May 10, 2025 • 25 mins
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Luke Slaughter of Tombstone debuted on February 23, 1958 and, sadly, only ran for a total of 16 episodes. Sam Buffington played Luke Slaughter, a Civil War cavalry officer, turned cattle rancher, in post-Civil War Arizona Territory near Fort Huachuca and the town of Tombstone, not far from the U.S. southern border. This was a well-received program but was cut short due to the pressure of television at the time. At the beginning of each show we hear "Slaughter's my name, Luke Slaughter. Cattle's my business. It's a tough business, it's a big business. I got a big stake in it. And there's no man west of the Rio Grande big enough to take it away from me."
Luke Slaughter of Tombstone debuted on February 23, 1958 and, sadly, only ran for a total of 16 episodes. Sam Buffington played Luke Slaughter, a Civil War cavalry officer, turned cattle rancher, in post-Civil War Arizona Territory near Fort Huachuca and the town of Tombstone, not far from the U.S. southern border. This was a well-received program but was cut short due to the pressure of television at the time. At the beginning of each show we hear "Slaughter's my name, Luke Slaughter. Cattle's my business. It's a tough business, it's a big business. I got a big stake in it. And there's no man west of the Rio Grande big enough to take it away from me."
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Slaughter's my name, Luke Slaughter. Cattle's my business. It's a
tough business, it's big business. I've got a big stake
in it. There's no man west of the Rio Grande
big enough to take it from me.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Luke Slaughter of Tombstone. Luke Slaughter of Tombstone, Civil War
cavalryman turned Arizona cattleman. Across the territory from Yuba to
(00:54):
Port Defiance, from Flags Tap to the Wachukas, and below
the border through Chihuahua and Sonora. His name was respected
or feared, depending on which side of the law you
were on. Man of vision, man of legend. Luke Slutter
of Tombstone.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And Tombstone became the seat of the newly formed Cochise
County in eighteen eighty one. The old town marshall became
the new county sheriff, and he discovered that it's hard
sometimes for a man to assume added responsibilities.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Hey, Luke, here comes a sheriff. Eh, he's sure scaley hooton.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Well, what kind of trouble you got yourself in? Now?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Which why I ain't can you have your advice?
Speaker 5 (01:47):
You?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
How died there? Seraff? Can I went to his second
morning where here get itgin?
Speaker 6 (01:53):
Good morning, Orange, Sheriff, Hey Luke, they're holding for renegade
apaches over Saint David burned a farm order, the man
and a woman.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
I'm sorry to hear that.
Speaker 6 (02:02):
Yeah, but the posse ran them down, all right?
Speaker 4 (02:04):
That parts You better string them engines up here.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
That's why I came out here instead of letting the
posse let justice take its course. The loss says, I
got a haul of four of them into Tombstone to
stand trial.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
That is, just as Sheriff, the apaches can be identified
in court, they'll hang legally.
Speaker 6 (02:20):
They got identification and four redskins was born bad?
Speaker 1 (02:24):
I don't think anybody's born bad, serf were.
Speaker 6 (02:27):
I haven't time to debate the point. What I want
to know is how am I going to get the
four of them into Tombstone?
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Where?
Speaker 6 (02:33):
Or it's a full day's ride each way. I got
one regular Deputy Clint Wallace. One of us has got
to be in Tombstone and the other be dead if
he tried hurting them for killers here by himself?
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Where what why don't you shackle him and bring them
in by stage?
Speaker 6 (02:47):
This stage line through Saint David went broke.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
You know that, Yes, And there's a conquered wagon gathering
dust over there, and there's six stage horses eating county
oats to less sold a duction.
Speaker 6 (02:58):
Here is that only it's two dangerous for one man.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
All right, Sheriff, deputize me for a couple of days
and I'll go with you.
Speaker 6 (03:06):
Now, if you need horse hoping, you'd volunteer. Luke, we
live early tomorrow morning here.
Speaker 7 (03:12):
You can you handle.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
A six horse hitch?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Well, I never drove a six horse hitch, but there's
a couple of men in Tombstone you could get you.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
I get just one measley word in edge.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Why sure to say it?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Well, I'm drew stage for Birch and Holiday and Butterfield.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
And if I can't drive four lady.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Appatches from Saint David to Tombstone, hank Monkey's shlf couldn't dwipe.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Get on there, pull on which Now we know you're
a top whip. These horses still can't go fifty miles
in a folk gallop down.
Speaker 6 (04:02):
He's pumps and like to shake the shackles off the prisoners.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Pull those horses way down. Time our prisoners had a
drink of water.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Warm You work. You're right, Luke, awful hot and dusty
out here.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
With you do.
Speaker 6 (04:19):
You're having the time of your life, ain't you well? Now?
And so would i? These murdering the patches didn't have
me spooted.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
I don't like any part of it. I'll be glad
when the day's over.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
There mean customers, all right, you know it's their last ride.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Lest they bust loose from us.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
I'll pass them the water bag. You men keep me
covered just in case, Yes, we will, Luke. You here,
you're in this canader water. I'll drink chains tight. Your
hands are loose enough to hold it. Hurry up, it's
better pass it when you throw.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
A little whiffy up there close to.
Speaker 6 (04:58):
Him in it like a hey, Luke down there in
the waters. Those two men, yeah, I see him. Ain't
one of them, Mile Larson?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
It is all like that, Heather Larsen.
Speaker 7 (05:10):
Yeah, I don't.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Recognize a fellow coming toward us, Luke, did you see that?
Speaker 1 (05:18):
I sure did. I'll emptied his sign right into it.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Why did you do it? The other humber never made
no move.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
To draw, which I keep an eye on the prisoners. Hi,
come on, sheriff, looks like we've got to take another
passenger to tombstone. Hell, you must have had a reason.
(05:46):
You've lived in these parts better than ten years, and
I don't think you've ever had an argument before that
I heard about.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
I can't talk about it, mister slaughter. I shot him.
You saw that, and that's it. You'll have to stand trial,
you know. Let's take me befo for a judge and
a plead guilty. I don't want to put anyone to
any trouble.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
You're putting us to a powerful lot of trouble. Whichitan
two horses had to take the body back to Saint David,
and I gonna drive this rig myself. Come on out.
Who was he?
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (06:15):
No, what he called himself? Nobody in Saint David will
identify him either.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
I've seen that face somewhere. I'm sure.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
No, there wouldn't be a chance and a million of that.
I'm willing to take my medicine, so forget it.
Speaker 6 (06:28):
We want to do your favor, don't you see, give
us a reason you shot him.
Speaker 7 (06:32):
Maybe we can get you off. I would like one favor.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
We'll try out.
Speaker 5 (06:37):
When we get to my place. Uh, let me go
in and say goodbye to my youngster.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I think we could do what else? Asking Sheriff. We've
both known him for a long time. If you say, Sir, Luke, hell,
little Barbara is gonna find out you killed that man.
There's no way out of it.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
Well, I was thinking if I plead guilty without a
trial or anything, and you could keep it out of
the newspaper.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
I don't think we can, But just suppose we did.
Somebody's gonna take care of Barbie. It's not thirteen yet,
is he well?
Speaker 5 (07:09):
Most and Barbie knows what she's to do if anything
ever happens to me.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
And you didn't figure all the consequences of shooting that
man down, did you?
Speaker 5 (07:19):
I figured the consequences and not doing it. My farm's
just ahead.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Now.
Speaker 7 (07:26):
Can I go say goodbye to Barbie?
Speaker 1 (07:28):
As far as I'm concerned, Sheriff?
Speaker 6 (07:32):
All right, Larson, I'll unlock your wrist chains and give
you five minutes.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Oh who are there? I wonder how Wichita drive six horses.
Wish he'd hurry up, sar if he hasn't been in
there much more than a minute. This cold mess makes
me almost sick. I know, Luke need to face of
(08:00):
the man he killed. I could only remember where I've
seen it? Why we stop? Why the never mind? Just
be quiet down there, and we.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
Got to make tombstone for dark. You can't trust in
a patchy any further.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
You can throw serf that chained. Oh that it's ol.
Speaker 6 (08:18):
Now come back here, all right, Slaughter? Letting him say
goodbye to his kid? What was your idea?
Speaker 1 (08:25):
I can't believe I could be so wrong about him.
I can't believe anything that's happening today. Now, what do
we do? Get the apaches to tombstone as fast as
we can, organize a posse and go after.
Speaker 7 (08:35):
Old Well, where are you going now to have a quick.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Talk with Larson's daughter? Just watch these prisoners.
Speaker 8 (08:48):
He didn't say where he was going, mister Slaughter, just
that he'd be back.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Just that.
Speaker 8 (08:53):
Well, exactly what he said was that.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
He'd be back from me, Barbie. This is rough country.
Sometimes things we can't know about your sort of happen.
What if your father was delayed so well he didn't
get back for quite a long time.
Speaker 8 (09:08):
Well, I know it won't, but well, if anything does
happen to him, I'm supposed to go into Saint David.
We're Mormons, you see, and if there's trouble, we take
care of each other.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
I know you're not worried about the Indians.
Speaker 8 (09:20):
Oh no, they come here for food if they need it,
And well, of course we always share what we happen.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
To have more people acted that way, there'd be less
trouble with the Indians. Barbie, you're getting to be a
fine looking young lady. If they have your mother, do you?
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Father says, not too much.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
We have a long trip of her. So when your
father comes back, tell him, well, tell him I'm sorry
whenever I miss a friend.
Speaker 6 (09:55):
I guess we will make it before dark. About ten
miles here. It'd be a sack chip, and weren't for
this hell whoa hold this loaded had finished the horses.
We'll have to take the leg irons off the apaches
and all walk up. Reckon you ride due, all right
(10:16):
in this canna. You and your friends can stretch hard
with you one water, you'll get it. Sheriff, you got
the keys worse I have. It's just your legs.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Ship, Doug, waste time calling them names. Don't you waste time?
Speaker 7 (10:33):
Give him the water as.
Speaker 6 (10:35):
Soon as you get clear. To keep a gun on him.
I got a gun on him. Only takes one hand
to unlock the shackles.
Speaker 9 (10:41):
Here in this cana, Lorman's gun crumple the white eyed floor.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
You'll never get go.
Speaker 9 (10:55):
A lot taks make on freeze, lord man, die fast, trouble,
gun slaughter, dice flow from Nie Kinney's knife, and.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
A patchy foot on my throat, a patchy knees pinning
my arms and legs. It's Canna layering over me as
he grabbed my hair, and then from a rock cover
somewhere on that hill.
Speaker 7 (11:30):
You all right, mister slaughter?
Speaker 5 (11:32):
Yeah, yeah, well I'm I'm all right. Well, the Sheriff's
donned for so the apatches. Where'd you come from?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Now? I figured you and barbied be across the border
by now.
Speaker 7 (11:47):
Well, I went back as soon as I thought it out.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
We'd be running the rest of our lives, and someday
I'd have to tell her why we were running. So
I was riding after you to give myself time. Things
are going to turn out all right for you, in
your youngstern, But you just did. They'll make a big
difference with the jury. You just tell them why you
shot that man this morning. There isn't going to be
(12:12):
a jury doesn't have to be. I'm guilty I killed
a man, but nobody's ever going to know why I
killed him.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
In a moment, Luke Slaughter of Tombstone returns, A big
slice of the American dollar goes for research, and because
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(12:49):
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medical research against cerebral palsy, the brain disorder that cripples
more than two hundred thousand children in this country. Somewhere
in America, cerebral palsy strikes some child every fifty three
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(13:13):
fighting this relentless timetable. You can participate in a fine,
humane effort. Contribute to the fifty three Minute March on
cerebral Palsy Tuesday, May twentieth, or mail your contribution to Day.
Address it to Palsy care of your local postmaster. And
(13:40):
now Act two of William N. Robson's production of Luke
Slaughter of Tombstone.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Al Larson and I brought have bodies into Tombstone. There
wasn't any trouble about the dead of patches. There have
been witnesses to their other murders all and I had
seen them kill the sheriff. Deputy Clint Wallace was sworn
in as the new sheriff, and Al was quietly locked up.
Wichita and I were the only ones left who had
watched him gun a man down in the desert.
Speaker 7 (14:22):
Oh, good morning, mister Slaughter.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Come on here, morning, sheriff.
Speaker 7 (14:26):
Ah once you just call me Clint like he used.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
To, sure thing, and you start calling me Luke. How's
Al Larson?
Speaker 7 (14:35):
He's the same, quiet, no trouble. You want to talk
to him.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Wichita's back. We'll talk to Al when he gets here.
He's good.
Speaker 7 (14:45):
I hope you don't think I administered the law sloppy
as the place looks. I'm cleaning out the old sheriffs.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Belonging junk is a better word for it.
Speaker 7 (14:54):
I liked him. He was a good law man when
the job wasn't so big. Well, he sure was a
pack rat. Look at these handbills from ten to fifteen
years ago.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Wanted from mine fraud Colorado eighteen sixty eight. Wanted from murders, Sacramento,
eighteen seventy one. You must have saved him from long
before he even came to tombstone. Were here?
Speaker 4 (15:25):
I mean, here's the son of a gun stewing biscuits.
Speaker 7 (15:28):
I cooked the parral. Oh, howdy, Clint? How they witch it? Though?
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Clint? You mind if I take these old handbills?
Speaker 7 (15:34):
Of course not. I don't see why you'd want them,
But yet I have a collection of them myself. Oh
you're a pack rat too, Luke called yourself a amateur.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Historian or something.
Speaker 7 (15:46):
Oh well, I'll get out. You'd rather talk out here,
I'm answer.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Please wait here, kick.
Speaker 7 (15:52):
Your grub along.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I know you aim to run a good deal, but
you're too young.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
To know how to cook.
Speaker 7 (15:58):
I'm too busy. You haven't had too many complaints about
the wife's cooking.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Though women can't cook either.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Talk Al into taking a jewelry trial.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
I haven't talked to him at all yet, witchitow Eh,
weren't you welcome California around Sacramento some years ago?
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Let's see August of eighteen seventy to February of seventy two.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Couldn't stand it no longer got shoe block.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Why that's just the time I'm interested in you. Recall
a badge shooting in a hotel out there around eighteen
seventy one.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Sure sure I do need Lord mass crazy coding eat
one should change.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Tell me about it later. Wit your town?
Speaker 5 (16:43):
Oh where howdyll howdy Wichita morning, mister slad morning, and
please make it luke ow Wichitown.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Rode to Saint David again yesterday, got back just a
few hours ago.
Speaker 7 (16:59):
How's barber? You see her?
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Of course I seen her.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
She's sure a top little filly owl.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Thanks Elder Norton and missus Norton taking good care of her.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
Oh she's in real good hands. See I bring you
some biscuits.
Speaker 7 (17:14):
I told him.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Witch to al Wichita says that the men you were well.
He was never identified.
Speaker 7 (17:23):
No one in Saint David could have known him.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
There weren't they papers on him. His horse was a
stolen horse. He's been buried, God rest his soul.
Speaker 7 (17:35):
Who was he?
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Al?
Speaker 7 (17:37):
I haven't any idea.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
What he called himself? Why won't you let us help you.
Speaker 7 (17:42):
Luke, I killed a man. The loss as it's wrong,
law can have me.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
You killed four more men saving my life. The law
doesn't say that's wrong. All the circuit judge'll be in
Tombstone day after tomorrow. Still, rather go before a stranger
than the local judge. Yep, that's what I want.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Ore and Beaver coache man. Everybody in town lose it.
Why don't you take a jewelry trial?
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Looke and me. You'll testify the other humbered rule on
you and you'll go scott free.
Speaker 5 (18:08):
Whichita. Nobody's gonna lie for me. Now look, I mean
that you're not gonna do it.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
No, we aren't glint yelling. When the judge gets in,
tell him this prisoner waves his right to a jerry
trial and council, and there will be your responsibility to
see that no one else attends his trial.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
Albert Larson, you are charged with shooting to death an
unidentified man in this county of Kerchiefs on May eleventh,
eighteen eighty two.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
How do you.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
Plead gilly, your honor, Griff Wallace. The brief you prepared
might not be a model for a law class, but
it's a fine example of getting to the meet of
the case. The two gentlemen who have been sworn are
your only witnesses.
Speaker 7 (19:01):
Yes, sir, you may proceed. Mister Slaughter, You and Wichita,
mister Bagbee ah watched mister Larson fire six shots at
the DC stranger we did.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
How far away were you? Oh, I should say about
forty rods.
Speaker 7 (19:21):
You recognized mister Larson but not the other man?
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Huh, that's right?
Speaker 7 (19:26):
Did you recognize him when you reach the body?
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I thought perhaps i'd seen the face before, but it
wasn't until yesterday I was sure of it. Look, you
didn't know him?
Speaker 7 (19:36):
The defendant will remain quiet? Please?
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Then I found this old handbill issued by the California
State Marshal in eighteen seventy one. I will swear that
the face John here is the face of the man
mister Larson shot.
Speaker 7 (19:51):
Eh.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
I'll swear too.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Did you either him or that artist Flower was a
mighty lucky.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
Guesser wandered from murder some on stagecoach robbery Parley Ring. Well,
I was in California myself when young Ring was terrorizing
the whole state.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
Sure was I your honor?
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Everybody figured Ring got wounded so bad in that bloody
sacramental message.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
He must have died. But the man on that handbuilds
a man larcen shock.
Speaker 7 (20:20):
I never know him as Parley ring.
Speaker 6 (20:22):
Mister Larson, you'll have a chance to testify later. If
you wish.
Speaker 7 (20:26):
Sentence me get it over.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Will stop it your honor? If I may ellery just
the five of us here now Clint's could ask you
just a couple of questions. No, try to answer them.
I'm gonna have to say much. Go ahead, mister Wallace.
Speaker 7 (20:44):
Now before you came to Arizona, did you and missus
Larson happened to run a boarding house in Sacramento?
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (20:56):
Did a young couple with a small baby take room
just before a shoot and frey known as the Gaylord
Hotel massacre. I didn't know who they were. Were you
called to identify a woman who was killed as she
helped her husband gun down a whole room full of
celebrating miners. It was her? Did you ever see the
(21:21):
man again?
Speaker 5 (21:24):
Not till he come to Saint David four days ago
and wanted barber. We couldn't tell anybody they left the baby.
A baby isn't born bad, no matter what its parents are.
Speaker 7 (21:35):
But if they're treated bad.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
If they poked fun at and shame, they can turn bad.
Speaker 7 (21:41):
Well, we couldn't let that happen to Barbie. We couldn't
ever let her know.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Your honor, Al Larson and his wife and that abandoned
baby came to Arizona nearly twelve years ago. Missus Larson
died the year after. I don't know how you feel
about what's born in a child and what's put there
by the way it's raised. Barbara Larson's a young lady
i'd want for a daughter, and now Larson's a friend
(22:09):
to everyone who knows him. I think Clinton wichit all
bear me out.
Speaker 7 (22:13):
That's what I think, Your Honor, so do I. It's
it's all the case we got. You've presented a good case.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
We've accomplished more, I think than if we'd spend several
days hearing lawyers wrangling to impresse a jury. The court
finds this homicide justifiable committed in the lawful protection of
the defendant's child. Mister Lawson, we're here by a release
from custody, Your Honor.
Speaker 7 (22:41):
You come outside with me.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Now, he well might be somebody who wants to share
father father.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
Barbie, Barbie honey, Oh, father. Is everything all right? Yeah, Barbie,
He's all right.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Talker Luke Swatter of s Stone, starring Sam Buffington, was
(23:21):
written by fran Van Hartistfeld and directed by William N.
Robeson editorial supervision by Tom Hanley. Supporting mister Buffington were
Norma ge Nelson, Junius Matthews, Charles Seal, Carl Swanson and
Vic Perrin, with music composed and conducted by Wilbur Hatch.
(23:47):
Next week, this time we returned with.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Slaughter's the name Luke Slutter. When we meet up again,
you can call me that Luke Slatter.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
One false move can lead Detective Johnny Dollllar to disaster. Johnny, however,
seems to be gifted with a knack for dodging the
wrong clues, and that, along with his inclination for patting
expense accounts and is not too idle habit of attracting
the attentions of lovely women, makes his career an exciting
one to follow for the next thrill. Late an episode
(24:29):
of his story Here yours, truly, Johnny Dollar later today
on most of these same stations.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
This is the CBS Radio Network.
Speaker 7 (25:02):
It
Slaughter's my name, Luke Slaughter. Cattle's my business. It's a
tough business, it's big business. I've got a big stake
in it. There's no man west of the Rio Grande
big enough to take it from me.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Luke Slaughter of Tombstone. Luke Slaughter of Tombstone, Civil War
cavalryman turned Arizona cattleman. Across the territory from Yuba to
(00:54):
Port Defiance, from Flags Tap to the Wachukas, and below
the border through Chihuahua and Sonora. His name was respected
or feared, depending on which side of the law you
were on. Man of vision, man of legend. Luke Slutter
of Tombstone.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And Tombstone became the seat of the newly formed Cochise
County in eighteen eighty one. The old town marshall became
the new county sheriff, and he discovered that it's hard
sometimes for a man to assume added responsibilities.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Hey, Luke, here comes a sheriff. Eh, he's sure scaley hooton.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Well, what kind of trouble you got yourself in? Now?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Which why I ain't can you have your advice?
Speaker 5 (01:47):
You?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
How died there? Seraff? Can I went to his second
morning where here get itgin?
Speaker 6 (01:53):
Good morning, Orange, Sheriff, Hey Luke, they're holding for renegade
apaches over Saint David burned a farm order, the man
and a woman.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
I'm sorry to hear that.
Speaker 6 (02:02):
Yeah, but the posse ran them down, all right?
Speaker 4 (02:04):
That parts You better string them engines up here.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
That's why I came out here instead of letting the
posse let justice take its course. The loss says, I
got a haul of four of them into Tombstone to
stand trial.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
That is, just as Sheriff, the apaches can be identified
in court, they'll hang legally.
Speaker 6 (02:20):
They got identification and four redskins was born bad?
Speaker 1 (02:24):
I don't think anybody's born bad, serf were.
Speaker 6 (02:27):
I haven't time to debate the point. What I want
to know is how am I going to get the
four of them into Tombstone?
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Where?
Speaker 6 (02:33):
Or it's a full day's ride each way. I got
one regular Deputy Clint Wallace. One of us has got
to be in Tombstone and the other be dead if
he tried hurting them for killers here by himself?
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Where what why don't you shackle him and bring them
in by stage?
Speaker 6 (02:47):
This stage line through Saint David went broke.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
You know that, Yes, And there's a conquered wagon gathering
dust over there, and there's six stage horses eating county
oats to less sold a duction.
Speaker 6 (02:58):
Here is that only it's two dangerous for one man.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
All right, Sheriff, deputize me for a couple of days
and I'll go with you.
Speaker 6 (03:06):
Now, if you need horse hoping, you'd volunteer. Luke, we
live early tomorrow morning here.
Speaker 7 (03:12):
You can you handle.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
A six horse hitch?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Well, I never drove a six horse hitch, but there's
a couple of men in Tombstone you could get you.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
I get just one measley word in edge.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Why sure to say it?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Well, I'm drew stage for Birch and Holiday and Butterfield.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
And if I can't drive four lady.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Appatches from Saint David to Tombstone, hank Monkey's shlf couldn't dwipe.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Get on there, pull on which Now we know you're
a top whip. These horses still can't go fifty miles
in a folk gallop down.
Speaker 6 (04:02):
He's pumps and like to shake the shackles off the prisoners.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Pull those horses way down. Time our prisoners had a
drink of water.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Warm You work. You're right, Luke, awful hot and dusty
out here.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
With you do.
Speaker 6 (04:19):
You're having the time of your life, ain't you well? Now?
And so would i? These murdering the patches didn't have
me spooted.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
I don't like any part of it. I'll be glad
when the day's over.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
There mean customers, all right, you know it's their last ride.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Lest they bust loose from us.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
I'll pass them the water bag. You men keep me
covered just in case, Yes, we will, Luke. You here,
you're in this canader water. I'll drink chains tight. Your
hands are loose enough to hold it. Hurry up, it's
better pass it when you throw.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
A little whiffy up there close to.
Speaker 6 (04:58):
Him in it like a hey, Luke down there in
the waters. Those two men, yeah, I see him. Ain't
one of them, Mile Larson?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
It is all like that, Heather Larsen.
Speaker 7 (05:10):
Yeah, I don't.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Recognize a fellow coming toward us, Luke, did you see that?
Speaker 1 (05:18):
I sure did. I'll emptied his sign right into it.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Why did you do it? The other humber never made
no move.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
To draw, which I keep an eye on the prisoners. Hi,
come on, sheriff, looks like we've got to take another
passenger to tombstone. Hell, you must have had a reason.
(05:46):
You've lived in these parts better than ten years, and
I don't think you've ever had an argument before that
I heard about.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
I can't talk about it, mister slaughter. I shot him.
You saw that, and that's it. You'll have to stand trial,
you know. Let's take me befo for a judge and
a plead guilty. I don't want to put anyone to
any trouble.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
You're putting us to a powerful lot of trouble. Whichitan
two horses had to take the body back to Saint David,
and I gonna drive this rig myself. Come on out.
Who was he?
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (06:15):
No, what he called himself? Nobody in Saint David will
identify him either.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
I've seen that face somewhere. I'm sure.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
No, there wouldn't be a chance and a million of that.
I'm willing to take my medicine, so forget it.
Speaker 6 (06:28):
We want to do your favor, don't you see, give
us a reason you shot him.
Speaker 7 (06:32):
Maybe we can get you off. I would like one favor.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
We'll try out.
Speaker 5 (06:37):
When we get to my place. Uh, let me go
in and say goodbye to my youngster.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I think we could do what else? Asking Sheriff. We've
both known him for a long time. If you say, Sir, Luke, hell,
little Barbara is gonna find out you killed that man.
There's no way out of it.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
Well, I was thinking if I plead guilty without a
trial or anything, and you could keep it out of
the newspaper.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
I don't think we can, But just suppose we did.
Somebody's gonna take care of Barbie. It's not thirteen yet,
is he well?
Speaker 5 (07:09):
Most and Barbie knows what she's to do if anything
ever happens to me.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
And you didn't figure all the consequences of shooting that
man down, did you?
Speaker 5 (07:19):
I figured the consequences and not doing it. My farm's
just ahead.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Now.
Speaker 7 (07:26):
Can I go say goodbye to Barbie?
Speaker 1 (07:28):
As far as I'm concerned, Sheriff?
Speaker 6 (07:32):
All right, Larson, I'll unlock your wrist chains and give
you five minutes.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Oh who are there? I wonder how Wichita drive six horses.
Wish he'd hurry up, sar if he hasn't been in
there much more than a minute. This cold mess makes
me almost sick. I know, Luke need to face of
(08:00):
the man he killed. I could only remember where I've
seen it? Why we stop? Why the never mind? Just
be quiet down there, and we.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
Got to make tombstone for dark. You can't trust in
a patchy any further.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
You can throw serf that chained. Oh that it's ol.
Speaker 6 (08:18):
Now come back here, all right, Slaughter? Letting him say
goodbye to his kid? What was your idea?
Speaker 1 (08:25):
I can't believe I could be so wrong about him.
I can't believe anything that's happening today. Now, what do
we do? Get the apaches to tombstone as fast as
we can, organize a posse and go after.
Speaker 7 (08:35):
Old Well, where are you going now to have a quick.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Talk with Larson's daughter? Just watch these prisoners.
Speaker 8 (08:48):
He didn't say where he was going, mister Slaughter, just
that he'd be back.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Just that.
Speaker 8 (08:53):
Well, exactly what he said was that.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
He'd be back from me, Barbie. This is rough country.
Sometimes things we can't know about your sort of happen.
What if your father was delayed so well he didn't
get back for quite a long time.
Speaker 8 (09:08):
Well, I know it won't, but well, if anything does
happen to him, I'm supposed to go into Saint David.
We're Mormons, you see, and if there's trouble, we take
care of each other.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
I know you're not worried about the Indians.
Speaker 8 (09:20):
Oh no, they come here for food if they need it,
And well, of course we always share what we happen.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
To have more people acted that way, there'd be less
trouble with the Indians. Barbie, you're getting to be a
fine looking young lady. If they have your mother, do you?
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Father says, not too much.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
We have a long trip of her. So when your
father comes back, tell him, well, tell him I'm sorry
whenever I miss a friend.
Speaker 6 (09:55):
I guess we will make it before dark. About ten
miles here. It'd be a sack chip, and weren't for
this hell whoa hold this loaded had finished the horses.
We'll have to take the leg irons off the apaches
and all walk up. Reckon you ride due, all right
(10:16):
in this canna. You and your friends can stretch hard
with you one water, you'll get it. Sheriff, you got
the keys worse I have. It's just your legs.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Ship, Doug, waste time calling them names. Don't you waste time?
Speaker 7 (10:33):
Give him the water as.
Speaker 6 (10:35):
Soon as you get clear. To keep a gun on him.
I got a gun on him. Only takes one hand
to unlock the shackles.
Speaker 9 (10:41):
Here in this cana, Lorman's gun crumple the white eyed floor.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
You'll never get go.
Speaker 9 (10:55):
A lot taks make on freeze, lord man, die fast, trouble,
gun slaughter, dice flow from Nie Kinney's knife, and.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
A patchy foot on my throat, a patchy knees pinning
my arms and legs. It's Canna layering over me as
he grabbed my hair, and then from a rock cover
somewhere on that hill.
Speaker 7 (11:30):
You all right, mister slaughter?
Speaker 5 (11:32):
Yeah, yeah, well I'm I'm all right. Well, the Sheriff's
donned for so the apatches. Where'd you come from?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Now? I figured you and barbied be across the border
by now.
Speaker 7 (11:47):
Well, I went back as soon as I thought it out.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
We'd be running the rest of our lives, and someday
I'd have to tell her why we were running. So
I was riding after you to give myself time. Things
are going to turn out all right for you, in
your youngstern, But you just did. They'll make a big
difference with the jury. You just tell them why you
shot that man this morning. There isn't going to be
(12:12):
a jury doesn't have to be. I'm guilty I killed
a man, but nobody's ever going to know why I
killed him.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
In a moment, Luke Slaughter of Tombstone returns, A big
slice of the American dollar goes for research, and because
we endorse the American system, the money devoted to medical
research comes from voluntary gifts. A cure for cerebral palsy
will surely be found, but how rapidly depends directly on
(12:49):
how much we're willing to participate. Participation in this sense
means contributing the dollars to support a concentrated program of
medical research against cerebral palsy, the brain disorder that cripples
more than two hundred thousand children in this country. Somewhere
in America, cerebral palsy strikes some child every fifty three
minutes every day in the year United Cerebral Palsy is
(13:13):
fighting this relentless timetable. You can participate in a fine,
humane effort. Contribute to the fifty three Minute March on
cerebral Palsy Tuesday, May twentieth, or mail your contribution to Day.
Address it to Palsy care of your local postmaster. And
(13:40):
now Act two of William N. Robson's production of Luke
Slaughter of Tombstone.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Al Larson and I brought have bodies into Tombstone. There
wasn't any trouble about the dead of patches. There have
been witnesses to their other murders all and I had
seen them kill the sheriff. Deputy Clint Wallace was sworn
in as the new sheriff, and Al was quietly locked up.
Wichita and I were the only ones left who had
watched him gun a man down in the desert.
Speaker 7 (14:22):
Oh, good morning, mister Slaughter.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Come on here, morning, sheriff.
Speaker 7 (14:26):
Ah once you just call me Clint like he used.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
To, sure thing, and you start calling me Luke. How's
Al Larson?
Speaker 7 (14:35):
He's the same, quiet, no trouble. You want to talk
to him.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Wichita's back. We'll talk to Al when he gets here.
He's good.
Speaker 7 (14:45):
I hope you don't think I administered the law sloppy
as the place looks. I'm cleaning out the old sheriffs.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Belonging junk is a better word for it.
Speaker 7 (14:54):
I liked him. He was a good law man when
the job wasn't so big. Well, he sure was a
pack rat. Look at these handbills from ten to fifteen
years ago.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Wanted from mine fraud Colorado eighteen sixty eight. Wanted from murders, Sacramento,
eighteen seventy one. You must have saved him from long
before he even came to tombstone. Were here?
Speaker 4 (15:25):
I mean, here's the son of a gun stewing biscuits.
Speaker 7 (15:28):
I cooked the parral. Oh, howdy, Clint? How they witch it? Though?
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Clint? You mind if I take these old handbills?
Speaker 7 (15:34):
Of course not. I don't see why you'd want them,
But yet I have a collection of them myself. Oh
you're a pack rat too, Luke called yourself a amateur.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Historian or something.
Speaker 7 (15:46):
Oh well, I'll get out. You'd rather talk out here,
I'm answer.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Please wait here, kick.
Speaker 7 (15:52):
Your grub along.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I know you aim to run a good deal, but
you're too young.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
To know how to cook.
Speaker 7 (15:58):
I'm too busy. You haven't had too many complaints about
the wife's cooking.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Though women can't cook either.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Talk Al into taking a jewelry trial.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
I haven't talked to him at all yet, witchitow Eh,
weren't you welcome California around Sacramento some years ago?
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Let's see August of eighteen seventy to February of seventy two.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Couldn't stand it no longer got shoe block.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Why that's just the time I'm interested in you. Recall
a badge shooting in a hotel out there around eighteen
seventy one.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Sure sure I do need Lord mass crazy coding eat
one should change.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Tell me about it later. Wit your town?
Speaker 5 (16:43):
Oh where howdyll howdy Wichita morning, mister slad morning, and
please make it luke ow Wichitown.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Rode to Saint David again yesterday, got back just a
few hours ago.
Speaker 7 (16:59):
How's barber? You see her?
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Of course I seen her.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
She's sure a top little filly owl.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
Thanks Elder Norton and missus Norton taking good care of her.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
Oh she's in real good hands. See I bring you
some biscuits.
Speaker 7 (17:14):
I told him.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Witch to al Wichita says that the men you were well.
He was never identified.
Speaker 7 (17:23):
No one in Saint David could have known him.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
There weren't they papers on him. His horse was a
stolen horse. He's been buried, God rest his soul.
Speaker 7 (17:35):
Who was he?
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Al?
Speaker 7 (17:37):
I haven't any idea.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
What he called himself? Why won't you let us help you.
Speaker 7 (17:42):
Luke, I killed a man. The loss as it's wrong,
law can have me.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
You killed four more men saving my life. The law
doesn't say that's wrong. All the circuit judge'll be in
Tombstone day after tomorrow. Still, rather go before a stranger
than the local judge. Yep, that's what I want.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Ore and Beaver coache man. Everybody in town lose it.
Why don't you take a jewelry trial?
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Looke and me. You'll testify the other humbered rule on
you and you'll go scott free.
Speaker 5 (18:08):
Whichita. Nobody's gonna lie for me. Now look, I mean
that you're not gonna do it.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
No, we aren't glint yelling. When the judge gets in,
tell him this prisoner waves his right to a jerry
trial and council, and there will be your responsibility to
see that no one else attends his trial.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
Albert Larson, you are charged with shooting to death an
unidentified man in this county of Kerchiefs on May eleventh,
eighteen eighty two.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
How do you.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
Plead gilly, your honor, Griff Wallace. The brief you prepared
might not be a model for a law class, but
it's a fine example of getting to the meet of
the case. The two gentlemen who have been sworn are
your only witnesses.
Speaker 7 (19:01):
Yes, sir, you may proceed. Mister Slaughter, You and Wichita,
mister Bagbee ah watched mister Larson fire six shots at
the DC stranger we did.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
How far away were you? Oh, I should say about
forty rods.
Speaker 7 (19:21):
You recognized mister Larson but not the other man?
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Huh, that's right?
Speaker 7 (19:26):
Did you recognize him when you reach the body?
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I thought perhaps i'd seen the face before, but it
wasn't until yesterday I was sure of it. Look, you
didn't know him?
Speaker 7 (19:36):
The defendant will remain quiet? Please?
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Then I found this old handbill issued by the California
State Marshal in eighteen seventy one. I will swear that
the face John here is the face of the man
mister Larson shot.
Speaker 7 (19:51):
Eh.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
I'll swear too.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Did you either him or that artist Flower was a
mighty lucky.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
Guesser wandered from murder some on stagecoach robbery Parley Ring. Well,
I was in California myself when young Ring was terrorizing
the whole state.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
Sure was I your honor?
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Everybody figured Ring got wounded so bad in that bloody
sacramental message.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
He must have died. But the man on that handbuilds
a man larcen shock.
Speaker 7 (20:20):
I never know him as Parley ring.
Speaker 6 (20:22):
Mister Larson, you'll have a chance to testify later. If
you wish.
Speaker 7 (20:26):
Sentence me get it over.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Will stop it your honor? If I may ellery just
the five of us here now Clint's could ask you
just a couple of questions. No, try to answer them.
I'm gonna have to say much. Go ahead, mister Wallace.
Speaker 7 (20:44):
Now before you came to Arizona, did you and missus
Larson happened to run a boarding house in Sacramento?
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (20:56):
Did a young couple with a small baby take room
just before a shoot and frey known as the Gaylord
Hotel massacre. I didn't know who they were. Were you
called to identify a woman who was killed as she
helped her husband gun down a whole room full of
celebrating miners. It was her? Did you ever see the
(21:21):
man again?
Speaker 5 (21:24):
Not till he come to Saint David four days ago
and wanted barber. We couldn't tell anybody they left the baby.
A baby isn't born bad, no matter what its parents are.
Speaker 7 (21:35):
But if they're treated bad.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
If they poked fun at and shame, they can turn bad.
Speaker 7 (21:41):
Well, we couldn't let that happen to Barbie. We couldn't
ever let her know.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Your honor, Al Larson and his wife and that abandoned
baby came to Arizona nearly twelve years ago. Missus Larson
died the year after. I don't know how you feel
about what's born in a child and what's put there
by the way it's raised. Barbara Larson's a young lady
i'd want for a daughter, and now Larson's a friend
(22:09):
to everyone who knows him. I think Clinton wichit all
bear me out.
Speaker 7 (22:13):
That's what I think, Your Honor, so do I. It's
it's all the case we got. You've presented a good case.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
We've accomplished more, I think than if we'd spend several
days hearing lawyers wrangling to impresse a jury. The court
finds this homicide justifiable committed in the lawful protection of
the defendant's child. Mister Lawson, we're here by a release
from custody, Your Honor.
Speaker 7 (22:41):
You come outside with me.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Now, he well might be somebody who wants to share
father father.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
Barbie, Barbie honey, Oh, father. Is everything all right? Yeah, Barbie,
He's all right.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Talker Luke Swatter of s Stone, starring Sam Buffington, was
(23:21):
written by fran Van Hartistfeld and directed by William N.
Robeson editorial supervision by Tom Hanley. Supporting mister Buffington were
Norma ge Nelson, Junius Matthews, Charles Seal, Carl Swanson and
Vic Perrin, with music composed and conducted by Wilbur Hatch.
(23:47):
Next week, this time we returned with.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Slaughter's the name Luke Slutter. When we meet up again,
you can call me that Luke Slatter.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
One false move can lead Detective Johnny Dollllar to disaster. Johnny, however,
seems to be gifted with a knack for dodging the
wrong clues, and that, along with his inclination for patting
expense accounts and is not too idle habit of attracting
the attentions of lovely women, makes his career an exciting
one to follow for the next thrill. Late an episode
(24:29):
of his story Here yours, truly, Johnny Dollar later today
on most of these same stations.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
This is the CBS Radio Network.
Speaker 7 (25:02):
It
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