[Ken Darby singing
"The Legend Of Wyatt Earp"]
[humming]
♪ Wyatt Earp,
Wyatt Earp ♪
♪ Brave, courageous and bold
♪ Long live his fame
and long life his glory ♪
♪ And long may his story
be told ♪
[humming]
(male narrator)
The k*lling of Skinner Smith,
loan shark, skinflint
and the most disliked man
in Dodge City
presented Marshal Earp with
the strangest m*rder mystery
of his career.
Public opinion was all
on the side of the m*rder*r.
People thought Skinner Smith
deserved k*lling.
Wyatt found himself almost
alone in his determination
to solve the case.
We just wanna see
if Skinner's really dead.
- Too good to be true.
- Be a good sport, Mr. Gibbs.
- Let us in.
- Nope.
Wyatt and Doc McCarty
is in there.
I got orders
to keep you all out.
Why don't you move along?
[indistinct chattering]
Well?
Let's just say he died
of heart failure.
And good riddance.
Doc, it was poison,
wasn't it?
I guess so.
This town loathed him.
Skinner Smith had it coming.
That's not for
us to say.
My job is to find out
how he got that poison.
- Wyatt, can't you let it drop?
- Nope.
Alright, here.
Found in his hand.
Plug of chewing tobacco.
- The k*ller poisoned this?
- I suspect so.
Just call it heart failure,
you'll save a lot of trouble.
You can't do that.
You're the coroner.
Is there any way of
testing this for poison?
Look, Wyatt, Smith was
the meanest man in Dodge.
If you do find who
is responsible for this
he'll be a public hero.
Why get involved?
I'm willing to sign
the death certificate.
You just think you are.
Look, I don't know anything
good about Smith either.
But m*rder is m*rder,
and we're public officials.
Alright, it'll take me
half a day to test for poison
but as you say, I'm coroner
and I get paid $ a month.
'You never signed a phony
death certificate in your life.'
Now, do your duty, coroner.
[indistinct chattering]
'Stay back here.'
[knocking on door]
'Hey, cut that out
and go back to your business.'
Loud-mouthed busybodies.
Doc thinks
he was poisoned.
Strychnine?
- He's making an analysis.
- I hope it is strychnine.
Got any idea
who done it?
No.
Take these pawn tickets
and work on them.
I'll work on the ledger.
We gotta list his clients.
You want me to arrest
everybody in town
who admits they threatened
they wanted to k*ll Skinner?
No, Mr. Gibbs.
But try and find somebody who
had a fight with him recently.
Well, I'll have to
arrest myself then.
You?
You wanna hear some of
the names I called Skinner?
Not right now, Mr. Gibbs.
Come on, let's go to work.
[dramatic music]
Alright, back up.
You pawned your saddle to him
and later on, I heard
you threatened to k*ll him.
Yeah, I threatened
to k*ll him.
He sold my saddle because I was
two days late in redeeming it.
- But you didn't k*ll him?
- No.
Just never got
around to it, Marshal.
And that isn't all,
Mr. Earp.
Skinner charged me $ a week
interest on the rent.
When I paid him off,
I found out that
he had put a phony diamond
in place of the real one.
Why didn't you come
to me about this?
It's his word against mine.
I figured that when my gentleman
friend got in from the drive
he'd even things with Skinner.
Yes, sir, I did say
he ought to be shot.
Why?
He dug up an old note
and said dear Ms. Dora
may God rest her lovely soul,
still owed him.
I tore it up
and slapped his face.
Yeah.
One of nature's noblemen,
Skinner Smith.
I wish you'd be practical.
If you find the culprit, how'd
you get a jury to convict him?
Well, that's their job,
Mr. Kelly.
My duty is done when I bring
the m*rder*r to trial.
[speaking in foreign language]
That's Irish for hoping
you'll never solve the case.
Oh, I'll solve it.
I'm stubborn that way.
Thank you, Mr. Kelly.
- Honey, where's your buggy?
- Around the corner.
What's wrong?
There's no one here,
you can tell me now.
I've saved enough money.
Why don't we get married?
- That again.
- Yeah.
Only this time, I've got to
get out of town, Janey.
Clark, are you in trouble
at the bank?
No, no. Of course not.
It's..
Well...I'm asking you
to trust me, Janey.
To marry me now, today.
Clark, you know
that's impossible.
Grandpa had another spell
with his heart this morning.
Grandpa.
It's always grandpa.
He hasn't
much longer, Clark.
I'm the only one
he has, to care for him.
I'm sorry.
He doesn't think much of me,
but I'm right fond of him.
Well, I don't
defend grandpa.
He has some notions that
I ought to marry a soldier
or a fighting marshal
like Mr. Earp.
I love you but you're gonna have
to be patient and understand.
Alright. I'll try.
Not here, please.
You better get back inside.
See those crystals?
Prussic acid and perhaps
some strychnine
enough to k*ll a horse.
One bite at that plug
did it for Skinner.
- You found any suspects?
- Couple of dozen.
I haven't talked to a man
or woman that isn't a suspect.
[knocking on door]
Come in.
[door closes]
Well, how'd you make out?
I talked to
about people.
They all denied k*lling him
but they regretted
being so shiftless and lazy.
The only way to narrow it down
is to find someone
who had access to poison
in an undiluted form.
What about your patients,
doctor?
Don't you prescribe strychnine
and prussic acid?
Very small amounts.
I couldn't help you anyway.
Confidential relation
between doctor and patient.
Hm.
What are you
so cheerful about?
k*lling Skinner
is a public service.
- I think doc has done it.
- Arrest me, marshal.
Gentlemen, m*rder
is not funny.
Mr. Gibbs, you and the deputies
don't get any time off
until we solve this case.
[door closes]
You know, doc, I believe
in enforcing the law
with reasonable moderation.
But old Wyatt's got
the stern moral character
of a bloodhound.
We'll have to help him, Shotgun.
He is right, you know.
I know he is.
Doc, you got any smart ideas
on this thing?
No, but I'll check
my records.
Eleven patients to see
and I play detective.
Give Wyatt a tip.
Suggest that he look on
the respectable side of town.
This is no tramp's job.
Thank you, doc.
[dramatic music]
Grandpa, will you
stop that right now?
You know Dr. McCarty
told you not to work.
Oh, I've been a hard
working man all my life
and now I can't even
fix a little chair.
Now, don't you go
giving me any trouble.
'I've had enough with Clark.'
He's still pestering you
about marrying him?
Mm-hm.
Well, if you are
so set on it, go ahead.
Well, I'm not,
but I'm worried.
Mm?
Something is wrong with Clark.
He's acting strange.
He wants me to marry him
and leave Dodge right away.
Mm.
It can't be that
he's stealing from a bank.
That would take
a certain amount of courage.
Clark has courage,
too much courage.
[chuckles]
Foosh now.
He is, he's been gambling.
Hm, euchre for Penny Yankee?
No, poker, with some cattlemen
in a back room
at the Dodge Hotel.
Maybe he did k*ll
Skinner Smith.
Grandpa, that's not
a very nice joke.
Nope, and I ain't
a very nice old man.
I wish Clark had k*lled him.
I'd have more respect
for the boy.
Did you take your medicine
today, grandpa?
McCarty's pop?
[chuckles]
Smell my breath.
[suspires]
Oh, whisky, grandpa.
That's why you made
that joke about Clark.
I'm as high as a dove.
[chuckles]
Oh, grandpa.
"Mills Rod Morris, $ ."
I have some bigger ones
back here.
J.B. Olsen, $ .
Alex Griffith, $ .
You think we're getting
any warmer on this?
Olsen and Griffith
are marked paid?
Yeah, both are.
Well, let's start on
the delinquent accounts.
Those are the ones that Skinner
might have pushed too hard.
Look, Clark borrowed $
from Skinner, May .
Paid it back with
$ interest, June .
Look at this one
over here.
Borrowed $ from him
a couple of weeks ago.
Skinner's got him
marked delinquent.
I better have
a talk with Clark.
Not at the bank,
it might be embarrassing.
- No, I'll--
- Wyatt..
...Mr. Hokum says Clark just
left on the east-bound stage.
Didn't check the cash
but he's afraid--
You watch the jail.
[dramatic music]
[g*nshots]
Howdy, Mr. Mathews.
Mr. Mathews, the bank thinks
you oughta postpone
your trip for a few days.
Thank you, marshal.
I-I told Mr. Hokum,
I'd better wait.
Uh, Mr. Casey, would you
hand his bag down?
Give it to our friend,
Shotgun, there.
Thanks.
Thank you, Mr. Casey.
Come on up here.
Giddy up.
Ho! Ha!
You lost a lot of
money gambling?
You couldn't go to the bank
to borrow where you work
so you borrowed it
from Skinner Smith.
Paid Skinner
every dime I owe him.
And with interest.
'Go on.'
Hm, then he started
blackmailing me.
Threatened to tell my boss
I've been gambling.
I didn't k*ll him.
Well, I'm gonna
have to hold you.
I know it.
You better let me notify
Ms. Janey and Grandpa Logan.
Oh. No, sir. Please.
Well, they're gonna
find out about it anyway.
You may need a lawyer.
Do you think
I k*lled him, Mr. Earp?
Still haven't told me
why you tried to run away.
No, sir.
I never will.
Well, the law says
you don't have to.
Come on.
Mr. Gibbs.
I do feel you may
need a lawyer.
Mr. Gibbs, we're gonna
hold Mr. Mathews.
Suspicion of m*rder.
Put him in a cell by himself.
Son, why don't you make a
clean breast of the whole thing?
Said all I'm gonna say.
Janey.
Janey, don't try it.
Give me my r*fle and I'll--
No, grandpa,
they might sh**t at you.
I'll get Clark out of there
in two minutes.
(McCarty)
'Hello, Wyatt.'
Hello, doc.
Well, you probably
arrested the right man.
Well, why do you say that?
He was one of my patients.
Under oath in a m*rder trial
I'd have to testify that
he had access to poison.
You missin' any strychnine
or prussic acid?
I'm not under oath yet.
Oh, I hate this business.
Yeah, well, so do I.
Maybe I can get him to confess.
I'll have another try
at it anyway.
- Thanks.
- You're so welcome.
You give me
those keys.
- I ain't got 'em, sis.
- Are you telling me the truth?
Marshal Earp has the keys.
- Where'd he go?
- Doc McCarty's.
Why don't you
rest yourself, Ms. Janey?
Them old big buffalo g*n
is mighty hefty
for a gal like you
to be luggin' around.
Ah, that's just a trick
to disarm me.
No, I ain't gonna try that.
I just want you to
light some worries.
Why don't you have a seat
on that bench over there?
Oh, no!
[g*nsh*t]
- Did I hurt you?
- No, Ms. Janey.
A little gal like you shouldn't
be carrying a loaded r*fle.
Mr. Gibbs, you take
Ms. Janey on home.
Tell her grandfather he can have
his r*fle back in the morning.
Clark didn't do it.
I know.
- Easy now, sis.
- You turn him loose.
You can't make him confess
to something he didn't do.
Clark's gonna need
a lawyer, Ms. Janey.
- You tell Grandpa Logan that.
- Come along, sis.
Can't I even
talk to him, please?
Not now.
In the morning.
You shouldn't be
a deacon in our church.
You're heartless
and cruel and mean.
Pete, bring Mr. Mathews in here.
- Pete, you take off.
- Yes, marshal.
I heard a shot.
Grandpa Logan been here?
No, it was Ms. Janey.
I sent her home with Mr. Gibbs.
Sit down.
Mr. Mathews, I've advised
the Logans to get you a lawyer.
'You had a strong motive
for k*lling Mr. Smith.'
I think I can prove
you had access to poison.
Alright. You prove that.
Why don't you tell me
the whole story?
I think Judge Tobin
will be lenient.
No, sir.
You still don't want to tell me
why you tried to run away?
Marshal, I've talked
too much already.
You trying to shield someone?
Now, you just do what
you have to do, Mr. Earp.
Why don't you confess and get
this whole business over with?
I can promise you an easy
sentence, maybe a parole.
'Judge Tobin
will be here tomorrow.'
Look, what's the sense
in forcing us to trial?
Skinner Smith was
a low-down worthless character.
You've put on me
the burden of punishing you
more than you should be.
I don't expect you
to consider my feelings
but what about Ms. Janey?
- 'Don't you care about her?'
- I'm sorry, marshal.
Can I go back to the cell now?
Alright. But you
think about this.
Grandfather, don't you
even feel sorry for Clark?
Sorry? I was beginning
to admire the boy.
You what?
Shotgun Gibbs says that
he ain't confessed.
That proves
he's got real sand.
Yup, I was wrong
about Clark.
Then you think
he is guilty?
Not the point
at all, Janey.
Grandfather,
are you yourself?
The point is that if
Clark don't confess
they'll have to
turn him loose.
Even after they caught him
running out of town?
Don't signify, Janey.
They only got circumstantial
evidence against Clark.
No matter what Wyatt Earp
tries to link together
the jury will
acquit him hands down.
Then you'll hire
a lawyer for him?
Yes.
Old Joe Garrison.
The best lawyer in
the whole state of Kansas.
It's a sheer waste
of money though.
Of course
it is, grandfather.
But at least I can
sleep easy now.
I better sleep myself.
Ah, ah! You've had
your nightcap, come on.
Help me, darling.
Oh! It's way past
my bedtime.
You know, that Wyatt Earp might
be a first-class man with a g*n
but he ain't
no legal genius.
He'll get
his comeuppance tomorrow.
I hope so,
grandfather.
- Good morning, Judge.
- Howdy, Wyatt.
I...got a m*rder case
for you.
Oh, who is the victim?
- Skinner Smith.
- Ah, it's logical.
I warned Smith
to leave Dodge months ago.
Who k*lled him?
Young fellow who works
at the bank, Clark Mathews.
There's only circumstantial
evidence though.
Let's go have breakfast
and you tell me all about it.
Yes, sir.
I link blackmail
to the fact that
Clark Mathews
tried to run away
and further fact that
Doc McCarty admits
that he had access
to poison.
Hm-mm.
So I'm asking you
for a bench warrant
charging Mr. Mathews
with first-degree m*rder.
Yes, I suppose
you do.
It's a sound circumstantial
case, isn't it?
If anyone but Skinner Smith
was the victim.
You mean a jury
may not convict?
It's about it.
How about a change of venue
to some other town?
Well, I can't order that.
Unless you're willing to testify
that the citizens of Dodge
made threats against you
in the court.
No, sir.
Change of venue is customarily
the right of the defendant
not the prosecution.
Well, I have no case.
Well, frankly, Wyatt
I don't even think
you have the right suspect.
How's that?
Now you suggested
the possibility that
Mathews was shielding someone.
Hasn't it occurred to you
that someone k*lled Smith
to shield Mathews.
Well..
You said I could see
Clark today.
Yes.
Oh, I think
you've met Judge Tobin.
Yes, I have.
How are you, sir?
Fine, thank you.
And how's your grandpa?
Well, he's worse
I'm afraid.
(Judge Tobin)
'Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.'
Marshal Earp didn't help any
when he arrested Clark.
Grandpa had a very bad night,
I had to send for Doc McCarty.
Ah, Wyatt, I will arrange for
Ms. Janey to see young Mathews.
I suggest that
you go on over
and pay a visit
to Grandpa Logan.
He's a wonderful old man
and I think you owe him
that courtesy.
Oh, yes, sir.
I'll go right away.
But don't you mention
Skinner Smith.
No, ma'am.
I'll be careful.
- Howdy, doc.
- Morning.
- How's Grandpa Logan?
- Not good.
Not well enough
to be questioned.
Well, I just stopped by
for a social visit.
Well, he hasn't got
much time left.
A day, a week.
Well, I won't stay
long enough to tire him.
Good.
Grandpa Logan?
Yup, who is it?
'Wyatt, sir.'
Come in, Wyatt.
Howdy.
You hang that boy yet?
No, sir.
Not yet.
Well, I was afraid
he confessed.
So I reckon
I'd better tell.
Read it.
Doctor said
it was prussic acid.
Uh-huh.
Mostly strychnine
with some rattlesnake venom.
Every time I went downtown
that Skinner would grub
a chew of tobacco from me.
The other day I told him,
"Take the whole thing."
He took it.
Yes, sir, he took
the whole grubbin' tobacco.
How'd you know that Skinner
was trying to blackmail Mathews?
Know?
[chuckles]
That twisty skunk.
He told me Clark
had threatened him.
I called that boy
on the carpet and I told him
"You leave the k*lling
to one who's
poisoned coyotes and wolves."
You fetch me my cane, marshal.
I'll go along with you.
No, sir.
I'm burnin' this.
But I don't want you
to write anymore, Mr. Logan.
Well, now..
...I thank you kindly.
For Janey's sake, I mean.
Yes.
For Ms. Janey.
Shake hands with
Mr. Earp. Thank him.
After all the troubles he's
caused, I certainly will not.
You seem mighty sure.
Yes, sir, Mr. Mathews,
I am very sure.
Don't you tell
anyone ever.
This is a case for
a good judge and good lawyer.
I'm just a deacon.
Thank you, sir.
[Ken Darby singing
"The Legend Of Wyatt Earp"]
♪ Well, he cleaned up
the country ♪
♪ The old wild west country
♪ He made law
and order prevail ♪
♪ And none can deny it
♪ The Legend of Wyatt
♪ Forever will live
on the trail ♪
♪ Wyatt Earp
♪ Wyatt Earp
♪ Brave, courageous and bold
♪ Long live his fame
and long live his glory ♪
♪ And long may
his story be told ♪