
Original Air Date: May 15, 1960Host: Andrew RhynesShow: GunsmokePhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• William Conrad (Matt Dillion)• Parley Baer (Chester)• Georgia Ellis (Kitty)• Howard McNear (Doc) Special Guests:• Barney Phillips• Vic Perrin Editori...
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Andrew Rines
Welcome to the ultimate radio westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. Now let's get into this episode.
Narrator
Around dodge city and in the territory on west.
Riley
There's just one way to handle the.
Narrator
Killers in the spot and that's with the u. S. Marshal and the smell of gun smoke. Gun book 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 lonely.
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Doc Adams
It seems the new eiley. If you'd have brought your wife this far, you'd have brought her on into dodge for me to care for.
Riley
I sure would have liked to do that, doc, but Cassie just carried on about it something terrible. She said she just couldn't stand another turn of them wagon wheels. So I come to get you.
Doc Adams
Where you bound?
Riley
We ain't decided on where to settle, doc. Just heading west someplace where it'd be dry for taxi.
Doc Adams
Oh, well, you're traveling for your wife. Hell fire.
Riley
Yeah, doc, that's the reason for it. You see, Cassie's been ailing for a year or two back home and finally we just figured to light out yonder and see if it'd help her something.
Doc Adams
When does she start to sicken?
Riley
Must be a week now, doc. First she tried to keep on going, but it just got to be so. She couldn't stand it to ride the wagon no more. So we stopped and moved.
Doc Adams
What are the symptoms?
Riley
How's that again?
Doc Adams
What seems to be wrong with your wife? Is she in pain? Can you keep her food down?
Riley
Well, I Ain't much up on what ails women, Doc. But she's coughing an awful lot. For one thing, she's awful weak. Can't hardly move around.
Doc Adams
I'll examine it.
Riley
The wagon's around the next Bendock down by the stream.
Doc Adams
I was beginning to think it was in the next county.
Riley
Down there, Doc. Turn down there.
Matt Dillon
All right, I'll.
Doc Adams
I'll head in right here under this tree.
Riley
That's good, Doc. You go on into the wagon now. I'll unhitch my horse from behind the bucket.
Doc Adams
All right, Riley. It's kind of a hot day to.
Riley
Be under all that canvas.
Doc Adams
Mrs. Riley, I'm Doc Adams. Your husband brought me from Dodge. Mrs. Riley. Easy now, Mrs. Riley. I'm gonna turn you over this way.
Matt Dillon
What a name.
Doc Adams
Riley. Riley, come here, quick.
Riley
What's the matter, Doc?
Doc Adams
Easy now, Riley.
Riley
What's the matter, Doc?
Ben
What is it?
Chester
I'm sorry.
Ben
Dead.
Chester
She's dead.
Riley
Can't you do nothing? No, I can't do anything. She's been murdered.
Chester
Enough. Cause it does get I'm next door to fill a grave with. Wouldn't hurt nobody nothing to stomp off their boots before he comes in time. Where's Matt?
Matt Dillon
Oh, Doc.
Chester
Where you been at? We was looking for you.
Doc Adams
Haven't timed yet, sir. I gotta find Matt. Where is he?
Chester
Well, hold your horses. He's right back there.
Matt Dillon
Hey, you're looking for me? Oh, Matt.
Doc Adams
Yes. You'd have to ride out east of town right away.
Matt Dillon
Oh, it's trouble.
Doc Adams
There's been a murder. A woman, name of Cassie Riley.
Chester
Well, that's terrible.
Matt Dillon
Well, how did you know about it, Doc?
Doc Adams
Her husband came to Dodge to get me. Wanted me to go out and treat her. They were on their way west in a wagon. She got sick. When I got out there, she was dead.
Matt Dillon
You say she was murdered? That's right.
Riley
She'd been beaten to death.
Matt Dillon
Where's the husband?
Doc Adams
Well, I brought him in with me. He's up in my office.
Matt Dillon
I better have a talk with him.
Chester
No, no, hold on. Do much good?
Matt Dillon
Why not?
Doc Adams
Well, to tell you the truth. May I gave him a bottle of whiskey and told him to drink himself to sleep. He was in terrible shape.
Matt Dillon
Well, he still might be able to tell me something. Chester.
Riley
Yes, sir.
Matt Dillon
Get the horses ready. I'll meet you at the stable in a few minutes.
Chester
Yes, sir.
Matt Dillon
Come on, Doc.
Doc Adams
I left everything out there just the way it was, Matt.
Riley
I didn't move her or anything.
Matt Dillon
That's good. You'll have to bury him here. Yeah, that's One thing I've learned how to do.
Riley
There it is.
Chester
Right down there in that grove. Just don't seem right, everybody riding off and leaving her laying alone in that wagon down there.
Matt Dillon
Mr. Dillon, O'Reilly's staying. Wouldn't have done her any good, Chester.
Chester
Well, he told you about some trapper being around, didn't he?
Matt Dillon
I don't know if he told me or not. He was muttering about a trapper that had made a camp with him all night.
Chester
Well, you're sure going to look for him, ain't you?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I'm going to look for him.
Chester
Sure is quiet, ain't it?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, it sure is.
Chester
Is there a barrier right here, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
I don't think so, Chester.
Ben
What?
Matt Dillon
The body's gone.
Chester
What? Mr. Dillon, you don't think somebody stole that poor woman clean away?
Matt Dillon
That's hard telling. Maybe that's our answer.
Chester
What?
Matt Dillon
Look over there.
Chester
Why, it's a platform like up on pool doing. Yeah, that looks like one of them Pawnee graves built up that way, don't it?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, it sure does. Come on.
Chester
Mighty Claire. I ain't never heard of Indian shop and a burial quiet. Have you, Mr. Jones?
Matt Dillon
No.
Chester
That framework don't look like it's been up there very long, does it?
Matt Dillon
No. Wood's fresh cut. All right, Chester, you hold it steady while I take a look, huh?
Chester
I'm chilling.
Matt Dillon
What?
Chester
Behind you.
Ben
Disturbing graves ain't seemingly.
Matt Dillon
Who are you?
Ben
Them has passed on. Got a right to rest.
Matt Dillon
I'm a U.S. marshal. It's my job to find out who's up there.
Ben
I can tell you that. Thought you unresting her, you tell me.
Matt Dillon
Who you are first, huh?
Ben
You call me Ben.
Matt Dillon
Don't you have a last name?
Ben
Not that I never heard, Mister.
Matt Dillon
Are you a trapper?
Ben
Well, I trade some in pelts and skins.
Matt Dillon
Uh huh. Now tell me, who's up there?
Ben
A girl. Woman. Who put her there? I did, mister.
Chester
The Indian grave.
Matt Dillon
How come you buried her? Pawnee style?
Ben
The Pawnees reared me, mister. I learned their ways and they're burying. Strikes me a sight nicer than digging in the ground.
Matt Dillon
Did you kill her?
Ben
No, Mr. High, I didn't kill her.
Chester
He's bloodied up like he could have done it all right, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Doesn't look good for you, Ben.
Ben
I reckon maybe it don't.
Matt Dillon
I'm gonna have to take you along with me till I find out about this.
Ben
Into town?
Matt Dillon
Mm. To Dodge City? You'll lock me up until I find out who did this.
Ben
Well, I ain't never been locked Up.
Matt Dillon
Justin, get his gun.
Riley
Yes, sir.
Chester
All right, hand it over.
Ben
You're slow asking.
Chester
How's that?
Ben
I could have shot the pair of you full if I'd been a mind.
Chester
That's right, Mr. John. He could have done this bad.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, he couldn't. All right, come on.
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Kitty
Hello, man.
Matt Dillon
Hello, Kitty.
Kitty
Sit down.
Matt Dillon
I've got time. Kitty, I'm looking for a man named Riley. Do you notice him in here?
Kitty
Oh, I'll say I have it.
Matt Dillon
How? Has he caused trouble?
Kitty
No, ma' am, not trouble. I guess the poor man's got a right to take on so. I'm losing his wife that way, but I can't help thinking he's overdoing it a little bit.
Matt Dillon
What do you mean?
Kitty
Oh, Jeffy's always up the bar drinking and carrying on about his wife. I guess I just expect a man to stand things better than that.
Matt Dillon
Sometimes you expect a lot of us kidding.
Kitty
And sometimes I get a lot.
Matt Dillon
Guess I better go talk to him.
Kitty
He's down at the end of the bar.
Matt Dillon
Thanks, Kenny. Riley.
Riley
My name is Riley. All right. Who are you?
Matt Dillon
Matt Dylan, the U.S. marshal. I came to see you the day Doc Adams brought you in the sun.
Riley
I don't remember that.
Matt Dillon
No, it doesn't matter. I am. I'm sorry about your wife, Riley.
Riley
You're too late. Marshall.
Matt Dillon
It'd help if you tell me what you knew.
Riley
Well, I know. I know that my poor wife lies murdered my poor wife that I was bringing Wes to get well.
Matt Dillon
Was she sick?
Riley
She's sickened all the way west, Marshall. I was bringing the doctor to her when we found her poor weakening thing.
Matt Dillon
When you got there, she was dead.
Riley
Beaten, Marshall.
Ben
Beaten.
Riley
That's a terrible thing for a man to see.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Riley
I just like to get me that trapper.
Matt Dillon
What about the trapper?
Riley
That trapper fellas. The one that done it. We shared fires two nights back and he was leering at poor Tassie the whole time.
Matt Dillon
And you figure he followed you, huh?
Doc Adams
Sure.
Riley
Marshall couldn't have been nothing else you.
Matt Dillon
Didn'T take out after the Trevor, but.
Riley
No, Marshall, tell the truth. I. I was just plumb sickened when the doc had to give me a powder. I sure would like to get my hands on him, though, and that's a fact.
Matt Dillon
You may get the chance.
Ben
What do you mean, he's in jail?
Matt Dillon
Come on.
Riley
I tell you, Marshall, it's giving me the sickness again. Just thinking of seeing that draft.
Matt Dillon
You'll be all right, Riley.
Riley
I was wondering if I hadn't ought to stop by docs first.
Matt Dillon
Let's stop in here first. He's back there.
Ben
Hello, Riley.
Matt Dillon
All right, Riley. Do you recognize him?
Ben
Certain. Sure he does, mister. Camped at the same fire two nights running.
Riley
He's a trapper.
Ben
Made me mighty sorrowful coming on your wife that way. Didn't seem hardly like it could be seeing her living so strong just the night before.
Matt Dillon
Riley says you did it, Ben.
Ben
Why? Bad mistook.
Matt Dillon
He said you were following him.
Ben
Well, was that? But a man shouldn't point no finger at less than he's certain. Sure.
Matt Dillon
He seemed sure, Riley.
Ben
You bad mistook, Marshall. We was friends, Riley. Why, you ain't got no cause to suspicion me, Marshall.
Riley
It sickens me to look at him. I. I feel the need to get outside.
Matt Dillon
All right. All right, Riley. You can go, but stay in town. I'll need you to talk to the judge.
Ben
Sure, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Sure.
Ben
Mister.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, man.
Ben
A man shouldn't tell if he can't prove out.
Matt Dillon
Well, he thinks he can.
Ben
Maybe it's his grieving that makes him so bad mistook.
Matt Dillon
Maybe it is.
Chester
Here's your vittles, man.
Ben
I'll be pleased to eat.
Chester
Now, I'll say this much for you, I'm sure. Ain't no problem to feed.
Ben
I ain't one to fuss down over eating.
Chester
Sure ain't like the usual on the people I get in here. More bellyaching, I guess. You'd think I was feeding them straight out of a hog pan.
Ben
As long as you fetch me free food, I won't complain.
Chester
Well, I don't charge for it. That's one thing. I tell you the truth, man, I. I don't find it too easy to figure you out.
Ben
Well, what's trolling you?
Chester
Well, you seem like a nice, decent kind of fella. And you ain't no bother at all in that cell. You ain't snarling and mean all the while.
Ben
Well, I don't aim to be.
Chester
And yet you could go and do a thing like killing that poor little.
Riley
Sick lady out there.
Chester
Laying on what was maybe her deathbed.
Ben
You ain't talking about Tassie? Well, sure being Aylin.
Chester
Why, you know that Ben Riley was bringing Doc out to see her when he found her killed.
Doc Adams
He said she'd sickened so all the.
Chester
Way west, she couldn't hardly move no more.
Ben
Who told that?
Riley
Why, Riley told it, of course.
Chester
He's the one to know he was her husband. Wasn't he her husband.
Ben
Chester?
Chester
Well, I gotta get on back.
Ben
I'm mindful of that. But I. I figured you'd ought to know about that loose bar. What loose bar? That loose bar up to that window.
Chester
Oh, my gracious. I certainly should know about it. Anybody better take a look at it.
Ben
You can climb up on that bunk there.
Chester
It sure don't make no sense to have a loose bar in a jail winder. Just about which one is it, Ben?
Matt Dillon
Here.
Ben
I surely do hate to do this gesture.
Doc Adams
Listen here, Ben.
Chester
Let me go now, Ben.
Matt Dillon
Just got to tie you up. Yes, that's all about it.
Ben
These belts will have to do.
Doc Adams
You can't go and do a thing like this, man.
Ben
That ought to hold. I ain't happy about this, Chester. You tell the marshal I was driving. But I ain't used to being kept in. And now I got to move out of here.
Chester
Well, it ain't gonna do you no good.
Doc Adams
He'll find you.
Chester
He'll bring you back.
Ben
Yeah, I reckon he'll have to try, Chester. It being his job and all.
Doc Adams
Bet your doggone boots he won't.
Ben
Well, we all have to move in our own way, Chester. Now, you just rest easy until he comes and lets you loosen.
Kitty
Wonder what's keeping Matt.
Doc Adams
Well, I wouldn't worry about Matt's missing a meal, Kitty. He considers eating as much of a.
Riley
Duty as his job is. He'll be here.
Kitty
I guess you're right.
Doc Adams
Certainly I'm right. By the way Matt and Chester eat. They'd need a chuck wagon all their own on a cattle drive.
Kitty
You against eating, Doc?
Chester
Oh, no, no, no.
Doc Adams
Certainly not. But I. I don't specialize in it the way those two do.
Kitty
Want another piece of pie?
Doc Adams
I don't mind if I do, Kitty.
Chester
No, I don't don't mind.
Kitty
Oh, here's Matt. Hello, Matt.
Doc Adams
Hey, do you like to taking on a little nourishment, do you, Kitty?
Matt Dillon
Doc? Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do. Joe, bring me some steak and potatoes and a piece of pie, will you?
Ben
Sure.
Doc Adams
Myself that Kitty was worrying about you, man. I think I convinced her that you.
Riley
Wouldn'T miss a meal.
Matt Dillon
Oh, I've been talking with the judge, you know.
Doc Adams
What do you mean about that trapper that you got locked up? It looks like he did the thing, doesn't he?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, Doc, it does.
Kitty
Well, I hope you have more than Riley's word for it.
Doc Adams
That man gives me the creeps.
Kitty
Boy, he's been cheering on.
Matt Dillon
He's taking it hard, all right.
Kitty
Glad I won't have to be seeing him anymore.
Matt Dillon
What do you mean by that?
Kitty
Well, he was in the long branch this morning. He had a few even then. And he told Sam he was taking his last drink in Dodge. It was too hard for him to stay around so close to where his wife was killed.
Matt Dillon
He was leaving.
Kitty
Told Sam he was going to pick up his things at the Dodge house and move on.
Matt Dillon
Excuse me. Kitty. Doc, I better try and catch him. Chester, we got to get moving The.
Ben
Chester.
Chester
I'm back here.
Doc Adams
Mr. Jones.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Ben
What?
Matt Dillon
What an.
Chester
Would you untie me, please, Miss Donald?
Matt Dillon
How in the world did you get in this mess?
Chester
Well, it was that fella, Ben.
Matt Dillon
Turn around. What happened?
Chester
Well, he took me into climbing up to look at that window. He said one of the bars had come loose.
Matt Dillon
And then he jumped you, huh?
Chester
Yes, sir, he sure did. He did tell me to tell you he was sorry to have to do it.
Matt Dillon
Well, that helps. Thanks.
Chester
Hey, thank you. Well, he was just as nice as candy, but he. He said he had to move on.
Matt Dillon
Well, that makes two of them. Riley moved on, too. Let's go get our horses.
Chester
Which one of them are we taking out after first, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
I'm hoping we'll find them together.
Chester
I feel real bad about letting Ben get away, Mr. Jones. He'll be awful hard to track. Seems he used to this country and all.
Matt Dillon
Don't worry about about it.
Chester
Better we got clean away.
Matt Dillon
He's not trying to get clean away.
Chester
What?
Ben
Look there.
Chester
Where's Ben?
Narrator
And he's got Riley.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I figured they'd be together. Come on. All right, Ben, let it go. Let him go. Now. What's this all about?
Ben
It's proved out. Marshall.
Riley
Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Let him talk, Riley.
Ben
It was him. Marshall killed his own woman. I noted as soon as I learned he was spreading stories about how ailing she was. Why she weren't ailing, mister. She was a young, strong woman and done all this caring and fetching. I knowed it was him when I learned that. And then it come to me why he was doing it. So's he could make like he was away fetching the duck.
Matt Dillon
Well, how about it, Riley?
Riley
There ain't no truth to it.
Ben
If he'd give me leave, mister, I could make him tell I ain't one for hurting creatures. But it would come easy with him.
Matt Dillon
Maybe that's a good idea. No.
Chester
No.
Riley
If you keep him away, Marshall. Keep him away.
Matt Dillon
You got something to say, Riley?
Riley
No.
Matt Dillon
All right, go ahead, Ben.
Ben
All right.
Riley
All right.
Doc Adams
I killed her.
Chester
I killed her.
Riley
She was making moon eyes at him, saying how nice and gentle he was. Now, a man don't have to take that from his woman.
Matt Dillon
A man doesn't have to kill her either. Chester. Take him away. Mister.
Ben
Yeah, Ben, I'm sorry for the fuss back at the jail. Come to me that I. I couldn't do nothing in them four walls.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, Ben, I'm sorry about that.
Ben
You was doing what you figured was the right thing. Man can't always know for certain.
Matt Dillon
No, man can't always know for certain. Come on, Ben. I'd like to buy you a drink.
Narrator
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 Marion Clark with editorial supervision by John Meston. Featured in the cast were Barney Phillips and Vic Perrin. Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story on Gun smoke.
Matt Dillon
Latest news next.
Ben
Then Walter Cronkite, Dave Cameron sports and.
Narrator
The Mitch Miller show on the CBS Radio Network.
Kitty
I love the music on cbs.
Riley
I think they cover the news the best.
Chester
I love the drama on CB.
Ben
Foreign.
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.
Matt Dillon
Become one.
Andrew Rines
Of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank our most recent ranch hands Steve Technogod and Craig who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcast trwesterns.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.
Ben
Sam.
Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rynes
Episode: Tall Trapper | Gunsmoke (05-15-60)
Release Date: May 18, 2025
In the "Tall Trapper" episode of the Gunsmoke series, listeners are transported to the rugged landscapes of Dodge City and its surrounding territories. Hosted by Andrew Rynes, the episode showcases a meticulously restored classic Western radio drama, enhanced with rich audio quality that revitalizes the timeless tales of the Wild West.
The episode revolves around the mysterious murder of Cassie Riley, a woman suffering from an ailment that compels her husband, Riley, to seek medical help from Doc Adams. Riley, accompanied by Doc Adams, travels west in a wagon to find a cure for his ailing wife. Upon reaching their destination near Dodge City, they discover Cassie dead, having been brutally beaten.
Matt Dillon, the dedicated U.S. Marshal, is immediately drawn into the investigation. Suspicion falls on Ben, a trapper who was camped with Riley. Despite Ben’s initial denial, tensions escalate as evidence points towards his involvement. The narrative delves into themes of grief, suspicion, and the quest for justice in the unforgiving frontier.
Matt Dillon (William Conrad): The steadfast U.S. Marshal embodies duty and integrity. Throughout the episode, Dillon demonstrates his unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth, even when faced with personal and emotional challenges.
Riley: A distraught husband, Riley's desperation to save his wife leads him into the heart of the mystery. His grief fuels his determination to find the perpetrator.
Ben (Chester): Initially portrayed as a potential suspect, Ben's character evolves as layers of his personality are revealed. His interactions with Riley and the community add complexity to the narrative.
Doc Adams (Howard McNear): The compassionate doctor serves as both a healer and a confidant, providing medical assistance while also assisting in the investigation.
Kitty (Georgia Ellis): Representing the social dynamics of Dodge City, Kitty's interactions offer insights into the community's perception of the events unfolding.
Riley explains the dire condition of his wife, leading Doc Adams to examine Cassie Riley:
Upon discovering Cassie dead:
Matt Dillon confronts Ben, leading to heightened tensions:
Ben's confession unfolds:
Ben attempts to escape but is apprehended after a struggle:
Matt Dillon offers a gesture of goodwill despite the outcome:
Justice vs. Mercy: Matt Dillon’s decision to offer Ben a drink despite his confession highlights the delicate balance between enforcing the law and showing compassion.
Grief and Desperation: Riley’s relentless pursuit to save his wife drives the plot, illustrating how grief can lead individuals to desperate actions.
Community and Trust: The interactions among characters like Kitty and Chester depict the tight-knit yet suspicious nature of frontier communities.
"Tall Trapper | Gunsmoke" masterfully blends suspense, emotional depth, and classic Western tropes to deliver a compelling narrative. The episode not only entertains but also provokes thought on human emotions and moral dilemmas inherent in the pursuit of justice. Through enhanced audio restoration, listeners experience the episode with vivid soundscapes that bring the Wild West to life, honoring the legacy of iconic shows like Gunsmoke and The Lone Ranger.
Andrew Rynes’ dedication to digital restoration shines through in this episode, offering both nostalgic charm and enhanced auditory experiences. "Tall Trapper | Gunsmoke" stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of radio Westerns, inviting both new listeners and longtime fans to immerse themselves in the drama and heroism of the Wild West.
For more detailed discussions and exclusive content, consider joining the community of ranch hands at OTRWesterns.com.