Parker is a member of a cattlemen's association in New Mexico who has been deputized and given the mission of riding to Dodge City to deliver a warrant to Matt Dillon. The warrant is for the arrest of Jim Glass. Glass reportedly now lives in Tascosa, which is a two-day ride from Dodge. Marshal Dillon was chosen for this task because Glass is supposed to be extremely fast with a gun. There is no picture of Glass, but the deputy provides the Marshal with a description.
(One question about this warrant that is never addressed is what the charges are against Glass. Parker says he rode with Billy the Kid, but beyond that dubious claim, there are no specific charges mentioned.)
Matt is not crazy about the idea of being used in this manner, but he is duty-bound to execute the warrant. Matt and Chester Goode ride to Tascosa where they find more than one person that fits the description of Jim Glass.
One of those people is Nate Trimble. Since arriving in Tascosa a couple of years ago, he has been a leading, model citizen. He owns the saloon, has married a great woman, and they have settled into a happy life together. Trimble has even built a much-needed schoolhouse for the town.
Trimble hired Mike Postil -- who worked for a shady rancher named Gunter as a henchman -- to tend bar at the saloon. Postil welcomed the opportunity to do something that did not involve gun fighting. Unfortunately, Gunter is not happy with this arrangement and tries to pressure Postil to return to work for him. Both Postil and Gunter also happen to fit the description of Jim Glass.
Carl Betz plays Nate Trimble in this story. This is the only Gunsmoke role for Betz. Betz fits the part well because of his handsome looks and casual demeanor. Trimble may be the wanted man, but he has been a model citizen since arriving in Tascosa. The character is friendly, but he is also somewhat aloof and suspicious when questioned. Betz plays the role well. He would soon begin playing Dr. Alex Stone on The Donna Reed Show.
This appearance is also the only series involvement for actress Marianne Stewart. She plays Nate's wife.
Joe De Santis had played Mr. Hawtree in one of the most brutally gruesome Gunsmoke episodes -- the early Season 1 story, "Home Surgery." Here he plays the villainous rancher named Gunter. De Santis made two more guest appearances in later seasons of the series.
Tige Andrews participated as a guest in two different Gunsmoke episodes, including this one where he plays the Mike Postil character. He had previously appeared in the film Mister Roberts, but most of his career was spent doing television shows. He usually appeared in dramas, but he did play a Chief Petty Officer in three episodes of Gomer Pyle, U. S. M. C. His most prominent role was as Captain Adam Greer in the series Mod Squad.
Ward Wood appears early in the story as the deputy from New Mexico named Parker. Wood's acting career was most known for the recurring role of police Lieutenant Art Malcolm on the series Mannix in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Wood was also a contributing writer for two episodes of The Rifleman.
Since most of this story takes place in Tascosa, the only Dodge City involvement occurs in the opening scene.
This is a highly enjoyable episode where the viewer is engaged until the very end despite some ethical questions about the Marshal's actions. His actions are unexpected but not completely out of character. Major Gunsmoke fans know although Marshal Dillon was normally a stickler for the rule of law, there were circumstances over the course of the series where he would take actions that might not strictly adhere to the letter of the law.
(One question about this warrant that is never addressed is what the charges are against Glass. Parker says he rode with Billy the Kid, but beyond that dubious claim, there are no specific charges mentioned.)
Matt is not crazy about the idea of being used in this manner, but he is duty-bound to execute the warrant. Matt and Chester Goode ride to Tascosa where they find more than one person that fits the description of Jim Glass.
One of those people is Nate Trimble. Since arriving in Tascosa a couple of years ago, he has been a leading, model citizen. He owns the saloon, has married a great woman, and they have settled into a happy life together. Trimble has even built a much-needed schoolhouse for the town.
Trimble hired Mike Postil -- who worked for a shady rancher named Gunter as a henchman -- to tend bar at the saloon. Postil welcomed the opportunity to do something that did not involve gun fighting. Unfortunately, Gunter is not happy with this arrangement and tries to pressure Postil to return to work for him. Both Postil and Gunter also happen to fit the description of Jim Glass.
Carl Betz plays Nate Trimble in this story. This is the only Gunsmoke role for Betz. Betz fits the part well because of his handsome looks and casual demeanor. Trimble may be the wanted man, but he has been a model citizen since arriving in Tascosa. The character is friendly, but he is also somewhat aloof and suspicious when questioned. Betz plays the role well. He would soon begin playing Dr. Alex Stone on The Donna Reed Show.
This appearance is also the only series involvement for actress Marianne Stewart. She plays Nate's wife.
Joe De Santis had played Mr. Hawtree in one of the most brutally gruesome Gunsmoke episodes -- the early Season 1 story, "Home Surgery." Here he plays the villainous rancher named Gunter. De Santis made two more guest appearances in later seasons of the series.
Tige Andrews participated as a guest in two different Gunsmoke episodes, including this one where he plays the Mike Postil character. He had previously appeared in the film Mister Roberts, but most of his career was spent doing television shows. He usually appeared in dramas, but he did play a Chief Petty Officer in three episodes of Gomer Pyle, U. S. M. C. His most prominent role was as Captain Adam Greer in the series Mod Squad.
Ward Wood appears early in the story as the deputy from New Mexico named Parker. Wood's acting career was most known for the recurring role of police Lieutenant Art Malcolm on the series Mannix in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Wood was also a contributing writer for two episodes of The Rifleman.
Since most of this story takes place in Tascosa, the only Dodge City involvement occurs in the opening scene.
This is a highly enjoyable episode where the viewer is engaged until the very end despite some ethical questions about the Marshal's actions. His actions are unexpected but not completely out of character. Major Gunsmoke fans know although Marshal Dillon was normally a stickler for the rule of law, there were circumstances over the course of the series where he would take actions that might not strictly adhere to the letter of the law.
