Old Time Radio Westerns – "Lynching Man" | Gunsmoke (07-22-56)

Podcast Host: Andrew Rhynes
Original Gunsmoke Airdate: July 22, 1956
Podcast Release: August 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns features the "Lynching Man" story from Gunsmoke, set in the lawless frontier town of Dodge City. US Marshal Matt Dillon confronts the grim reality of vigilante justice after he finds a man lynched by parties unknown. The episode explores themes of mob violence, prejudice, and obsession with retribution, as seen through those seeking justice—and those warped by a personal history with lynching.

Major Discussion Points and Story Highlights

1. Discovery of the Lynching (06:35–10:10)

• Matt Dillon and Chester discover a man’s body hanging in a grove outside town.
  • They identify him as a newcomer, Hank Blennis, who was scouting for homestead land.
  • Discussion reveals no obvious motive except suspicion of horse theft.
  • The lawmen note the lack of a horse and few clues.
  • Memorable line:
    Matt Dillon: "Lynched." (09:49)
    Chester: "Scared me half to death. I seen him hanging there." (09:51)

2. The Moral and Legal Dilemma (12:06–13:49)

• Kitty and Dillon discuss the challenge of maintaining law in the face of mob action.
  • They lament how easy it is for men to rationalize violence.
  • Notable quote:
    Kitty: “Suppose there wasn’t any law at all and people wouldn’t even have to hide what they do now. At least they know they’re doing wrong.” (12:55)
    Matt Dillon: “That doesn’t seem to stop them much.” (13:02)
• Charlie Drain, whose own father was lynched, demands action.
  • Drain’s personal history drives his obsession with vengeance against lynchers.
  • Striking exchange:
    Charlie Drain: "It’s a big thing with me, Marshal. I can’t endure seeing no lynchers get off free." (13:34)
    Matt Dillon: "I can understand that. But what about this lynching?" (13:30)

3. Investigating the Suspects (15:10–16:25)

• Matt Dillon visits Gil Mather, a rancher recently affected by horse theft.
  • Mather denies knowledge of the lynching.
  • Mather and his ranch hand, Billy Drisco, do not confess but hint at cowboy justice.
  • Mather: "If I knew [who stole the horses], there’d be a man hanging from a limb somewheres." (15:38)
• Dillon cannot arrest Mather without evidence. Chester notes:
  • "It sure looks to me like he’s hiding something." (16:20)

4. The Pressure Builds (17:14–18:18)

• Doc, Dillon, and Drain’s confrontation in Dodge.
  • Doc needles Dillon about the law's powerlessness:
    Doc: "Even though it does kind of look bad when people can go around stringing up anybody they please and with no interference from the law." (17:45)
  • Drain recruits two other men (Kringle and Shelby), forming a posse intent on their own justice.
  • Dillon forcibly sends them out of Dodge, threatening jail:
    Matt Dillon: "If I see any one of you around after sundown, I’ll throw you in jail." (18:27)

5. The Clue: The Horse and Brand (19:07–20:49)

• Dillon learns from Moss Grimmick, the stableman, that the stolen horse was unbranded.
  • Moss tried (unsuccessfully) to use chemical powder to 'brand' horses, which washed off, creating confusion.
  • Moss confirms Mather and Billy Drisco were in Dodge all day Thursday—the day of the lynching—providing them with alibis.

6. Climactic Confrontation at the Ranch (23:22–26:18)

• Dillon and Chester arrive at Mather's ranch, finding Charlie Drain, Kringle, and Shelby.
  • Chester discovers Mather and Billy Drisco have been lynched—by Drain’s group, believing them guilty.
  • Dillon turns the tables, revealing Mather and Billy were innocent.
  • Key unfolding:
    Matt Dillon: “Both the boy and Gil Mather were in Dodge the day Hank Blennis was lynched.” (24:44)
• Blame and Guilt Exchange
  • Kringle shifts blame to Drain, who admits to orchestrating the lynching.
  • Dillon reveals to Drain that his obsession with hating lynchers led him to become one.
  • Dillon’s final words:
    Matt Dillon: "Sometimes a man can hate too much. Sometimes it can twist him ’til he gets where he doesn’t really belong." (26:06)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Kitty’s Reflection:
  “Suppose there wasn’t any law at all and people wouldn’t even have to hide what they do now. At least they know they’re doing wrong.” (12:55)
• Drain’s Grudge:
  “My own pa was lynched, Marshal…And it’s laid in my mind ever since.” (13:19)
• Moss’s Chemical Powder Brand:
  “That horse wasn’t branded…I just never got around to putting no mark on him—except for the no good stuff I bought. Old fella sold it to me. Some kind of chemical powder…” (19:38–19:52)
• Drain’s Confession:
  “Sure, I killed them. They had it coming now, didn’t they?” (25:14)
• Dillon’s Closing Moral:
  “Sometimes a man can hate too much... Sometimes it can twist him till he gets where he doesn’t really belong.” (26:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Discovery of the lynched man: 06:35–10:10
• Dillon and Kitty on mob justice: 12:06–13:49
• Charlie Drain’s vendetta surfaces: 13:07–13:49
• Visit to Gil Mather: 15:10–16:25
• Doc lampoons the law’s inaction: 17:14–18:17
• The stableman’s clue: 19:07–20:49
• The lynchers punished the wrong men: 23:22–26:18
• Final moral from Dillon: 26:06

Themes and Episode Tone

• Frontier justice, moral ambiguity, and the seduction of vengeance drive the tone.
• The story balances hard-boiled realism with regret and a warning against letting hatred guide justice.
• The cast’s dialogue is plainspoken, direct, and saturated with rural Western flavor.

Final Thoughts

"Lynching Man" stands as a powerful meditation on vigilante action and how the urge for retribution can corrupt even those who have suffered from lawlessness. The episode uses its tight plotting and strong performances to explore how violence—even well-intentioned—can spiral out of control, bringing a tragic, ironic twist to the fate of its most passionate character.