guess I'd have gone right on. And I could have. Till I heard about your baby. Why should that matter to you? I lost my son, Teek. I lost my wife, too. Taking my land. Gonna help you. You tell him, Marshall. Take? He's not taking your land now. That deed's in his name, ain't it? Didn't you go along to be sure he didn't make any mistake? There are no mistakes this time. Sprague can deed that land to anybody he wants to. Now, all clear. Well, what about it? It's yours, Tig. You.
You mean you're giving it to me? I'm not giving it to you. It's yours anyway.
I'll. I'll tell Sarah. I'll tell her she was right all along. That's right, she was.
But what about you, Marshall? Ain't there going to be trouble? You're jailing a deputy sheriff. As soon as he gets back to Wichita, there'll be trouble. Don't you worry about that. I always wanted to see California anyway.
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Remember how relieved you were when you heard there was at last a vaccine to stamp out polio? Remember the early doubts and fears that it hadn't really been perfected? Those days are behind us. Areas where the Salk vaccine has been taken by substantial numbers of children and adults under 40 have shown remarkable results. But studies made last year show that a most susceptible group have been neglecting themselves. Almost 41 million adults under 40 years of age have not taken as much as one polio shot. You doubt that this is important? If so, please note carefully that after two years of rewarding statistics in 1958, the incidence of polio started to climb again. The vaccine won't work on people who don't take it. At least three shots, spaced, as your doctor or clinic recommends, are vital for maximum protection from polio. The CBS Radio Network and its affiliated stations join the United States Department of Health in urging get your polio shots. Get them starting now.
Gun Smoke, produced and directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston. Featured in the cast were Vic Heron, Gene Bates, John Dana, Barney Phillips and Harry Bartel. Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.
This broadcast concludes the current Gunsmoke series. Next week at this time, the CBS Radio Network and its affiliated stations will welcome back the distinguished dramatic favorite Suspense. The premiere of this new suspense cycle will be Alan Sloan's gripping original play, Call Me at Half Past. Be with us next Sunday at this same time for the return to these stations of suspense. This is George Walsh speaking.
Laughs are on arthur godfrey weekdays on the cbs radio network.
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This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube become one of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank our most recent ranch hands Steve and Ron W. Who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com and you can call and leave us a voicemail 707-986-8739 this episode is copyrighted under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.
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Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Aired: December 6, 2025 (Podcast release)
Featured Actor: Vic Perrin
Episode Theme:
A tale of justice, compassion, and the limitations—and responsibilities—of the law, as Marshal Matt Dillon faces a painful eviction order that tests both his legal obligations and his moral compass.
In this restored episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon must serve a harsh eviction order to an ex-outlaw, Brandon Teek, whose efforts to start a new life are threatened by a legal technicality. The drama explores the conflict between the letter and spirit of the law, the consequences of unfeeling justice, and the human cost of legal rigidity in the American frontier.
| Timestamp | Segment | Description | |-----------|---------|-------------| | 03:56 | Matt, Kitty, Chester | Receiving eviction order, discussing Teek’s past | | 06:07 | Matt, Teek, Sarah | Serving the order; family’s dilemma revealed | | 11:08 | Dillon, Judge Rambo | Law versus compassion; Rambo’s rigidity | | 14:11 | Dillon, Sprague | Legality vs. justice; growing conflict | | 16:29 | Jim Haley’s arrival | Law forcibly imposed, resulting tragedy | | 18:37 | Doc, Dillon, Teek | Baby’s death; emotional fallout | | 22:48 | Teek, Dillon, Sprague| Resolution—deed transferred to Teek | | 24:38 | Teek, Sprague | Forgiveness, deed is Teek’s, closure |
"Letter of the Law" is a powerful exploration of the perennial Western theme: what happens when the administration of justice collides with the often messy realities of human life. Marshal Dillon’s refusal to enforce injustice in the name of the law marks him as both a man of principle and compassion—and the episode leaves listeners contemplating where true authority and decency reside.
Restored and showcased by OTRWesterns.com—bringing classic radio drama to new generations with digital clarity.