THE RIFLEMAN – "The Brother-in-Law " – 1958
This is the fifth episode from the 1958 to 1963 western series, THE RIFLEMAN. Over the course of 168 episodes we follow the life of Lucas McCain and his son, Mark. They have just moved to the small western town of North Fork where they hope to start a new life. Chuck Connors headlines the series with Johnny Crawford as his son. Connors is a world class hand with a Winchester rifle which of course ends up getting him in no end of trouble.
Jerome Courtland, Lucas McCain's (Chuck Connors) brother-in-law shows up at the ranch. To young Johnny Crawford this is a big deal since his uncle is a famous rodeo star. What Connors and Crawford do not know is that Courtland is a wanted man. He pulled a robbery of an express office. There are wanted posters and a reward out for him. The problem for Courtland is that he bungled the hold-up and never got away with the cash.
Courtland needs money to escape to a safer climate and hopes to borrow some from Connors. Connors is flat broke and of no help. A local rancher, Charles Watts offers some cash if he can ride a rival rancher's best bronco. Courtland agrees and then makes a side deal with the rival rancher, Fay Roope to put the fix in, and lose the ride. For a hefty 500 dollars that is. Roope expects to clean up on all the gambling on the ride.
Needless to say Courtland has second thoughts about the matter when he sees how Crawford looks up to him. Connors now discovers the wanted poster on the in-law and confronts him. Courtland agrees to turn himself in to the law once the ride is over. This he does after making sure he stays on the bronc for the time needed for Roope to lose all his wagers.
A well-handled episode where there is no gun play needed to settle the issue.
This is the fifth episode from the 1958 to 1963 western series, THE RIFLEMAN. Over the course of 168 episodes we follow the life of Lucas McCain and his son, Mark. They have just moved to the small western town of North Fork where they hope to start a new life. Chuck Connors headlines the series with Johnny Crawford as his son. Connors is a world class hand with a Winchester rifle which of course ends up getting him in no end of trouble.
Jerome Courtland, Lucas McCain's (Chuck Connors) brother-in-law shows up at the ranch. To young Johnny Crawford this is a big deal since his uncle is a famous rodeo star. What Connors and Crawford do not know is that Courtland is a wanted man. He pulled a robbery of an express office. There are wanted posters and a reward out for him. The problem for Courtland is that he bungled the hold-up and never got away with the cash.
Courtland needs money to escape to a safer climate and hopes to borrow some from Connors. Connors is flat broke and of no help. A local rancher, Charles Watts offers some cash if he can ride a rival rancher's best bronco. Courtland agrees and then makes a side deal with the rival rancher, Fay Roope to put the fix in, and lose the ride. For a hefty 500 dollars that is. Roope expects to clean up on all the gambling on the ride.
Needless to say Courtland has second thoughts about the matter when he sees how Crawford looks up to him. Connors now discovers the wanted poster on the in-law and confronts him. Courtland agrees to turn himself in to the law once the ride is over. This he does after making sure he stays on the bronc for the time needed for Roope to lose all his wagers.
A well-handled episode where there is no gun play needed to settle the issue.
