Loading summary
Grainger Announcer
This is the story of the one. The one who keeps multiple buildings running smoothly day after day. Plumbing that flows, H Vac that homes. Cleaning supplies that keep surfaces sparkling. That's why she counts on Grainger. With easy reordering online and 24. 7 support, Grainger helps her keep the products she needs on hand so shelves stay stocked and buildings stay ready. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
Mistplay Announcer
Playing mobile games and not getting rewarded for it is a thing of the past. Why haven't you switched yet? If you're going to spend the time playing, you should be earning rewards doing it. With Mistplay. You play what you love and earn points for gift cards and more. Plus, you can enter the Mistplay sweepstakes for your chance to win tens of thousands of dollars in cash bundles and gift cards every week. So, yeah, keep playing games, just maybe get rewarded for it. Download Mistplay today and enter for your chance to win.
Andrew Rines
Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines. And let's get into this episode.
Chester
This is.
Andrew Rines
This episode is going to be Gunsmoke Original air date is September 8, 1957 and the title is Looney McCloney. Let's get into it.
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.
Matt Dillon
Gun smoke.
McCloney
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 chance, a job, and it makes a man watchful and a little lone.
Grainger Announcer
This is the story of the one. The one who keeps multiple buildings running smoothly day after day. Plumbing that flows, H Vac that hums. Cleaning supplies that keep surfaces sparkling. That's why she counts on Grainger. With easy reordering online and 24. 7 support, Grainger helps her keep the products she needs on hand so shelves stay stocked and buildings stay ready. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
Doc
Huh? Oh, hello, McCloony.
McCloney
Can you spare a minute, Doc?
Chester
Well, I. Oh, Nelly.
Matt Dillon
Oh. Now,
McCloney
you stand right there, McCloney.
Doc
If you've got another one of those ore samples you want me to test for you, I'll tell you right now. I have it.
McCloney
Wouldn't take you no time at all, Doc. And I got some real high grade pen and just.
Doc
Oh, but then take it up the street to the assay office.
McCloney
Oh no, I don't trust him. Not on wet assays.
Doc
Oh no. Besides, they'll charge us.
McCloney
Well, you McLoody.
Doc
I'm running a doctor's office, not a metallurgical laboratory.
McCloney
Oh shucks, you've got the scales there and acid and everything.
Doc
But I haven't got the time. And the answer is no.
Matt Dillon
Against the law for a doctor to refuse medical help when it's asked of him. Oh hell there.
Doc
It's got nothing to do with medical help. McLoney here wants me to test another one of those sacks of pyrites he drags in out of the hills.
McCloney
It ain't pyrites, it's gold.
Doc
I've run a half a dozen emporium the last three years and every one of them was pyrites.
McCloney
Well, you might have used some bad acid or something.
Doc
Oh, bad acid.
Matt Dillon
Why don't you take this stuff over to the assay office?
Doc
Because they'll charge him for it, that's why. And he figures I'll do it for nothing.
McCloney
Well, I'd pay him for it, Marshall, if I had any money.
Ms. Dougs
When did you ever have any money, you mangy old fool?
McCloney
Meanie. Marshall.
Ms. Dougs
So you finally come sneaking in out of the Rockies, did you? Why don't you go to Denver instead of coming clear back here all the time?
McCloney
No, Meany, I like it here.
Ms. Dougs
Marshall, do you know what this scrawny old goat done to me?
McCloney
Oh, McCloney here just slipped my mind to time, so help me a deal.
Ms. Dougs
Last time he was in town better than six months ago, I washed up all his dirty duds for him. Done them up nice and clean. And then by golly, he took off for Colorado in the middle of the night and didn't pay me a cent.
McCloney
Well, I just forgot all. But I got me a job now loading hides over at the railroad. I'll pay you at the end of the week. Honest I week.
Ms. Dougs
And I suppose you got every stitch you own dirty again now. And you probably think I'm gonna wash em for you.
McCloney
Well, it's mighty kind of you'd offer me.
Chester
Oh, for the love of.
Ms. Dougs
All right, where are they?
Narrator
I got a bundle right there on my horse.
Ms. Dougs
You got any shirts that need washing this week, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
As a matter of fact I do, Ms. Dougs. If you stop over the jail, Chester will give em to you. Here you are.
McCloney
And I sure am obliged to you, Mamie.
Ms. Dougs
I say you are for two washings now. And you ain't getting this one back till you pay me for both of them.
McCloney
Oh, I'll pay you now, don't you worry.
Ms. Dougs
In money. Money, too. Now, that fool's gold you keep lugging back from Colorado Territory.
McCloney
Why, it's real gold, Manny. I keep telling you that.
Ms. Dougs
Oh, sure you do. I'll pick up your things, Marshall. Get them back to you tomorrow.
Matt Dillon
Thanks, Miss Day.
McCloney
Oh, Doc, let me leave one of these sample sacks with you just in case you find some time.
Doc
I won't find time.
McCloney
Well, I'm much obliged to you, Doc.
Doc
Waiter, come back here.
Chester
Come on, boy.
Doc
Confounded lunatic.
Matt Dillon
I don't know, Doc. He's pretty good at getting people to do things for him.
Doc
Oh, he's Looney Mat. This here is nothing but fool's gold. And he's got that shack of his down the river bottom stacked full of it.
Matt Dillon
Well, as long as you're sure of that when you bother testing it.
Doc
And you said I was going to test it.
Matt Dillon
I did.
Doc
Oh, Matt, you're out of your mind. I wouldn't waste five minutes on this.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, you want.
Doc
Matt, wake up.
Joe
Matt.
Matt Dillon
What? What is it?
Narrator
What's the matter?
Matt Dillon
Is that you, Doc?
Doc
Of course it's me. Open up, Matt.
Matt Dillon
All right, all right.
Chester
Don't knock the door down.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, yeah, what is it?
Doc
I just went over to old pop McCloony's shack to take him the results on that assay.
Matt Dillon
I run for him. Oh, what's all the excitement about? You find gold?
Doc
Oh, of course not. It was just pyrite, same as the others. But somebody must have figured he had gold now.
Matt Dillon
What do you mean?
Doc
Well, you better get dressed. Matt McCloney's dead. He's been murder.
Mistplay Announcer
Playing mobile games and not getting rewarded for it is a thing of the past. Why haven't you switched yet? If you're going to spend the time playing, you should be earning rewards doing it. With Mistplay, you play what you love and earn points for gift cards and more. Plus, you can enter the Mistplay sweepstakes for your chance to win tens of thousands of dollars in cash bundles and gift cards every week. So, yeah, keep playing games. Just maybe get rewarded for it. Download Mistplay today and enter for your chance to win.
Maintenance Engineer Announcer
When you're a maintenance engineer in a beverage manufacturing plant, you keep production lines moving and quality on track because there is no room for slowdowns. With Grainger's vast selection of High quality motors, sensors, belts and hard to find parts. You can get what you need fast and all in one place so nothing gets in the way of getting the job done. Call 1-800-granger clickranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
Matt Dillon
Another visit with Joe and Daphne Forsyth.
Joe
Joe.
Daphne
Yeah, Daphne, look at this story about savings bonds in the paper.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, what about it?
Daphne
Do you think that's the best way to tell people about savings bonds?
Matt Dillon
Why not? Look, see, it says here that savings bonds are a guaranteed investment. Right now. They pay off at the rate of four bucks at maturity for every three bucks invested. Uh, you're not convinced? Uh, why not?
Daphne
No salesmanship.
Matt Dillon
No salesmanship. What more do you need to know? Why, right now more than 8 million Americans are buying saving bonds regularly through the payroll savings plan.
Andrew Rines
So?
Doc
So what?
Daphne
That's what I say, so what?
Matt Dillon
Now, look, Daphne, if millions of Americans are convinced that saving bonds are their best investment, not only financially, but for the future of their country, what the heck is bothering you?
Daphne
Well, I think they could sell a lot more with salesmanship. You know, slogans and jingles. Listen, if you're spending more and saving less, try a savings bond.
Matt Dillon
Oh, boy.
Ms. Dougs
Or.
Daphne
Or maybe savings bond pay good like an investment should. Daphne, you get a lot to like in the savings bond. Interest earnings guaranteed.
Matt Dillon
Wow.
Daphne
Well, did I sell you?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, but I forgot what it was you were selling.
Daphne
Savings bond.
Matt Dillon
I'll take a hundred.
Daphne
Oh, Joe.
Chester
Miss Kitty.
Joe
Huh? Oh, hello, Chester.
Chester
Miss Kitty. You ain't saw Mr. Dillon, have you?
Joe
Oh, no. I guess he's pretty busy trying to find who killed old Pop McCloony.
Chester
Well, yes, he's doing that all right. We both been. But he is supposed to meet me here around about now.
Joe
Oh, then he'll be showing up. Sit down and wait for him.
Chester
I'll just do that. Sweet spirit. My feet is plain killing me, Chester.
Joe
Matt have any IDEA who killed McCloney?
Chester
Not yet he ain't. He took Indy and Joe out there this afternoon to look at some horse track we found around the shack.
Joe
Horse tracks?
Chester
Well, somebody rode all around the place sizing it up. I guess if the horse is still in town, Indian Joe can probably find it. Just some stuff in the tracks. Say, if you don't mind, Miss Kitty,
Joe
I. Yeah, I think I'll just ease
Chester
these boots off a minute.
Joe
Sure, go right ahead.
Chester
Oh, my, that feels good.
Joe
You know, it's a shame, Chester. Old Pop was nice, even if he was a little crazy. Always thinking he'd Found gold?
Chester
Well, he must have convinced somebody. He had. They took up a couple floorboards and dug around underneath his shack.
Joe
How was he killed, Chester?
Chester
Somebody hit him over the head with a chunk of stove wood. Died right away, according to Doc.
Joe
That's too bad. Poor old fella.
Chester
All he had in that shack was a wood stove and a bunk and a table and his clothes stacked on the shelf in the corner. And, of course, some sacks of fool's gold piled up all over the place.
Joe
Fool's gold? Maybe that's the only kind there is.
Chester
Well, it kindly worked out that way for him. Guess at least he died thinking he was rich. That's more than most people can ever look. There's Mr. Dillon now.
Joe
He looks tired.
Chester
My start, he ain't been to bed since Doc woke him up last night to tell him about it.
Matt Dillon
Hello, Kitty. Chester.
Joe
Sit down, Matt.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, thanks. I think I will.
Joe
Want a glass of beer?
Matt Dillon
No, I don't think so.
Chester
Any luck, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
Oh, a little, maybe. It's hard to tell, Matt.
Joe
Why would anyone do it? The whole town knew Pop was kind of queer. They knew he didn't have any gold hidden out.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, but somebody from out of town might not have known it.
Joe
Kitty, what do you mean?
Matt Dillon
I mean a stranger who didn't know Pop, who might have believed his stories.
Joe
Yeah, that it'd have to be a stranger. Everybody who lives in Dodge knows about him. Like last night, all the boys were pretending to believe him, but they didn't, of course. They were just egging him on to keep him talking.
Matt Dillon
Oh, was Pop in here last night?
Joe
Oh, sure. He always came in here as soon as he hit town, waiting for somebody to set up the drinks and talked about his big gold strike.
Matt Dillon
Yeah. Kitty, was there anybody paying special attention to him last night?
Joe
Oh, not that I remember. I didn't particularly notice.
Matt Dillon
Was. Was there a gambler in here last night? A new man in town who calls himself Jack King.
Joe
Jack King? Oh, yeah, he was here and he was talking to Pop. I'd forgotten about it.
Chester
Why him special, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
Well, Indian Joe located that horse a while ago. Had one shoe that had worn thin and was partly broken. Belongs to the livery stable. They hired it out a couple of days ago to this Jack King. He brought it back this afternoon.
Joe
You think he killed Pop?
Matt Dillon
He was out there last night. There's no doubt about that. The tracks prove it.
Joe
What does he say about it?
Matt Dillon
Well, I'll know better when I find him. I've been looking everywhere.
Doc
Well, it's no wonder. The government don't pay peace officers much when they spend all their time loafing around saloons.
Chester
Now, here, Mr. Dillon. Just this minute got here. Doc. That's Chester.
Doc
What in the world are you doing with your boots off?
Chester
You living here now? No, I'm not living here now. I reckon a man's feet can hurt here as well as it can any other place, can't they?
Matt Dillon
Doc wouldn't know, Chester. The only way he gets tired is from sitting.
Doc
Who is that, sir?
Matt Dillon
Well, how.
Chester
Are you kidding?
Joe
I'm fine, Doc.
Doc
Say, Matt, here's a letter that came for Pop McLooney. Mr. Hightower of the deep. He didn't know what to do with her.
Matt Dillon
Yeah. Let me have it. I'll take care of it.
Doc
I suppose you've got the killer under lock and key.
Matt Dillon
Well, I will have as soon as I locate him, Doug.
Chester
Oh, you mean you know who he is?
Matt Dillon
I'm betting on a fellow named Jack King.
Chester
That gambler?
Matt Dillon
Nuh.
Doc
Then you better get moving, Max.
Matt Dillon
Oh, why?
Doc
Because I just saw him over at the depot buying the ticket on the Santa Fe to St. Louis.
Chester
You must have got scared and decided to make a run for it, Mr. John.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, it kind of looks that way.
Chester
Sure don't see no sign of him there on the platform.
Matt Dillon
He might be on the train. Mr. Hightower said that he was still here a few minutes ago. He couldn't. Wait a minute.
Chester
Wait a minute, Mr. Young. What's the matter over there?
Matt Dillon
The baggage truck
Chester
back's turned. I guess he hasn't saw us.
Matt Dillon
He's seen us, all right. You leaving town, mister? Oh, how are you, Marshall? Your bag already on the train? Oh, no. It's right over there. What difference would make where it is? I'm afraid you're gonna have to postpone your trip. I didn't do it, Marshall. No? You didn't do what? I know why you come looking for me. But you're wrong, Marshall, because I didn't do it. You'll have a chance to prove it. I went out there last night. Yes, I did. But he was already dead. Is that so? You can search my bag. I didn't rob him. I believe that. But Clooney didn't have anything to steal. He kept talking about his gold all the time. That gold of his was a pipe dream, and everybody in town knew it. You'd only been here a couple of days, so you wouldn't have known it. Get his bag, Chester. I know what you're up to. You lawmen out here, you're all alike. We Are anything that happens, try to hang it on to some stranger in town. You don't care who killed him. All you want to do is string up somebody. I've already told you. If you're innocent, you'll get a chance to prove it.
Chester
What will I do with these M?
Matt Dillon
I would take them over to the jail. All right, King, you're under arrest. No, no, you're not taking me in. Oh, yes, I am. I'm not going to hang for somebody else's killing.
Ms. Dougs
Look out.
Matt Dillon
You crazy fool. All right, Chester, pick up his gun.
Chester
Mr. Dylan, did you shoot him in the arm of purpose?
Matt Dillon
Matter of fact, Chester, I was aiming for his other arm. Come on, let's just start walking.
Grainger Announcer
Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building. You're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail. Filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
Maintenance Engineer Announcer
When you're a maintenance engineer in a beverage manufacturing plant, you keep production lines moving and quality on track because there is no room for slowdowns. With Grainger's vast selection of high quality motors, sensors, belts and hard to find parts, you can get what you need fast and all in one place. So nothing gets in the way of getting the job done. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
Chester
Wouldn't eat a bite of breakfast, Mr. Dunk?
Matt Dillon
Well, that's his privilege.
Chester
Just sits there in his cell, staring at the floor. Acts like we're fixing to hang him or something.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, now he's got his mind made up about that, all right.
Chester
I told him he was all wrong. We don't go around hanging people here without a trial.
Matt Dillon
Not usually, no.
Chester
Guess by now he's mighty sorry he went and killed old man McCloony.
Matt Dillon
Chester, people aren't usually sorry for what they've done. They're just sorry that they got caught, that's all.
Chester
Well, he'll be sorry enough after he's convicted.
Matt Dillon
I doubt he'll be convicted.
Chester
What do you mean?
Matt Dillon
We just haven't got much of a case against him. When you come right down to it
Chester
budging, I sure would hate See him go free. Crazy or not. Old Pop McCloney was a real nice old fellow.
Matt Dillon
Yes, he was. Oh, did I show you this letter to McCloney? Letter came the day after he was killed. Doc picked it up at the depot last night.
Chester
My dear Mr. McCloney, this is to Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
There've been a dozen more like it over the last two years. I telegraphed Denver last night, and I got an answer this morning.
Chester
Well, my gracious sakes, I just can't leave this.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, come in.
Ms. Dougs
Come on in. My shirt, Mr. Chester.
Matt Dillon
Oh, come on in, Ms. Doug.
Ms. Dougs
Oh, thank you kindly. I brung your washing back.
Matt Dillon
Oh, thanks. You can just leave it there on the table. Sure.
Daphne
Oh, yes, sir.
Ms. Dougs
That feller confessed yet? The one that killed old man McCloony?
Matt Dillon
Uh, no. No, not yet.
Ms. Dougs
Well, hanging's too good for him. I was always Josh and Pop, but I had a fondness for him.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I guess everybody in town liked him.
Ms. Dougs
Person just never knows why. Who'd ever thought that that afternoon I run into all of you there in the street would be the last time I'd ever see him alive.
Matt Dillon
That was the day before he was killed. You took some clothes of his to wash, as I recall.
Joe
Mm.
Ms. Dougs
He'd always come back out of Colorado with every stitch he owned needing Washington.
Matt Dillon
That's funny. You wouldn't expect him to live like that, a man as rich as he was.
Ms. Dougs
Rich? Him?
Matt Dillon
A letter came for him yesterday from an assay office in Denver. It's a report on a sample of concentrates that pops in him. It shows 60% free gold. And that's only the last of a dozen samples Pop sent in the last few years. All of them just as rich. He was smart, Ms. Duggs. That act with a fool's gold was just a blind so that nobody tried to rob him. Well, I guess he outsmarted himself in the end. So did you, Ms. Dougs.
Ms. Dougs
Me?
Matt Dillon
What did you do with it? He might as well tell me. We're gonna search your cabin, and we'll find it.
Ms. Dougs
I don't know what you're talking about.
Matt Dillon
I'd have probably guessed sooner if I'd known he was rich. But I was looking for a stranger in town. He just said you hadn't seen him since that afternoon on the street. But I saw his clean laundry stacked on a shelf in the corner of his shack.
Ms. Dougs
Well, I guess there's a sight of all that gold.
Joe
Done it.
Ms. Dougs
I walked in on him that night and caught him counting it. I've worked hard, Marshall, my whole life, and it just didn't seem fair. Dirty old codger like him having all that gold hid out.
Matt Dillon
So you killed him and took it, huh?
Ms. Dougs
Getting to take that laundry back with me. That's where I made my mistake.
Matt Dillon
You really believe that was your only mistake?
Joe
Well, of course.
Ms. Dougs
If you hadn't seen that laundry, you never would have guessed.
Matt Dillon
I wasn't exactly what I meant.
Ms. Dougs
What else did I do wrong? Marshall?
Matt Dillon
You killed a man. But I guess that doesn't mean much to you.
Grainger Announcer
Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building. You're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail. Filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it.
Matt Dillon
Ram.
Narrator
Gun Smoke Produced and Directed by Norman McDonald Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, US Marshal the script was specially written for Gunsmoke by Les Crutchfield with editorial supervision by John Meston. The music was composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Sound patterns were by Ray Kemper and Bill James. Featured in the cast were popular Charlie Baer as Chester, 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. This is the united states armed forces radio and television service.
Matt Dillon
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 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 Announcer
Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail. Filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it.
Podcast Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Release Date: June 6, 2026
Story Setting: Dodge City, Old American West
Starring: William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon
This classic episode of Gunsmoke, "Looney McCluny," transports listeners back to the rough-and-tumble days of Dodge City, centering on the eccentric character Pop McCluny. Notorious for bringing bags of what he claims is gold into town but is widely dismissed as "fool's gold," McCluny's tragic murder draws Marshal Matt Dillon into an investigation full of red herrings, town gossip, and surprising turns. As the story unfolds, themes of greed, loneliness, and simple human kindness converge, ending in a twist that reveals both the follies and failings of the frontier.
The episode maintains the wry, laconic humor and authentic camaraderie typical of Gunsmoke, juxtaposed with themes of loneliness, hope, and human fallibility. Matt Dillon’s dry wit and Chester’s good-natured folksiness lighten the darker undercurrents of greed and violence.
"Looney McCluny" is a quintessential Gunsmoke tale, intertwining gentle comedy, a clever mystery, and a moral lesson about appearance versus reality. The restored audio brings new life to the rough-and-ready world of Dodge City, while the timeless narrative explores justice, human frailty, and the high cost of greed on the frontier.
For more digitally restored classic Western drama, tune in weekly to Old Time Radio Westerns.