When Tad Cameron, a young Wells Fargo employee Jim Hardie recommended for employment is accused of murder, Hardie must convince him to give himself up and stand trial. But the lynch-happy townspeople refuse to give Hardie any time to prove Tad's innocence and insist on a quick trial and hanging. Hardie must act as Tad's lawyer and use what little time he has to uncover the truth.
Although this episode has little to no action it's an interesting story nonetheless. Hardie must serve as Perry Mason and Paul Drake simultaneously, and although he knows Tad is innocent the evidence against him is very damaging, despite it being entirely circumstantial. Not only did Tad take a shot at the murderer as he was escaping, the victim was a mean drunk that rode Tad viciously. The sheriff happened upon Tad standing over the dead man with a gun in his hand, and as far as the townspeople are concerned he's guilty as sin. The local Sheriff and deputy agree entirely.
The case is a tough one, but Hardie is nothing if not resourceful, and he eventually uncovers a critical clue in the case. It's an interesting plot turn, proving there was a lot more to the murder than was originally thought.
Earl Bellamy directed the episode, and he worked primarily in television, directing 29 episodes of the Lone Ranger and 82 episodes of Bachelor Father. He directed 65 episodes of ToWF, far more than any other director.
The cast isn't that well-known, other than a very young Michael Landon reprising the character of Tad Cameron, who first appeared in S1, Ep6 - Shotgun Messenger. Despite the fact that Tad's father was cleared in that episode when it was discovered he did not cooperate with stage robbers, the town is still chomping at the bit to string up a Cameron, and this time it's Tad.
Norman Leavitt appears as the prosecutor, and I've seen Eilene Janssen in a couple other shows such as Wagon Train, but the majority of the cast had hundreds of appearances each, with familiar faces but, for the most part, unrecognizable names. Sam Harris had 798 appearances, most of which were uncredited.
Not bad at all, if you're a fan of courtroom dramas you'll find this episode entertaining.
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