Murder on Train Time | Challenge of the Yukon (09-23-43)

Summary

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Old Time Radio Westerns — “Murder on Train Time” | Challenge of the Yukon (09-23-43)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Date: June 30, 2026
Original Air Date: September 23, 1943
Episode Theme:
A classic, suspenseful murder mystery set in the untamed Yukon during the Gold Rush of 1898. Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police and his trusty lead dog, King, must solve the murder of a miner named Mose Andrews when all evidence points to an innocent man. The episode showcases themes of justice, false accusation, and frontier ingenuity.

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Challenge of the Yukon is a murder mystery that unfolds in Train Junction near Skillet Lake, Yukon. When a body is discovered near the train tracks with evidence seemingly implicating a local man, Sergeant Preston sets out to investigate. As he and King sift through clues, the truth behind the murder and a cleverly planned frame-up is revealed, illustrating the values of justice and perseverance.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene

• [01:16] The golden age of the Yukon gold rush. Sergeant Preston and King, his lead dog, are introduced as upholders of law and order in a turbulent time.
  • Quote (Narrator, 01:16):
    "King, the swiftest and strongest of Eskimo lead dogs, blazes the trail through storm and snow for Sergeant Preston as he meets the challenge of the Yukon."
• [02:36] Arrival at Train Junction, a lively frontier settlement where the murder drama unfolds.

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2. Discovery of the Murder

• [03:22] George Wilkins reports finding Mose Andrews dead by the tracks, shot through the heart. Dan Duncan’s scarf is found under the body, casting suspicion on him.
  • Quote (George Wilkins, 04:26):
    "Mose Andrews has been killed… Right beside the railroad tracks on the other side of the lake. I just came from there… Shot right through the heart."
• Sergeant Preston and his companions discuss the possibility of Dan as the murderer, based on the found scarf.

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3. Initial Investigation and Suspicions Cast

• [06:46] The group confronts Dan Duncan. He proclaims his innocence, explaining he was alone in his cabin.
• Tension rises as Lance Brown and others pressure Preston to arrest Dan, but Preston insists on further investigation.
  • Quote (Sergeant Preston, 07:51):
    "I didn't say I thought so, Dan. It's only that all the evidence we have, and that's a scarf, points to you."
  • Quote (Lance Brown, 09:02):
    "That's none of my business, but I don't think you're taking this seriously enough."

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4. Sergeant Preston’s Deductive Techniques

• [10:08] Preston and King return to the murder site to examine footprints and sleigh tracks.
  • Preston reasons the murderer acted with suspicious sloppiness, unlikely if Dan were the killer.
  • He finds another set of prints and deduces the murderer crossed the lake on skis, using the wind for speed and concealment.

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5. The Confrontation: Truth Revealed

• [12:33] Preston gathers all suspects (Dan, Lance, George) and requests their fingerprints for the skis found under the snow across the lake.
• Lance Brown refuses to comply and pulls a gun, confirming suspicions.
  • Quote (Sergeant Preston, 13:37):
    "It's no insult to an innocent man."
  • Quote (Lance Brown, 13:49):
    "All of you up there against the wall."
• Preston lays out how Lance’s plan worked: he killed Mose during the train’s water stop, staged evidence to implicate Dan, then returned unseen.
• [14:39] Motive revealed: Lance wanted to steal the claims of two men with no families.
  • Quote (Lance Brown, 14:49):
    "And this is just as good a way as any to get those claims. You're right. I did want to frame Dan. Figured I could kill two birds with one stone."

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6. Resolution & Justice

• Lance’s confession is cleverly maneuvered by Sergeant Preston, who admits he found no fingerprints but counted on Lance's guilty conscience to betray him.
  • Quote (Sergeant Preston, 15:31):
    "I mean your own conscience helped to convict you. I knew how you committed the crime. I wanted your admission of your guilt."
• Justice is restored as Dan is cleared of suspicion, and Lance is tied up and handed over to authorities.
• [15:50] The case is closed, with Sergeant Preston giving credit to King, his loyal lead dog.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sergeant Preston on critical evidence:
  • (07:51) "I didn't say I thought so, Dan. It's only that all the evidence we have, and that's a scarf, points to you."
• Lance's refusal & confession:
  • (13:37) "You ain't fingerprinting me. It's an insult."
  • (14:49) "You're right. I did want to frame Dan. Figured I could kill two birds with one stone."
  • (15:31) "I mean your own conscience helped to convict you." – Preston, revealing his psychological strategy.
• King the Husky’s heroics:
  • (15:21) "Smartest dog I ever seen saved our lives." — Dan, after King intervenes during the confrontation.

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Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Description | |---------|-----------------------------------| | 01:16 | Yukon lawmen and setting introduced| | 04:26 | Murder reported & scene reference | | 06:46 | Confrontation with Dan | | 10:08 | Investigation at the crime scene | | 12:33 | The pivotal confrontation | | 13:49 | Breaking point & Lance’s confession| | 15:31 | Preston’s psychological bluff | | 15:50 | Resolution & case closed |

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Tone & Style

• Language is brisk, stylized for old-time radio, filled with frontier spirit, suspicion, and camaraderie.
• Sergeant Preston is methodical, fair, and clever, representing the steadfastness of Yukon lawmen.
• The narrative balances suspense, action, and just enough light-hearted banter among townsfolk to evoke the atmosphere of the old West.

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Takeaways

• Justice may take persistence & clever deduction, not always the most obvious conclusions.
• Sergeant Preston relies on both dogged investigation and an understanding of human nature.
• Classic radio techniques—sound effects, quick dialogue shifts, and musical cues—enhance the immersive pioneer mood.

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For listeners and old-time radio fans alike, “Murder on Train Time” delivers a tight, suspenseful Yukon thriller, vividly restored for modern ears.

Transcript

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[Andrew Rines]

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.

[Sergeant Preston]

The Challenge of the Yukon.

[Sam]

The King Von Yuhovsky.

[Narrator]

King, the swiftest and strongest of Eskimo lead dogs, blazes the trail through storm and snow for Sergeant Preston as he meets the challenge of the Yukon. Sergeant Preston was typical of the small band of Northwest Mounted police who preserved law and order in the Yukon during the gold rush of 98. That was the year that brought over 50,000 men swarming into the Klondike region and the greed for gold led to frequent violence and bloodshed. But in spite of the odds against them, the force preserved a splendid record in maintaining the right. The challenge of the north was answered and justice ruled triumphant.

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[Narrator]

Train junction's name told its whole story. One of the few locomotives in the north ran through the rich boisterous settlement lying at the far end of a wide horseshoe bend that the tracks made around Skillet Lake.

[Sam]

There she comes. You sure? Can't see a thing myself. There it is. Stopping for water across the lake. Well Sam, I'll say this much, there's no arguing with your eyes. I expect she'll be over here in 10 minutes or so. It's getting dark. You know, it's a wonder that thing don't lose its way. That's such impressive. Come to see the engine pulled in

[Sergeant Preston]

too well, not exactly. Sam just helped me around here.

[Sam]

Never miss seeing it myself. Say, it's Lance Brown. Lance. Hey, Lance. Hello, Sam.

[Lance Brown]

Be right over.

[Sam]

You know, long as I've been watching this train here, I never rolled in one.

[Sergeant Preston]

Why don't you try it sometime, Sam?

[Sam]

Thank golly, I sure would like it.

[Sergeant Preston]

When you make up your mind to make the trip, let me know. I'll speak to the engineer. He might let you ride the cab.

[Sam]

Would you know, you and the law stand.

[Lance Brown]

It's close together, Sam.

[Sam]

Make quite a picture.

[Lance Brown]

Oh, you never want to get in a card game with him, Sergeant.

[Sergeant Preston]

Don't worry about that. You have a nice trip?

[Lance Brown]

Yep. Yeah, the only way to travel, believe me. It's wonderful what's being done nowadays. Only took me two days to come from Watch bar.

[Sam]

Two days. Did you hear that? Yeah.

[Lance Brown]

Yes, indeed. Say, isn't that George Wilkins coming along there bravely?

[Sergeant Preston]

Certainly in a hurry.

[George Wilkins]

Sergeant Preston, I. I've been looking all over for you.

[Sergeant Preston]

What is it, George? You look as if you'd seen a ghost.

[George Wilkins]

I wish it had been a ghost. Mose Andrews has been killed.

[Sam]

Killed? Mos Andrews?

[Lance Brown]

Where?

[George Wilkins]

Right beside the railroad tracks on the other side of the lake. I just came from there.

[Lance Brown]

Oh.

[George Wilkins]

Shot right through the heart.

[Sergeant Preston]

And Sergeant? Yes?

[George Wilkins]

Then Duncan's scarf was caught under him.

[Sergeant Preston]

Duncan?

[George Wilkins]

Why? And I didn't touch anything. I raced my dogs to get over here. Better come and have a look for yourself.

[Sergeant Preston]

I'll be right with you, George.

[Sam]

Hey.

[Lance Brown]

Mind if I come along, Sergeant? Old Mose was a friend of mine.

[Sergeant Preston]

Oh, come if you like.

[Sam]

Un. King. And you husband down there right by the tracks.

[George Wilkins]

See, I didn't touch him. All I did was to make sure. Well, I. I mean, I thought he might have passed out or something. You can see Duncan's scarf.

[Lance Brown]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Preston]

He hasn't been dead long.

[Lance Brown]

How can you tell?

[Sergeant Preston]

His body's just beginning to get cold. I'd say you found him shortly after the murder, George.

[George Wilkins]

Gee, if I'd have come along sooner, I might have saved his life.

[Sergeant Preston]

Or lost your own.

[Lance Brown]

Looks like Duncan did it all right.

[Sergeant Preston]

But why would he? Help me lift old Mose here, boys.

[George Wilkins]

Yeah, sure.

[Lance Brown]

I helped old Mose walk away from many a fight. Never expected to.

[George Wilkins]

I know what you mean, Lance.

[Sergeant Preston]

That's it.

[George Wilkins]

Don't make much difference whether we handle them easy or not. Somehow I just can't believe it.

[Sergeant Preston]

Now to get back to Train Junction. All right, King. Get the dogs up. Fellas.

[Sam]

On, King. On, you husk.

[Narrator]

Lance and George went back to Train Junction. On snowshoes. It was a strange funeral procession for the old miner, Mose Andrews that filed its way into town.

[Lance Brown]

Well, I guess you'll want to see Dan.

[George Wilkins]

Yes, well, Lance and me will take

[Sergeant Preston]

care of the body.

[George Wilkins]

Then Mose didn't have any family.

[Sergeant Preston]

That's a good idea.

[Lance Brown]

We'll see you in. Say, here comes Dan.

[George Wilkins]

He's a cool one. Look, it's coming right over to us as if nothing had happened.

[Dan]

But I heard you say you were leaving. Train junction, Sergeant Preston.

[Sergeant Preston]

I won't be for quite a while now, Dan.

[Dan]

Why don't you come out to the Gap? What happened to Mose?

[Lance Brown]

You know what happened to him.

[Dan]

Why, what do you mean?

[Sergeant Preston]

Mose was found out near the railroad tracks on the far side of Lake Skillet. With a bullet through his heart.

[Lance Brown]

Yes. What's more, it was your scarf that was found pinned under him.

[George Wilkins]

I've seen some mighty cool ones in

[Sergeant Preston]

my day, but never won't do you

[Lance Brown]

much good denying it, Dan.

[Dan]

Denying what? I don't know what you're talking.

[Sam]

You mean that?

[Dan]

I mean, I don't know what you're getting at. My scarf was found beside Moe's. I didn't put it there.

[George Wilkins]

Well, maybe he didn't put it there, but you might have dropped.

[Sergeant Preston]

Wait a minute, boys. Wait a minute. Dan, where have you been for the last three hours?

[Dan]

Why, in my cabin, Sergeant.

[Sergeant Preston]

Anybody with you?

[Dan]

No. No, sir.

[Lance Brown]

Kind of strange you weren't spending your time at the cafe like you usually do.

[Dan]

I. I don't know what this is all about.

[Sergeant Preston]

Well, it looks like you're suspected of murder, Dan.

[Dan]

Murder? You mean, you think I. I didn't

[Sergeant Preston]

say I thought so, Dan. It's only that all the evidence we have, and that's a scarf. Points to you.

[Dan]

I wasn't near the railroad. I tell you, I've been in my cabin.

[Lance Brown]

Can't prove it.

[Dan]

I give you my word.

[Lance Brown]

It seems to me one man's word ain't good enough when the murder's been committed, Sergeant.

[Sergeant Preston]

I haven't finished the investigation, Dan.

[Dan]

No reason to wish Moe was dead.

[Lance Brown]

No? What about the argument you had with him, huh?

[Sergeant Preston]

What argument I didn't have.

[Lance Brown]

I heard you and Mo's talking last week. If I ever saw two men having harder words. I don't remember.

[Dan]

I haven't seen Mose for more than a month. You got the wrong man.

[Lance Brown]

Saw them just as plain as I see you now, Sergeant.

[Dan]

That's a lie.

[Sergeant Preston]

Where was that lance in front of Dan's cabin.

[Lance Brown]

Wasn't another Soul in sight. So I figured it was best to let them finish it themselves. Then I never thought it'd come to this.

[Dan]

Of all the yellow lying.

[George Wilkins]

You better be careful, Ben. You ain't in a position to be calling your names, you know.

[Lance Brown]

You ought to be put under arrest. Who knows who will be shooting next?

[Sergeant Preston]

I'm not arresting him yet.

[Lance Brown]

You're not?

[Sergeant Preston]

No. Then I put you on your honor. You leave Train Junction, you know as well as I do. Only be another card stacked against you.

[Dan]

Gee, Sergeant, you think I'm not anxious to find out who's trying to frame me? You don't have to worry about me leaving town.

[Sergeant Preston]

In the meantime, King and I'll do some investigating.

[Lance Brown]

King?

[Sergeant Preston]

My lead dog here.

[Lance Brown]

That's none of my business, but I don't think you're taking this seriously enough.

[Sergeant Preston]

You're right, Lance. It isn't any of your business. Well, I'll see you later. All right, King, get the dogs up.

[Sam]

I'm King. I'm you.

[George Wilkins]

Seems to me we ought to take care of all Mose, Lance.

[Lance Brown]

Yeah, Yeah. I wonder what he meant. Investigate.

[Dan]

I don't know. There sure are a lot of things about this I'd like to know.

[Lance Brown]

You. Well, you've as good as got a noose around your neck right now.

[Dan]

I've taken as much as I'm.

[George Wilkins]

Hey, wait a minute. You're on your good behavior, remember?

[Dan]

Den, it's a good thing for this varmint that I am. I'll lend your hand with Mose, George.

[Lance Brown]

Well, then, I'm going to the cabin. Ain't been home for three days.

[Sergeant Preston]

All right.

[Lance Brown]

So long, George.

[Dan]

I never did like that fella. Well, where do you aim to put the body?

[Narrator]

Meanwhile, Sergeant Preston and King were approaching Skillet Lake.

[Sam]

Footprint should still be there. O King. Ho, you huskies.

[Sergeant Preston]

All right now, fella, let's see enough prints here. Thing I don't understand is how if Dan did commit the murder, he'd do it so stupidly. You have planned it more carefully. We might have missed something when we were here before. King, I think. Ah, set of prints leading to the lake. They go down to the ice.

[Lance Brown]

Uh huh.

[Sergeant Preston]

I thought I noticed these before. They're cut just about as deeply as the others, but where'd they come from? Oh, more of the same prints. They're deeper, as if the man were carrying something heavy. Yet they begin here. The only sled tracks besides mine and George's. The ones Andrew sled cut coming in from the north. Could the murderer have been riding with Mose? King, I think I got it. Lance's tracks and the tracks leading down to the lake are identical. Could he have. King, get the dogs up. We're going across the lake.

[Sam]

That's it, fellas. To the left,

[Narrator]

Leading the dogs, King raced across the ice cream covered lake. As they reached the bank, the front of the sled runners struck a clean surface.

[Sam]

Holding. All right. Ho, you husk. Ho.

[Sergeant Preston]

What is it? Fell. Just as I thought. Murderer came across the lake on these skis. These footprints lead up to the tracks and then. Stop. King. I think we found the man who's tried to frame Dan for a murder he committed.

[Sam]

On King. On you husband.

[Narrator]

That night in George McCarthy's cabin at the edge of train junction.

[Sergeant Preston]

Yeah. Reckon we're all here now.

[Lance Brown]

Would you mind telling me just why in the middle of the night?

[George Wilkins]

Take it easy now, Lance. I only did what the Sergeant told me to.

[Dan]

You must have a good reason.

[Lance Brown]

He better have.

[Sergeant Preston]

I do have, Lance.

[Lance Brown]

What are you doing with those skis, Sergeant?

[Dan]

Mighty nice looking pair.

[Sergeant Preston]

Well, I asked George to bring all of you together because I want to get your fingerprints.

[Lance Brown]

Fingerprints? What's that got to do with.

[Sergeant Preston]

You see, I found these skis on the bank of a lake. They had evidently been pushed under the snow. Wind had blown back the snow and when King and I crossed the ice, the sled struck them.

[Lance Brown]

Meaning?

[Sergeant Preston]

Meaning that the man who murdered Mose Andrews used these skis to cross the lake. Then he pushed them under the snow. He forgot one thing, however. The snow won't erase fingerprints.

[Lance Brown]

All right, George.

[Sergeant Preston]

You ready? Sure. What do you want me to do? Put your finger in this pad right here.

[George Wilkins]

Like this?

[Sergeant Preston]

Yeah, that's fine. Now, over on this paper

[Lance Brown]

there.

[George Wilkins]

You want my left hand, too?

[Sergeant Preston]

No, the right will be enough.

[Lance Brown]

Now, Lance, you ain't fingerprinting me.

[Sergeant Preston]

Why?

[Lance Brown]

It's an insult.

[Sergeant Preston]

It's no insult to an innocent man.

[Lance Brown]

It's your problem to find a guilty man.

[Sergeant Preston]

That's just what I'm doing. I'm sorry, Lance.

[Lance Brown]

You what?

[Sergeant Preston]

You'll have to be fingerprinted like everyone else.

[Lance Brown]

You're wrong.

[Sergeant Preston]

Hey, put that gun away.

[Narrator]

What?

[Lance Brown]

The line up there against the wall.

[Sergeant Preston]

So I was right. You did cross the lake on those skis.

[Lance Brown]

Yeah, I crossed all right. On top of the ice. And you're gonna be under it inside of 30 minutes.

[Sergeant Preston]

You jumped off the train when it stopped for water. You jumped off at the spot where you killed Mose. All you had to do was stand there and wait for him.

[Lance Brown]

You seem to have all the answers. Go On Preston. Then what did I do?

[Sergeant Preston]

As the train was pulling out, Andrews came driving in, just as you knew he would. The engine made enough noise to cover the shot. So you waited a few minutes. You were lucky because it had begun to get dark. Then you went down to the riverbank. You used something for a sail. I don't know what that was. The wind blew you across the lake on these skis. Here. The train, by that time was stopped. It was a simple thing to climb back in your window and get off at the station where I saw you. Right? I give you credit, but why would

[Dan]

he want to frame me?

[Lance Brown]

You got the answer for that, too.

[Sergeant Preston]

Yes, I think I do. Dan. You and Andrews both struck gold. Lance knew neither of you has a family.

[Lance Brown]

And this is just as good a way as any to get those claims. You're right. I did want to frame that. Figured I could kill two birds with one stone. Yeah. But I've had enough thought.

[Sergeant Preston]

A criminal is always caught because he makes a mistake. You've made two of them, Lance.

[Lance Brown]

What do you mean?

[Sergeant Preston]

You made your first one when you planted Dan's scarf beside Mo's. You've made your second one by forgetting my helper.

[George Wilkins]

Helper.

[Lance Brown]

You don't have one. And if you think you.

[Dan]

Martif dog I ever seen saved our lives.

[Sergeant Preston]

Tie him up, Dan.

[Dan]

You bet I will.

[George Wilkins]

Good thing you found them skis, sergeant.

[Sergeant Preston]

Yes, they put the story together for me.

[George Wilkins]

Why with his fingerprints on him?

[Sergeant Preston]

I didn't find any fingerprints on them.

[Lance Brown]

What you mean?

[Sergeant Preston]

I mean your own conscience helped to convict you. I knew how you committed the crime. I wanted your admission of your guilt. This was the best way I knew of getting it. Well, I'll be. Yes, King. The case is closed.

[Sam]

Foreign.

[Dan]

Hey, everybody.

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[Narrator]

Challenge of the Yukon A copyrighted feature of the Challenge of the Yukon Incorporated brought to you every Saturday at this same time originated in the transcription studios of WXYZ Detroit. The characters and events in tonight's drama were fictitious. Bob Heidt speaking. This is the Michigan Radio Network.

[Andrew Rines]

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 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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