Lightning Jim Whipple (0:00)

Foreign.

Andrew Rines (0:12)

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 Lightning Gem Original Air date comes from us in 1952 and the title is Lightning Gem Springs a Trap. Hope you enjoy. And again, thanks for listening.

Lightning Jim Whipple (0:53)

Little dog. Know that Tutsberry will be your new. And now for the thrilling Adventures of Lightning Jim. In order to put down a serious Indian uprising to the west, government troops had been ordered out of virtually every military outpost in the vast territory of Arizona. The town of Nesbitt was one of those to find itself without military protection. The last troop of cavalry is leaving. And at the doorway to Slater's Palace, a gambling hall, we find big Jake Slater and his right hand man, Ed Carlisle. Slater is speaking. Go, Ed. The last bunch of them. There won't be no more poop in this territory for a long while. Yeah, I guess you're right, Jake. Ed, what does that mean to you? Mean? I don't know, nothing more than losing some trade? Well, to me it means there ain't going to be no more law and order in these here parts. Yeah, well, what's that got to do with us? Plenty edge. I'm gonna make my own law. I'm gonna take over this town of Nesbitt. By the time I'm through with it, it'll be Big Jake Slater's town. Well, that sounds like a pretty big order, Dick. Ain't no order too big for me. I'm gonna make a fortune out of this place. And if you're smart, you'll string along with me. I'm gonna get you elected sheriff. From now on. It's gonna be just too bad for anybody that don't like to do what Big J. Slater says. Several months later, we find Lightning Jim and Whitey Larson riding the trail to Yuma. Their route takes them through Nesbitt, and as they get to within a few miles of this town, Whitey suddenly reigns in his horse. What's up, Weddy? What planet? Yeah, look over there down in that gully there. Down in what? Oh, I see. You mean that smoke. Oh, that sure looks fun, don't it? Yeah, it sure does, Whitey. Something blazing mighty bad over there. Say, we better see what's up. Come on, Thunder. Come on, come on. Looks like someone's in trouble down there, Whitey. No, but from the way that fire seems to be going, I don't think there'll be much help today. Maybe not, but we'll have to see. Be there In a minute. Now, just over this rise there. There it is. Don't inhuminated there ain't much left to that ranch. Moss that burned right to the ground. Yes. Look. Why they lay in the other corral. See him? No. There's a man on the ground there. Yeah. Looks to me like he's either dead or badly hurt. Come on, my boy. Come on. Hold on, boy. Yes, well, it's still breathing a little. Whitey, give me the canteen, quick. Oh, he bit. There you are. Yeah. Parker, try some of it. Come on now. Here, let me hold your head. Better hold his mouth open, Whitey. Oh, I got this. I don't think there's much use. Lightning. He's shot to pieces. Yeah, you can only get him to talk. He's coming around. Yeah. Yeah. Who done this, partner? Who done this to you? Oh, wait. Letters work gold. Take it easy now, partner. Take it easy. Here with you. No. No. Paradise. Go on, Whitey. Poor fellow. Here, do you think he was trying to tell us that a jigger by the name of sleep or don't. Yeah, that's what I make out of it. Oh, but what does that paradise mean? And who's this thief? That'll come later, Whitey. But we got to give this poor guest a decent barrier. Then we're going to make it our business to answer them questions, get the man or men responsible, and we're going to start the minute we hit Nesbitt. Well, here's the torn and nest would like me. Yeah, and there's the answer to one of the questions we've been wondering about. Now we know what he meant by paradise. No, paradise is the hotel in Thornhill. Yeah, well, I'll be going right over there and get started as soon as we take care of the horses. Whitey, they wonder where they live. They stable should be just down the street ways. They're never very far. Well, Whitey, looks like we're doing all right and getting questions answered. Yeah, yeah, see, I see that too. Yeah. Slater's Palace. Well, so that jaeger runs the gambling hole in this. Yeah, and that ain't always running here either. Take a look at the Liveris people over there to the right. You unpin, ye menace. Well, it looks like we're bumping into that gig over there. Very good. And before we leave here, we'll be bumping into him plenty more. Wagy, the minute we get the horses rubbed down instead, I want you to go over to the Palace. Well, you want me to scout around there? Yeah, see what you can find. Out. Get into a card game if you can. I'm going over to paradise and. Okay. Between the two of us, you should have a pretty fair idea what's going on in there. Howdy, stranger. Howdy. What can I do for you? Well, maybe you can tell me if there's an ombre around here by the name of Steve. Steve? Yeah, that's my handle. Steve Norton, what do you ask? You don't happen to know a rancher with a small place some miles west of town, do you? Why, my brother Ted's got a place. What's the matter, stranger? Why you asking all them questions? Is there something wrong with Ted? I'm afraid there is, Norton. What is it? What's happened to him? The talk up, man. Norton, I'm afraid your brother's dead. Killed and his place burned to the ground. Ted killed him? Yeah, in his place, burned? That's right, Norton. That's Slater's work. He's the one that done it. Slater murdered Ted. I'll get that yellow livered skunk for that. Get him if it's the last thing on earth. Norton, hold on. That ain't gonna get you nowhere. He's pulled his last killing around these parts. I'll blow him to bits of dirty murder. Norton, stop it. It'll be taken care of all right, but I'm the one that'll do it. You? What do you got to do with it? I happen to be Jim Whipple, United States Marshal. Jim Whipple? Yeah. Then. Then you must be Lightning Jim. I've been called that, yes. Now get off this warpath for a minute and listen to me. You're certain that Slater killed Ted and so am I. But before we can take any action, we gotta have proof. I don't need no proof. Slater swore he'd get Ted when he found he couldn't buy that waterhole property from him, and he did. Ever since the troops left Nesbitt, he's been running things as he pleased. Stealing, rustling, murdering. Well, he's all washed up now because I'm going to get him. Yeah, you'll get him all right. You do it by helping me. Norton, I'm telling you straight that I ain't leaving Nesbitt until I get your brother's murderer and Plato's gang is broken up. Now, do you want to do things my way? Or we'll have to lock you up to keep you out of trouble. All right, Marshal, String along with you. Good. First, answer a couple of questions. Your brother said something about gold being gone. You know what he meant well. He must have been talking about some dust we pan out of the creek. We were going to use it to buy cattle and finish paying for the hotel here. I see. Now tell me, how do you stand with the law abiding citizens in town? Most of them are my friends, I reckon. Fine. I want you to contact all the men you can find trust. Tell him to be ready for action at any time. Meanwhile, I'm going over to Slater's Palace. Norton, you don't have to worry about a thing. I'm going to smoke Slater out of the opening. Ponto. Gentlemen who stand? Well, not me. Me neither. Well, I think I'll stay in this point. I'm out. Well, that leaves you and me, stranger. How many cards? Let me see. Well, I'll take one. One card it is. There you are. I am taking three. Well, I opened the pot and I'm betting $20. Send Allus the can. You sneak and call you. I am holding three aces, partner. Count them. One, two, three. Well, I am afraid that beats me. Guess I'll have to trip. Oh, hello lady. And see you standing up. Hello, ladies. Yeah, too bad. Better luck next time. What about you, stranger? Want to sit in? No, don't reckon so. When I play cards, I like to get a run for my money. Nevy? I didn't hear you right, stranger. You were saying? I said I like to get a run for my money. And that's hard to do when the dealer pulls the third ace from the bottom of the deck. You're saying that I cheated? I am. Don't go for your gun, dude. Dirty liar. Reckon that'll teach you a lesson, dealer. With that bullet through your hand, you won't find it so easy to cheat at cards again. Keep your eyes on the rest of them, Omnic buddy. Don't let them start nothing. No, I get them covered all right. Steve won't get smart. Hey, hey, what's that shooting about? What's going on here? I was just teaching that card shop over there that it don't pay to cheat. Not when I'm around. What they talking about? 10 spot? This smart stranger tried to tell me I was cheating, Jake. What for your gun. And he beat, huh? Yeah, he did. And who are you, stranger? Button in here and call one of my dealers for chasing one of your dealers. And I take it you're Slater. Yeah, I'm Slater all right. And I'm still waiting for an answer. Who are you? My name's Whipple, Jim Whipple. I happen to be a United States Marshal. Marshal. Yeah. Well, why didn't you say so in the first place? I reckon then if you called Ten Spot, you had a reason for it. Ten Spot, you're through. Oh, now, look here. I said you were through. I'd pay you off when I get finished talking to the marshal here. Now, get. Leave that money on the table. All right, all right. Grateful to you, Marshall, for showing him up to me. I run an hour out here. Yeah? Then you won't mind my deputy taking the money lost, huh? Why, no so or not. Pick it up, partner. Pick it up. You bet. Come here. Don't you worry. How long you expect to be around these parts, Marshall? Oh, I'll be hanging around for a while, I reckon. Yeah, that's good. If there's anything you want, just call on me. Place is yours while you're in town. Thanks. Later. Might pick you up on that. Come on, buddy. Let's get back to the hotel. Oh, I'm ready if you like. So that Lightning Gym, huh? Going to stay in town for a while. I think I'll have some plans for him. Hey, 10. Yes, what is it? Come here. Yeah? Just forget that talk about being fired and get Ed Carlisle over here right away. I got something for him to do. Lightning Jim. Are you sure? J. You heard me. Ed Lightning. Gems in Nest. Then what are we hanging around for? We gotta get out of here. Leave this gold mine. Just because a lawman walked into town? Don't be crazy. We're gonna get rid of him. But how are we gonna do that? You're the sheriff. You're going to the paradise tonight and get talking to him. Then somebody's gonna come in and tell you thieves is breaking into the bank. What? I got you so far, Jake. You get the marshal to go with you. When you get to the bank, see that he goes in the front door and you go in the back. You got it? Yeah, but what's all this got to do with getting rid of him? Cause when he gets inside the bank, he's got to be met by a reception committee made up of a couple of my best gunslingers. Oh, so that's it, huh? Yeah, that's it. Marshall's gonna stay in Nesbitt a while, all right. A permanent little home on the top of Cemetery Hill. If it was Jim's idea to get Slater moving, he succeeded, all right. But is he prepared for a trap like the one being planned for him? The thrilling second part of the Adventures of Lightning Jim will follow Ra. And now for part two of Lightning Jim Springs A trap. Lightning, Jim and Whitey on their way to Yuma, Arizona and to the town of Nesbitt. They learn that Big Jake Slater has been running the town with a free hand since government troops had been withdrawn from the territories. Jim enlists the aid of Steve Norton, the brother of a man they believe was murdered by Slater. Slater learns that Jim is in town and immediately plots with Ed Carlisle, the sheriff and his right hand man to trap Jim in a fake bank robbery and kill him. We now find him early that same evening talking to Steve Norton in the Paradise Hotel. Tell me, Steve, did you contact them men like I told you? I sure did, lightning. I got 20 of them that are with us to a match. Good. Reckon the time ain't far off. Then we'll be leading them. But what's your plan, Lightning? What are you expecting to do? I'm waiting for Slater to make the first move, Steve. Oh, but he's like a copperhead. He told it to be someone summoned. Well, howdy, gent. Howdy. Howdy. Carlisle. I take it you're a Lightning Jim stranger. Yeah, I'm Carlisle. Ed Carlisle, Sheriff of the town here. Glad to know you, Sheriff. I just heard you was visiting us, so I came in to bid you welcome. Mighty fine of you. I want you to know that you can take things easy while you're here. It ain't a blessed thing for you to do. Ed Carlisle knows how to handle. Sheriff. What's the hurry? Transp. What's on your mind? I was just passing the bank, Sheriff, and I happened to see a couple of hombres going in. Going into the bank. At this hour of the night? That's right. Looked funny to me. So. So I went after you, Prono. Oh, thanks. I'll check into that right away. How about it, Marshall? You want to come along? Sure do, Sheriff. Let's get started. Oh, there you are. Thunder plant 15 and Vori. Buddy, are you there? No, I'm 60. I was hoping to find you here at the stables. Dick. Lightning. I'm afraid he's walking into a trap. A trap, baby. Over at the bank. He was in the hotel. Never mind the talk to him. Let's get over there first to the right. W. Oh, that way. You hear that sword taking so blurry. If he heard lightning bite. Galley down please. This way. W. Around the back. That bit. Come on, we got to get here. Time we got to. There's the rear door of the blank, honey. Oh, I see it. It's open. Come on, Steve. Drop the gun. Drop it. You know what if you're all in that daddy? But she's going to shoot lightning. Lightning. Lightning. Are you all right? This might be lightning. Lady. You don't hear misty. Let me see now. It's all right. Just been creased. Are you sure? Yeah, positive. You? He's coming around wedding. Good night, Nick. Norton. I'm sure glad to see you. He invited you to relax him. Legitimacy, buddy. Didn't you know there was a trap? Sure I knew it was a trap. Why I went See, I don't. Get your light in there. If you knew that, then why did you go? But I was trying to get evidence on Plater. Thought maybe I'd be able to get a prisoner that would talk. What happened when you went in? Two of them. I managed to get both. Then Kle come in the back way. K? Well, who's that? Sheriff and Nesbit War skunk. He's Slater's right hand man. The sheriff? Yeah. War had a chance to get a bead on him. He shot. Next thing I knew, the two of you were standing over me. Well, then he see a grass shot just as he was going to finish the job. And that hurt. Little pig. Yeah, it sounds like one of them's still alive. By galley. That's the sheriff fella. Well, I thought they'd done a better job than that. Let's take a look at him, see how bad he's hurt. Dead. Shot in the shoulder, that's all. Unconscious, though. Better get him to a dock. He like in there. Look what's on the floor here beside him. Let me see it. Weddy. Well, a buckskin poke half full, filled with gold dust. Must have dropped out of his pocket when he fell. His nieces on it too. Looked like the letters T N T N. Yeah. Lichen. That Polk was my brother's. Them letters stand for Ted Norton. Sure about that, Steve? Positive. All the gold dust we had was in pokes with them initials burned on them. And it looks like we're playing. Take them other two homies, will you? See if they're alive. They got any of them poked on them. I sure will. Lightman here. Do you mean that you think that Carlisle and the other yiggers did the killing at Northman's ranch? No, I don't, buddy. But I think they'll lead us to the one that did the mother. To have folks like this one and my springing this trap did us plenty of good. Yes. I don't get that light. You'll see in a little while. Weddy. How about it, Steve? Any Luck they're both deadlighting. You were right. Both of them had a poke of dust on him with the same initial. That's fine. Steve, I want you to round up all them friends of yours either to get over to Slater's palace pronto. We're going to bring Sheriff Kalia here to trial. But what good is that going to do? Slater is the one we are at. Don't worry about that, Whitey. By the time we get through, Slater will be hung for murder. Lightning Jim held Sheriff Carlisle prisoner and then set his trial for the murder of Ned Norton. Big Jake Slater appeared in court with 10 of his best gunslingers, ready to take things in his own hands if the trial went against Carlisle. At a word from Slater, the gunmen were to draw, thus affecting the escape of Carlisle. The trial opens with Lightning Jim telling his story. Judge, I went along with him to investigate. When I got inside, I was ambushed by two gunslingers. I managed to get both of them, but just then Carlisle came in the back door and blazed away at me. My deputy, Whitey Larson come in just in time to stop him from killing. All right, all right. Now it'll quiet be. Suppose you tell us your story, Larson. Oh, you bet you. Just a minute, Judge, just a minute. Don't the defendant get a chance to tell his side of the story? Sorry, dust later. Just to. As soon as the marshal gets through presenting the evidence against him. Go ahead, Larson. Well, when I went through the back door into the bank, I saw Sir Lyler drawing a bead and lightning. I told him to drop his gun, but he wouldn't do it. So I had to shoot him through the shoulder. I guess that's about all. You're sure he was going to shoot the Marshall Ladson? Oh, ye bit of us. Steve Norton can tell you the same thing gave us right there. We're right, Judge. We went into the bank together and I saw the same thing. If Whitey hadn't been so fast on the trigger, Carlisle had got the marshal sure. Quiet. Quiet back there. Quiet. Now. Now, Carlisle, what have you got to say in your own defense? Well, guess what? I told the marshal before in the darkness, I made a mistake. And I thought he was one of the robbers, so I shot at him. Sure is tough when a man gets shot and brought into court when he's just trying to do his duty. See, I knew there'd be some simple reason to explain it. Judge Farrow's got a perfect record here in Ned. He couldn't have done nothing like that. Listen, this Slater, Judge we got evidence here that shows he's committed murder before. If you don't keep quiet, I'll clear the courtroom. What are you talking about, Marshall? I never murdered nobody in my life. Oh, you see this poke of gold dust, Carlisle? Well what about it? Dropped out of your pocket when you fell in the bank. Well, what if it is? Having a poker dust don't mean you committed a murder. And he's right, Marshall. It doesn't mean a thing. It does this time Judge. That poker dust belongs to Ted Norton. Yes. You all know by now what happened to him the last time. You've got to keep quiet there. You'll have to keep quiet or get out. Ashu. That's a pretty strong statement you just made. Can you prove it? I sure can. This poke and the ones we found on the two men I got in the bank. They've all got Ted Norton's initials burned on them. Yeah, and every bit of glue that Ted and I planned was put in them. Poke, I can identify every one of them. I told you before, be quiet. But I. I didn't kill him. I didn't. Then you better start talking, Carlisle. That crowd worked up fetish. I'll talk. I'll tell you all about it. But stop him. Don't let him lynch me. Stop him. Hold on there boy. Hold on. Deserve a court of law. If he's guilty, the judge will see that he gets what he deserves. Let's give him a chance to talk. Thanks, Marshall. All right Carlisle. What have you got to say? Judge, them posts don't belong to me. Stater gave to us to kill the Marshal when we got him in the bank. He's lying. He started calling him for blaming somebody else. Like a goldfoot weasel trying to save his own skin by accusing me. What about it Carlisle? Can you prove your statement? You'll bet I can prove it. The rest of the gold he stole from Norton after he killed him is in the strong box in his office. Why you low down dreaming child. Hold on, Aunt Slater, hold on. If he's wrong, there ain't nothing for you to get excited about. Judge, how about having Whitey check on that strong box? That's a good idea, Marshal. Will you do it long? Marshal? Your caring takes too far. Just cause you're a lawman don't give you no right to step into this town runt the way you please. All I'm doing, Slater, is getting to the bottom of a killing. Well you got to it Crown. I was killing. There's no good reason to drag me into the mess. I'm going to get out of here. All right, man, you know what to do. All right, Steve. Now. Well, it look like your little plan will work, slater. We got 20 men in this room, and that means 40 guns on and ready. All right, you hom, get over there against the wall. You too, Slater. Get over there with the rest of your gang. And pat a couple of you men start getting them guns away from that bun. There's nothing I'd like better. Sorry I had to step in that way, Judge, but as long as I'm arresting Slater for murder and the rest of his crew for aiding a criminal, I guess it's legal enough. It's legal enough for this court, Marshal. Hey, I'm making a big respect. I'll worry about that, Slater. They rescue the gold bus right there in the street phone box like car. That's fine, Whitey. Well, Judge, I reckon the case is complete. Thanks to you, Marshall, it is. Tomorrow we'll elect a new sheriff and sentence these men properly. Looks to me like law and order are going to return to the town of Nesbit for good. And so ends another thrilling adventure in the lives of United States Marshal Lightning Jim Whipple and his equally famous deputy, Whitey Larson.