Podcast Summary:

Old Time Radio Westerns - “The Witness” | The Lone Ranger (05-05-52)
October 21, 2025
Host: Andrew Rhynes

Overview

This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns features a suspenseful Lone Ranger story titled "The Witness," originally aired May 5, 1952. The digitally restored episode plunges listeners into a tale of bank robbery, betrayal, and justice on the Western frontier. The Lone Ranger and his trusted companion, Tonto, unravel the mystery of a violent crime and ensure justice is served. Realistic atmosphere and sharp dialogue bring the wild, lawless West to life.

Key Discussion Points and Story Breakdown

1. Robbery Plans in the Hills (04:36–05:36)

• Pete Stanton meets his brother Jay and an accomplice, Larry Daggett, to plan a bank robbery in Lebanon.
• Tension arises between the trio over how they'll split the stolen money.
  • Pete’s logic: “Jay and I get two shares of the money and you get one. After all, Larry, you only acted as lookout.” (11:22)

2. Bank Robbery and Aftermath (05:43–06:50)

• The bank robbery goes smoothly; the loot is hidden under a remote cabin.
• The group returns to Rondo, keeping up appearances and waiting for suspicions to die down.

3. Will Gorman’s Hardship (07:47–09:16)

• Prospector Will Gorman is introduced as a down-on-his-luck man struggling to care for his sick wife, Ann, and their son.
  • Will’s plight: “I can’t even afford to give her or Denny the right kind of food... No wonder I hate to go back and face ’em tonight.” (08:02)

4. The Witness to Murder (10:00–12:18)

• Will Gorman stumbles on the outlaws at their hideout and witnesses a heated argument turn into murder, as Jay kills Larry during an altercation over their shares.
  • Jay: “I didn’t murder him. It was self-defense.” (27:30)

5. Confrontation and Kidnapping (13:11–18:10)

• Fearing Will can identify him, Jay follows Will to his home, threatens his family, and abducts Will to prevent him from going to the sheriff.
• Ann and Dennis Gorman are left terrified; Dennis is tied and gagged in the cabin.

6. The Lone Ranger and Tonto’s Investigation (18:19–21:05)

• Arriving at the Gormans’ cabin, the Lone Ranger and Tonto find Dennis tied up and free him.
• Ann and Dennis share key details, including a telling tattoo on the killer’s arm—a black snake around a red rose.

7. Infiltration of Rondo, Discovering the Truth (21:05–23:21)

• Disguised, the Lone Ranger and Tonto gather intel in town.
• The Lone Ranger confronts Jay Stanton at the Red Dog Cafe, exposes his tattoo, and engages in a dramatic showdown.
  • Lone Ranger: “Tattoo black snake around a red rose. This is the man, all right.” (23:00)
  • Lone Ranger (to the crowd): “The first man who comes through that door into the street will get a dose of lead.” (23:17)

8. The Trap (24:02–26:02)

• The Lone Ranger tricks the Stantons and their bartender with a fake note, engineered to confirm their guilt.
• He and Tonto subdue them and prepare for the sheriff’s arrival.

9. Justice Served (26:29–28:13)

• Sheriff Fleming is summoned, arrests the criminals, and recovers the stolen money.
• The Lone Ranger declines the $5,000 reward, insisting it go to Will Gorman so he can care for his wife:
  • Lone Ranger: “Use it to get a specialist for your wife. She needs one, help your boy too.” (27:56)

10. Closing and Lone Ranger’s Departure (28:13–29:33)

• Will Gorman tries to thank the Lone Ranger, who rides off into the distance.
  • Pete Stanton (about the Lone Ranger): “He doesn’t want thanks. His reward comes from helping others... he could be off helping somebody else somewhere. And he will be... because, you see, Will, he’s the Lone Ranger.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jay Stanton (on division of loot):
  “Two for Jay, two for me, one for Larry… The idea, Larry, what it always was. Jay and I get two shares of the money and you get one.” (11:15)

• Will Gorman (describing his desperation):
  “She needs a good doctor, Sadie Boy, more than anything in the world. Poor Anne.” (08:02)

• Ann Gorman (encouraging Will to do the right thing):
  “You must go and tell the sheriff about it.” (15:14)

• Lone Ranger (unveiling the killer):
  “Tattoo black snake around a red rose. This is the man, all right.” (23:00)

• Lone Ranger (refusing reward):
  “No, I don’t, Sheriff. Will Gorman found the hideout and found them with the money just before they killed Daggett. What I did was merely follow up. Will. The reward is yours.” (27:46)

Important Timestamps & Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 04:36–05:36 | Robbery plot and internal dispute | | 10:00–12:18 | Will Gorman witnesses murder | | 13:11–18:10 | Jay Stanton threatens Gorman family, kidnaps Will | | 19:00–21:05 | Lone Ranger and Tonto discover the attack, clues given | | 23:00–23:21 | Lone Ranger exposes Jay’s tattoo, showdown | | 24:02–26:02 | Lone Ranger’s ruse, criminals apprehended | | 27:46–28:13 | Lone Ranger awards reward money to Will Gorman | | 28:13–29:33 | Lone Ranger departs, legend reinforced |

Tone & Original Spirit

The episode captures the classic Lone Ranger atmosphere: suspenseful, rich in character-driven dialogue, and imbued with reverence for justice. A mixture of Western stoicism, family desperation, conniving outlaw scheming, and the Lone Ranger’s calm moral clarity weaves throughout.

Summary

This restored old-time radio episode delivers the charm and tension of golden-age Western storytelling. At its heart, "The Witness" is a tale of crime and consequence, of how courage and integrity—even from a humble prospector—can help bring outlaws to justice. The Lone Ranger emerges as ever: a watchful, altruistic hero, dispensing justice and declining reward, so that another family may heal and hope once more.