User Reviews

At the Long Branch, Chester and Ned Pickard get into an argument. The Marshal intervenes and then tells Chester to take Ned to jail. On the way to the jail, Ned is shot and everyone in town believes that it was Chester that killed him. Even the nosy clerk at the Dodge House, Dobie, thinks Chester should stand trial for murder.

Chester tells Matt that he was hit from behind and does not know how Ned got shot. But with little evidence there is nothing for Matt to do except write the incident up for possible court hearing.

There may have been some questionable writing but nearly all shows have parts that need no explanation for the outcome. Even after half-way through the episode, when we knew the true party involved, it still did not take away from the interest of the show. A nice story that was well acted. Good watch.

Clumsily staged and rather poorly written entry. Chester is making time with tough guy Pickard's girl (Castle) when Pickard threatens him. Trouble is Pickard gets killed while Chester's taking him to jail. The evidence says Chester did it, while he denies it. So Matt is on the spot with the town and his loyal deputy. But then, if Chester didn't do it, who did.

The screenplay is not one of writer Meston's better ones, with a number of plot holes. Also, the staging of the shootout scene is poorly staged— hard to see how Matt could have shot the wrong person. Outside of normal curiosity as to real culprit, there's not much suspense. All in all, it's a rather spotty entry.

As a couple other reviewers stated the story here was a little convoluted and there are plot holes galore. But there's a reason for that. The writers had to get Matt and Chester into a situation where their friendship was a factor in solving a crime. And in that respect it worked very well. Would I EVER let Chester lock someone up? Too much can go wrong. But there again Matt's extreme friendship of Mr. Good overrides good sense.

Chester Goode is enjoying drinking and flirting with Nita Tucker, one of the women employed at the Long Branch Saloon. Kitty Russell is concerned, because Ned Pickard has designs on Nita. She knows there will be trouble if Ned sees Chester with Nita.

Sure enough, Pickard enters the room. He is drunk and belligerent when he sees Chester sitting with Nita. He announces he is going to kill Chester. Matt Dillon shows up just in time. He tells Chester to take Pickard to the jail. Soon after they leave, a shot is heard. Matt finds Pickard shot dead and Chester on the ground claiming someone hit him in the head.

Some of the Dodge residents - especially Jim Dobie - assume Chester murdered Pickard. Since Chester is Matt Dillon's friend and employee, they think Matt is unfairly giving Chester the benefit of the doubt.

Peggie Castle portrays Nita Tucker in this story. This is her only Gunsmoke involvement, but she would soon begin playing the Lily Merrill character on the ABC series Lawman. After that series ended, she quit acting and died at a relatively early age.

Murray Hamilton plays a newcomer to Dodge named Jake Buley. Hamilton is one of those prolific actors with a recognizable face. He could play all manner of characters in a multitude of roles, whether dramas or comedies. Shortly after this Gunsmoke appearance, he provided an excellent performance as the character Irving Blanchard in the film No Time for Sergeants, which was one of Andy Griffith's most famous roles outside his television show. Other prominent roles included the part of the mayor in Jaws, Mr. Robinson in The Graduate, and Al Paquette in Anatomy of a Murder. Hamilton can be seen in three different Gunsmoke episodes, all during the early, thirty-minute seasons.

Gage Clarke makes another appearance as the irritating, know-it-all hotel clerk Jim Dobie. Dobie is the ringleader of the people who think Chester should be charged with Pickard's murder.

Tom Greenway plays the Ned Pickard character. Greenway was a regular figure in most of the television westerns during this era of television. In addition to this role, he appeared in four additional Gunsmoke episodes.

This is not one of the better stories in the series. There are huge plot holes. Why would Marshal Dillon tell Chester to escort the man that has threatened to kill him to jail, especially since both men appear to be intoxicated? It makes no sense that so many of the citizens of Dodge - led by Dobie - are so adamant about seeing Chester arrested for murder. The biggest problem is the story fails to generate any suspense. Chester never appears to be in any serious trouble. As the story develops, the true culprit is clear to the viewer. The acting is fine, but the story falls short.

The element of this story I do enjoy is how it reinforces Chester's terrible luck when it comes to romantic relationships. The character is an absolute sucker for a pretty face, and it frequently leads to trouble.